A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: The Kirk Muller extension is another positive step forward

By Omar L

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Associate coach Kirk Muller of the Montreal Canadiens watches the action from the bench against the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on November 30, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The Canadiens defeated the Red Wings 6-3. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Associate coach Kirk Muller of the Montreal Canadiens watches the action from the bench against the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on November 30, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The Canadiens defeated the Red Wings 6-3. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens announced after their Red Vs. White Scrimmage game that assistant coach Kirk Muller receive a two-year extension.

When the Montreal Canadiens began their alterations to the management team, an important extension was left unnoticed. Dominique Ducharme and Joël Bouchard joined the team, and the was really exciting for the organization. But Stèphane Waite’s new deal was a really important piece of information considering the impact he had on Antti Niemi turning his season around after the Habs picked him off of waivers.

Sunday’s news was somewhat similar. The team had a lot of positives coming out of that Red Vs. White Scrimmage game, which we’ll discuss in due time, but after that came word of Kirk Muller‘s extension with the Montreal Canadiens allowing him to remain as one of the assistant coaches.

It’s good news on multiple fronts. For starters, Muller is in charge of the team’s power play, and the man advantage has seen improvements over the years as far as overall execution. The Habs PP% eclipsed 20% for the first time since the 2012/13 shortened season which is saying something as it generally falls in the mid-to-high teens. There’s going to be an adjustment to get the units to fire at that rate again with the departure of Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk, but the Montreal Canadiens have new names ready to meet the challenge.

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Secondly is his communication with the players. Most importantly, the youth. If you didn’t see it, Muller had some inspirational words to say to the Habs prospects at development camp.

It was a long time ago, but Muller played in Montreal. He won in Montreal. There’s no one else who wants to see the organization win again than him as he was on that championship back in 1993. Muller is after the next one and he’s determined to build up the players in the organization to get to that point.

He’s had to go through some growing pains after recovering from lime disease, Muller is re-energized and ready to go. With the extension, he’ll have another two years to work with the personnel within the Montreal Canadiens and see the future come to fold.

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