The Canadian | Ignore the rumor machine

Dominique Ducharme would have good reason to be shaken these days.

Katherine Harvey-Pinard
Press

A record of 6 wins and 18 losses. A team that has to deal with lingering injuries. A change of general manager. The arrival of a new VP in hockey operations. Changes in the vision of the organization, but the nature of which is still unknown.

The reasons for being dizzy are there.

But Dominique Ducharme seems calm. At a press conference after his team’s off-ice training on Wednesday noon, the head coach was asked whether the team’s results since the start of the season had any influence on his confidence as a coach.

“I’m staying the course,” he replied.

“As a coach, anyway, you’re always watching and trying to tweak, change… I don’t think it’s all about changing everything. It’s finding small adjustments, new ways to bring it to players, practice it, teach it, demonstrate it in any situation. ”

” [C’est comme ça] today, [ça l’était aussi] last year, 5 years and 10 years ago. It will be the same in 5 or 10 years. We question ourselves all the time like coach, that’s why we don’t sleep much at night. ”

Ducharme said Wednesday morning that Jeff Gorton was expected “from one minute to the next” at the Bell Complex in Brossard. At that point he had not yet had an in-depth conversation with the new VP of Hockey Operations. We suspect that the two men will have a lot to say to each other. “To get to know him, etc.” It’s always better in person, ”said the coach.

The rumor machine has been rolling at breakneck speed since Sunday. Who will be Geoff Molson’s choice to complete Gorton? This is the question everyone is asking. Former Habs star goalkeeper Patrick Roy publicly stated that he was interested in the job on Tuesday.

Dominique Ducharme, however, prefers not to think too much about all this.

“My family and the rest, I told them to keep this away from me,” he said. It is not fair for this situation. The part of the job that I have to do, I focus on that. ”

“It’s Geoff’s job [Molson], it is his team, he is the owner, the great boss of the organization ”, he concluded on this subject.

More flowers

It was Jeff Petry’s turn to address the media for the first time since Marc Bergevin’s dismissal. Like many of his teammates over the past few days, the 33-year-old defender only had good words for the ex-GM.

“He saw my potential when I was in Edmonton and brought me here to end the year, offered me a contract, even two. I owe him a lot and thank him for everything he has done for this team, this organization and myself in my last seven years here. ”

“Berg loved being around the guys and taking the locker room pulse while being there. Her door was still open. He had open communication, which helped a lot of players over time. I was in a team where it was the opposite, you didn’t really see the general manager. ”

Petry, who has been going through difficult times since the start of the season, said he was not worried about the change in leadership going forward.

“They are going to come and assess the situation, make the decision on what they want to do next and what they expect from the team next. Obviously, decisions have to be made and we are aware of that. ”

Three injured back?

After the gym session, optional ice training was scheduled for Wednesday. Eight players took part, including Chris Wideman, Mathieu Perreault and Brett Kulak. Dominique Ducharme has indicated that the three players are likely to return to the game on Thursday, when the Colorado Avalanche will visit the Bell Center.

In the case of Joel Edmundson, nothing new. The defender has yet to take exams over the next few days.

Carey Price skated alone again without equipment for about 20 minutes on Wednesday.

About Nick Suzuki

After enjoying a 14-point streak in 11 games in late October and early November, Nick Suzuki has recently been going through more difficult moments offensively. He’s only got one point in his last nine games, an assist in the Nov. 24 game in Washington. The head coach is not particularly concerned about this situation. He recalled that this is not the first time that his center has seen such a drop in production. “His end of the season last year wasn’t exactly what he would have liked it to be, but he bounced back in the playoffs. It’s even tighter, more intense hockey, and he’s been able to do it, so he has to get back to those important points for him to be successful. […] He’s a guy who is dedicated, serious, but at the same time, continues to mature in it. ”