Canadiens Have Faith in Their Goalies, But Something Had to Change
The Montreal Canadiens made a move this week that might have raised a few eyebrows: firing goalie coach Eric Raymond. The official line? The organization wanted a ‘fresh voice’ for all its goalies. It doesn’t necessarily mean anyone’s at fault, but it does hint that management felt the system could use a shake-up.
Gorton Was Clear; He Has Faith in His Goalies.
VP of Operations Jeff Gorton was clear: the decision wasn’t about abandoning faith in the players. Over and over, he repeated it: “We have a lot of faith in our goalies… we believe in our goalies… we’re very comfortable.” The phrasing is interesting. Say it enough times, and you start to wonder — if the goalies are the ones the team trusts, who, exactly, is the problem? Sometimes, it reads less like reassurance and more like a subtle nod: the issues lie elsewhere.
It’s worth noting what Gorton meant by a “fresh voice.” This isn’t just about teaching technique or adjusting positioning. It’s really about culture, the way people talk to each other, and how the team approaches things day to day. A new goalie coach isn’t just showing a tweak here or a tweak there. The coach can push guys to break old habits, offer fresh ways to think about positioning, and even change the vibe in practice.
For a team like Montreal, which has had its fair share of goalie headaches over the years, even little adjustments like that can feel like a breath of fresh air — sometimes those small shifts are the ones that make a real difference when the puck drops.
Goalies Must Accept Coaching, But They Still Must Play Well.
Yet, there’s the tension. Goalie performance is never fully controllable. A coach can tweak mechanics, emphasize mental preparation, and set the tone for confidence in the crease — but ultimately, the skater in front of the net is the one making the saves. By firing Raymond while saying “we believe in our goalies,” the Canadiens are signalling trust in the talent, but impatience with something in the environment around it. That’s a subtle but significant distinction.
In practical terms, the players now have a chance to reset, to hear new cues, to work with someone who challenges them differently. For a young or struggling goalie, that could spark improvement. For veterans, it might reinforce the habits that already work. For fans and observers, it’s a reminder that hockey development is as much about context, culture, and communication as it is about raw skill.
The Goalies Aren’t the Problem for the Canadiens.
The Canadiens’ message is clear: the goalies aren’t the problem, but the system can always be better. A new voice in the room, paired with existing talent, is the experiment. Whether it pays off or not will be measured not in press releases, but in the moments between the pipes.