THE NHL / HELENE ELLIOTT : Canadiens Are Politically Correct

The Montreal Canadiens’ hiring of former players Mario Tremblay as their coach and Rejean Houle as their general manager was dictated by political correctness and bad timing.

At least one position had to be filled by a French-Canadian, in deference to the French-speaking majority in the province of Quebec. A referendum will be held next Monday on whether Quebec should separate from Canada, and the pro-independence faction has pulled closer to those who favor the status quo.

But it’s astonishing that Houle and Tremblay have no experience at the jobs they were given. Houle was an executive with Molson Breweries--which owns the Canadiens--and Tremblay was an analyst on TV and radio broadcasts.

Reaction around the NHL has ranged from surprise to disdain.

“It’s nice to see guys who have paid their dues and worked their way up getting rewarded,” one high-ranking club executive said sarcastically.

Club president Ron Corey said he thought it essential to find a general manager who “has known the war of the game and has won the Stanley Cup.”

Oh? Sam Pollock, general manager of eight Montreal Cup winners, never played in the NHL. Neither did Bill Torrey, GM of the New York Islanders’ four consecutive Cup winners, or Lou Lamoriello of the defending champion New Jersey Devils. Glen Sather has won five Cups as the Edmonton Oilers’ general manager but never won as a player.

Molson officials were pressuring Corey to fire General Manager Serge Savard and Coach Jacques Demers because they feared fans’ anger over the Canadiens’ 0-4 start would hurt beer sales. Corey had taken Savard’s word the team would improve after missing the playoffs last season, but early indications were ominous.

By firing Savard and Demers after the season had begun, Corey had a smaller pool of replacements than if he had acted last summer. He couldn’t easily have brought in someone such as former Canadien Bob Gainey, Dallas’ coach and general manager, but he never even tried. He made no search--he hired Houle Wednesday, a day after firing Savard and Demers, and Houle hired Tremblay Thursday.

To Tremblay and Houle, who inherit a team that lacks leadership, depth on defense and creativity on offense, we say bonne chance . Good luck.

WHEN TWO+TWO=FIVE

Montreal radio broadcasters Michel Tremblay and Ron Fournier were so sure Assistant General Manager Pierre Gauthier of the Mighty Ducks had gotten the Canadiens’ general manager job, they stretched the facts to fit their suspicion.

When Gauthier didn’t return calls to his office and home Thursday, they concluded he was in Chicago--”a neutral zone,” as Tremblay put it--to accept the job. They figured Gauthier, an old friend, was avoiding their calls because he knew they’d pry the news out of him. And when Gauthier’s secretary told them, “There are things I know but can’t say,” they interpreted that to mean Gauthier had the job, but she was sworn to secrecy.

The secret was that Gauthier was several feet away in the Ducks’ office when Tremblay called, but he simply didn’t want to deal with more speculation about his candidacy. He never met Corey in Chicago--or anywhere else--and the Canadiens never called him or the Ducks.

However, he did get calls from people asking him to keep them in mind after he took over in Montreal.

GOING DOWN IN FLAMES

With the Detroit Red Wings’ much-rumored trade of Steve Yzerman to Ottawa for holdout Alexei Yashin looking unlikely, the latest talk has Calgary holdout Joe Nieuwendyk becoming a Senator.

Nieuwendyk won an arbitration hearing, where it was determined his salary would be $1.85 million this season, but he’s holding out for a long-term deal worth about $2.1 million a year.

The Flames, 0-4-3 and clueless, need to make some sort of move soon. They are likely to get a nasty welcome Wednesday at their home opener, which was delayed by renovations at the Saddledome.

UGLY LOGO, UGLY TEAM

This was supposed to be a new start for the New York Islanders, with a new coach, new logo and new colors. So far, they’re as bad as they were last season, with a 1-4-1 record. Their lone victory was over Montreal in the Canadiens’ first game after Demers and Savard were fired.

“Right now, and I’ll be candid with you, it looks like the worst-coached team in hockey,” Coach Mike Milbury said last week. “That’s my fault.”

The logo--a fisherman who looks as if he jumped off a box of Gorton’s frozen clams--was panned by fans of the rival Rangers. After taking one look, they began chanting, “We want fish sticks!”

GOING, GOING . . .

The Jets’ sale to a group headed by businessmen Richard Burke and Steven Gluckstern ended some of the suspense players have endured since the club’s financial situation darkened. But they still must play out the season in Winnipeg, which will be no easier for them than for their fans.

“The game’s gotten really big and outgrown some of the smaller markets, like Winnipeg,” winger Ed Olczyk said. “It’s sad to see. It’s hard, when kids come up to you, to explain what’s happening. My two boys are in school and their friends ask, ‘Why is your dad’s team leaving?’ You can’t go into detail about the lack of [luxury] boxes and corporate support.”

SLAP SHOTS

Florida Panther owner Wayne Huizenga, denied funding for a new arena in South Florida, is again talking about moving the club. He’s looking at Nashville, Tenn.; Charlotte, N.C., and Portland, Ore. . . . Canuck winger Alexander Mogilny has goals in five consecutive games and eight in that span. . . . Jet center Alexei Zhamnov may return Friday after breaking a bone in his leg two weeks ago. . . . The Bruins, who lack confidence in second-year goalie Blaine Lacher, talked to Edmonton about Curtis Joseph. But the Oilers want a defenseman and Boston can’t spare one.

A jammed left wrist is one reason Hartford’s Brendan Shanahan, twice a 50-goal scorer, has no goals. . . . The NBA-ization of hockey continues, with the NHL considering playing games in quarters in exhibitions before next season. Officials like the idea of a 25-30 minute halftime show. Yup, more time for Wild Wing to fall into fire pits. . . . Flyer goalie Ron Hextall will be out two weeks because of a pulled hamstring. . . . Former Minnesota North Star Bobby Smith is expected to become general manager or president of the Winnipeg-turned-Minnesota Jets.

Signing Peter Bondra to a five-year, $9-million deal silenced Capital fans, who had claimed owner Abe Pollin slighted them in favor of the NBA’s Bullets. While Bondra and Michal Pivonka held out, the Bullets--who last year gave Juwan Howard an 11-year, $38.5 million deal--signed Chris Webber to a $65-million deal, acquired Mark Price and signed top draft pick Rasheed Wallace for $6.18 million over three years.