Ducharme Out

[Jim Bauch]

He has to have one of the oddest coaching records in NHL history.

He put up a very mediocre regular-season record last year, but then the team makes it to the final, so it's hard to argue against giving him a contract extension. Especially given the extenuating circumstances (the scheduling and other constraints of the pandemic, the lack of a chance to implement his own system during the season).

Then he follows it up with one of the worst regular season performances by a non-expansion team. Even still, he had a good chance of keeping the job at least through the end of the season given (1) lack of an appetite for ownership to swallow another coaching contract; (2) the season is a lost cause anyway, and at a minimum management uh, let's say, isn't totally upset if they lose; and (3) there are excuses if you want to find them (injuries, COVID).

I've watched probably less than a full game of the Habs this season, so I can't really comment on their play. But from everything I'm hearing, they seem to have just quit on the coach, and I don't get the impression that he's even respected. Ducharme has gone on and on this season about his precious system, and the players have expressed a combination of confusion if not outright contempt for it, but there's been no humility from Ducharme or recognition that maybe his system is the problem.

Seems like at this point they had to let him go. Losing games isn't the issue, obviously. But creating a toxic atmosphere and screwing up the development of prospects is not something they can overlook.

I have to think that Ducharme has seriously damaged his hopes of a future head coaching gig elsewhere. Say what you will about Cunneyworth, the guy seemed to be at least liked and respected.

Jim

[Charles Barber]

Post by Jim Bauch
He has to have one of the oddest coaching records in NHL history.
He put up a very mediocre regular-season record last year, but then the team makes it to the final, so it's hard to argue against giving him a contract extension. Especially given the extenuating circumstances (the scheduling and other constraints of the pandemic, the lack of a chance to implement his own system during the season).
Then he follows it up with one of the worst regular season performances by a non-expansion team. Even still, he had a good chance of keeping the job at least through the end of the season given (1) lack of an appetite for ownership to swallow another coaching contract; (2) the season is a lost cause anyway, and at a minimum management uh, let's say, isn't totally upset if they lose; and (3) there are excuses if you want to find them (injuries, COVID).
I've watched probably less than a full game of the Habs this season, so I can't really comment on their play. But from everything I'm hearing, they seem to have just quit on the coach, and I don't get the impression that he's even respected. Ducharme has gone on and on this season about his precious system, and the players have expressed a combination of confusion if not outright contempt for it, but there's been no humility from Ducharme or recognition that maybe his system is the problem.
Seems like at this point they had to let him go. Losing games isn't the issue, obviously. But creating a toxic atmosphere and screwing up the development of prospects is not something they can overlook.
I have to think that Ducharme has seriously damaged his hopes of a future head coaching gig elsewhere. Say what you will about Cunneyworth, the guy seemed to be at least liked and respected.
Jim

Hopefully hiring Martin St Louis is a signal of a return to a more offence driven system and an end to a system that was offensive to watch

[mike]

Post by Jim Bauch
He has to have one of the oddest coaching records in NHL history.
He put up a very mediocre regular-season record last year, but then the team makes it to the final, so it's hard to argue against giving him a contract extension. Especially given the extenuating circumstances (the scheduling and other constraints of the pandemic, the lack of a chance to implement his own system during the season).
Then he follows it up with one of the worst regular season performances by a non-expansion team. Even still, he had a good chance of keeping the job at least through the end of the season given (1) lack of an appetite for ownership to swallow another coaching contract; (2) the season is a lost cause anyway, and at a minimum management uh, let's say, isn't totally upset if they lose; and (3) there are excuses if you want to find them (injuries, COVID).
I've watched probably less than a full game of the Habs this season, so I can't really comment on their play. But from everything I'm hearing, they seem to have just quit on the coach, and I don't get the impression that he's even respected. Ducharme has gone on and on this season about his precious system, and the players have expressed a combination of confusion if not outright contempt for it, but there's been no humility from Ducharme or recognition that maybe his system is the problem.
Seems like at this point they had to let him go. Losing games isn't the issue, obviously. But creating a toxic atmosphere and screwing up the development of prospects is not something they can overlook.
I have to think that Ducharme has seriously damaged his hopes of a future head coaching gig elsewhere. Say what you will about Cunneyworth, the guy seemed to be at least liked and respected.
Jim

I've watched not one full game since middle of November. I tune in
occasionally until they look like the game is hopelessly lost (usually
by the second period) and turn it off. In their own end, they look like
a team that has NEVER played in their own end. I've seen 3 on 0's, two
guys standing in front of our goalie with nobody around, line changes
when the other team has the puck in the neutral zones - I could go on
but they look like a team that has no clue what to do.

I'm undecided on Martin St Louis but the one thing I did like when I
heard him speak was that he believes in concepts, not systems and wants
his better players to have more freedom to do what they do best.

I do think that it is possible that St Louis is there to take notes over
the next couple of months and then give his recommendation on where to
go next and with whom. We'll see.

[Charles Barber]

Post by mike

Post by Jim Bauch
He has to have one of the oddest coaching records in NHL history.
He put up a very mediocre regular-season record last year, but then the team makes it to the final, so it's hard to argue against giving him a contract extension. Especially given the extenuating circumstances (the scheduling and other constraints of the pandemic, the lack of a chance to implement his own system during the season).
Then he follows it up with one of the worst regular season performances by a non-expansion team. Even still, he had a good chance of keeping the job at least through the end of the season given (1) lack of an appetite for ownership to swallow another coaching contract; (2) the season is a lost cause anyway, and at a minimum management uh, let's say, isn't totally upset if they lose; and (3) there are excuses if you want to find them (injuries, COVID).
I've watched probably less than a full game of the Habs this season, so I can't really comment on their play. But from everything I'm hearing, they seem to have just quit on the coach, and I don't get the impression that he's even respected. Ducharme has gone on and on this season about his precious system, and the players have expressed a combination of confusion if not outright contempt for it, but there's been no humility from Ducharme or recognition that maybe his system is the problem.
Seems like at this point they had to let him go. Losing games isn't the issue, obviously. But creating a toxic atmosphere and screwing up the development of prospects is not something they can overlook.
I have to think that Ducharme has seriously damaged his hopes of a future head coaching gig elsewhere. Say what you will about Cunneyworth, the guy seemed to be at least liked and respected.
Jim

I've watched not one full game since middle of November. I tune in
occasionally until they look like the game is hopelessly lost (usually
by the second period) and turn it off. In their own end, they look like
a team that has NEVER played in their own end. I've seen 3 on 0's, two
guys standing in front of our goalie with nobody around, line changes
when the other team has the puck in the neutral zones - I could go on
but they look like a team that has no clue what to do.
I'm undecided on Martin St Louis but the one thing I did like when I
heard him speak was that he believes in concepts, not systems and wants
his better players to have more freedom to do what they do best.
I do think that it is possible that St Louis is there to take notes over
the next couple of months and then give his recommendation on where to
go next and with whom. We'll see.

St-Louis started his tenure with the same lineup as his predecessor. Hopefully he doesn`t wait too long before doing some shuffling. He has some depth forwards that he can platoon some more grit into the lineup. Unfortunately he doesn`t have much of any options on defence other then telling them they can try playing a more active roll in the transition game, that they have other options then chucking the puck to the end of the rink

[Jim Bauch]

Post by mike
I'm undecided on Martin St Louis but the one thing I did like when I
heard him speak was that he believes in concepts, not systems and wants
his better players to have more freedom to do what they do best.
I do think that it is possible that St Louis is there to take notes over
the next couple of months and then give his recommendation on where to
go next and with whom. We'll see.

I think the St. Louis hiring is one of those things that sounds weird at first but makes sense given the situation.

Firing Ducharme had clearly become necessary. Promoting one of the existing assistants to interim coach would potentially provoke another language kerfuffle, and in any event it's not clear that it would be a big enough change. (That would, I guess, depend on the extent to which Richardson or the other assistants had really "bought in" to Ducharme's program or disagreed but were just doing their duty.)

Hiring a big name coaching candidate right now would be difficult -- the options are limited at this point in the season -- and probably a little rushed. I suspect that Molson isn't too eager to commit to another big dollar coaching contract just yet.

St. Louis is a relatively low risk move. It's hard to imagine the team getting much worse performance-wise. I suppose he could prove to be a train wreck if he's getting in fights with the players and media, but that doesn't seem to be his personality anyway. He could be a true interim coach, giving way to a more experienced/credentialed candidate in the offseason, he could get the permanent job, or I could even imagine him being re-hired as an assistant to a permanent hire. Given that he's coming from coaching peewee, it's a fair deal for St. Louis -- he gets a chance to try his hand at the NHL level, show what he can do, and learn the trade a little, and with expectations very low. Ironically, the Montreal Canadiens head coaching job may be the lowest-pressure gig in the league right now, and that's not something I ever thought I'd say.

I don't really know what to expect. The press is all positive right now, but then Ducharme got plaudits when he was new on the job, too. I sort of expect him to have a few hiccups, maybe some questionable lineup moves, a shaky press conference or two. The team is not likely to start reeling off big winning streaks, but hopefully it will be less of a disaster and a better environment for the young players to develop and the veterans to show their value on the trade market.

Jim

[zip by]

well said

Post by Jim Bauch
Ironically, the Montreal Canadiens head coaching job may be the
lowest-pressure gig in the league right now, and that's not something I ever
thought I'd say.