groulx, pierreUPDATE – Although it hasn’t been announced by the Colorado Avalanche multiple sources report that goaltending coach Francois Allaire will be joining his former student Patrick Roy on a three year contract.  It leaves Hamilton Bulldogs goaltending coach Vincent Riendeau at the top of the list as Pierre Groulx’s potential replacement.  The Canadiens announced Monday that Groulx’s contract would not be renewed.   \

The Canadiens have decided not to renew the contract of goaltending coach Pierre Groulx.  Groulx had been brought into the organization four years ago after a stint with the Florida Panthers.  He replaced Roland Melanson who subsequently signed on with the Vancouver Canucks.

At the time there  were rumours of a communications problem between Melanson and Carey Price.  The relationship between Price and Groulx however, seemed to be smooth.  In the final analysis, Groulx may have become the victim of last season’s erratic performance curve on Price’s part.

Time to fire up the rumour mill.  The obvious top candidate was Francoise Allaire, who quit the Toronto Maple Leafs last September, but multiple reports now say he has signed a three year contract with the Colorado Avalanche where he will rejoin former student and now head coach Patrrick Roy.

Vincent-RiendeauIf not Allaire, another option could be Vincent Riendeau who spent last season dividing his time between Canadiens prospect goaltenders with the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Hamburg Freezers of the German Elite League.  Riendeau was signed by the Canadiens as an undrafted free agent in 1986.  He played only one game in a Montreal uniform before being traded to St. Louis in 1988.  He retired in 2001.  He played 184 NHL games with Montreal, St. Louis, Detroit and Boston.  The final six years of his pro career he bounced between the AHL, Germany, Scotland, Switzerland and Russia.    Much of Robert Mayer’s improved performance with Hamilton last year has been credited to Riendeau’s work.

From the Canadiens Communications Department

MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens general manager, Marc Bergevin, announced Monday that the organization will not renew the contract of goaltending coach Pierre Groulx.

“ I want to sincerely thank Pierre Groulx for his contribution to the Canadiens’ organization over the past four years. Pierre is a coach with a strong work ethic, a true professional who largely contributed to the development of our goaltenders. Unfortunately, we have to make the difficult decision today not to renew his contract with the team. I want to wish Pierre the best of luck with the pursuit of his career ” said Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin.

Pierre Groulx joined the Canadiens’ organization as an assistant coach on July 6, 2009. He completed his fourth season with the team in 2012-13. Prior to joining the Canadiens, Groulx worked for the Florida Panthers and the Ottawa Senators.