On Tuesday, The Athletic’s Arthur Staple reported that the New York Islanders had asked the Montreal Canadiens for permission to speak to Jeff Gorton about their general manager vacancy, spreading panic amongst Habs fans.

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Gorton and Kent Hughes have worked very well as a duo since they were hired, and they’ve often been referred to as HuGo by the fans. Given how satisfied the fandom has been with this past season and the surprise qualification to the playoffs, it’s hardly surprising that people would rather not lose the executive vice president of hockey operations.

Less than two hours after Staple reported the information, TSN Insider Pierre LeBrun took to X to say that he understood the Canadiens had told the Islanders that Gorton was in Montreal to stay.

While fans were panicking left, right, and center, RG.org’s Marco D’Amico was the voice of reason, explaining that it was normal for teams to ask, but it didn’t mean the Canadiens would grant the request or that Gorton even wanted to go.

In his post-season press availability, Gorton mentioned jokingly that his son had reminded him earlier that day that he had been fired by the Rangers four years ago. While he can laugh about it now, it’s easy to imagine how gutted he must have been when he wasn’t allowed to see the New York Rangers’ rebuild through.

He got another chance with the Canadiens, and it’s hard to imagine him walking out with some unfinished business. The team is in a much better state today than it was when he was first hired, and the impact Lane Hutson, one of the products of his first draft, has had this season is a big win for the organization and HuGo.

Given what we’ve seen from Ivan Demidov in a small sample so far, it’s likely that he, too, will make the duo look good next season, and who knows, perhaps David Reinbacher will as well if he manages to remain healthy.

You can relax, Canadiens fans. Gorton is not going anywhere, not until he’s accomplished the goal he’s given himself or is shown the door, at least. Neither option is likely to happen overnight.

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