BY MICHAEL MCGLENISTER – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
The Montreal Canadians are in a very difficult position as the team is imploding around them and mismanagement from the last few years is finally catching up with them. Decisions like trading for Scott Gomez and signing an injury prone Andrei Markov to a three-year deal, have left them near the bottom of the standings with no help on the way.
Thanks to media pressure and Montreal ownership, there is no way Randy Cunneyworth will remain in charge when the season ends. So who should take his place? In my opinion, Patrick Roy is the perfect hire and here are five reasons why.
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1. Change of culture
This franchise needs a dramatic change. They have no identity and Patrick Roy could establish his own vision and give this team some direction. It is said that changing a culture is one of the hardest things to do in an organization, so Habs fans should also expect Pierre Gauthier to make a number of transactions to further transform this roster.
2. He speaks French
Simple as that, he speaks French. That’s what both the fans and media want in the coach of the Canadiens. Roy being bilingual solves the problem of the coach being able to address the majority of Montreal’s french speaking media and fans. The Habs could also keep the activists at bay and the language issue would be resolved. The team would then be able to focus on hockey, not demonstrations outside the Bell Centre.
3. Need for a marquee name
The Montreal Canadians have not had a marquee name in years even going back to Saku Koivu, Alexei Kovalev and Vincent Damphousse. There has been a void in the Montreal hockey scene and St. Patrick could become a larger than life figure from behind the bench. He could attract nation’s attention and get the Habs on everyone’s front page.
4. Good for Carey Price’s career
This would be great news for Carey Price to able to work with one of the best goalies ever to play in the NHL. The experience that he could offer Price would be invaluable. Carey Price would become the focal point of rebuilding the Montreal Canadians and Roy could design his coaching strategy around his young goal tender.
5. Great story
After Patrick Roy’s legendary blow up with Mario Tremblay in 1995 and his subsequent exile from Montreal, many fans were left to ask themselves if the team’s best ever netminder would ever return. He could ride into town and be catalyst to many positive changes and help lead this team back in the direction of the Stanley cup. The audience would be intrigued by every move this charismatic coach would make and they would look forward to his fiery antics.
With the Habs signing Patrick Roy this could be the beginning of the end of “the curse of St Patrick.”
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