Former Habs coach opens up and reveals what he thinks of Hughes and the Habs
A few days ago, Jean-François Houle caused a surprise by resigning from his position to join Clarkson University.
The fact that he had just recently signed a deal with the Rocket intrigued more than a few people.
The former Rocket coach appeared this Tuesday on Anthony Marcotte's show on BPM Sports. He explained the reasons for his departure, but the most interesting point he made in this interview was his wish for the fans.
Jean-François Houle sends a message to the Montreal Canadiens' management and discusses Kent Hughes' work
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He clearly believes that Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton should do more to help their farm team be competitive.
«I hope for the Laval fans that when the time is right, the team will bring in veterans to win the Calder Cup.» - Jean-François Houle
This wish came up when the host mentioned the Hershey Bears' victory on Monday night in the Calder Cup final in the AHL. Marcotte pointed out that the Washington Capitals' farm team consisted of many veterans, unlike the Rocket.
During his three years behind the Rocket's bench, Houle's mission was to develop young players and take the team far in the playoffs. More often than not, he had to manage more young players than veterans, without much help from the parent club.
Did the lack of help and support from the Canadiens contribute to Houle's decision to leave the organization? It's quite possible, and one could add that he ended the season and attended the team's evaluation without a contract in hand. A clear lack of confidence...
Despite everything, Houle understands the situation. He knows that the AHL's goal is to develop players, not to win.
«That's part of the American league. And the other clubs too [...] It's important to develop for an organization. You want the players to have a chance to play in the NHL, and if you just focus on winning in the AHL, some players might not develop as quickly, not as well. It's important to have a good balance between winning and development.» - Jean-François Houle
It will be interesting to see, when the reconstruction phase is over in a few years, if Kent Hughes will finally allow Rocket GM John Sedgwick to focus on winning.
At that time, the Canadiens will certainly have fewer draft picks than they do today. The obligation to develop these young players will be less, and Sedgwick will then be able to add veterans to the lineup without fearing to hinder anyone's development.
Everything will then be a matter of balance, as Houle says, but with the scale tipping a bit more towards winning. Hopefully, the same will be true for the Canadiens.
Houle seems to believe that Hughes is doing a good job but that when he can, it would be good if he helped the Laval Rocket a bit more.
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