Jul 05 Geoff Molson To Replace Pierre Boivin June 30, 2011

The Molson’s are coming, the Molson’s…. oh, they were already here? If it wasn’t clear before today who was really in charge at the helm of the Montreal Canadiens’  cruise liner, it was made official this afternoon as the team announced that Pierre Boivin would be “stepping down” and “handing over the reins” to owner Geoff Molson in the coming year.

While many can’t wait for Boivin to rescind his role as president, claiming his “too pro francophone” musings kept setting the team back as far as off ice hirings and on ice talent searches were concerned, it’s tough to argue the job he has done on the marketing side of things, especially leading up to and the culmination of the centennial celebrations of the past 2 years.  Not to mention the consistently sold out Bell Centre despite $25 parking, $12 beer, $4 hotdogs and premium $ seats.

It would seem unlikely that Mr Molson would make any drastic changes once in the president’s chair, and some would argue that he has already had his say in some of the more recent decisions taken with regards to player personnel changes (see Halak trade). And as far as the “French” aspect of the team’s makeup is concerned, let’s not forget that the Molson’s are businessmen first and fans second and they did not become successful at it by not knowing what their clientele wanted, needed or expected in order to remain loyal…

But in the end, change is always good, even if it means a fresh coat of paint. As long as it’s bleu, blanc, rouge. 

Please read on for the Habs’ official press release.