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Montreal Canadiens: Three Potential General Manager Replacements For Marc Bergevin

By Ken MacMillan

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 07: Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 07: Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 19: Assistant coach Jacques Martin of the Pittsburgh Penguins works the bench against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 19, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Penguins defeated the Devils 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 19: Assistant coach Jacques Martin of the Pittsburgh Penguins works the bench against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 19, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Penguins defeated the Devils 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

1. Jacques Martin

Okay, Serge Beausoleil has a great Junior resume, but probably lacks the proper NHL experience to run a pro franchise like the Montreal Canadiens right now. So, what about bringing back a familiar face (the Habs like to do that)?

Jacques Martin was the head coach of the Canadiens for two and a half seasons. His first season with the team, they squeaked into the playoffs and then went on a run to the Eastern Conference Final, mostly fuelled by the heroics of Jaroslav Halak.

The next year, Montreal made the playoffs again but lost in overtime in Game 7 to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. It was an agonizing loss but the end of a solid season. Then came the 2011-12 campaign. Pierre Gauthier was the general manager and he was doing odd things like acquiring Tomas Kaberle, trading Mike Cammalleri in the middle of a game and firing Martin for a decent start.

The Habs were 13-12-7 when Martin was relieved of his duties and Randy Cunneyworth was brought in as his replacement. In another odd situation created by Gauthier, he said Cunneyworth would be there the rest of the year but a French coach would be in place by the start of the next season. This left Cunneyworth as a sitting duck for more than half a season and then he was gone.

Martin moved on to the Pittsburgh Penguins where he has served as an assistant coach and senior advisor on Jim Rutherford’s staff. Martin would win two Stanley Cups during his time with the Penguins and is looking to add a third title this season.

Martin has been in the National Hockey League since he was hired to be the head coach of the St. Louis Blues in 1986. He has mostly coached, but also has some front office experience as the general manager of the Florida Panthers for three seasons.

They finished just outside the playoffs all three years he was their general manager, finishing with 86, 85 and 93 points. He then left Florida to take the Habs head coaching job. Martin is 67 years old and has been around the NHL since shortly before Carey Price was born.

Next. Should Habs move Danault off top line?. dark

There are not a lot of French speaking executives with general manager experience that are available. If Bergevin were to be let go, Martin would be one of the best options available to fill the role.

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