Hey guys. You may remember my very first topic on this site was about how the Canadiens could be fixed. I suggested either we get a new coach, acquire a top 3 scorer, or a tough guy. Well, unless you've been hiding under a rock, Jacques Martin was fired earlier this year and replaced by Randy Cunneyworth, and Michael Cammalleri was traded to Calgary for Rene Bourque (during a game I may add). Under Cunneyworth, Montreal is 6-14. Before they fired Martin, they were 13-12-7. This was obviously a panic firing by Gauthier, and both he and Cunneyworth are expected to be let go by the end of this season.

If I were the Molson brothers (I can dream) I would let Cunneyworth come back as an assistant, but I would look externally to find a new head coach.

​Habs potential coaching candidates:

1) Patrick Roy

This would be my number one choice, hands down. Roy, who currently owns, manages and coaches the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League said he’s open to the possibility of returning to the organization where he began his NHL career. Patrick is a great candidate for the Habs' coach for plenty of reasons. He feels he owes the team after leaving so dis-gracefully, He'd be great for Price(and Budaj), he is currently leading the Remparts to a 33-14-5 record, and he just so happens to be french. The Hall of Famer would definitely be a great hiring for the Habs, as a fan, I hope they come to terms.

2) Guy Boucher???

This is a little less crazy as it sounds. The Lightning are having a sub par year, and Steve Yzerman is a new GM who could pull the trigger on a panic firing. Boucher would certainly have no issues coming back to his roots. The former Adams Trophy candidate is well known for his defensive styled hockey, and his 1-3-1 forecheck trap that had the league scratching their heads. He is also french!

3) Clement Jodoin

Jodoin is currently the head coach of Montreal's AHL affiliate, The Hamilton Bulldogs. But before that, Jodoin had an impressive run in the QMJHL as head coach of Sidney Crosby's Rimouski Oceanic going 151-95-8-5. He has won a total of 3 CHL coach of the year awards ( with Halifax, Lewiston and Rimouski) and will forever be a great coach in the QMJHL history books. I know I said Montreal should look externally, but Jodoin has paid his dues and deserve a great of chance as any other candidate. He is also french.

4) Randy Carlyle

Yes, that Randy Carlyle. The 1981 Norris Trophy winner could be a dark horse in the running for the next coach of Montreal. He won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007 and he coaches fast pace, crash the net styled hockey; the style of coaching all Habs fans having been dreaming about. Being a former defenceman, and coaching a few great defencemen (Pronger, Niedermayer etc.) his hiring could be beneficial for young defencemen P.K Subban, Alexei Emelin, and Raphael Diaz, who all appear to have great futures with the Habs. And no, he does not speak french, but it should (but it won't) be the last thing the Molson brothers look for.

Top candidates for the next GM

1) Patrick Roy

Need I say more? If Roy takes our coaching job, his title would likely include GM and Team President.

2) Pierre McGuire

Although he was born in New Jersey, McGuire can speak fluent french. The current NBC analyst was named specifically by colleague Pierre LeBrun as a potential candidate for the GM job in Montreal. McGuire won two Stanley Cups as a scout and assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992. He then joined the Hartford Whalers as an assistant coach and was later named assistant general manager. In 1993 he was named head coach, leading the team to a 23-37-7 record in the 1993–94 after replacing current Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren in mid-season. Holmgren replaced McGuire as head coach following that campaign. McGuire is a liked and respected figure around the NHL and would probably make a good GM.

5 players that would help the Montreal Canadiens tremendously:

1) Andrei Markov and Brian Gionta

The two players that would help us out the most are already under contract with us. Gionta, our captain, hasn't played a game since January 10th, and hasn't had a point since December 6th. He has 15 points on the year after a 29 goal, 47 point season last year. Granted, he has only 31 games under his belt this year but for 5 million bucks, his performance has to be better than 0.5 points per game, or he will be traded or bought out. Markov on the other hand, hasn't played since November 13th, 2010. His last point was on November 11th. He signed a new deal with Montreal last summer, and it has since been highly criticized because he has yet to have even a full practice. He was expected to be ready for the start of this season but there was a set back. Then, it was expected he would return in early January, but obviously nothing has happened. That was the last we've heard of Markov. He is a key contributor to our powerplay and was one of the reasons we had a strong one in the late 2000's, and may be the sole reason why our powerplay is dead last today. Extremely similar to the Indianapolis Colts' situation with Peyton Manning, Markov could be the teams' MVP without even playing a single game.

2) Johan Hedberg

Peter Budaj has done a fine job this season, but if Carey Price is having one of those games where he just doesn't care (been a few this year) I'd feel better having 'Moose' coming in instead of Budaj. Hedberg is without a question the best true backup goalie in the NHL (by that I mean goalies who couldn't be a number 1 somewhere else, like Schnidner and Harding) and would be a valuable asset to any team.

3) Jeff Carter

I'd love to have Jeff Cater. Who knows where he'll be traded at the Deadline this year, but its certain that he will not be a Blue Jacket come February 27th. It would probably take a roster player, a prospect and a pick and if Pierre Gauthier wants to keep his job, he will put an offer in. Carter would help Montreal tremendously, and he'd be our number 1 centre for years to come. Plus, he'd score a few goals. The main problem in Montreal could be though, the Montreal night life.

4) Manny Malholtra

I don't think any rumours have surfaced that Malholtra is on the trading block, but he would be a great pick up for Montreal. We could use a centre who can win a bunch of faceoffs, and Manny is among the best in the league at doing that.

5) George Parros

(taken from my debut topic)It's not like he would be difficult to obtain (likely a low draft pick, 4th round at the highest, or a minor leaguer.) Also, the dude can play hockey. Sure, he only has 16 goals and 30 points in 378 games, but in those 378 games, his +/- is +11. That's pretty good for an enforcer last time I checked. He's one of the best fighters in the NHL, very respected league wide, good locker room guy, he has a degree from Princeton, AND, he has a sweet stache. What's not to love? Make it happen PG!!!

Okay guys so there it is. This blog is coming off a huge 5-0 win over the Leafs, so I hope I don't jinx anything!

Happy Hockey

P.S If you haven't already, don't forget to go check out "Trade Wars". Its a series of blogs that I and another member by the name of HF101 collaborate on and it really is fun. The link will be at the bottom.

<Trade Wars> http://www.hockeyfor...guy26-vs-hf101/

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