6 men rumored as candidates to be the next Habs GM.

The Montreal Canadiens cleaned house today when they relieved general manager Marc Bergevin of his duties and subsequently fired a number of key figures in his front office staff.

The move marks the end of an era in Montreal but it sounds like the Canadiens may quickly be moving on to the next chapter in their franchise's storied history. Canadiens owner Geoff Molson announced that former New York Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton would be taking over as Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations in the very same press release that announced the firing of Bergevin and his staff.

The next question on everyone's mind is who will take over for Bergevin in the role of general manager for the Canadiens? We know that the Canadiens will be looking for a French speaking general manager to replace Bergevin, and according to one French media outlet there are currently 6 candidates to fill that role.

Here they are in no particular order:

Mathieu Darche

Darche has a history with the Montreal Canadiens, playing the 3 final seasons of his National Hockey League career with that organization. He currently serves as Director of Hockey Operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and is viewed by many as among the favorites to step into this role.

Martin Madden Jr

Currently an assistant general manager with the Anaheim Ducks, Madden Jr. is a native of Quebec and would fit the French speaking criteria. He has been a professional scout for well over 20 years now, and as a result brings a wealth of experience to the position.

Patrick Roy

To be clear both Patrick Roy and his agent have gone on the record to say that he has not been contacted by the Canadiens. That being said given the level of success he has had in the province of Quebec with his own hockey team, the Quebec Remparts, as well as his history with the Canadiens, many are hoping to see a reunion between Roy and the Habs.

Roberto Luongo

One of the most beloved figures in the sport is currently working in the front office of the Florida Panthers who look like a very good team right now. Luongo is originally from Montreal, Quebec, he speaks French, and he would be a popular addition to the Canadiens front office.

Stephane Quintal

Quintal is currently working alongside George Parros in the NHL's Department of Player Safety and that could prove to be a big advantage. We have often seen NHL executives working in the league's front office transition to high ranking positions on NHL teams, and Quintal checks all the boxes as a potential Habs GM.

Daniel Briere

Another beloved former player, the native of Gatineau, Quebec would also be a popular addition to the Canadiens front office. Briere actually played briefly for the Habs towards the end of his career, and it may even be that he established some relationships there during his short stint with the team.

Update: Canadiens insider Eric Engels has also mentioned former Montreal Canadiens forward Vincent Damphousse as a potential candidate alongside some of the names we've mentioned above.