Point de presse patrick roy biography

NHL hockey team season

The 1995–96Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 87thseason. This season was notable for the trade of star goaltender Patrick Roy, as well as being their final season in the Montreal Forum before moving to the new Molson Centre. The club qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the first round to the New York Rangers.

Offseason

Regular season

At the beginning of the season, captain Mike Keane was subject to media scrutiny after speaking with Mathias Brunet of La Presse (a French language newspaper). Keane said he didn't know how to speak French; but the journalist misunderstood him, and reported him as refusing to learn how to speak French.

On October 17, 1995: Canadiens president Ronald Corey fired general manager Serge Savard and his assistants Andre Boudrias and Carol Vadnais. Head coach Jacques Demers was also relieved of his duties, while assistant coach Charles Thiffault was reassigned. This came after the Habs surrendered 20 goals in the first 4 games of the season.

October 21, 1995, Corey hired Rejean Houle as the Canadiens' new general manager. Mario Tremblay was hired as the new head coach, and Yvan Cournoyer was hired as an assistant coach. Tremblay had been goaltender Patrick Roy's roommate during his rookie season. On that same day, they beat their chief rival the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 in their last appearance at the Forum.

In his first 15 starts with Tremblay as head coach, Roy had 12 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie. The one tie came against the Colorado Avalanche. Despite this hot start, Roy and Tremblay clashed multiple times. While in Edmonton, Tremblay spotted Roy in the hotel bar and told him that he wanted him to leave. A conflict ensued in Montreal when Tremblay told Roy that he was not allowed to visit the traine

Owen Nolan was traded by the Colorado Avalanche to the San Jose Sharks for Sandis Ozolinsh on Oct. 26, 1995.

Nine days earlier, on Oct. 17, 1995, Serge Savard was fired as general manager of the Canadiens. At the time, negotiations were already underway with the Avalanche to try to bring Nolan to Montreal in a trade that would have sent a certain Patrick Roy the other way.

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the actual Roy trade to Colorado on Dec. 6, 1995, these talks two months earlier should serve as a reminder that there was an inevitability attached to the legendary goaltender’s departure. The night of Dec. 2, 1995 has become symbolic over the years because the tension between Roy and the Canadiens boiled over in a very public fashion, but it’s the wrong target. That 11-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at the Montreal Forum carries the weight of everything that preceded that day and everything that followed. That night was simply a symptom of a greater illness.

In his biography, “Serge Savard: Forever Canadien”, Savard explains: “Patrick had become too important in the club. He took up too much space in the dressing room, had too much influence on the coach. Over the previous years, I had to handle him with kid gloves. I still had the same admiration for him as I did when we won the Stanley Cup in 1986 and 1993, where he played a determining role. But a change had become necessary. The team revolved around him too much. For the good of everyone, he needed a change of scenery.”

The Canadiens began the 1995-96 season on the wrong foot and fans began screaming for changes to be made. If there had been no change at the top, or at least if Savard had remained as general manager, it is very possible that Roy would not have even finished the month of October in Montreal. What the following weeks demonstrated was that Avalanche GM Pierre Lacroix was willing to move Nolan and that he was determined to

NEWS

On Tuesday, Montreal Canadiens legend Patrick Roy told reporters that he would like to be the team's next General Manager.

"Since 1993, the team has been running in circles," Roy said. "What do they have to lose by giving me a chance, and seeing what I can do with this club?"

He added, "I was proud to wear that jersey, to win two Stanley Cup, play in three finals. I have a lot of respect for that organization, a lot of admiration for what's been done in the history of the Canadiens. Of course, given the number of seasons I played with the Canadiens, the success that I had with the organization, would I be interested [in the general manager position]? Clearly. But at the same time I am aware that it's process and there are several good candidates."

Roy, 56, spent parts of twelve seasons with the Canadiens, winning the Stanley Cup twice, and the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie, three times.

He mentioned that he would be willing to work with newly-appointed Executive Vice-President Jeff Gorton, added that he's met him once before.

"I would be ready to work with [Gorton]. He seems to be a person that is passionate about hockey. I've always been a guy who loved working in teams."

The Quebec City native also commented on the tenure of Marc Bergevin, who was let go on Sunday following nine years as GM of the Canadiens.

"For me, the Canadiens, it's more of a reset that is needed, not a rebuild," Roy said. "Marc did great things with the club, he was extremely loyal with the people that surrounded him. So, he pays the price."

As for former Assistant GM Trevor Timmins, Roy didn't mince his words saying, "It's clear that Trevor Timmins hurt Marc Bergevin, but Marc is someone that's loyal so he stood behind him."

Roy has spent the last few years in the QMJHL as the Head coach/General Manager of the Quebec Ramparts.