We are March 30, 2012. The day before, the Canadian announced, without causing much surprise, the dismissal of General Manager Pierre Gauthier. The team have just completed one of the most exhilarating seasons in their long history, which has resulted in a 28e place in the general classification.
Happy coincidence: just before the dismissal, Press commissioned a survey to find out who would be the best candidate to become the next CEO, in the event that Gauthier is sacked. Hard to ask for better like timing !
The top three?
- Patrick Roy (38%)
- Vincent Damphousse (21%)
- Julien BriseBois (8%)
Next comes analyst Pierre McGuire (5%), then, tied for 5e rank, at 2%, Claude Loiselle and… Marc Bergevin!
PHOTO ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Press, March 30, 2012, sports notebook, pages 2-3
This type of exercise will set the tone for the following weeks. Already, the very day of Gauthier’s dismissal, Roy was questioned about the position of general manager of the Canadian. He was then head coach of the Remparts de Québec, in the QMJHL.
“I have always been clear. I will always listen to what people have to offer me. I have done this in the past. It is not new for me, to know if I want to meet the organization of the Canadiens. Of course I will do it, ”he replies.
Nine years later, looking back, it is fascinating to re-read the events of April 2012, the month in which the interview process was conducted. In the number of Press April 5, a first domino falls: Vincent Damphousse withdraws from the process. On April 10, it was the turn of Agent Pat Brisson, not mentioned in the survey, to withdraw.
In the following weeks, names were added to the conversation: Luc Robitaille, Blair MacKasey, François Giguère…
All remain relatively discreet, even that BriseBois refuses any interview. Roy, on the other hand, multiplies the comments. It must be said that in his role as head coach of the Remparts, he meets the media several times a week. His turn finally came a year later, in Colorado, as head coach and vice president of hockey operations.
PHOTO ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Press, April 14, 2012, sports notebook, page 1
At the end of April, the portrait becomes clearer: it seems that it is played out between Bergevin, BriseBois, McGuire and Giguère, respectively 5e, 3e, 4e and not classified in the survey of departure.
In the May 2 issue, Giguère announces that he has not been selected. But by the time readers look for their paper newspaper on the porch, the most connected already know that Bergevin had the job; Chicago journalist Chris Kuc snapped the news out in the middle of the night, and the Web went up in flames.
Names and names
Which brings us back to 2021.
In the early days, Daniel Brière’s candidacy was the one that captured the most attention. On November 28, he confided to Jonathan Bernier (the colleague of Journal of Montreal, not the goalie, although nothing prevents Briere from talking to the New Jersey Devils goaltender, but we digress) that he wouldn’t “spit on such an occasion.” The next day, however, Brière put on the brakes when joined by the colleague from the Law Marc Brassard, saying he would prefer “not to comment for the moment”.
It should come as no surprise that other candidates emerge over the weeks, in addition to the half-dozen names already mentioned everywhere.
This is even truer in light of the words of Jeff Gorton, vice-president of hockey operations for the Habs, who said he was ready to “think outside the box”, at a press briefing on Friday. Gorton added, without mentioning in a question, the possibility that his future GM could be a players’ agent.
The day after this declaration, Elliotte Friedman unveiled in the middle of the Hockey Night in Canada that Kent Hughes, of the Montreal firm Quartexx Management, was among the candidates.
Hughes is a 51 year old Anglo-Montrealer who speaks French very well. He studied at Middlebury College, Vermont, and has lived in Boston for years. His sons Riley and Jack are also studying at Northeastern, a Boston university.
According to our information, the relationship between Hughes and Gorton goes back several years, Hughes having even introduced Gorton’s son to minor hockey. The world of hockey is small and their connections prove it. Kent Hughes ‘brother Ryan was drafted by the Nordiques in 1990, but then ended up in the Bruins’ organization when Gorton served as recruiting director there.
Gorton and Hughes then did business together, notably through Patrice Bergeron, one of the biggest names Hughes represents. Gorton was an assistant general manager in Boston when the Bruins drafted Bergeron in 2003.
Hughes counts a multitude of Quebecers among his clients. According to Puckpedia, in addition to Bergeron, he notably represents Kristopher Letang, Anthony Beauvillier, Marco Scandella, Michael Matheson, Samuel Blais and William Carrier.
In its press release, the Habs said they were looking for a general manager capable of “communicating with supporters in French and English”. It remains to be seen whether Molson will be willing to hire an English-sounding name candidate, who has been living in Boston for several years.
That said, as the example of 2012 showed us, more twists and turns are to be expected, especially since Gorton has hinted that his candidate is highly likely not to be hired until Christmas.