Michel Therrien Reveals What He Would Have Done as Coach After the 7-2 Loss to the Rangers

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Elias Adaime
October 25, 2024 (8:46 PM)

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There are various types of coaches in the hockey world, from the old school, like Michel Therrien, to the new school, like Martin St-Louis.

While St-Louis is part of the new generation, Therrien is definitely from the old one.

The former Canadiens coach demonstrated the significant gap between these two styles during his segment on the JiC show on TVA Sports.

Michel Therrien reveals what he would have done if he were still the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens after the loss to the New York Rangers

Had he been in charge of the Canadiens following last Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Rangers, Therrien would have reacted quite differently.

«I would have taken a very significant action. Nice words are nice, explanations are nice, but there comes a time when you need to make a move that may not be well-received.»

«I would have been on the ice at exactly 11 a.m. There wouldn't have been any pucks on the ice for thirty minutes, and I would have made my displeasure clear to the players. To shake them up, to make sure it wasn't just another day.»

- Michel Therrien

The coach, who led the Canadiens from 2000 to 2003 and from 2012 to 2017, doesn't understand the lack of emotion from players after a defeat. According to him, a loss doesn't sting because there are no consequences for a poor performance. Players no longer fear losing.

However, don't think Therrien is criticizing MSL's method. He openly admits there is no perfect method, and there are especially different coaching personalities.

«We are all different in personality and as coaches. We each have our own way, and we believe it's very effective. Martin St-Louis had an extraordinary career; he brought new ideas that sounded great to fans. Us hockey guys, we weren't quite there yet.»

- Michel Therrien

In recent years, the former NHL star has, in many opinions, taken a relatively soft approach. He's opted more for teaching than punishment. However, he seems more inclined to use hard coaching this season. Eventually, he'll need to follow through to avoid losing the credibility he has.

Even with a lineup that is deteriorating daily due to injuries, MSL can still tighten the reins without neglecting teaching. By focusing on merit over seniority, he could take a significant step forward in his approach. We know that the only thing a coach can control is his players' ice time, so he could penalize those who don't deserve it without necessarily adopting Therrien's punitive style.