He's here to stay: Habs sign coach Michel Therrien to four-year extension
Our favorite Bond villain isn't going anywhere for quite some time.
The Montreal Canadiens announced this weekend that they've signed evil mastermind/coach Michel Therrien to a four-year extension that will keep the 50-year-old Montreal native behind the bench at Bell Centre through the 2018-19 season.
After getting the job as Montreal's coach in 2000, Therrien missed the playoffs in his first season, lost to the eventual Eastern Conference winners in the Carolina Hurricanes the following year and was fired midway through the '02-'03 season as the Habs were left stuttering out of the gate.
Therrien was then hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005 and coached the team to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2008, losing to the Detroit Red Wings in six games. Amid rumblings that Therrien had lost the players in the dressing room over his playing philosophy, one that wasn't suited for superstars Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin, he was fired and replaced by Dan Blysma. The Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup in their rematch with the Wings.
Therrien returned to Montreal last season, leading the Canadiens to a first-place finish in the Northeast Division. The Canadiens had another impressive season this year, making the playoffs for the third-straight season and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2010.
Nevermind this being good news for the Canadiens, as they feel Therrien has the ability to keep the renaissance rolling in Montreal, but this is fantastic for the Bruins. Therrien is exactly what the Bruins/Habs rivalry needs to keep the hate flowing off the ice. Who can forget Therrien's comments during Round 2 that B's coach Claude Julien and the rest of the Bruins "try to influence the referees through the media" ?
That's gold Jerry, gold!
The Montreal Canadiens announced this weekend that they've signed evil mastermind/coach Michel Therrien to a four-year extension that will keep the 50-year-old Montreal native behind the bench at Bell Centre through the 2018-19 season.
Therrien is thrilled, but you wouldn't be able to tell (viacjad.com) |
After getting the job as Montreal's coach in 2000, Therrien missed the playoffs in his first season, lost to the eventual Eastern Conference winners in the Carolina Hurricanes the following year and was fired midway through the '02-'03 season as the Habs were left stuttering out of the gate.
Therrien was then hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005 and coached the team to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2008, losing to the Detroit Red Wings in six games. Amid rumblings that Therrien had lost the players in the dressing room over his playing philosophy, one that wasn't suited for superstars Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin, he was fired and replaced by Dan Blysma. The Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup in their rematch with the Wings.
Therrien returned to Montreal last season, leading the Canadiens to a first-place finish in the Northeast Division. The Canadiens had another impressive season this year, making the playoffs for the third-straight season and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2010.
Nevermind this being good news for the Canadiens, as they feel Therrien has the ability to keep the renaissance rolling in Montreal, but this is fantastic for the Bruins. Therrien is exactly what the Bruins/Habs rivalry needs to keep the hate flowing off the ice. Who can forget Therrien's comments during Round 2 that B's coach Claude Julien and the rest of the Bruins "try to influence the referees through the media" ?
That's gold Jerry, gold!