Jennifer B Cutler: Habs Needed an Infusion of New Blood Behind the Bench - Assistant Coaches The Canadiens and Marc Bergevin missed an opportunity to infuse some new blood behind the bench as they stand by the full coaching staff.

I don't see what those two bring to the table but I don't agree with that I think that would be shifting the blame that the GM specifically took on himself.

He stood up and said "it's my fault" and then did absolutely nothing.
Blaming assistant coaches for the mess would have been low.

Would have loved to see Crawford here !

Would have loved to see Crawford here !
- Xizord

No!

I don't see what those two bring to the table but I don't agree with that I think that would be shifting the blame that the GM specifically took on himself.

He stood up and said "it's my fault" and then did absolutely nothing.
Blaming assistant coaches for the mess would have been low.
- dt99999

Bergevin has to be accountable for his words. If he won't fire Therrien, Molson should fire them all.

If the Habs have a horrible start and they decide to fire Therrien, who are the candidate for the next head coach.

Bergevin has to be accountable for his words. If he won't fire Therrien, Molson should fire them all.

If the Habs have a horrible start and they decide to fire Therrien, who are the candidate for the next head coach.
- Champ

If I'm being honest I kind of hope they poop the bed next season (even if it's only for the first 1/3 or so), I just want that smug turd of a GM to have to eat crow.

Still hard to believe the habs have stood pat and not cleaned house. Head Coach vs Star Player, who is gonna win there?! And the GM is utterly responsible for the roster issues. A fresh group from GM down really would bebest there IMO

Would have loved to see Crawford here !
- Xizord

Why?

Still hard to believe the habs have stood pat and not cleaned house. Head Coach vs Star Player, who is gonna win there?! And the GM is utterly responsible for the roster issues. A fresh group from GM down really would bebest there IMO
- Roadrunner75

Not an uncommon opinion

Why?
- stinger67

Well at this point anybody else. Who is good enough in the current coaching staff right now, except Waite? The one responsible for the powerplay? The one responsible for the often stated "porous defence all year who didn't give Condon a chance"?

Well at this point anybody else. Who is good enough in the current coaching staff right now, except Waite? The one responsible for the powerplay? The one responsible for the often stated "porous defence all year who didn't give Condon a chance"?
- Popofjc

Statistically the defence has actually been bad for the last 4 years, Price just covered it up well

Well at this point anybody else. Who is good enough in the current coaching staff right now, except Waite? The one responsible for the powerplay? The one responsible for the often stated "porous defence all year who didn't give Condon a chance"?
- Popofjc

defense is not on the coach, it's on the GM.

defense is not on the coach, it's on the GM.
- Symba007

I'd say it's on both. If the players are bad that's the GM and if the system is bad that's the coach. In my opinion they both suck

defense is not on the coach, it's on the GM.

Well there is a position right now called "Assistant-coach responsible of defensemen". Isn't he supposed to to something to help the team? Else why he's here? What does he do all day?

You can blame the individual players for some things that are proper to them only, but when everyone of the D does the same thing (endless icings and dumps along the boards that gives the puck back to the other team, no organized breakout, giving a lot of shots against each game), that's the system that is the problem. And it's the coaching staff that decide and implement the system.

Statistically the defence has actually been bad for the last 4 years, Price just covered it up well
- ehabs9

Exactly. To see if a team D structure is good, don't look at the team rankings in number of goals against, because that's 75% or more on the goalie. Look for example at the rankings in number of shots against, that's a number only it impact. And Habs have been bad for a long time in this rankings.

Habs don't play a defensive-first system, or if they think they do they are failing hard at it. Which make it even more infuriating when the coach refuse to give big minutes to the youngsters because "they are not ready defensively" and instead give it to the usual veterans. Which aren't better if you look at those stats.

Exactly. To see if a team D structure is good, don't look at the team rankings in number of goals against, because that's 75% or more on the goalie. Look for example at the rankings in number of shots against, that's a number only it impact. And Habs have been bad for a long time in this rankings.

Habs don't play a defensive-first system, or if they think they do they are failing hard at it. Which make it even more infuriating when the coach refuse to give big minutes to the youngsters because "they are not ready defensively" and instead give it to the usual veterans. Which aren't better if you look at those stats.
- Popofjc

Exactly. Habs have been one of the pooptier teams in terms of shot attempts against and scoring chances against for years. They claim to be a puck possession team, but stats point to them spending more of their time chasing the play.

The season Price put up last year is made all the more amazing because of the fact the Habs don't play particularly well in any regard in front of him. Part of that is on the coach for poor systems, and part of it is on the GM for the poor personnel he's put together. People seem to be divided on who to blame, but as far as I'm concerned they're both bad.