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Canadiens reportedly interview Patrick Roy for vacant GM job

Montreal has interviewed former Canadiens legend Patrick Roy for the team's open general manager position, according to TVA's Renaud Lavoie. (Getty)
Montreal has interviewed former Canadiens legend Patrick Roy for the team's open general manager position, according to TVA's Renaud Lavoie. (Getty)

With a chance to start anew, the Montreal Canadiens are considering bringing back a franchise legend for their next chapter.

Montreal reportedly interviewed Patrick Roy for its general manager vacancy, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. Roy denied that he had interviewed for the position on Thursday, but told Lavoie he denied his interest in the team out of an obligation to protect the Canadiens.

The Hall of Fame goaltender has often been linked to the role since the Canadiens fired Marc Bergevin on Nov. 28. Bergevin accepted a role as a special advisor to Los Angeles Kings general manager Rob Blake on Sunday.

Roy’s history with the Canadiens doesn’t require an immediate revisit, but while we’re here: the Hall of Fame goaltender burst onto the scene during the 1985-86 season and led the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup victory, while capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy. One of the best goaltenders in league history, Roy became a franchise icon, securing three Vezina Trophies while winning another Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe with the Canadiens in 1993.

His relationship with the Canadiens soured after the 1993 triumph and it played out in the public eye. Roy grew to detest head coach Mario Tremblay and demanded a trade in dramatic fashion after being kept in net through two periods of a 11-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in December 1995. Roy was traded shortly thereafter to the Colorado Avalanche, where he won the Conn Smythe one more time, and added two Stanley Cup victories to his decorated resume.

After retiring, Roy coached the Avalanche to a cumulative record of 130-92-24 record over the course of three seasons, before being replaced after the 2015-16 campaign.

Daniel Briere, who works in hockey operations for the ECHL’s Maine Mariners, Tampa Bay Lightning director of hockey operations Mathieu Darche and player agent Emilie Castonguay are also among the group of rumoured candidates.

Montreal is expected to name its next general manager this month.

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