Booche

I've been waiting for a post like that since the internet started!!! Attaboy Jaimoe.

Here's a transcript of the conversation Bob and Jacques had last week. Bob Gainey: Jacques, I want to thank you for coming in for this interview. Do you have any other commitments on your time today? As you can imagine, the interview process can be quite daunting for a job as prestigious as this one. Jacques Martin: No problem, I'm willing to spend all day here if I need to. Gainey: OK, great. First question: do you speak French? Martin: Yes I do. Gainey: Great. You're hired! Martin: ... Um, sorry? Gainey: You're hired. You nailed pretty much every qualification we have. Martin: Oh. Gainey: Is there a problem? Martin: I just thought we were going to spend some time talking about my experience. Gainey: Oh. Well, sure, I suppose we could do that. If you really want to. Martin: Well, my coaching career began with the Blues. Then I spent nine years as the coach of the Ottawa Senators. And for the past five years I've been with the Florida Panthers. Gainey: I don't remember you coaching the Blues. Martin: Nobody does. Gainey: OK, so let's skip that part and move on to Ottawa. Martin: Well, with the Senators I was best known for accomplishing something that virtually no other active NHL coach has managed to do. Gainey: Which was? Martin: Losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs. Gainey (nodding): Yeah, I think we all saw that one coming. Martin: We lost to them four times, but the toughest one was in 2004. We made it to game seven, but then Patrick Lalime had an epic meltdown. We really believed that he was the guy who could backstop our team to a championship, but then he just imploded. Gainey: So you're saying you have experience dealing with over-hyped goalies who choke in the playoffs? Martin: Extensive experience. Gainey: (Makes a big checkmark on his notepad) Martin: Yeah. Gainey: And what about your playoff experience since 2004? Martin: You heard the part where I said I worked for the Florida Panthers, right? Gainey: Sorry. My mistake. What about in St. Louis, what was your playoff record like there? Martin: No idea. Like I said, nobody remembers me coaching the Blues. Gainey: Fair enough. As you know, the media here in Montreal can be difficult. What sort of experience do you have dealing with the media? Martin: Well, in Ottawa they were very difficult to deal with. They were constantly asking me for autographs, bringing me coffee, or just offering me random hugs and back rubs. But they could be nasty, too. Sometimes, when we choked in the playoffs against a team we should have easily beaten, somebody would actually write a negative article. They'd always apologize the next day and print a retraction, but still, it was pretty rough. Gainey: And what about dealing with all the hockey media in Florida, was that difficult? Martin: (Laughs) Gainey: (Laughs) Martin: So anyways, I'm sure I could handle the Montreal media. I have a well-tested strategy for working with the press. Gainey: Which is? Martin: I'm so incredibly boring that they all quit after fifteen minutes of listening to me. Gainey: Well Jacques, I think you're our man. Do you have any questions for me? Martin: Just one: Any update on the ownership situation? Gainey: We're expecting an announcement soon, but I can't really say more than that. Martin: Understood. Gainey: You like Celine Dion music, right? Martin: Uuuuum........

Or maybe they overachieved because he was a great coach? I dont really feel that way, it just had to be said. Time is going to tell in MTL but I like the move to experience, as previously stated. I just wish they would drop the whole 'French hires only' shit. Fuck that drives me batty.

So you are admitting it wasnt his fault.......

How I have missed this. I cant wait for the 2009-2010 season to start.

Happiest times infinite Jaybone! (chew on that Basher and Velvet)

MICHAEL YORMARK --- (on Martin’s departure) The Canadiens contacted Alan about 10 days ago to ask for permission to speak to Jacques. Alan spoke to Jacques about whether or not he would want to speak to the Canadiens about their head coaching job position. I think as we can all imagine, for a French Canadian growing up in Canada, I’m sure it’s almost every young kid’s dream to coach the Canadiens or play for the Canadiens. Clearly, Jacques was interested. Those conversations took place last week and we were notified last night that Jacques had decided to take the position. We are sorry to see Jacques leave. He put in five great years here with the Panthers, but we are turning the page and we are going to move forward. Bill Torrey has been asked to lead the search for our new general manager. He’ll report directly to Alan. Bill will be responsible for leading the search, identifying the candidates and taking us through the interview process. He will also be working closely with Randy Sexton and Pete [DeBoer] as well as Scott Luce to make sure we are prepared for the NHL draft and the beginning of free agent signing period. Randy Sexton will be the point person on all hockey operations matters. --- (Are the Panthers owed compensation by the Canadiens for Martin?) The bylaws of the National Hockey League indicate there is no compensation for a transaction like this. The Canadiens asked for permission to talk to Jacques. We talked to Jacques. We granted that permission. And that was the terms of the deal. …Is it the ideal situation? No. But there was a window of opportunity the Canadiens needed to act on their head coaching position. And we felt this was something we had to let Jacques pursue, that it was something he was passionate about.

That's gonna go viral!

That's why I didnt want them to hire Roy. It would have been another case of 'those deemed not to learn from history will often repeat it'. The Habs constantly put themselves behind the eight-ball because they only want to hire a French coach.

Rollie The Goalie Out as goaltending coach. I can deal with that move.

The only thing Punk is right about is its time to "chill out". Nothing concrete has been announced (and it damn well better not be). I dont think a coach can surpass my hatred for Tremblay.

WRONG! It's a case of 'those deemed not to learn from history will often repeat it'. Something gdamn fishy is going down whether you smell it or not.

PARDON ME PUNK? Do you not recall what that fucktwat did?

Hey, I am as shocked as you guys and hoping it isnt true. Serge Savard'd? Look out folks. This may turn ugly pretty quick. As for Roy, thank GOD they didnt hire him.

Well, there goes that warm-fuzzy-glow I had been experiencing earlier. WTF is really going on?

Cant say I have seen an episode but I just started to download this series.

He's rarely caught when he has to be acrobatic. Positionally sound. I dont think I can return to this thread.

If you ask me, they were on to something.

What is wrong with you? How are those stats NOT out of this world??? Osgood for Conn Smythe unless there is some kind of monumental breakdown.

Jay Bouwmeester to the Habs (B3).

And John Muckler, obviously.

Sting? Seems to me, based on last year, a defensive-minded coach would do wonders for Les Brahs. Besides, their hiring of rookie french coaches havent worked out for them in the past. I can deal with this move if it comes true. Hindsight will come later but a coach has to be brought in soon so that he and Gainey can come up with a plan for free agency, if not alone to show prospective players that the organization has some kind of solid ground. It will be interesting to see which players they decide to turn loose. This would certainly be a waaaaaaaaaay better decision than bringing someone like Patrick Roy in.