Since hiring coach Martin St-Louis two years ago, the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens are better. The playoffs are likely years away, but that's the point, says Ken Campbell.

Exactly two years into Martin St-Louis’ coaching career, are the Montreal Canadiens better than they were before? Absolutely? Are they a playoff contender? Absolutely not. How long will it take for them to become one? Well, let’s say it’s perfectly OK to buy green bananas at this point.

Under St-Louis, there has been a lot of teaching, a lot of developing and a lot of optimism, but the reality is the Canadiens are still not even close to contending. They won’t make the playoffs this year, probably not next year – which would be a franchise-record fourth straight season out of the playoffs – and might not even make it the year after that.

This is a total rebuild, and the Canadiens are in Year 3. The biggest mistake they can make is to accelerate things and make deals thinking they’re on the verge of contending, only to have it backfire. See Senators, Ottawa. It’s a lot to ask, but Canadiens fans are going to have to continue to be patient. So will St-Louis and Montreal’s front office.