Some interesting Patrick Roy info

[REV-G]

I noticed in the HW poll concerning whether Patrick Roy should be our next coach or GM or both, that over 60% voted for him to either be our coach, GM or both. Personally I think I would like him as our coach, but not GM, yet. Maybe after we see how he does as a coach first.

But in the Toronto Star Rossie DeManno interviewed Roy recently and there were two interesting points that I picked up from her article. First, when she brought up to Patrick that a Montreal media person was reporting that Jeff Molson had a signed letter of intent for him to be the next coach in Montreal she said he didn't deny it but laughed it off. She noted he did not deny it. Maybe nothing, but maybe getting close to the truth???

Secondly, I heard either Doug McLean or another hockey insider this week say that they were convinced that the Phoenix Coyotes would be in Quebec city next season. Rossie noted that if that is the case Patrick Roy would be the perfect fit for some position with that new Quebec team.

So if there is some truth to all this, and I know these are a lot of if's, then Molson may have locked Patrick up so as not to lose him to a potential new team in Quebec city. What do you think?

[Blonde Demon]

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/23/former-nhl-exec-patrick-roy-to-be-next-montreal-gm-bob-hartley-to-coach/

NBC Sports is reporting Roy as GM and Hartley as next coach...

[Commandant]

I hate Hartley as coach.

I really thought he was lucky to win a cup and with better coaching they would've won more in Colorado.

Hed be very low on my list of available bilingual candidates and not on the list at all if that wasn't a requirement.

[REV-G]

http://prohockeytalk...rtley-to-coach/

NBC Sports is reporting Roy as GM and Hartley as next coach...

You should post this as a separate thread on it's own. It will likely create a lot of interest. I thlink this could be a great team. Roy is unproven as an NHL GM but Hartley has had lots of experience as a coach, and he won a cup.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

If Roy is to be involved, I'd prefer him as GM. I just do not believe that, with his short fuse and huge ego, he will survive as a rookie coach in the Montreal pressure cooker. As GM, on the other hand, his ferocious will to win would be channelled to our benefit while his more explosive characteristics will remain at arm's-length from the team's day to day business on the ice.

Hartley as coach, whatever. I'd prefer Mark Crawford but would defer to Roy's judgement.

[illWill]

If Roy is to be involved, I'd prefer him as GM. I just do not believe that, with his short fuse and huge ego, he will survive as a rookie coach in the Montreal pressure cooker. As GM, on the other hand, his ferocious will to win would be channelled to our benefit while his more explosive characteristics will remain at arm's-length from the team's day to day business on the ice.

Hartley as coach, whatever. I'd prefer Mark Crawford but would defer to Roy's judgement.

I have the opposite opinion. I would prefer Roy to be coach instead of GM. His short fuse and huge ego is much more dangerous in the GM position, being able to ship out a player at the drop of a hat. Or perhaps letting a player walk during contract negotiations because his agent high-balls him with a deal. I think the fire that Roy possesses is much better suited in the trenches of the war zone, like a General leading his team to battle.

[Machine of Loving Grace]

I have the opposite opinion. I would prefer Roy to be coach instead of GM. His short fuse and huge ego is much more dangerous in the GM position, being able to ship out a player at the drop of a hat. Or perhaps letting a player walk during contract negotiations because his agent high-balls him with a deal. I think the fire that Roy possesses is much better suited in the trenches of the war zone, like a General leading his team to battle.

Just curious: have either of you followed Roy in the Q? He's been a coach/GM for over half a decade. You seem to be basing your opinions on Roy the goalie.

[Kiwihab]

If they were going to make Roy GM, why wouldn't they have announced it by now? The trade Deadline is over so there is no reason to keep PG around. To me, this sounds like either

A) PG is staying on next year.

B) They have a new GM in mind but he is currently with another team.

C) Carriere will be the new GM but they don't want to disrupt the current coaching staff any further this season.

Either way, I don't think Roy will be GM next season but could still be the coach.

Then again, what do I know?

(null)

[illWill]

Just curious: have either of you followed Roy in the Q? He's been a coach/GM for over half a decade. You seem to be basing your opinions on Roy the goalie.

Sure have. I live directly across the street from the home of the PEI Rocket and have sat within ear shot of Roy coaching. I have never seen him play live to compare, but the man is full of passion. And surely you remember the incident when Roy allegedly threw punches at the owner of Chicoutimi after a game. Or how about when he signaled to his son to leave his crease and beat the bejesus out of the other goalie. I'm not too sure what your point is.

[Machine of Loving Grace]

Sure have. I live directly across the street from the home of the PEI Rocket and have sat within ear shot of Roy coaching. I have never seen him play live to compare, but the man is full of passion. And surely you remember the incident when Roy allegedly threw punches at the owner of Chicoutimi after a game. Or how about when he signaled to his son to leave his crease and beat the bejesus out of the other goalie. I'm not too sure what your point is.

I just hear far too many people talk about Roy like he's still in the crease. If you watched him, that's cool, hence why it was a question. When TSN talked about him, it was all about Roy the goalie as if he's never coached a hockey game before.

I know some pretty dedicated Q followers and they tend to stress how Roy the GM makes smart decisions with the resources he has and Roy the coach is one of the best in the Q for making players feel comfortable and motivating them.

[Commandant]

If they were going to make Roy GM, why wouldn't they have announced it by now? The trade Deadline is over so there is no reason to keep PG around. To me, this sounds like either

A) PG is staying on next year.

B) They have a new GM in mind but he is currently with another team.

C) Carriere will be the new GM but they don't want to disrupt the current coaching staff any further this season.

Either way, I don't think Roy will be GM next season but could still be the coach.

Then again, what do I know?

(null)

Patrick has his QMJHL team to worry about, and there are a few duties for PG to do. Callups, signing draft picks. Etc...

[Commandant]

Roy has got caught in the moment coaching, I don't think he's made bad GM moves out of anger though.

[Machine of Loving Grace]

Roy has got caught in the moment coaching, I don't think he's made bad GM moves out of anger though.

Bad moves no, but he does get fined for fighting the QMJHL league officials. He got fined a month ago for claiming the league was trying to push Grigorenko early from injury to play in the Top Prospects game.

http://www.torontosu...lasting-bigwigs

I don't know, the rebel in me loves someone willing to stand up for his team.

[Commandant]

I don't mind a guy getting fined for his post game comments once in a while. I don't see that as a bad coach/GM move. Sometimes we need a guy who willl criticize a ref or who would call out bettman and campbell when say Chara didn't get suspended.

[Machine of Loving Grace]

I don't mind a guy getting fined for his post game comments once in a while. I don't see that as a bad coach/GM move. Sometimes we need a guy who willl criticize a ref or who would call out bettman and campbell when say Chara didn't get suspended.

Jesus, if Roy was on the bench that game, Chara might not be playing hockey anymore.

Not such a bad thing

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Commandant is right. It's almost impossible for a GM to do serious damage through a spur-of-the-moment impulse. There are too many barriers: you need another trading partner, you're part of a collective decision-making process that includes the owner, there are millions of dollars in play, you're a step removed from the heat of the action, etc.. This is not true of a coach, who is griding against players' egos on a daily basis and deeply involved in the drama every minute of every game. Roy has not suddenly changed his personality in 10 years since his retirement. Indeed, those advocating him as coach are depending on his not having changed his personality: the want Roy the combative 'winner.' But with that comes an explosive temper and massive ego, combustible traits in a Montreal coach.

I also have a feeling that success as a GM in junior might be more indicative of potential NHL success than junior coaching is. Roy might indeed be a great junior coach, but he's never had to coach professionals. Not once. That makes him less tested in dealing with adult players, let alone pros, than any AHL coach. The pros won't be impressed that he is Patrick Roy and his various motivational and psychological strategies may not work as well with 30-year-old married men. And we want to throw him as a raw rookie into THE most pitilessly demanding pro hockey city? Looked at objectively, such a move makes no sense.

As GM, he has shown he can successfully run a reasonably complex hockey operation, and the kinds of variables I just mentioned will be less immediately important. I don't think he's the best possible candidate for GM - Jim Nill is - but if we want Roy back, it should be in this role.

[illWill]

I don't have anything to back this up but I can't think of one person that made the jump from being a GM in junior to the NHL. Another reason why it is a big move is the salary cap. Roy has zero NHL salary cap experience, not even as a player. I'm sure there are capologists and assistants around to help but Mr. Ego would have the final say.

It just seems like a waste to me to have a guy who is as passionate and revered in the city of Montreal sitting with his feet up watching games from the press box. I'm excited just thinking about Roy arguing calls with the ref, yelling at a player who missed an assignment and angry sound bytes after the game. All it comes down to is winning. It's a perfect time for him to come aboard. Next season can't be worse than this one, so it will be seen as an improvement, which fans will more likely tolerate. Let alone if he got them into the playoffs or won a round.....they would rename St.Catherine's street, St. Patrick's street.

[Commandant]

I still want Roy as coach and apprenticing for a future role as GM with someone like Lacroix above him.  

I don't mind him as GM with a good advisor above him like Lacroix again.

I have a feeling its going to be Roy as GM, with Gainey as advisor, and a capologist as Assistant GM. (Ie Lacroix not available, Gainey still having some trust with Molson, and a cap specialist helping).  I know there is some anti-Gainey sentiment out there, but I don't think this would be a horrible arrangement either.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

I don't have anything to back this up but I can't think of one person that made the jump from being a GM in junior to the NHL. Another reason why it is a big move is the salary cap. Roy has zero NHL salary cap experience, not even as a player. I'm sure there are capologists and assistants around to help but Mr. Ego would have the final say.

It just seems like a waste to me to have a guy who is as passionate and revered in the city of Montreal sitting with his feet up watching games from the press box. I'm excited just thinking about Roy arguing calls with the ref, yelling at a player who missed an assignment and angry sound bytes after the game. All it comes down to is winning. It's a perfect time for him to come aboard. Next season can't be worse than this one, so it will be seen as an improvement, which fans will more likely tolerate. Let alone if he got them into the playoffs or won a round.....they would rename St.Catherine's street, St. Patrick's street.

I don't know about GMs coming in from junior, but off the top of my head I can think of two good GMs who had no previous experience in general managing at any level: Mike Gillis and Serge Savard.

The scenario you are describing assumes that lack of passion from the coach is the principle reason teams lose. It's a very popular assumption among Montreal fans. I think this is nonsense. Scotty Bowman, Jacques Lemaire, Alain Vigneault, Claude Julien, Dan Byslma, Barry Trotts, these guys are all capable of stipping paint from the walls, but their main virtue is NOT that they are hot-blooded or spaz out behind the bench. You're confusing the idea of coaching effectiveness with the idea that a coach should act out the fans' frustrations and sentiments. The job of reflecting and magnifying fan emotion belongs to Youppi!! and to Mike Boone, not the coach.

If this is why we want to hire Roy as coach - he is hot-blooded and passionate - then it should be recognized that we are hiring him for the short-term. That temperment will inevitably flame out in the insane pressures of Montreal. To me, this proposal amounts to saying that we should hire Roy as coach because he will add entertainment value for a couple of years until some inevitable combination of player rebellion or self-immolation leads to him being turfed out and joining the long lines of failed Montreal coaches. I prefer to build a winner, not a drama machine.

[Commandant]

Two GM candidates who have lot of support are Pierre Mcguire (absolute failure in his last NHL job, never a GM, 13+ years in media) and Vincent Damphousse (no GM experience, a few months working for the NHLPA, now on RDS). I don't see how Roy is a worse choice than these guys.

[sakiqc]

If Roy is to be involved, I'd prefer him as GM. I just do not believe that, with his short fuse and huge ego, he will survive as a rookie coach in the Montreal pressure cooker. As GM, on the other hand, his ferocious will to win would be channelled to our benefit while his more explosive characteristics will remain at arm's-length from the team's day to day business on the ice.

Hartley as coach, whatever. I'd prefer Mark Crawford but would defer to Roy's judgement.

Roy is the kind of person that performs well in the pressure cooker. Didn't he prove it in the past? As a rookie goalie and then for many years and winning 2 Cups.. If there's ever been 1 person able to do that it's Roy. We all know he is going to be Habs coach someday, so better sooner than later and get over it. Hockey is very much about passion, energy and commitment. And above all else, it is entertainment. Roy is the perfect fit for a hockey craze market like ours.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Roy is the kind of person that performs well in the pressure cooker. Didn't he prove it in the past? As a rookie goalie and then for many years and winning 2 Cups.. If there's ever been 1 person able to do that it's Roy. We all know he is going to be Habs coach someday, so better sooner than later and get over it. Hockey is very much about passion, energy and commitment. And above all else, it is entertainment. Roy is the perfect fit for a hockey craze market like ours.

He also flipped off the Forum fans and stormed out on the organization - a move that he has regretted ever since. Also, when Roy was a player he could control the outcome on the ice. As a coach, he is dependent on his players to deliver that outcome. That's a very different condition to be in.

This is a basic difference among Montreal fans. Do you want to win, or do you want a drama-drenched entertainment circus? The latter fans are the type who bitch about 'boring' systems and long for 7-6 games which inevitably mean a mediocre team. The former are the ones who don't care what the system is as long as we win. Similarly here. Do you want a rookie coach who will almost certainly flame out in spectacular fashion sooner or later, or do you want someone who will build a winner over a long haul? Since all I care about is the team winning, I am skeptical about Roy as a coach. But I can see him making sense as a GM, provided he is properly surrounded.

[hab29RETIRED]

I don't have an issue with having a coach with a temper. Hell I'd take torterella over anyone we have had over the last 20 years.

Commandant is right. It's almost impossible for a GM to do serious damage through a spur-of-the-moment impulse. There are too many barriers: you need another trading partner, you're part of a collective decision-making process that includes the owner, there are millions of dollars in play, you're a step removed from the heat of the action, etc.. This is not true of a coach, who is griding against players' egos on a daily basis and deeply involved in the drama every minute of every game. Roy has not suddenly changed his personality in 10 years since his retirement. Indeed, those advocating him as coach are depending on his not having changed his personality: the want Roy the combative 'winner.' But with that comes an explosive temper and massive ego, combustible traits in a Montreal coach.

I also have a feeling that success as a GM in junior might be more indicative of potential NHL success than junior coaching is. Roy might indeed be a great junior coach, but he's never had to coach professionals. Not once. That makes him less tested in dealing with adult players, let alone pros, than any AHL coach. The pros won't be impressed that he is Patrick Roy and his various motivational and psychological strategies may not work as well with 30-year-old married men. And we want to throw him as a raw rookie into THE most pitilessly demanding pro hockey city? Looked at objectively, such a move makes no sense.

As GM, he has shown he can successfully run a reasonably complex hockey operation, and the kinds of variables I just mentioned will be less immediately important. I don't think he's the best possible candidate for GM - Jim Nill is - but if we want Roy back, it should be in this role.

[Machine of Loving Grace]

I also find it interesting people think Roy as GM would make a rash decision. You think he'd actually repeat what happened to him in Montreal? Roy is actually a lot like Muller in that he's a players coach who communicates and sticks up for his players. I think he's far removed enough from this generation that we wouldn't have to worry about becoming buddies with the players and playing favourites but only time would tell that.

I want a Nill/Roy combination. As for Junior GM's becoming NHL GM's it's rare but we've seen guys with only international GM experience becoming GM's (Yzerman), agents becoming GM's (Mike Gillis), former NHL Vice Presidents becoming GM (Brian Burke) become GM's so having a guy who actually has some GM experience (I think Burke GM'ed the Whalers though).

[hab29RETIRED]

I don't have an issue with having a coach with a temper- as long as the knows how to coach and push the right buttons with players (neither of which that idiot Trembley knew how to do). Hell I'd take torterella over anyone we have had over the last 20 years.

Commandant is right. It's almost impossible for a GM to do serious damage through a spur-of-the-moment impulse. There are too many barriers: you need another trading partner, you're part of a collective decision-making process that includes the owner, there are millions of dollars in play, you're a step removed from the heat of the action, etc.. This is not true of a coach, who is griding against players' egos on a daily basis and deeply involved in the drama every minute of every game. Roy has not suddenly changed his personality in 10 years since his retirement. Indeed, those advocating him as coach are depending on his not having changed his personality: the want Roy the combative 'winner.' But with that comes an explosive temper and massive ego, combustible traits in a Montreal coach.

I also have a feeling that success as a GM in junior might be more indicative of potential NHL success than junior coaching is. Roy might indeed be a great junior coach, but he's never had to coach professionals. Not once. That makes him less tested in dealing with adult players, let alone pros, than any AHL coach. The pros won't be impressed that he is Patrick Roy and his various motivational and psychological strategies may not work as well with 30-year-old married men. And we want to throw him as a raw rookie into THE most pitilessly demanding pro hockey city? Looked at objectively, such a move makes no sense.

As GM, he has shown he can successfully run a reasonably complex hockey operation, and the kinds of variables I just mentioned will be less immediately important. I don't think he's the best possible candidate for GM - Jim Nill is - but if we want Roy back, it should be in this role.