Written by Habsterix, AllHabs.net

PENTICTON, BC — I am disappointed… no, rather shocked… no more than that… I’m disgusted reading some comments on Twitter, in Montreal newspapers, listening to the self-proclaimed “experts” and reporters, as well as some groups taking advantage of the situation to push their own political agenda.

While I highly doubt being able to convince anyone, I must at least try to explain the reasons why I feel like Cunneyworth was the one and only decision that made sense. I’m not expecting anyone to step on their pride and admit to it out loud, I do trust that people are intelligent enough to understand and even admit that deep down, it makes sense.

Jacques Martin had to be fired. To claim otherwise would be hypocritical as a vast majority of fans and medias were calling for it openly. Mr. Martin, due to Bob Gainey’s generosity, had a contract that not only paid him very well, but one which, according to what’s being reported, had a clause giving him a bonus if fired before the last year of his contract. Don’t take the numbers as facts, but rather the scenario. The Habs must pay Martin his full salary for next season, somewhere around $1.5M. The team also owes him his salary for the rest of this season which amounts to close to $1M. If the bonus is $1M, this means that the Habs must pay Martin roughly $3.5M to do… nothing.

Mr. Molson and his group recently invested about $600M for this enterprise and while they’re not hurting for money, they didn’t get rich by throwing money out the window. For that reason, I highly doubt that Gomez will be sent to the AHL as some speculate, but that’s another topic. For Molson to pay someone that kind of money for nothing isn’t a good business decision, but one he was willing to make for the good of the team.

Who are the best bilingual candidates to become the Habs’ head coach? How many are available today and how many will be available this summer? Many claim that Patrick Roy is the best candidate but he did say earlier that he would not leave Quebec during the season, remember.

There are approximately fifty games left this season. I don’t claim having any connections with the gods in Montreal but in my opinion, Mr. Molson must have told Gauthier: “Fire Martin but you find a replacement from within as I’m not adding to the coaching staff’s budget!” Gauthier looked at what was available to him. Gainey certainly doesn’t want to return behind the bench, so it’s not an option. Ladouceur, in spite of his name, isn’t bilingual and doesn’t have the necessary experience as head coach. Clement Jodoin is struggling to get the maximum out of his players in Hamilton and this is his first year coaching at the pro level.

And there’s Cunneyworth, who lead the Bulldogs to the Division pennant and to the AHL conference finals last year, and who coached several of the current players in Montreal today. He also knows the rest of the team from having been there all season as an assistant… but he doesn’t speak French.

Now look at the following two scenarios:

1- Pierre Gauthier keeps his job. Cunneyworth is there for the rest of the season no matter the results. This summer, Gauthier can interview anyone he wants to, including Roy. And who knows if Vigneault or other coaches are fired along the way…

2- Pierre Gauthier is fired by Geoff Molson. He hires a new GM who then, choses his own head coach.

In both cases, they will go out looking for the best candidate available who should, according to what Mr. Molson said himself, be bilingual (or from Quebec).

So my friends, take a deep breath, go for a walk, remember the mind boggling decisions players had to go through, smothered in Martin’s system, a coach who by the way was bilingual, and remember that the word “interim” means “temporary”. Also remember that temporary doesn’t necessarily mean one or two games. It might mean until the end of the season.

Really, it’s for the best. So I’m begging you… stop the drama and denounce those taking advantage of the situation to push their own agenda pro-francophone, because this decision has absolutely nothing to do with it. The Montreal Canadiens are and will keep on being a special organisation, where language is an important factor to consider.

Thank you.

En français: Le choix de Cunneyworth expliqué