Tag Archives: Bob Gainey


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Beyond Winning: Bergevin’s Mandate to Make Habs Fun Again

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With Boivin, Gainey, Gauthier and Jacques Martin now gone, a new era has truly begun for the Canadiens and fans alike. This is not an incremental sideways step like Gainey to Gauthier was, or like Martin to Cunneyworth was. Those were shuffled deck chairs. The front office clean sweep that was so badly and clearly needed is nearly complete, and a new culture is about to be implemented not a moment too soon.

Let’s just say it now, because it’s stunningly obvious: winning breeds fun. And so in that regard, Bergevin’s only true mandate is to turn the Canadiens in to a consistent winner. But beyond success on the ice, it would be wise for Bergevin and the brass of the Canadiens to recognize the many errors of the previous regime, specifically when it comes to how the organization presents itself. Under Gauthier, the Canadiens came to resemble a secretive cult shrouded in a veil of lead-lined curtains. Impenetrable, inaccessible, unlovable. Fortunately for the Canadiens, fan devotion is as close to an renewable resource as it gets, but they came to take it for granted. Under the previous regime, the outsiders were kept out, and sometimes even the insiders were kept out. I cannot think of a GM and Coach tandem so lifeless, drab and moribund like the Gauthier/Martin tandem was. The Canadiens went from a team that was once the epitome of class (there’s that overused word again), excellence, and flair. This is not to say that the Canadiens downfall is all Gauthier’s fault, or any one single person’s fault, but Gauthier, through his dour methods helped ensure that the Canadiens were a constant source of scorn, frustration and emptyness for its fans, and a laughing stock for everyone else.

If the team was winning, some of that would have been left by the wayside and forgiven or ignored, but in addition to being a joyless dud, Pierre Gauthier was also a bad GM who has his fingerprints all over one of the worst trades in NHL history, and is guilty of the worst player acquisition of this past season in the entire NHL.

With the newly hired Marc Bergevin, the Canadiens are getting a self-professed “people person” and someone with a legendary history of pranks. The man has presence, personality and at least for now, a desire to want to share that with his employer, and with Habs fans. This injection of flair and personality, although not mentioned on a job description, is an important part of reinvigorating a franchise that was getting by with glossy marketing. If teams get their identity from their leaders, then it’s no wonder why the Canadiens offered up so many poor performances void of energy, life and care over the past couple seasons. Marc Bergevin’s personality alone, if it filters down through the organization, will minimize, if not eliminate those corpse-like performances entirely. Of course, much of that will also depend on who he appoints as Head Coach, but that’s another story for another day. Or you can visit the links to the right and probably find that discussion.

A few years ago Bob Gainey described Montreal as a city with spice. What he meant in his statement was that this city has an energy and passion for Canadiens hockey that is unrivaled, a thirst that is unquenchable. Why the front office and coaching staff didn’t reflect that statement is anyone’s guess, but they went ahead and put people in place that were “professional” and button-up. They only said what needed to be said, and expressed it as frostily and formally as possible. Thankfully it looks like Geoff Molson is now trying to change that in a big way. Montrealers want to have fun. Montrealers love a good party, and love to celebrate. Montrealers detest a loser. Montrealers abhor the bland. The Habs should be fun. The Habs need to be fun. With such pricey and exclusive tickets, shelling out tons of hard-earned money to go to a Habs game often felt more like a task rather than something to be joyful about, because you simply didn’t know what you were going to get aside from the pomp of the ultra-loud sound system.

While nobody listed “energetic” or “ebullient” as qualifications for the General Manager’s job, a contagious sense of positivity, leadership and joie de vie will go a long way in putting this team back on the right path, and getting fans in a more upbeat mood. People tend to wholeheartedly support people that they like. Bergevin seems to possess all of these qualities, and seems to be a genuinely likeable guy, while his predecessor expressed none of those qualities and was almost universally despised. It’s no wonder why the Habs sunk to such low depths – and I’m not solely referring to their recent 28th place finish.

The Marc Bergevin era will one day come to an end, and what his legacy will be is anyone’s guess, but if he can make the Canadiens fun to watch and fun to follow once again, while ending the constant cycle of drama that engulfs the team, the epitaph will be infinitely kinder to him. By being personable, transparent and accessible, Bergevin is going to put a much different spin on how this team presents itself, and that’s a great thing on its own.

Just make sure the team wins, Marc. And don’t do anything stupid.

Pierre Gauthier Kicked to the Curb!

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Habs nation rejoice! The man who helped run this franchise ashore has been canned, or resigned. Who cares- the point is he will no longer be a part of this team.

But before we pop the champagne corks, it’s important to note that the removal of Gauthier from the Habs GM chair is only one part of the equation. The ball is now in Geoff Molson’s court to find the best replacement, and not simply to bring in a guy who checks a bunch of politically-driven boxes.

With Bob Gainey still reportedly in the picture, it makes sense that the long awaited regime  and culture change that the Canadiens need, and that fans want to see is not a guarantee. If Gainey sticks around, you can bet that it will be the same old, same old, and that somebody with prior experience with the team and market will be brought in to fill Gauthier’s vacated office. Won’t that temper your excitement? I would certainly squash my excitement. Bob Gainey, as great a player as he was and as great a man that he is, his reign as Habs GM was only mildly successful. He is at least partly responsible for the mess that is this Habs organization. His time has expired with this team. It’s time for Gainey to move on.

EDIT: With reports today that the Canadiens suspended their 2012 exhibition game in Quebec City, it’s a strong clue that the Nordiques are going to back in the NHL. While the timing has some scratching their heads, the move is not only symbolic, and an olive branch to the fans – it’s the waving of the green flag – off to the races! If the Nordiques version 2.0 are in fact on their way back to Quebec City, then it stands to reason that they may also be in the hunt for a new General Manager (even though their current one has done good work). It would serve the Habs well to make sure they have the pick of the litter before local competition arrives to usurp potential candidates.

The day has come for Pierre Gauthier, and now it’s up to Molson to prove that he means it when he says that the Cup is his ultimate goal. Only a laser-like focus on excellence can bring the Cup back to Montreal, and hiring less than the best – for any reason at all can only lessen those chances.

 

Benoît Pouliot: The Legacy of a Mistake

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Let’s go back to late summer 2006. A 19 year old local wonderkind had just lit up the NHL’s preseason by scoring nearly a goal per game. Finally! The hero that the home town crowd had been praying for had arrived to save the team from obscurity and be the franchise’s cornerstone for at least a decade. Even if an inflated preseason goal-per-game pace is reduced by half, or even a quarter over the course of a regular season, surely you’ve got a useful, if not marquee player, right?

Clearly rookie head coach Guy Carbonneau and General Manager Bob Gainey thought so, and awarded Guillaume Latendresse a 3-year contract worth $850,000 per season, which was the maximum allowable for a rookie. Immediately the skeptics voiced their concern that the Canadiens simply bowed to public and media pressure to keep the young francophone in Montreal. The cheerleader in this camp was Habs legend Patrick Roy, who stated that if Latendresse’s name was Smith, he would have been relegated to the minors.

The other popular refrain was that while Latendresse was the big body that the Canadiens badly needed on their top two lines, he should have served time in Hamilton under coach Don Lever…this camp was led by TSN analyst Pierre McGuire. After all, players don’t arrive in Montreal to learn; they arrive in Montreal to perform, where the pressure to win is the highest. The AHL and other “minor” leagues are where players go to learn to be well rounded. At least that’s the way it works in Montreal. While the skeptics were derided as being a bunch of scrooges, it wouldn’t take long for them to be proven right. While Latendresse scored 16, 16 and 14 goals in Montreal before his 22nd birthday, it was more than clear that he was an unpolished, unrefined hockey player that more often than not was lost on the ice. Those that demanded that he be given a permanent home in Montreal in the fall of 2006 blamed rotating linemates and a lack of ice time for his underwhelming presence on the ice. The truth is that Latendresse was a confused hockey player; yes part of the blame rests with Habs management for rushing him along, but much of it rests with Latendresse himself, who squandered each and every opportunity to better himself (i.e. skipping a preseason camp for young players in the summer of 2009).

Finally, on November 23, 2009, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild for Benoît Pouliot, another chronic underachiever. This trade was a classic ‘my problem for your problem’ scenario. Almost immediately, Latendresse showed a scorer’s touch, scoring 10 goals in his first 20 games with Minnesota, and going on to score 25 goals in 55 games over the remainder of 2009-10 season. Surely, those pumping Latendresse’s tires during his stay in Montreal felt vindicated in their belief in the young player, even as they continued to wipe the tears from their eyes over the trade. Meanwhile, Benoît Pouliot was busy mending a bum wrist, awaiting his debut with the tricolore. For his part, once he did return from a wrist injury Pouliot went on to score 15 goals in 39 games; 6 more than he had scored in 65 career games with the Wild. On the surface, it looked like a win-win trade. Except that the majority of Pouliot’s goals were scored during one hot streak which then quickly subsided. What we all know now is that when Pouliot isn’t scoring, he isn’t doing anything. At all. Except taking dumb penalties.

So, after scoring 24 points in 39 in his first half-season with Montreal (a statistic that flattered Pouliot’s overall quality of play), Pouliot showed his true colours by posting a flaccid 2 assists in 18 playoff games. Talk about being a passenger!

Here’s where rushing a player to the big show, then trading that player in an attempt to wash your hands of the problem that he had become morphs in to an even bigger problem. Not only did the Canadiens decide to keep Benoît Pouliot for the 2010-2011 season, they inexplicably gave him a $500,000 raise to $1.35M. There’s an argument to be made that the Habs had faith in his untapped abilities, and that he’d represent good value for the money. You could also say that you simply don’t give up on a kid who was drafted 4th overall (one place ahead of Carey Price). Fine, but the more plausible explanation is that the Canadiens were practicing “asset management”. Letting Pouliot walk after the 2009-2010 season would have meant trading Guillaume Latendresse for half a season (plus playoffs) of Benoît Pouliot. That would have caused a tremendous uproar and been a perceived stain on Gauthier’s resume. Quite simply, the Habs had to save face after trading away the media’s golden boy.

What this all boils down to is a single mistake made in 2006 – bowing to fan and media pressure in keeping an unprepared youngster in the highest pressure market in hockey. Because of that mistake, the Habs were forced to trade Latendresse away for another underachiever and then compounded the error by keeping Pouliot around for another year. By the time the 2011 draft had rolled around, Pouliot’s stock had fallen so far that General Manager Gauthier could not even secure a low-level draft choice for Pouliot’s negotiating rights. With Pouliot’s tenure with the Habs on life support, Gauthier let the clock expire. He did not tender Pouliot a qualifying offer, meaning that he will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. The lesson learned here should be player development. Unless you’re dealing with a known quantity, a sure-fire superstar like Sidney Crosby, like Steven Stamkos, like Matt Duchene, like Taylor Hall, all players should be mandated to spend at least one full season in the AHL or an equivalent training ground.

Guillaume Latendresse sprang from the ether to have a tremendous preseason. That’s all it took for the external pressure to build to the point where the Habs made a catastrophic decision with Latendresse. Who knows what may have become of Latendresse if he had been made to learn the professional game in Hamilton. He could have arrived in Montreal a smarter, better, stronger, more rounded player, playing his rookie season at 20 or 21 years old. Instead, he was a teenager who was granted the keys to the city for scoring a handful of meaningless goals.

There’s no doubt that a single mistake can have far reaching effects many years later and that it is not always simple or easy to recover from those mistakes. While the Habs saved faced and hoped for Pouliot to fulfill his potential, a roster spot was taken away from somebody else who could have had a more meaningful contribution to the Canadiens.

What I Will Enjoy Most About Free Agency

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Aside from talking about possible trades and signings, and then endlessly dissecting them when they do or don’t happen, there’s one thing I will have the most fun with concerning free agency:

Habs fans blaming Pierre Gauthier for the head scratching moves that are bound to come.

You see, once the Habs came up roses after the Olympic break, and once they went real deep in the playoffs, everyone was showering former GM Bob Gainey with praise. THIS was the team he intended, and THIS was the team that was going to return the team to glory! He was a genius, the man who built a great and formidable team. I wanted to join the festivities, but couldn’t. Not fully, anyway. Don’t get me wrong: he does deserve some praise for putting this group together. They *are* a pretty good team, but there are still clear and glaring holes, and big questions to be answered in the next year.

I love Gainey as much as anyone, but let’s recognize the bind that he left Pierre Gauthier in. After last summer’s shopping spree, he left the Habs with scant cap flexibility, meaning new GM Pierre Gauthier will probably have to unload some salaries for nothing in return except for the luxury of perhaps resigning guys he already had. Essentially, the same team, for more money and for a long, long time.  Or, he could lose the guys he has, and still pay a lot of money for lesser players. Finally, he could trade assets to replace guys that he had just a couple months earlier. That’s not my idea of improvement, and it’s not the way to build a contender.

If you’re content with this team’s make-up, more power to you. If you like the mix that went a long way this season despite the Head Coach’s ineptness, wonderful. If you believe that the team will only be better with a year under their belt, and less injuries to endure, terrific.

But I think a team has to constantly improve and that includes making tough choices and bold moves. Gainey, for all the good he did in building this team, left Gauthier with little wiggle room for the next several seasons.

So when the Habs take the ice next year with either an overpriced Plekanec (he will get more than he’s worth simply because of the lack of free agent talent available), or someone else who isn’t as good as Plekanec, don’t be so quick to blame Gauthier. And when Gauthier is up against the cap and wondering what to do with pending unrestricted free agent Andrei Markov, get off his case. He’s not going to have wads of money to throw around. And if he does, it’s because he cut anchor with a lot of high priced guys for draft picks and cheap bodies. I’ve made it clear that I don’t like the Habs current management and coaching group (aside from assistant coach Kirk Muller), but if we’re going to bash a guy, we have to be fair about it, and I just don’t see Habs fans doing that simply because it’s easier to criticize Gauthier than it is Gainey, especially now that he’s gone (perhaps Gainey foresaw this storm brewing and simply didn’t want to deal with it?).

Sure, Gauthier gladly accepted the job once the Habs concluded that their exhaustive hiring process proved that he was brightest gem shining from underneath all the thousands of overturned stones, but there’s only so much a guy can do. It’s now his job to improve this team, but he can only work with what he has.

Clock Strikes Midnight for Gainey

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I really wanted this to be a more varied sports blog, but the Canadiens are making this too easy (and fun)!

Bob Gainey is now the  former General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens, giving up his job today, and passing the torch to his assistant, Pierre Gauthier (so really, what has changed?).

I’m not surprised. Not at the announcement, and certainly not at the timing. Usually things like this come as a shock, but after I posted my rant on January 28th about the confusing puzzle that is the Canadiens, I was prepared for today’s press conference. After listening to the press conference it sounded as though Gainey had simply felt as though he had nothing left to give. Once the 100th anniversary celebrations were over, and once the Molsons took over, Gainey reportedly began to question his future with the team. In this case, we do have to leave room for the possibility that he has had enough of this job. Maybe he didn’t want to be here anymore, and rather than make moves with his heart and mind in another place, he’s going to relinquish control of hockey decisions. That’s a classy move, and I expect nothing less from Gainey. Of course, I’ve never pegged him as a selfish quitter, but perhaps he read the writing on the wall. We will never know if he’s simply leaving on his own terms, or pulling the chute before feeling the sharp blade of the axe on his neck. There usually is more to things like this, and with changes in ownership often come changes in culture and philosophy. Did Gainey’s views clash with the Molsons?

We have been led to believe that Gainey is leaving now because the roster freeze prompted by the Olympic Games is a natural entry point for Pierre Gauthier to take over and get acclimatized. That’s very possible. On the other hand, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, Gainey was being denied the independence of doing his job as he sees fit.

Here’s my theory, as simple and speculative as it is: Gainey, in full survival mode, wanted to make some moves to strengthen the team before the March 3rd trade deadline in hopes to make the playoffs, and perhaps secure a new contract. On the flip side, the Molsons are looking more towards the future, and do not want have this team floating in mediocrity, as it has been for years. Obviously, this can be easily debunked if you believe Gainey’s explanation of not wanting to continue as General Manager.

Yes, I know my theory does not make sense. Why would the Molsons, who just spent over half a billion dollars choose to miss the playoffs (or at least make missing the post-season a very real possibility), thus forfeiting playoff revenues. Why? Because this team as currently constructed would get a maximum of 3 home dates. At $2-3 million per game, they would rake in anywhere from $4 to 9 million in extra money. That’s a lot of money for just about everyone. But is it a lot of money for a trio of brothers who just spent upwards of $575 million for their new toy? I doubt it. I believe that the Molsons are emotionally invested in the success of their team on the ice, given the long and successful link their family has with the club. My personal belief is that they want the team to sit at the top of the standings, and not aim for 8th every year, which is what we had under Gainey’s tenure. Maybe I’m certifiably nuts, but I think they’re in this for glory as much as for money. Many will suggest that the opposite of my theory is what’s truly afoot here: that the Molsons wanted Gainey to do whatever is necessary to make the playoffs, and gain that precious bonus revenue, and that Gainey was resistant to mortgage the future in order to do that. Gainey has never been one to give up on the post-season, and I doubt he’d start now. Evidence for this can be found in that he let many free agents walk away for nothing over the years instead of trading them and acquiring assets for the future. Making the playoffs can come at a cost, and that cost is losing free agents for nothing in return. In essence, guys like Souray, Streit, and Ryder were traded for a few playoff games and cap space. That’s what leads me to believe that Gainey is looking to add to this team, instead of look to the future.

image courtesy of Getty Images

It’s not important which one is right, or if either are right. This could truly be a case of a guy who’s had enough. Or, it could be a guy who’s quitting before he’s fired. We will never know if this is truly the case, and we will have to accept the “passing of the torch” reasoning behind his resignation.

But let’s take a look at why the Molsons would bother resigning Gainey to a long-term deal.

During the off-season, Gainey convinced the Molsons that it was possible to radically rebuild a team with tons of cap space rather that look to the future via the draft and prospects. Perhaps it can be done. But it looks unlikely that the group Gainey put in place is getting the job done. A series of free agent signings (including some puzzling signings on the blueline),  and worst of all – the hiring of a coach who’s best days are well behind him all add up to this team being in the same place as it has always been – fighting for 8th place. Bob Gainey wanted to bring in younger, durable players after guys like Koivu, Kovalev, Tanguay, etc repeatedly fell to injury or mood swings. That Cammalleri, Gionta, and Gomez were all uncharacteristically injured for long stretches this season is truly unfortunate, both for Gainey, the team and fans. But the truth of the matter is that for every positive move Gainey made, he also made mistakes. Take the signing of Alex Tanguay for example. Gainey traded a 1st and 2nd round draft pick to get Tanguay, and had no second thoughts about resigning him again for this season. 2 high draft picks in exchange for 50 games, 41 points. That’s simply indefensible. I would not have brought Tanguay back either, but nor would I have made the move to bring him in (that Tanguay is now in Tampa earning half of what he made in previous years is evidence enough that nobody else  wanted him either) in the first place. Don’t want to blame Gainey for that? Then blame his pro scouts (there’s Pierre Gauthier again), or blame Tanguay himself. Either way, the trail leads back to Gainey’s office. The hiring of Jacques Martin may very well be the most serious error of all. I’ve gone on at length about that hiring in previous entries. The fact is, in a market like Montreal you cannot continually hire and fire coaches (especially the one you claim is the best move you’ve made), bring in heartless, fragile or inconsistent talent, underachieve in the playoffs,  and not improve the “guts” of the team’s operations and not eventually face the music. Like I said in this post, he’s in year 7 of a 5 year plan. Isn’t that enough time? If not, then what is?

Let me ask this: What has transpired with Gainey as Habs GM that, in your view, warrants him staying beyond this season? I’m not talking about the “who is a better replacement?” argument. Lack of obvious options to the every day fan should not prevent the Canadiens, or Gainey, from doing what’s best for the team.

Answer these questions for yourself:

Has the farm system been improved? Yes, a little bit. Guy Boucher seems to be a future star coach, and a couple players look like they’ll have an impact in the NHL, if they’re developed properly, and if they aren’t traded away. That’s about it. The Bulldogs can now provide the Canadiens with several depth players, and are restocked in that regard. But there are no stars coming.

Have the Canadiens had any real success under Gainey? No, and don’t tell me about finishing #1 in the East 2 years ago. That was a fluke. You know and I know it, and furthermore since when was success in Montreal measured by finishing 1st in the East? And don’t bother with the 2 first round wins over the Bruins. If anything is dismissible, it’s 1st round playoff victories. Making the playoffs 4 times is also a hollow argument. Yes, it’s an improvement over the previous regime, but again, that’s not good enough for a team like the Canadiens.

Have young players developed once getting to the NHL? No. Definitely not.

Is the team well positioned for the future? I don’t know. It will take some time yet see if Gainey’s master plan from last year ever pans out, but we sure are saddled with some long term deals to players and coaches, so we likely have lots of time to figure it out.

The end result in my view is that the team is slightly better off now than it was in 2003, and I expected more than “slightly better”. But in Montreal, the bottom line is the Stanley Cup. Always has been. The banners in the rafters remind us of that every day, yet many fans have been reprogrammed to believing that mediocre (i.e. 8th place) is now good enough. 15 years of treading water will do that to a fan base. Under Gainey, the number of years that the Canadiens went cupless jumped from 10 to 16+. Are you ok with that?

Including himself, there have been 4 coaches behind the Canadiens bench since 2003 when he took over (Julien, Gainey, Carbonneau, Gainey, Martin). Yes, yes. I know. President Pierre Boivin handcuffed Gainey in to hiring Jacques Martin. Boivin should be kept to the business side of things. He’s good at that. But this post is not about Boivin. It’s about Gainey. And the truth is this team is not in any better shape in 2010 than it was in 2003 when he was brought on board. He had huge expectations and they were not even close to being fulfilled, and all signs indicate that they are not going to be realized any time soon.

Inconsistency from game to game, season over season took place on Gainey’s watch. We can blame coaches, scouts, players themselves, media, fans and the weather, but ultimately, Gainey, like everyone else in this world who has a boss has to answer for his team’s performance. Given how it’s been such a long time since we’ve seen winning hockey in Montreal, you may not remember what a contending team looks like. You may think that if things had gone slightly differently, that 25th banner would already be hanging from the rafters. I would suggest you get the sniffing salt out. When was the last time you had confidence that this team could compete with the league’s true powers in a 7-game playoff series? Personally, I haven’t felt that way in….well…I can’t remember. Oh, wait, I do remember the Canadiens upsetting the heavily favored Bruins twice in the past few years. But I suggest you review the Canadiens record vs the Bruins in the playoffs. Regardless of their standings, the Canadiens have an overwhelming margin of victory. Playoffs or not, this team is not coming together as Gainey had planned. His plan from last summer was never guaranteed to work. It was a gamble and he knew this when he put his cards on the table. His plan has not paid off and rather than slink out of town on the heels of a 9th place finish, he’s leaving now, while it’s still his choice.

Gainey is accountable for the team’s performance, and survey says that it has not been up to snuff. Not even close. We can make all the excuses in the world for people that we like, and we like Gainey a whole lot, but at some point, the cord has to be cut and you have to move in a different direction. Today, Gainey made that decision for the Molsons. He was given the mandate to have this team contending for the Stanley Cup in time for the team’s 100th birthday. That time has come and gone, and the Canadiens still find themselves spinning their wheels in the standings. As alluded to at the press conference, Gainey began to question his future with the club when the Gilletts left, and at the conclusion of the 100th anniversary celebrations. With his mandate unfulfilled, he knew his time was up, and he is choosing to leave on his own.

If you’re still reading this (first of all, thanks!), you’re probably convinced that I don’t like Bob Gainey very much. Nothing could be further from the truth. The man is a rock, and he’s probably one of the most upstanding people you’ll ever meet (note: I have never actually met him). But in the end, he did not accomplish what he wanted, what the fans wanted, nor what was expected of him by his bosses. What many people, especially those who bore witness to the great Canadiens teams of the 70′s (I am not in this group) will have trouble with is separating Gainey the player, Gainey the captain, Gainey the hero from Gainey the General Manager when defending him. These are 2 different careers, and one should not be judged in light of the other.

This is not a day for celebration, but rather it’s a day to reflect on what this team has done, and where it is going. Gainey’s number 23 hangs in the rafters at the Bell Center among the very best to ever suit up for the team, and rightfully so. He was a great player, a great captain, and a terrific role model for many years. He just didn’t have the golden touch as GM of this team. Not many people do. His presence and voice is still valid and still respected, and I’m glad that he will remain (for now) as advisor to Pierre Gauthier.

Perhaps Pierre Gauthier is not the permanent answer, but at least now things are moving, albeit slowly. At the end of the press conference, we look at the team and what do we see? A team where the General Manager and his assistant have simply changed titles. So if you liked where this was going over the past 7 years, this should come as good news, as very little has changed. If you didn’t approve of the team’s direction, perhaps this is the start of something new.

I just have one thing to ask: Can we get please get off the hamster wheel already?

Clean Up on the 7th Floor!

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There’s 2 things I know before I even get started:

1- Some will brand this as typical Habs fan panic.
2- This post is going to be all over the place.

Where to start? Let’s begin with the roller coaster that has been the 2009-10 season. We’ve seen this team drop 5 straight, and turn around and pull even again. We saw them steal many, many points by goaltending heroics, and a terrific powerplay. These things masked the fact that this team was outplayed and overmatched night after night. If anyone’s counting, this team, through 55 games has had two 5 game losing streaks, one 4 game losing streak, one 3 game losing streak, and four 2 game losing streaks. To counter that, they have had two 4 game winning streaks, one 3 game winning streak, and four 2 game winning streaks. Add it up: 17 wins, 25 losses. Not good.

Some people blame the players for this; they are millionaires and should play like it. What this silly point of view fails to realize is that there are millionaires on the other team paid to do the same thing, and there are millionaires behind the benches that are paid to steer the ship.

Some blame the coach & his so-called plan. I am one of those people.

This mess is largely on Jacques Martin and Bob Gainey. The Canadiens dropped half of last year’s team. Gainey replaced them all with experienced players that have had success in the NHL. He brought in Stanley Cup rings with Gomez, Gionta, Gill, and Moen. He then surveyed the coaching landscape and decided that because there were no coaches that suited the 3 magic criteria (bilingual, experienced, professional), that he would have to pry Jacques Martin out of Florida. And pry he did. Martin now has a 4-year deal with the Canadiens.

55 games in to the season, many Canadiens fans want Martin gone. Personally, I wanted him gone after 25 games. I thought perhaps I was being hasty. The Canadiens were ravaged by injury, but something wasn’t sitting right with me. This team was not passing the sniff test. The pieces didn’t add up. The Canadiens were out there game-in, game-out getting their brains beat in. Not on the scoreboard, but everywhere else on the ice. Outshot by 2-1 margins, outhit, too many penalties, atrocious defensive zone coverage. Turnovers…oh lordy the turnovers. As of last week, 4 of the top 8 turnover leaders in the league were on the Canadiens backend. These are things that Jacques Martin made a name in fixing. A defensive guru like Martin should be spitting nails at a stat like that. Instead, the trend continues. He has simply not adapted to the realities of the new NHL. So anyway, there I was telling myself that once the injuries healed, and the guys got back, a coach like Martin would figure it out and get these guys in the right direction. I have been closely watching the team (even more closely than before, if that were possible) since Markov came back. We all thought that his return would be a watershed moment for the team. It certainly looked as though it would be, as the Habs rolled through a 7 game road trip with a 6-1 record and Markov racked up more than a point per game. Also recall that Halak was particularly brilliant on that stretch. Then things went downhill. The poor, listless performances resumed, and fast. It was then that I decided that Martin had to go. But the little dude on my shoulder said that I was still being too harsh. Martin has been around forever, and at least deserves the dignity of coaching 1 full season. What message would you send to other potential coaches in the league if you fired a tenured, respected hockey man like Jacques Martin after less than 1 season? A season that has had its share of ups and downs. It certainly wouldn’t have prompted a lineup of great candidates knocking at Gainey’s door. Or would it be Boivin’s door? Or the Molson’s door? Because if you think that Jacques Martin has to go, then Gainey has to go, too. He is now on his 3rd coach (though he inherited Julien, and 4th coach if you include Gainey himself). He hand-picked Guy Carbonneau to succeed him and called him “the best move he’s ever made” while GM of the Habs, then fired him a couple months later. Oops!

Gainey’s 9 lives have run out. He may have been limited to a guy like Jacques Martin, but he’s made more than 1 big mistake. Never signing or drafting the big, skilled center this team has been lacking for years is a glaring hole in his tenure. He’s currently on year 7 of a 5-year plan that he set in to motion. He had full support of a very generous George Gillet. He had the blessing of the Molsons to retool using newfound cap space rather than rebuild via the draft. If the team is in better shape now than it was in 2003 when he took over, then it is only so in the bottom line. At most, they are marginally better on the ice, and on the farm. Do the Molsons have the fortitude to make such sweeping changes at this juncture? This is their 1st season as new owners, and this is not how they wanted to start their legacy. Their family’s past runs long and deep, and mostly knew massive success as owners of the Canadiens. They could stand pat and hope it rights itself, or they can be bold and start putting their stamp on the team. I don’t know if they keep confidantes on the side who could help them identify a new management team and other talent. That would be a tough order. What we do know is that the Molsons were watching their new 567 million dollar toy, and could not have been happy with what they saw. I am convinced that they were evaluating the team for themselves. As Arpon Basu said in his great blog today:

“Anyhow, my point here is that the March 3 trade deadline is only three days after the Olympic trade freeze is lifted, which means the Canadiens only have nine games left before that date. Normally, this is about the time where teams make their final decisions if they will be buyers or sellers, where they try to objectively determine if their team has a chance to make the playoffs, where the character and soul of a team is under constant evaluation.

If you were the ones in charge of that evaluation, what would you think of your team right now? Not only based on the past two games, but the entire season, or even just the month of January? I’m not sure I would be looking for ways to load up for a playoff run right about now, and if that’s the direction Bob Gainey wants to go he needs to consider looking at which pieces he wants to move.”

That’s a bang on assessment. I believe that the Molsons won’t allow Gainey to make any major moves with this team. They can’t possibly believe that this team can do damage in the playoffs, even if they somehow managed to add Ilya Kovalchuk.

I don’t think the Canadiens can afford any more half-measures. There are some rotten elements to this team, and they need to be fixed. It’s time for the Molsons to get aggressive with their new toy and start instilling a new culture built on excellence at all levels of the organization. Start with Boivin. Get someone who cares about the team, and not public relations. The best public relations in this city are in the form of wins, especially in the playoffs. They should continue down the hall from Boivin’s office to Gainey’s and let him walk away at season’s end. He should not be allowed to tinker with this roster anymore. Recognize that he’s also looking for a contract and may want to do whatever he can to make the playoffs and preserve his job. He’s been given enough leeway already to make that happen. It ain’t happening.

Finally, Jacques Martin. I know it’s year 1 of his 4-year deal. But we all know this isn’t working. He’s a square peg, and this NHL is a round hole. He doesn’t fit. Perhaps he can stay on as a scout, but he cannot stay behind the bench any longer.

To atone for this, I’d even swallow an increase in the price of a beer at the Bell Center. At the rate this team is going, the fans will have to drink themselves in to a stupor just to get through 60 minutes. They’d recover the payout money to Martin in no time.

Get it over with. It’s time! Besides, we bloggers are running out of things to talk about!

Has the Tide in the Halak vs Price Debate Turned?

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Last month, the boys over at Habseyesontheprize.com posted a brilliant breakdown of the stats between Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak. It’s too long and in-depth to even tell you about the conclusions, and besides, it’s so well done that it deserves to be read on its own. Take the 10 minutes to check it out, it’s worth it.

I wanted to provide a little update on the stats today, though I am certainly not going to get in to as much depth as they did. This is the quick & dirty edition. I’m also going to go as far back as December 19th, the day that Andrei Markov rejoined the team. That was the date that Habs fans pointed to as the game to which we will see the real Canadiens stand up and show themselves. Since then, Jaroslav Halak has started 11 games, and Price has started just 6.

Before I start with the details, I want to make it known that I don’t care who starts for the Canadiens, so long as each gets their fair chance. I also want it to be known that I don’t care which one is traded, so long as the Canadiens are a better team AFTER the deal than before it, and for many years thereafter. Also for the record: I reject the argument that you can’t trade the 5th overall draft choice. We just acquired the 4th pick in the same draft year as Price in Benoit Pouliot, so let’s not say that these types of selections can’t be moved.

Here are their stats since December 19th, the day Andrei Markov returned:

Price (6 starts) Halak (11 starts)
Record 2-3-1 8-2-1
Save percentage .918 .943
Save percentage in wins .944 .967
Save percentage in losses .905 .880
Average goals for in wins 3.5 3.9
Average goals for in losses 1.8 1.6
Average shots against per game 33.2 37.5

So what do we make of these numbers? Do we want to start looking at quality of opponent. We could, but I think that’s becoming a lame-duck argument. In the East, there are really only 4 good teams: the Sabres, Devils, Penguins and Capitals. Everyone else is very up-and-down, and not much better than any other team among the other 13 teams. But just for fun, let’s take a look. Price played the Capitals and Sabres in his last 6 games, and because the team in front of him is not that good, he lost both, including a 1-0 loss to the Sabres in which Price was terrific, posting a .971 save percentage. If one goalie in the league was going to be better that night, it had to be Ryan Miller, who, in my opinion is the hands down Vézina Trophy winner at this point. On the flip side, Halak played the Devils twice, who are notorious for beating the Canadiens each and every time. In fact, the Canadiens just won a Friday game in New Jersey for the first time since 1989. Martin Brodeur simply owns the Canadiens. That said, Halak went 1-0-1 vs the Devils, posting a .969 save percentage in the win, and a .929 save percentage in a 2-1 overtime loss. Halak took 3 pts, while Price took none. Easy to say that Halak wins this battle, and if you’re the type that is all about points, no matter how they come, then Halak is your guy. I’ll give Halak the slight edge, because the end result DOES matter, but Price did everything he could to give the Canadiens a chance to beat the Sabres at home.

The numbers are good across the board for both goaltenders. Both face a lot of rubber, and both are very efficient at stopping the puck.  Price seems to be steadier overall, with less fluctuation in his save percentages. Halak, meanwhile, seems to be very very good (and has been perfect in 3 instances in the past month) in wins, and is not very good in losses. The similarities are striking. Halak’s save percentage is .23 higher than Price’s when the Canadiens win, while his save percentage in losses is .25 lower. Again, it says that when Halak is good, he’s nearly unbeatable. When he’s bad, the Canadiens are almost guaranteed to lose.

So where does this leave us? At this point it comes down to intangibles. Many of which we are not privy to. How do the rest of the Canadiens view their 2 young goaltenders, behind closed doors…beyond the clichés? What is their body language like on the ice after they surrender a goal? Is one more likely than the other to give up a bad goal? Lately, I believe Price has given up more weak, demoralizing goals than has Halak, and does not seem to have the same level of 60-minute focus as Halak. That is totally subject to interpretation and personal opinion/bias. Halak’s rebound control is not as sharp as Price’s (though Price’s has not been so hot lately either; the goalie coach is not helping either improve in this area). It’s an adventure when either leave their crease.

As the Canadiens struggle to stay in the playoff race, they have no choice but to go with the goalie that is delivering wins on a more consistent basis. Right now that guy is Halak. Today being the Monday after a good weekend for the Canadiens, and Halak in particular, I was not surprised to see Montreal Gazette veterans Dave Stubbs and Jack Todd throw their support behind Halak for the #1 job. TSN’s Bob McKenzie is a regular guest on the Team 990 and also said that he believes that Jacques Martin has no choice but to let Halak run with the #1 job until he blows it. And no, a loss does not mean he’s blown it. It is at the same time fascinating and sad that in 79 career games with the Canadiens, Jaroslav Halak has NEVER been allowed to start the next game following a loss. Never. How can a team properly evaluate what a goaltender’s mental constitution is if they do not allow him the opportunity to bounce back from a loss? Many feel that Halak was robbed of the chance to get the Canadiens in to the playoffs 2 seasons ago in the last game of the season vs the Leafs. Halak had carried the ball for the injured the Cristobal Huet, but former coach Guy Carbonneau decided to go with Huet when he was ready to go for that last game. Huet folded like a cheap tent, and the Canadiens were eliminated, blowing a big 3rd period lead. Last season, many will say that Halak’s performances are what got the Canadiens in to the playoffs last season, and was again denied the chance to play. The Canadiens were swept by the Bruins, and I don’t think Halak would have done anything to prevent that. Gainey decided to let Price play, in order to let him gain more experience in meaningful games. I’m not sure how much experience was gained in those 4 embarassing losses.

This season is a different story, however. Both Price and Halak are restricted free agents, and both deserve to prove what they’re made of. Halak has been repeatedly put in to a corner, and essentially told that he’s not allowed to screw up. And for the most part, he hasn’t. When he loses, Carey Price gets the next start, and, presumably, the chance to retake the #1 job. He has not done that, despite being very good in 3 of his last 6 starts. I guess that what I’m saying is that it is time to let Halak show what he can do. The Canadiens would only be doing themselves a disservice by not getting the full picture. They’d also be cheating themselves if Halak can further raise his trade value from where it is. Or maybe they do an about-face and decide that they want to keep Halak and move Price for a King’s ransom.

This does not mean that I think Price is the obvious choice to be sent out of town. Ditto for Halak. Gainey has a very tough choice on to make, and, frankly, one that 29 other General Managers would kill to have the privilege of making. It’s still unlikely to me that Gainey will part ways with Price given how much he has supported him, but he did also say that Guy Carbonneau was the best move he had ever made, only to fire him a couple months later. Gainey has to weigh the relative performance of each goalie vs what they’ll probably be making next season vs what either asset can bring back to the team. If he’s approaching this with an open mind, and if he finds that moving Price makes most sense, then that’s what he has to do. His job is to improve the Canadiens, regardless of the names on the back of the jersey, and regardless of what it means to his reputation.

These are decisions I’m glad I don’t have to make. You know, I think we can all agree that Canadiens fans have many other problems to dissect, but goaltending is not one of them. But it is fun to talk about, isn’t it?

UPDATE (1:03 p.m.): Sometimes when you post a blog like this, you hope that you’re not going to get slammed for it. But I’m relieved that Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada also now believes that Gainey needs to consider trading Price. Again – consider, not absolutely trade.


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