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What of this Coaching Log Jam in Montreal?

June 7, 2010, 7:00 PM ET [ Comments]
Steven Hindle
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Something's Gotta Give


As Guy Boucher was lured ever so patiently and humbly by the Columbus Blue Jackets to become their next head coach, he has in turn humbly declined the offered position.

Despite the many sources who had confirmed that Boucher had more or less agreed on taking the job, prompting Habs management to think about an internal restructuring of their coaching staff, it would appear that Guy wasn't as interested in biting on the first offer he got.

Obviously I went out on a limb with information describing that Boucher had more or less taken the job in Columbus, further prompted by news from our Habs writer Eric Engels that the Canadiens had offered the job in Hamilton to Kirk Muller, it all made sense.

Yet, it was not to be.

Now, with Boucher turning down the job in Columbus, the Blue Jackets must turn their search elsewhere.

It's disappointing for the Jackets as Boucher would have brought a new dynamic system to their team, something that is desperately needed in Ohio.

It is definitely not disappointing for Habs fans. Rather, people may now breathe a temporary sigh of relief that Montreal won't be losing a home-grown local product.

As a coach, Boucher is a valuable commodity and, as discussed in my previous entry about this subject, it's a more logical assumption that he will have a better future in the Canadiens system.

Yet this brings us back to the ultimate question about the Canadiens coaching system, who is staying and who is going?

Will the structure remain status quo?

Or will there now be a shuffling of the deck?

With news of Boucher turning down the offer in Columbus, the question becomes why?

If Guy isn't interested in his first legitimate offer to be a head coach then he must certainly have something else on his mind.

I would not be surprised if the Molson's made it clear to him that he was a valued member and that they have bigger plans for him.

It was clear the Canadiens were doing the right thing in not standing in Guy's way of interviewing and considering other opportunities, but with his heart in Montreal, it only makes sense that he wants to stay.

But what of the Muller news?

And what does this mean for the Habs coaching staff?

Clearly the Canadiens have two prized assets behind the bench, neither of which seem to be Jacques Martin. That poses a problem as both Muller and Boucher have been extremely successful in their roles as coaches and will be seeking the spot light sooner than later.

But who do the Habs give the opportunity to first?

The former player and current coach?

Or their homegrown, AHL rookie coach of the year?

It's certainly a difficult decision as they are both budding stars in the coaching world, but with Martin having had such great success this season with the team and being signed for the next 3 years, it's hard to imagine upper management restructuring the coaches. Not just yet anyways.

The best option, and the one that all Habs fans should hope for, is that everything remains status quo behind the benches in the Canadiens franchise.

Martin has earned the right to another year, while he couldn't have done it without Muller.

Add the fact that the Canadiens need a strong persona who can develop their young propects in Hamilton, and it only makes sense that everyone remains in their current roles.

Boucher needs more time at the professional level and the Habs definitely need his skill set developing their players in Hamilton. If Guy can maintain his success for another year and prove that he is not a one hit wonder, then he will most certainly merit a look at taking over Martin's job in the future.

At the same time, Martin couldn't have been nearly as successful if he hadn't had the great help of Kirk Muller. Although Muller has only been a head coach for 1 year(Queen's University), he has now been behind the Habs bench for more than 4 years and likely knows this team better than anyone else.

To bring it full circle, the best case scenario may be taking place in which everyone remains with the Canadiens franchise.

Losing either Muller or Boucher would really hurt the strength of the coaching and development that the players receive and would in turn result in a worse on-ice product.

I have no doubt that the right things are being said behind the scenes to keep these key elements in place and Habs nation can only hope the same.

The fact that Guy has declined a great chance to run his very own team at the NHL level says that Montreal is now the place to be.

Guy knows it, Kirk knows, now hopefully the UFA's can catch on.






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