Would you see someone not speaking spanish coaching the Real Madrid or someone not speaking English coaching the Boston Red Sox?

That French thing is part of the Montreal landscape... Nobody can change that...
- AllenB

and having an anglophone coach wouldn't change that either... it's like people are afraid Quebec culture will vanish if the habs coach doesn't speak french, wtf

Quite sure Habs are gonna win the next 5 games
- WaterBoy

Competition isn't filled with world beaters but I'd take that bet...even open to giving you odds

He was hired as douchevin, he's becoming Oldegevin quickly.
- Fredobbface

Is it me but his new look migrated to some kind of old porn star style?

He looks very dusty recently...

Would you see someone not speaking spanish coaching the Real Madrid or someone not speaking English coaching the Boston Red Sox?

That French thing is part of the Montreal landscape... Nobody can change that...
- AllenB

But it has happened at Real, numerous times. Toschek, Hiddink, Heynckes, Antic, Beenhakker among others.

and having an anglophone coach wouldn't change that either... it's like people are afraid Quebec culture will vanish if the habs coach doesn't speak french, wtf
- Pat1993

I agree with you... but the Rejean Tremblay of the world will have a stroke and Montreal may lose the Quebec City market which could trigger the return of the Nordiques...

Molson really does not want that...

But it has happened at Real, numerous times. Toschek, Hiddink, Heynckes, Antic, Beenhakker among others.
- Habsolute009

And the habs won more cups with none french speaking coaches than they ever have with french speaking coaches I believe

I agree with you... but the Rejean Tremblay of the world will have a stroke and Montreal may lose the Quebec City market which could trigger the return of the Nordiques...

Molson really does not want that...
- AllenB

uh ok

sorry.

Clearly the problem was french coaching
- Fredobbface

I still can't figure out how they didn't win a championship in 2015 when they were loaded down the middle with Plekanec, Desharnais, Mitchell & Flynn... stupid coaches!

well you're probably already pronouncing it that way, so it would only be logical
- Pat1993

How is it pronounced anyway Pat?

But it has happened at Real, numerous times. Toschek, Hiddink, Heynckes, Antic, Beenhakker among others.
- Habsolute009

Even the players have to speak spanish...

Agente de Gareth Bale asegura que el galés sí habla español y llama idiotas a quienes lo critican

How is it pronounced anyway Pat?
- pete26

Bergeron Pete, it's pronounced Bergeron

So why did he get fired?

First up and the shoot out for Ottawa, Brady Tkachuk (age 21)

First up for Montreal, Cory Perry (age 53)

Second up: Stuetzel (age 19)

Second up: Drouin (age 37)

Third Up: Norris (age 21)

Third Up (Serge Savard (age 73)

Montreal has good kids. Julien does not play them in key roles. He had to go.

Even the players have to speak spanish...

Agente de Gareth Bale asegura que el galés sí habla español y llama idiotas a quienes lo critican
- AllenB

I repeat, Did Boskov or Miljanic speak spanish when in charage of Real as well? Or is this some new age thing.

I still can't figure out how they didn't win a championship in 2015 when they were loaded down the middle with Plekanec, Desharnais, Mitchell & Flynn... stupid coaches!
- obie

Yeah and the top UFA didn't sign here because of the french coaches. Not because they didn't want to play on a line with Oleg Petrov and Jan Bulis

I agree with you... but the Rejean Tremblay of the world will have a stroke and Montreal may lose the Quebec City market which could trigger the return of the Nordiques...

Molson really does not want that...
- AllenB

If Molson doesn't want that he can go Toronto Maple Leafs and block it but he's been open to supporting it, at least publicly, privately who knows. I'm willing to take him at his word but wouldn't bet the farm on it

Bergeron Pete, it's pronounced Bergeron
- Pat1993

So why did he get fired?

First up and the shoot out for Ottawa, Brady Tkachuk (age 21)

First up for Montreal, Cory Perry (age 53)

Second up: Stuetzel (age 19)

Second up: Drouin (age 37)

Third Up: Norris (age 21)

Third Up (Serge Savard (age 73)

Montreal has good kids. Julien does not play them in key roles. He had to go.
- spatso

I know Ottawa has no fans so you have to go to other team's blogs to try and join the discussion but I can assure you nobody cares

Of Molson doesn't want that he can go Toronto Maple Leafs and block it but he's been open to supporting it, at least publicly, privately who knows. I'm willing to take him at his word but wouldn't bet the farm on it
- Takemedrunkimhome

Molson want to have all Quebec's Market... It is a business after all...

Long Cat!

1. Gerard Gallant. Probably the name that will top every potential Seattle list. Gallant is an outstanding coach and obviously has some pretty significant experience working with a new franchise and helping to build it from the ground up. It is stunning he is even available at this point. Given his initial success in Vegas there would probably be an unrealistic expectation for the same thing to happen in Seattle, but Gallant does not strike me as the type of coach that would be bothered by that.

2. Bruce Boudreau. Boudreau has proven to be one of the best coaches in hockey, while the timing of his dismissal in Minnesota this past season was … odd. You can hold the lack of a Stanley Cup against him, you can accuse his teams of folding late in playoff series, but the guy wins and he consistently puts his teams in position to succeed. He should be coaching in the NHL somewhere.

3. Rikard Gronborg. Now we get interesting. It has been two decades since the NHL has had a European head coach, and it is time to change that. Gronborg, currently the head coach of Swiss team ZSC Lions as well as the Swedish National Team, has been a winner everywhere he has coached, is highly decorated and respected, and has his sights set on the NHL. His contract with Zurich expires after this season (so he would be available) and would be a refreshing change of pace and maybe bring some new ideas to a league that keeps recycling through the same coaches over and over again.

4. Todd Nelson. Nelson’s minor league resume is about as impressive as you can get. In 10 seasons as a head coach in the UHL and AHL he never missed the playoffs while winning championships in both leagues (most recently in 2016-17 as head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins). His only head coaching experience in the NHL was a half season with the 2014-15 Edmonton Oilers, where the team went 17-22-7 under his watch. That may not seem like much, until you consider that same roster went 7-22-7 in the games where he was not the head coach. He is currently an assistant with the Dallas Stars. He probably deserves another chance — a real chance — as an NHL boss.
[Related: ProHockeyTalk’s 2020 NHL Free Agency Tracker]

5. John Stevens. Stevens would probably be a very “safe” hire, but not necessarily a bad one. He has an AHL championship on his coaching resume, has been a top assistant on multiple Stanley Cup Final teams (including this past season with the Dallas Stars), and was mostly successful during his time as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings. He was the fall-guy for being behind the bench when the Kings’ started to decline and rebuild.

6. Mike Babcock. You have to assume he is going to be discussed, and most people would probably consider him higher on a list like this because, well, he is Mike Babcock, and that is still a name that carries a lot of weight in the NHL. This is not the direction I would go. His recent track record with established, talented teams is not good at all (only one playoff series win in nine seasons) so I have a hard time seeing him molding a new franchise into something anytime soon.

7. Mike Vellucci. Now we start to get into the long shots. But let’s play connect the dots here. Vellucci, currently an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has won championships in the OHL and AHL and has a prior history with Francis from their time in the Carolina Hurricanes organization. But would Seattle be willing to go with a rookie NHL head coach to begin its franchise?

8. Dan Bylsma. Or as I like to call him, a slightly better version of Mike Babcock who doesn’t have the luxury of Hockey Canada boosting his reputation. He’s a better coach than he gets credit for being. He might be the next coach of the Red Wings, however. Perhaps soon.

9. Mike Yeo. I include Yeo just because I feel like he is the type of coach that will keep getting chances in the NHL. A known commodity that has had success with two different teams. He will get a third team.

10. Dave Hakstol. His time in Philadelphia did not go as planned, but some coaches need to fail before they can succeed. Would a different roster and that experience help him in a second spot?
Other long shots worth keeping an eye on…

Rod Brind’Amour. All I am saying is his contract in Carolina expires after this season, he is an excellent coach, there is a connection with Francis. Is it likely? No. But is it crazy? Okay, maybe it is. But still … I am just saying.

Paul Maurice. At some point something is going to have to give with Maurice and the Jets, and he could be available if things do not work in Winnipeg this season.

Jim Montgomery. A second-chance opportunity perhaps. Montgomery was fired by the Stars early this season and eventually entered rehab for alcohol abuse in January. Now sober, he is back working behind the bench as an assistant with the St. Louis Blues.

Karl Taylor. Taylor is the reigning American Hockey League coach of the year and has NHL aspirations. He is 77-38-24 in his two years as the head coach of Nashville’s top AHL team in Milwaukee. Maybe an expansion team isn’t the best starting point. But still a name to consider.

I for one do not care another Cunnyworth distraction, that was embarrassing for both sides of the debate.

Can we move on to Danault now?

I know Ottawa has no fans so you have to go to other team's blogs to try and join the discussion but I can assure you nobody cares
- Takemedrunkimhome

And, I guess that would be the reason why you did not respond.

I will pretend I did not see your comment.

Well done slick!

Yeah and the top UFA didn't sign here because of the french coaches. Not because they didn't want to play on a line with Oleg Petrov and Jan Bulis
- Fredobbface

No top end UFA?? Buddy, they signed Nick Cousins a couple years back, that's some top end talent right there

So why did he get fired?

First up and the shoot out for Ottawa, Brady Tkachuk (age 21)

First up for Montreal, Cory Perry (age 53)

Second up: Stuetzel (age 19)

Second up: Drouin (age 37)

Third Up: Norris (age 21)

Third Up (Serge Savard (age 73)

Montreal has good kids. Julien does not play them in key roles. He had to go.
- spatso

Call an ambulance and have yourself delivered to the Ottawa Mental Health institute (On Carling)... You are in crisis...

I'm aware it's interim. People are losing their poop over anything they can because it's what fans do. Waterboy asked for other quality candidates who aren't french, of which I'm more open to a new candidate than a retread from the (thanks Karine) french connection. So, if language isn't a determining factor a coach like Karl Taylor should be a top candidate
- Takemedrunkimhome

Karl Taylor isnt a better coach right now than DD. DD as got some NHL XP.

This said, yes maybe down the road Karl is better.

Call an ambulance and have yourself delivered to the Ottawa Mental Health institute (On Carling)... You are in crisis...
- AllenB

Fine. But still ignores the underlying issue. He was fired because he played the vets in key situations and was not pushing the kids into growth situations.