Savard said that would not happen.

The next GM will be French.

End of story.
- JDJ

True, but isn't this Molson's team?

Molson said that French is important, but the BEST candidate is MORE important. I think, is push comes to shove, Molson would chose an Anglo GM.

Let's not forget that the real beef, among those who trumpet this cause, is that the Habs should have a Franco/Bilingual Coach, NOT GM. I think they would care less about that...

Savard said that would not happen.

The next GM will be French.

End of story.
- JDJ

True, but isn't this Molson's team?

Molson said that French is important, but the BEST candidate is MORE important. I think, is push comes to shove, Molson would chose an Anglo GM.

Let's not forget that the real beef, among those who trumpet this cause, is that the Habs should have a Franco/Bilingual Coach, NOT GM. I think they would care less about that...

Savard said that would not happen.

The next GM will be French.

End of story.
- JDJ

True, but isn't this Molson's team?

Molson said that French is important, but the BEST candidate is MORE important. I think, is push comes to shove, Molson would chose an Anglo GM.

Let's not forget that the real beef, among those who trumpet this cause, is that the Habs should have a Franco/Bilingual Coach, NOT GM. I think they would care less about that...

Savard said that would not happen.

The next GM will be French.

End of story.
- JDJ

Savard said that would not happen.

The next GM will be French.

End of story.
- JDJ

True, but isn't this Molson's team?

Molson said that French is important, but the BEST candidate is MORE important. I think, is push comes to shove, Molson would chose an Anglo GM.

Let's not forget that the real beef, among those who trumpet this cause, is that the Habs should have a Franco/Bilingual Coach, NOT GM. I think they would care less about that...

OR

perhaps the Savard appointment was a brilliant political move by Molson, putting him in place to take heat off the language debate, regardless of who they chose...

If the Habs chose an Anglo GM, Savard will have signed off on it and will trumpet him as "the best" to the Franco media...sounds like a pretty smart move to me.
- Kamal Panesar

Kamal - I might agree with you if Savard had not come out so strong in the media right after Molson's press conference.

I do not see any way for the Habs to back-track on that now, especially after the whole Cunnyworth fiasco.

Molson said all the right things, then Savard put the Habs foot in his own mouth.

Still think they will not discard anglo candidates and if it comes down to being an anglo GM, they will most likely find a sidekick for him that will talk to the media.

The end.

True, but isn't this Molson's team?

Molson said that French is important, but the BEST candidate is MORE important. I think, is push comes to shove, Molson would chose an Anglo GM.

Let's not forget that the real beef, among those who trumpet this cause, is that the Habs should have a Franco/Bilingual Coach, NOT GM. I think they would care less about that...
- Kamal Panesar

Do you really believe an non-French speaking GM will get any fair shake in MTL now, after Savard's declaration?

No way.

Kamal - I might agree with you if Savard had not come out so strong in the media right after Molson's press conference.

I do not see any way for the Habs to back-track on that now, especially after the whole Cunnyworth fiasco.

Molson said all the right things, then Savard put the Habs foot in his own mouth.
- JDJ

I think you give Savard way too much power.

Kamal - I might agree with you if Savard had not come out so strong in the media right after Molson's press conference.

I do not see any way for the Habs to back-track on that now, especially after the whole Cunnyworth fiasco.

Molson said all the right things, then Savard put the Habs foot in his own mouth.
- JDJ

You're right and, at the end of the day, that might be exactly what they plan to do (hire a Francophone)...

But I just think that, so far at least, Molson has been a man of his words. I'm willing to give him a little rope here.

In fact, I think that this is the summer for him to truly put his money where his mouth is, and show fans that he meant everything he said when he bought the team.

That he truly does care. That he truly does want a winner, no matter what. Big talk, and yes, he's said all the right things, but, again, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, if only for this summer...

Still think they will not discard anglo candidates and if it comes down to being an anglo GM, they will most likely find a sidekick for him that will talk to the media.

The end.
- Pecafan Fan

I'd have to agree with this assessment...

I think you give Savard way too much power.
- Pecafan Fan

It is not about Savard or how much power he has over the selection process now, it is what he said in the media, the expectation he created (and the media drove), and the anticipation of fans, media, and nutbars who want to use it for political gain (who push the issue even further to mean a French GM from Quebec origins).

The ship has sailed... If the Habs do not have a bilingual GM, the poopstorm that comes out of this will be 10000% worse.

That is the end of the story.

Do you really believe an non-French speaking GM will get any fair shake in MTL now, after Savard's declaration?

No way.
- JDJ

Actually, yes. I think ESPECIALLY considering Savard's declaration, that if HE came out in the French press and said they did an exhaustive search and found [INSERT NAME OF ANGLO GM] to be the best candidate, even better than all of the Franco candidates, that the French media (et al) would give him a chance.

I think that you might be overlooking how much clout/respect Savard has in the Franco media and if he tells them that this is how it is, they will listen.

Personally, I think that family ties aside, that is exactly why Molson appointed Savard. To help deal with the language issue.

Actually, yes. I think ESPECIALLY considering Savard's declaration, that if HE came out in the French press and said they did an exhaustive search and found
- Kamal Panesar[INSERT NAME OF ANGLO GM] to be the best candidate, even better than all of the Franco candidates, that the French media (et al) would give him a chance.

I think that you might be overlooking how much clout/respect Savard has in the Franco media and if he tells them that this is how it is, they will listen.

Personally, I think that family ties aside, that is exactly why Molson appointed Savard. To help deal with the language issue.

I guess time will tell. I just don't have your enthusiasm over that possibility or your belief that Savard could sway the media, by back-peddling on his own beliefs.

No, because even if Jim Nill wanted the Job, Savard would not let him have it.

That's the sad (frank)ing reality of it.
- JDJ

Savard always said that the final decision will be taken by Molson alone.

I guess time will tell. I just don't have your enthusiasm over that possibility or your belief that Savard could sway the media, by back-peddling on his own beliefs.
- JDJ

Ultimately, you could end up being right on this one, and that wouldn't be a stretch. Personally, I'm just willing to ignore everything that is said and focus more on what ends up getting done.

We'll see if that ends up being a disappointment or not, but I'm hoping for the latter...

There is zero inside knowledge.

Savard came out and said it - he said the next GM will absolutely be French, not even French speaking, he said French. As in Québécois.

All this other poop like Hextall and Nill is just to make it look like the Habs went out to get the best guy, and after already eliminating those that are not French before the process even began, they can say the guy they picked is the best, because they talked to everyone, and it just so happens he is also Québécois!

If you want to believe that poop, go ahead.

Oh Savard, how you will come save the Habs from the big bad evil Anglos only to ruin the team to make an outdated point!

Oh hurray!

How Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day will be so even more glorious!
- JDJ

Wrong again... But keep it up! You're entertaining!

http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/337778.html

Not saying it would be 100% sure of happening again, but back when the Habs were lead by "québécois", the team was winning Stanley Cups....just saying...

Not saying it would be 100% sure of happening again, but back when the Habs were lead by "québécois", the team was winning Stanley Cups....just saying...
- stinger67

That was back when Euros and even Americans were a minority in the league. And...

Prior to 1967, the Leafs and Canadiens held a further advantage. According to A Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Hockey, by Gerry Eskenazi, published in 1973, each NHL franchise had exclusive rights to players within its 50-mile territorial limits. So the Leafs and Canadiens could browse the neighbourhood rinks near Toronto and Montreal at their leisure, while the Rangers had a lock on the next great goalie from Hoboken.

Most of these advantages disappeared in 1963 with the introduction of the amateur draft. But the Leafs and Canadiens continued to benefit from players developed under the old system well into the 1970s.

That was back when Euros and even Americans were a minority in the league. And...
- J-P

meh...I'm not even talking about that era...if that is true...

I think the only "relevant" player they had because of that was Rejean Houle. Habs had success back then because they were the first team to have a farm system.

LOL! You might be right and, if he is, I think he jumps to the top of the candidate list in Montreal...
- Kamal Panesar

Is that before or after he jumps off a bridge???

Wrong again... But keep it up! You're entertaining!

http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/337778.html
- fidopro

And in a TV interview he stated the Habs needed to have more homegrown people in a management role, especially with the likelyhood of a team in QC.

Believe whatever the (frank) you want.

Savard made it seem like he wants a French guy who was born and raised in Quebec. And that is certainly the media expectation now, too.

Not saying it would be 100% sure of happening again, but back when the Habs were lead by "québécois", the team was winning Stanley Cups....just saying...
- stinger67

Rejean Houle and Gauthier agree

Rejean Houle and Gauthier agree
- Symba007

Gauthier was a disconnected french speaking Vermonter.

Houle was just a mistake. I mean, him and Tremblay being given these jobs was just something you can't explain. I don't know what Ronald Corey was thinking.

how about Dubnyk and our first round pick for subban and price

how about Dubnyk and our first round pick for subban and price
- rigger2.0