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Guy Carbonneau Fired

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17 Comments
  1. #1 the1wanderer says:
    March 9, 2009 at 5:49 pm

    I’m not too surprised, there had been a lot of speculation this would happen. However, I’m not sure how I feel about this happening with only 16 games left in their regular season. It will be interesting to watch, if the Habs miss the playoffs this year I think I will be physically ill.

  2. #2 Senet1 says:
    March 9, 2009 at 7:18 pm

    I hate to see Carbo leave the organization, I still think he would make a great coach, but maybe he just was not ready for the NHL and should have had some time in Hamilton. Carbo coached like he played unfortunately his players didn’t play with the same enthusiasm. But I think the most disappointing part is that he actually got let down by his veteran players. The kids played well, he also had the misfortune of having key players injuried for lengthly periods namely Lang, Tanguay, Koivu, Price and the other misfortune was that he had some very bad goaltending after the allstar break that really did us in. So to me you cannot blame Carbo for all our problems, if he had decent goaltending for half those games that we lost he would still be the coach right now and we would probably had about 85 point and be in 4th place and in a comfortable position for the playoffs. But that did not happen and he was not able to overcome all the problems that this team had. So now Gainey moves into the job with both our goaltenders playing well. Our penalty killing could not be any better, our PP has shown signs of improvement and now all we have to do is get our goal scorers to score. If that happens we could still make some noise in the playoffs.

  3. #3 4mGhost says:
    March 9, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    When Julien was fired, I believe it had little to do with the job he was doing and more to do with shaking things up/motivation/etc. Perhaps the same here? If the Habs win 12 of the remaining games and make a serious bid for the cup, this will be seen as pure genious. Otherwise…

  4. #4 Mats Naslund says:
    March 9, 2009 at 10:40 pm

    The problem that Carbo has in his years in Montreal is that he never became more then a rookie coach. A coach doesn’t lose games, but he can mismanage them. There were too many times to count where Carbo made critical strategic mistakes that cost Montreal points. Small things like not calling time-outs, putting grinders on the powerplay (especially Metropolit on a 5 on 3 powerplay when your team is down one goal) etc etc etc. From reading Gainey’s comments from the news conference it seems that he finally had had enough. The fact is, the coach has the team playing a system it was not built for. He has proven offensive talent that is handicapped by his constant line-juggling, and his insistence on playing a passive trap. Gainey has Stanley Cup coaching experience and the most intimate knowledge of his franchise. The Canadiens will be well served with him behind the bench, and my hope is that the players respond to the fact that there is no other excuse to fall upon. Now is the time to pull it together.

  5. #5 Joseph says:
    March 9, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    Wow. I just got back from a disappointing display by Canada at the WBC–eliminated–and this.

    So Gainey went with his only realistic option. He had to as they obviously don’t play for the guy. No hard feelings, Guy, but you aren’t the coach that this team needs.

  6. #6 Donnie says:
    March 9, 2009 at 11:12 pm

    It was only 2 days I wrote on here that Carbs should go. Wow…didn’t expect so soon. Thanks for the memories, I respect Guy Carbonneau as a player, but never did like his coaching…so I’m not upset at all.
    The things you were saying Mats is the reason why…mismanagement and bad decisions….grinders on the PP, 4th liners getting 18 minutes of ice time…..how far can you actually go like that…very unothodox and didn’t work more than it did.
    I also don’t know I’d blame the veteran players….perhaps they are drastically underachieving because they don’t like Carbs system as I don’t…perhaps as a coach they just don;t respect him or his decisions and just can’t get UP to play for him anymore….time will tell.
    Anyways, I like the move….this summer time to fulfill step 2…go out and get a top notch center…pay what you will and lets build a winner around him.
    This style of hockey doesn’t work, just as it doesn;t in Minnesota. Get the best coach for the job Bob…that doesn’t necessarily choosing from the Habs alumni…there are great coaches out there who are not from the province of Quebec….good move Gainey.

  7. #7 Senet1 says:
    March 9, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    I think that Carbo fell into the same trap that Lemaire did when he coach the team, Lemaire went on to be a great coach but itis too bad he did not learn his skills in the minors instead of at the NHL level, I think Carbo can be and will be a great coach one day, but as all rookies they make mistakes and sometime who win and more often you lose. I would like to see carbo given the job down in Hamilton, to me he is a teaching coach and he can learn the trade in the minors. But I still say had Carbo not had the unfortunately luck of injuries to key personal as better goaltending, we would not be having this conversation right now, the Canadiens would have 10 to 15 more points right now and Carbo would still have his job. I do agree with Gainey’s move and as I said Friday night he had to make a move and that he would be the guy to go behind the behind. I do feel sorry for Carbo though.

  8. #8 Joseph says:
    March 9, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    Go behind the behind? Senet1, are you implying that there’s more to this relationship than meets the behi- err, the eye? :-)

    Seriously though, there’s no question that that kind of underperforming cannot be tolerated at this level. However, I do think that this being their centennial season, the pressure to accomplish something is even moreso. That had to be a factor on some level because missing the playoffs this season would be beyond unacceptable. It would be viewed as a complete and utter failure.

  9. #9 BFE says:
    March 10, 2009 at 7:40 am

    Hi folks….

    Is this a case of too little to late? Not sure at this point. Do the leaders on this team have the players around them to turn the switch on at this point? Gainey is making this move to look good based on the criticism across all levels. Should have reacted quicker right after the return of Price. Too much expected from a very young, and perhaps psychological fragile goalie. He should have also made a splash in the trade deadline. I guess Lafleur’s comments a few weeks back came true.

    The season isn’t over, the playoffs are there for the taking…remember who’s in first??? Yup, my Bruins, and you guys always play at another level against us. So, the team may need to find that type of motivation…any kind of motivation.

    This team will need a coach that brings fire and brimstone to the organization….can you say St-Patrick in 09-10??? I see it.

    See you in the playoffs (and I mean it)…..Tony from NB

  10. #10 Donnie says:
    March 10, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Something else to think about from the perspective of our goal scoring lines…….you score 2 goals in the first 10 mins and you’re given somewhat limited ice time to make way for 4th-liners OR you don’t score and you’re given limited ice time to make way for 4th-liners….it’s the same result no matter how we play for this guy. How can our stars, get up for games night after night knowing that how ever they perform, shortened ice time is the result, and the scattered shift you do get you are forced to stay in your end the entire shift. Not saying this is or is contributing to the problem, but it makes sense doesn’t it?

    Carbonneau rewards players who play like he did, thats obvious…..problem is, players who play like he did and good enough to score goals and win games….so rewarding these guys with PP time, double shifts, playing the end of the game to try and get a goal, and playing 15-20 mins a game, for the mostpart, came at the expense of the team. These guys are 4th liners for a reason…lack of skill, and you don;t live and die with these guys. Tom k, Lapierre and a few more getting 15-20 minutes a game, coupled with trying to hold a 1 or 2 goal lead by playing trap hockey isn’t great coaching…it’s just dumb….and is a great part of the reason we are where we are in the standings.
    Hopefully Gainey will change this…give our top lines some free range, let the D worry about the majority of the D, cut back 4th-liners ice time to “normal” 4th line minutes, and see if we can still salvage something outta this season. GO HABS GO !!!

  11. #11 Donnie says:
    March 10, 2009 at 9:42 am

    Trying to hold a 1 or 2 goals lead by polaying tarp hockey FOR 50 MINS is what I should have said. I apologoze.

  12. #12 Joseph says:
    March 10, 2009 at 11:48 am

    I’ve read or heard all kinds of reasons why Carbonneau was fired, one of which claimed that it was a result of Carbonneau’s wife being on the charter (silly), so who knows what really happened.

    The point is, one cannot assume that this was a hockey move, despite the fact that logic would suggest that it was. Maybe Carbonneau challenged Gainey after the Kovalev fiasco. Maybe he challeneged him over something else entirely. Maybe he was upset with him for not making moves which Carbonneau deemed to be necessary moves at the deadline. Maybe their friendship took a turn for the worse due to their working relationship and the pressure which comes with it. Who knows.

  13. #13 nilan says:
    March 10, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    Obviously there were problems previously, but WOW…the only Hab worth his salt in Atlanta was Price. Gainey said that next morning is when he started making phone calls. I realize Atlanta beat Calgary badly right after that, but a beer league in-line team could’ve beaten Montreal friday night. The players play, but the coach is responsible for making sure the team is ready to play and managing the game once the puck drops. Guy remains one of my all time favorite Habs, and best of luck to him, but he was clearly not the man for the job. Not for the centennial season expectations anyway.

  14. #14 Joseph says:
    March 10, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    I agree, Nilan.

    I don’t buy the ‘Atlanta beat Calgary too’ argument either. That’s comparing apples and oranges. Calgary and Montreal are light years apart right now. Atlanta beat Calgary, yes, but they did so by playing the spoiler role very well against a good hockey team. on the other hand, they beat Montreal by allowing Montreal to beat themselves. Big difference there.

  15. #15 Mats Naslund says:
    March 10, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    Nilan I fully agree with you. Guy was absolutely one of my favorite players growing up, but he didn’t make the kinds of decisions that makea tam successful. I think he could be a great coach in this league, but noone could compare him to a guy like Boudreau or Babcock. Those guys understand how to get their players in position to be successful. Carbo has a lot to learn as far as how to be a top coach.

    Well, I don’t know if Gainey is making changes just for the optics or if he has see something drastically different, but he has put D’Agostini on the PLex-Kovy line and shuffled his defense around. Markov-Komi, Hamrlik-O’Byrne, Schneider-Gorges. Brisebois and Pax are sitting out. I’m on board with the changes although I do remember that Markov-Komisarek were BRUTAL together during January and February. I also think Max-Pax’s style fits the Kovy line better as he’s bigger and stronger than D’Agostini, but I’m willing to give Bob the benefit of the doubt as he is closer to the situation the rest of us. I can’t wait for the game tonight. Kovy is so happy to see Carbo gone he scores a trick?

  16. #16 Joseph says:
    March 10, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    “The last time Gainey took over as coach, he led Montreal into the playoffs, but lost in the first round to eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina.” — ESPN

    Yes, but what they’ve failed to mention is that the Habs were on the verge of going up 3-0 in that series before Captain Koivu nearly lost his eye and was sidelined for the remainder of the post-season. Prior to that, the 7th place Habs were playing with passion and confidence.

    I think that Gainey will do a good job.

  17. #17 Joseph says:
    March 10, 2009 at 2:07 pm

    It’s interesting how an isolated event can result in an outcome or a long term change in sports. Carolina was close to being eliminated in that series. And then the Williams high stick on Koivu changed everything. They proceeded to win four straight against the shaken Habs and go on to win the Cup. And in all honestly, they probably never have survived the first round that season.

    Similarly, the Bruins looked average at the start of this season. But then they finally beat the Habs to get that monkey off their back and they never looked back. Until recently. It’ll be interesing to see what unfolds in the playoffs.

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  • goalie : I don't know when they'll announce it but the Oilers will be signing Sutter (Flames ex-coach) to coach their team - that's why Kevin Lowe chose him to coach in the World's. That was the world's worst kept secret.
  • Senet1 : I guess I wish we could get it done so all the speculating was over and we can get to building out team.
  • goalie : I can't type.... what a faux pas on my behalf...
  • goalie : I just realized what I said adn didn't say yesterday. What a fayx as on my behalf. Regarding coaching Randy Cunnyworth MUSDT stay as an assistant- he deserves at least that after the tremendous job he did in the latter part of this past season. I'd still mlike to have Robinson, Carbo adn Allard on the staff also.
  • Avatar37 : I agree Senet, my choice if we can't have Cunneyworth would be Crawford, Robinson on defense, Cunneyworth for offense, and Carbo as offense/faceoffs .
  • Senet1 : I think if I had my choice it would be Crawford and see if he could get Carbo and Robinson as assistants. That would be my idea coaching team.
  • goalie : I witnesed Marc Crawford MANY times when the Avs, etc. played against Oilers and let me tell you - he is constantly on the referees asses virtually game after game. He is the complete OPPOSITE of J. Martin. Crawford is calm on TSN but he is one excited coach behind the bench. A friend of mine who was an NHL linesman for 26 years said they dreaded Crawford he was so tough on the officials!
  • goalie : You know, I've bee thinking about the coaching situation. I'd be really excited if the Habs had Hartley as head coach and Carbo adn Robinson as his assistants. I also read it somewhere about a month ago that Toronto's goalie coach Allard (?) wants to relocate back to Montreal where he has his goaltending school/business. Add him to the mix and I'd say the Habs would be in great shape coaching wise.
  • Avatar37 : Well, from what I recall, Hartley didn't do all that well with the Thrashers. But, I don't know enough about him to judge one way or the other. Crawford I do know, and he always seemed to be a good, level headed coach to me.
  • Senet1 : even Pacioretty two years ago did not impress any of us. Younger players have to play and make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. If they sit in the press box they are learning nothing.
  • Senet1 : Of course if he have some good assistants like a Larry Robinson to teach the young defence and someone like Carbo to teach faceoffs etc. then your coach does not have to be as good at teaching. If Hartley fits the bill you get no argument from me. My only previous point is that if he is impatient with your younger players to the point that he does not play them, then we are right back where we were with Martin. Martin was a good coach too, but how he handled Emelin, PK and even Pacioretty two
  • goalie : I would like to see the Habs sign a coach who realizes that our team isn't tough enough (we need to get bigger and somewhat more nastier),the coach needs t be a great TEACHER and be a coach who can get the players to understand and buy into his system. Other than that I couldn't care what lingo he speaks. I wnat to see our team become a ligitimate contender fast!
  • HabsLoseAgain : Well we dont know if he is or is not a teaching coach. I woukd just hate to paint Hartley something that he is not. There will always be questions but if Hartley was hired as the habs new bench boss i for one would not be overly upset.
  • Senet1 : My thoughts are not that he is or is not a good coach but rather that when he won the cup he had an experience team of superstars on that team. Where as we have a group of young inexperienced players, is he a teaching coach or a tactical coach or both? I am not question whether he is a good coach, but my question therefore is he the coach for us at this point in the deveopment of our team?? Not sure we are all purely speculating at the moment?
  • Senet1 : Something happened to my first post. I will try again.
  • Senet1 : That is why I said I am not sure he is the coach for us at this time? Right now we are all speculating including yourself, because non of us know for sure?
  • HabsLoseAgain : Crawford also won a cup with Patrick Roy so would you say he is a good coach or did he just have great players and one of the best goaltenders of alltime?
  • HabsLoseAgain : Senrt so please give me some reasons why you think Hartley is not the coach the habs need right now. What is it that you do not like about him or his coaching style?
  • HabsLoseAgain : Well all great coaches had great players playing for them so i guess you you add a a pile of other coaches to that list including Bowan......
  • Senet1 : Hartley, was he a good coach or did he just have great players and one of the best altime goaltenders of all time. I am not sure that he is the type of coach that this organization needs right now. Unless of course we sign a ton of free agents.
  • Avatar37 : However, my feelings may completely be wrong, Hartley may turn out to be a good fit.
  • Avatar37 : I didn't say Hartley was unknown, I said we demoted a good coach in Cunneyworth and now have an unknown quantity because we don't have a coach. I don't have that great a feeling about Hartley, I'd be much more comfortable with Crawford.
  • HabsLoseAgain : In my opinion i think he might be a good fit in montreal. Oh and he also likes to have a tough team.
  • HabsLoseAgain : Also this year he coached the ZSC Lions to the swiss championship title.
  • HabsLoseAgain : lol the so called "unknown" won a cup in 2000-2001 with the colarado avalanch.
  • HabsLoseAgain : lol Bob Hartley is not an unknown lol.....sheesh.
  • Senet1 : I think he has until the trading deadline to show us that he deserves to be on this team. If he does not get back on track then he could be simply a 2nd round draft pick to whoever we can trade him to.
  • Avatar37 : Bourque reminds me of Pouliot, size, skill, and invisible. He needs to get back to playing a physical game and bang people around and maybe he'll start getting some of those garbage goals again. Need to get to the front of the net. I hope he can find his game again.
  • Avatar37 : We had a good coach in Randy Cunneyworth. Now we have an unknown, with Bob Hartley rumoured to be the front runner. I'd rather have Cunneyworth.
  • goalie : A player like Rene Bourwue has al the physical attributes of what would be a beter than average player. Hwever, he certainly didn't play that well especially after being in Montreal about three weeks. We NEED players like Rene to play hard AND produce points on a REGULAR BASIS in order for us to be competitive.
  • Senet1 : MONTREAL – Rene Bourque had a rocky start to his career as a Hab, but he’s planning on using the next four years to make up for it. After arriving in Montreal under less-than-ideal circumstances in January, Bourque spent the following 38 games hoping to find the spark he needed to rekindle his offensive production. Despite flanking Tomas Plekanec on the team’s second line to close out the season, the 30-year-old sniper suddenly found himself firing blanks in his new NHL home.
  • Senet1 : I think we have to be patient and not expect too much too soon. Let's get a strong management team in place, make a good choices in the draft get a good coach and then see what we need at the free agent market. I will not be too disapointed if we miss the playoffs again next year if it means a long term team success. We have the opportunity to make some major strides over the next two years at the draft table. Then we fill in the holes.
  • goalie : I certainly agree that we need to get some impact forwards who will sign for 5 years, not for a season then walk away. That's not going to help us.
  • goalie : I wouldn't trade PK for Ovetchkin no matter what. He is a coach's NIGHTMARE and a poor team player.
  • Senet1 : I believe he will as we graducally put better players around him and build this team.

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