E.L. wrote:
The francophone coach and GM rule only exists if Geoff Molson wants it. There's nothing legally binding him to do anything, it's his team.
Now, it's been proven francophone media in Montreal can make your life hell if you can't speak French. Just ask Randy Cunneyworth.
In a way, the francophone thing allows you to hedge your bets. Team isn't winning, well, it's not our fault, we brought in the best francos we could. It's easier to win people over by having French speakers than it is having a winning team. If Molson brings in, say, McGill man Mike Babcock, he has to win, and win right away. It's the only way to shut people up, and even then, they'll still complain from time to time.
It's not just Molson, either. Who's got the brass balls to take on that thankless gig? A way around it is to bring a guy on a long-term deal and tell media he's taking lessons and will be able to speak in a year.
It was a long time ago but I seem to remember either the media or the fans or both freaking the hell out over Saku Koivu doing a lineup announcement that wasn't in both English and French, so the next game he did it in French. Always felt like it was more of an implicit wish than an actual rule in place.
I read that when Pierre Lacroix, then the GM of the Quebec Nordiques, hired Marc Crawford to be the head coach, he very politely asked Crawford to work on his French. Of course that's QC, I can't imagine you'd EVER get away with a coach or GM who isn't Francophone.
But hey, if they ever want to make a big splash and also hire a Francophone coach...Patrick Roy is still available!