Montreal Canadiens TIDBITS & QUICK HITS!

Bergevin says it's 'necessary and important to have a head coach who is bilingual'.

Sounds like same old song and dance.

Too much focus on where the person is from and what language they speak... it ends up taking the focus away from getting the best coach available.

I don't know a lot about Bergevin, but it sounds like he has a good pedigree. Weird, though, that Montreal seems to have made a positive move.

The Fan590 was have a laugh this morning that there was more noise being made about Pierre McGuire coming in 2nd as opposed to Bergevin getting the job. They were wondering if the names of the other finalists would be released. Heh heh.

At least they kept Cunneyworth as an assistant. Be interesting to see if he actually sticks around after the new coach is hired. Must be kinda weird to be the head coach of a group of players and then get demoted and still work with the same group.

I hope for Cunneyworth's sake that they let him go. Awful situation to be in. Why would an incoming HC want to keep him around -- it's not like they started playing well under him.

I have a feeling he'll either be let go or leave... you can't come back from being the HC to be an Assistant, even if it was interim.

To not even give Cunneyworth a shot at an interview is such a slap in the face....I'm 100% convinced he'll leave the org.

He sounds like a good candidate. I got a kick out of Garrioch saying that the franchise was in disarray. Really? Because as I see it, it looks like it's gonna be just fine.

Good pieces:


Plekanec
Pacioretty
Gionta
Cole
Desharnais
Price
Gorges
Subban (begrudgingly put him here)

That's 5 of 6 top 6 players who are not only good, but very good. Gionta may be getting older, but he plays hard, Plekanec is great, Pacioretty is a stud, Cole is good, Desharnais is playing amazing. You have the warrior on D in Gorges, the franchise goalie in Price. If you can get a good coach to muzzle Subban, then you're good.

The "OK"/too young to make a fair assessment:

Bourque
Markov
Elller
Leblanc

Bourque needs a second chance with a new coach to try to resurrect himself in Montreal. He was never an amazing player, but he's a lot better than what he showed last year in Montreal. Markov is only good if he can stay healthy - which he can't. Eller has spurts where he was very effective and Leblanc should be a nice addition to their roster.

The BAD:
Gomez
Kaberle

Both of these guys should be either bought out, or waived to the minors to make way for youngsters or additions.

So really, the bottom line here is to revamp the D from top to bottom. You have Subban and Gorges as the mainstays, but you have no 2nd pairing guys that can help you survive. Unless they're gonna bring Tinordi up - and I'm not sure if they are or not, and also Belieau (sp) will need at least another year I would imagine.

Emelin is a good third pairing guy who hits a TON, so he'll be fine. Diaz can probably join Emelin on the 3rd pairing to block a lot of shots as well.

So in essence, they need a 2nd pairing if they don't believe in Markov, they need to re-sign Moen ASAP and continue to assess their bottom 6, but they're in good shape IMO. In fact, I would say we'll be battling them all year for a spot next year.

tim1_2 wrote:At least they kept Cunneyworth as an assistant. Be interesting to see if he actually sticks around after the new coach is hired. Must be kinda weird to be the head coach of a group of players and then get demoted and still work with the same group.

The play by play guy for Montreal says that this keeps Cunneyworth from "twisting in the wind." It actually doesn't since he has to wait for the new coach to come in and wait for that coach to decide his actual fate.

This is just "Bergie" passing the "bad guy" buck.

SpezDispenser wrote:He sounds like a good candidate. I got a kick out of Garrioch saying that the franchise was in disarray. Really? Because as I see it, it looks like it's gonna be just fine.

Good pieces:


Plekanec
Pacioretty
Gionta
Cole
Desharnais
Price
Gorges
Subban (begrudgingly put him here)

That's 5 of 6 top 6 players who are not only good, but very good. Gionta may be getting older, but he plays hard, Plekanec is great, Pacioretty is a stud, Cole is good, Desharnais is playing amazing. You have the warrior on D in Gorges, the franchise goalie in Price. If you can get a good coach to muzzle Subban, then you're good.

The "OK"/too young to make a fair assessment:

Bourque
Markov
Elller
Leblanc

Bourque needs a second chance with a new coach to try to resurrect himself in Montreal. He was never an amazing player, but he's a lot better than what he showed last year in Montreal. Markov is only good if he can stay healthy - which he can't. Eller has spurts where he was very effective and Leblanc should be a nice addition to their roster.

The BAD:
Gomez
Kaberle

Both of these guys should be either bought out, or waived to the minors to make way for youngsters or additions.

So really, the bottom line here is to revamp the D from top to bottom. You have Subban and Gorges as the mainstays, but you have no 2nd pairing guys that can help you survive. Unless they're gonna bring Tinordi up - and I'm not sure if they are or not, and also Belieau (sp) will need at least another year I would imagine.

Emelin is a good third pairing guy who hits a TON, so he'll be fine. Diaz can probably join Emelin on the 3rd pairing to block a lot of shots as well.

So in essence, they need a 2nd pairing if they don't believe in Markov, they need to re-sign Moen ASAP and continue to assess their bottom 6, but they're in good shape IMO. In fact, I would say we'll be battling them all year for a spot next year.

I don't think georges is a 1st pairing guy. he's a warrior for sure but not a first pairing. Im not sure about Kaberle. I think you can keep him as a third pairing with time on the PP. he can turn it around I think. as far as beaulieu is concerned he almost made the team out of training camp but I think the issue was size. if he's managed to bulk up this year he might make the team. I think the big problem this year was injuries. if they can stay somewhat healthy this year they could start making the playoffs again. they're gonna need to ad some size and get help on D to do that but they're on their way IMO. too bad, I like them at the bottom.

I don't think any of their top-five are really top-three players, though. Maybe Pacioretty. Plekanec is a great little player -- emphasis on the little. I don't see him as a top-line center on a contending team

wprager wrote:I don't think any of their top-five are really top-three players, though. Maybe Pacioretty. Plekanec is a great little player -- emphasis on the little. I don't see him as a top-line center on a contending team

yes i think they has desharnais centering their 1st line by the end of the season. I always thought Plecks place was on the 2nd line. cole did an outstanding job on the first line this year but you gotta wonder if he can repeat that year again. max pac is probably the only 1st liner they have.

Desharnais is even smaller. Remember when Karlsson had him pinned in mid-air, against the boards.

wprager wrote:Desharnais is even smaller. Remember when Karlsson had him pinned in mid-air, against the boards.

Remember???? Best thing ever!

That lady does not look impressed.

Have to say, though, the still does not do it justice. It was funniest to see his arms and legs still moving around. Reminded me of the days when the kids were little and we'd take them to the pool, hold them by the waist in the water, as they "swam" around.

Surely there is an animated GIF of this?

Or maybe I'm misremembering it. Just saw a clip and it was funnier the way i remembered it.