Michel Therrien facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michel Therrien
|
|
|---|---|
Therrien in 2008
|
|
| Born | November 4, 1963 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
|
| Other names | Bulldog |
| Occupation | Former NHL scout Ice hockey coach |
| Predecessor | Alain Vigneault (2000–01) Eddie Olczyk (2005–06) Randy Cunneyworth (2011–12) |
| Successor | Dan Bylsma (2008–09) Claude Julien (2016–17) |
Michel Therrien (born November 4, 1963) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach. He has coached famous teams like the Montreal Canadiens, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Philadelphia Flyers.
Before becoming a coach, Therrien played hockey himself. He was a defenceman in the American Hockey League (AHL) for three years. In 1985, he won the Calder Cup with the Sherbrooke Canadiens. A famous player named Patrick Roy was on that team too! After his playing days, Michel worked for a phone company. He even worked as a bodyguard for a singer named Roch Voisine, who he used to play hockey with.
Michel Therrien started his coaching career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He was an assistant coach for the Laval Titan. Later, he became the head coach for the Granby Prédateurs. In 1996, his team won the Memorial Cup. This was a big deal because it was the first time a team from Quebec had won the championship in 25 years! Michel is also a single parent with two children, Elizabeth and Charles.
Contents
Coaching Journey
Montreal Canadiens: First Time Around
In 2000, the Montreal Canadiens were not doing well. They decided to hire Michel Therrien as their new head coach. It was his first time coaching in the NHL. The Canadiens improved a bit under him, but they didn't make it to the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs.
In his first full season (2001–02), Michel helped the Canadiens play much better. They won 16 more points than the year before! In the 2002 playoffs, Therrien's team surprised everyone. They beat the top-ranked Boston Bruins. However, they later lost to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Pittsburgh Penguins: A New Challenge
Michel Therrien then coached the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). He led them to the playoffs in 2004 and 2005. In December 2005, he was promoted to coach the main Pittsburgh Penguins team in the NHL.
The Penguins didn't do great that first season under Therrien. But in the 2006–07 season, things changed. The team had an amazing winning streak. They finished with a great record and made it to the 2007 playoffs. Michel was even nominated for the Jack Adams Award, which is given to the NHL's Coach of the Year!
The next season, 2007–08, the Penguins started slowly. But they soon got back on track. They won the 2008 Winter Classic game. They also won their division, beating their rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers. In the 2008 playoffs, the Penguins were on fire! They swept the Ottawa Senators in four games. Then they beat the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers. This led them to win the Eastern Conference Championship. They even made it to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Detroit Red Wings.
Michel Therrien signed a contract extension with the Penguins in 2008. The next season, the team started strong but then struggled. On February 15, 2009, Michel was let go as head coach. Dan Bylsma took over. Even after he was fired, Michel stayed in Pittsburgh. He watched as the Penguins went on to win the Stanley Cup that year!
Montreal Canadiens: Second Time Around
On June 5, 2012, Michel Therrien returned to coach the Montreal Canadiens. His first season back was very successful. He led the team to first place in their division. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs.
In the 2013–14 season, he led the Canadiens all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. They played well but lost to the New York Rangers. Because of his success, the team gave Michel a new four-year contract. He became the highest-paid coach in the history of the Canadiens!
The 2015–16 season started great for the Canadiens. But then their star goalie, Carey Price, got injured. The team struggled after that and missed the playoffs. On his 53rd birthday, November 4, 2016, the Canadiens lost a game 10-0. On January 7, 2017, Michel got his 400th win as a coach. But on February 14, 2017, he was fired by the Canadiens again. Claude Julien replaced him. At the time, the Canadiens were still in first place in their division.
Philadelphia Flyers: Assistant Coach Role
On May 5, 2019, Michel Therrien joined the Philadelphia Flyers as an assistant coach. He worked with head coach Alain Vigneault. On December 6, 2021, his time with the Flyers came to an end.
Coaching Highlights
Michel Therrien has coached many games in the NHL. He has a strong winning record as a head coach. Here are some of his key achievements:
- He coached 814 NHL games.
- He won 406 of those games.
- He led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008.
- He led the Montreal Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2014.
- He was nominated for the Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year) in 2007.
