Harry Sinden wanted to replace Don Cherry with Scotty Bowman in 1979

[Fenway]

In the end Cherry quit or was fired and Bowman did quit Montreal but chose Buffalo instead of Boston.
Harry then hired Fred Creighton.

What could have been

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[rfournier103]

If only...

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

Scotty Bowman a Bruin ? Glad it didn't happen.

 

[dabid]

Scotty Bowman a Bruin ? Glad it didn't happen.

I am also glad one of the greatest coaches in the history of sport didn't coach for the Bruins

 

[Gator Mike]

The Patriots thought Matt Cavanaugh could be an outstanding player? Holy crap.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

I am also glad one of the greatest coaches in the history of sport didn't coach for the Bruins

He was the enemy,just couldn't see it happening. I am not disputing he was one of the greatest coaches ever but he was as much a Hab as Guy Lafleur . He seemed to represent everything I hated about the Montreal Canadiens : arrogant ,cold and superior.

 

[Fenway]

He was the enemy,just couldn't see it happening. I am not disputing he was one of the greatest coaches ever but he was as much a Hab as Guy Lafleur . He seemed to represent everything I hated about the Montreal Canadiens : arrogant ,cold and superior.

BUT - Incredibly Montreal ownership didn't think Scotty was that important.

What I would love to know is why the 1979-1980 Bruins players demanded Creighton be fired and Harry agreed.

 

[brianscot]

One of the reasons Bowman left Montreal is that the Habs refused to name him general manager after Sam Pollock retired and gave the job to Irving Grundman.

If Bowman wanted GM responsibilities and personnel control (and gained it by going to Buffalo) I doubt he would ever agreed to come to Boston where Sinden was lord and master.

Perhaps someone has better knowledge on the Sinden/Bowman relationship, but man, that's a lot of ego for one room.

 

[brianscot]

BUT - Incredibly Montreal ownership didn't think Scotty was that important.

What I would love to know is why the 1979-1980 Bruins players demanded Creighton be fired and Harry agreed.

According to this NY times article, Sinden said it was a matter of style.

http://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/12/sports/fred-creighton-is-back-but-how-far.html

He was quickly picked up for the 1979-80 season by the Bruins, whose fiery general manager, Harry Sinden, had previously dismissed Tom Johnson, Bep Guidolin, and Don Cherry, even though each had won a division title. Creighton soon went the way of his predecessors. Despite the Bruins' impressive record, Sinden dismissed him with 15 days remaining in the season.

''You wonder what's happening to you,'' Creighton says now. ''I knew exactly why I lost the job in Atlanta - the playoffs. In Boston, the players didn't know where I stood. Was I a Bruin or not? I told the players, 'This doesn't come overnight.' I guess Sinden thought he had a crack at the Stanley Cup and he might not have it again for a long time.''

Sinden took over, and the Bruins finished on the upswing but were eliminated in their first round by the Islanders, who went on to take the cup.

''Firing Fred was the hardest thing I ever had to do,'' Sinden says. ''But there was a stirring on the team. Fred may have been right, that he never really became one of them. He's reserved. His philosophy is applying strategy. He was never hell for leather.''

 

[ODAAT]

would have lasted one season together