Tanguay Ready To Take On Montreal

Here is a translation of Alex Tanguay's interview with Le Journal De Montreal's Pierre Durocher in this morning's paper:

Tanguay understands that expectations in Montreal loom large, where few francophone players are stars.

"It doesn't bother me at all", he said, "I am the type of player who imposes a greater pressure on myself than the media or fans could."

"I had some very good seasons in Colorado, numbers wise. The year before the lockout, I was battling with Martin St. Louis for the scoring race. When I was injured, I had 79 points in 69 games. Even though I am considered more of a passer than a shooter, I did score 29 goals in 2005-06. I had a personal high of 81 points in my first season in Calgary, despite feeling that I wasn't playing up to potential".

"I have no doubts in my abilities, because I have already proven I am an offensive player, when I am well surrounded. My principal goal is to to help the Canadiens be as successful as possible."

Perhaps Tanguay could help the Canadiens in the drive for 25? '

Tanguay has already contributed greatly to one Stanley Cup win in 2001, where he played a large role with 21 points in 23 games.

"I've had the opportunity, over my career, to find myself on formidable teams composed of many great leaders. They have been a profound influence on my career", Tanguay stated. "Players like Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic, raymond Bourque, and Peter Forsberg. When Milan Hejduk and I were on Joe Sakic's line in 2000-01, he was chosen the Hart trophy winner".

When Milan and I played on Forsberg's line in 2002-03, Peter won the Hart. Milan and I like to brag that it was because of us that both of them won."

Upon joining Colorado, the Avalanche organization felt it best that Tanguay billet with the Roy family.

"It was very beneficial to me. Patrick was like a big brother. We had many good discussions on the way to the arena. As a goaltender, he had a much different point of view than most. I've learned a whole bunch of tricks from players who marked that team's history."

Tanguay has remained in contact with Roy, as both reside in Lac Beauport.

"I've spoken to him about how things are run in Montreal. Our situations are very different though, as Patrick was the team's star player. I am not in his category."

A Sun chain article, also authored by Durocher, added these quotes:

...Tanguay will meet his new Montreal Canadiens team- mates for the first time today -- on the golf course.

"I'm really looking forward to training camp", he rejoiced.

"This is the most mythical hockey team. I feel like a baseball player that just got traded to the New York Yankees.

"Twice last season I asked the Flames to trade me, and Montreal was on my wish list both times," he said, vowing to carve a permanent niche for himself in his home province.

"I'm 28 and this is my ninth NHL season, so I'm very happy to be here."


















Tanguay acknowledges he ran into trouble last year in Calgary with a meagre production of 58 points (18 goals, 40 assists), down from 78 and 81 points tallies during his two previous seasons.

Coach Mike Keenan used him on a defensive line with Craig Conroy and Owen Nolan which did not please him at all.

"I thought they traded for me from Colorado because I could generate offence," Tanguay said with a bitter smile.

"I was in that sort of a situation for the first time in my career and it was tough.

"I felt out of place in their system and that's why I wanted to leave Calgary and that I waived the no-trade clause (in my contract)".

Tanguay, however, refused to voice any negative comments about Flames head coach Mike Keenan, other than saying he could be "difficult."

The six-foot-one Tanguay will need a big year with Montreal.

This is the last season of a three-year contract he signed with the Flames for $5,375,000, so he will become a free agent next summer.

"I feel comfortable with this because I fully intend to prove the team management was right to give away a draft choice to acquire my contract", he said.

"If my season is as good as expected, everything is going to fall in place".

Meanwhile, Tanguay will try to make new friends and impress his new teammates on the links of the Laval-sur-le-Lac golf course today in the Canadiens annual tournament.

With a four handicap, he could be off to a good start.

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Show Kovalev The Plank

What do Roger Neilson, Ron Smith, Mike Keenan, Colin Campbell, John Muckler, Kevin Constantine, Herb Brooks, Ivan Hlinka, Rick Kehoe, Bryan Trottier, Glen Sather, Tom Renney, Claude Julien, Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau all have in common?

Why, all 15 at one time or another, have lived or died by the sword named Alex Kovalev. All have coached Kovalev during his 14 year NHL career!

Actually, that three are dead, and a third had at one time attempted suicide, may have little to do with Kovalev's play and attitude. Still, it can be greatly argued that he killed their coaching tenures rather quickly. No coach named above completed two full seasons coaching the maddening mystery that is the (so-called) Russian star.

Of course there is more to their coaching brevity than Kovalev's frustrating combination of talent and nonchalance, but one would be hard pressed to point to any time when the star's game actually helped prolong any of their coaching careers.

A tell tale sign it is, having more coaches than seasons in the NHL! I'm not the first to liken Kovalev as a coach killer.

Even Keenan, who won a Stanley Cup with Kovalev (or despite him), bolted while the getting was good.

Current Kovalev coach, Guy Carbonneau is the latest to learn that the Kovalev buttocks are made of asbestos - you simply cannot light a sufficient fire under a player who does not care!

What is coach to do with a player of such temperment?
























Carbonneau has tried it all, from coddling him to benching him. He has given Kovalev every possible linemate he's desired in bending to his complaints of a centerman to suit his needs. He's played him on the top line, and tried prying some pride out of him by placing him on a fourth line.

Nothing has worked - no one should be the least bit surprised, really.

Kovalev has enjoyed one season worthy of his talent, and that would be the 2000-01 season in which Mario Lemieux came out of retirement, and centered the Russian enigma. Kovalev registered 44 goals, a career high that season.

Lemieux once made an All-Star out of a plug player named Warren Young, setting him up for 40 goals in the 1984-85 season, a fact that makes Kovalev's accomplishment even less shining in perspective.

Need I mention Mario Lemieux types aren't exactly in abundance on the Habs, or any teams roster, for that matter.

If one omits that season from the Kovalev resume, one must ask exactly what in his career has he done to warrant a 4 year, 4.5 million dollar contract?

Not nearly enough, and whatever Kovalev's done, it's surely not been with anywhere near the consistancy to have him held in such high esteem by anyone pertaining to know a thing about heart and the game of hockey.

Kovalev has been termed an "artist with the puck", and surely the player has aptly demonstated in practice drills that he can in fact stickhandle and manoever that little black disk in a phonebooth. Trouble is, there are no phone booths on the Bell Centre Ice (Yeah, yeah, make your own puns) for him to dazzle around in.

More often than not, the Russian's habits wrap himself up in extension cords in that phone booth of his. He's become a tired, overseen replay, that leads nowhere.

When a player of Kovalev's supposed talent, is so stubborn in his ways, that he doesn't even seem to recognize when he has been humiliated, what is a coach to do? How do you motivate such a complacent heart of glass?

It's been said over the course of the season, that with a player of such malignant charisma, that you simply endure the unsightly until the bet pays off.

We'll the bet hasn't paid off!

In no less than four separate pieces in one Montreal paper yesterday, he was described as a phantom, an invisible man, Special K, and on "auto pilot", while being taken to task for his lack of heart and committment.

One writer pointed out that a certain reader had termed it best, calling Kovalev a groundhog.
That is an astute description, especially considering the classic Bill Murray flick titled "Ground Hog Day".

Briefly, if you haven't seen it, the main character, Murray is doomed to repeat his failures over and over, ad infinitum, until he somehow finally gets things right.

Considering that Kovalev has two years remaining on his cap crippling contract, his is a movie of repetition I'm sure no fan has the stomach to watch over and over.

Former Canadiens coach Jacques Demers said it best, stating that Kovalev has no business being in a Habs uniform.

"He's a disgrace to the team and its fans, and he's mocked them far too long. He's not worthy of the jersey", said the coach.

The danger of keeping Kovalev around any longer, is that his attitude infiltrates and corrupts the teams young core, showing them just how much a player is able to get away with. His contract has become an anvil in a sinking ship, and the time has come to cut ties with the player before further rotting can be accomplished.

If the Canadiens truly want to start fresh next season, all the while shedding the weight of a major salary, it begins with pushing Kovalev off a plank.

Unfortunately, they cannot yet buy him out, according to the CBA, until the final season of the contract. It's too bad, the 66%, the 6 million dollar walk away would be considered a bargain. I wonder how the clause is worded - does it prohibit the team buying the final season out a year in advance, to make him somewhat tradeable?

The Canadiens should look into it.

Guy Carbonneau's coaching life might well depend on it.

A Tale For The Grandchildren, And An NHL Record Too!

By Thom Racine

The best part about a site like this, is that anyone can tell stories that would otherwise be locked away, known only to the people involved.

In the giant scale of NHL history and folklore, this is one of those stories that have to be told because it belongs in those history vaults, just as the best told stories we all have known over the years.

As most Saturday nights go in the NHL, November 18th, 1995 had the usual heavy schedule.

In the original six city of Boston, the Bruins were hosting an original expansion team in the St. Louis Blues. On the Blues bench was a goalie that had been in this position for five years total, 3 in Pittsburgh and 2 in Toronto.

Good enough to be there on that bench, but never called upon, and wondering if he ever would be.

The Blues were his third team. In fact, he had dressed for about 15 games in his NHL career to this point, playing only exhibition games over the years, yet oddly he did have a Stanley Cup ring from his first year in Pittsburgh. He is seated at the right hand of Mario Lemieux in the 1990-91 Stanley Cup photo.

There have been a few interesting moments along the way as well.

One particular exhibition games was in Tampa Bay, played in an open-air stadium in front of 25,000 fans. The Kings and Wayne Gretzky were the opposition and the Penguins showcased their newest star Jaromir Jagr. He would get the win that night, sealed when "JJ" scored into an empty net with six seconds to go.

In his excitement, Jagr never retrieved the puck from his very first NHL goal, and at the final buzzer, the goalie scooped it up - having won his first NHL game. Exhibition game as it was, it made no difference to him.

When Jaromir realized his gaff, he tried to arm-wrestle that biscuit away on the flight home. The goalie would not let go, almost as if he knew "JJ" would score a few more, and he may never win another.

That night in Boston was one in a long string that found him sitting on that bench, still holding on to his dream.

He was now 28 years old, and 8 years earlier had stormed onto the college hockey scene in Boston. An unknown, who would carve out a name for himself at the "Safety School" on Huntington Avenue and lead the Northeastern Husky's to two Beanpot Championships. He'd win the tournament MVP and Eberly award for top goalie twice.

In his senior year, a blocker save made late in the game off current Canucks GM Dave Nonis of Maine, resulted in the first ever Hockey East Championship.

They would vote him an All-American twice, and years later into the Beanpot HOF. He was named to the Hockey East team of the decade and the Husky HOF as well.

He was a surefire prospect and no one thought he would have to toil harder than most for his opportunity.

Ten minutes remained in the Bruins game when they took a three-goal lead. This was the realization of every Canadian kids dream. It is ironic that it would be in the very same city where it all started, when he was set to make his NHL debut - insignificant at the time to all except himself.

Who would have ever thought, that a one in a million chance happening, would be the first of two rather strange incidents in NHL history? The first of the oddities for this career minor league goalie, came a few minutes after entering the game.

Cam Neely took a snap shot from the slot, and there it was - his first save. It was similar to one's he'd made thousands of times on the backyard rink, or house league games back home.

After the ensuing draw, the next whistle stop a few seconds later was for a puck out of play, which happened to land in the Blues bench. Quick thinking by the Blues trainer led to the puck being saved for that goalie.

Now goalies keep momento's of their first wins and other milestones. yet I have to wonder how many goalies have the puck from their first save!

It would be the first game of 11 he would play in for the remainder of the season. A brief playoff appearance would bring the total to 12.

In one of those games, Dino Ciccarelli scored one of his 600 plus NHL goals on him.

Dale Hawerchuk would score his 500th goal in Toronto one night and that goalie would be the last of the Blues to congratulate his teammate on the ice.

The Blues relied heavily on Grant Fuhr who would set a modern day record for consecutive starts in one season, that year. Fuhr recorded his 300th win along the way, and for some reason, gave that goalie the puck as a memory of the season he spent backing him up, spelling him when coach Mike Keenan had seen enough.

At the end of that year he'd had a bird's eye view of Steve Yzerman's double OT winner in game 7 of the playoffs. From his vantage point, he knew before even Stevie Y did, that it was going in.

He traveled to Japan with the Sharks a few years later as the NHL opened the season in the land of the rising sun.

He'd also travel to London, England with the Leafs in 1994, for a couple of pre-season games against the Rangers.

Not a bad journey for 11 regular season games.

Oh, and of those games, he never won any.

He never started any either.

As a result, he currently holds the dubious NHL mark, or record if you wish, of having played in the most NHL games without a start.

For Bruce Racine, the man surely wishes some things had turned out different.

In a recent conversation with him, he admits he has a few regrets, and looks back on all of it with great memories for what the game did for him along the way.

Fifteen years playing the game, the game we all dream of playing.

The Seven Minute Kovalev Shift

No, this isn't a video of the shift, just Mike Keenan, on TSN, getting his word in on Alex Kovalev's famous 7 minute stroll on ice while playing for the coach with the 93-94 Rangers.

Kovalev looks a little sheepish at having to recall the humiliation.

The more I hear of this story, the funnier it gets!

On my site meter, I've seen a good 30 search queries for this tidbit in the last few months. Could it be approaching legendary status?

Read what I've had to say about Kovalev in these previous posts - Part 1 and Part 2.

The Enigma Of Alex Kovalev

A recent Hockey News blurb caused an interesting stir in Montreal this week in regards to the always mystifying play and general on ice detachment of Habs winger Alex Kovalev. Coming on the heels of the elusive talent's comments on how the Canadiens play defense and offense, the timing couldn't have been more odd.

Earlier in the week, the Russian winger was lamenting the Habs lack of 5 on 5 production, claiming it was a result of the teams system of play. Kovalev did state that he had no issues with that style, provided the team keeps winning. Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau wasn't the least bit ruffled by Kovalev's comments when he addressed it by saying that as long the winger follows directives, all is well. Carbonneau made the point to note that there are no restrictions placed on what the Canadiens forwards do in the offensive zone.

The coach is obviously getting used to the players's brutally frank nature in the press. Kovalev says what he feels, with no censuring for the easily hurt.

A previous run in for the two was avoided earlier when Kovalev lashed out at referees and was handed a game misconduct for his actions. Carbonneau needed to take him aside and read him the leaders riot act of conduct not becoming an assistant captain.

All of which makes this bit of Hockey News news ( ! ) all the more juicy.

The story that ran concerned the 5 hardest players to coach in the NHL. The five named were Kovalev (No!), Scott Hartnell, Ales Hemsky, Todd Bertuzzi, and unexplainably, goaltender Rick DiPietro.

When faced with the news, a stunned Kovalev reacted by saying that he has had no issues with the 13 coaches he has played for in his fifteen years in the league.

Wow, talk about a coach killer. Thirteen coaches in 15 years!

Before the dust could settle on this inconsequencial tidbit, along comes former NHLer Ed Olczyk with a beauty from playing alongside Alex with the 1994 New York Rangers. Olczyk was working the broadcast booth as part of the Bruins end of last nights telecast.

He related a story to the Montreal media too good to not pass along and it made it's way like brushfire across the Montreal dailies this morning.

It could forever become known as the "Story of the Seven Minute Shift", starring Iron Mike Keenan as the coach.

Early in his rookie season with the Rangers, Kovalev was obviously looking to dazzle the hockey world with his skills and talents. During one particular game, he had overextended a shift beyond Keenan's allowed limit by failing to hear or ignoring calls back to the bench. Once he arrived, having been on the ice a total of 1:05, Keenan waved him back into the play.

Kovalev admitted to initially thinking it was because the coach was happy with his efforts.

While Kovalev returned to the play, Keenan instructed players on the bench that no one was to hop over and relieve him. Several times he returned to the play, only to be shunned at the bench upon numerous efforts to get off.

The former Ranger recalled the incident Monday, saying that he had to score a goal just to catch a breather.

Talk about your classic lines!

Kovalev ended up staying on the ice for just over 7 minutes, literaly saved by the end of the period whistle.

Olczyk recounts that the gist of the message may not have hit home as originally intended by Keenan, as the coach squeezed another 5 minute shift out of his winger come the second period.

Who knows, maybe he finally got the drift?

Before his arrival in Montreal, I had seen Kovalev perform on a handful of occasions, enough to say I was familiar with him. Little did I know what an enigmatic character he was, on and off the ice.

The player has a frustratingly maddening amount of talent. When he is driven, possessed, he is something to watch. On occasion he can grab a moment, seize it, and change the flow of a game. When his team mates see that he is in form, they follow his lead. The trouble with Kovalev, is that half his time is spent in an ozone bound gaze. He'll have an inspired notion, but give into frustration effortlessly.

In his almost two years with the Canadiens, fans and coaches alike, have simply learned to live with him the way he is. The upsides have so far outnumbered the two and a half hous skates most people call games. You take the good with the bad.

Fortunately for Kovalev, he has so far not committed the unforgivable Habs sin of playoff coasting. In the Canadiens two shortened runs since Kovalev has joined the team, he has displayed an obviously focused post season fire. Kovalev says such playoff atmosphere is what endeared him to Montreal upon arrival.

It is so unfortunate he doesn't commit himself to trying to be the best player in the league. Many have suggested, going on 15 years, that he has it within him. The talent that is! The desire is however, fleeting.
Watching Kovalev at the end of practices has become at journalistic ritual in Montreal. Kovalev will re-emerge onto the ice surface with a bucket of pucks and a set of cones and proceed to play little games with himself. When it's said of players, that they can stickhandle in a phone booth, that is precisely the case with him. If he could actually drag such a prop onto the ice and toil in it, he probably would.

Usually he will stickhandle figure eights with his legs and cones, flip the puck onto his stick (like we've all seen Crosby do in the Reebok ads) and toss it, and kick the puck around in attempts to accomplish God-knows-what.

Last season, after an optional morning skate, Kovalev was found on the dimmed Bell center ice surface with a shortened stick in hand. Unbeknownst to him, a scribe from Le Journal de Montreal attentively watched from 20 rows up. Kovalev knelt on the blue line, a tight grip on his mini stick, and proceeded to fling pucks at the net.

After he'd wrung the crossbar four times in succession and randomly thereafter, the excited scribe skipped down to ice level, disbelieving what he'd just seen in the semi darkness of the arena.

In amazement, he asked Kovalev where on earth did he learn to perfect such a task. Almost embarrassed, Kovalev replied that he was not attempting to nail the crossbar at all. He asked the reporter to kindly keep the story from the papers. In truth, he said, he was simply trying to land the pucks onto the top mesh of the goalnet.

Figures! Did i mention he has unused maddening talent?