Bear Essentials: Could Canadiens Hire Patrick Roy As Head Coach?
BOSTON (CBS) - The struggling Montreal Canadiens are looking for answers. After sinking to the bottom of their division, a drastic change was bound to come.
Although the firing of a head coach may seem sufficient, it's not. The more important question to ask is, who will be the team's replacement? Who can reignite a club at its lowest point? Who can rebuild morale and help an organization crawl back into significance?
One name that has been floating around is the legendary goaltender/ex-Canadien/Bruin soul crusher, Patrick Roy.
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Roy played nearly 11 seasons with the Canadiens before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche. During his time as a Hab, he faced off against the Boston Bruins nine consecutive years in a row in the postseason, winning a Cup in both 1986 and 1993.
Considered by many as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time, Roy clearly knows and understands the game of hockey. His on- and off-the-ice antics have earned him a "hardheaded and determined" reputation, something that this current Canadiens team lacks.
With his background, team history and oh yeah, bilingual abilities (we all know how important that is), Patrick Roy may be just the right person for this job. In a recent interview, Roy stated that, "If the Canadiens called, yes I'd listen."
It's going to be hard for the Habs to return to prominence this year, but it won't be impossible. The same things were being said about the Bruins during their 3-7 start. With the right moves, Boston's rival can put themselves back in to the mix. Patrick Roy just may be that right move. If nothing else, the Neely/Roy influences will add another layer of depth to this already heated story line.
Follow Mark Feldman on Twitter @BEssentialsBlog
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