After completing the 1979-80 season on his own, Claude Ruel made the request to Managing Director Irving Grundman for an assistant coach for the next season in order to remain behind the bench.
“I don’t want a guy who says one thing to me, but says something else to the players,” said Ruel to La Presse. “We need unconditional trust towards one another, otherwise we’re starting off on the wrong foot.”
Ruel knew a thing or two about the role of the assistant coach, occupying the role under head coach Scotty Bowman previously. But unlike with Bowman, Ruel was considering having the assistant behind the bench with him, which would be a first for the Montreal Canadiens.