Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme has been relieved of his duties amid a disastrous season thus far for the group, with Martin St. Louis taking on as interim coach.
The Habs made the official announcement Wednesday afternoon.
Group basic supervisor Kent Hughes confirmed the information of Ducharme's firing after the coach was formally advised earlier Wednesday, in line with a press release from the NHL.
Just a few hours later, the group introduced that Martin St. Louis, who gained the Stanley Cup throughout an distinctive taking part in profession with the Tampa Bay Lightning, has been named to take over in Ducharme's stead for now.
In one other follow-up tweet, the Habs thanked Ducharme for main the group to its first playoff remaining in almost three a long time.
In a press release, Hughes additionally thanked the outgoing coach, merely saying a change is required.
"We want to sincerely thank Dominique for his work and contributions to the Montreal Canadiens group. At this level within the season, we felt it was in the perfect curiosity of the membership to make a change," mentioned Hughes, in line with the NHL launch.
For now, the remainder of the group's teaching roster stays in place, the assertion mentioned.
"The standing of assistant coaches Alex Burrows, Éric Gravel, Mario Leblanc, Trevor Letowski, Éric Raymond and Luke Richardson stays unchanged."
Ducharme, 48, was named interim head coach a yr in the past, in February 2021, after earlier head coach Claude Julien was additionally proven the door.
In his yr on the helm, the league wrote, "Ducharme registered a 23-46-14 report in 83 common season video games on the helm of the Canadiens. Within the playoffs, he posted a 13-6 report in 19 video games."
DOGGED BY ABSENCES, LAST IN THE LEAGUE
Within the playoff run this summer season, after all, the group managed its first look within the Stanley Cup remaining since 1993.
Nevertheless, this season issues have not gone almost so properly. The group has had a really tough few months, hampered partially by recurring and long-term participant absences for COVID-19 and different causes, together with star goalie Carey Worth taking a number of months off for well being considerations.
Montreal is at the moment final within the league, posting a dismal 8-30-7 report thus far, for 23 factors.
The Habs misplaced 7-1 to New Jersey on Tuesday and have given up 33 objectives in shedding their final 5 video games. They've misplaced seven straight, together with two in extra time, and 13 of their final 14 (with 4 OT losses).
"No one likes to lose," Ducharme mentioned after the Tuesday recreation. "Guys' intentions are there. Throughout the recreation, there are moments the place you'll want to bounce again and we have to do a greater job of that."
Regardless of the heights it reached simply months earlier than, the group entered this season with a watered-down roster that had misplaced centres Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Philip Danault in free company, together with the absence of Worth.
Captain Shea Weber, who is on the long-term damage reserve checklist with a foot/ankle damage, can be away from the ice and never anticipated to return.
Since then, Ducharme hasn't been in a position to get sufficient out of his group.
Notably, Nick Suzuki, who signed an eight-year contract extension price US$63 million earlier than the season, has 27 factors (9 objectives, 18 assists) by means of 45 video games.
Cole Caufield, who impressed tremendously when known as up as a rookie final season, has simply eight factors (one aim, seven assists) in 30 appearances.
Ducharme is not the primary group chief to pay the worth for the terrible season. The Habs opened the season with 5 straight losses, and GM Marc Bergevin was fired Nov. 28 with the group struggling at 6-15-2.
Ducharme grew to become the everlasting head coach simply seven months in the past, after being interim coach by means of the top of final season. He agreed to an extension by means of the 2023-24 season on July 13.
Initially from Joliette, he served because the Habs' assistant coach for 2 seasons earlier than being named head coach. He first joined the teaching roster in spring 2018, in line with the NHL's official biography for him.
Earlier than that, he spent 10 years teaching within the QMJHL junior league, a lot of it with the Halifax Mooseheads throughout a historic successful streak for that group.
He spent 15 years as a participant in Quebec and France.
ST. LOUIS A 'PROVEN WINNER,' SAYS HUGHES
New interim coach St. Louis, age 46 and initially from Laval, is a Corridor of Famer who spent a decade and a half with the Lightning, serving as its captain in 2013-2014 and successful the Cup in 2004.
He is scheduled to talk to media on Thursday morning about his plans for the Habs.
"We're very comfortable to welcome Martin to the Canadiens group," mentioned Hughes in a press release.
"Not solely are we including a wonderful hockey man, however with Martin we're bringing in a confirmed winner and a person whose aggressive qualities are acknowledged by all who've crossed his path."
St. Louis scored 391 objectives and added 642 assists for a complete of 1,033 factors in 1,134 video games in his 16 years within the league.
He performed with the Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the New York Rangers.
He was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame on November 12, 2018.
--With recordsdata from The Canadian Press
Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme retains an eye fixed on the motion together with Paul Byron (41) and Phillip Danault (24) throughout second interval NHL hockey motion in opposition to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday, March 2, 2021 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Post a Comment