The Winds of Change Continue to Blow in Montreal

It’s been the summer of change for the Montreal Canadiens organization, as the cliché “out with the old, in with the new” was literally put into action.

Ousted were much maligned front-office bosses Pierre Gauthier and Bob Gainey, while a new regime headed by Marc Bergevin was ushered in among much optimism and relief that the sometimes dictator-like Gauthier and his often sketchy ways of dealing with players, coaches, and fans.

Bergevin brings with him several years of front-office experience acquired with the Chicago Blackhawks, including a Stanley Cup victory in 2010. He also spent 20 years in the NHL as a player, so there is no questioning that Bergevin knows the game. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s a Montrealer, something that will please the French-speaking masses of this province.

Bergevin has already assembled an impressive front-office staff. He’s made the easy decision of retaining Director of Amateur Scouting Trevor Timmins, the man responsible for many of the Habs young rising stars, as well as Larry Carriere, who was Gauthier’s assistant manager last season. Bergevin has since hired Rick Dudley (assistant GM), Scott Mellanby (Director of Player Personnel), Martin Lapointe (Director of Player Development), and Patrice Brisebois (Player Development Coach). Many have applauded the hires, but the fact remains that this group needs to put together a solid on-ice product before considering this sweeping change by owner Geoff Molson a successful one.

Bergevin himself has already made his major hires; besides the names mentioned above, Bergevin has dipped into the Canadiens past by selecting former coach Michel Therrien as the team’s next head coach. Therrien has since hired Gerard Gallant of the St. Johns Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Clément Joidoin of the Habs’ farm-team Hamilton Bulldogs as his assistants.

The Therrien hiring nearly caused an uproar in Montreal, as many were opposed to the idea of bringing in a coach who had already been in Montreal (without much success the first time around), but in Therrien’s defense, he spent some time around the league since the early 2000’s, having gained experience in Pittsburgh, where he led the Penguins to within a couple of wins from a Stanley Cup, as well doing some pro-scouting in Minnesota. He comes back to Montreal more knowledgeable, with more experience to draw upon, and definitely better prepared for the pressures of this city than he was the first time around.

The move will be criticized until the puck drops in the season-opening game come October, but for now all the Habs’ brass can worry about is the most important part of the offseason: the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1.