tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34355715607235649952024-03-17T16:02:48.220-11:00The H Does NOT Stand For HabsJ.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.comBlogger1074125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-40621616091119789612023-07-21T07:45:00.001-11:002023-07-21T07:45:55.524-11:00New Kid in Town<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl5oQ-ZEbZTafjxysiffbiTLK2BW9Tqf2FLAqAmbUpKMXshWkk0YprJtQus8Ssdr1U87RdfWwTVAkS0vQRxn4aUBKhGMNDNlnfuV5oAE5Bdkybc-wSjPym4ml6KDi_78rqP1OVmZoVaAIG65s9Ivff6CcP0wb3yNuHwGSYa2gSNdh2vedTMWbwfAHQomk/s268/newhook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPl5oQ-ZEbZTafjxysiffbiTLK2BW9Tqf2FLAqAmbUpKMXshWkk0YprJtQus8Ssdr1U87RdfWwTVAkS0vQRxn4aUBKhGMNDNlnfuV5oAE5Bdkybc-wSjPym4ml6KDi_78rqP1OVmZoVaAIG65s9Ivff6CcP0wb3yNuHwGSYa2gSNdh2vedTMWbwfAHQomk/s1600/newhook.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span> </span>Growing up in St.John's, Newfoundland, most of Alex Newhook's hockey buddies cheered for either Montreal or Toronto. So, when the news came that their old pal had been traded from Colorado to Montreal, half his friends celebrated.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span> "I</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">t's pretty split down the middle," he laughs. "I think probably hopefully a few more Habs fans than Leafs now. But yeah, it's fun. It's all part of the game. You know, those rivalries are kind of what makes hockey so great and I think it'll make the rivalry maybe a little more intense now. And I'm all for it. I'm happy that I'm trying to convert some of my buddies over to our side, but it's going to be fun."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span> Fun is the name of the game in Montreal these days. With a young core growing up together, the focus is on learning, not necessarily winning right now. It's one of the things Newhook likes about the move to Montreal. Another is the fact that management is committed to its young stars and has laid a stable base on which to build a winner.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span><span> "I</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">t's a team that has a lot of very good young pieces," he says. "You look at the young guys they have locked up right now, it's a pretty exciting time. And knowing that guys are going to be there for awhile, it's going to be fun to try and build their way up in the league over the next few years and and I think the sky's </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">the limit for a team like like us right now."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span> Notice the transition from "their" to "us" in a single breath. It's not been easy for Newhook to leave Colorado, where he was drafted and won a Stanley Cup.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think you always know in the back of your head you might be getting traded and and you know there's always that potential in the business of hockey," he says."Definitely there's some some sadness leaving Colorado, leaving Denver, leaving a team that I've been with for you know my whole career to this point."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> When the call came, even though it was in the back of his mind, Newhook was still taken by surprise that it actually happened.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was just kind of hanging around my house. I was actually chatting with my dad minutes before I got a call and we were just kind of talking about what my thoughts were if I was to get traded and what that situation would kind of look like," he recalls. "And you know, as I'm talking to him I got a call from the GM of Colorado and found out I was being moved to Montreal. Obviously a lot of emotions but it was cool to hear the news and be there with my dad."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> Of course, the first question any traded player asks is "where am I going?" Even though players say they're just pleased somebody wants them, and they're lucky to play in the NHL, no matter where, they still secretly have places they'd rather not go. Luckily, Newhook says his destination was not a disappointment.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">"Y</span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ou know some places over others," he explains. "Maybe just based on personnel they have in the team or the team location. So many factors that go into that kind of thing. But you know I think there couldn't really be a better spot for me right now than Montreal. Obviously a great organization, great staff there."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> Right after the call from Joe Sakic informing him of the trade, Newhook's phone rang again. This time, Kent Hughes and Martin St.Louis were on the other end, welcoming him to Montreal.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span> "</span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think that they're expecting me to have to have a big role in the team as am I," he says, recalling that phone converation. "I want to be able to fill a big role in that team and and be able to help them win. And I think that's kind of the mutual expectation there, although obviously there's not anything set in stone."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> Newhook isn't coming to Montreal a complete stranger. He's good friends with Justin Barron and has played with Kaiden Guhle in the past. He also knows former draft-mates Kirby Dach and Cole Caufield. He laughs at the suggestion that perhaps the Canadiens are trying to collect the whole 2019 first round...although his presence makes three.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span> While looking forward to catching up with old friends and teammates, Newhook is especially excited about playing for St.Louis.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span> "</span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Yeah, he's got a very very high reputation around the league and I think guys that have played with him, guys that have played for him, everyone speaks very highly of him, regardless of, t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">he relationship that they've had with him," he says. "I've talked to guys who played with him and are coached by him. They all speak very highly of him. They think that he's got a great mind for the game. He's obviously had the players perspective too. H</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">is reputation is high and and I think it's for good reason."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> St.Louis is one of the big draws for players considering Montreal as a destination, as is the management and development team. The chatter around the league is Montreal is rebuilding with a solid foundation and are on the right path.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span> "A</span>nd I think that kind of thing obviously attracts players and young players as well," he says. "And obviously it's one of the best hockey markets in the world. So you know, just to be in that, I think it's going to be a fun environment. You want to be able to win for for those fans and you want to be able to you know show up for them and and have some fun while we're doing it. So I'm looking forward to it."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span> So are his Habs-fan buddies back in St.John's. The requests for next season's tickets are already rolling in.</span><br /></span></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-85285937608231854852023-06-12T09:34:00.000-11:002023-06-12T09:34:05.831-11:00Wanna Bet?<div style="text-align: left;"> <span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFdjD2xCSf5bnsrUiypj5ZjYxRgTuZdvuUNMSTX_rJt16R0Ur_fDVc2u2bwWbLAaPvxS1dm9c3Jn7eVts4eKDFOfdZLN8x7SU1ApQ-Uxf812TduOp4UNaZJqbmMRZxwOOmrCPTsiVMF7i6mjpJfQqo87tzLV5jJc0D5G8WPiKqqqLgDK44JLei2EaVw/s1400/gambling%20knights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="1400" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFdjD2xCSf5bnsrUiypj5ZjYxRgTuZdvuUNMSTX_rJt16R0Ur_fDVc2u2bwWbLAaPvxS1dm9c3Jn7eVts4eKDFOfdZLN8x7SU1ApQ-Uxf812TduOp4UNaZJqbmMRZxwOOmrCPTsiVMF7i6mjpJfQqo87tzLV5jJc0D5G8WPiKqqqLgDK44JLei2EaVw/s320/gambling%20knights.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>Las Vegas...Sin City...is recognized as the gambling capital of the world. That's kind of fitting when you see the city's hockey team about to win the Stanley Cup at a time when a total bombardment of betting ads during games is annoying the heck out of real NHL fans.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>A few weeks ago, Karl Subban, school principal, author and father of three pro hockey players, publicly called for a ban on betting ads shown during NHL games. He's become a voice for the national advocacy group, "Ban Ads for Gambling."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;">"They catch the attention of young people," Subban said. "It's a powerful way of marketing to them, which we know can have a harmful effect on young people realizing their potential and really reaching their dreams. S</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;">o we need to have conversations about some of the things that are getting in the way. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;">Either act today or pay dearly tomorrow."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;"><span> The problem is, many sports fans...many of them young...are already paying dearly.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> "T</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">he heavy promotion (of ads) means that a lot of more people are betting on sports now," says Nigel Turner, a researcher at the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. "It used to be a fairly small percentage of the total clinical mix of problem gambling. In the past year, online gambling has gone from being a pretty minor percentage of the people who call in the helpline to being the number one reason that people are calling the helpline prior to like 2-3 years ago."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span> "W</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;">e are creating a generation of people who are thinking of gambling as a safe activity and there are people who are looking up to the celebrities promoting g</span></span></span><span style="color: #4a4a4a;">ambling as a as a way of making money. But it's not a way of making money, it's a way of entertaining yourself losing money," Turner says.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8evhit0fTiECH76i8lO8w_faUvELh8sR6oY9ilBFnwHNBTLuHKEM6BJhLT4p5IBlPEoiehVglQzQPCl7OIgULMYSJXQnfVx74dLtEOVDH_9p-eKkj12m0DLV-ACHbeByKOib7IVaafi7dsOb43aYrLKQnSTiXuNkmuNRUySh0-79sQ2EoeaqkEZavQ/s822/turner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="822" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8evhit0fTiECH76i8lO8w_faUvELh8sR6oY9ilBFnwHNBTLuHKEM6BJhLT4p5IBlPEoiehVglQzQPCl7OIgULMYSJXQnfVx74dLtEOVDH_9p-eKkj12m0DLV-ACHbeByKOib7IVaafi7dsOb43aYrLKQnSTiXuNkmuNRUySh0-79sQ2EoeaqkEZavQ/s320/turner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nigel Turner: Canadian Centre of Addiction and Mental Health</span><br /><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span> Turner and his colleagues see a direct correlation between the number of people who need help escaping from online gambling and the proliferation of sports betting commercials.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span><span> "</span></span></span><span style="color: #4a4a4a;">It's too soon to tell whether this is going to exceed prior problem levels of gambling. I am monitoring the situation," he says. "There's usually a lag between when when gambling becomes available and when people show up in treatment, partly because most people don't actually seek treatment and they try to solve their problem on their own. They go bankrupt on their own. So there's there's usually a lag. But we have seen a spike in calls related to online gambling sooner than we expected."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span> As Turner points out, by the time people look for help it's often too late and they're already in a serious financial hole. His team is particularly concerned about the celebrity endorsers...Wayne Gretzky, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid among them...who are actually influencing the brain development of young fans.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIUgFo4LXJA5j4DKEHRTcOedxGA51CMZlmip2mq2oMlp5LxhcPnFcDBG_wvVAlxIXRxBS4jFsA0AuPu3UJh0lcz5BQAJh-B4p6yEb8ulX737HqBs8zkRNQJ-dLiz8nVgC7iXkxqjU5EfPvUNEjwzhj9zAbkplhNFRBAYI20vgDI_gJ243i27p9jkVPA/s300/gambling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIUgFo4LXJA5j4DKEHRTcOedxGA51CMZlmip2mq2oMlp5LxhcPnFcDBG_wvVAlxIXRxBS4jFsA0AuPu3UJh0lcz5BQAJh-B4p6yEb8ulX737HqBs8zkRNQJ-dLiz8nVgC7iXkxqjU5EfPvUNEjwzhj9zAbkplhNFRBAYI20vgDI_gJ243i27p9jkVPA/s1600/gambling.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span><span> </span>"</span></span><span style="color: #4a4a4a;">Well, young people are considered to be particularly vulnerable to gambling and and addictions in general because part of being an adolescent is being more impulsive and, particularly focusing on males, they are more impulsive by nature, and gambling appeals to the impulsive nature of youth," Turner explains. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span> "</span>And when you establish a gambling problem your brain gets kind of hooked into a sequence of expectations. So if somebody who's young starts gambling too much, they are changing the way their brain functions and their brain activity is telling them to keep gambling. And that's a concern to us that we're creating a generation of people who are going to be gambling more."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span> Turner and Subban aren't alone in expressing their concern for the health of young people who may be most vulnerable to gambling ads. This week, the chief of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Kelly LaRocca, published an open letter to Gretzky, McDavid and Matthews, asking them to stop promoting gambling. She says she sees a direct link to the ads and the interest of kids in betting.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span><span> "I hope that they stand down from advertising iGaming," LaRocca said. "Our youth look up to them. They're being told that it's okay to just pick up and gamble whenever you feel like it."</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span><span><span> The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which regulates gambling in the province, is now contemplating a ban on "the use of athletes as well as celebrities that can reasonably be expected to appeal to children and youth from internet gambling, advertising and marketing." It may be "contemplating" a ban, but there isn't one so far. And nobody's talking about stopping the ads...just stopping the celebrity promotion.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span><span><span> <span> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #4a4a4a;">For adult fans, the betting ads are annoying. For people with addictions, they're tempting. And for adolescents, they're dangerous, according to the experts.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ghUazepAejvqdyWidpjl1IHyie-gOoImRYmWVQJiSUEk6DVAcjf-mNBLt-hiVZ1fU8qkDYACJkUbWRn1Q6vt6EYiV6fRPDe1FB2_iNz_BwkvX_K1Q3rIK5EAlu9SldQTKAmEbIbEeVw1sZ2U2AV-RDT32OGsMqZll7srHcxV2mndNSlLFGmf4P49bg/s300/betting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ghUazepAejvqdyWidpjl1IHyie-gOoImRYmWVQJiSUEk6DVAcjf-mNBLt-hiVZ1fU8qkDYACJkUbWRn1Q6vt6EYiV6fRPDe1FB2_iNz_BwkvX_K1Q3rIK5EAlu9SldQTKAmEbIbEeVw1sZ2U2AV-RDT32OGsMqZll7srHcxV2mndNSlLFGmf4P49bg/s1600/betting.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><br /></span></div><span> </span>However in a league devoted to finding new sources of revenue, those gambling ads are worth a lot of money. They're inserted into the games themselves, feature in intermission analysis segments and are plastered all over the boards and the ice. The risk to vulnerable youth doesn't seem to trump the league's desire to squeeze out every dollar possible, regardless of the source.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span><span><span><span><span> It's fitting, then, that the team from the Gambling Capital of the World, which was handed a sweetheart expansion draft that made it able to compete immediately, is poised to take home the hardware. If the league wants to make money, its expansion teams need to win right away in order to keep the new fans' cash flowing. Commissioner Gary Bettman has created the perfect circumstances for that to happen.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> In the meantime, the Vegas Golden Knights have become the poster child for the new, high-stakes NHL. They'll probably be Stanley Cup Champions five years into their existence. Young hockey fans will watch...ads and all...and soak up the message that NHL hockey is more than just sport. It's a get-rich-quick scheme. You can bet on it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-75125742244019648242023-05-29T03:10:00.002-11:002023-05-30T01:35:35.329-11:00Parity Charity<div style="text-align: left;"><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeDCW8L2nC3jAgGV4xupT2n9fvfxkcUJUHNr0bkdEHUqIipc8FFlQKK42fwER1-gmYpH_MGxsnPzXvMFgO3u9WO-GNiujSrkd1iIG7l_u1id-5inZpiDxd_VisIh7GCMf8rDmUgdNhztv7We3HqEy22O1ynWQrajbka0LkA36a9fQsaSScKUxtDBzJw/s299/draft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeDCW8L2nC3jAgGV4xupT2n9fvfxkcUJUHNr0bkdEHUqIipc8FFlQKK42fwER1-gmYpH_MGxsnPzXvMFgO3u9WO-GNiujSrkd1iIG7l_u1id-5inZpiDxd_VisIh7GCMf8rDmUgdNhztv7We3HqEy22O1ynWQrajbka0LkA36a9fQsaSScKUxtDBzJw/w317-h179/draft.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>So, you're a team in a rebuild. Your Stanley Cup window is closed, your prospect pool is thin and you're vying for a lottery pick in the draft. There's a lot of work to do, and the experts say building from within, with in-house-developed youth on cap-friendly contracts, is the way to fix your team.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> But what if there's another way?</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> What if the worst team in the NHL's regular season could opt to draft first overall OR trade in the bulk of its roster and do an expansion draft?</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> GMs say drafting and developing players is the way to go...yet the five-year-old Vegas Golden Knights are about to win their sixth playoff round and make their first appearance in the Cup Final. The two-year-old Seattle Kraken have won as many playoff series as the Original Six Toronto Maple Leafs have in the last twenty years.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> If you think about it, it makes sense. Building a team through the draft involves years of choosing good junior players and hoping they develop into good pros. That process may also include a string of losing seasons, management shakeups, coaching changes and prospects who turn out to be busts. It involves careful salary cap management and contract juggling. An expansion draft, on the other hand, features established players other teams have already developed and who have played in the NHL already, so the wait-and-see-how-they-turn-out aspect of team building is eliminated.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> Within the rules of the expansion draft there's an exclusive window for a team to speak with pending free agents before anybody else does. That would be helpful in attracting a star player or two to build a new roster, especially when your salary cap is wide open.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> Existing NHL teams can only protect eight skaters and one goalie, or seven forwards, three defencemen and a goalie in an expansion draft. The rules say of the players exposed, each team must make available one defenceman and two forwards who are under contract for the coming season and have played at least 40 NHL games. They must also expose a goalie who's under contract or will be an RFA at the end of his deal. That leaves a huge number of decent-to-good players available for the plucking. If you have a solid front office in place, management has the potential to build a competitive team right away. There'd be no worries about a high draft pick not panning out, or figuring out how to fit a star player into a tight cap situation or hoping your amateur scouting staff knows what they're doing. </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> It wouldn't be cheap, though. The other teams in the league would have an opportunity to claim any unprotected players from your roster, with a similar priority given to lower-ranking teams as claiming players on waivers. Any players left unclaimed would have to have their contracts paid out in full and become free agents. If you have a bunch of players with no-movement or no-trade clauses, you'd be stuck with them. They'd have to be your protected players, so it would encourage GMs to avoid those clauses.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> In the end, it'd be like poker. You keep the good card and throw in the duds for a new hand. You may end up with a pair of threes, but you could also score a royal flush. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span>One thing's for sure: building through the draft may or may not get you to the promised land after years of trial and error. Evidence seems to show an expansion draft gives you a whole lot better chance at winning in a much shorter time frame. While Gary Bettman gifts rich expansion team owners with the most favourable team-building option possible, it's only fair established teams should have a chance to follow suit.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> With that opportunity available, now you're a team in a rebuild looking at a chance to kick-start the process and bring your fans a show worth watching in a much shorter time frame. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-60509691178485804442023-05-18T08:42:00.000-11:002023-05-18T08:42:35.034-11:00Money and Morality<div style="text-align: left;"> <span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qCiOv_oOctFxUBtsmuWx6qtlATv_5kggVFdetbGsMou169WDUAGDBgNEJOyTs_VFKlax2c3_sD4DdpTqSGw_tVe7TrXPCclJoNS-XYCWzaXtpr0J_nHj7PCI8KwrZJBn115TWEx4b-6JwNJhjWtrB1H5a92sl1dR3C4VpfRAcPcztlLKMll82xIljw/s1279/hockey%20bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1279" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qCiOv_oOctFxUBtsmuWx6qtlATv_5kggVFdetbGsMou169WDUAGDBgNEJOyTs_VFKlax2c3_sD4DdpTqSGw_tVe7TrXPCclJoNS-XYCWzaXtpr0J_nHj7PCI8KwrZJBn115TWEx4b-6JwNJhjWtrB1H5a92sl1dR3C4VpfRAcPcztlLKMll82xIljw/s320/hockey%20bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span>The NHL has a bear problem. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> </span>No, it's not the Big, Bad, Greatest-of-all-Time Bruins getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs. It's the bigger, badder, more problematic Russian bear and, as the league is unlikely to ban players from a specific country just because it's involved in an illegal invasion of its neighbour, each NHL team will have to decide: What do we do about the Russians?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> It's not an easy question to answer. Naturally, not every Russian or Belarussian hockey player is going to be pro-war, homophobic, contemptuous of the West that pays his big salary or a Vladimir Putin ally. Yet, Alex Ovechkin, the greatest Russian player of all time, proudly displays a photo of himself with Putin on his social media. All-Star Evgeni Malkin is on the record supporting Putin's policies and claiming Russia must defend itself because it has no friends in the West. Russian players, including the Habs' Denis Gurianov, refused to wear Pride Night jerseys this year, in part they said because of concern about reprisals for family members back in Russia where anti-gay laws are in force.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> The truth is, Russia is very different from other countries whose citizens make up the majority of NHL players. It's an authoritarian regime involved in a cruel genocide in Ukraine. Enemies of the state fall from balconies or are poisoned abroad. It's a place that dresses its school children in quasi-military uniforms and teaches them it's an honour to die for the Fatherland. It's a country run by a megalomaniac and his favoured oligarchs who feed their people lies about the West's evil intentions toward Russia, while living large in European mansions and luxury yachts themselves. In an environment ripe for breeding blackmail, embezzlement and physical threats.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> It's also a country that produces some of the best hockey players in the world. Thus, the aforementioned bear problem.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span>🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> An NHL team's first priority is to win hockey games and satisfy the fans who pay good money to see those wins.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> So, when the draft comes around, a team obviously wants to take the best player possible. But, what if the best player available is a Russian with a KHL contract?</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> That's the situation the Canadiens may find themselves in next month. Choosing at number five overall, there's a decent chance Russian winger Matvei Michkov</span> will be available. The kid's talent is undeniable, and he could be a valuable part of a future championship team. His nationality, however, raises a lot of questions. Will he break his KHL contract early, or will his draft team have to wait three years to get him? Will he come to North America at all, if the KHL decides to woo him with big money and privileges? Will he end up drafted to fight in Russia's war? If he does come over, will he be free or will he be susceptible to threats or bribes from forces back home? What impact has a childhood of Russian state propaganda had on the formation of his character? And perhaps the most important question of all: Is it morally right to make deals with Russians while their country is committing war crimes?</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> Other sports, including the Olympics (sort of), have disqualified Russian athletes because of their nation's actions. Hockey, though, has been willing to overlook all that as long as the player in question can help a team win and keep the gate turning over. The same is true of North Americans who sign contracts to play in the KHL. They're willing to work for warmongers as long as the money's good.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> The problem with that is, by ignoring the political and social reality of what's happening in Russia hockey is giving tacit approval to the country's war and corruption. Just look at the betting craze happening in the NHL right now. How much of a reach is it to imagine Russian interests who stand to make a bunch of money on gambling pressuring Russian players to fall in line?</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0aPczobWnm9ONFNlw4XtrS-9q8NfcGu1YumAmInjMK2QcyBWoiaZEv3VBy8mNKSWLyQ9V5RYD3d1ZHh058u1djbick3oxzRC9dav5fAdTqm8-sZI2kC8gDqD9SCcPYp6EYCiiFp_0awuJmtCAbKu9GNBGqg9XfYi3-OG5sN-vnyy1cCgsOAY2OtcJA/s300/hugo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0aPczobWnm9ONFNlw4XtrS-9q8NfcGu1YumAmInjMK2QcyBWoiaZEv3VBy8mNKSWLyQ9V5RYD3d1ZHh058u1djbick3oxzRC9dav5fAdTqm8-sZI2kC8gDqD9SCcPYp6EYCiiFp_0awuJmtCAbKu9GNBGqg9XfYi3-OG5sN-vnyy1cCgsOAY2OtcJA/s1600/hugo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span> </span>The big question is, of course, whether there's room for scruples in a cut-throat pro sports environment. If one team decides there is and operates accordingly, it's easy enough for another team without the same standards to hire a problematic, but talented, player and get a leg up on the opposition. Having standards can limit the options a GM has when filling out his lineup. But having standards can also go a long way in re-establishing a team's reputation for being classy, which is a draw in itself.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> In the end, some team will absolutely pick Michkov in one of the top spots in this year's draft. Whether it's the Canadiens will say a lot about management's willingness to overlook moral objections in favour of winning hockey games. They made that choice in drafting Logan Mailloux and immediately were castigated for picking a guy who'd committed a criminal act. </span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> So, Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes will have a lot more than the usual soul searching to do this draft day. And their choice will tell us a lot about how far they're willing to go to win.</span><br /></span></span></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-18831807404040660972023-04-17T07:24:00.000-11:002023-04-17T07:24:26.030-11:00The Parity Prize<div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDdi0jZfjyrhPpDgNGXBfdYMearqBIJsxgjz41BTlK1hRSj8OYVXakISPigYoSTOgxG_MawrN7RDbzo3cmCUz-c2NOv9ZkKbMez5Y8P0rwf6u9KBiw3ZMcHjM3vbGHz7SBJTEQIQ-kTzAEtTH6Z9p3CxgV9JAQ1WiY6cS2Ml8xJtII79HXOEV-h-rMw/s299/bs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDdi0jZfjyrhPpDgNGXBfdYMearqBIJsxgjz41BTlK1hRSj8OYVXakISPigYoSTOgxG_MawrN7RDbzo3cmCUz-c2NOv9ZkKbMez5Y8P0rwf6u9KBiw3ZMcHjM3vbGHz7SBJTEQIQ-kTzAEtTH6Z9p3CxgV9JAQ1WiY6cS2Ml8xJtII79HXOEV-h-rMw/s1600/bs.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> </span>Now that the NHL season is over, huge congratulations are due to the Boston Bruins. The Habs' nemesis set a league record with a total of 135 points, including 65 wins, 12 losses and 5 shootout loser points. It's an impressive showing, without a doubt. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> The team to previously hold the record, at 132 points, with 60 wins, eight losses and 12 ties, was the 1976-77 edition of the Montreal Canadiens.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> Because of the Bruins' feat this year, there's a lot of chatter about whether that points total makes them the greatest NHL team of all time. Some will say it does. Others will believe the Bruins are the greatest parity team of all time. Bettman's Beauties, if you will.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> If you look at the Canadiens' '76-'77 roster, you'll find nine players and the coach were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. They lost only eight games all year, and played no overtime. In the playoffs, they lost only two games (one in OT) on their way to winning the second of their four straight Stanley Cups.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> We don't know yet which Bruins, aside from Patrice Bergeron, could be Hall of Famers, but we can probably guess there won't be nine of them. We don't know if Boston will breeze to the Cup they way they breezed through the regular season.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> What we <i style="font-weight: bold;">do</i> know, however, is the regular season points totals can't be compared fairly.<br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> For one thing, the Bruins had the advantages of two extra games played. For another, they played 16 overtime games and seven more went to shootouts. The Canadiens didn't have that chance to accumulate points because OT wasn't introduced in the regular season until 1983. This year the Bruins went 11-5 in OT and 4-3 in the shootout. That means they claimed 8 points in games they lost. If they played with the same rules as the '76 Habs, you'd have to subtract those eight points. You'd also have to remove half of the 22 points they gained for winning in OT, where the Habs would have had to settle for one point in a tie. With those considerations taken, Boston would have had a respectable, but hardly world-breaking, 116 points. If you add the five loser points from the shootout and count them as points they'd have gotten in a tie, they get up to 121. A very good season, but not the greatest team ever.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> The Bruins not only had four extra points available on the schedule...they had the advantage of 3-on-3 overtime as well. One has to wonder how many of the twelve ties the '76 Habs recorded would have been wins after Scotty Bowman sent out Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson and Steve Shutt in OT. Or how many more points they'd have recorded if they could have sent Lafleur and Jacques Lemaire out for the shootout.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_XHvM3NlnfCTEAiE_-hni0Ed5k9986tCOjhw5Sa87IXgSSKJo_YXPosL1BAsN6toDQa2D7M8SgXee0Yj4uW5k6D9W_LI3DIHqqUY291bzPLVd0-t_JMkzoI2Kq2Hu5rp7k8qGsPLdwT-97H0CI5ACmzoAvEaOGlHRk8z0Q3BTEcouxqSpjs-oLDkeA/s256/habs%20winners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="256" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_XHvM3NlnfCTEAiE_-hni0Ed5k9986tCOjhw5Sa87IXgSSKJo_YXPosL1BAsN6toDQa2D7M8SgXee0Yj4uW5k6D9W_LI3DIHqqUY291bzPLVd0-t_JMkzoI2Kq2Hu5rp7k8qGsPLdwT-97H0CI5ACmzoAvEaOGlHRk8z0Q3BTEcouxqSpjs-oLDkeA/s1600/habs%20winners.jpg" width="256" /></a></div></span><span> </span>No, the days of dynasty, hall-of-fame lineups are largely behind us now. In a salary-cap league that rewards abysmal play with high draft picks, Gary Bettman's NHL is all about keeping the league as even as possible. In the '70s, there were two or three teams you could expect to compete for the Cup, with Montreal at the top of the heap. These days, any playoff team could legitimately make a Cup run, and any team (aside from the absolute bottom-feeder rebuilders and the Coyotes) can make the playoffs.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> The Bruins are a solid, cohesive team with very few holes. They're also not exciting or unique. The Bettman NHL doesn't want guys racing down the wing with their hair flying in the breeze, being original. It wants steady, respectable teams like the Bruins. All year, Boston played the same game on a Tuesday in February that they played on a Saturday night in April. Their consistency served them well in a tight league.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> But accumulating points in a 3-on-3 OT, shootout league with 82 game seasons and a draft lottery doesn't make a team the best ever. It doesn't even make them particularly special. They're simply very good at being predictably consistent.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> The Bruins are calling this year "a season to remember." They'll likely look back on it fondly, but will anyone else remember? Or care? That's what legends are all about, and this year's Bruins team has yet to stand the test of history.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> </span><span> </span><br /></span></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-72571467812338206022023-03-25T10:41:00.000-11:002023-03-25T10:41:06.838-11:00Pride<div style="text-align: left;"> <span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNrR9GV3pIWNsmVTwAVP295OYgVsUAh2UhAvb6Voo0Sjd0csy4okmKM_mOHUYjAbXD91WLbNbS2yxfojVb8qr0UqvSXyk6SFQ5F3nuc_6DceVfIEYvaIktKbtSprOIm_jyU-0Nu18rU5NTIvP5KbsHBnz9enkELb3y29Gy1LoxifuqLGpwvZzAtgI-Q/s292/pride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="292" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNrR9GV3pIWNsmVTwAVP295OYgVsUAh2UhAvb6Voo0Sjd0csy4okmKM_mOHUYjAbXD91WLbNbS2yxfojVb8qr0UqvSXyk6SFQ5F3nuc_6DceVfIEYvaIktKbtSprOIm_jyU-0Nu18rU5NTIvP5KbsHBnz9enkELb3y29Gy1LoxifuqLGpwvZzAtgI-Q/s1600/pride.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> <span> </span></span>This has been a very strange month in the NHL. Several teams scheduled Pride Nights to show their desire for every person to feel included in the game of hockey, no matter their sexual orientation. The point is to make a marginalized community which has faced exclusion, ridicule and scorn feel that the rink is a safe place for them. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> Teams have held these nights for the last several seasons and the vast majority of players have been open to wearing rainbow-themed jerseys in warmup for one game, which are then auctioned off to benefit LGBTQ charities. Overall, Pride Nights have been great for outreach.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> Until now.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> Amidst a growing political divide in the USA between evangelical Christians and everybody else, several NHL players have decided wearing a rainbow jersey for fifteen minutes before one single game offends their religious beliefs to the point of making their refusal to participate the thing everyone's talking about.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JNvvAtaNKxbJGaSqWqzGm-bViAu_zExCNctUxoYsJ4CQWsjI-jdPtRs62LiunTR5J4J9xqyV8FnYP-CLqqLaUO6mPVksHPOcn_TxT0SOYPNB6SJxs4fTfvi94MNSMFnfJRl0vg51WF0p5_Xib2T0oZ1jQcTQZOYRfNK7vcvMA0LZ9l9Gp0Y-iYvAMQ/s272/staal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="272" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JNvvAtaNKxbJGaSqWqzGm-bViAu_zExCNctUxoYsJ4CQWsjI-jdPtRs62LiunTR5J4J9xqyV8FnYP-CLqqLaUO6mPVksHPOcn_TxT0SOYPNB6SJxs4fTfvi94MNSMFnfJRl0vg51WF0p5_Xib2T0oZ1jQcTQZOYRfNK7vcvMA0LZ9l9Gp0Y-iYvAMQ/s1600/staal.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Two years ago, when the Canadiens held their Pride Night, Erik Staal skated out with the rest of his teammates, wearing a powder-blue sweater with a beautiful rainbow CH on the front. This year, when the Florida Panthers announced their own Pride Night, Staal and his brother Marc decided it's no longer religiously acceptable for them to do that.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> For those who have applauded the efforts teams are making to be inclusive and welcoming, the Staals' and James Reimer's decisions to opt out have been disheartening.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Or it is until you ask Kurt Weaver about it.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Kurt's the COO of the You Can Play Project; the non-profit founded by the Brian Burke family to honour their son Brendan, who died in a car crash at age 21, and who happened to be a gay hockey player. The organization's purpose is to advocate for LGBTQ people's place in hockey. So, asking Weaver to weigh in on what's happening in the NHL could have provoked disappointment or anger. Instead, he said:</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "We're </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>very excited that the NHL teams have taken all the steps they've taken around Pride Nights, pride engagement and the jerseys being worn at those things. </span>And of course, the jersey is the most visible thing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> "A</span>nd it's definitely disappointing when an individual decides not to participate or maybe when a team decides to not have the jersey that year, but certainly, we are very proud of the progress and the success where we can be talking about one individual not wearing a pride jersey when just a few years back, one individual wearing a rainbow would have been a huge news story. So, the progress we've made cannot be denied at this front. And hopefully, it won't be seen as a failure or a misstep, it's something we're going to overcome and keep focusing on the positive of all the great work being done at these Pride Nights."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> Weaver makes it clear pride jerseys aren't meant to be offensive for those who claim religion as the reason for rejecting them.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> "</span></span>Not at all. We like to say respect and religion are not mutually exclusive. Religion, to me, is a place that's welcoming, open and caring. Others may have a different perspective around that. But certainly religion is not something we like to hear as a reason for not doing something," he explains. "Much like other celebration nights, like military, you're not necessarily endorsing what those organizations are doing. You're saying you care about the people in them. We want to make a safe and inclusive place where people are welcome in hockey, and that's the message we believe those Pride Nights and those jerseys are sending."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A7yQurQ8gCPbnc99eNBa8pAQTMRROraZZIcfE-8UG4Drveo2-H47xhTqLg3xbH0QQV9KLavtpnYH9GR0Wo4Rvc27GZfjHmd_9zXS8ZNGCv1iCOmNFauQct5imV6_J4d0raC6SzmNgKiH7-ObsHmm3L7EzTcVWhINclCwz7vQaEvssmYiiBmPqMuwrg/s300/pride2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A7yQurQ8gCPbnc99eNBa8pAQTMRROraZZIcfE-8UG4Drveo2-H47xhTqLg3xbH0QQV9KLavtpnYH9GR0Wo4Rvc27GZfjHmd_9zXS8ZNGCv1iCOmNFauQct5imV6_J4d0raC6SzmNgKiH7-ObsHmm3L7EzTcVWhINclCwz7vQaEvssmYiiBmPqMuwrg/s1600/pride2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span> He thinks there's more to the players' decisions to reject Pride Nights than simply adherence to religious rules that didn't come into play two years ago.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> "</span></span>It shows you where, politically, where we are now. If we were in a different place politically, it might be the military or the Indigenous jersey that was getting attacked," he said. "But right now, the LGBTQ community is in the spotlight and in the crosshairs of people who are trying to take stuff back. Especially in the US, versus Canada, you see some of those issues happening at the state level in legislation."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> And, he says, sometimes the players aren't making those decisions on their own.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> "</span></span>These players have a lot going on. They're not PR specialists. They're not thinking this through. In many cases, we find there's individuals out there who are trying to find players who'll take a step back to make a news story. This is not an invention of a player who wants to do something. They're being approached by an organization that wants to make political hay out of this."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> Still, he says, when a player does decide to make a stand like Reimer and the Staals have done, his group makes the effort to meet with them and explain the reasoning behind Pride.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> "</span></span>We reach out every single time," he said. "And each time we get to sit down with a player, we say, listen, this is how this affects the community. The fact that your jersey doesn't get auctioned off means funds don't go to a local mental health drop in facility that needs them, that helps kids. There's a knock-on effect to these things that maybe the players don't consider. And when given that information, almost every time, they realize what is a different way to look at things and come out, I would hope, with a better decision next time."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> Whatever individual players decide to do, however, You Can Play is focused on the big picture and how far the movement has come.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> "</span></span>When talking about the Panthers specifically, the whole front office, the whole arena full of fans, 18 of the 20 guys are there in full support of the community. All the cool things that happened in the intermissions and before and after the game, and the outreach and the money raised, that's the story. The two individuals who chose to make a different decision are simply not the story."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> When you look at it that way, the story is a pretty good one.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-49162545090297694762023-01-14T12:48:00.003-11:002023-01-14T12:48:27.060-11:00Triple Low Five<div style="text-align: left;"> <span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ck-2lZmrpUvQAjdeQe9cwYrF9Umm6OKBO1U7TD7saAq52yIPO5RU_CnMPlrl2fAW1sugn-Mq5BWLUJ3dzFQ3BT6561dz48n8yePAfIaF8qVJBGGCa8cXc8GLeJ2547vP8uKOEvXEpyDxkhJJbX0CB0NbPr4g-CFWsi3wxOMjA7ksSxV7z1UVcVJ-Tg/s274/tlf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="274" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ck-2lZmrpUvQAjdeQe9cwYrF9Umm6OKBO1U7TD7saAq52yIPO5RU_CnMPlrl2fAW1sugn-Mq5BWLUJ3dzFQ3BT6561dz48n8yePAfIaF8qVJBGGCa8cXc8GLeJ2547vP8uKOEvXEpyDxkhJJbX0CB0NbPr4g-CFWsi3wxOMjA7ksSxV7z1UVcVJ-Tg/s1600/tlf.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> </span>When the Canadiens first announced they'd be honouring P.K.Subban with a special night at the Bell Centre, many of us wondered, "Why?" After all, others who made bigger contributions and spent more time with the Habs (hello, Andrei Markov and Tomas Plekanec!) didn't receive such treatment.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> Subban was a controversial figure when he played in Montreal, often through no fault of his own. Rumours of strife in the dressing room, conflict with management and Subban seeing himself as bigger than the team swirled through parts of his tenure. Although his hurt at being traded later translated to a few <a href="https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2016/10/06/p-k-subban-it-was-a-personality-trade-not-a-hockey-trade/">salty comments</a>, there's no doubt he was a huge fan favourite. Most of the younger generation had never seen anybody like him before. So, when Subban would take the puck end to end (losing it half the time), they stood and cheered for him. When he made bold predictions, they loved it and when he was traded, they were furious.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> Still, considering the fact the Canadiens franchise prides itself almost to the point of silliness on its storied past, it seemed a bit strange to honour a player who spent only six seasons with the team. It didn't really fit with the celebrations we've seen retiring Hall-of-Famers' sweaters or marking a thousand games with the club.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> However, in a sad sort of way, it makes sense. At some point, the whole torch thing, the banners and the retired numbers become meaningless for a fan base that's never seen a Stanley Cup parade. Sure, they're impressive and all, but when number 33 is the most recent raised to the rafters and the man who wore it left Montreal almost 30 years ago, they're not exactly a touchstone for people who never saw them play.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> The new management regime understands fans need heroes they know, and for an entire generation, Subban was as good as it got. To them, he embodied the excitement of Canadiens hockey. He was brash, flashy, outrageous sometimes and a lot of fun to watch. In an increasingly diverse sport, he was also a reflection of the fanbase to itself in a way many hockey fans hadn't experienced before his arrival. He wasn't the best Hab, by far, but he was the modern-day reasonable hand-drawn facsimile. </span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> It was touching to watch Subban accept his accolades, and fun when Carey Price came out for one last triple low five with his old friend and teammate. In the grand scheme of things, perhaps honouring Subban was a bit of a stretch, but the fans in the arena that night loved it.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> For those of us who remember watching Brian Skrudland's goal nine seconds into overtime, a sweaty Guy Carbonneau hoisting his first Cup as captain or Jean Beliveau skating into the sunset carrying Lord Stanley, the triple low five is a cute gimmick between friends having some fun. For those under 40 (40!), it's an adored piece of team lore. And, sadly, it's the best they have.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> On his special night, Subban spoke stirringly to the current roster, exhorting them to honour the uniform and leave it all on the ice. If they can and do, perhaps the next player the team honours in retirement will be one who excites the fans <b><i>and</i></b> delivers the championship they need, if accolades and Habs lore in the future are to have much meaning at all.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-78611929975852208622022-12-13T05:48:00.002-11:002022-12-13T06:44:09.256-11:00A Clean Slate<div style="text-align: left;"> <span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kJ8LC2r_-BV29Dy4gZn7NyZLR95nogVkVcgiKdENFcR9tJM1MV5asMk0fJ-_iTSVsbPsD3QbOqeD0Nmhpf0xD6bzDrI0GL2Jb-B8Fft81xzyKjLhpRp5UgaEWXEfkcZc7t2ZAY188YVg0CzChZ-gNayaYzUEg_1iRLEAnZjtPmEtpx13entantcQxQ/s300/hockey%20canada.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kJ8LC2r_-BV29Dy4gZn7NyZLR95nogVkVcgiKdENFcR9tJM1MV5asMk0fJ-_iTSVsbPsD3QbOqeD0Nmhpf0xD6bzDrI0GL2Jb-B8Fft81xzyKjLhpRp5UgaEWXEfkcZc7t2ZAY188YVg0CzChZ-gNayaYzUEg_1iRLEAnZjtPmEtpx13entantcQxQ/s1600/hockey%20canada.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> </span>Hockey Canada has <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hockey-canada-releases-possible-names-for-board-of-directors-1.6682720">announced</a> a slate of nine people, five women and four men, it's chosen from among hundreds of nominees to lead the organization out of the scandal in which it's been embroiled for months. The previous board stepped down, some reluctantly, in October, months after news they had paid to settle a sexual assault claim came to light.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> In May, TSN's Rick Westhead broke the story that Hockey Canada had settled with a young woman who claimed to have been assaulted by eight players, including members of the 2018 World Junior team. His work led to the revelation that the governing body actually had a fund available to cover other such claims. There were 21 settlements, totaling nearly eight million dollars, going back to 1989.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> In the wake of Westhead's <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada-chl-settle-lawsuit-over-alleged-sexual-assault-involving-world-junior-players-1.1804861">story,</a> sponsors abandoned Hockey Canada, government suspended its funding and member provincial organizations declined to send any further player fees to the national body. In the end, there was no choice but for the board to step down and new blood infused.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> Hockey Canada members will vote on Saturday on whether to accept the new executive board. If they choose to do so, the organization, presumably, will be granted a fresh start in public opinion.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> 🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span> While Hockey Canada was trying to do damage control amidst its sex scandal this past summer, the Canadiens were trying to figure out what to do with their 2021 first-round draft pick. By now we all know what happened with Logan Mailloux. He was intimate with a young woman in Sweden when he was 17, and shared a photo of their interaction with teammates, without her knowledge. That's illegal and he was convicted of breaking the law and fined.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> Mailloux' actions were immature, careless, entitled and even cruel. The victim asked for an apology, which she claims was offered half-heartedly, at first. Following the news of his offense coming to light back home, Mailloux, in his NHL draft year, seemed to finally realized the seriousness of his actions and asked pro teams not to draft him because he wasn't ready.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvDe99hEKi7UhPYAq0rK5XpIYD6fwD81weGR__ZsgTTZ5DVrtT6sz5zEI1mupVakEs39z4HbyfcOz9Fuqu8ptUUtE7r3Eu644wgN4MFUHJnFbKJ7TfLbALx-BbH9RE6klR1phr2hpcUo2p_vv55FXpkh7GU9IHrjDgy-SHSa7mwGPTBtCFqKAAhHtUA/s299/mailloux.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvDe99hEKi7UhPYAq0rK5XpIYD6fwD81weGR__ZsgTTZ5DVrtT6sz5zEI1mupVakEs39z4HbyfcOz9Fuqu8ptUUtE7r3Eu644wgN4MFUHJnFbKJ7TfLbALx-BbH9RE6klR1phr2hpcUo2p_vv55FXpkh7GU9IHrjDgy-SHSa7mwGPTBtCFqKAAhHtUA/s1600/mailloux.jpg" width="299" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">“The NHL Draft should be one of the most exciting landmark moments of a player’s career, and given the circumstances I don’t feel I have demonstrated strong enough maturity or character to earn that privilege in the 2021 Draft,” he said in a statement.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span> The Canadiens' Marc Bergevin and Trevor Timmins, of course, went there anyway after many other teams ruled out drafting Mailloux. That kicked off an embarrassing round of backpedaling and "separating the person from the hockey" comments. </span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; white-space: pre-line;">"The Canadiens are aware of the situation and by no means minimize the severity of Logan's actions," the team announced</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; white-space: pre-line;">. "Logan understands the impact of his actions. His recent public statement is a genuine acknowledgment of his poor behavior and the first step on his personal journey.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>"We are making a commitment to accompany Logan on his journey by providing him with the tools to mature and the necessary support to guide him in his development. We are also committed to raising awareness among our players about the repercussions of their actions on the lives of others."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; white-space: pre-line;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Now, going on two years later, Mailloux still sits in professional limbo. He remains in junior with the London Knights, where he's putting up good numbers in a league where he physically dominates most other, younger players. He's missed significant development time with a serious shoulder injury and an OHL suspension for his actions in Sweden. The Canadiens invited him to development camp at the beginning of this year, where he was unable to play because of the shoulder, but they signed him to a three-year contract in October anyway. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; white-space: pre-line;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; white-space: pre-line;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3PSWfZTHS9JcQkplDWpE6cHP__CATAa-NxlpAKm1n4z8iDD3G3KtWw6Dg0udOKIeTiyrBQWSHj2FcBql76a-SFcODbpi3lEWjZVgtZaHaMXLHSCqFt_7s8ML_o3CHhd_-uKhR48PK7ZZ6HQw2tYyrOTCCWHlipX44Ye5_FwR2oyuetzqYadziaU4rQ/s300/bettman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3PSWfZTHS9JcQkplDWpE6cHP__CATAa-NxlpAKm1n4z8iDD3G3KtWw6Dg0udOKIeTiyrBQWSHj2FcBql76a-SFcODbpi3lEWjZVgtZaHaMXLHSCqFt_7s8ML_o3CHhd_-uKhR48PK7ZZ6HQw2tYyrOTCCWHlipX44Ye5_FwR2oyuetzqYadziaU4rQ/s1600/bettman.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; white-space: pre-line;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; white-space: pre-line;"><br /></span></div> Still, Gary Bettman and Bill Daly say Mailloux is not eligible to play in the NHL or its AHL professional development league until he gets their approval. Which will be...when? Just a month ago, the commissioner confirmed Mailloux hasn't received their blessing yet. In light of the Hockey Canada scandal, one must wonder why the NHL maintains such a double standard.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #121212; font-family: TiemposTextRegular, serif; white-space: pre-line;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> 🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> Logan Mailloux isn't a sure-fire future NHLer. He's got skill and size, but he's missed a lot of development time between his suspension, injury and the pandemic. His crime in Sweden has deeply impacted his hockey life, and, one would hope, his personal maturity. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> </span>However, he's still a 19-year-old hopeful who's spent the last two years publicly living down one of the worst things he's likely ever done. He's been named and shamed, criticized and condemned, written off and written about. He has owned up to his wrongdoing and apologized. He's willingly undergone counselling and faced embarrassing media questions with candour. He's committed to finding a way to give back to victims of crimes like his (though we've yet to see what that will be). He will carry the stigma of his past stupidity forever.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> At the same time, the eight Hockey Canada players who allegedly assaulted that young woman in 2018...accused of forcing themselves on her sexually while she was drunk...remain anonymous. They didn't face a trial, either in the courts or in public opinion. Whoever they are, some or all of them may be playing in the NHL or AHL right now. Not one of them has been publicly sanctioned by Bettman and Daly, admitted their part in the alleged assault, apologized or vowed to do better.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> Hockey Canada, by settling with the victim in that case, with the knowledge of the NHL, effectively brushed a crime arguably more egregious than Mailloux's away in the hope nobody would find out. Those players got away with their actions unscathed, while Mailloux is still pilloried for his own.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> 🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Science has proven that at age 17, the brain's prefrontal cortex has not fully developed and <span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">doesn’t complete its growth until approximately early to mid 20s. Its job is to perform reasoning, planning, judgment, and impulse control. Without the fully developed prefrontal cortex, a teen might make poor decisions and lack the ability to discern whether a situation is safe or appropriate. Teens tend to experiment with risky behavior and don’t fully recognize the consequences of their choices.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> Which all goes to say, teenage boys will make stupid mistakes, like showing off their sexual conquests to their buddies. That's why they need to be taught right from wrong by adults who can lead them to making sensitive (and legal) decisions. That's also why the Criminal Code of Canada doesn't name minors who break the law.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj163OAHIH2-RRecg1fmuw4TybrfWRe6DjTDb49I_gYOGwBqsPFOFhIFoJQrm5EZ9foA14lKzJEDCPj46sC47n0b3vqiRLItUdUv4ReodXp9u35cSC9C0xEeaUW8PE-UaUQ3O5uzGVSg1EiRU7dDxZDsRsZkQ0Qb7gCL1fDlfcDYjNGeBLMC9n2ku_WA/s275/brain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj163OAHIH2-RRecg1fmuw4TybrfWRe6DjTDb49I_gYOGwBqsPFOFhIFoJQrm5EZ9foA14lKzJEDCPj46sC47n0b3vqiRLItUdUv4ReodXp9u35cSC9C0xEeaUW8PE-UaUQ3O5uzGVSg1EiRU7dDxZDsRsZkQ0Qb7gCL1fDlfcDYjNGeBLMC9n2ku_WA/s1600/brain.jpg" width="275" /></a></div></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span> </span>Yet, even though Hockey Canada has been paying off assault victims for decades, it only announced this past summer it would make training about sexual misconduct for junior players...what it is and its consequences for all involved...mandatory. The organization has known about this toxic and criminal behaviour for a very long time, but only public scandal forced its hand on taking action.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span> This is the culture in which young male hockey players grow up. Good players, especially in small towns where they tend to be idolized, especially by young female fans, are gifted a level of permissiveness nobody else their age receives. Their talent is more important than their behaviour in a world where skill gets you to the next level and the coaches and parents who dream of a kid going pro enable actions that would, in anyone else, be appropriately punished.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span> Hazing, underage partying and misguided ideas about sex are rife in junior hockey, but in the past have been let go by adults whose vicarious hopes and real-life jobs depend on these young players. How is a 17-year-old raised in that environment supposed to understand the seriousness of "jokingly" sharing a sex pic with his teammates?</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span> None of this is meant to excuse Logan Mailloux's behaviour of course. But Hockey Canada and the NHL created the circumstances that enable decisions like his and in the past have been complicit in these situations by hiding them with no consequences for the perpetrators. Singling out the kid who made a terrible choice and has paid for it is hypocritical and disingenuous to an astonishing degree.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> So, if the new Hockey Canada board wants to make a real difference, outside of cynically doing what it must to restore its prestige, it needs to start with players like Mailloux. If he's truly remorseful and wants to help, he can be an example for others in a positive way. His story can be educational and maybe inspire his peers to understand why they can't use their privilege to harm others. And Hockey Canada needs to take responsibility for the actions of the players who represent it by ceasing the secret payouts to victims and making the perpetrators own their behaviour publicly.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> As for Bettman, Daly and the NHL, if they're going to ban players for doing wrong, it must be all of them...not just the kid who's ended up living his shame in public. And if they're as shocked and dismayed by Mailloux's behaviour as they claim to be, they need to step up and fund training, oversight and clear definitions of appropriate behaviour...with clear consequences...for the next generations of kids who will pay their salaries.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-49500442607337799472022-12-06T04:28:00.000-11:002022-12-06T04:28:08.807-11:00Platforms and Politics<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfi3aRDNhdgo99srrvlhTM36ygHCoEUCsez8UMQ63HHO8Hw29GbpGC6K9e3m_VBl9Xvq-sRJxHvAd5LKk8nVSniTF2xyiRsvsXNw1K-L4RhuYigi_URObQ6ACugI5Uk1HyPsrkk0vzYSwEsDE90CfmieZI37mZFeEJ8jtL3uVOesW4p_8YDLCqovDAA/s780/polytechnique.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfi3aRDNhdgo99srrvlhTM36ygHCoEUCsez8UMQ63HHO8Hw29GbpGC6K9e3m_VBl9Xvq-sRJxHvAd5LKk8nVSniTF2xyiRsvsXNw1K-L4RhuYigi_URObQ6ACugI5Uk1HyPsrkk0vzYSwEsDE90CfmieZI37mZFeEJ8jtL3uVOesW4p_8YDLCqovDAA/s320/polytechnique.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span>In the late afternoon of December 6, 1989, a man who disliked feminists and disagreed with women making careers in traditionally male-dominated fields, armed himself with a semi-automatic rifle and a hunting knife and entered</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">École Polytechnique, the engineering school associated with the University of Montreal. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><span> </span>Once inside, he separated male students from the females and allowed the men to leave the building. Then he opened fire, murdering </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Geneviève Bergeron, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Hélène Colgan, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Nathalie Croteau, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Barbara Daigneault, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Anne-Marie Edward, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Maud Haviernick, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Maryse Laganière, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Maryse Leclair, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Anne-Marie Lemay, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Sonia Pelletier, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Michèle Richard, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Annie St-Arneault, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Annie Turcotte and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;">Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz. He also shot and wounded 13 others, mostly women who had dared study to be engineers. Their lives were never the same.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"> Five days after the attack, the Governor General, Prime Minister, Quebec premier and mayor of Montreal, along with thousands of mourners, attended a joint funeral for nine of the women. In the aftermath, the federal and Quebec governments and the victims' families launched research projects into the prevention of violence against women. Lobbying by family members and feminist groups, among others, led to the establishment of the Canadian Firearms Act, which restricts the kinds of guns people can own, and who can own them. <br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122;"><span> Now, December 6 </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. There are vigils on that day across the country, and a white-ribbon campaign started by a group of Ontario men to symbolize their solidarity with the women who are hurt and killed by armed men. In Montreal, fourteen spotlights are lit on the summit of Mount Royal on the anniversary, and the names of the Polytechnique victims read aloud. There are plays and books and songs about the murders, including "Montreal," by the Tragically Hip.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> This is information that people who support the pro-gun lobby in Canada, especially in Montreal, should know.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> 🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span> So, on December 3, when the Canadiens' Carey Price decided to take to social media in his camouflage and hunting rifle to protest Bill C-21, which tightens controls on access to handguns and semi-automatic rifles like the one used in the Polytechnique shootings, the timing was bad. Very bad.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span> His public stance immediately divided opinion about him along political lines; pro-gun lobbyists who see him as a voice for their desire to loosen gun restrictions, and those who think gun laws don't go far enough in preventing firearms violence. His decision to support the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights, which recently offered an online promo code labeled "POLY," further alienated fans who know and respect the legacy of December 6.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDS8Qj2OBfxFzlpOg94tu4LIdmTckb1rDF08zIOQlVFQbmhidSn_Iy6p_7SLZ4PqzsQTnLH8TlMrOitdtS-jTK73aitW9lhOy5nObvIXA4jbCm1OeLBBBttHPgil5Bw0IIYraoIaUDdUiCM0YDi9ef6-AQbybuthV2ZCIXf0IevsTKkwAtrbzjZJIlQ/s780/price%20guns.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="780" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDS8Qj2OBfxFzlpOg94tu4LIdmTckb1rDF08zIOQlVFQbmhidSn_Iy6p_7SLZ4PqzsQTnLH8TlMrOitdtS-jTK73aitW9lhOy5nObvIXA4jbCm1OeLBBBttHPgil5Bw0IIYraoIaUDdUiCM0YDi9ef6-AQbybuthV2ZCIXf0IevsTKkwAtrbzjZJIlQ/s320/price%20guns.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span> Price, as so many with a public platform and not enough information do, made matters worse when he claimed not to know about the Polytechnique killings, and doubled down on his stance that the federal government is taking legitimate hunters' weapons away, which is untrue. (The Prime Minister and Bloc Quebecois leader, among many others, have stressed legitimate hunting rifles and shotguns will not be banned.) He added he didn't know about the "POLY" promo code of the group he claims to stand behind.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span> Of course, Price is far from the first athlete to have used his public platform for political reasons, the most recently famous of them being former NFLer Herschel Walker, who's in a run-off vote for Senator in the US state of Georgia. Walker has repeatedly lied, made fantastical statements and displayed mortifying levels of ignorance in his campaign, but because of his sporting history and celebrity, still managed to attract enough support to have forced that run-off. Critics blame the Republican Party for taking a willing dupe and using him to push forward its own political interests.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> When Price made his comments, the gleeful support of the CCFR and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre were almost instant.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carey is absolutely right. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hunting is a great Canadian tradition. Trudeau’s attempts to ban hunting rifles are an attack on rural and Indigenous people. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;">We must stop him," Poilievre proclaimed. He latched onto Price's fame and public support to appeal to his own political base and get in a dig at the Prime Minister (whom Price also blames for wanting to take his hunting rifles away) at the same time.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span> Not all athletes use their public platforms in ignorance. When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem at an NFL game, he knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the power his gesture would have to stoke a political fire, and he used it to encourage support for the mistreatment of Black people by police. He also knew he would likely pay a personal price, but he went there willingly.</span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="color: black; white-space: normal;"> 🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span> Carey </span>Price is a proud Indigenous man who enjoys hunting, just as his ancestors did and as is his right. He has quietly done much for children, particularly those who are Indigenous and underprivileged. His public legacy has been one of which to be proud. However, in this case he has chosen to take a stance without researching the facts. The problem with that is Price isn't you or I, who can mouth off on social media with the only consequence being a flood of insults in our comments.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span> Price has a platform and influence, and when he speaks up, people listen. Many of them will choose to believe what he says without doing their own research just because a famous person told them it's true. That has real-world political and social consequences.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span><span> His decision to speak on this issue, and the timing of his comments, has forced the Canadiens into damage control.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span><span><span> "</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Saturday, Carey Price posted a statement in support of the CCFR's opposition to proposed federal gun control legislation. As previously stated, Carey was unaware of the CCFR's recent marketing campaign nor was he aware of the unfortunate timing of his statement," the Canadiens said in a statement Monday. "The Montreal Canadiens wish to express their sincere apology to any and all who have been offended or upset by the discourse that has arisen over this matter in recent days."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> The team has also made a donation to the "Week of the White Rose Campaign," which sponsors young women who want to study engineering, in memory of the victims of Dec.6, 1989.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> Price continues to stand with the CCFR's misinformation that his hunting guns could be banned.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"> 🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span> Carey Price is learning now, as many athletes have before him, his words have consequences far beyond sports. In his comments, he's managed to hurt and insult people who mark this solemn occasion, embarrass his team and stoke a political fire already fueled by rhetoric and fabrication. He's allowed himself to be used by forces who have no interest in him aside from the fact that his opinion carries weight, and it's useful to their cause.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><span> At least, one would hope he's learned that lesson, especially this week, and uses his voice more wisely next time. It also wouldn't hurt him to learn a little bit about one of the seismic events shaping the recent history of the city that gave his voice power in the first place.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-77142587168232753782022-11-29T08:25:00.001-11:002022-11-29T08:25:48.855-11:00Takes One to Know One<div style="text-align: left;"><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlPocISbsi-5kcIfpcSTVJz2e4b8kRz5lZwrhgzx7zai1XJut9F7v4uJXxveq5Nkt7piKPdONtsoOQ5NteSu-dkuTp4jHRjqaTig564smkzhKowWpoITQqTrPfxyCE5pJonMJROTXDnywtelK-CJJjdvLN7JkIz5VT77JR6dnIX0517-jzcTgYdsJ3Vw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1136" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlPocISbsi-5kcIfpcSTVJz2e4b8kRz5lZwrhgzx7zai1XJut9F7v4uJXxveq5Nkt7piKPdONtsoOQ5NteSu-dkuTp4jHRjqaTig564smkzhKowWpoITQqTrPfxyCE5pJonMJROTXDnywtelK-CJJjdvLN7JkIz5VT77JR6dnIX0517-jzcTgYdsJ3Vw" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: NHL.com</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Once upon a time, NHL teams had a manager and a coach. Sometimes, the manager <i>was</i> the coach and sometimes the coach was also a player. Not so anymore. Today's NHL teams have front offices to rival the playing roster. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> The Canadiens, for example, have an executive vice president, a GM, an assistant GM, a director of player personnel, a director of amateur scouting and a special advisor to hockey operations. Behind the bench, there's the coach, three assistant coaches, a goalie coach and a pair of video coaches. There are four people in player development, three in analytics and another two in hockey development. That's 22 people, and it's not even counting the medical, training, equipment, communications and scouting staffs. It's a lot.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> So, a fan might be forgiven for wondering what on earth all these people actually do all day.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> Back in February, the Canadiens announced they were bringing in Vincent Lecavalier as a "special advisor." </span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> Now, going on a year later, you might ask what <i>is</i> Vinny doing in Montreal, aside from being the head coach's good buddy?<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> Well, first of all, he's not actually in Montreal. He lives in Tampa. However, he was brought on board for a very special reason. </span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> </span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> 🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> June 27, 1998 was a beautiful summer day in Buffalo, New York. The sun was shining, a gentle breeze wafted in from the southwest and the NHL draft was set to go at the Marine Midland Arena. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> Just two months past his eighteenth birthday and a stellar career as a junior in the QMJHL, centreman Vincent Lecavalier, standing an impressive 6'4", was the undisputed number-one prospect at that draft. After some nifty trade action involving the Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks, the Tampa Bay Lightning had secured the first pick. Sure enough, when new owner Art Williams took the stage, Vinny was his choice.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibffkAE-BVZIJ-vSD-lRj6n5A-_dPNzFqjIC3pmGy9Pk0cmaCGJkZt4RoGjpDWkn0Oe2dmqLsdNRJEupVe0ZEf_HmCjcOIIGJwIVHu2lepkP1tJlzjQ-MrIhPJaLPEcHU8NXByxlf6WSUyY2ovqM7zUCd9h4PmNCWEdUDKUPxXlPnqCZ2f0HUC1uo0VA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibffkAE-BVZIJ-vSD-lRj6n5A-_dPNzFqjIC3pmGy9Pk0cmaCGJkZt4RoGjpDWkn0Oe2dmqLsdNRJEupVe0ZEf_HmCjcOIIGJwIVHu2lepkP1tJlzjQ-MrIhPJaLPEcHU8NXByxlf6WSUyY2ovqM7zUCd9h4PmNCWEdUDKUPxXlPnqCZ2f0HUC1uo0VA" width="240" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: NHL.com</span><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>"The new Tampa Bay Lightning is very proud and very excited to take back to our fans in Tampa Bay, the number-one amateur hockey player in the world, the number-one pick in the entire NHL draft, Vincent Lecavalier," Williams announced.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> The kid was thrilled.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>"When I got in the rink today, I had butterflies in my stomach," Lecavalier said at the time. "I'm really relieved everything's over and I got picked number one. So I'm very, very happy." </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> The day after the draft, the pressure to not only make the NHL, but to be, as Williams boasted "the Michael Jordan of hockey" began. As the team's franchise player for 14 years, that pressure never let up.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> At 19, he was captain of the Lightning. By 20, he'd been stripped of the "C" because the team decided he wasn't mature enough. He had a difficult relationship with coach John Tortorella and high expectations from fans and media. While he never achieved "Michael Jordan" status, he scored 52 goals in a season, won the Stanley Cup, played Jean Beliveau in a movie, suited up for more than a thousand games with Tampa, earned a personal fortune and had his number retired by the team that drafted him.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> He was also the frequent subject of trade rumours sending him to Montreal, where he had little interest in playing, knowing the pressure of being a homegrown superstar would likely crush him.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span> So, the man knows a lot about what it means to be the first-overall pick in the NHL draft and what can happen afterwards.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> 🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> When Lecavalier was hired, the Canadiens weren't guaranteed the first pick in the draft, but they were second-last in the NHL, one point ahead of Arizona. It was looking pretty likely they'd at least be in the running. At the draft lottery in May, they locked up the top spot, and then had to decide which player would best fulfill his promise. In the end, they took big, strong Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lecavalier's real work began...number one to number one.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUTyttasMob3nn5up3DceRavW8f37VBADZdYmH3xPGJ8NO9wsPnQwZpBb-uoJqtyIGXsIyZ8yZFeTaDiA1MPwzJXE0pAbUAKDyPClSOa85fjGBUPMEYCJpfkXGlu_dzqvE4_x6di3gdLGq5gUiHjRAuyUIEh4KAoSg47bwsjrb1GWqbaFrYPoRztkiWg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUTyttasMob3nn5up3DceRavW8f37VBADZdYmH3xPGJ8NO9wsPnQwZpBb-uoJqtyIGXsIyZ8yZFeTaDiA1MPwzJXE0pAbUAKDyPClSOa85fjGBUPMEYCJpfkXGlu_dzqvE4_x6di3gdLGq5gUiHjRAuyUIEh4KAoSg47bwsjrb1GWqbaFrYPoRztkiWg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><span><span> </span>"</span>I'm working with Slafkovsky. It's his first year and we're trying to help him as much as we can. I cut his clips and then we work with the skills coach to try and help him in his process. Right now that's what I'm doing," he says.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> "</span>He's 18. I remember when I was 18, I didn't have a clue. I'm not saying he doesn't, but I'm saying you have to learn through experience. I try to bring what I can, trying to bring out the best in him."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> "</span>I watch him play every game," he continues. "He's way bigger than me. He's like 240. That's crazy. He's a big, big boy. But it's the knowledge. For me, from 18 to 30, you gain a lot of knowledge. The person who had the most knowledge for me was Marty St.Louis. When I started playing with Marty, I started getting better. You learn from the best minds, and Marty I think is the best player I've ever played with in terms of hockey IQ. You learn from different people, and that's what we're trying to do with Slafkovsky."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> Lecavalier says he's pleased with Slafkovsky's work ethic and his quickness to learn. Right now the Slovakian teenager is his top priority, but the Canadiens have two more first-round choices coming up in 2023. While they're closer to the playoffs than the draft lottery at the season's quarter mark, the former first-overall on staff is preparing to help the team make the most of those draft picks.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span> "</span></span>In January, I'll still focus on Slafkovsky, but I'll watch a lot of the top forty or fifty draft players for 2023, make sure I know all of them," he says. "First two rounds, and so when we get to the draft we have all the meetings and we can make decisions about players."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> And when those future Habs arrive in Montreal, they'll have the advantage of learning from somebody who's literally been there before.</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><span><span> </span></span></span></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-65068529406352403522022-11-22T05:46:00.003-11:002022-11-22T05:46:57.501-11:00The Boss <span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLDrQSJ0bAtfaRIEa3lISqL8OQg0hgzJj7WK0bexfsmeS6Qrb_DaLG0JJEtsKRaiYCq87b_npLN2Yl1on-nf5s-yt08Z1OBTdwk8fypygSSOXtUacSoUVKtgY4nhDlOAwrG5gQR9ZfCo83vxoe0hoqp7C7kgnjFJmzRI5NQCVnV9jzSKDhxKGBTvfvwA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgLDrQSJ0bAtfaRIEa3lISqL8OQg0hgzJj7WK0bexfsmeS6Qrb_DaLG0JJEtsKRaiYCq87b_npLN2Yl1on-nf5s-yt08Z1OBTdwk8fypygSSOXtUacSoUVKtgY4nhDlOAwrG5gQR9ZfCo83vxoe0hoqp7C7kgnjFJmzRI5NQCVnV9jzSKDhxKGBTvfvwA" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>On a gorgeous fall evening in October, the usual crowd gathered in the Legion hall in tiny Gander, Newfoundland. A few down-on-their luck guys were playing video slots. A pair of couples sat drinking local beer at a wobbly table under bright, fluorescent lights. A trio of people chatted with the bored-looking bartender, while one guy played pool against himself. Otherwise, the place was quiet and empty.<div><span> Heads turned when the door opened and strangers...a whole gang of them...strolled in. They were mostly young men; tall, fit, loud and energetic. Obviously, they were some sort of team.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> It turned out the visitors were the Montreal Canadiens training and equipment staff, in town with the team for a Kraft Hockeyville exhibition game against the Ottawa Senators. On the night before the game, they were out for some fun and to be screeched in.</span><br /></span></div><div><span><span><span> A screech-in is a silly game for tourists in Newfoundland, in which you become an honorary citizen by reciting a local phrase, drinking a shot of dark rum Screech and kissing a codfish, hosted by a local emcee.</span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span> It wasn't a big deal to the regulars at the Legion. Screech-ins happen there fairly often over the summer, so nobody really paid much attention. Or, they didn't until another group arrived shortly behind the first. This time, their eyes followed one of the newcomers, knowing they'd seen him somewhere before.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span> </span>Marty St.Louis, casual in dark jeans, navy sweater and white-collared shirt, blended in with the rest of the crowd. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing there; only that the training guys said they were going and he decided to tag along. The rest of the coaching staff came with him.</div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span> That was unusual. A couple of the trainers said most of the time on the road the coaches keep to themselves. Mixing in with the trainers and equipment guys normally doesn't happen, and it signaled to them the start of a different kind of team reality.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> The screech-in proceeded with the jokes, the recitation of the Newfoundland phrases, the rum and the codfish. Although a bit bemused, St.Louis played along in the spirit of the thing. He willingly drank the rot-gut rum and kissed the frozen fish, with a big smile. As more than one attendee explained, "That's just Marty."</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</div><div><br /></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span> A few years ago, Forbes magazine published an article called <i>7 Things That Make Great Bosses Unforgettable.</i> The first item on the list: great bosses are passionate.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Vincent Lecavalier played in Tampa for twelve years with St.Louis, and counts him as a friend and mentor.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>That's probably one of his biggest things," he says. "If you talk about Marty St.Louis, that's what it is. Passion. Determination. That's something he brought as a player and obviously as a coach now. He loves what he does. He's hockey. That's his life. I loved hockey. I loved a lot of things about hockey. But to be a coach, to do that game in and game out, it takes a special kind of person."</div><div><span> Mike Gilligan agrees. St.Louis joined his University of Vermont squad in 1993, and immediately impressed the coach.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> "</span></span>I have to give him the highest ranks in passion," he says. "When he was a younger player in college, he was almost too passionate and losses hurt him so. He expected a lot from himself. He enjoyed the game so much, he didn't want to play poorly or have his teammates play poorly. He didn't like it if he thought they weren't respecting the sport and respecting every minute they had to enjoy that sport. He was the heart and soul of my teams for four years. Passion is one of his great traits."</div><div><span> Number two on the Forbes list of excellent boss traits is "standing in front of the bus." In other words, the opposite of throwing players under the bus when things aren't going well. Gilligan says St.Louis ticks that box as well.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> "W</span></span>hen he was hired up there last year, I said to myself, one thing he won't do is embarrass his players," he remembers. "He'll back them up, and he'll do one on ones with them if he has anything serious to say. He won't make a spectacle or coach through the media. He'll be right up front with these guys. He's not gonna blame anybody else except himself if things go wrong. He takes the hits. He'll own everything."</div><div><span> Third on the Forbes list: "They play chess, not checkers." That is to say, they recognize not all pieces of their teams are interchangeable. They each have a specific set of traits that can be applied in a situation, and there are situations when a particular team member cannot be used.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> "</span></span>Marty has been in every situation," says Lecavalier. "He's been a fourth liner, he's been an American Leaguer, he's been everything. He relates to everybody because he's been through it all. He can relate to a fourth liner. He can related to that guy who's gonna be up and down all year. He can relate to the top player. The only thing he can't relate to is probably the goalie."</div><div><span> "</span>That's what makes him understand that everybody does need a role on a team and how important everybody is on a team. Even if you're playing eight or nine minutes, he'll get the best eight or nine minutes for that guy. I think he really understands that."</div><div><span> Next, a great boss is who he is all the time, with no pretense, false promises or hidden agendas.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> "</span></span>He's as serious in life as he is in hockey," Gilligan explains. "He expects a lot from the people around him, but he expects more from himself. He doesn't change. He hasn't changed one bit since I've met him. He doesn't forget anybody. With all his successes, his best friends are some of the guys he grew up with along the way. Not big shot type players, but just regular friends. He's as nice to them as he is to everyone else."</div><div><span> Number five on the Forbes list is "a great boss is a port in a storm." When everything is going to crap, he's the one who calms everyone down and remains cool under pressure.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> "</span></span>I think he's pretty calm," Lecavalier says. "I think he was like that as a player. That's probably very hard to do as a coach because you're basically looked at as either a winner or a loser. A lot of coaches can't take the losing."</div><div><span> "</span>I think Marty's done a really good job in believing in the process of getting better. Sometimes you don't always get the results, but you know that's gonna come. So I think as a coach, it's good to be patient if your team is trending in the right direction and he's doing that."</div><div><span> According to the list, an excellent boss is also human, not afraid of emotion or embarrassed to show his own. He's also warm and relates to his people as people before workers</span><br /></div><div><span><span> "</span></span>He's very easy to talk to," Lecavalier shares. "He was a guy who wasn't afraid to go and talk to coaches, and that's what he's bringing. His door's always open. Not every coach does that. They say their door is open, but it's not really."</div><div><span> "</span>But he's a good communicator. He understands everybody has different needs and responds to different ways of coaching. I can just remember with me and John Tortorella, it was hard for me to go into his office. And Marty would say why won't you go in his office? You'll feel so much better after. You'll both feel better. He was always about communication, and he does that with his players."</div><div><span> And finally, according to Forbes, a great boss is humble.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> "</span></span>He doesn't brag on himself at all," Gilligan confirms. "As much as he's done, he doesn't talk about himself. He just goes on with his life and tries to help people around him. He just loves the sport and respects it so much. It's given him a career and it's been his lifelong dream."</div><div><span> If St.Louis has all the qualities of a great boss, neither Gilligan nor Lecavalier is surprised.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> "</span></span>I got in the league before him, but I was five years younger," says Lecavalier. "He really helped me on my mental game. He made sure I got better. He was a natural leader that brought the best out of me. He was almost like a player-coach type guy with not just the caring, but how to play the game. Little things on the ice that make you better. He was a big brother type of guy. A friend and a guy you could talk to."</div><div><span> "</span>He sees the game like he's in the third balcony. He's always had great hockey sense. Even when he played with me, he'd suggest things to do," Gilligan says.</div><div><span> "</span>I remember on his first penalty kill with us, he came off the ice and I said 'Hey Marty, when you get that puck, you get rid of it and throw it down the other end.' He looked at me and said 'I kind of see it as an offensive opportunity. There's fewer people out there to go around.' He was almost like a coach from day one for us."</div><div><span> "</span>He was a great hire. Some of the younger kids have rallied around him. They're really starting to grow as players right now. He's a good match for them. Some of them remember him as a player. It wasn't that long ago that he was doing the stuff they're trying to do right now."</div><div><span> "</span>He's got a great set of values. As good as he is as a hockey person, he's a hall of famer in life. He's quite a guy."</div><div><span> </span></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒🏒</div><div><br /></div><div><span> Back in Gander, after the Canadiens crew were screeched in and shared a few laughs and beers, they headed out to get ready for the next day's game.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> At the door, they stopped and looked around. "Where's Marty?" they asked.</span><br /></span></div><div><span><span><span> Looking back, there he was.</span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span> Quietly helping the bartender clear away the empties before he hit the road.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span> </span></span></span></div></div>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-7185366486708727992020-05-11T03:43:00.001-11:002020-05-11T03:43:30.208-11:00Head Down, Stay Down<span id="goog_792074690"></span><span id="goog_792074691"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgVpThesdcfh66g0egYX13xOD8lN2X64D9MFeYzDVEkHHPDDG0N1yOYFUg2zpSEwlVe23aa7Ip26BTLnRxtMnQcKBP9R3f9z01OMUBeK6kjMa5Uv-c2XfZQk1N3wuI8xgmNEM_2RplJtq/s1600/hockey+closed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgVpThesdcfh66g0egYX13xOD8lN2X64D9MFeYzDVEkHHPDDG0N1yOYFUg2zpSEwlVe23aa7Ip26BTLnRxtMnQcKBP9R3f9z01OMUBeK6kjMa5Uv-c2XfZQk1N3wuI8xgmNEM_2RplJtq/s1600/hockey+closed.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I love hockey. I love the speed, excitement, fun and brilliance of the game.<br />
<br />
I love the Canadiens and all their storied history and hopeful future. But right now, I don't want hockey back.<br />
<br />
I don't want a weird empty-seat arena with no involvement from fans, or a staged, odd Stanley Cup playoff featuring quarantined players cobbled together by league officials to keep the money coming in.<br />
<br />
It's not worth it. South Korea, generally recognized as the best example of effectively suppressing COVID-19 in the world, decided to gently rescind some of its isolation restrictions, and yesterday reported 85 new cases in Seoul. In North America, where meat-packing plants and seniors' homes are incubators for the virus, there's no way to avoid an escalation of disease and death by returning to business as usual anytime soon.<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
I am not a good flyer, so several years ago, while watching "Sully," I was petrified by the flight attendants shouting for passengers to "Brace, brace, brace! Head down, stay down" as the plane plunged toward the Hudson River below.<br />
<br />
That's kind of the way it feels about wishing pro sports back right now. We're not safe from this virus. We're not even aware of everything it can do to the human body. Right now, we've hit a flock of diseased geese and we're plunging toward the river as health officials warn us to brace for impact.<br />
<br />
In that environment, players who have no alternative than to be within close proximity to each other while sneezing, spitting and otherwise sharing droplets, would be at serious risk of passing the virus around. Even if they stayed in hotels to avoid infecting their families, nobody really knows the long-term effects on high-level athletes. Early research says it can damage the circulatory system and narrow the arteries. And we know it can open the immune system to other infections. There's also early evidence of long-term loss of lung capacity that could take years to repair.<br />
<br />
For young men whose livelihoods depend on good health and superior physical ability, returning to play now seems like a dangerous and unnecessary risk to take.<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
We know players want to play. Even the Canadiens, who had zero chance of making the playoffs this year, refused to lie down and give up. But you know what? Nobody's getting what they want as this pandemic continues.<br />
<br />
Our kids don't get to graduate from high school or have a prom like everyone else had. Our mothers didn't get to see their grandchildren on Mother's Day. Those of us who are working from home feel isolated and disconnected from our co-workers and the energy we share when we work together. Birthday parties, funerals, weddings, holidays, anniversaries, church services...everything that we do to mark the passing of milestones and the ceremony we need to acknowledge our life-changing moments are not happening. And no, Zoom is not the same.<br />
<br />
So, in light of the unknown and serious consequences of contracting this virus, in an environment when everything else in life has changed, upset over missing a few pro hockey games seems a bit frivolous.<br />
<br />
I want to see Nick Suzuki develop into the dynamo he'll be in a year or so. I'd love to watch Brendan Gallagher drive the net with that big shit-eating grin. But I want them and their teammates and all the athletes for whom we love to cheer to stay alive. I want them to be healthy and not risk damaging their hearts and lungs because the NHL decided it's okay to finish the season this year.<br />
<br />
It's not okay. It's scary and dangerous and although the league has in the past ignored evidence proving brain injury is a serious problem in the game, it has a chance now to protect the players it employs.<br />
<br />
They have kids and parents and a life outside hockey, so for all their sakes, I hope they put their heads down and keep them down until this thing lands safely on the other side.<br />
<br />
Anyway, it's much more fun watching the Habs win the Cup in re-runs than it is to watch them play a dozen meaningless games over the rest of this season while putting their very lives at risk. Sometimes it's better when you know the movie has a happy ending.<br />
<br />J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-73747051462397053802020-01-28T06:24:00.000-11:002020-01-28T06:24:15.601-11:00Deal or No Deal?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WfwCLWwhXCo27DZ4qtOyyDLJh_rHChoVQBIqr8bI5pAfgLFfmiXWD84I7uxhyphenhyphenIAE9u9kJ-zWl79eds3UUAYtrKQMu_0dO0dKmcGE-cu9imret94Awel058XAdUCU0Gl2IgSKq16reDJf/s1600/deal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WfwCLWwhXCo27DZ4qtOyyDLJh_rHChoVQBIqr8bI5pAfgLFfmiXWD84I7uxhyphenhyphenIAE9u9kJ-zWl79eds3UUAYtrKQMu_0dO0dKmcGE-cu9imret94Awel058XAdUCU0Gl2IgSKq16reDJf/s320/deal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Canadiens are going to make the playoffs.<br />
<br />
I don't believe that, but the players think they have a chance if they play their hearts out and get a bit of luck along the way. The important thing is, the veterans are holding to that belief.<br />
<br />
For a team that purports to be dedicated to developing a winner from within, that's a very important teaching tool. The core of young players like Jonathan Drouin, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nick Suzuki, Cale Fleury, Max Domi and Victor Mete and those who will be following them to the Show soon, need to know how to believe.<br />
<br />
That's why it's important for Marc Bergevin to avoid moving players like Tomas Tatar at the trade deadline next month.<br />
<br />
Unless he intends to do a proper, thorough rebuild and attempt to trade big-salaried veterans like Carey Price and Shea Weber, there's not really a point in trading for picks that may or may not pan out eventually and giving up players who are producing and helping the current youth group grow.<br />
<br />
The Canadiens draft record isn't so stellar that they can count on converting second and third-round picks to lineup regulars in the next three years. So becoming caught up in a cycle of trading for picks, then trading those fledgling players for more picks in an eternal void of success doesn't make sense.<br />
<br />
It's better for the youth to develop with leadership and hope for a year or two before dumping players for picks.<br />
<br />
After all, how many examples have we seen of young players arriving, filled with hope and expectation, only to be mishandled, underdeveloped or traded away? And all the other examples of trading for picks, only to trade those picks on for another player who'll, in turn, be traded away?<br />
<br />
The Canadiens have to do something different if they hope to develop this group well enough to actually open a Cup window. Right now, if they learn to believe in themselves, that's enough.<br />
<br />
So, no deal. The Canadiens are likely not going to make the playoffs, but if they get healthy and pull together, that belief could make all the difference.J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-21767545153161369862019-12-04T05:05:00.001-11:002019-12-04T05:05:11.822-11:00There's Life in the Old Team Yet<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxhvOkPotmvHdRDYBSEewPpZ-3XCTCSxhVKBsHO0-QVhco9hSnyGw5HuimPPd_IgZsn3gcu5gTa_qWAnD1cefYN9REgPdPwRg3d49u5o5DVrVmmNjx1MPaRrL-QCar4yRjHGo9NcQwy0w/s1600/habs+110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxhvOkPotmvHdRDYBSEewPpZ-3XCTCSxhVKBsHO0-QVhco9hSnyGw5HuimPPd_IgZsn3gcu5gTa_qWAnD1cefYN9REgPdPwRg3d49u5o5DVrVmmNjx1MPaRrL-QCar4yRjHGo9NcQwy0w/s400/habs+110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: NHL.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I have to admit, I dreaded last night's Habs 110th birthday celebrations at the Bell Centre. Injuries to key players, obvious holes in the lineup and an eight-game winless streak appeared to set the stage for one of those slightly cynical walks down memory lane the recent Canadiens have taken.<br />
<br />
You know the ones: The Torch emerges, an emotional video montage stirs up the hearts of fans who remember the Stanley Cup in Montreal, leaving those who don't wondering what winning must have felt like. As the years have passed, more of the latter fill the seats and the ceremonies have begun to feel like an outdated organization throwing a new coat of paint over a broken infrastructure to hide the rusty spots.<br />
<br />
Pleasantly, last night turned out to be a ceremony that was unexpectedly touching. Perhaps it's because all those people in the seats who've never seen the team win a Cup related to the players who didn't win one either. Although booed and criticized when they played, now that they've passed the torch, they...Pierre Turgeon, Brian Gionta, Saku Koivu...are part of the younger fans' understanding of the team and the nostalgia they feel for those players is no less valid than that of fans who watched Yvan Cournoyer hoist the trophy.<br />
<br />
They're still Montreal Canadiens, and they did their best to uphold tradition, even when poor management, bad coaching, injuries, salaries and disadvantageous draft positions stripped away the winning culture their predecessors created. It was kind of refreshing to accept the legacy of players who tried and didn't quite reach their goals, instead of trying to wring every last drop of dusty romance out of the exploits of players long past.<br />
<br />
So, on a night of brotherhood with an audience of new generation fans, it was right that Koivu got the loudest reception.<br />
<br />
And it was right that Philip Danault scored with less than a second left in the first to give his team the lead in the same fashion in which they'd lost it so many times this year. It was right that the insurance goal was an end-to-end pinpoint shot from current captain, Shea Weber.<br />
<br />
It's certain the win to break that losing streak gives a certain glow to the ceremony it might not otherwise have had. However, it also signalled a new kind of celebration of the team's history; one that includes the everyday players with whom most fans under forty identify. By including guys who will never be Hall-of-Famers, the team is no longer pretending the last 27 years haven't happened.J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-14542385299460654222018-02-25T09:44:00.000-11:002018-02-25T09:45:13.157-11:00In MemoriamPLEKANEC, Tomas "Pleky" - Traded reluctantly away at the Bell Centre in Montreal, hardworking, reliable centreman, Tomas Plekanec, in his 35th year.<br />
<br />
Born in Kladno, Czech Republic on Halloween night, 1982, Plekanec began playing hockey at an early age. At 18, he was selected in the third round of the NHL entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens, 71st overall.<br />
<br />
While playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs as a young prospect, he narrowly escaped getting traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for Alex Kovalev. Rangers GM chose Josef Balej instead, which worked out well for the Canadiens. Plekanec would go on to centre Kovalev on the Habs most productive line in twenty years.<br />
<br />
It was also in Hamilton that Plekanec discovered a fondness for his signature turtleneck. The two spent a very happy fifteen years together.<br />
<br />
Known as an excellent two-way player, Plekanec was often given the difficult task of shutting down the opposition's top centres during the playoffs, which he did without complaint, even if it meant not scoring as much himself. He always put his team first, including while discretely carving up opponents with his stick in the corners. It's to his credit that Brad Marchand and Sidney Crosby admitted hating his guts.<br />
<br />
A man of few words, when Plekanec did speak, he told the unvarnished truth. This included describing his play as being that of "a little girl" on one memorable playoff occasion. It also got him into trouble with the Washington Capitals when he pointed out their team's goalies weren't as good as the Canadiens'. He saved himself by scoring a thrilling overtime winner in the first playoff game between the two teams in 2010, becoming known, briefly, as Tomas Jagr.<br />
<br />
On February 25, 2018, Plekanec was indiscriminately dispatched to Toronto, ensuring he won't get to play his thousandth NHL game this year, and Habs fans can no longer cheer for him because it would mean a leaf Cup.<br />
<br />
He leaves to mourn thousands of loyal supporters who felt his pain at the dozens of stone-handed linemates he got stuck with over the years.<br />
<br />
He will be sadly missed.<br />
<br />
<br />J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-30874785427152938932018-01-23T09:17:00.000-11:002018-01-24T06:42:37.046-11:00Why We Still Should Love Pleky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuOWtDWNNQcBfopAiA58ve-UQk_aJkADb_Y1w4mYOvh4SfuP6KWakbT4ytQXQmbRBnoP413H31PnIQACSWz7tToO73xWbuzpZnswFcQpAjt_p3z5YudMEXuXRMsBirDWWLRIik8dPvGaR/s1600/pleky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuOWtDWNNQcBfopAiA58ve-UQk_aJkADb_Y1w4mYOvh4SfuP6KWakbT4ytQXQmbRBnoP413H31PnIQACSWz7tToO73xWbuzpZnswFcQpAjt_p3z5YudMEXuXRMsBirDWWLRIik8dPvGaR/s320/pleky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you've read my blog in the past, you'll know I have only had two Habs players I considered my "favourites" in a particular era. In my early years as a fan, I adored the young Patrick Roy. I loved his skills, his attitude (the Wink!) and his willingness to drop 'em in a goalie fight whenever the spirit moved him. His trade put my relationship with the Canadiens on hold for nearly five years.<br />
<br />
For the last decade-plus, my favourite has been Tomas Plekanec. I love his two-way game, and his brutal honesty. And, most of all, I respect the way he always did whatever the coaches asked of him without complaint, even if it meant his own stats suffered in the process.<br />
<br />
Now, however, my boy is old. Last season he was on the road to being a hockey senior citizen, but now he's there. With the encroachment of age, his offensive-zone play has dropped off and the vultures are circling. Angry, disillusioned fans are looking for someone to blame for the disaster this season has been, and they want Pleky dumped for a pick at the deadline. While it's within the realm of common sense to trade a player in his declining years if the return is decent, it doesn't make sense to dump a guy who's given everything to the franchise for peanuts over nearly a thousand NHL games just...because.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, and remembering what an unexpectedly solid career this third-rounder has had in Montreal, there are still reasons why we should love Pleky.<br />
<br />
1. The time he scored a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lHQjuP7bk0">5-on-3 shorty against the leafs</a>. I had actually never witnessed a shorty with two men down before, so this was extra cool. It was also an added bonus that Phaneuf was on the ice when he got the breakaway. How can you not love the guy?!<br />
<br />
2. One of the all-time greatest Pleky moments was in the 2010 playoffs, when he scored the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY_XZ7tw1Dw">OT winner in Game One against the Caps</a>. After honestly saying the Washington goalie tandem wasn't the best in the league, Jose Theodore mocked him, pretending he'd never heard of him and then calling him "Jagr." It was SO sweet to watch him own Theodore on the winning goal, it's become a classic Plekanec moment.<br />
<br />
3. One of Plekanec's trademarks is his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8noPm3Ld_LM">unselfish</a> play. If a teammate has two goals, he'll always look for that guy for the hat trick. If another player has the better look, Pleky will give up his own chance to score and give it to his teammate. He's team-first and always has been..<br />
<br />
4. Pleky actually has an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6zre6qPWIs">underrated shot</a>. He's scored some important, unexpected goals over the years because of his sneakily-quick shot.<br />
<br />
5. While his shot is good, his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeJIUkbJHz4">passing</a> is Plekanec's real offensive weapon. In his prime, he could thread a needle with black thread in the dark at midnight.<br />
<br />
6. Over the years, Plekanec has spent about two-and-a-half minutes <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmazPkGuzVU">penalty killing</a> per game. This often meant his offensive production slowed down as the wear-and-tear of the heavy workload wore on him later in the season. The problem has always been, the Habs have had nobody who's better at it, so Pleky gave away some of his scoring in order to be a more well-rounded player, for the good of the team.<br />
<br />
7. He's probably the only guy in the world, other than the Dos Equis dude who can rock <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHimhFoDqHE">the turtleneck</a><br />
<br />
8. Over the years, my favourite moments of any game have been Tomas Plekanec <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4nVPS0k7K8">breakaways</a>. The anticipation that allowed him to intercept an opponent's pass or receive one in the clear, then the head-down, all-out turbo speed up ice was always so exciting.<br />
<br />
9. I believe you have to love Plekanec just because <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqh5MVW5LQI">Brad Marchand hates him</a>. Any player that little meathead despises is good enough for me.<br />
<br />
10. It's very special that, after a dozen years in the NHL, Plekanec has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPt1VW_Agq8">always been a Hab</a>. It's extremely rare in these days of early free agency and deadline trade deals that a player stays with a single team for a career, so it's a little bit remarkable when it happens. Pleky is less than forty games away from achieving that landmark as a Canadien, and it's reflective of the value he's had to this team for such a long time.<br />
<br />
So, there you go. Even though he's old and doesn't score much anymore, Tomas Plekanec has earned our respect and praise. If he's traded next month, let it be for a real return. Otherwise, let him retire as a Canadien as a sign of the honour he's earned as an excellent Hab. We shouldn't forget all he's done just because his boss didn't build a better team.<br />
<br />
<br />J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-49587998993132289702018-01-03T03:05:00.002-11:002018-01-03T03:05:22.522-11:00Taking the PulseOn September 4, 1943, Wing Commander J.F.Young at the RCAF base in Gander, Newfoundland, took a B-24 Liberator bomber up as part of an experiment in airplane noise levels. It was meant to be a routine flight, but local people, to their horror, watched the big bomber make a slow turn, then plummet directly down into Gander Lake. Divers attempted to salvage the wreck, but found the plane resting on a ledge balanced between shallow and deeper water. During the course of the operation, the plane slipped off the ledge and sank to the bottom of the lake where it lay out of range of recovery. It's been sitting there for almost 75 years.<br />
<br />
Well, Habs fans, your team is on the ledge.<br />
<br />
They can't score goals, aren't great at preventing them and are likely going to finish in the draft lottery. From there, they will probably pick a player with talent whom they'll either rush to the NHL before he's ready or bequeath to the Sylvain Lefebvre development program, which has produced one playoff round at the AHL level in five years (they were swept) and looks unlikely to make the post season this year. On the current NHL roster, the only Canadiens draft picks who spent time under Lefebvre are Charles Hudon, Jacob de la Rose and Brendan Gallagher. They have 40 points between them this year...the majority of those from Gallagher who only played 36 games in the "development" league back in 2012.<br />
<br />
This is a bad hockey team with very little hope for a quick turnaround in the future. It's not the worst group the Habs have iced since their last Cup in 1993, but it may be the most demoralising. Once upon a time, fans remembered what it felt like to win, and so did the players. Even if they lost, they still tried hard. Now they look lost, disorganized and completely hopeless. A large number of fans who buy jerseys and tickets have never seen a championship team in Montreal. Even the <a href="https://theathletic.com/201680/2018/01/03/basu-apathy-has-set-in-at-the-bell-centre-a-message-has-been-sent/">formerly die-hard, willing-to-live-in-the-past fans</a> have had enough and are sending their chilly message of unacceptability at the Bell Centre. It won't be long before the silence comes not from disapproving fans, but from empty seats.<br />
<br />
With the current state of affairs being what it is, I thought it would be interesting to gauge the mood of long-time fans. To that end, here's a little quiz:<br />
<br />
<b>1. You think Carey Price's contract is:</b><br />
<b>a) Appropriate. He's the only one on the team who's earning his money.</b><br />
<b>b) Too much for too long. His deal is as bad as Luongo's in Vancouver.</b><br />
<b>c) Ridiculous. He should have been traded for assets before he signed the extension.</b><br />
<b>d) Brilliant. It's all part of Marc Bergevin's plan to burn the Habs to ashes, only to have them rise, phoenix-like from the ashes to glory.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>2. The current defence-corps is:</b><br />
<b>a) Decent. They've had some injuries, but the regular top six are competent and not to blame for the current mess.</b><br />
<b>b) Better than last year. Bergevin said so.</b><br />
<b>c) Hopeless. They're more likely to lead a conga line at Mardi Gras than impede an oncoming forward.</b><br />
<b>d) Missing the General. We hope you're enjoying your millions of available cap space, Bergevin.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>3. The captain should be:</b><br />
<b>a) Traded. He's one of the few movable assets with a decent contract for another year and a chance to bring a useful return.</b><br />
<b>b) Given another chance. He's one of the best goal scorers in the league since the lockout, and the Canadiens can't afford to give up offence.</b><br />
<b>c) Demoted from the captaincy. He's not temperamentally suited to the position because he's too hard on himself when he struggles.</b><br />
<b>d) Made to be the marshal of Montreal's "We Used to Have Pride" parade. Follows the old Stanley Cup route, but in January. At night.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>4. The Drouin-for-Sergachev trade was:</b><br />
<b>a) Great. The team had to give to get, and badly needed offence.</b><br />
<b>b) Good for cultural appeal. The Canadiens must have a French-Canadian star, even if he's not yet living up to expectations.</b><br />
<b>c) Dreadful. Sergachev, an 19-year-old D is putting up more points and playing a much better all-around game than the Great Hope and will continue to be the better player for many years.</b><br />
<b>d) Just another brick in the wall. More evidence of Bergevin blinded to all else by the sheer number of colours in his suit closet.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>5. Should the Habs end up with a lottery pick, they should:</b><br />
<b>a) Take the best possible player, regardless of position. There are so many holes on the team, everything is needed.</b><br />
<b>b) Deliberately choose the best centre available. The position has been an Achilles heel for so many years, it's got to be a priority in a rebuild.</b><br />
<b>c) Pick Minnesota's Mr. Hockey. Just because it's been a while.</b><br />
<b>d) Give it back. This team no longer deserves to spoil good young players.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>6. The team is having such trouble scoring because of:</b><br />
<b>a) The system. Claude Julien's defence-first system is too similar to his predecessor's, and built for a stronger, more mobile group.</b><br />
<b>b) The lack of talent. Nobody in the forward positions is capable of hitting the water from a boat in a good year. Don't even ask about the D.</b><br />
<b>c) NHL regulations. Carey Price is not allowed to skate past the red line.</b><br />
<b>d) Fidelity. Scoring outside the home would make them unfaithful.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>7. The song that most makes you think of the Habs this year is:</b><br />
<b>a) Kelly Clarkson's "Beautiful Disaster."</b><br />
<b>b) Def Leppard's "Armageddon It."</b><br />
<b>c) The Who's "So Sad About Us."</b><br />
<b>d) Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It."</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>8. If Geoff Molson decides to part ways with Marc Bergevin, the Habs should:</b><br />
<b>a) Hire Patrick Roy. At least the press conferences would be interesting.</b><br />
<b>b) Hire the fans. A reality show-like contest to choose a management committee could be a source of untapped revenue.</b><br />
<b>c) Bring back Serge Savard. Maybe there's a little savvy left in the last GM to bring a Cup to Montreal. Plus, he'd be available for ceremonies dwelling on the team's past.</b><br />
<b>d) Hire the best possible candidate. The team can't afford the niceties of choosing a language preference for this position.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>9. If you were offered seats in the red for fifty bucks, you would:</b><br />
<b>a) Go. What the hell; you've followed the team for this long.</b><br />
<b>b) Go and boo. Fifty bucks is cheap for a chance to let this team know how it's made you feel.</b><br />
<b>c) Pass. You'd rather use the money for underpants and deodorant.</b><br />
<b>d) Laugh uproariously. For $22, you can see the Lightning play real hockey. In Florida.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>10. At this point, your feelings about being a Habs fan are best described as:</b><br />
<b>a) Defiant. No matter how bad they are, you will watch because they're your team.</b><br />
<b>b) Bitter. They had good players over the years, but management has failed them.</b><br />
<b>c) Sad. You're glad Jean Beliveau can't see this.</b><br />
<b>d) Indifferent. This team has been useless for so long now, you realize you haven't seen a game in a month because you've been busy playing classic Nintendo.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I'm interested to see how you're feeling, fans. Especially because right now, the Canadiens are balancing on a ledge between shallow water and seventy-five years in the unreachable depths.<br />
<br />
<br />J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-48687108864527232442017-10-26T12:35:00.000-11:002017-10-26T12:35:17.397-11:00Eating Their YoungThere's something seriously wrong in Montreal when it comes to nurturing the next generation.<br />
<br />
Take a look at the last ten years of drafting. In 2007, the Canadiens picked four future NHL players. Only Max Pacioretty remains with the team, where he still regularly faces public criticism about his fitness to be captain, his on-ice production and his crises of confidence. Somehow, he claims to love playing in Montreal.<br />
<br />
P.K.Subban was traded for Shea Weber after several years of veiled implications that he was a me-first player and amid outright finger pointing from his coach. Ryan McDonagh didn't even get the chance to prove himself in the NHL before getting traded for Scott Gomez, in part because management didn't like his performance at the world juniors the previous winter. He's now a star in New York. Yannick Weber had an up-and-down career in Montreal, but remains in the NHL with the Predators. That was the best draft class the Canadiens have had in the last decade.<br />
<br />
The next two drafts, in 2008 and 2009, saw 112 NHL games played among the twelve players chosen. Notable among them was first-rounder Louis Leblanc, who suffered the dreaded high-ankle sprain in 2012. He came back in the AHL to minimal ice-time with scrub linemates and little PP time. Worse were reports that coach Sylvain Lefebvre systematically destroyed his confidence, even that he tied elastic bands to the player's skates to improve his stride. Leblanc eventually was traded for a fifth-round pick.<br />
<br />
In 2010, the draft yielded NHLer Brendan Gallagher in the fifth round. The year's first-rounder was Jarred Tinordi who never earned the trust of his coaches and was traded for a couple of scrubs shortly before receiving a 20-game suspension for drug violations. The following year, the Habs picked one NHLer in first-rounder Nathan Beaulieu. He's now a member of the Buffalo Sabres; traded for a third-round pick after failing to live up to his potential in Montreal, and following newspaper reports about his penchant for partying and his lack of respect for fans.<br />
<br />
That brings us to 2012. For the first time since Carey Price was drafted fifth overall in 2005, the Canadiens had a lottery pick and a chance to add some serious talent to a struggling lineup. Some might argue (with hindsight) that Filip Forsberg would have been the more productive pick, but Galchenyuk was a solid choice with tons of potential.<br />
<br />
As it's turned out, though, his developmental learning curve has been just as steep and rocky as some of his predecessors'. Thrust into the NHL spotlight at 18, Galchenyuk has been the subject of debate about whether he's qualified to play centre every season since. He's been publicly mocked for being involved in a domestic altercation with a girlfriend and criticized for being Beaulieu's party pal. This season he's been regularly demoted to fourth-line wing duty in punishment for a lack of production.<br />
<br />
Now this young player is dealing with the malicious revelation that he may have voluntarily entered the NHL's substance abuse treatment program. The person who decided to publicly announce this was none other than ex-player and ex-coach Mario Tremblay who was convicted last year for refusing to give a give a breath sample in a suspected drunk driving incident.<br />
<br />
A player who voluntarily looks for help in the alcoholic culture of the NHL is to be applauded. We don't need to know their names or why they look for help. It's enough that they're self-aware enough to seek counselling in the first place.<br />
<br />
For an alleged hockey professional to break the sacred confidence of rehab and betray a young player is unforgivable. Tremblay should be ashamed.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, the Galchenyuk case is just the latest public embarrassment of a young player in Montreal. The party culture, the adulation of young women and the open-door policy of the local bar owners gives young men a degree of licence they don't get anywhere else. Unsurprisingly, they fall under the thrall of such privilege. The fact the team does little to help youngsters deal with the wealth of temptation in their city is shameful.<br />
<br />
Management studiously ignores the problems off ice and focus on criticism on the ice. That does nothing but destroy confidence and leave young players adrift.<br />
<br />
Just look at the last ten years and decide if the Canadiens' strategy of developing youngsters is working.<br />
<br />
Yeah.J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-65166278503283559862017-09-29T00:16:00.000-11:002017-09-29T10:41:19.577-11:00 Karma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRGquIop9Mp13hajuiWwKMrqVuvlwgAJvFl69bzlyv1tbWzW0rYT-LbKmryCEuWtKv4ShxqEShNXoVUl1eP2UFmQfgXu9w5BugHjr9X-zaBG8E4bYwidBwQB_oGUXEXxYHLwOCvABCH6k/s1600/Montreal+Canadiens+1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRGquIop9Mp13hajuiWwKMrqVuvlwgAJvFl69bzlyv1tbWzW0rYT-LbKmryCEuWtKv4ShxqEShNXoVUl1eP2UFmQfgXu9w5BugHjr9X-zaBG8E4bYwidBwQB_oGUXEXxYHLwOCvABCH6k/s400/Montreal+Canadiens+1000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394;">I confess, I haven't watched too much of the Canadiens' dreadful 2017-18 pre-season. Over years of supporting this team, I've realized the games in September really don't reflect what will happen when October comes. Still, you have to think ZERO wins in the warm-up games can't be a good sign.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">There are many reasons why Habs fans are going into the new year with trepidation. The loss of Andrei Markov who, even in his late thirties, played a ton of solid minutes on the back end last year will impact the stability of the blueline. Paying top dollar and term for Carey Price while doing little to shore up last year's struggling offence (Jonathan Drouin can't do everything) puts the team a knee injury away from disaster. The prospects are obviously not a match for those of other teams in the Northeast division. Victor Mete aside, it's hard to imagine most of them making the NHL any time soon.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Those are some stark facts which most of us recognize and we're skeptical going into the season because of them. <b><i>Most</i></b> of us.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">I have a friend, however, who's one of the most loyal Canadiens followers I've ever met. I mean, this is a <b>serious</b> fan. She grew up in the '70s in Massachusetts and wore a Habs sweater to the Boston Garden, which was a life-threatening move at the time. She's attended the Canadiens fantasy camp more than once. She has cats named for members of the 1950s Punch Line. She's been known to stalk Jacques Lemaire.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">When myself and my cynical fellow fans watch games, we start to get sarcastic around the time the second PP of the game shoots blanks. By the time the team is getting shut out by the Hurricanes, we're angry at management, the inept forwards and the universe. Not my friend.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Canadiens might be down 3-0 with a minute to go, and she's reminding us Bill Mosienko scored a hat trick in 21 seconds, and Jean Beliveau did it in 44. If they're down by three with twenty seconds to go, she reminds us records are made to be broken. She tells us Karma will save the day.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The only problem is, I don't think Karma is as good a friend as she does. One definition of it is: "The spiritual principal of cause and effect where intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect.)"<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> In other words, if you do good things, good things will come back to you. Likewise, if bad things (like the other team scoring on an iffy penalty call) happen to you, good things will come to offset the bad.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">That's a great theory for the hopeful among us. However, Karma isn't an in-game phenomenon. She has a long-term memory and she owes Canadiens fans a lot of payback. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Once upon a time, the Habs were members of a six-team league, blessed with a copious number of talented players right in their own back yard who all dreamed of playing in Montreal. The set-up brought five Cups in a row in the '50s and more in the '60s. Even after expansion the Habs had the best GM in the business in Sam Pollock. Pollock maneuvered the 1971 draft to land Guy Lafleur with the first pick. He regularly traded chaff for wheat, to the detriment of those who dealt with him. As a result, the Canadiens won a ton of Stanley Cups and fans did a lot of rubbing it in. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Now here we are with a dubiously-skilled GM in Marc Bergevin, with 2012 first-round pick Alex Galchenyuk, the most recent top draft choice to make the NHL, on the third line with trade rumours troubling him. The team is 25 seasons out from its last Stanley Cup and doesn't look much like a contender this year. Some might say, Karma is balancing the scales for decades of triumph with the drought we're in now. leafs fans are laughing at us. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I admire my friend for never giving up on the Canadiens, no matter what. She truly believes Karma will help them pull off the last-second OT goal or defend a precarious lead under pressure. I feel for the fans who are as optimistic as she is. Thanks to her, I believe in Karma too.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Only thing is, I believe Karma is a bitch.</span>J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-11186313345137884712017-04-22T14:37:00.001-11:002017-04-22T14:37:48.208-11:00The Price for PriceCarey Price is unquestionably one of the best goaltenders in the world right now. He's a Vezina and Hart Trophy winner. He led Canada to Olympic gold. He was a high first-round draft pick and a world junior gold medalist. The man is the real deal; a legit superstar.<br />
<br />
The only prize of significance Price has yet to win is the Stanley Cup. And one can argue he never will as long as he's in Montreal. General manager Marc Bergevin has had five years to take advantage of Price's prime and build a championship calibre team around him. Most would agree he's failed to do that. The Habs are not the Penguins or Blackhawks. That's why now is the right time to trade Price.<br />
<br />
The Canadiens have been trying to improve at the centre position for years now, but due to poor first-round drafting and suspect development of its prospects, the club has stagnated. A big reason for that is a chronic lack of tradeable assets. When you draft mediocre players it's tough to move them for players of greater value. You can't trade draft picks when you need them desperately yourself. And, when the roster is full of underperformers, it means potential trade partners want more than the diminutive winger who hasn't scored in twelve games with whom you're willing to part.<br />
<br />
To really gain, you have to give, and the Canadiens have little to give that would bring a significant return. The one enticing piece they could offer right now is Price. Even though he struggled for a lengthy period this season and has missed serious time with injuries in the last couple of years, his reputation as one of the best money goalies in the league persists. Teams close to a Cup, but missing that security in net, would be potential trade partners and the return would be high.<br />
<br />
There is a compelling case to move Price now. First of all, as a butterfly-style goalie with a history of joint injuries, his body's warranty is not unlimited. Turning thirty this summer, he may have two years or five of healthy play ahead of him. He may also end up with a debilitating injury in training camp next fall. He's not infallible and if he's hurt long-term, he's no good to the Canadiens and his return in a trade will drop precipitously.<br />
<br />
The second issue the Canadiens will have with Price is his next contract. He's got one year left with a cap hit of 6.5-million dollars, which, when you consider his role on the team and his contributions to it, is extremely reasonable. However, after next year, he'll be looking for lifetime security. He doesn't know, any more than we do, how long his body will hold up. At 31, a five or six-year deal will take him into his declining years even if he remains healthy. So, he'll likely be looking for the kind of money most teams' best players make. That's not unfair, but Bergevin has to be careful about ending up in a Luongo trap.<br />
<br />
Back in 2010, the Canucks signed Luongo to a twelve-year, 64-million dollar contract. At the same time, a young Corey Schneider was proving himself as an up-and-coming star. The Canucks would have loved to move Luongo to save the cap space and make room for Schneider, but the former's contract made him untradeable. In the end, Schneider got traded because he needed to play to fulfill his potential. Later when the collective bargaining agreement allowed salary retention, Luongo went to Florida and the Canucks ended up with neither of their star goalies; replacing them with an aging Ryan Miller and three out of the last four years with no playoffs.<br />
<br />
The Canadiens now are in a situation in which the goalie is the undisputed best player on the team. That means he has the most value. Watching the team in this playoff, in which one or two goals against are enough to lose a game, it's proof Price needs to go in exchange for a variety of pieces that will improve the team. After all, teams have won the Cup with decent, not star, goalies. But they've rarely won with ONLY a goalie.<br />
<br />
So, what's fair value for Price? Any team trading for him must, at the very least, offer its first-round pick. Then, considering the Habs dearth of useful prospects, there must be two solid prospect offers. One on forward and one on defence. A third-or-fourth line NHLer wouldn't be out of the equation either.<br />
<br />
Any way you look at it, Price's time of usefulness is coming to an end. A smart GM would realize that a team's best player can't be its goalie without other players to back him up. On the other hand, you CAN have a solid team with a merely decent goalie. If Bergevin can come to the logical conclusion, Price will move and the return for him will be the foundation of the next Cup.<br />
<br />J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-69423367872638250632016-11-05T05:16:00.001-11:002016-11-05T05:16:41.476-11:00The Price of Getting ShellackedMichel Therrien has done many dumb things in his NHL coaching career. Questionable overuse of mediocre players like David Desharnais, a failure to make tactical adjustments other than rearranging his line combinations and over-reliance on slowing veterans are chief among them. None of those obvious shortcomings have imperiled his position with his boss, Marc Bergevin.<br />
<br />
In another city, with another GM (see Pittsburgh, 2009), Therrien likely would have been replaced after a season like last year's. In Montreal, under Bergevin, however, Therrien has the enviable safety net of the best goalie in the world saving the team from disaster on a regular basis, and thereby glossing over the coach's failures. It's fair to say, based on the Habs record with and without him, Price is Therrien's ticket to job security.<br />
<br />
During the 10-0 dismantling of the Habs by the Columbus Blue Jackets, though, Therrien might have finally made a fatal error. Leaving Al Montoya in net for all ten Jackets goals humiliated the veteran goalie who obviously wasn't having a good night. While it's understandable for Therrien to want to give Price the night off and protect him from risking injury in what had become a meaningless game, Price had other ideas.<br />
<br />
As the score mounted and became more and more embarrassing, Price got up half-way into the second period and went to the tunnel to stretch. And stretch. Nobody told him to do so, but, like everyone else watching Montoya's embarrassment, Price assumed Therrien would show mercy and replace the guy. Price, the real leader of the Canadiens, was frustrated and upset by the way things were going on the ice and he wanted to get in there to help stop the bleeding. When that didn't happen; when the coach left his goaltending partner to serve out the whole mortifying sixty minutes without relief, Price could not have been happy.<br />
<br />
Whenever a team takes the kind of nosedive last year's Habs did, we say the coach has "lost the room," but Therrien managed to survive that because he had the "Price was injured" excuse to protect him. Now, with Price healthy and playing at the top of his game, Therrien has a bigger concern. When he threw Montoya under the bus, he risked losing Price's support. And if he loses Price, he really <i>has</i> lost the room.<br />
<br />
Max Pacioretty may wear the "C," but Carey Price is this team's captain. While it's not in his nature to quit just because he dislikes the coach, his opinion will influence his teammates. After that embarrassment in Columbus, he can't be thinking happy thoughts about Therrien. And that may be the dumbest thing Therrien has ever done.<br />
<br />
<br />J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-4417602718071869702016-10-27T07:10:00.000-11:002016-10-27T07:10:01.024-11:00Not Not the Habs Coach<b>The Scene: Marc Bergevin's office, June 1, 2016. Michel Therrien enters and takes a seat.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>Hi Marc. Thanks for the new golf gloves. I guess we'll give 'em a good workout with all the hockey we're not playing this summer, eh? Heh heh.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin (gritting teeth): </i>Yeah. About that, Mike...<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien (grinning vapidly): </i>Listen, before you say anything, I know things could have been better this year. But Pricer was hurt and then with everything else...well, you can't replace a player like that.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin (softening): </i>I know Carey's loss hurt the team...<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>Oh, yeah. Of course. But I was talking about when Davey hurt his foot. I mean, you just can't take him out and expect the offence to work. What was I supposed to do? Play Chucky at centre?!<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin: </i>Yeah. Anyway...I asked you here today because I wanted to tell you some great news.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>What is it?! Let me guess! You're trading P.K.?! No! Eller! Those guys bug me so much...<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin (looking guiltily around): </i>No! No, of course not. I'm not trading those guys. They're part of our core. No, it's about you, Mike.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>I know my rights! I have two more years at full pay, and you pinky swore you wouldn't do this! I've still got those pictures, you know!<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin: </i>No, no, you're not getting it! I'm not firing you. I'm giving you a promotion!<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>Oh. Well, that's more like it. But, I like coaching. I get to wear my good ties and look smart on TV.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin:</i> I know you do. But this is so much better. You, Mike, are going from coach to...figurehead!<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>Hey! That's not a promotion. I'm not <i>that </i>dumb!<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin: </i>I know that! Just listen. When the Vikings conquered half of Europe, they ruled the seas and struck fear into the hearts of opponents. Leading the way were the fierce, terrifying figureheads of their ships. People saw them and just threw down their swords. Now, isn't that something to be proud of?<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>I guess. But...<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin: </i>I'm not done. Think about the Queen of England. Or the Emperor of Japan. They're rich, famous, honoured. But you know what? They're also figureheads. Now, who wouldn't want to be in that company?<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien (showing a little more enthusiasm):</i> Okaaaay.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin: </i>It's like this, Mike. A lot of people hate you. And I know that hurts your feelings deeply. I want to take the burden of making hard decisions like who to put on the PP and when to take your time out off your shoulders. You've been around too long and have done too much to have those kinds of grunt problems on your plate.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>Well, it's true I could use some support, for sure.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin: </i>That's the spirit! And the best part is, you can still wear your nice ties and talk to the media in French. You just won't have to do all that boring game prep and period-to-period adjustment stuff.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>Weeelll...if I still get to be on TV, I guess that's okay. But who's going to do all the boring stuff?<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin: </i>I know it's going to be super hard to find anyone as good at it as you are, but leave it with me and I'll find someone. I'm sure there's got to be a guy out there somewhere who doesn't mind being a lowly coach.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrin (rising to leave): </i>Thanks, Marc. You've totally made my day. I can't wait to tell the family I'm going to be the Habs new figurehead.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin: </i>Hey! Not just any figurehead. You're the first one in the history of this proud franchise. I wouldn't have given it to just anyone!<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Therrien: </i>Awww! Buddy! See ya on the golf course!<br />
<br />
<b>Therrien leaves. After a beat, Bergevin hits a number on his phone.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Bergevin: </i>Okay, Kirky. It's all set. The newser is at 2:00 tomorrow. We're going to call you an "associate," but you know the deal right?<br />
<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">Kirk Muller: </i>Yep. See ya in the playoffs!<br />
<br />
<br />J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-83329389516895102142016-07-20T04:35:00.001-11:002016-09-13T07:44:13.990-11:00Cult of Personality<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
When my youngest child was a pre-schooler, she was extremely energetic. All. The. Time. You'd wake up, bleary-eyed early <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2055683562" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Sunday </span></span>morning and she'd be standing there beside your bed with her fork in her hand asking chirpily, "Can you make me waffles?" Followed shortly by, "Let's go on a family outing!" Or "I want to make my own kite. I have some string!" Ignoring her was not an option because her sheer will made her something of a force of nature. She wasn't rude or angry; just persistent and enthusiastic. She was a pint-sized tornado in a jar, and the jar was my house.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
A child like that can be a wonderful gift. It can also be exhausting. On one hand, you'll go places and do things you never imagined you would at the start of the day, and that joy can be infectious. On the other, sometimes you're just not in the mood. At those times, you just wish there was a pause button or a volume control you could press to get five minutes of peace. It's an impossible wish, though, so you learn to adapt your life and your family to embrace the little whirlwind because you love her. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
When that whirlwind leaves the family and becomes an adult in a workplace, not everybody embraces him or her. Without the love and acceptance of long, tolerant acquaintance, that in-your-face, joyful person quickly becomes annoying. Constant energy, rather than positively charging others, can become obnoxious when it intrudes on their mood. I think of this when I contemplate the P.K.Subban trade.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
From a hockey perspective, I'm not sure the Canadiens got the best of the bargain. Subban is younger than Shea Weber, which, in an increasingly young league, should have been a bargaining chip for youth in return. Subban's game is built on speed and agility which are two valuable elements at a time when speed and agility make you hard to defend and can win you a Cup. Weber is about toughness, solid positioning and a heavy shot. Those are valuable assets too, but weather differently than Subban's gifts. Both players add something to a team. Only the passage of games will determine whether the addition of Weber weighs heavier in the asset column for the Canadiens than the subtraction of Subban lightens it.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
In terms of money management, Subban carries a higher cap hit for a shorter time, which is appropriate for a younger player with a Norris Trophy to his credit. Weber's $7.85-million cap hit is cheaper than Subban's in the now, and his six-million actual salary over the last four years of his deal, without an accompanying no-movement clause makes him tradeable if he's no longer in the Canadiens' plans. Essentially, money-wise, assuming both players work out the length of their contracts, the trade's a wash.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
Much of the outrage surrounding the trade comes from perceptions that, over time and with repetition, became unshakable truths. Subban was one of the players whom, if you'd asked any fan to name the Canadiens' untouchable core, would be immediately mentioned. He was meant to be a pillar during this "window" for winning the Cup. There's also the perception that management didn't appreciate him or really like him that much. And there's a perception that his race or his attention to his personal brand contributed to those feelings.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
Of course, had he remained with the Canadiens, Subban would have still been one of the players around which the team is anchored. However, replacing him with Weber doesn't mean the team is adrift. It just means there's a different anchor. In the anger over the loss of Subban, people are missing the truth that Weber is an elite player as well.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
In regard to management's dislike of Subban, I think there's truth in that, but I don't believe it had anything to do with race or activity outside the team. For fans, who only saw Subban's antics through carefully released video vignettes, he was a one-of-a-kind character. His big heart was on display when he dressed up as a security guard to surprise underprivileged kids. His million-watt smile lit up every crushed velvet suit and fedora he wore. He was a breath of fresh air that blew through a stagnant, cliche NHL like the first open window of spring. However, for those who spent all their time practicing and playing with him, attending meetings and travelling with him...working with him...I suspect Subban came across less like a bracing breeze and more like a tornado in a jar.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
Sometimes, when my youngest child is bored or tired or not getting the attention she requires, she cranks it up a notch. She pokes her brother and sister just to get a reaction. They poke back and there's squabbling and cries of "Can you just SHUT UP?!" I can't deny, on those days, when she's finally in bed and quiet, the atmosphere in the house changes to something approaching serenity. Although we love her dearly and she adds something special to our home, it's occasionally a relief when she's turned off.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
I imagine what it must be like when you work with someone so high-energy, for years at a time. At first it's funny. Then it's a bit irritating. Then, with repetition, it goes from outright annoying to unbearable. I can see how moving that person to another location, just for a change in atmosphere might be possible. I don't know if Subban's approach to life contributed to a deterioration of his relationship with the Canadiens, but I can understand it if it did.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
Marc Bergevin has decided to change the direction and tone of his team by replacing Subban with Weber. It's a message to the league that the Canadiens will be bigger, stronger and tougher. They'll also be slower, more conservative and less flashy. They'll be better suited to playing the style Michel Therrien likes. Whether that style is out of step with the direction in which NHL competition is heading is up for debate. Likewise, whether the Canadiens will regret keeping the conservative coach rather than the exciting player will be analysed to death in the coming months and years.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
One thing is sure: if Shea Weber helps bring a Stanley Cup to Montreal, nobody will care about his analytics performance or his foot speed. And few will give much thought to whatever P.K.Subban is singing at the karaoke bar in Nashville. Right now, Bergevin's trying to build a winning team and his decision to send the high-energy, passionate kid on a permanent time-out must be evaluated by the gimlet eye of hindsight.</div>
<div class="yj6qo ajU" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; margin: 2px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 10px 0px; width: 22px;">
<div aria-label="Show trimmed content" class="ajR" data-tooltip="Show trimmed content" id=":mp" role="button" style="background-color: #f1f1f1; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: both; line-height: 6px; outline: none; position: relative; width: 20px;" tabindex="0">
<img class="ajT" src="https://ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/images/cleardot.gif" style="background: url("//ssl.gstatic.com/ui/v1/icons/mail/ellipsis.png") no-repeat; height: 8px; opacity: 0.3; width: 20px;" /></div>
</div>
J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-76257073141930867272016-03-02T10:59:00.000-11:002016-03-02T10:59:09.601-11:00How the Coach Stole PlayoffsEvery Hab down in Habsville liked playoffs a lot...<br />
<br />
But the coach, who was just north of tubby, Did NOT!<br />
<br />
The coach hated playoffs! The whole playoff season!<br />
<br />
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.<br />
<br />
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.<br />
<br />
It could be, perhaps, that his suits were too tight.<br />
<br />
But I think that the most likely reason of all,<br />
<br />
May have been that his brain was two sizes too small.<br />
<br />
Whatever the reason, his brain or his suit,<br />
<br />
He stood there at playoff time, Habs chances moot.<br />
<br />
Staring out from his bench with a sour, grumpy frown,<br />
<br />
As the banners above spoke of teams of renown.<br />
<br />
He knew every Habs fan was there at the wickets,<br />
<br />
Standing ready to purchase next season's tickets.<br />
<br />
"And they're buying their jerseys!" he snarled with a sneer,<br />
<br />
"Next month is playoffs! And they want us here!"<br />
<br />
Then he growled, with his short fingers nervously drumming,<br />
<br />
"I MUST find some way to stop playoffs from coming!"<br />
<br />
For in April, he knew, all the Habs girls and boys,<br />
<br />
Would wake bright and early; dust off their Habs toys!<br />
<br />
And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the Noise!<br />
<br />
Noise! Noise! Noise!<br />
<br />
That's one thing he hated! The NOISE!<br />
<br />
NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!<br />
<br />
Then all fans, young and old, would throng into the Bell.<br />
<br />
And they'd yell! And they'd yell! And they'd YELL!<br />
<br />
YELL! YELL! YELL!<br />
<br />
They would yell at Ovechkin, and at Bergeron too.<br />
<br />
Which the coach loved as much as a stone in his shoe!<br />
<br />
And THEN they'd do something he liked least of all!<br />
<br />
Every Habs fan in Habsville, the tall and the small,<br />
<br />
Would stand close together, with rafters a-ringing.<br />
<br />
They'd stand side by side. And the fans would start singing!<br />
<br />
They'd sing! And they'd sing! And they'd SING!<br />
<br />
SING! SING! SING!<br />
<br />
And the more the coach thought of this fan playoff sing,<br />
<br />
The more the coach thought, "I must stop this whole thing!"<br />
<br />
"Why, for four long, long years I've put up with it now!"<br />
<br />
"I MUST stop this playoff from coming! But HOW?"<br />
<br />
Then he got an idea! An awful idea!<br />
<br />
THE COACH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!<br />
<br />
"I know just what to do!" The coach laughed in his throat.<br />
<br />
And he drew up a powerplay, starting to gloat.<br />
<br />
And he chuckled, and clucked, "What a great sneaky trick!"<br />
<br />
"I'll use Davey to start to be sure it won't click!"<br />
<br />
"All I need is a scapegoat..." The coach looked around.<br />
<br />
But really terrible players didn't abound<br />
<br />
Did that stop the old coach? No! The coach simply said,<br />
<br />
"If I can't find a scapegoat, I'll make one instead!"<br />
<br />
So he called his dog, Lars, who responded with dread.<br />
<br />
"If you make a mistake, then it's all on your head."<br />
<br />
THEN he loaded some scrubs and some old tired hacks,<br />
<br />
On a ramshackle special team, leaning on Max.<br />
<br />
Then the coach said, "'Ard! 'Ard" And the team started down,<br />
<br />
From the top of the heap to the shame of the town.<br />
<br />
The fans' outlooks were dark. Quiet fear filled the air.<br />
<br />
As the GM was dreaming sweet dreams without care.<br />
<br />
And the coach kept on filling round holes with the square.<br />
<br />
"Don't you second-guess me," the old vacant coach hissed,<br />
<br />
And his face turned bright red as he shook his fat fist.<br />
<br />
Then they slid down the standings, past Caps and the Rangers.<br />
<br />
But no one in management recognized dangers.<br />
<br />
He got stuck only once, for a moment or two.<br />
<br />
Then he set up his team to take less than their due.<br />
<br />
Where the Stanley Cup banners all hung in a row.<br />
<br />
"This goalie," he grinned, "is the first thing to go!"<br />
<br />
Then he played Price too soon, with a smile most unpleasant,<br />
<br />
'Til he went down for good thanks to the old peasant.<br />
<br />
Pop guns on offence! Defence that's all thumbs!<br />
<br />
No forecheck! No backcheck! They all played like bums!<br />
<br />
They lost more and more games. Then the coach, very nimbly,<br />
<br />
Defended his methods in French, although dimly!<br />
<br />
Then he revamped the lineup from greatest to least.<br />
<br />
And he managed to plummet to low in the East.<br />
<br />
Bergie cleaned out that roster, no more Weise or Flash.<br />
<br />
Fans bemoaned the unpalatable plate of Habs-hash!<br />
<br />
When the coach said "Be happy! I'll play all the kids now,"<br />
<br />
And still Chucky played less time than DD somehow.<br />
<br />
As the coach kept on making the same old mistakes,<br />
<br />
The Habs bandwagon kept on downhill without brakes.<br />
<br />
With Desharnais out and Chuck still on the wing<br />
<br />
(For no one could replace the old coach's offspring,)<br />
<br />
Somehow the young guy started scoring nice points,<br />
<br />
Proving he who's the best isn't who coach anoints.<br />
<br />
And fans stared at the coach and said, "Therrien, why,”<br />
<br />
"Why are you wrecking our playoff chance? WHY?"<br />
<br />
But, you know, that old coach was so oily and slick,<br />
<br />
He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick!<br />
<br />
"Why, my dear loyal fans," the incompetent lied,<br />
<br />
"There's a gap on this team, see there on the right side."<br />
<br />
"And our goalie is out; he's our best hope for wins."<br />
<br />
"And there's P.K., who's guilty of multiple sins."<br />
<br />
And his lies fooled the press. Then he smirked and stepped back,<br />
<br />
And had high octane beer before hitting the rack.<br />
<br />
The fans went to sleep with no hope of a Cup,<br />
<br />
While the coach cashed his paycheck, living it up.<br />
<br />
The last thing he took was the torch's bright fire!<br />
<br />
With lots of excuses and whines, the old liar.<br />
<br />
In the room he left nothing but hooks and some wire.<br />
<br />
And the one speck of hope that he left in the Bell,<br />
<br />
Was that this season's sounding the coach's death-knell.<br />
<br />
Then the GM did something no one expected<br />
<br />
Announcing, from his view, the coach was protected.<br />
<br />
It was quarter past deadline... most Habs still were Habs.<br />
<br />
While fans wished for the coaching staff laid out on slabs.<br />
<br />
They packed up the season, the hoping and dreaming<br />
<br />
The fun and the laughter, the cheers and the screaming.<br />
<br />
Seven floors up the Bell, where the managers live,<br />
<br />
They all knew that the team just had no more to give.<br />
<br />
"PoohPooh to the fans!" coach was gleefully humming.<br />
<br />
"They're finding out now that no playoffs are coming!"<br />
<br />
"They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do!"<br />
<br />
"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,<br />
<br />
Then the fans down in Habsville will all cry BooHoo!"<br />
<br />
"That's a noise," grinned the coach, "That I simply MUST hear!"<br />
<br />
So he paused. And the coach put his hand to his ear.<br />
<br />
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.<br />
<br />
It started in low. Then it started to grow.<br />
<br />
But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded angry!<br />
<br />
It couldn't be so! But it WAS angry! ANGRY!<br />
<br />
He stared down at Habsville! The coach popped his eyes!<br />
<br />
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!<br />
<br />
Every fan down in Habsville, the tall and the small,<br />
<br />
Was chanting! Without any playoffs at all!<br />
<br />
He HADN'T stopped playoffs from coming! SO LAME!<br />
<br />
Somehow or other, fans yelled just the same!<br />
<br />
And the coach, with his cheap shoes ice-cold in the snow,<br />
<br />
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"<br />
<br />
"They chant without Davey! They chant without Price!"<br />
<br />
"They chant without anything decent on ice."<br />
<br />
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.<br />
<br />
Then the coach thought of something he hadn't before!<br />
<br />
"Maybe playoffs," he thought, "are not what it's about."<br />
<br />
"And maybe the true fans don't have any doubt!"<br />
<br />
And what happened then? Well...in Habsville they say,<br />
<br />
That the coach misjudged fans for the last time that day!<br />
<br />
In one minute he thought he was liked after all,<br />
<br />
So he whizzed to the Bell; he was standing so tall,<br />
<br />
He vowed to keep coaching in all kinds of weathers!<br />
<br />
And the fans met him there with hot tar and feathers.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-34471138721385458532016-02-24T07:27:00.001-11:002016-02-24T07:27:23.722-11:00Maledictus AnnoThe ancient Romans had a term for "horrible year." An "<i>annus horribilus</i>" is a year that isn't just bad...we're not talking people forgetting your birthday or breaking a toe...it's a spectacular disappointment in every way. It's how Queen Elizabeth II defined 1992. That year, two of her children got very publicly divorced, her heir, the Prince of Wales got separated after his wife's tell-all book mortified the family and his own embarrassing conversations with his mistress went public, the Royal Family was forced to pay income tax and Windsor Castle burned. <i>That's</i> an <i>annus horribilius. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The Montreal Canadiens had an <i>annus horribilus</i> in 2012. Andre Markov got hurt in the first game of the season and was out for months. Max Pacioretty was suspended for a hit on Kris Letang, which affected the former's mindset toward physical play long afterwards. The power play was in the basement, so the team traded for Tomas Kaberle who'd later have to be bought out. GM Pierre Gauthier fired coach Jacques Martin and appointed Randy Cunneyworth, whose inability to speak French sparked protests from the most disgruntled purists, as interim. Mike Cammalleri was traded in the middle of a game. The team was eliminated from the playoffs in March and then owner Geoff Molson fired Gauthier. The only silver lining in that horrible year was the opportunity to draft third overall. The team chose Alex Galchenyuk that June.<br />
<br />
This season has been another torturous year for fans and, very likely, for the players who just want to win. This time, though, it feels like more than an <i>annus horribilus. </i>No, this year is a <i>maledictus anno.</i> A cursed year. If 2012 was a collection of unfortunate events, 2016 is the year in which everything the team touches turns to garbage. It's really almost unbelievable.<br />
<br />
It started right from training camp. GM Marc Bergevin needed size and scoring up front, so he traded for Zach Kassian and signed Alexander Semin. Kassian promptly ended up embroiled in scandal after his early-morning companion crashed his truck into a tree, injuring the player who then ended up in the league's substance abuse program. Semin lit it up in training camp, but when the season started he regressed to the mean of his most recent years in the league and stopped scoring. He was waived and released. The off-season was instantly a bust.<br />
<br />
Then the injuries hit. Carey Price, the heart and soul of the team and its best player, first went down at the end of October. He re-injured himself after a brief return and has only been seen since while wincing in pain as he tried to skate. Brendan Gallagher who plays every shift as though it's his last, missed six weeks after breaking his fingers blocking a shot. Ten days after Gallagher's injury, the team's plunge to the cellar began. Coach Michel Therrien, rather than simply replacing Gallagher on the hot line with Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty, decided to mix up all the lines and in the process broke any chemistry there had been in the early part of the season.<br />
<br />
When the steep decline began in early December, Therrien blamed "puck luck." As in, the Canadiens didn't have any. While it's a cheap excuse on the surface, it has to be admitted there was a grain of truth in it in this case. The team consistently outshot opponents in the early part of the decline, but couldn't put a puck in the other net to save their lives. Sometimes they'd meet a goalie who stood on his head. Other times, they'd hit four posts in a game, all of which bounced out. They missed breakaways and deflected pucks into their own net. A defenceman misfired on a clearing attempt and it ended up directly on the stick of the sniper in front of his net on more than one occasion. Every mistake seemed to end up as a goal against, while their greatest efforts failed to produce results. Eventually, they lost confidence and started thinking too much about every play, which we know in hockey is the kiss of death. The losses piled up.<br />
<br />
Pacioretty, the new captain who had in September talked about how he was honoured to follow in the tradition of the great Jean Beliveau, lost his temper and swore in a very un-Beliveau way about the team's performance in a post-game scrum. It wasn't his finest moment, but might have been redeemed if he'd stepped up with passion and a few goals. He didn't. He has 15 points in the 34 games since the slide began on December 3. Eleven of those points came only after Brendan Gallagher returned from injury. When the team looked to the captain to lead it through adversity, Pacioretty put up four points in 13 games.<br />
<br />
On December 19th, all-time great Canadiens player and Hall-of-Famer Dickie Moore died, casting a pall over long-time fans who remembered him helping wreathe the franchise in glory. Modern Bell Centre fans accorded his memory 49 seconds of silence.<br />
<br />
In mid-January, Galchenyuk and Devante Smith-Pelly were called on the carpet in Bergevin's office to explain why a gathering at Galchenyuk's place resulted in an early morning incident with police in attendance and an alleged domestic assault by his girlfriend. The press, looking for something other than another loss to talk about, exploded.<br />
<br />
P.K. Subban, always a lightning rod for criticism, appeared on video in a profanity-laden pump-up speech in early January. A few days later, he ranted and swore in a post-game media scrum about the fact he's not paid to score goals. For a guy who makes nine-million dollars a year, that statement was more than a little controversial.<br />
<br />
In the midst of all the drama, other players went down to injury and young players like Charles Hudon and Sven Andrighetto got called up, only to be relegated to fourth-line minutes and demoted again, even when they performed well. The coaching staff took heat for poor personnel decisions and a system, including a moribund PP, that clearly fails without Price to support it. They allowed former first-round pick Jarred Tinordi to languish in the press box for 30-plus games. In response, Bergevin publicly defended the coaches, saying they won't be going anywhere this year. He dumped Tinordi instead, in a go-nowhere trade that brought goon John Scott in return. The move shamed the franchise because it appeared Bergevin co-operated with the NHL brass in taking Scott just to keep him out of the All-Star game, which spectacularly backfired. Since that decision and the open support of his coaching staff, the on-ice product has only gotten worse.<br />
<br />
As the season winds down, Therrien has called out Subban for a loss against the Avalanche. Subban fell down late in the third and the Avs scored the winning goal on a blown 3-on-3 right after. The coach's ill-thought-out comments turned the spotlight once again on the Habs for negative reasons. Of all the players who could have been targeted for failure; David Desharnais with 133 minutes of PP ice time and five points to show for it, Dale Weise, playing in the top-six for most of the year with 25 points in 55 games, Therrien chose to admonish his best player.<br />
<br />
All of those things might stem from bad luck or frustration at losing or the logical result of missing the team's backbone for the majority of the year. There are signs, though, that the awfulness of this season is more than just those normal problems. This may, in fact, be cosmic.<br />
<br />
For example, just when it seems the year is a write-off and some players can be jettisoned before the deadline in exchange for picks or prospects, two possible guys who could be moved in Desharnais and Tom Gilbert get hurt and can't be traded. Desharnais, in particular, has been one of the most durable Canadiens up until now, missing only four games since the 2012-13 season.<br />
<br />
Last weekend, the Canadiens held their annual open practice for fans, at which they tossed souvenirs into the most supportive crowd they've seen since October. A puck thrown by Subban accidentally <i>hit a month-old baby in the head.</i> It's the second time a Subban-launched puck hit a kid in the crowd. That's not bad luck. That's the universe kicking you in the ass while you're down.<br />
<br />
Even the Habs PR team is cursed. They stupidly allowed fan tweets to appear in the team's official Twitter timeline, completely opening themselves to abuse by trolls and haters. Naturally, they were caught out, mortified and forced to apologize.<br />
<br />
This season has lurched from one disaster to another in a way that's hard to match without an evil eye trained on the team. Worst of all, just when it seems the Canadiens will drop low enough to snag a great lottery draft pick, they suddenly string together three wins to sabotage their own tank. It's obvious, by now, that they won't make the playoffs. And it appears they'll acquire just enough points to scuttle the draft lottery as well.<br />
<br />
It may be a coincidence, or it may not, depending on what you believe about hockey gods and Forum ghosts, that the hallowed old rink that saw so much of the Canadiens legend born, closed twenty years ago this spring. Whatever mystique the team had back then, that made other teams believe the Habs were always a threat because of their charmed existence seems long gone since they moved from the Forum.<br />
<br />
Whether bad luck, leaf fans with voodoo dolls or angry ghosts, something is wrong here. This isn't just an <i>annus horribilus. </i>This is a full-blown <i>maledictus anno.</i> This is the kind of thing a team might take a long, long time from which to recover.<br />
<br />
<br />J.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.com4