Coaching news

Congratulations to Claude Julien, who yesterday was introduced as the new head coach of the New Jersey Devils. If he agrees to be a little more flexible in terms of playing his youngsters, he should enjoy a successful run with the Devils. However, if GM Lou Lamoriello gets fed up with Julien's coaching, expect him to get axed quickly to make room for John MacLean.

On the Canadiens' front, RDS is reporting that Kirk Muller has met with Guy Carbonneau about joining the Habs' coaching staff this coming season. Muller is currently coaching the Queen's University mens' hockey team, the Golden Gaels.

Other reports have suggested that former Canadiens head coach Mario Tremblay has asked his current club, the Minnesota Wild, to release him, leading to speculation he will be hired as the Habs' new assistant coach. If you ask me, bringing back Tremblay is nothing but trouble. While he has certainly gained experience in the shadows of Jacques Lemaire in Minnesota, Habs fans should never forget the way Tremblay mercilessly and selfishly drove Patrick Roy out of Montreal. Roy is grooming himself to be an executive in the NHL in the near future, and if amends are ever to be made between the former star goalie and the Canadiens organization, Tremblay should be far away from Montreal. I would much prefer to see Roy as the next general manager of the Canadiens than Tremblay getting a second chance to redeem himself for what was a completely disastrous and pathetic attempt at NHL coaching.

Update (1:18 P.M.): Throw former Habs and Stars defenseman Craig Ludwig into the mix. Carbo wants to make a decision before the draft, so expect the hiring to happen soon!