Francois Allaire Colorado Avalanche - Goaltending Coach

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Francois Allaire was hired as goaltending coach for the Colorado Avalanche prior to the 2013-14 season. Allaire has spent 29 seasons coaching goaltenders in the NHL, including 12 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens (1984-85 to 1995-96), 12 with the Anaheim Ducks (1996-97 to 2008-09) and three with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2009-10 to 2011-12).
          
Long considered one of hockey’s foremost experts on goaltending, Allaire had worked extensively with Ducks’ goaltenders since he joined the club. He helped Guy Hebert become the franchise’s first All-Star goaltender (1997 All-Star Game) and under his direction, Jean-Sebastien Giguere has become one of the league’s best. Giguere backstopped Anaheim to the 2007 Stanley Cup Championship and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the 2003 Playoff MVP.
          
A three-time Stanley Cup Champion, Allaire spent 12 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens organization prior to joining the Ducks. As the team’s Goaltending Coach, he helped the club win the Stanley Cup in 1986 & 1993, working with netminder Patrick Roy beginning in 1984-85 until 1995-96. During that period, Roy won two Conn Symthe Trophies, four William Jennings Trophies, three Vezina Trophies and was named to the league’s end of season All-Star Team five times. Roy also appeared in six NHL All-Star Games in that span.

Allaire was also instrumental in developing the Montreal Canadiens young goalies, who won the Happy Holmes Trophy (AHL team with fewest goals against) on four occasions and the Baz Bastien Trophy (AHL’s best goaltender) on three occasions.

Throughout his career, Allaire has worked with more than 40 goaltenders that have gone on to sign or play with NHL clubs.
          
A graduate of the University of Sherbrooke with a degree in physical education, he has also published four books on goaltending, pre-season physical preparation and sports psychology. In 2003, Allaire was named one of the "Top 100 People of Power and Influence" inside the hockey industry by The Hockey News.

Allaire resides in Boisbriand, Quebec.