Habsy

Are you serious?? I even pointed out it's a business in the exact post you replied to. In an earlier post, I said we'll probably hire a quebecois coach, and got through the same process in two years. But I guess we can all rejoice in the fact that we advanced the cause of francophone coaches with no experience. Bob Hartley, he doesn't seem to be getting too many interviews. Good coach, you or I don't know, we'll see. If you think Bob's french is good enough, than you're a wise man, because many of us in this province (media) don't think it's enough. I do.

I'll say it one more time, so you can see the point. We all know that, it can't be more obvious. You're not adding anything new to the debate!! The problem is that makes the pool of candidates pathetically small, and weakens our chances of winning. Now, please respond by telling us what percentage of people speak whatever language, and again, it's a business, holy cow, we all know that. Basic common sense, period.

Who cares who speaks what in small town Quebec. The point is, we're never going to hire the best available candidate, point finale!!! You guys regirgitating stats about the language breakdown, we know already, give us all a break!!! I'm from here, I cheered for Lafleur, it's great to have my province represented on my favourite hockey team, it's a bonus, not essential. In the end, we'll probably hire somebody with no experience, and go through the same process in 2 years. Whatever man, hope we'll all be proud about how we advanced the cause of up and coming Quebecois coaches. Because that's all we'll have to cheer about. The last century, win, win, win. Ten years into the new century, no winning in sight, and a responsibility/expectation to hire Quebecers, great, just great.

I'm going to assume you're being sarcastic, right??? If the Montreal Canadiens didn't exist, the NHL wouldn't exist. That Camridge thing was funny though. Who even knows where that sleepy town is, except for those that actually live there?

It's funny eh, I don't recommend it, but check out TSN. The fools that post on there think they'd move, and that Gillette doesn't want the team because of our current slump.

A well-established fact that the Q has been overlooked? Really? Only here in the province, nobody cares anywhere else. It's not an issue at GM meetings, it's not discussed anywhere else in North America, it's another example of poor Quebec, not being "represented". Show me a list of fast and tough forwards that were overlooked, it simply doesn't exist. You have it or you don't. Who's establishing that drivel anyway? Bertrand Raymond, Ron Fournier, RDS, or some hack at a lesser paper in small town Quebec? Teams spend alot of money on scouting, they know what they're doing.

Limited scope, oblivious, you have an interesting way of carrying on a debate. I tend to read more than contribute, you, on the other hand, can't seem to resist posting. I'll be honest, you should stick to how the team plays, not enlightning us on marketing, something your not familiar with. I guess why I'm bothering to respond, is that this way of thinking makes us, as a province, look like imbeciles.

It's absolutely a media creation. The average fan doesn't care about who coaches the team. No offence Kozed, but your earlier post about marketing is way off as well. It's about the brand Montreal Canadiens, the 4 minute sound bite after the game is not going to keep large companies from investing millions. The future coach is not going to affect sales of jerseys or those silly car flags, it's winning that does. It's about the team, and the sweater, the logo.

The idea that the Canadiens have some sort of mandate to develop francophone coaches is so ridiculous that I'm at a loss for words. Is that how far we've fallen as an organization? That idea is strictly a media creation.

Fanpuck, you're attitude is progressive, intelligent and forward thinking. Not something the media here has much of. Most of them don't appreciate Bob's knowledge of french. The rhetoric here is sickening, it's on the level of Rush Limbaugh, hoping Obama fails. It's Quebecois, or nothing at all.

After we all cool down from another loss, do you really want Koivu's career to end on the waiver-wire??

They wouldn't lose a single dollar if they hired a coach who can't speak french. If you can't see how pathetic we look when this is so important, there's no point in going further.

That's all there is, SCOREBOARD, WINS, CUPS, thanks Habs Rule...

This is a hockey team, a business. It's not the government, a hospital, a school, a library. This 80% number you like to use, are they going to stop being fans? We were the team of the last century, with coaches like Dick Irvin Sr., Toe Blake and Scotty Bowman. Ten years into the new century, we're looking awfully Chicago Cub like. Since when do the Canadiens have to be a developer of francophone coaching talent anyway? Maybe, just maybe, it's holding us back!!!!

Alex, with all the respect I can muster. You don't see the problem in limiting the pool of potential coaching candidates to only those that are francophone? I live here, born and raised, and yes, in ideal conditions, we'd have Vinnie in the lineup, with a Quebec born coach. But, WOW, we as a society look pathetic when that's the number one thing on peoples minds. When I listen to Ron Fournier say Saku "nous prendre pour des caves" I cringe, I'm disgusted. When essentially, Begin and Dandenault said the same thing about Carbo's communication skills. When the USA, with it's history of racism, can elect a black president, don't you think it's time that something so less important, a hockey coach, be open to the best possible candidate.

In the UFA Clean House Challenge, look for Saku Koivu to be signed. And furthermore, Bob's not going anywhere. If he was to leave, it'd be his choice. You can disagree with my post all you want, go ahead. But Saku's a big part of the community, and is tight with the ownership. Bob commands huge respect, and has built up a nice group of young cheap players. I firmly believe he gets to hire another coach, and continues on as GM, with alot of work to do this summer.

If you're right, and I sure as hell hope you are not. I hope this is fixable.

As per another thread, none of this falls on the shoulders of coach Melancon? Just curious, I'm no goalie.

I'd take any one of those three on my team...

Anyone listening to the CJAD broadcast?? Murray Wilson is disgusted. They can't receive a pass, one hand on the stick in the defensive zone, peewee stuff.

You know what, that education excuse has always bothered me. There's not a chance that Daniel Briere's children, assuming he has any, will ever see the inside of a Philadelphia public school. Pro athletes send there children to private school. That comes with earning a big-time pay cheque. Here in QC, you want to pay for private school, you child is going, no matter what.

Ya, that I believe, it's the us being at an advantage idea I have a hard time with.

I just can't get into a thread like this, it's pointless. NOBODY wants to sign here. I'm born and raised in Montreal, hell, I'll probably be buried here. I think it's the coolest city in our country, yes they are all cool. But c'mon, the only UFA's we get are 2nd tier players like Hamrlik, and we overpay at that. Then we let Streit go for nothing, we coulda had him for less than Hamrlik. Taxes, climate, media, whatever the excuse. I don't want Bob to waste aviation fuel on helicopter tours of the city this summer, only to be used as a bargaining tool to get a better deal somewhere else. I've heard all the so called experts, with there inside knowledge (ya right) say the the cap is going down, and teams with space will benefit, I just have my doubts.

Now hold on a minute. In Montreal, Aebischer played himself out of the league. Garon actually became a starter in Los Angeles. Huet was given a chance here, how much Melancon had to do with that, we'll never know. As for Hackett, was he really the coveted #1 every team wants? I seem to recall tons of debate on why Hackett played as much as he did. Let's not dismiss the idea so easily. Melancon isn't the Toe Blake of goalie coaches.

Electing to go with Dandenault is a chance for Gainey to salvage his job? Now we've heard it all.