Roy Guests On L' Antichambre

Patrick Roy, whose jersey will be retired by the Canadiens in a pre - game ceremony on Saturday, will be the quest tonight on RDS's nightly hockey chat, L'Antichambre.

Host Alain Crete, along with Michel Bergeron, Jacques Demers, and Bertrand Raymond will be discussing the career achievements of Roy, and the show airs at 9:30 this evening. Roy will be joined by Jacques Tanguay, his co - owner on the Quebec Remparts, as a discussion of junior hockey will also be involved.

Count on some surprises from the L'Anrichambre team, including some top 10 Roy moments and a statistical quizzing of Roy - a fanatic of such things.

I will be running a few pieces on Roy this week, leading up to Saturday's ceremony before the Bruins game. Take note that the ceremony will begin at 6 p.m.

This weekend I began to read "Winning, Nothing Else", Roy's biography written by his father Michel. In a contest a Greatest Hockey Legends some weeks back, I was the lucky winner of the bio, in a Wiley Books contest giveaway. Once I'm a deeper into the book, I'll add my thoughts here.

One small interesting detail - trivial as it might be - occurred during Roy's first season playing goal when he was nine. His Atom travel team was selected to put on a shootout show at Le Collissee in Quebec City, between periods of a Nordiques and Chicago Cougars WHA match in 1973. The Cougars coach that night, was none other than Jacques Demers.

Back in September, I posted some content having to do with overcoming the controversy of his departure from Montreal, a flashback to his Hall Of Fame induction speech, and a really strange dream I had of how his night would go down. You can check them out at the links posted below.

Roy Jersey Retirement A Ribbon On A Gift To Younger Fans And Old

Patrick Roy Hockey Hall Of Fame Induction Speech - Inside The Heart And Mind Of A Driven Persevering Warrior

Patrick Roy - In My Dreams!


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Mending Appreciation For Koivu

Robert L Note: Apologies for a week long delay in posting this piece. Blame a computer system crash. I had to resort to the old pen and paper method to finish this one up while repairing things on here. I've noticed that since this bit of news broke just about everyone in the hockey bloggosphere has had their say. Stubbs, Deneault, Topham, Kane and Spector have all weighed in on this subject, and I was tempted for a day to just to let this one be, since it looked as though the matter was quite well covered. Apart from Mr. Stubbs, I have not yet read about how the others feel about Koivu skipping the links game. As a habit, I rarely read other friends postings until after I have completed my own take on it, so as to not let the thoughts of others infiltrate my own. I will be reading them now that this is posted.

It is hardly Saku Koivu's fault or err.

But it might just be a European captain thing. Some will suggest so much horse hockey.

Only because it is hard to hop in a car and drive 45 minutes from Finland to a Montreal area golf course.

In this case, going the extra mile means crossing a sea by sky.

What I am speaking of, is the latest chapter of the Koivu Kerfuffles, in which our very valued but uselessly maligned team captain creates yet again another stir of controversy - not by an act - but by not doing anything at all.

Only in Montreal!

Last weekend, after Koivu passed on attending the Canadiens annual pre-season golf tournament, several factions of the french media took issue with the captain's absence - call them the usual suspects when it comes to magnifying Koivu's un - Beliveau-ness!

Only in Montreal, does a mere mortal have to measure up to a hockey God to pass the valid captaincy test.

It is all a little bit too much. There was no need for a firestorm, just as there was no need for one last season when Koivu qualified the team he leads and knows well as not being Cup contenders, or when he failed to utter a word of french in introducing his team mates on the occasion of the home opener.

Only in the province of Quebec can a tempest be brewed in a thimble!



























The root of this evil, is not Koivu's doing, but actually an irregular scheduling snafu, in which the NHL moved the openings of training camps league wide, to a later date. A larger gap of time was created between the team's annual 18 holes and the camp's first weigh in.

On top of it all, and because players receive no paychecks in August, attendance at the event was optional.

It seems as though the word "optional" applies to everyone but the team captain.

But here, my friends, is where I will go against the grain of popular opinion some.

I think Koivu could have spared the effort to be there.

On the flipside, I think nothing less of him for not showing. It really shouldn't have been made into a big deal.

Huh, you say!

I'll explain.

The official reason given for Saku's absense, from club publicist Donald Beauchamp, was that he did not want to interrupt his pre - training camp regimen.

Hey, I'll buy that spin all the way, because in all likelyhood it is 99% truth.

But as a fan, and by extension - a journalist - it would have been nice now that the team is a valid Cup contender, and in it's 100th season, that our captain be present on what is in essense the very first team and media event / function of the upcoming season.

Really, how much would it have harmed Koivu's training had he taken three days off from it, to attend a team function - optional or not.

Perhaps the media might be best to aim it's dart at the club for not making it a little more imperative that Koivu be there. George Gillett's private jet could easily have wisked the captain back and forth without much disruption to his regimen had it been planned out properly in advance.

Note that Gillett was away on business on the day of the event, which would have nullified that plan regardless.

When a respected journalist such as Bertrand Raymond brings up matters in which the captain comes up short, I believe there is some merit in his plea.

I don't intend this to be a knock on Saku by any means. Koivu has done more than enough for the Canadiens and the city. There is little need to document what he has given and gone through over his career. He is by far the most persevering player in Canadiens history, in my opinion.

Nonetheless, I believe a captain should try to attend team functions, as a rule, even in the off season. Gainey was there, and so were coach Carbonneau and president Pierre Boivin. Had any of those three not shown, heads would have been scratched in equal amounts, and perhaps similar questions would have been raised.

The dust stirred by Koivu's absense is particularly a Montreal only scenario, where a captain is revered to unreasonable heights at times. Where the stupidity crosses the line into idiocy is when Koivu's leadership, committment, and dedication are questioned.

All of that can only be measured once the puck is dropped.

The trouble is, that in Montreal, where there is media to analyze media, every gesture is deemed spotlight worthy. It is not like Koivu does not know the Montreal media routine - or the pitfalls - of skipping team activities. Shoot, in this city, skipping an optional practice during a personal slump is front page news!

While that notion is hardly Koivu's fault, he knows better with each passing season, what to expect. Simply attending the meet and greet, would have spoken volumes, not only to those questioning his committment, but also about his perception of the city he plays in.

The curious thing about playing in Montreal is that sometimes a player of Koivu's worth must bend and cater to the demands of the public. It only helps a player's perception when he is made available for things as trivial as charity golf tournaments.

My guess is that Saku would have to spend his summers here to grasp exactly how hockey crazy the city truly is. Of course, that is an unreasonable thing to even ask. Honestly, who can begrudge him staying home when the weather speaks family time.

From a common man's point of view, if anyone was willing to pay any of us fans in excess of four millions dollars a season to play a game such as hockey, we would all be more than willing to mop the dressing room floor after games, never mind going that extra length to appear in off - season golf charities.

To extend that ideal - if I were in captain Koivu's skates or shoes - I am on those links - if only to powow with potentail new line mate Alex Tanguay and bring Georges Laraque around to say hello and offer a solid squeeze of hands in welcoming him to the team first chance I get.

I guess you just can't ask someone not raised in the hockey mad Montreal culture to behave as though they had. It is easy for us fans to put ourselves in his shoes, isn't it?

I just wish that somehow the Montreal Canadiens hockey club could in some way, pass the gist of the ideal to their captain that an inch of goodwill is worth a million miles in the minds of his critics and supportors.

And hey, wouldn't it just mess with certain heads if he were to issue a statement on his absence....in french!

Now please do not perceive me wrong. I think that Saku Koivu is one of the greatest Canadiens captains of all time. It is hardly his burden to attempt to please every single demand asked of him.

It would have been a good thing if he had been able, or enabled, to show up for this club function.

Anyone questioning his character because he did not, needs to examine themselves more closely than they need to scope our captain.

It really should never have been a story. It never should have wasted so much ink and keyboard time. It goes way off the mark when it become a radio or television segment of discussion.

Dave Stubbs was dead on in aiming an arrow at Bertrand Raymond for suggesting, "Koivu has never been in the mold of great Canadiens captains who will make it a point to go that extra step."

While Raymond points out that no one is asking of Koivu that he be the second coming of Jean Beliveau, that seems to be the exact standard he is holding Koivu up to.

No, Saku is not Jean Beliveau. He could never be him, in any stretch of imagination. He is also not Bob Gainey, or Henri Richard or Butch Bouchard or the Rocket. The brothers Richard, Bouchard, and Gainey, were no Beliveau's either, but they did not have to suffer such comparisons.

Saku Koivu doesn't need to be any of his predecessors. He has done admirably well being himself.

Below are translations of the Raymond and Pierre Durocher pieces that appeared early last week in Le Journal de Montreal.

The Absense Of Koivu

There is no intention of making a big deal out of Saku Koivu's absense at the club's seasonal opening golf tournament.

There were six other absentees, but Koivu is not an ordinary player. He is not just any other of the 20 players on the team. He is the Canadiens captain and team leader. Unfortunately, he is noticible by his absence.

Not much new to add here. Koivu has never been in the mold of great Canadiens captains who will make it a point to go that extra step.

It changes nothing to what he is able to bring to the team on the ice. It is only that he sometimes gives off the impression that he doesn't quite understand the full nature of his role. We can even logically ask whether he finds the role of captain perhaps too burdensome, he who has now worn the "C" for nine seasons.

No one is asking him to be the next Jean Beliveau. We would just like that he live up to the vote of confidence shown in him, that is not something accorded to everyone.

When questioned on the subject, Canadiens president Pierre Boivin stepped lightly.

"I am not aware of the family obligations of each of the players", he said. "In Saku's case, the question is valid, but I'm not aware of the answer."


Where Was Koivu?

The absense of Saku Koivu and six other players at the Canadiens golf tournament has reached heated debates on television and radio. The public in general has reacted badly to it.

In the title of captain, it seems Koivu could have made the effort to be present, but instead chose to remain in Finland with his family.

"Each year, players have the option or not, to participate in the tournament", says Donald Beauchamps, vice president of communications with the Canadiens.

"Saku is presently involved in an intensive training program in Finland."

"He skates regularly with TPS Turku", he adds.

"The club understands his position of not wanting to interrupt his preparation schedule in light of the upcoming training camp. Jetting over from Helsinki to Montreal would not have been a good thing."

That is the official version according to Beauchamps, who is in regular contact with Koivu.

The Finnish player rarely gives interviews over the phone.

This past June, he even hung up on Le Journal cohort Marc de Foy.

Decidedly, controversy seems to stick to Koivu's skin.

We recall that last season at the tournament, he had to explain himself concerning a quote in which he said that he did not see the Canadiens as aspiring to the Stanley Cup.

And again, there is always the infamous question of language that resurfaces annually.

Many people would like to see Koivu make some small effort to speak in french, considering that his wife and children speak the language.

The Habs For Breakfast - 2008-02-24

The Canadiens flat performance in light of a beautiful ceremony homouring Bob Gainey last night might explain why teams do not retire jerseys come playoff time.

It reminds me of the line in the song "Who Are You" that goes, "How can I measure up to where you are now, after such a love as this".

Perhaps the Habs were unfocused when the puck dropped, gazing up at the 14 banners hung proudly, and thinking that a honour the likes of the one bestowed upon Gainey is so far out of reach for them.

On a night when Gainey was raised to the roof, the Canadiens lowered their guard.

In the links below, the Fisher and Bertrand entries are essential reading on Gainey. If anyone should like a translation of Raymond's piece, speak up, and I will get to it overnight.


















Gainey Steals The Show - Canadiens.com

"The cheers reached new heights when Gainey instead appeared at the Zamboni entrance in full equipment with his trademark No. 23 on his back. As the crowd roared, Gainey took a few laps around the ice, even picking up the pace and spraying a little snow on the red carpet for good measure."

Canadiens Retire Gainey's Number - TSN

"Gainey's close friend Christine Pickerell and his sister Maureen began the ceremony by introducing the Bell Centre crowd to the Bob Gainey most fans don't know - the generous family man, his sharp sense of humour, the intense pride he feels for the city of Montreal and his hometown of Peterborough, Ont."

Leclair Rains On Gainey's Parade - The Gazette

"That's the biggest disappointment for me, that we couldn't win this game for Bob," head coach Guy Carbonneau said after the Canadiens turned in another lacklustre performance at home last night, dropping a 3-0 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Leclair And Gainey Steal The Show - Lions In Winter

"The play of the game actually happened before the game tonight. It was when Bob Gainey's #23 was raised to the rafters to the roar of the Montreal faithful. It was an honour that was well deserved for the former captain. This will surely rank up there as a career highlight for the Hall of Famer who has bled Bleu, Blanc et Rouge for over 35 years. Unfortunately there was no play made by any current Habs that could top this one tonight, and I mean no play." - Tobalev

Leclair Shuts Out Habs In First Game In Hometown - Globe And Mail

"I could accept losing and goals-against when the other team works for them, but when you give them away, it's a different thing," Carbonneau fumed. "I've never seen a team give up no shots. Shots are going to happen."

Dream A Little Dream - The H Does Not Stand For Habs

"Halak reminds me of Roy. Squishy like Gumby, but tight and in postition when he needs to be. Twitchy and squirmy, but solid when the shot comes...ON VEUT HALAK!!" - J.T.

Gainey Stands Tall Among The Very Best - The Gazette

"It was all about a guy who did things his way as a player, such as celebrating this night in full uniform and calling on a long-time friend, Christine Pickrell, to introduce him en anglais and his sister Maureen, the delightful mother of seven children, to introduce him in French." - Red Fisher

Bob Gainey l'immortel - RDS

"Bob Gainey ne cessera jamais de surprendre. C'est vêtu de son uniforme du Canadien, chaussé de ses patins, que l'ancien numéro 23 du Canadien a fait son dernier tour de piste, sous les acclamations et les cris d'un public enthousiaste."

Bob Gainey en chiffes - RDS

Soiree penible pour Mike Komisarek - RDS

"Peut-être veut-il en faire trop, a ajouté l'entraîneur. Il est jeune et il a encore des choses à apprendre. Sauf qu'il doit être mieux préparé à entreprendre les matchs. Comme d'autres, il répète les mêmes erreurs."

Casseux de party - La Presse

" Nous nous sommes fait prendre tôt dans le match. Contre une équipe comme Columbus, c’est deux buts ont fait très mal. Il faut être meilleur défensivement et nous le serons." - Mike Komisarek

Hommage a Bob Gainey: Merci Montreal - La Presse

"Je n’ai jamais joué au hockey dans la LNH sans en avoir un des deux près de moi. Ce sont de grands joueurs, mes étoiles à moi", a lancé Gainey avec fierté après qu’il eut demandé à ses deux employés de venir le joindre au podium.

Le 14e Immortel du Canadien - Le Journal

"Bob Gainey a toujours mis l'accent sur le concept d'équipe et il l'a prouvé encore une fois hier soir en se présentant sur la glace du Centre Bell vêtu de son uniforme du Canadien, comme à la belle époque. Et comme pour nous dire qu'il était ici d'abord pour recevoir un honneur en tant que joueur." - Dave Levesque

Carbonneau Dessapointe pour Gainey - Le Journal

"C'est sûr et certain que nos gardiens doivent être meilleurs en début de match», a déclaré Carbonneau, "C'est la meilleure explication que je puisse trouver pour nos lents débuts de rencontre."

"On ne peut pas gagner quand on a peur de le rondelle": Kovalev - Le Journal

"On n'arrive à rien quand on ne joue pas avec confiance, a poursuivi l'attaquant russe. Ce soir, nous avons obtenu beaucoup de tirs, mais ils venaient de l'extérieur. Nous avons essayé de faire dans la dentelle, mais à ce temps-ci de la saison, ça ne fonctionne plus."

Eloquent dans le silence - Le Journal

"L'homme a célébré de grandes victoires sans jamais extérioriser son bonheur. Il a survécu à de terribles douleurs, tant physiques que morales, sans jamais les évacuer publiquement. Hier midi, durant un dîner pour lequel il avait lui-même dressé la liste des invités, il a convié à l'avant quelques personnes qui lui sont chères afin de leur rendre un hommage personnel." - Bertrand Raymond

Hommage bien merite a mon capitaine - Le Journal

"À l'heure où les honneurs individuels prennent toute la place dans la Ligue nationale, il est bon de saluer un homme qui a été, avant tout, un joueur d'équipe. Durant toute sa carrière, Gainey s'est oublié pour le bien de ses coéquipiers, mettant son talent, sa passion, son leadership et sa détermination au service d'une seule cause : le succès de son équipe." - Guy Lafleur

Un grand homme devenu un grand athlete - Le Journal

"Je le considère exceptionnel pour d'autres raisons que le hockey. Nous avons sept enfants et en 1991, pour Noël, nous avons reçu un paquet avec des pyjamas aux couleurs du Canadien pour chacun d'eux. Et en 1996", Maureen Gainey a poursuivi, "quatre de nos enfants ont pu aller dans un camp d'été pour la première fois grâce à lui", a-t-elle dit pour évoquer sa grande générosité.

L'intimidant monsieur respect - Le Journal

"Pour une raison que je n'arrive toujours pas à élucider, je fige lorsque je rencontre le directeur général de l'équipe dans les corridors du Centre Bell. Je crois que je suis un peu intimidé par sa présence. Le grand Jean Béliveau me fait le même effet. C'est peut-être à cause de mon admiration pour tout ce qu'ils ont accompli comme athlètes et comme individus. Chose certaine, les deux hommes m'inspirent un très grand respect. Je crois que c'est ça : Bob Gainey, pour moi, c'est monsieur respect." - Jacques Demers

"God sure liked me that day" - Claude Ruel

Transcribed from Bertrand Raymond's Le Journal de Montreal column, November 20, 2007

Former Canadiens coach, scout, and man for all purposes Claude Ruel was absent from the Bell Centre Monday night, when one of his most gifted students witness the raising of his sweater to the rafters.

His name on the guest list but his health fragile, he preferred to remain home, glued to the televison when he heard the celebrated Robinson thank him for having supported him so well.

"I tire easily these days", Ruel explained, "I must avoid stressful situations."

Robinson was part of a group known in the day as "Piton's boys." It was he who spend the summer months grooming them into players, as he's done also after practices during the season.
"Skate, skate, skate", the round bellied teacher would endlessly holler. And skate alot they did - until their tongues were dragging - but Ruel made them all better players.

"I'm happy for Larry, for worked extremely hard to become the type of athlete he is", says Ruel. "You could place all your confidence in him at any time and in any situation."

Ruel recall one particular night on Long Island, when he asked Robinson to play right wing along side Gainey and Jarvis, to help counter the explosive Trottier, Bossy, and Gillies line.

"He played an awesome game and we won 3-1. He was always a player who wanted to do more. A coach is priveledged to have players of his stripe."























Robinson was drafted in 1971, when the NHL was a 14 team league. He was taken in the second round, 20th overall. That year, the Canadiens had three first round picks, and used them to select Guy Lafleur (1), Chuck Arnason (7), and Murray Wilson (11).

When Ruel presented the list from his scouting reports to Sam Pollock before the draft, he made a point to mention a player whom he felt worthy of choosing in the top 20. He asked Pollock permission to run the risk in his case.

"It's you who is in charge", the GM replied.

"Okay, then I'm going for it", said Ruel.

"I can say today, that I am the one who discovered Larry", Ruel confirmed. I was at a game between Kitchener Rangers and Toronto Marlies, I watched this big fellow who skated well and who played a hell of a game, offensively and defensively."

Ruel admits sweating bullets at the draft table that day, for fear Robinson would be scooped up by another organization.

"When Buffalo chose Craig Ramsay 19th, it was as if a ton of weight came off my shoulders. We all have our own faith. "God sure liked me that day!"

However, there were many who were baffled by Ruel's take on Robinson.























"I make no hesitation in saying that I was putting alot on the line for him. The same goes for Dryden and Gainey."

Two years later, with the Canadiens 8th choice overall, Pollock asked Ruel who he had his eyes on.

"There's this kid I've seen in Peterborough..."

For Pollock and several of the Canadiens scouts, Gainey was a complete unknown.

"Sam looked at me with a crooked smile - as if to say "Are you smashed?", recounts Ruel.

Ruel firmly believes these players for whom he battled for became greats because of the sizes of their hearts.

"Larry was exactly the same as Serge Savard", Ruel pointed out, "When you told them what was expected of them, you had no worries. You knew you were going to get it."

Ruel emphasizes that what makes the player, as in Robinson's case, has much to do with the man he is off ice.

"I didn't hang with players when work was done. I've no way of knowing what they are like away from the game, but I am convinced that Larry was a great father. The guy always had a good head on his shoulders."

Being invited to the ceremonies profoundly touched Ruel. Away from the game, and in quiet retreat, the 69 year old retiree is quite happy to realize he has not been forgotten.

"I'm happy he remembered me", Ruel said, his voice failing him slightly, "I gather it has all to do with the amount of time we spent together.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this man, who has devoted his life's work to his "boys", shed a few tears Monday night.

More News Than You Can Shake A Stick At: September 12, 2007

(Robert L Note: Finally we are into the thick of hockey talk that isn't just print and rumour based. We can now start sinking teeth into the actual blood, sweat, tears and high sticks that games are made up of.

I must admit that it is quite the change of pace from the slower trickles of the summer and I will be hard pressed to keep up on every detail between games and days off. Long elaborate posts on singular subjects must now give way to more concise summations of fact and opinion.

The shifting of gears means that I must now crank it up from the casual mode into that of a multitasking ambidextrous schizophrenic cockeyed splitscreen scribbler with a mental notepad of unlimited space and proportions.

Occasionally, I will be posting in a random news style in order to tackle batches of subject matter at once. In stretches between games, you may find me jutting out these quickies, as I like to touch on just about everything that occurs with the Canadiens, from perimeter matters to the analysis of games and players.

So in that spirit, here is the first of many "More News Than You Can Shake A Stick At" columns. Enjoy!)

FORGOTTEN CAPTAIN REMEMBERED

Last week the Canadiens official website paid tribute to former Habs captain Pierre Turgeon on the announcement of his retirement, which I found extremely odd and uncomfortable.

Apologies accepted if you blinked and missed Turgeon's captaincy. The player nicknamed the "Tin Man" is best remembered as the captain who carried the torch from the Forum to the Molson centre in a ceremony of great fanfare over a decade ago. Turgeon spent less than two full seasons with the Canadiens, enjoying a great 1995-96 campaign before bolting early in the following season.



In 104 games with the Canadiens, Turgeon notched a dandy 50 goals and 77 assists, adding another 6 points in 6 playoff games. Playing with the likes of Vincent Damphousse and Mark Recchi, and rookies Saku Koivu and Valeri Bure ( both 20 goal men that year), Turgeon was the last supreme offensive talent the Habs have had.

Early next season, with Koivu rising to the top of league scorer's, Turgeon dropped down to 3rd line center behind our present Finnish captain and Damphousse, and the pressure of playing in Montreal got to him. He approached weak kneed GM Houle and his trade wish was quickly exorcised.

He proved he meritted the nickname in that gutless moment, and would never again achieve such heights in the remaing 10 years of his career.

Greatest Hockey Legends has a succinct write up on Turgeon that squarely opens up the question of what would have been, had he only been more mentally tough. Maybe "Scarecrow" is a more fitting moniker.


TIME FOR BERTRAND RAYMOND TO SWITCH PAPERS

Le Journal De Montreal columnist and Hockey Hall Of Fame honouree Bertrand Raymond has been one of my most profound influences as a writer. Despite that he writes French columns, his usually balanced perspective made him a french Red Fisher in my thinking. Fair, to the point, and honest, were his trademarks. I've read and enjoyed him for decades as a refreshing read, a trusted and well informed source. Compared with the bombastic La Presse writers who pounced on every linguistic issue of the Canadiens fabric, often "creating" their own headlines, Raymond always saw a bigger picture and perspective.



The Raymond I know now, is not the same enshrined and honoured writer I grew up respecting. He takes timely swipes at the Canadiens management for every language issue and does not seem to envision the team beyond its present season. He previously gave it good to the Habs for passing on Angelo Esposito at the draft, and is now kicking up dog dropping over the Canadiens passing over of David Perron in favor of Max Pacioretty.

In successive columns this week, he questions the Habs modus operendi and seems particularly ticked at the teams favoring of American prospects in recent drafts. Not once does he bring into the equation the 5 five year waiting period the Canadiens benefit from by choosing U.S. college grads. Raymonds pieces of late have all have that similar tendency to leave arguments balanced in his favor by omitting such crucial facts.

I call that irresponsible writing.

Anymore and I'll call him a closet separatist.

Nowhere does he make note that 3 of 4 players receiving invites to the Habs camp are QMJHL players either.

It's one thing to be proud when players of your own heritage succeed. It's quite another to almost demand the team favor locals over superior talents. Perhaps it is Raymond's mistrust of the Gainey - Timmins - Gillett triumvirate that runs the team that snorkles mustard up his nose.

In fairness to Raymond, he wrote to his previous standards in a column dated September 6, 2007 in defending the idea of retiring Gainey's number. The balance of seeing the coins two sides are well exemplified here. It was a great masterstroke of pulling apart a conundrum in Gainey's heart.

Should Raymond not continue in this latter vein, he will be more suited to La Presse's divide and conquer journalism style. Retirement can't come soon enough.


LEAFS UNVEIL SAME OLD LOOK

Kudos to the Toronto Maple Leafs for sticking with tradition!

Oh wait, did they?

What tradition is that you ask?

Talk about a low key unveiling! These new Leafs duds (I won't even picture the boring scan!) look like practice pullovers, the are so scant in detail. They have lost the horizontal color bars at the base and gone for a big blue meanie look. Not sure that it works without the proper team to fill them. For now they remain smurfish to me, and will always look this way in either regard.



Granted, they could have done a lot worse, as other teams have.

Or could they?


ENOUGH ABOUT BRIERE

Are you like me in that you sick as a dog reading about Daniel Briere?

Enough already! Go to the above link for the Turgeon retro piece at Legends, read it and insert Briere's name each time you read Turgeon's.

I like Briere. He plays with character, but unfortunately doesn't think with it. Count me in with those that believe he would only have added to the Canadiens an element they already possess - small forwards with speed.

While Briere would surely have been the best offensive talent in our ranks, he cannot be a difference maker on the Canadiens. We need size, muscle, strength, and character. Briere just doesn't score ten on ten in any of these categories.



At the cost he would have come with, the risks simply weren't worth it. Briere surely paid attention to what happened last season when Samsonov tanked in the spotlight and got goosebumps. If the player can't get past the Montreal pressure question, it tells us all we need to know about whether he has the required character to succeed in the land of 100 Million Pucks.

What gets my snot in a ball is the constant second guessing and analyzing that has followed his "thanks, but no thanks" to Habs brass. The Habs made all the effort required to sign him.

So what if the team prez Gillett tags along to meet him, or whether he was or wasn't guaranteed a certain standing on the team's line's. The player choosing the easier road is not the kind we need.

Now why isn't anybody writing about that?


GREAT HABS BLOG ALERT

Check out Roen Weiss and Yakcov Rifki's Puckmania. It's subtitled "Habs Insiders and Perspectives".

While the "insiders" word makes me twitch a little, the site is quality from top to bottom. It has interviews with players, Q & A's, prospect analysis, and more. Favorite them today!

Habs New Practice Facility A State Of The Art Endeavor

Transcribed in part from Bertand Raymond, Le Journal de Montreal, May 15, 2007.

To take the word of Julien Brisebois, the Montreal Canadiens vice president of hockey operations, the Habs new practice rink and fitness center will become the envy of the league.

Gone are the days of Canadiens players pulling down tuques over their ears in minus thirty degree weather to trod onto cross town buses in full equipement for practices. The unsightly inconvenience of shuffling the team when a booked Bell Centre conspired against practice time will be a thing of the past starting with the 2008-09 season.

According to Brisebois, who isn't lent to bragging easily, the Habs new digs in Brossard will go above and beyond those already prominant in the NHL in cities such as Dallas, Philadelphia, San Jose, Washington and New York, as well as an NFL facility set up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brisebois, the team's brass, and a group of architects studying the project made the rounds this past winter and took note of each facility had to offer and have come up with a design and layout that is said to be state of the art.

What they had in mind was a complex of such a magnitude that it would become a feature selling point to players considering Montreal as a possible destination for their hockey careers.

Brisebois suggests that word will quickly spread throughout the league of the training facility's edge.

"When our players speak of this building throughout the league, and visiting players come by", says Brisebois, "we want them to be stunned by what they discover. Whether it be practices, training, or any of a number of projects, we want to send the message that things are done first class. That is of prime importance to the players."

Different scenarios were studied from the outset, such as housing a junior team. The idea quickly fell to the wayside upon discovery that the 7000 seat minumum required by the QMJHL would almost double the cost of the project. In the end it just wasn't feasable. The design of the complex would have been compromised beyond the Habs needs.

Without divulginging finite details of the plans, Brisebois told of the many advantages to the team in spending the $30 million for the complex.

For starters, players drenched in sweat from a hard day's workout at the nearest available arena will no longer be boarding buses in the cold to return to the Bell Centre for showers in mid-winter in what Bob Gainey stated was a teams routine since the 1950's.

Gainey's expertise in carrying out the project was vital, having experience the building of two such complexes in Dallas - one when the Stars first arrived from Minnesota, and another during Gainey's last season there.

The GM mentions that one of the better advantages is actually a secondary benefit to the overall idea. Younger players wishing to remain on the ice longer in order to work with coaches no longer have to hurry off to make the bus in time.

Another positive factor is the Brossard location itself. The majority of the teams players live on Nun's Island or downtown Montreal, which are within 10 kilometres of the Brossard site. The team flies out from the airport in St. Hubert, also a short skip away.

While Gainey prefers to keep his own headquarters at the Bell, coaches will all have their own offices and areas in Brossard which facilitates traffic and contact between players and coaches after practices and training.

Perhaps the biggest upside has to do with the access the new complex provides. The Bell Centre is rigidly placed in a downtown area where space is not wasted. It is hardly an environment that lends itself to easy fan access on non-game days. In Brossard, there will be seating for just under a thousand fans for both ice pads. The Canadiens will use this fact to hold more practices that will be open to the public.

Gone will be the Sunday treks to Verdun, where scheduled games and skating were often cancelled at the last hour to make room for the Canadiens to hold practice. Gainey says that often the Canadiens opted not to practice because they felt it wrong to continously bump the arena's timetable for their benefit.

Doan Fudge With Frog Media

You might have read all you care to read about the nonsensical Shane Doan controversy, and how out of proportion the entire fiasco got blown into. In the hockey microscope that Canada sometimes sees itself through, the story easily parlays itself into tragic comedy and burlesque routines. The players (not hockey players, mind you!) who willingly took part in this sorry act, have been resoundingly shamed by its own populace.

The story became a drama because of timing, and for all the dreadfully wrong reasons.
It had everything to do with the game of politics and journalism, and little to do with the game of hockey. It showed that some of our country's best skaters are on Parliament Hill. Others are employed by large newspaper chains.

These stickhandlers of truth deke better than some of our game's best shooters, and they unfortunately brought a wagonload of media along for the ride.

To recap the festering wound, the story boiled down to an alleged racist remark made by Doan two seasons back when his Phoenix Coyotes played a rare contest in Montreal against the Canadiens. After a controversial call against the Coyotes, players milled about, complaining of the call. As a scrum ensued between Phoenix players and game officials, a racial slur was seemingly heard, and a post game report was filled.

Linesman Michel Cormier attested afterwards that Coyote's captain Doan uttered the term "f-ing frogs" when disputing the call. In was brought to public attention at the time when the official's report was filled with the NHL. Upon investigation, all claims were dropped.

The reasons for this become more unclear as the days pass.

The story gained further life when a Quebec provincial MP named Denis Coderre saw opportunity and seized it.

After speaking with Cormier, Coderre decided on Doan as a target for his separatist angst and and political gain. He made public comments on the seemingly dead issue and provoked Doan to the extreme of filling a lawsuit. The inevitable countersuit followed and is still before the courts.

Fast forward to 2007, and the issue was on low simmer until Doan was named to Team Canada. It became a hot topic as Doan was named captain of the team.

The righteous francophone press groaned a simultaneous "How dare they!"

An opportunity such as this, in Quebec separatist political circles, can be seen like a breakaway in sudden death overtime.

Instantly, and without hesitation, Quebec played the racism card. The controversy came to a head with more thrust than ever as the french media of the province saw a light. One day after the press pounced on the controvery, members of Canadian Parliament were looking for an inquiry.

The fools were lining themselves up for ridicule without a clue.


Regardless of the Canadian political party in power, it is a foregone conclusion that they will occasionally bow to kiss some Quebecois butts. In this instance, all parties in opposition to the current government in power, lined up to play the fool. With Quebec always amounting to what is in essense the "swing vote" of political gain, politicians who knew better were lured into showing their stripes.

The ruling Conservative party were blindsided by the amount of media coverage, and gave in to opposition party demands that Hockey Canada, a Canadian government sponsored body, answer as to why Doan, anti- francophone as he was painted, would be named as the team's captain.

The Conservatives had few options to do little else, with votes in Quebec always at stake. The heads of Hockey Canada were brought before the House Of Commons.

What followed shifted perception one hundred and eighty degrees.

Before even suggesting that government mind it's own business, Hockey Canada head Bob Nicholson read a resume of Doan's captain's credentials. They were outstanding, and without blemish. Doan's leadership capabilities, character, and morals were read aloud for all to ponder.

Even IIHF President Rene Fassel weighed in with his wisdom that politicians have no business straying into sports issues.

The people of Canada quickly weighed in, suggesting that all politicians better have more pressing concerns.

The backhanded wallop was felt all the way through the province of Quebec, where columnists and editorialists danced a hypocritical tango seldom seen in La Belle Province.

After pushing the issue, their hypocritical response sifted into the majority, questioning agenda's that were uniquely their own to start with.

What's that old line about folding faster than Superman at the laundromat?

I for one, thought it all a joke initially. I didn't think it would even go that far.

I've always felt that as a bilingual citizen of the country I had a partial beat on how the linguistic sides saw each other. For that, I've always felt blessed. Having been born with what appears to some as a physical handicap, I am no stranger to what can be termed derogatory comments.

The alledged "frog" reference tossed by Doan has been directed at me and never made a dent. I have never been anything less than proud of my French heritage. Upon being called such, a laugh would be all I could muster.

What Doan may have been getting at with his alledged comment, had way more to do with a bias, than a prejudice.

There is a big difference, especially to those not living within the confines of Quebec repression and reaction.

In short, the separatist movement in Quebec thrives on the misunderstanding that its citizens are maligned cross country. It's a partial truth that they themselves have fed. It is also an old ploy to vote garnering that has worked for decades. It uses racism as a catapult for their extreme cause, futile as it has become.

The Doan case was their latest wick to a long fuse in search of a spark. Simply put the hypocrites exposed themselves, all by themselves.

Many unsought out defendants rose to Doan's defense. They trumpeted his Christian values and leadership qualities enough to quench any question of doubt of his role as a leader of men in red and white. And get this, no of them have ever heard him utter a swear word.

The truth be, um, er, damned, shall I suggest.

In the end, it came down to Doan attempting to calm a teammate with the words "Four french officials in Montreal, you figure it out!"

Wow, ain't that a doozy, a player hinting a bias!

I give kudos to Doan for admitting he even said such a thing. That alone could light the fire all over again.

I get it, that the NHL investigation concluded why an official would be so rankled, upon hearing such a daggered jab. It makes me understand why that official would be so ticked as to file a complaint. It questioned Cormier's integrity, and brought up questions about the leagues policies as well.

Placing four french Canadian officials at the Bell Centre, almost deserves its own inquiry. In the past when such situation arose, the french officials seemed to go out of their way to disprove any such bias, often to the detriment of the Canadiens.

The players who are standing up for Doan say, that in frustration, his worst curse comes out as "fudge".

Well ain't that sweet!

This entire footnote was appropriatly swept under a compliant rug by the NHL investigation ages ago, only to be revived again by the Canadian House Of Commons.

My biggest pickle in all of this, is a personal one. It involves journalists that I'd long well respected, who cover the Montreal hockey scene with great knowledge and insight. My advice to them would echo Rene Fassel's words, avoiding the political agenda's entangling sports.

My main beef involves Hall Of Fame scribe Bertrand Raymond of Le Journal De Montreal, who coiled on his own pursuit of the controversy once facts arose. Raymond needed not pursue the issue, his hockey knowledge being well enshrined. One must believe he climbed aboard by reason of personal beliefs. Other Quebec journalists took his lead, as usual.


Raymond on the right, presenting his journalistic award.

It is regrettable. When even the Quebec public showed its disapproval for such nonsense, Raymond stood firm in his racist fallout shelter and maintained his stand.

Sadly, he refuses to aknowledge the difference between a prejudice and a perceived bias.

As the dust of the Doan controversy began to settle, a perfectly choreographed media backstep ensued, with Raymond leading the way. While showing exasperation with how Doan was now being branded a virtual choir boy, he tosses off that former Hab Claude Lemieux had a lexicon of anti-everything slurs that would put anyone to shame.

His thinly veiled absolving of Doan hardly flies - it was almost tongue in cheek. Where Raymond backsteps and slips in his overall view of the entire overreaction, is on an old banana peel named Patrice Brisbois.

A few years back, Brisebois became fed up with being likened to the hopping green reptile species and blew the whistle on an unsuspecting Vaclav Prospal, then of the Senators for uttering the term. Prospal was questioned by the NHL without being fined. His explanation was fairly placid in his defense. Prospal simply stated that he was repeating a saying that was so common place that he'd heard it hundreds of times since he arrived in the NHL without ever even understanding its meaning.

At the time, I laughed in accordance with that view. Raymond brought it up nonetheless, neatly forgetting how the scenario played out.

The unanimous reaction to Brisebois' blathering came from a bevy of french Canadian NHL oldtimers, who essentially suggested that Patrice needed a thicker skin.

Before that story gained momentum, the oldtimers swipe snuffed it out.

Raymond and the french press corps obviously missed that lesson and continue to insist that being termed a frog is derogatory and racist. It's not in the term they insist, it's in the intent.
Well boo-hoo-hoo!

To me, it simply remains a schoolyard alliteration for mocking eight year olds. The children disguised as journalists and politicians have yet to clue in that recess is over.

I don't think I can read Raymond the same way anymore.

May he, and all those who wrote pieces on Doan only to perform journalistic flipflops, go fudge themselves!

In their language of choice!

If you'd like to read Raymond's rants, and you're a f-ing frog like me, here are four articles that document his diatribe. Hop on over and check them out!

My Daily Newspaper Reading Routine

As a Montral Canadiens fan, it has always been a priveledge to me to be able to pick up read whatever french Montreal daily's I can get my hands on. Reading them for years has actually helped me maintain my second language quite well, in addition to getting the best and most concise news on my team and the NHL at large. Living roughly 65 minutes from Montreal, in Cornwall, Ontario, being afforded bilingual media access gives me great insight into what is two very different life sensabilities and perspectives.

My favorite paper has long been Le Journal de Montreal for its sports section, which trumps that of any newspaper in Canada. No paper comes close to it in hockey coverage. Not the Sun chain, not the Toronto Star, not the Globe and Mail. It has to be experienced to be believed.

While most papers now tend to defer it's readers to online coverage, the JDM still packs its pages full of punch. Consider today for example. There were no NHL games last night and the Canadiens have not played in 6 days. That didn't prevent them from filling 14 pages with hockey content, and not all of it based on the Habs.

Now the 14 pages today, there were 38 different articles and sidebar pieces of information. This does not include its daily two page spread foldout of stats and and standings for every hockey league you've ever heard of, updated day by day, with no cutoff time like your lovely Sun chain, which often doesn't even include the Senators final scores. Speaking of scores, they usually run a page or two filled with game summaries also.

Other sports are covered, somewhat less indepth. There were 11 pages filed with baseball signings, the Super Bowl, etc.

The hockey section of Le JDM has tons of clout due to a pair of Hall of fame journalists in their midst, columnist and editorialist Betrand Raymond and Yvon Pedneault, one of the best connected sources for news in the NHL and a man highly ranked in THN's "Most Powerful People In Hockey" listing. They dominate the paper not only with their input, but also their influence. Pieces that contain their opinions are usually quite profound - this ain't Damain Cox or Bruce Garrioch here, spouting the usual "Go Home Team" assembly line gibberish.

Translated to English, the hockey based articles in today's paper were:

Cover Story - A Hockey Fan Poll on the Canadiens season so far and questions on how things will go down the stretch.

The Debate Is On - an explanation of the poll and its proceedures (Denis Poissant)

Poll #1 Should the Canadiens make a trade - 56% Yes 27% No

Which player do you feel should be dealt? Samsonov 13%, Aebischer 11% Kovalev 8% Niniimaa 7%

Poll #2 Do you believe the Canadiens can win the Stanley Cup this year? 76% No 9% Yes

Which team will win the Cup? 26% Buffalo, 8% Anaheim, 5% Detroit and Ottawa

Poll #3 Who is your favorite player on the Canadiens? Huet 26%, Latendresse 19%, Koivu 17%, Kovalev 6%
Poll #4 Among this group of 10 players, which one should the Canadiens pursue in trade talks? Brad Richards 16%, Joe Sakic 16%, Peter Forsberg 12%, Ian Laperriere 10%, Markus Naslund 5%, Scott Gomez 3%, Bill Guerin 2%, Mike Modano 2%, Craig Conroy 1%, Ladislav Nagy 1%.

(IMO- Sakic and Gomez are unavailable. There have been rumblings about the other 8.)

Poll #5 How do you rate the Canadiens performance in the last month? Excellent 1%, Good 22%, Satisfactory 40% Terrible 34%

Poll #6 How would you rate coach Carbonneau's performance so far? Excellent 39%, Good 47%, Satisfactory 6%, Terrible 2%

The Public Has Spoken (Jonathan Bernier)

Huet, Latendresse.and Koivu Are Favorites (Bernier)

Canadiens To Reach Playoffs, But Not Much Else...(Pedneault)

Hab Fans Knowledgable But Unhappy (Sidebar)

Sabres And Ducks In Final (Sidebar)

In The Eyes Of The Experts - The opinions of 7 columnists including Raymond, Pedneault. Jacques Demers, and Michel Bergeron on 5 questions about the Habs needs and wants as the trade deadline approaches.

The Canadiens Payroll (Sidebar)

The Sellers Are Rare (Marc De Foy)

Easier Said Than Done (De Foy)

Forsberg...And Not Much Else (De Foy)

Carbonneau: " That's Gainey's Business" (De Foy)

Begin Not Rushing Throught Rehab (De Foy)

Carbonneau No Mediator In Roy Settlement (De Foy)

Roy Back Behind Ramparts Bench (No Credit)

Reps Approve Saskin Inquiry (Sidebar)

Lalime Recalled By Chicago (Sidebar)

Hecht Returns To Sabres (Sidebar)

Tight Race For East Playoffs Spots (Sidebar)

Cournoyer: "Dryden Kept Us In Games" (Andre Rousseau)

Boucher's Father Gets Viewing Of ASG (Martin Leclerc)

Marty Turco: Comedian (Leclerc)

Revising The ASG Format (Leclerc)

What If The Predators Chose Kansas City (Leclerc)

Crosby On The Outside At ASG Private Party (Leclerc)

St-Jerome Panthers On Fire (Gilles Vachet)

3 On 3 League Starting In May (Vachet)

Blocked Shots Stats (Sidebar)

Most Hits Stats (Sidebar)

Brind'Amour Slumping (Sidebar)

Lightening Edge Over Devils (Sidebar)

Most days the paper is not so intense. Two or three times during the week, the NHL content is toned down a touch and the QMJHL gets the spotlight some. On average, there is about 75% of the coverage above. If you were to subtract the "Poll Results", you'd have a fair idea.

This is why the JDM has been my prefered resource for over 20 years.

Now reading just one paper would be a great way to gain a narrow view of things. Luckily I read pretty fast and sieze things well enought that at my morning coffee stop that I can rip throught the remainders of the Gazette, Sun, and Star sports sections within 10 minutes.

Nothing starts off the day like a warm cup of coffee and some interesting hockey news. If I'm not working that particular day, I have the rest of it to blog and read blogs. Normally I will peruse at least half the sites I have linked to, going back to certain ones often enough.

It's a great and informative daily routine.