Ducharme Fired

[Habit]

www.tsn.ca/montreal-canadiens-fire-head-coach-dominique-ducharme-1.1757256

So why now? Apparently the new Head Coach will be named today. Luke?

The Habs have a record of 8-30-7 this season, and overall Ducharme has a regular season record of 23-46-14 behind the bench since taking over for Claude Julien last season. Don't see him getting another kick at the can anytime soon. Just proves SC run was orchestrated by CP and SW and not the coach.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Cheers, mate ...

[Willie Dog]

Good luck to Dom, seemed like a nice guy but wasnt ready for the nhl... at least he is still getting paid for this year and the next 2.

Maybe Dom thought winning was more important than developing, was there a revolt by the players? The coaches?

I wonder if the Richardson conf call had anything to do with this? Could he be the coach? Was he learning French?

[drkcloud]

I'm torn because the season is lost at this point and I want the team to get the number one pick. On the other hand, I think some real damage is being done to some of our young guys and Ducharme is not the teacher I hoped him to be.

Probably a good decision, we'll see what the plan is later today

[Tankdriver]

I feel really bad for the guy. He really owes seems to be a nice guy but this is going to be a career killer for him. The guy has like a .361 winning percentage. It's going to be hard to get an interview off that.

All the injuries and covid did not help but there seemed to be no structure to his game plan, and this is going back to last year. I don't know why he didn't try to adapt or change it up because whatever he was doing was not working. I also think k the guys they brought up with him didn't help much either. I think Luke Richardson is the only one I would keep.

[seventeen]

Hmm. Well, maybe I'm just an everyday contrarian, but I don't feel sorry for him. His financial future is set and I suspect he'll get some job somewhere (the Q?).

His line-up decisions were absolutely screwball, going back to the playoffs. Why would you sit a kid who always seems to get clutch goals and play a guy whose back was bothering him so much he couldn't even take faceoffs (Staal) or a guy who very likely was still feeling concussion issues (Evans)? It's completely baffling. Was it really all about KK's next contract? Can you think of any other reason(see below)? Forget how KK was playing, (he wasn't that bad), but he was certainly a better option than the two injured guys Ducharme played instead.

Also, how do we know he was a good guy? I hardly know anything about him other than what his actions have shown. I'm biased so you may disagree, but Habit was right. The SC run was driven by Price, Weber, Perry and their obsession with winning a Cup (along with a certain number of fortuitous breaks). Ducharme has proven what he is in the regular season...totally inept. Does he have a system that his players can't execute or is his system so dumb that no one wants to execute it? Regardless, he now has perhaps the worst record of any Habs coach ever. His team has clearly given up on him. He has made us suffer through 40 odd games of hell with his idiotic line-ups. Pezzetta plays great and he replaces him for the very next game with Paquette. As Michel Therrien told Terry Ryan, "Because I can". That's all I get from him. I can't help feeling he's narcissistic, pompous and a perfect example of Dunning-Kruger syndrome. Good riddance.

PS. I will credit him with helping Molson finally dump Bergevin. At least one good thing came out of his performance.

[NWTHabsFan]

Nice guy. Never seemed fully comfortable in front of the many cameras, but who knows how his communication was with the players. He is a huge enigma to me. He did some good things in juniors and at the WJC, and he seemed to be pretty progressive at least in his preferred style of play and ability to adapt in game. When he was hired, Julien even went out of his way to mention that his in game adaption would be a valued help to how Julien would coach the team going forward.

The odd part is we never really saw any evidence in either regular season with him in charge. More of the same, but with even more apparent disconnect with the players. How can a guy lose a room so fast into his new post? Now, with injuries etc, he might not have ever had the right personnel to fully implement his desired system. Then again, it is rare that a high level coach does not have to adapt to what he has available. Berg was not a known architect with a plan, so there were always going to be square pegs in round holes even with everyone healthy. But Ducharme continuing the obsession with vet plugs over the future young kids in the core of this team going forward is the biggest head scratcher. He became Julien 2.0 which I really did not see coming.

What a mess, purple pants!

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Feb 9, 2022 16:22:59 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

Nice guy. Never seemed fully comfortable in front of the many cameras, but who knows how his communication was with the players. He is a huge enigma to me. He did some good things in juniors and at the WJC, and he seemed to be pretty progressive at least in his preferred style of play and ability to adapt in game. When he was hired, Julien even went out of his way to mention that his in game adaption would be a valued help to how Julien would coach the team going forward.

The odd part is we never really saw any evidence in either regular season with him in charge. More of the same, but with even more apparent disconnect with the players. How can a guy lose a room so fast into his new post? Now, with injuries etc, he might not have ever had the right personnel to fully implement his desired system. Then again, it is rare that a high level coach does not have to adapt to what he has available. Berg was not a known architect with a plan, so there were always going to be square pegs in round holes even with everyone healthy. But Ducharme continuing the obsession with vet plugs over the future young kids in the core of this team going forward is the biggest head scratcher. He became Julien 2.0 which I really did not see coming.

What a mess, purple pants!

Ducharme tried to help young players improve on the weakest aspect of their game. Caufeld lacked experience playing on fourth lines. Next DD wanted Cole to get experience as an enforcer, the weakest part of his game.

[Willie Dog]

Feb 9, 2022 17:17:02 GMT -5 Habs_fan_in_LA said:

Feb 9, 2022 16:22:59 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

Nice guy. Never seemed fully comfortable in front of the many cameras, but who knows how his communication was with the players. He is a huge enigma to me. He did some good things in juniors and at the WJC, and he seemed to be pretty progressive at least in his preferred style of play and ability to adapt in game. When he was hired, Julien even went out of his way to mention that his in game adaption would be a valued help to how Julien would coach the team going forward.

The odd part is we never really saw any evidence in either regular season with him in charge. More of the same, but with even more apparent disconnect with the players. How can a guy lose a room so fast into his new post? Now, with injuries etc, he might not have ever had the right personnel to fully implement his desired system. Then again, it is rare that a high level coach does not have to adapt to what he has available. Berg was not a known architect with a plan, so there were always going to be square pegs in round holes even with everyone healthy. But Ducharme continuing the obsession with vet plugs over the future young kids in the core of this team going forward is the biggest head scratcher. He became Julien 2.0 which I really did not see coming.

What a mess, purple pants!

Ducharme tried to help young players improve on the weakest aspect of their game. Caufeld lacked experience playing on fourth lines. Next DD wanted Cole to get experience as an enforcer, the weakest part of his game.

that's so funny

[Bobs_HABit]

Feb 9, 2022 16:18:56 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Hmm. Well, maybe I'm just an everyday contrarian, but I don't feel sorry for him. His financial future is set and I suspect he'll get some job somewhere (the Q?).

His line-up decisions were absolutely screwball, going back to the playoffs. Why would you sit a kid who always seems to get clutch goals and play a guy whose back was bothering him so much he couldn't even take faceoffs (Staal) or a guy who very likely was still feeling concussion issues (Evans)? It's completely baffling. Was it really all about KK's next contract? Can you think of any other reason(see below)? Forget how KK was playing, (he wasn't that bad), but he was certainly a better option than the two injured guys Ducharme played instead.

Also, how do we know he was a good guy? I hardly know anything about him other than what his actions have shown. I'm biased so you may disagree, but Habit was right. The SC run was driven by Price, Weber, Perry and their obsession with winning a Cup (along with a certain number of fortuitous breaks). Ducharme has proven what he is in the regular season...totally inept. Does he have a system that his players can't execute or is his system so dumb that no one wants to execute it? Regardless, he now has perhaps the worst record of any Habs coach ever. His team has clearly given up on him. He has made us suffer through 40 odd games of hell with his idiotic line-ups. Pezzetta plays great and he replaces him for the very next game with Paquette. As Michel Therrien told Terry Ryan, "Because I can". That's all I get from him. I can't help feeling he's narcissistic, pompous and a perfect example of Dunning-Kruger syndrome. Good riddance.

PS. I will credit him with helping Molson finally dump Bergevin. At least one good thing came out of his performance.

Couldn't have said it better myself.
I won't be losing any sleep over DD. His coaching has brought the Habs to the level of the expansion Ottawa Senators. He and Bergy can be proud.

[Skilly]

Feb 9, 2022 16:18:56 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Hmm. Well, maybe I'm just an everyday contrarian, but I don't feel sorry for him. His financial future is set and I suspect he'll get some job somewhere (the Q?).

His line-up decisions were absolutely screwball, going back to the playoffs. Why would you sit a kid who always seems to get clutch goals and play a guy whose back was bothering him so much he couldn't even take faceoffs (Staal) or a guy who very likely was still feeling concussion issues (Evans)? It's completely baffling. Was it really all about KK's next contract? Can you think of any other reason(see below)? Forget how KK was playing, (he wasn't that bad), but he was certainly a better option than the two injured guys Ducharme played instead.

Also, how do we know he was a good guy? I hardly know anything about him other than what his actions have shown. I'm biased so you may disagree, but Habit was right. The SC run was driven by Price, Weber, Perry and their obsession with winning a Cup (along with a certain number of fortuitous breaks). Ducharme has proven what he is in the regular season...totally inept. Does he have a system that his players can't execute or is his system so dumb that no one wants to execute it? Regardless, he now has perhaps the worst record of any Habs coach ever. His team has clearly given up on him. He has made us suffer through 40 odd games of hell with his idiotic line-ups. Pezzetta plays great and he replaces him for the very next game with Paquette. As Michel Therrien told Terry Ryan, "Because I can". That's all I get from him. I can't help feeling he's narcissistic, pompous and a perfect example of Dunning-Kruger syndrome. Good riddance.

PS. I will credit him with helping Molson finally dump Bergevin. At least one good thing came out of his performance.

Don't forget Byron ... it was priority #1 to get Evans and Byron on the same line. One with concussion issues, the other had a hip so bad, he misses half the next season.

If they were actually trying to sabotage the franchise, they couldn't have done a better job

[PTH]

Clearly, this decision was taken a while back, and they just used the days off to get in touch with whoever they intend to hire, sign a contract, etc.

The loss last night just makes this go over better but Ducharme's fate was sealed.

Rumor is Martin St-Louis... who I'd have taken on as an assistant coach or AHL coach, first.

I'm also annoyed at new management just doing the same thing as old management and going for old buddies. Nepotism at its best. (if it really is St-Louis)

[HFTO]

Super curious the nepotism blatantly stands out as well as the interim tag.
Who takes a job outside of an organization based on that?
You have to think this is exactly the case and he is here to mentor Cole and Nick get a guage of this group and move into a management position.
Pretty risky to hire a so called spy?…what players would trust this mgmt group let alone UFA’s ….were all speculating until we hear from Hughes and Gorton but this could potentially be pretty disheartening …until we hear what the real intention of this move is.

All the respect for Marty if it’s legit long term plan I hope he succeeds and they surround him with the cream of the crop group

HFTO

[CentreHice]

Feb 9, 2022 18:50:59 GMT -5 PTH said:

I'm also annoyed at new management just doing the same thing as old management and going for old buddies. Nepotism at its best. (if it really is St-Louis)

Are there any connections other than Gorton being Asst. GM in New York when Marty was acquired from Tampa?

Forgot all about that trade.

From thehockeywriters

As executive director of Team Canada’s Olympic ice hockey team, Yzerman had left St. Louis off the roster, as an injury reserve player, in two consecutive Olympic Games, in 2010 and 2014. A sour relationship reportedly stemmed from this between St. Louis and Yzerman, strong enough to force St. Louis to request a trade from the team he had been a part of for 13 seasons.


Was Hughes ever Marty's agent? I know Hughes repped Vinnie.

[drkcloud]

Feb 9, 2022 18:50:59 GMT -5 PTH said:

Clearly, this decision was taken a while back, and they just used the days off to get in touch with whoever they intend to hire, sign a contract, etc.

The loss last night just makes this go over better but Ducharme's fate was sealed.

Rumor is Martin St-Louis... who I'd have taken on as an assistant coach or AHL coach, first.

I'm also annoyed at new management just doing the same thing as old management and going for old buddies. Nepotism at its best. (if it really is St-Louis)

I don't see the nepotism. Gorton was a scout when St Louis was with the team. How close of a relationship could they have then? It's not like the old group who snubbed Larry Robinson for his old jr roommate, JJ Daigneault. THAT'S nepotism.

Marty's resume stands on its own,for good or bad.

Even if he spends the rest of the season compiling report cards and then becomes Asst GM, where's the harm? Not like he's a spy,the head coach is part of mgmt not the player's group.

[habsask]

Feb 9, 2022 18:50:59 GMT -5 PTH said:

Clearly, this decision was taken a while back, and they just used the days off to get in touch with whoever they intend to hire, sign a contract, etc.

The loss last night just makes this go over better but Ducharme's fate was sealed.

Rumor is Martin St-Louis... who I'd have taken on as an assistant coach or AHL coach, first.

I'm also annoyed at new management just doing the same thing as old management and going for old buddies. Nepotism at its best. (if it really is St-Louis)

I wouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions. Connections, yes there are some.

But do you go out of your way to hire somebody who has absolutely no connections even though he's not the guy you really want?

And would any other suitable candidate take this job without a multi-year contract? St Louis's contract terminates at the end of the season so you still have all of your options open as drk points out. Even if he just finishes the season and provides management with a chance to get a better look at the young players (as they weren't under Ducharme) it makes sense.

And then there is the culture aspect which was a disaster. St. Louis is at least a proven winner as a player so should command some respect in the room. Besides appointing somebody else from this staff would just have sent a message to players and fans that it's more of the same.

I going to wait and see what happens before arriving at any judgements.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers

[CentreHice]

Gorton is a new VPOHO.

Hughes is a new GM.

Marty is a new HC.

The team is basically new.

New start. Nowhere to go but up.

For example....Marty would certainly have some insight into how to best utilize/develop Caufield properly. CC does possess offensive hockey sense. We saw it last year...on a fairly consistent basis. It's still there.

[PTH]

I can't help but think that the last coach we hired with no pro experience cost us Patrick Roy.

[Willie Dog]

Feb 10, 2022 1:16:17 GMT -5 PTH said:

I can't help but think that the last coach we hired with no pro experience cost us Patrick Roy.

And since that time what coach with pro experience has amounted to a hill of beans... Let's see what Marty can do... if he can get the players emotionally involved and work with the assistants to setup a system that leverages a players strength as opposed to focusing on their weakness, this team will be miles ahead... the only problem is it means they might win more games which is a big no no for me...

[The Habitual Fan]

I don't know anything about the man personally but do not feel one bit bad for him being gone. It had to be done and should have been sooner.
His system, whatever it was, made no sense to the players or the fans, but he never changed it. The team is last in every category with no player having over 10 goals half way through the season. Goalies were hung out to dry and when they must not have a shred of confidence left you leave your top prospect in for 7 goals.

I wouldn't mind the losing if you could say they are really good defensively but can't score, or if the team was scoring lots with Suzuki, Anderson and Caulfield, but you can say the defense is bad or the goaltending is poor without Price. But you can't say that, they suck everywhere. For a coach, pick one to improve that gives you a chance, but don't stick to something that fails game after game after game.

Goodbye Dom, no hard feelings but you dug your own grave and jumped in with both feet.

[CentreHice]

Feb 10, 2022 1:16:17 GMT -5 PTH said:

I can't help but think that the last coach we hired with no pro experience cost us Patrick Roy.

I don't know if the story has grown over time, but wasn't there a long-standingg issue/feud/dislike between Tremblay and Roy?

In that respect, I can't see how MSL can have negative preconceptions about any Habs' player...or vice versa.

[PTH]

Feb 10, 2022 8:43:49 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

Feb 10, 2022 1:16:17 GMT -5 PTH said:

I can't help but think that the last coach we hired with no pro experience cost us Patrick Roy.

I don't know if the story has grown over time, but wasn't there a long-standingg issue/feud/dislike between Tremblay and Roy?

In that respect, I can't see how MSL can have negative preconceptions about any Habs' player...or vice versa.

I'm unaware of any feud beforehand. I think it started mostly because Tremblay wasn't going to give Roy the "superstar" privileged treatment that Demers had been giving him.

[habsorbed]

Do have to wonder if Molson is beginning to realize just how much it cost us and his pocket book to hang onto MB so long. I believe Molson is now paying out approx $10 million to MB, CJ, and Dom and none of them are with the organization. And to think Molson wanted to give MB a further extension last summer

And don't get me going on the ludicrous Savard and Hoffman contracts.

[The Habitual Fan]

Feb 11, 2022 2:39:37 GMT -5 habsorbed said:

Do have to wonder if Molson is beginning to realize just how much it cost us and his pocket book to hang onto MB so long. I believe Molson is now paying out approx $10 million to MB, CJ, and Dom and none of them are with the organization. And to think Molson wanted to give MB a further extension last summer

And don't get me going on the ludicrous Savard and Hoffman contracts.

But it should put an end to those who say Molson is cheap and won't spend money. He is willing to write off a lot of dollars to gamble on a coach and GM with no previous experience

[jkr]

Feb 11, 2022 2:39:37 GMT -5 habsorbed said:

Do have to wonder if Molson is beginning to realize just how much it cost us and his pocket book to hang onto MB so long. I believe Molson is now paying out approx $10 million to MB, CJ, and Dom and none of them are with the organization. And to think Molson wanted to give MB a further extension last summer

And don't get me going on the ludicrous Savard and Hoffman contracts.

Bergevin is working for the Kings now. Doesn't the obligation to pay him end?

[folatre]

Likely Montreal is paying the difference between Bergevin's contract with the Habs and his contract with the Kings. The good news for Molson is that Julien and Bergevin both come off the books on June 30.

[habsorbed]

Feb 11, 2022 10:31:07 GMT -5 jkr said:

Feb 11, 2022 2:39:37 GMT -5 habsorbed said:

Do have to wonder if Molson is beginning to realize just how much it cost us and his pocket book to hang onto MB so long. I believe Molson is now paying out approx $10 million to MB, CJ, and Dom and none of them are with the organization. And to think Molson wanted to give MB a further extension last summer

And don't get me going on the ludicrous Savard and Hoffman contracts.

Bergevin is working for the Kings now. Doesn't the obligation to pay him end?

I'm not sure that applies to GMs but if it does I believe it would only decrease Molson's debt to MB by the amount the Kings are paying MB. And the Kings ain't dumb enough to pay MB what Molson was.

[seventeen]

Feb 11, 2022 7:53:08 GMT -5 The Habitual Fan said:

Feb 11, 2022 2:39:37 GMT -5 habsorbed said:

Do have to wonder if Molson is beginning to realize just how much it cost us and his pocket book to hang onto MB so long. I believe Molson is now paying out approx $10 million to MB, CJ, and Dom and none of them are with the organization. And to think Molson wanted to give MB a further extension last summer

And don't get me going on the ludicrous Savard and Hoffman contracts.

But it should put an end to those who say Molson is cheap and won't spend money. He is willing to write off a lot of dollars to gamble on a coach and GM with no previous experience

That's the lesson I took away. If Molson was willing to write off Ducharme's contract, he is serious about improving the product, starting now. Sheesh. He could have saved his company a lot of $$ if he had just not renewed MB in 2017. Bergie conned him, though, with his second five year "plan". Molson got fooled twice and that wasn't a good sign.

[Willie Dog]

Reviving an old thread because I've read some blurbs from a book Pierre Gervais wrote about his time with the Habs and he gives details about things Dom did that the players did not like... hopefully Santa will get it for me

[Disgruntled70sHab]