Well the Montreal Canadiens are a unique situation. There IS the whole french language thing to consider. This creates a real problem because language debates get mixed in with hockey moves and it takes on a whole different dimension.
Look at the Leafs, they've had a debate for the past two years on their first line center too. Tyler Bozak has no business being there but that's where he's been under Carlyle. They have the same debates over on those boards too with some people arguing that Bozak is "producing" while others say its only due to Kessel... very similar to what's going on here.
The difference is that there's no French angle to anything there. Carlyle has the benefit of nobody calling him out for being pro-english or french... it's just a hockey move. That's all that gets debated - is it a good or bad move?
Here, playing DD takes on a whole different debate in some cases. Therrien gets criticized for being pro french. DD gets more points than a 3rd line center so some feel he should be there... others say its due to circumstances and in the background there's suspicions of bias against a certain language. Maybe Therrien just believes this guy is the best for the job. That could very well be the case and its why I don't go after him on language... 'cause I don't know. But many people (rightly or wrongly) assume it's because of language. And many people think those who criticize Therrien are only doing it because of language. Its unfortunate but that's how it is... Personally I'd prefer to just keep the whole language thing out of it and just talk about it from a hockey perspective.
I understand you're point of view but unfortunitely you have a language factor in hockey perspective sometime in Montreal
I followed french media all my life and you have good/bad journalist like in any other language but I found more favoritism in french media on french coach/players
I'm talking about the french media here not the french fans
English media is not perfect but at least you have more debate about french coach/player
You just have to listen a program like l'antichambre to realize pretty fast that they almost never criticized DD or MT ( just one exemple here)
Just look the coach choice that has to be french. You have a big french factor there
Do MT was the best candidate on the market when Habs had to choose a coach ?
I will like to see the result pool asking french fan if Habs organisation should choose a english coach if the best candidate is a english coach?
I will be not be suprise that french fan will choose the english coach
It's the french media that will complain and said to reject the english coach
It's ok if both coach have same value to choose the french one but when the english one is better ?
That's one example of french factor and that french factor could also be applied to french player
I'm francophone and I like when a french player have success in NHL but I'm out when I see bias and favoritism to players that dont deserve it
You have to be honest and don't bring your culture/origine when you evaluate a players or a coach