New GM Discussion Thread

[Lshap]

I would make offers to the top gms in the league, offer them double their salary to come to Montreal. The richest team should have no problem with money . No salary cap for gms. The leafs got Lou from New Jersey. Ken Holland in Montreal would be great. I know the gms wouldn’t be available until the summer but that’s the way it goes. I am sick of seeing this gong show in Montreal.

Ken Holland is an interesting guy -- pretty well owned the league 10 years ago, but has let the Wings die of neglect ever since. He's 61 -- not young, but not old either. His demographics scream, "Old ideas, not hungry", but if Lamoriello can find the fire at his age...

 

[Captain Mountain]

Ken Holland is an interesting guy -- pretty well owned the league 10 years ago, but has let the Wings die of neglect ever since. He's 61 -- not young, but not old either. His demographics scream, "Old ideas, not hungry", but if Lamoriello can find the fire at his age...

Big note with Lou, he was the LAST piece of Toronto's front office. A lot of the fixing and good work got done prior to his arrival. Toronto doesn't have the same success they've had without Hunter's scouting acumen and Dubas' ability to integrate data collection and interpretation and management.

Holland is probably an ok manager, but you need the right team in place.

I honestly think Bergevin's biggest managerial failing is that he has been unwilling or unable to put a competent and varied team in place.

 

[ItzaGreat]

So...in the case of a total clean-up of the management team, I would go for:

Team President: Stephane Quintal. Is a former hab, respected around the league during and after his career, has management experience and a clout of influence.

General Manager: Julien Brisebois. Has been an assistant GM for over a decade, here and in Tampa. Very smart and well spoken. In touch with modern/current meta in the NHL.

 

[Lorty]

TIL Brisebois hired two coaches that are currently successful with the NHL right now : Guy Boucher and Jon Cooper.

Interesting.

 

[Ozmodiar]

Was going to create a "What would you do if you won a million dollars?" thread, but then thought i should post here instead.
Keep all false hope comments in one thread?

 

[Deebs]

Who are the Top 5 GM's in the league and could any of them be swayed to come over here?

 

[OldCraig71]

It really doesn't matter who we would all like to see as our next GM, the only real change we will see is if Molson steps away from hockey related decisions and lets a qualified person pick the next team maybe like Shanahan did in Toronto. If it stays in the hands of Molson it will probably be Roy and he might be a worse version of Bergevin.

 

[NeptunesTrident]

I wonder if Martin Brodeur would get an interview for the GM position?

 

[Deebs]

It's a real situation facing the Habs and one that absolutely infuriates me. There are numerous talented people that could be a candidate for the job if Molson decides to make a change at GM. Why would the franchise show such disrespect to their fans & sponsors and not hire the best person available for the job, regardless of background, gender, etc...

Having or wanting to hire only those people with a French speaking background immediately sets the franchise back and alienates the vast majority of candidates. All that matters are wins, not making sure media gets someone that can answer their question in a certain language.

What do you folks think?

The franchise can't cater to a small potion of the fan base and media and only entertain the option of hiring a French speaking GM. Hire the best person possible to lead the team into this rebuild. That GM should also have the ability to hire his own coach and again, that person should be the best person available not the best French speaking person available.

The franchise is completely disrespecting it's fans by limiting their candidates. Enough is enough.... winning matters most not political correctness

 

[Puck Luck Run Amok]

Ken Holland is an interesting guy -- pretty well owned the league 10 years ago, but has let the Wings die of neglect ever since. He's 61 -- not young, but not old either. His demographics scream, "Old ideas, not hungry", but if Lamoriello can find the fire at his age...

I was just thinking about that yesterday. Holland would be the perfect guy to play Lou in Montreal with Scotty Bowman as the President. However...

I've had this idea for almost two years now and I've stated it in passing on this site but sadly I don't think the priority for this ownership group is to compete for a championship. Winning is great but what's better is having a charismatic french speaking GM/coach that can market the team to Quebec. So long as the Molson brand continues doing well in the Quebec market and takes away shelf space from Labatt and other competitors I wouldn't bet on any change whatsoever or if there is change it'll be horizontal. The owner has already said he wants to always be a playoff team/stay competitive (so he can make playoff ticket bank)...

Think about it, would a multi-billionaire care more about a winning record or skyrocketing profits?

 

[Puck Luck Run Amok]

It really doesn't matter who we would all like to see as our next GM, the only real change we will see is if Molson steps away from hockey related decisions and lets a qualified person pick the next team maybe like Shanahan did in Toronto. If it stays in the hands of Molson it will probably be Roy and he might be a worse version of Bergevin.

Molson needs to do what MLSE has done with it's hockey and soccer programs and let the best candidates fulfill their roles without interference. It won't happen but that's what he has to do.

 

[Agalloch]

I wonder if Martin Brodeur would get an interview for the GM position?

Why not ? I would try anybody. (for interview)

 

[Uncle Gary]

Shanahan was the guy that got Toronto going in the right direction. Lou has done well for them but I don't think he has all that much say. It seems management is more of a team effort in Toronto. Habs need someone like Shanahan to come in with a plan and form a brand new management group from the ground up with the best people available.

 

[Nedved]

I want a lawyer or someone with running a business history, not some hockey player, running our organization. and definitely not a high school dropout. that's for damn sure.

honestly, mb is responsible for for management, but all he focusses on is players. if he was serious about being a boss our ahl coaching staff would be toast, timmins would be gone, and julien would be allowed to hire his own guys. instead, he worries about players. that's the coach's job.

 

[Puck Luck Run Amok]

Shanahan was the guy that got Toronto going in the right direction. Lou has done well for them but I don't think he has all that much say. It seems management is more of a team effort in Toronto. Habs need someone like Shanahan to come in with a plan and form a brand new management group from the ground up with the best people available.

Shanny, Dubas, Hunter, Lou, Babs, investing more money in scouting alone than the Habs do their entire management....

 

[Puck Luck Run Amok]

I want a lawyer or someone with running a business history, not some hockey player, running our organization. and definitely not a high school dropout. that's for damn sure.

honestly, mb is responsible for for management, but all he focusses on is players. if he was serious about being a boss our ahl coaching staff would be toast, timmins would be gone, and julien would be allowed to hire his own guys. instead, he worries about players. that's the coaches job.

Agreed. Someone whose at least cerebral and doesn't offer contrived platitudes at every opportunity. Would you hire a High School droupout to run a McDonalds franchise? Nope, so why does one get to run a professional hockey team?

 

[Captain Mountain]

I want a lawyer or someone with running a business history, not some hockey player, running our organization. and definitely not a high school dropout. that's for damn sure.

honestly, mb is responsible for for management, but all he focusses on is players. if he was serious about being a boss our ahl coaching staff would be toast, timmins would be gone, and julien would be allowed to hire his own guys. instead, he worries about players. that's the coaches job.

I want someone with excellent managerial skills. Someone that has a team with good scouts, former players, numbers guys, fitness and health guys, CBA and contract backgrounds, etc. and knows how to use them.

 

[optimus2861]

I've had this idea for almost two years now and I've stated it in passing on this site but sadly I don't think the priority for this ownership group is to compete for a championship. Winning is great but what's better is having a charismatic french speaking GM/coach that can market the team to Quebec. So long as the Molson brand continues doing well in the Quebec market and takes away shelf space from Labatt and other competitors I wouldn't bet on any change whatsoever or if there is change it'll be horizontal. The owner has already said he wants to always be a playoff team/stay competitive (so he can make playoff ticket bank)...

Think about it, would a multi-billionaire care more about a winning record or skyrocketing profits?

Exactly. Look what happened after the Roy trade in 1995. The team went down the crapper in a few short years, and stayed in the mediocre dumps for about 15 years, but the stands were full, the beer sold, the merchandise sold, the TV ratings skyrocketed, the franchise value exploded, etc. The Canadiens learned, as an organization, that they can pimp their brand, sell hope and nostalgia, and the suckers will lap it up. They don't need to build a winning hockey team; that's just an afterthought. They just need to go through the motions to look like they're trying, lowball expectations, and have a built-in excuse or three ready to go when it doesn't work out. Plus a whole lot of enablers in the frankly detestable media & alumni community that will carry their water.

The Canadiens are today, and have been for some time now, what the Maple Leafs were pre-Shanahan. They're approaching Ballard-era Leafs even. Until & unless they become such a deplorable embarrassment to the city of Montreal that ownership is forced to take a different path, the next 25 years will turn out no differently from the last 25 years.

 

[Steelman]

Martin Brodeur! MARTY MARTY MARTY

 

[PecnoTrunk]

Exactly. Look what happened after the Roy trade in 1995. The team went down the crapper in a few short years, and stayed in the mediocre dumps for about 15 years, but the stands were full, the beer sold, the merchandise sold, the TV ratings skyrocketed, the franchise value exploded, etc. The Canadiens learned, as an organization, that they can pimp their brand, sell hope and nostalgia, and the suckers will lap it up. They don't need to build a winning hockey team; that's just an afterthought. They just need to go through the motions to look like they're trying, lowball expectations, and have a built-in excuse or three ready to go when it doesn't work out. Plus a whole lot of enablers in the frankly detestable media & alumni community that will carry their water.

The Canadiens are today, and have been for some time now, what the Maple Leafs were pre-Shanahan. They're approaching Ballard-era Leafs even. Until & unless they become such a deplorable embarrassment to the city of Montreal that ownership is forced to take a different path, the next 25 years will turn out no differently from the last 25 years.

There is a difference...lots of people from 1995 still remembered the great 70's teams...now, the fans dont remember and therefore are harsher towards the team...times are tougher, its not a given any more...there is no more Jean Beliveue, Rocket....nobody left...

People are and will manifest with their wallets...

 

[Habs100]

The most important thing is having an eye for talent and knowing when to clear space for future talent, if the current talent just isn't good enough.

I think both Patrick Roy and Trevor Timmins would be good at these things. I'd like both of them to be in key positions.

 

[JuicyHam]

Everything you need to know about the current state of how holland thinks. He's coasting on his legacy and the great teams he put together before. I want someone who is hungry to win. Maybe if he is apart of a committee where decisions made by individual persons are limited I might consider it.

 

[Deebs]

The most important thing is having an eye for talent and knowing when to clear space for future talent, if the current talent just isn't good enough.

I think both Patrick Roy and Trevor Timmins would be good at these things. I'd like both of them to be in key positions.

No, neither of these people should be in the running. Why are we wanting to limit the team to 2nd rate candidates? This is the Montreal Canadiens....the best should be hired. Spend the money and get the best.

 

[optimus2861]

There is a difference...lots of people from 1995 still remembered the great 70's teams...now, the fans dont remember and therefore are harsher towards the team...times are tougher, its not a given any more...there is no more Jean Beliveue, Rocket....nobody left...

People are and will manifest with their wallets...

I don't disagree, but Lafleur is still alive and the kids who watched him play in the 70s are still in their 50s/60s, so until Lafleur leaves this Earth I'm not convinced that they can't continue to pimp the nostalgia. It could be a decade or two yet before they run that well dry.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Just throwing out a name, what would people think about Dale Tallon if you can get him out of Florida?

He did a good job to turn the Blackhawks around, he was doing good things with the Panthers until their ownership created that mess there. He's had some success in the draft and would be an experienced guy who's done well turning around franchises before.