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Michel Therrien now the Leading Candidate For Habs Job

May 31, 2012, 12:39 PM ET [145 Comments]
Eklund
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Score one for Jay Feaster. After it was a near-certainty that Bob Hartley would become the next coach of the Montreal Canadiens, Feaster made a late push and convinced his longtime friend to Hartley to come coach the Calgary Flames instead.

Quite frankly, this is a bit of a shocker. Hartley appeared to have his heart set on coaching Les Habitants. In fact, during this past season while he was coaching the Zurich Lions of the Swiss National League, Hartley unsubtly lobbied from afar to become the Habs' chosen replacement for Randy Cunneyworth.

Even though his was coaching overseas -- and added to his collection of championship trophies in the process this season -- Hartley mentioned in an interview that he recorded every game the Canadiens played during this season and watched them whenever time permitted. Whether that was a bit of hyperbole on Hartley's part -- and I kind of suspect it was -- it was pretty clear that the highly accomplished francophone coach smelled opportunity in Montreal.

Whatever Feaster and the Flames said to lure Hartley clearly worked to change his heart. I think he'll do a good job but it also could be interesting to see how he's received in Montreal when/if the Flames pay a visit next season.

Now that Hartley is off to Calgary, look for former Penguins' head coach Michel Therrien to vault to the top of the list of candidates in Montreal, according to a team source. Currently a scout for Minnesota, Therrien took Pittsburgh to the 2009 Cup Finals before being fired midway through the next season -- which ultimately produced a championship -- in favor of Dan Bylsma.

Like Hartley, Therrien is known for his aggressive, sometimes abrasive, style of coaching. So apart from also being a Francophone (and Montreal) native, his method of running the bench and practices is in the same general mold as Hartley, although the playing system he favors is a little bit different.
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