Like A Boss #18 | #AskGeoffCHC

HabsTV sat down with Geoff Molson in his office at the Bell Centre as the Canadiens president and CEO took to Twitter to answer fan questions about the Canadiens' most recent draft picks, game presentation at the Bell Centre, and the Montreal market.

"Hi Geoff, previously, you alluded to an improved fan experience at the Bell Centre for Habs fans moving forward. As part of your research, did you travel to other arenas to experience things there first-hand? If so, what sort of things made a big impression [on you]?"
That's a good question, Torin. Yes, we did. We traveled to almost every stadium. In fact, we have a small team of people that follow the team and observe the game presentations of all the teams across the League. We paid particular attention to some of them that have a reputation for having better game presentations. So yes, we did a lot of research, we took notes, and some of the ideas we've gathered from other teams, we're going to try and adjust in a Montreal way and maybe use as part of our newly-invented game presentation.
The other thing we've noticed is the use of lights is pretty impressive in some of the other teams' stadiums. We're investing in some interesting lighting equipment that will help augment the game presentation.
Also, I have to mention that as we traveled around all these different stadiums, the food offerings were sometimes quite impressive. That's another commitment we've made to our fans, to make sure that the quality and variety of our food is augmented significantly. All of our fans will have a chance to see all the new additions and special treats we have in place for them once the season starts.

"Hey Geoff, is the mandate to the coaching staff [this year] to let the kids play more, and let them take more risks than in previous years? #GoHabsGo"
Hello @HabsChronicle and thank you for the question. I think we already have a number of young players who are stepping up and, hopefully, cracking the lineup. We should be able to see more of them. There are some who are coming back for their second year, which I'm excited to see, and there are a few others who are knocking at the door. At the end of the day, I think the way our organization sees this is that if they earn a spot on the roster, then yes, they're going to get their time and exposure. It's all about how prepared these young players are to step into the NHL.

"Is Kotkaniemi ready for the NHL?"
Marc Bergevin and Claude Julien and the team will certainly take time to evaluate this young player who we just drafted in Dallas. I hope he comes in and gives it everything he has to make the team and shows he can contribute as an 18-year-old, but we never know. It will depend on a lot of different factors but he'll be at camp and he's going to try his best to make the team.
The next question comes from Ashley:
"How do you manage to stay focused and steadfast in your plan, in the ferbor that is the Montreal hockey market?"
Thank you for that question, Ashley. There's no question that there's no other market in the world that has as much exposure for a hockey team. It's something we're very proud of. For me, it's motivating to see our passionate fans engaging with us more than any other team in the NHL. In good times they engage positively, and in bad times, sometimes, it's a little difficult. But for me, it's all about the passion and the love for the team. If I can translate all of the attention we get into the passion of our fans, I think it's with great pride that I get to represent it on a daily basis.

"What do you think about the new draft picks? Are you looking forward to seeing them play?"
Thank you for the question, Lorenzo. I think we've had two good years of drafting recently. I'm excited to see them all. This year in particular, we picked seven centermen, three defensemen and a winger. I'm lucky enough to sit in on all the scouting meetings and get a good feel for the types of players we've drafted. I think we are building, and we're building a good core group of players for the future. I'm really excited to see them play at all levels, whether they go back to Junior, go to Europe, or - you never know - make the Montreal Canadiens. I'm looking forward to seeing them all.
Have a question for Geoff? Tweet it to @CanadiensMTL using hashtag #AskGeoffCHC, or click here to send it our way, and the boss could answer you next!