The Next Montreal Canadiens Head Coach

Who will be the next coach of the Montreal Canadiens next year? That's the question that everyone has been buzzing around lately in Montreal. So I decided to make a list of the potential candidates that can take this position next year.

Don Lever

Many people believe that Don Lever will be next head coach because Bob Gainey has brought him over from Hamilton to become an assistant coach. He has done the same thing with Guy Carbonneau before naming him head coach. In addition, Don Lever have coached many of the young players that are currently with the Canadiens and have won the Calder cup with them. He knows these kids better than anymore and can make them perform to their full potential. Don Lever has 20 years of combined coaching experience in the NHL and AHL. He has been assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres and the St-Louis Blues in the NHL level and has been head coach for the Rochester Americans and Hamilton Bulldogs in the AHL. The only downfall for Don is that he isn't bilingual. In a market like Montreal, where the majority of the fans speak French, the head coach must be able to communicate fluently in French. If he wants to put all the chances on his side, I urge him to start taking intensive French lessons.

Bob Hartley

Bob Hartley is one of the top candidates for the job. He is bilingual. He has 10 years of coaching experience as head coach in the NHL. He coached for the Colorado Avalanche and the Atlanta Thrashers for 5 years each. He has won a Calder cup in the AHL with Hershey Bears 1996-97 and has won a Stanley cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2000-01. Bob Hartley main downfall is that he has difficulty with young players. When he was in Atlanta, the Thrashers had a young team and he was unable to make them perform at their best. The Habs is also a very young team next year where most of the veteran players might not come back because their UFA status. Will Bob Hartley be able to deal with so many young players?

Marc Crawford

Marc Crawford has 13 years of experience as head coach in the NHL. He has coached for the Nordiques/Avalanche, the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings. He has won the Stanley cup with the Avalanche in 1995-96. He also won the Jack Adam trophy in 1994-95. He is a very good coach that can get the best out of his skilled players and he is Bilingual.

Mario Tremblay

Some speculate that maybe Mario Tremblay would want to leave his assistant coach position in Minnesota to come back to coach the Montreal Canadiens. He has 2 years of experience as head coach with the Canadiens and has 6 years of experience as assistant coach with the Wilds. He speaks French. But I would be very surprised if he is interested in coming back, and I doubt that Bob Gainey would want him here.

Bob Gainey

Yes, Bob Gainey could become the permanent head coach. It all depends on how the team goes this year in the playoffs. If the Habs are able to make a few good rounds, don't be surprised to see him back next year behind the bench. He said it himself that he really enjoys coaching and it is one of the things he misses the most while being a GM. He has 7 years of coaching experience with the Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. He is bilingual. He is person which all the players respect and listen when he speaks.



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