The top candidates will need to have some experience in a managerial position or have worked in the NHL, whether in the media or for the NHLPA, to be seriously considered for the position. A renowned and storied franchise, the Montreal Canadiens will need to select the right man for the job. Despite the unexpected playoff run in 2009-10 that saw the Canadiens reach the Eastern Conference Final, Gauthier and his predecessor Bob Gainey failed to build a Stanley Cup contender over the last few years.
This season the Canadiens are dead last in the Eastern Conference following a series of bad decisions and a rash of long-term injuries to key players such as Brian Gionta and Andrei Markov.
Below you will find a list of potential candidates in alphabetical order:
Marc Bergevin
A former rearguard who played 1,191 games in the NHL with the Blues, Penguins, Lightning and Blackhawks, amongst others, Bergevin, a Montreal native, also speaks French.. After his retirement, Bergevin was named as a pro scout with the Blackhawks' organization. Three years later, in 2008, Bergevin was named an assistant coach with the organization before accepting a job as director of player personnel in 2009.
Last summer, Bergevin was promoted to the position of assistant general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks replacing Kevin Cheveldayoff, who had accepted the General Manager position with the new Winnipeg Jets team. While Bergevin certainly has some knowledge how to manage an NHL team, he doesn't boast a lot of experience, having worked only one season as assistant to Hawks' GM Stan Bowman.
Julien BriseBois
Julien BriseBois
A lawyer by trade, Brisebois has been working with the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant general manager to Steve Yzerman since 2010. Very good with numbers, BriseBois, a native of Greenfield Park near Montreal, knows all aspects of contract preparation and negotiation, salary arbitration and player transaction.
Another bilingual candidate, BriseBois worked for the Canadiens for nine years before joining the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Norforlk Admirals in 2010. During his tenure with the Habs, he worked as Director of Legal Affairs, Director of Hockey Operations and eventually as Vice-President of Hockey operations.
In 2007, BriseBois was named the General Manager of Montreal's top AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. Well regarded in hockey circles, BriseBois earned a Master's degree in business administration from the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University and definitely understands the financial aspects of hockey. However, BriseBois has never played hockey in the NHL or at any high level of competition, which is certainly a disadvantage when it comes to being named as the Habs' next general manager.
Pat Brisson
The über agent — who represents the likes of Sidney Crosby, Daniel Briere, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews — is a native Quebecois and a very close friend of former Los Angeles Kings sniper Luc Robitaille. Brisson is a long shot to become the Habs' next GM because he has never acted as a GM and is currently based in Los Angeles. While Brisson played junior hockey in QMJHL, he has never seen time in the NHL.
Pat Brisson
The über agent — who represents the likes of Sidney Crosby, Daniel Briere, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews — is a native Quebecois and a very close friend of former Los Angeles Kings sniper Luc Robitaille. Brisson is a long shot to become the Habs' next GM because he has never acted as a GM and is currently based in Los Angeles. While Brisson played junior hockey in QMJHL, he has never seen time in the NHL.
Brisson is also currently the agent of Habs' center Louis Leblanc.
Vincent Damphousse
A former Canadiens player, Damphousse played more than 1,378 games in the NHL with the Maple Leafs, Oilers, Sharks and Habs. Damphousse was a member of the last Canadian team that won a Stanley Cup back in 1993 when Montreal won its 24th Stanley Cup.
Currently working as an hockey analyst for RDS, the official French language broadcaster of the Bleu Blanc Rouge, Damphousse has never occupied a managerial position for an NHL team, but was a member of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) executive committee, serving as Vice President under Trevor Linden.
Damphousse is a proven winner and was part of the Canadiens when Serge Savard was the general manager. We all know that Molson has appointed Savard as a senior consultant to help him nominate the team's next GM. This relationship with Savard could very well be a serious advantage for Damphousse as the two men have known each other for decades now.
Francois Giguere
A native of Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Giguere is currently unemployed after serving as the Colorado Avalanche's General Manager and Executive Vice-President until 2009. He was replaced by Greg Sherman, who is still acting as the Avalanche's GM.
Francois Giguere
A native of Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Giguere is currently unemployed after serving as the Colorado Avalanche's General Manager and Executive Vice-President until 2009. He was replaced by Greg Sherman, who is still acting as the Avalanche's GM.
Giguere is a dark-horse candidate as he's been out of the NHL for three years. He also worked in the Quebec Nordiques organization between 1990 and 1995 before the team moved to Denver. I would believe Giguere would be a more serious candidate if and when another NHL team moves to Quebec City in the near future as he was born in the area.
Claude Loiselle
A former center who played 616 games in the NHL for the Red Wings, Devils, Nordiques, Maple Leafs and Islanders, Loiselle has been working as Assistant General Manager under Brian Burke of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Loiselle currently negotiates NHL contracts with the team, but has never played for the Canadiens and doesn't have a very good track record with the Leafs over the past few seasons. A native of Ottawa, Loiselle also speaks French, but he is not considered a favorite to land the prestigious job in Montreal.
Pierre McGuire
The well-known television analyst — and former NHL assistant coach and head coach — has been working for NBC and TSN for the past few years. However, he has interviewed for general manager positions in the past without much success. Born in New Jersey, McGuire grew up in Montreal and also worked as a pro scout back in the 1990s.
Pierre McGuire
The well-known television analyst — and former NHL assistant coach and head coach — has been working for NBC and TSN for the past few years. However, he has interviewed for general manager positions in the past without much success. Born in New Jersey, McGuire grew up in Montreal and also worked as a pro scout back in the 1990s.
He knows the league inside out, especially since he popularized the "Inside the Glass" broadcasting position with TSN. Another advantage is that he's also bilingual, but his lack of experience as in a managerial position will most likely eliminate him as a serious candidate for the job.
Patrick Roy
The former NHL goaltender won the Stanley Cup four times with the Montreal Canadiens and the Colorado Avalanche. A close friend of Serge Savard, Roy is currently managing and coaching the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL.
Also a native of Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Roy is obviously bilingual and has played for a decade with the Canadiens before asking to be traded following an incident with head coach Mario Tremblay in the 1995-96 season. A very hot-headed and vocal head coach, Roy doesn't have any experience at the NHL level as a head coach or a general manager. While some experts believe Roy is a serious candidate to replace Gauthier, I believe Roy would prefer to accept a position as the Habs' head coach replacing Randy Cunneyworth.
Other potential candidates: Jim Nill, Doug Risebrough, Andre Savard
A combo of former teammates Patrick Roy as Head Coach and Vincent Damphousse as GM would seem to be the perfect duo as both players were well-respected and liked when they donned the Habs jersey in the early 1990s.
Damphousse, who is a poised and calm person, would perfectly balance Roy's hot-blooded temper.
Who would you like as the Canadiens' next General Manager?
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Other potential candidates: Jim Nill, Doug Risebrough, Andre Savard
A combo of former teammates Patrick Roy as Head Coach and Vincent Damphousse as GM would seem to be the perfect duo as both players were well-respected and liked when they donned the Habs jersey in the early 1990s.
Damphousse, who is a poised and calm person, would perfectly balance Roy's hot-blooded temper.
Who would you like as the Canadiens' next General Manager?
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Follow me on Twitter to get updates on the Canadiens and the NHL in general.
18 comments:
Good stuff Fred!
I think, in the above list, Francois Giguere could be a real dark-horse candidate. He has many years of management experience in a variety of roles, including GM, and has his name on two Stanley Cups. Not too shabby.
As Kamal and I discussed, though, I would like to see McGuire given a chance. Le CH needs a shakeup!
BRISEBOIS TO ME IS THE THE FRONTRUNNER HE KNOWS OUR ORGANIZATION AND UNLIKE SOME ON YOUR LIST IE DAMPHOUSE HAS BEEN MANAGING IN THE LEAGUE AND AS SUCH HAS CONTACTS AND WILL NEED NO TRAINING PERIOD...THIS IS KEY WE CANNOT AFFORD A TRAINING PERIOD !!
What about Blair Mackasey or Dale Tallon ... there's no reason why Molson can't call their current team owners and ask if he can talk to those individuals. I think they're much better choices than what's on the above list. They're both from the Montreal area and they both can speak french.
@Anon
Bob McKenzie did throw out the idea of speaking to FLA about Tallon. In any event though, Molson should really make a point of thinking outside the box.
Men like Andre Savard and Julien BriseBois are incredibly competent, but have been part of the organization before. Given the past 15+ years of insucess, it is perhaps best to look off the beaten path.
I don't think Tallon will be available and as for Savard he's a boring individual who has been in the organization before without much success.
Another that was mentioned to me is Pierre Dorion currently working for the Senators.
@Fred
Not sure how I feel about another ex-Sens with MTL.
Andre Savard, Pierre Gauthier, Jacques Martin, Randy Cunneyworth.
Said it above, will say it again: Let's get off the beaten path, shall we?
Pierre McGuire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There may also be some current GM's who are no longer employed over the next few weeks that might vault to the top of the list.
What about a Dean Lombardi?
Maybe even a tandem of Scotty Bowman & Pierre McGuire?
I really like Bergevin from the list above, assuming that regardless of what has been said they will hire a bilingual GM. Even though he doesn't have much experience as an Assistant GM. He has moved up the ladder very quickly over a 6 year period and with a very successful organization plus he will have instant credibility having played over 1000 games in the NHL.
Jim Nil would be great but I doubt they will hire someone who doesn't speak French.
@HH Lombardi and Nil are not bilingual so I highly doubt they will be considered for the position.
As for Bowman, I don't know if he wants to work full-time as a GM. He'd be more of a consultant I think just like Serge Savard.
What about Lou Lammarello? He is not happy with the current situation in NJ and would love to get out.
It is not a long term fix but he is a proven Stanley Cup winner with abundant current NHL experience. It is widely publicized that he idolizes the Montreal Canadiens history and tradition . When he speaks with that accent you can't tell if he's English or French so he would not offend either side.
Exactly what does no hockey playing experience have to do with Julien BriseBois as a candidate?
I see all pros and no cons to giving this man an opportunity. In fact, going down the path of a business manager and using advanced metrics could give the Habs an advantage before others follow suit.
It started in baseball with Moneyball, followed up with Theo Epstein and currently Alex Anthropolous in Toronto. Most NFL GM's are business managers with salary cap experts as advisors.
Maybe playing experience matters for a coach, but in the front office and general manager position, I want the best and brightest on the business side, playing experience or not.
@Nick
Amen to that. General Manager is first and foremost a business position. Playing games or scoring goals does nothing to prove your competency in that area.
Even for coaches, high level playing experience is not a must. Jacques Demers or Ken Hitchcock never suited up professionally.
Nick & Louis,
While I agree a GM is a business position. If you have similarly qualified candidates then NHL playing experience should trump.
I do believe it is a huge asset, although I do agree you can have success without it.
When a team is struggling and the coach is having a hard time getting things back on track. The GM has a responsibility to do what he can to help the team succeed.
How does Julien Brisebois (as an example) come into the room and talk about paying the price, digging deep, playing as a team etc... and have any credibility with the players?
An ex-player has that credibility and their message has a much better chance of getting through.
If that ex-player GM is smart he will surround himself with people who have strengths in areas he does not and listen to them when making those decisions.
I think that was part of the problem with the Canadiens previous management team.
Personally, it doesn't matter to me who it is as long as they build a strong management team and have success.
Coming from left field...I think John Ferguson Jr deserves another shot. He's scouting for the Sharks never really had a chance in To as upper management was meddling and before that had high credentials with St Louis. The connections with the Habs is unquestionable. ....and then I would look at Pascal Vincent asst coach with the Jets as the head coach.
@Anon Ferguson was a failure in Toronto and he would also be a failure in Montreal, no thanks.
Also, please note that Vincent Damphousse is now out of the race for family reasons.
Pierre McGuire , for sure
No Pierre McGuire please, I don't want him talk about monsters in every press conference!
Norm from Notre Dame says:
Marc Bergevin will be offered the job. I hope he accepts.
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