After leading the Montreal Canadiens to within two wins of the Stanley Cup Finals this past season, head coach Michel Therrien has been rewarded with a four-year contract extension through 2018-19.
Therrien, who has guided the Habs to the playoffs in back-to-back years in his second tour of duty with the organization, had one season remaining on his original deal.
Taking over a Montreal squad that finished last in the Eastern Conference the previous season, Therrien posted a 48-29-14 record and a second-place finish in the East in 2013-14. The Canadiens followed up by reaching the 2014 conference finals after downing top-seeded Boston in a thrilling seven-game semifinal series.
Therrien, who previously served as Montreal's head coach from 2000-03, has gone 75-42-13 since replacing Randy Cunneyworth in June of 2012.
"We're very happy to have agreed to a contract extension with Michel Therrien for multiple seasons," said Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin. "Michel is an accomplished and experienced coach who has instilled a culture of hard work in our organization while helping develop our young players. Michel and his coaching staff work in a unique and demanding hockey market and the team's success over the last two seasons are a reflection of their excellent work."
Prior to his return to Montreal, Therrien spent four seasons as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 50-year-old Montreal native directed the Pens to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, but was fired midway through the following campaign with the team having recorded a disappointing 27-25-5 mark.
Therrien's overall career coaching record stands at 287-224-23-58.
[SportsNetwork.com]
