A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Defending Michel Therrien

By Lissa Albert

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May 12, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Andrej Sustr (62) and Montreal Canadiens center Lars Eller (81) battle for the puck during the first period in game six of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

They fought even harder in Games 4 and 5, to climb out. They made franchise history by forcing a Game 6 after being relegated to the brink of elimination.

Only 4 teams in the NHL have ever come back to win a series after being down 0-3. There is a reason for that: it’s a massive accomplishment.

And so, with all the excitement of having won not only 2 games to make it into a series, but to have won against this opponent after having been beaten 8 times in regular and post-season by them, is there any wonder the Canadiens were drained?

For those hammering Therrien for his remarks? I don’t believe they’re being fair. Therrien spoke the truth.

Now, as for Mike Babcock: sure he’s on the market, and there’s no question he is an exceptional coach, one of the best in the world. There’s no wonder he was coach of the gold-medal-winning Team Canada in the 2014 Olympics.

His success with Detroit is outstanding: he won the Cup with them in his 3rd year as coach, and has continued to coach them to playoffs since arriving in 2005. His reputation as a person, not just as a coach, is stellar.

And he’s available. And looking.

I’ve been torn about this development: does one go behind one’s sitting coach to talk to another? Does a team fire its coach first, and hope the new guy accepts the offer?

The Canadiens, too, have a stellar reputation. They do things in the most classy fashion. And like any other job, especially in which the employee is performing well, no one deserves to be unceremoniously replaced without notice.

I’m torn because I would love to see a world-class coach like Babcock at the helm – could he be the One to take the Canadiens to their 25th Stanley Cup?

And yet, Therrien’s coaching a team with tremendous promise in the next season, and even season after that.

During the search for a new permanent coach for the Canadiens, sports writer Michael Farber was giving his opinion about it on local radio. I wish I had the source for his quote, but I remembered it very clearly because it certainly continues to play out here:

"The most hated man in any city is the current coach. The most loved? The next coach."

The pulse of Montreal Canadiens fans beats this rhythm.

Do the special teams need work? Absolutely. The power play is dismal, and that takes a coach who can specialize in helping it to produce. But Therrien has done a very good job as head coach.

Breaking News

Even as I was writing this piece, Marc Bergevin held a press conference in which he announced that there will be no coaching changes in Montreal next season. While this was no surprise, it is now fact.

A fact fans will have to learn to accept; I foresee the “Fire Therrien” hashtag sticking around.

I suggest people give him a chance; if your Habs’ front office trusts him, it is a good sign. Marc Bergevin has been pitch perfect since taking the job as GM in 2012. And there is nothing anyone can do about it now.

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