“This is a tremendous opportunity to join this organization,” Martin said. “When you look at the players who are in the organization, there is a strong nucleus, a strong base, to build a winning team and I’m really looking forward with excitement to leading this team next year.”

I didn’t realize this until I did a little research but this is the first time in 16 years that the Habs have found a head coach with NHL experience (all of the others have been newbies, including Mario Tremblay, Alain Vigneault, Michel Therrien, Claude Julien and Guy Carbonneau).

I’m not a huge fan of GM Bob Gainey but, for once, I think he’s put his priorities in the right place.  I’m not sure Martin is the best guy for the job but at least he’s had some experience coaching NHL teams which, I think, is pretty important.  Just four more months until the season starts again!

image: TSN

Post from: Hockey Beat

image: TSN

“The Gillett family has retained the services of financial advisers to assess various strategic alternatives to optimize the value of its corporate assets,” said Boivin. “In Canada, the family has retained the services of BMO Capital Markets and the process is underway.”

I can’t deny that I find this astonishing.  Forbes Magazine estimated in October 2008 that the Habs were worth $334 million and ranked them as the NHL’s third most valuable team in October 2008.

There are some crazy rumors about potential buyers including Research In Motion CEO Jim Balsillie, Cirque du Soleil owner Guy Laliberte, Quebecor (media company) and Rene Angelil, manager and husband of Quebeçoise singer Celine Dion.

For now, interim head coach and GM, Bob Gainey, is trying to keep the players focused on their game (yeah, that seems to be working).  “I’ve heard vague rumours about what’s happening” he said.  “I didn’t hear that the hockey team was being sold. Have you? No. So it doesn’t change. We’re in March. Our budget’s been set, our money’s spent…..We have hockey games to play and it’s about the competition.”

The Canadiens are celebrating their 100th Season and, while it began with such promise, things are steadily falling apart.  I think the biggest mistake so far was firing Guy Carbonneau.  The Habs have won just once in the six games since Gainey began coaching the team.

Post from: Hockey Beat

The Canadiens, who currently sit in second place in the Northeast Division, started 10-4-2 but are 25-20-5 since November 17, 2008; 17-16-1 since December 22, 2008; and 7-8-1 since February 2, 2009. They were 5-4-1 in Carbonneau’s last 10 games.

Last year, the Habs won the 2008 Northeast Division for the first time since 1992 when Carbonneau was the team captain (they won the Stanley Cup the next season).

This comes just weeks after the legendary Guy Lafleur (Canadiens, 1971-1985) ripped the team leaders (both Carbonneau and Gainey) for benching Alex Kovalev for a couple games: "If I were in (Kovalev’s) skates, I’d have played my last game for the Canadiens.  No player with his talent would accept being humiliated like that. … I don’t know what Gainey is trying to prove in front of everybody. If you’re paying guys $4 million, $5 million a year, give them the tools to make sure they’ll produce. You just can’t switch lines and try things every night and hope something will come out of it. I don’t think this club has a team spirit. They don’t play for each other. They’re not playing as a team and they’re not ready to sacrifice themselves to win."

Gee, Guy.  Tell us how you really feel.  Oh wait, he does.  Here’s some more of what he said – this time in regards to Carbonneau’s coaching style: "He is operating like he has four (equal) lines, they play 1-2-3-4 every night.  You just can’t do it. Even if the fourth line was the best one night — they have to play to give the others a chance to relax, but your best players, let them play 25, 28 minutes a game if they can. (Carbonneau) won’t change his style. He should have done that before Christmas, even from the beginning of the season. Give your best players the ice time they need to play well, to get their confidence back, to prove to the organization what they can do."

image: TSN

Post from: Hockey Beat