Patrick Roy has stated that he is interested in the post of general manager of the Montreal Canadiens left vacant following the departure of Marc Bergevin.
“Would I have any interest?” Obviously. But at the same time I am aware that it is a process and that there are several very good candidates who are going to be in contention. But if someone calls me, I’m sure I’ll listen, ”Roy told reporters on the sidelines of the Quebec Remparts training session on Tuesday.
The former No. 33 of the Habs, however, said in the same breath that he was not contacted to probe his interest in the position.
“Decisions were made at the end of the week, and if the phone rings, it will ring, otherwise we will continue to do what we are doing, it is not more complicated than that”, he added.
On Monday, the president and owner of the Canadiens, Geoff Molson, said he was not offered a third long-term contract to Bergevin, as the team is having a disastrous start to the season.
Molson therefore wiped out the club’s hockey operations on Sunday by firing Bergevin, his deputy Trevor Timmins, and vice-president of public affairs and communications Paul Wilson. On Saturday, Scott Mellanby announced his resignation as assistant general manager during the game in Pittsburgh, a 6-3 victory over the Penguins.
Molson focused on four main lines to revive his team and get a fresh start. The next general manager will be supported by Jeff Gorton, named vice-president of hockey operations.
Gorton, who was approached by Molson on Nov. 19 and recommended to CH boss by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, is the only new piece in place so far. Molson has confirmed that he gave a long-term contract to the one who was trained with the Boston Bruins and who recently served as general manager of the New York Rangers.
Molson has indicated that he wants to hire the next general manager “sooner rather than later”. He plans to do his research and make an exhaustive list of candidates before starting the interview process – taking care to specify that he must be bilingual.
Roy has never held a GM position in the NHL, although he was head coach of the Colorado Avalanche between 2013 and 2016.
Roy won two Stanley Cups with the Canadiens, in 1986 and 1993. He played 551 games with the Montreal club between 1985 and 1995, recording 289 wins and 29 shutouts. He added two Stanley Cup wins after being traded to the Avalanche over an argument with then-Canadian head coach Mario Tremblay. Roy was the third goaltender to have his number withdrawn – on November 22, 2008 – by the Canadiens. The Habs had previously withdrawn the No. 1 from Jacques Plante and the No. 29 from Ken Dryden.