by Rick Stephens, AllHabs.net

MONTREAL, QC — This week the Canadiens hired Randy Cunneyworth to become the next head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Cunneyworth played more than 900 games in the NHL and wore the captain ‘C’. The same could be said for former Bulldogs coach, Don Lever.

Remember him?

The similarities don’t end there. Like Lever, Cunneyworth has had significant success coaching in the AHL and has been an assistant coach at the NHL level.

What happened to Lever, you say?

After assisting Bob Gainey behind the bench at the end of the 2009 season, Lever was not only passed over for the vacant head coaching position with the Canadiens, he was unceremoniously dumped from the Bulldogs. Instead, Guy Boucher was given his first opportunity to coach at the professional level.

Canadiens’ President Pierre Boivin would later explain that it was part of a plan to employ Francophones in key positions throughout the organization. Apparently Boucher was being groomed to take over the reins of the Canadiens.

Do you recall the phrase your grandmother used to say, “Be careful what you wish for because you might just get it?” As kids we didn’t understand it, and it would seem that Boivin and company still doesn’t.

Boivin not only had an heir apparent with a “QC” on his birth certificate, but he was the most sought after young coach of the off-season.

There was only one problem. As much as Boivin places his social engineering project at the top of the organizational agenda, there is something that trumps it: self-preservation. Long-standing loyalties dictated that Boivin protected Pierre Gauthier who did the same with Jacques Martin.

And with Martin remaining as head coach, there was no room at the inn for the innovative Monsieur Boucher.

So with Lightning GM Steve Yzerman raiding the young off-ice talent of the Canadiens organization, Boivin and Gauthier were left to hit the reset button on their succession planning strategy.

Enter Cunneyworth, an excellent AHL coach, not unlike Lever. He is a demanding coach who will instill discipline in Hamilton. I must admit that I cringed when I read about the system that Cunneyworth intends to employ in Hamilton.

“I think it’s very important that I emulate what Jacques is doing in a lot of cases. There will be some minor adjustments and changes, but for the most part, the base of the games will be similar to what the Montreal Canadiens need,” explained Cunneyworth. “It serves no purpose if they’re bringing up a player to help them win the game and they don’t know the system of the Montreal Canadiens.

In theory, I agree with Cunneyworth. Unfortunately, in this situation, I’d prefer that the Bulldogs were not being taught to play an extremely passive, outdated style of hockey. Given Cunneyworth’s connection to the Habs’ bench boss, you won’t hear him saying those words.

Add another layer of loyalty to the matrix with Cunneyworth having been captain for the Ottawa Senators while Martin was behind the bench and Gautier was GM of the club. In other words, Martin isn’t going anywhere unless a comprehensive change is made.

The dinosaur brigade was quick to chime in with their bigoted commentary.

“It’s unacceptable behaviour by the Canadiens, said Bob Hartley. (“Le comportement du Canadien est inacceptable.”)

“It’s an unjustifiable and insulting decision,” said Bernard Brisset. (“Une decision injustifiable et insultante.”)

What planet are these guys from? Whether or not Cunneyworth was the absolute best candidate for the position, he certainly comes well-qualified. It would seem rather easy to justify the decision to hire a successful and experienced AHL coach to reasonably-minded individuals.

Michel Bergeron was stunned when he heard the news. “It can’t be, it can’t be done,” said Bergeron. (“Ça ne se peut pas, ça ne se peut pas.”)

He went on to say that “Its a slap in the face of all junior coaches in Quebec.” (“C’est une claque dans la face de tous les coachs juniors au Quebec.”) Apparently Bergeron believes in fishing only in the shallow end of the pond. I think the Habs have plenty of experience knowing how that will turn out.

Bergeron concluded that “We all agree that Cunneyworth could never coach the Montreal Canadiens.” (“Nous sommes d’accord pour dire que Cunneyworth ne dirigera jamais le Canadien.”)

I can’t say that I agree.

If Cunneyworth or anyone else is the best candidate available, then why wouldn’t he be considered for the head coaching position of the Montreal Canadiens? It’s what other organizations do.

During the Canadiens recent successful playoff run, the de-facto coach of the team was Kirk Muller. Does Bergeron’s philosophy mean that Muller wouldn’t receive due consideration?

Bilingualism is an asset but it has nothing to do with the necessary skills for coaching a hockey team. Its like finding out that your child’s school-crossing guard plays the cello.

And forget the nonsense about speaking to the media being an important part of coaching. The mainstream media made that one up.

Have you heard a coach Martin press conference? “The team was/wasn’t ready to play. I thought/didn’t think we competed tonight.”

It was the same set of meaningless, canned comments all season. It wouldn’t be that much different via a translator.

Even when the stars aligned, and one of those small pond catches was a superb choice for bench boss, Boivin’s policy has been proven to be full of holes. The prized asset of the CH, coach Boucher, was allowed to bolt.

Now it’s Geoff Molson’s turn to implement his vision. He has announced a year-long transition to take over from Boivin, but some believe the change will happen more quickly than that. In putting together his plan, Molson would do well to be less influenced by agenda-driven media and instead return the Canadiens organization to a system of meritocracy.

Fans want the Habs to be focused on a single mission: to win the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately that goal has slipped from the forefront to make way for other non-hockey related priorities in recent years.

It will be the challenge of the Molsons to restore the glory.

Is the hiring of Cunneyworth a first step down that road? Arguing that would be a stretch and as mentioned, may have been motivated by selfish reasons. However, it is in whole or in part, a hockey decision, not driven by ideological factors.

And that’s a good thing.

(photo credit: AP)

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