When Pascal Vincent became head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, he wanted to coach to win. Returning to the American Hockey League as head coach of the Laval Rocket, Vincent now wants to coach to prepare the next generation of Montreal Canadiens.
Vincent spent the last three seasons with the Blue Jackets, the first two as an assistant coach. His head coaching experience last winter didn’t go as he hoped, but he’s now ready for the next chapter of his career.
“The Rocket’s goal is to help the Canadiens,” he recalled Wednesday, during the opening of the Montreal club’s rookie camp.
“Our goal is to develop players in a positive environment, where it’s nice to go to the rink. We want a competitive environment. We want to win in Laval. We all want to win. But the role in the American League, having done it in the past, is to help our young players to give them a chance to be promoted to the NHL.”
Vincent very well illustrated the difference between the realities of an NHL coach and one in the American League by presenting a situation where a team is trying to protect a lead late in the game and is preparing for a faceoff in its own territory.
“In the NHL, you’re going to send your veteran guy, the guy you know is going to win that faceoff and put you in the best position to win that situation,” he said. “But in the AHL, you’re probably going to send a young guy who needs that experience. That play might cost you the game, but the organization is going to grow.”
Prior to being hired by the Blue Jackets, Vincent coached the Winnipeg Jets’ farm team for five seasons. He had been an assistant coach with the Jets for the previous five seasons.
He therefore understands that his role will be very specific with the Rocket and he indicated that he had his first meetings with the Canadiens’ coaching staff to ensure that the two clubs will have the same approach to the game.
“We will try as much as possible to use the same systems with the Canadian and the Rocket,” said Vincent.
“Martin (St-Louis) has been here for three years. There was 1.0, 2.0 and now 3.0. There is a path and a vision. I like the energy of the staff. Everyone has the right to speak, there are debates and good exchanges. It is done with respect,” he added during the first contact with his new colleagues.
The Rocket staff is leading the players through rookie camp, which runs through Sept. 17 and includes two games against Toronto Maple Leafs prospects on Sept. 14 and 15 at the Bell Centre.
Vincent stressed that he has not watched any video of his new protégés so as not to have preconceived ideas about them. He will, however, have a clear message for the Canadiens’ hopes.
“We want our guys to show us why they’re here,” Vincent said. “There’s always a reason why somebody, at some point, said, ‘yeah, we’re going to take you to camp, or we’re going to draft you.'”
Most of these prospects will then have the opportunity to show off during the Canadiens’ main camp, which will begin on September 18.