Written by Habsterix, AllHabs.net
PENTICTON, BC. — There is no question that our perspective influences how we prioritize the qualities important to guiding a professional sports franchise. In my opinion, even if it goes against our personal beliefs, bilingualism is key and should be forefront in any list of general manager candidates that we put together for the Montreal Canadiens. But beyond the language debate remains the reality of the situation. While he contradicted owner Geoff Molson, Serge Savard clearly stated that the next GM of the Canadiens would speak French. So keeping that fact in mind, I’ve created a list of ten men who could be qualified for the job.
It goes without saying that some are more qualified than others and they are, in no particular order:
VINCENT DAMPHOUSSE
Vinny’s name has been circulating a lot recently. He played in the NHL from 1986 to 2004 and he won the Cup with the Canadiens back in 1993. After retiring from hockey, Damphousse was the NHLPA’s Vice-President. He left in 2007 to focus on personal projects.
JULIEN BRISEBOIS
BriseBois is Steve Yzerman’s assistant-GM with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 34 year old is also GM of the Norfolk Admirals, the Lightning’s farm team in the AHL. It’s with the Canadiens that it all started though, when he was hired at 24 years old, dealing with legal aspects for the Habs. He was promoted to Director of Hockey Operations in 2003 and V-P of Hockey Operations in 2006. In 2007, he also became the Hamilton Bulldogs’ GM. He knows the CBA inside and out and under the supervision of Serge Savard, he must be considered a top candidate.
PIERRE MCGUIRE
The 50-year-old McGuire had different positions in the NHL between 1991 and 1996. He won the Cup twice with the Penguins as an assistant-coach. He was assistant-coach and advisor to the GM in 1992 and 1993. He then became assistant-coach and scout for the Ottawa Senators between 1994 and 1996. Having spent the last 10 years as a commentator for TSN and NBC Sports, McGuire knows junior hockey players and is said to be a good judge of talent and he’s a good friend of Geoff Molson.
PATRICK ROY
Roy needs no introduction in Montreal and had it not been for a bad decision by Ronald Corey, he might have played his entire career for the Habs. St-Patrick is GM and coach of the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. While his name is being mentioned for the position of General Manager as well, he might be better suited for the head coaching position.
PAT BRISSON
The 47-year-old Brisson is a well-known players’ agent around the NHL, representing many high profile players including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, the Sedin twins and Jonathan Toews, amongst others. He is recognized as one of the most influential people in the NHL. It is unlikely that he would leave a job at which he excels, for one paying less and bringing more headaches, but people were saying the same thing about Mike Gillis before he took over the Vancouver Canucks.
MARC BERGEVIN
The 46-year-old former NHL player Bergevin is the assistant-GM to Stan Bowman for the Chicago Blackhawks. He has been with the organization since 2005 as a scout, Director of Player Personnel, and took over his current position in 2011 when he replaced Kevin Cheveldayoff, who left the Blackhawks to become GM of the Winnipeg Jets. Important to note that he also worked under Dale Tallon in Chicago.
CLAUDE LOISELLE
The former player Loiselle, 48, was raised in a French-speaking household in suburban Ottawa, and said he learned English though television and playing hockey. He was the assistant General Manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning and General Manager of the Lightning’s AHL farm team, the Norfolk Admirals. He spent seven years as Associate Director of Hockey Operations for the NHL and was involved in salary arbitration, discipline and collective bargaining, while also serving as the liaison on hockey operation matters between the NHL and the AHL. Loiselle is now assistant-GM to Brian Burke in Toronto. He also worked as a scout for the Anaheim Ducks prior to that.
LARRY CARRIERE
While not a popular choice amongst the media, Carriere is well respected in the hockey community. The former NHL defenseman worked as a scout, then moved to the front office in Buffalo. He was working with the Washington Capitals before joining the Canadiens’ organization. As we know, Carriere was assistant to Pierre Gauthier before moving behind the bench after Perry Pearn was fired. While he may not be the top candidate for the position, the 60-year-old Carriere should be getting some consideration.
PIERRE LACROIX
As I was writing a few weeks ago, the 63-year-old Lacroix is perhaps my personal favourite candidate, combining experience, respect and winning history. He is currently the President of the Colorado Avalanche, a team which he lead to two Stanley Cups as General Manager. Would he accept moving back to his home province and take on the challenge of straighten a once proud franchise? No one will know unless he receives the offer.
JACQUES MARTIN
Martin was recently fired as head coach by Gauthier, replaced on an interim basis by Randy Cunneyworth, but he is still under contract and works as a pro scout for the organization. He does have experience in the role, as he served as both coach and GM for the Florida Panthers, and he is respected around the NHL. He is perhaps my least favourite candidate off this list as I personally don’t buy into his defensive, lack of physical play mentality.
My personal preference would be, in order:
1- Pierre Lacroix
2- Julien BriseBois
3- Claude Loiselle
4- Marc Bergevin
What are your priorities for choosing the next Habs GM? Who is on your list?
I don’t see Jacques Martin as a candidate.. I see one of these three PIERRE MCGUIRE, Patrick Roy or Vincent Damphouse.
One issue with candidates that already have a job in another is ,will the other team let the Habs talk to the them in the first place?
Agreed about Martin. As for letting the Habs talk to people in the organization, it’s an unwritten rule to allow members of your organization get to the next level. The Canadiens did it with Julien BriseBois and Guy Boucher, and they did it again with Carolina for Kirk Muller. I don’t see it as an issue, unless we’re talking at level (GM for GM).
Where is Rogie Vachon’s name for Montral G/M
Appropriately omitted. Both he and Serge Savard have been out of hockey for far too long to suddenly jump back into any GM role, least of all the GM of the Canadiens.
2 or 3 months ago I thought Loiselle might be a good candidate – then the Leafs crashed, as many of us hoped they would. Not everything can be laid at the door of Burke, his assistants are there to ‘assist’ him afterall, so I don’t really feel that taking a GM from that team would be especially smart – would you hire their goalie coach? How about their defense coach? So why the assistant GM?
My preference is for BriseBois with Savard (or perhaps a different former Hab, such as Damphousse or maybe Carbonneau) as an advisor/assistant.
I wouldn’t put too much on Loiselle in the decision making in Toronto. Brian Burke makes the decisions and carries a big gun everywhere he works. He did in Vancouver, then in Anaheim, and I’m convinced that he does the same in TO. But it’s a legitimate point you’re making Kevin.
This certainly is ‘a’ list, and I appreciate the thought you put into it.
But I certainly hope it isn’t ‘the’ list, ie. the list that the Habs front office will actually use when scheduling interviews. There are too many unqualified candidates.
The one that continues to baffle me, as it has since I first heard his name, is Vincent Damphousse. In fact, to my disbelief, I have read more than once that there are those who want a GM/coach duo of Damphousse/Patrick Roy.
How quickly they forget!
Damphousse has no front office experience whatsoever — and no, his Players’ Association work does NOT count. His only qualifications are that he is a franco and his name is recognizable to Habs fans.
Roy, on the other hand, while possessing those same qualities, has a reputation of being an egotistical loose cannon.
Sound familiar?
In 1995, Rejean Houle — he of the dazzling francophone tongue but complete and utter lack of front office experience — was hired as Montreal’s GM. He was totally unqualified and in over his head from the day he started to the day he was canned. His coach, Mario Tremblay, was an egotistical loose cannon whose decisions have haunted the franchise to his day. These two decimated the Canadiens and were the worst GM/coach combo in their history, and, quite possibly, sports history.
Let’s try to keep this in mind in further discussions about who who will be chosen to turn things around in Montreal.
Most of the rest of the potential candidates are uninspiring to say the least. If Geoff Molson really wants to prove to us that he is looking for the best of the best, he will wait until the playoffs are over, thereby putting every team’s best employees in play.
For me, it begins and ends with Jim Nill. He has earned his stripes as a long-time assistant to one of the best in the business, Ken Holland, in one of the best run organizations in all of professional sports. If Nill does not get serious — and I mean SERIOUS — consideration, it will be a signal that politics is more important in Montreal than Stanley Cups. And, if that’s the case, it may be time to rethink my 40+ year allegiance to this team.
I have to agree with you, but will M. Molson have the balls to select a non french speaking GM? after the ”Cunnyworth” saga.
That beeing said I can’t see anybody eslse more quaified for the job besides Serge Savard himself (can’t see him taking the job.
If I had money to gamble on guessing who the next Habs’ GM will be, I certainly wouldn’t bet on a guy who doesn’t speak French. Right or wrong is a topic on its own, but what the list above made me realize is that there are several qualified bilingual individuals who I think can do the job quite well.
Apparently Jim Nill is under a pretty strict contract with the Red Wings, with the organization not allowing other teams speak to him with the prospect of becoming their GM. From what I understand, he’s under contract til 2016.
I hear you, Nat, but if Molson has any balls at all, he will stand up to the French media thugs and do what’s right instead of what’s popular.
And yes, Stefano, I have heard the same thing about Nill’s contract. My response? “Money talks.” If you want someone badly enough, you do what it takes to get him.
I truly hope you are right, but as a hardcore habs fan for over 20 years, it seems that the media has always had the ability to manipulate the ownership group in place. I truly think that this is the problem with this team, it is managed by 2 million passionate but yet emotional fans.
I am one of those french speaking fans that realy doesen’t care what language the GM, Coach or players speak as long as they win. Futhermore I am also willing to wait 3 years so they can build around solid draft picks, sine the reality of the new NHL is that you need those unexpensive recruits to support the expensive veterans if you want to succed.
After the recent circus I think they will want to fill the position with some demonstrable experience and competence in a similar (if not GM level) role, not take a flyer on a former player or media talking head.
I think that Julien BriseBois probably fits the brief more than anyone else.
I do wonder if they have considered M Patrick Roy as a potential coach and if some of the decision on GM will be based on the line of questioning “How open would you be to hiring St Patrick as coach and potentially being undercut by having him empowered with special player personnel veto powers?”
Robert Rice also compiled his own list of “under the radar” GM’s and thought of Trevor Timmins. Personally, he’d be top three candidates in my book.
Then again, he has been pretty solid with the drafting, so may as well keep him there.
If I had serious money to bet, I’d have to put it on a bilingual GM. Robert did a fantastic job with his list but something tells me that the non-French speaking ones likely won’t be retained.
Can we fire Molson?
why would you want Molson out of office? That statement baffles me every time I hear it
How can you say M. Molson is doing a bad job, he just bought the team and was stuck with someone elses decisions. He took the time asses his investment and is now taking the proper steps to make it his own.
I truly think that the M. Molson holds the succes of the Habs in high regards, just give him the time to fix previous owners mistakes.
Do you realy think we were better of with Mr. Gilett who know nothing of hockey and bought the Habs as a pure and simple investment to sell as soon as the stocks went in his favor, Please….
Twas mostly a joke, but since you ask, tossing Randy under the bus a couple days after hire was just lame and uncalled for, not a fan of Serge Savard and rich little boy seems to lack fortitude, just my 1st impression.
See how this hiring process goes and i hope i am out to lunch, time will tell.
Why would you be so in favour of him? And i was fine with Gillett as owner.
I hear you Don but Geoff Molson has 600 million reasons to care and so far, I like what he’s done. Truth be told that I wasn’t a fan of the ex-Senators management team of Gauthier and Martin so seeing them removed from their position alone was good for me.
The next few weeks leading to the draft and the free agents’ market will dictate the direction Molson wants his team to take. I, for one, am excited just listening to the names of the people being interviewed… with the exception of François Giguère.
So…
According to Pierre LeBrun, the Habs have spoken (amongst others) to Pat Brisson and Marc Bergevin.
François Gagnon said that they have also asked the Leafs permission to talk to Claude Loiselle.
I was reading earlier (forgive me, I forgot the source) that they’ve also asked the Lightning to talk to Julien BriseBois.
Seems like this list is being picked on. :)
No Francois Giguere? Any reason why the fans aren’t speculating that he is an option?
Mcguire will not be a GM ever and I wouldn’t be surprised if he never worked again in the NHL. I don’t mind the guy but he knows nothing. NOTHING.
Roy doesn’t want to be GM and Damphousse has already squashed that rumour. Quit bringing them up.
In my opinion it’s Brisebois or Bergevin if they want to shake things up. Giguere or Lacroix if they go for experience. And Loiselle if he somehow proves he is better than the other 4.
Stev, this was written a few days ago. The next day, the name of Giguère came out so sorry for not having him there. I personally wouldn’t want him as GM anyway as his track record has nothing to write about.
As for Damphousse, the news only came out today that he was withdrawing his name for family reasons. He was one of the major candidates mentioned even in main stream media. Same goes for Roy.
Understand that those are names that were being tossed around at the time of writing this article and reflects the situation at that time. :)
i am fairly ignorant of who really is qualified for GM and recognize some of names but dont know specific backgrounds and track records of most.
But all i hope is that, Molson is not BSing when he says winning is the #1 priority and not letting politics force his hand to pick the best of a shallow pool of prospects as Savard is asserting will be done.
But given the nice building blocks on the roster and the nice group of prospects truning pro this year, even a mediocre GM shouldnt screw it up too too badly?
A mediocre GM could easily screw up any roster by, a) hiring the wrong coach, and b) making ill-advised roster moves.
Recently the Habs have been guilty of both. Jacques Martin did serious damage to the development of some of the team’s younger players, ie. Weber and Subban with his ridiculous schemes and worse ice-time management. And no one needs to be reminded of Pierre Gauthier’s awful trades and call-ups from Hamilton. There’s a lot of good talent scattered throughout the NHL that, at one time, wore the CH.
I have serious doubts and concerns about the abilities of anyone in the Canadiens’ organization to make apolitical hirings. Despite the rhetoric about winning Stanley Cups, I haven’t seen anything to suggest that there’s an appetite for anything but politics in Montreal.
It`s pretty obvious that language is more of an issue then anything else in Quebec.The fact is that in any business,,*friends* hire *friends*. When Boivin hired Gauthier as the best possible candidate?? Need i say more. Kinda ironic that the seperatist movement took a big spike upward in the mid 80`s, about the same time our team was going into the crapper.Offer up a chinese coach and guarentee a cup win, you`d still get*Mais, il ne parle pas francais!!!!.Probably the same clowns who complain the hospital linen bins are not in french.Operate the team like a business and winning will bring you success regardless of the language issues.I`m not sure who is the top dog for the job, but i like Pierre McGuire,anybody who says he knows nothing should stick to the popcorn blogs.He probably has dirt on me and i haven`t played organized hockey in 30 years.And crapping on Geoff Molson??? Where were all the big francophone dollars when the team was on the block?? Hydro Quebec?? Videotron?? Enough said.If it weren`t for Gillet and the Molsons,we might be working for Basillie,,whoops bad example. Geoff,,,when i`m out tonight i`ll be ordering a Silver Bullet and toasting the future of our Montreal Canadiens. Remember friends don`t let friends drive drunk,,but they don`t hire friends either.
I would like to see Jacques Lemaire come out of retirement to coach…thoughts?
Jacques Lemaire would be a perfect candidate considering his long background with Montreal and cup winning ways with NJ Devils
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