Bob Hartley has been named Calgary's head coach, and it's rumored that Michel Therrien and Marc Crawford are the remaining candidates to fill the vacancy on Montreal's bench.
If experience is a determining factor, it stands to reason that Bergevin would lean towards Crawford, who has won a Stanley Cup. But as in any hiring situation, experience isn't the only factor. This is about the complete package, and though Canadiens fans across the world would argue that neither candidate really has what they'd consider to be the complete package, both do have a fair degree of attributes that make them viable candidates.
In Crawford's case, his Stanley Cup success came a very long time ago, and his experience after that hasn't really been of the winning variety.
Therrien, three years removed from coaching the Penguins, and bringing them to the Stanley Cup finals before inevitably losing his job to Dan Bylsma, has less pedigree, but has enjoyed more success than Crawford in recent memory.
Language, which is an important criteria as we know it to be, isn't an issue in Therrien's case. In Crawford's, it's been reported he's refreshing and improving upon his french as we speak.
Other candidates thought to have been involved in discussions with the Canadiens seem to have been ruled out at this point. They include Tampa's Martin Raymond and Dan Lacroix, Guy Carbonneau, and Patrick Roy.
Gauging reaction on twitter to the shortlist, it would seem most feel Crawford or Therrien would be a step away from the hires already made by Bergevin, in his quest to restore the Canadiens' front office.
Most have cited Crawford's personality and failure in his last few positions as the reasons they have no interest in him becoming the next head coach.
Michel Therrien has left a bitter taste in most the mouths of the Canadiens' fanbase. He's still being flogged for the decisions he made that saw Carolina upset Montreal in a playoff series the Habs were leading 3-1, and for his over-emotional tirades with the press. His taste in clothes seems a less relevant bone of contention, at this point.
On the idea that Guy Carbonneau could return as an assistant coach should Therrien get another crack behind the Habs bench; I don't want to throw cold water on it, but must share the following:
In late February, I had the chance to sit and talk with Carbonneau for a short while. I asked him if he'd have gone to Carolina to be an assistant to Kirk Muller. He responded politely that he wouldn't have gone, even if Muller had called, because he wants to be a head coach somewhere.
His response was frank, and certainly wasn't meant to be arrogant. And even though he said that, I don't know if he'd be opposed to being an assistant on Montreal's bench. It could be the best way for him to get back behind the bench as a head coach.
And the idea of him working as Michel Therrien's assistant isn't as far-fetched as him moving to Carolina to play second fiddle to Muller.
With Hartley now out of the picture, I'd suspect it won't be long before Bergevin names his man.
Who do you think will be the next coach of the Montreal Canadiens?
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»