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Canadiens: 5 Associate Coach Candidates For Next Season

By Patrick Lortie

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Newly appointed interim head coach, Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens makes his way towards the bench in his first career NHL game as a coach prior to the game against the Washington Capitals at Centre Bell on February 10, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Newly appointed interim head coach, Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens makes his way towards the bench in his first career NHL game as a coach prior to the game against the Washington Capitals at Centre Bell on February 10, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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QUEBEC CITY, QC – NOVEMBER 4: Patrick Roy. (Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Getty Images)
QUEBEC CITY, QC – NOVEMBER 4: Patrick Roy. (Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Getty Images) /

There’s the name you were all waiting for.

From the second Marc Bergevin was fired as the Canadiens General Manager, the name of Patrick Roy has dominated headlines across the country as his potential replacement. Sources claim he has indeed had an interview with Geoff Molson before the team ultimately selected Kent Hughes.

When Dominique Ducharme was let go, once again his name appeared as a candidate for the bench job.

In the end, Roy is still coaching the Quebec Rempart of the QMJHL. He is in his second stint as Head Coach of the Rempart, having spent eight seasons behind their bench before taking over the Colorado Avalanche coaching duties in 2013-14.

Roy won the Jack Adams trophy as the top coach in the NHL in his first season with the Avalanche after leading the team to a 52-22-8 record good for the best record in the Western Conference. He also guided Nathan MacKinnon in his rookie season towards a Calder Trophy win. The Avs’ fell to the Minnesota Wild in seven games in the first round.

Despite missing the playoffs the following two seasons, Roy was penciled in as coach for the 2016-17 season, however he suddenly resigned weeks before training camp. The reason for him leaving are still murky but many claim his relationship with Joe Sakic turned sour after the two couldn’t agree on the makeup of the roster. At the time, the Avalanche utilized a system that saw Sakic and Roy hold Vice-President of Hockey Operation titles while Greg Sherman had the General Manager title but in name only. Sherman merely served as a consultant while Sakic had the final word on all decisions.

Roy would then return to the Remparts as Head Coach in 18-19 and remains to this day. It was announced that he hired an agent to pursue an NHL position but thus far, nothing has come out of it.

Patrick Roy has proven that he works amazingly with young players and his fiery passion and legendary disgust for losing always makes him an intriguing candidate. Although some, including myself, doubt we’ll see him with the Canadiens again as long as Geoff Molson is around.

Although, stranger things have happened.

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