When I was a kid, the Sears Christmas Wish catalogue came in the mail every October. My mom would bring it home with the bills and flyers and casually toss it on the kitchen table, as if we hadn't been waiting breathlessly for it for weeks. We only got one copy, so my brothers and I would time-share a half hour each to peruse, unbothered, the source of all our December dreams. We worked out an elaborate system of marking pages with different-coloured markers; one for all the toys we wanted, another for the ones we REALLY wanted, and still another for the final choices. It was a painstaking process that went on for weeks and ended with the precious book in tatters, and the carefully-selected requests for Santa well-circled. On some level we knew, even as kids, that half the fun of making our choices was actually in having to choose. Sure, it would have been great to just pick out whatever we wanted and know we'd likely get it, but we would have missed something special if we didn't spend weeks deciding and anticipating. By the time Christmas morning arrived, the gifts we received were perfect because we were sure they were what we really wanted.
The first of July is like Christmas Day for hockey fans. After weeks of scouring lists of potential UFAs and planning fictional trades to make cap space, we know what we want. Oh, yes, Santa, Habs fans have a wish list as long as your belt. We want Ilya Kovalchuk on a line with Gionta and Gomez. We want Colby Armstrong to add some grit to the third line and Sergei Gonchar to launch rockets from the point. We want Anton Volchenkov playing second goalie to Carey Price, and a good solid backup who knows how to behave in the room and accepts his role.
The only problem is, the Grinch, in the form of the NHL salary cap, is going to steal all our free agents. Habs fans are the kids whose dads are seasonal workers. We got lots of goodies last year when the money was plentiful, but this year is tight and we're only allowed to ask for one or two small things.
Pierre Gauthier says he's not adverse to going over the cap, then finding a way to move contracts before the season starts. Maybe he can sign Volchenkov anyway, then trade Hamrlik to Ottawa to replace him. Or maybe he can send Andrei Kostitsyn to Calgary for their first-round pick next year, then hope like hell the Flames tank into a lottery pick. After the Sergei Kostitsyn trade, though, it looks like the Habs lineup is set. Dustin Boyd can play third-line centre cheaper than Dominic Moore, and Dan Ellis, if he signs, will make a very find backup goalie.
Gauthier says his defence is set and his forward lines "almost" set, or they were, before the Kostitsyn trade. Assuming he doesn't move Hamrlik, we can believe no blueliner from Hamilton will get a shot at the big team unless there's a long term injury. With Markov (whom Gauthier says is healing well from knee surgery and will possibly not miss any games in the fall), Subban (who would only lose the spot he inherited during the playoffs if he burned a Quebec flag outside Gauthier's office door while a tour of disabled kids passed by), Hamrlik, Spacek, Gorges and Gill, Ryan O'Byrne will be the seventh man.
Up front, the signing of Benoit Pouliot means the top six will, at least to start the season, be the same as the second half of last year. Again, that's barring a trade featuring Andrei Kostitsyn. Which leaves our Christmas-in-July wishlist narrowed down to a bit of filler on the bottom lines and a backup goalie; both now apparently filled with Boyd and Ellis. Throw in a rookie from Hamilton for fourth-line duty, probably Ryan White, or Lars Eller, if Boyd plays on the fourth line, and that's it.
It's not a bad lineup, but we've seen what it can do. What we don't know is whether a year of familiarity with each other, perhaps fewer injuries and a couple of tweaks will allow the team as it stands to improve. We don't know if it can repeat this year's playoffs without Jaro Halak. What it means is there will be few surprises on Thursday.
Mick Jagger took it from Santa when he said "you can't always get what you want." We Habs fans now have ourselves a good, sensible socks-and-underwear kind of team with potential. But, boy, it's hard not to be jealous of the team who gets a shiny new Kovalchuk for Christmas-in-July.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Flashback to Draft Past
Every year, on NHL draft day, young men in new suits sit anxiously with their parents in stiff-backed arena seats, waiting for older men in more expensive suits to decide their fates. Some wait for hours before hearing their names called. Some leave in tears of disappointment. The first-rounders have been wined and dined, measured and tested, and their wait is a short one. Watching at home, Terry Ryan has flashbacks.
Ryan toils for the Corner Brook Royals in the Newfoundland senior hockey league. At 33, he's still one of the best players on the ice, with 13 points in his last seven games. These days, though, hockey comes second in a life that includes a day job, a family and a budding career as an author.
His forthcoming book is called "Tales of a First-Round Nothing," and it says something about the comfort Ryan now feels in his own skin that he's able to write his story with such honesty. The draft, for him, isn't just a great memory. It's the highlight of his pro hockey career.
"A lot of people would say it's a whirlwind and they don't remember," he smiles. "I remember every second of it. I remember walking down out of my seat. The first thing I did was look over at my buddy, my linemate, Daymond Langkow, who had just gone fifth overall to Tampa Bay. I was walking up to the podium and we made eye contact and nothing was really said. We were just smiling, and it was a really weird moment. It was kind of like a baseball player getting drafted and going to the Yankees. I think if I'd gone to the Nashville Predators, or to Columbus...not to knock those teams, but...it wouldn't have...I didn't have time that day to accept that I was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens."
He knew he was going to go high in the first round. His stock had been rising fast during his draft year. It was, he recalls, a perfect season. He had 110 points in 70 games, and most of the pro teams were knocking on his door.
"I know I could have played my whole career in the NHL," he reflects now. "All those scouts weren't wrong. At the same time, I also know everything has to go right. There's a bit of luck in this. There's a lot of injuries in hockey. If you get injured in your draft year, you're behind the eight-ball right away. You have to be put with good players. You have to be in the right environment. Your schooling has to be going right. All those things went right in my draft year."
The Bruins, choosing ninth overall, had been in contact. They assured Ryan they'd pick him in the first round. Other teams called too. The Washington Capitals flew him and some other prospects down south and put them through three hours of I.Q. tests and physical training. The Oilers flew them back up north and tested them again. There was no question Ryan would become the highest-ever NHL draft pick from Newfoundland. The only thing left to wonder about on draft day was how high he'd go, and which team would own him.
He never dreamed he'd be chosen by his favourite NHL team, and, even as a cocky kid minutes away from hearing his name called, had no reason to think the Habs were his destiny.
"I was in the elevator on the way to my seat with my dad and a couple of more, and Doug Robinson, who was the head scout for Montreal. Montreal was one of the only teams that didn't interview me at all. Nothing. So, I didn't really expect to talk to them. San Jose was picking twelfth and they told me they were picking me," Ryan remembers. "So, anyway, in the elevator, the draft was just starting and I was actually late to my seat. Doug Robinson said "Congrats on a good year. Western Hockey League power forward. I like to see that." I said, "Thanks Mr.Robinson. I think a lot of your organization." And on the way off the elevator he said, "Congrats on a good Memorial Cup." And I said, "Jeez, I didn't play in the Memorial Cup." So, I went a little closer to try and get a read on him, and I said, "Okay, Mr.Robinson, I'll see you." And he said, "Okay, thanks Shane." So, fifteen minutes before they drafted me, the Canadiens thought I was Shane Doan, by appearance."
The team got the name right when the Canadiens staff took the podium to announce the eighth overall pick. Terry Ryan was overwhelmed. He'd been taken by his favourite team in the first round, and life couldn't have been better. He says now, that's as good as it got. Ryan spent the next year back in junior where he had a decent season, despite some injury problems. During the following campaign, the second after his draft, he finally got the phone call of his dreams and made his NHL debut. It didn't work out the way dreams are supposed to.
"The guys who drafted me got fired," he recalls. "I was a long shot for them. I wasn't the best skater. I had a lot of character. And I could score. But the times I was called up, it was because someone was hurt, it wasn't because they wanted me. I got maybe three shifts a game. In the minors, I was rookie of the year. I had 20 goals, I lead the league in fights. Everything I was doing in the minors was, if not on pace, then above expectations from what anybody thought. Years later, I look back and I'm not as bitter as I was. At the time, I was pretty upset. I was getting called up, getting one shift and I'd fight Tie Domi. I'd do it. I'd fight these guys because I wanted to make the most of my opportunity. There were over ten games in the NHL when I didn't even get one shift, and they don't even count as a game played. That happens to a lot of people."
After the first few games in the NHL, injuries struck. First, concussions, then a busted ankle. Frustrated at never getting a real shot with the Canadiens, he took his agent, Mike Barnett's, advice and sat out training camp. He never played in the NHL again. He's not bitter now, but getting past the feeling of being a disappointment to himself and his family was a long trip down a bumpy road.
"It was hard at first," Ryan admits. "It's a long story, which is why I wrote the book. I got to see the world from the other side for a while, and it was wild. I was the biggest prospect in Newfoundland. I was talked about as the best player on the island. I had all those things going for me. When I got hurt, I felt like I let the whole province down. It took a while. I got divorced the same year I was told I couldn't play anymore. I put on sixty pounds and went on a reality show and lost it. It was a long, long, long story. It was hard to deal with, but at the same time, my dad, who played pro hockey, said, "Hey, you could have got injured when you were 14 or 15. But you played in the NHL. You played for the Canadiens.""
That's what matters to Ryan now. He regrets skipping that last training camp, but he's come to terms with the way his NHL career panned out...or didn't. And he's still a Habs fan.
"Recently, in the last couple of years, I've flown up and gone to the Habs games, and you're reminded when you go to the building. There's six or seven hundred names there outside. The players. I was one of them. When you think about it like that, it's kind of mind blowing," he muses.
He says his story shouldn't be a sad one. He's had a good run in hockey, even if it hasn't been in the NHL. He likes the Corner Brook Royals.
"One thing I would tell young players is there's so much more than the NHL. There's so many opportunities, and the small percentage that make the NHL...they're to be commended and looked up to. But there are a lot of avenues that young players can take. I look at my whole experience as "Wow! This all happened to me!" And I can't believe it," Ryan marvels now, fifteen years after he became a first rounder. "The draft ended up being the highlight of my career. That and my first NHL game. Those things still happened and they were still great."
When Terry Ryan watches the draft now, he can still feel those teenage emotions; the hope, trepidation and wonder of it all. The thing he feels most now is quiet satisfaction. He made it after all and for the rest of it, we'll have to read the book.
Ryan toils for the Corner Brook Royals in the Newfoundland senior hockey league. At 33, he's still one of the best players on the ice, with 13 points in his last seven games. These days, though, hockey comes second in a life that includes a day job, a family and a budding career as an author.
His forthcoming book is called "Tales of a First-Round Nothing," and it says something about the comfort Ryan now feels in his own skin that he's able to write his story with such honesty. The draft, for him, isn't just a great memory. It's the highlight of his pro hockey career.
"A lot of people would say it's a whirlwind and they don't remember," he smiles. "I remember every second of it. I remember walking down out of my seat. The first thing I did was look over at my buddy, my linemate, Daymond Langkow, who had just gone fifth overall to Tampa Bay. I was walking up to the podium and we made eye contact and nothing was really said. We were just smiling, and it was a really weird moment. It was kind of like a baseball player getting drafted and going to the Yankees. I think if I'd gone to the Nashville Predators, or to Columbus...not to knock those teams, but...it wouldn't have...I didn't have time that day to accept that I was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens."
He knew he was going to go high in the first round. His stock had been rising fast during his draft year. It was, he recalls, a perfect season. He had 110 points in 70 games, and most of the pro teams were knocking on his door.
"I know I could have played my whole career in the NHL," he reflects now. "All those scouts weren't wrong. At the same time, I also know everything has to go right. There's a bit of luck in this. There's a lot of injuries in hockey. If you get injured in your draft year, you're behind the eight-ball right away. You have to be put with good players. You have to be in the right environment. Your schooling has to be going right. All those things went right in my draft year."
The Bruins, choosing ninth overall, had been in contact. They assured Ryan they'd pick him in the first round. Other teams called too. The Washington Capitals flew him and some other prospects down south and put them through three hours of I.Q. tests and physical training. The Oilers flew them back up north and tested them again. There was no question Ryan would become the highest-ever NHL draft pick from Newfoundland. The only thing left to wonder about on draft day was how high he'd go, and which team would own him.
He never dreamed he'd be chosen by his favourite NHL team, and, even as a cocky kid minutes away from hearing his name called, had no reason to think the Habs were his destiny.
"I was in the elevator on the way to my seat with my dad and a couple of more, and Doug Robinson, who was the head scout for Montreal. Montreal was one of the only teams that didn't interview me at all. Nothing. So, I didn't really expect to talk to them. San Jose was picking twelfth and they told me they were picking me," Ryan remembers. "So, anyway, in the elevator, the draft was just starting and I was actually late to my seat. Doug Robinson said "Congrats on a good year. Western Hockey League power forward. I like to see that." I said, "Thanks Mr.Robinson. I think a lot of your organization." And on the way off the elevator he said, "Congrats on a good Memorial Cup." And I said, "Jeez, I didn't play in the Memorial Cup." So, I went a little closer to try and get a read on him, and I said, "Okay, Mr.Robinson, I'll see you." And he said, "Okay, thanks Shane." So, fifteen minutes before they drafted me, the Canadiens thought I was Shane Doan, by appearance."
The team got the name right when the Canadiens staff took the podium to announce the eighth overall pick. Terry Ryan was overwhelmed. He'd been taken by his favourite team in the first round, and life couldn't have been better. He says now, that's as good as it got. Ryan spent the next year back in junior where he had a decent season, despite some injury problems. During the following campaign, the second after his draft, he finally got the phone call of his dreams and made his NHL debut. It didn't work out the way dreams are supposed to.
"The guys who drafted me got fired," he recalls. "I was a long shot for them. I wasn't the best skater. I had a lot of character. And I could score. But the times I was called up, it was because someone was hurt, it wasn't because they wanted me. I got maybe three shifts a game. In the minors, I was rookie of the year. I had 20 goals, I lead the league in fights. Everything I was doing in the minors was, if not on pace, then above expectations from what anybody thought. Years later, I look back and I'm not as bitter as I was. At the time, I was pretty upset. I was getting called up, getting one shift and I'd fight Tie Domi. I'd do it. I'd fight these guys because I wanted to make the most of my opportunity. There were over ten games in the NHL when I didn't even get one shift, and they don't even count as a game played. That happens to a lot of people."
After the first few games in the NHL, injuries struck. First, concussions, then a busted ankle. Frustrated at never getting a real shot with the Canadiens, he took his agent, Mike Barnett's, advice and sat out training camp. He never played in the NHL again. He's not bitter now, but getting past the feeling of being a disappointment to himself and his family was a long trip down a bumpy road.
"It was hard at first," Ryan admits. "It's a long story, which is why I wrote the book. I got to see the world from the other side for a while, and it was wild. I was the biggest prospect in Newfoundland. I was talked about as the best player on the island. I had all those things going for me. When I got hurt, I felt like I let the whole province down. It took a while. I got divorced the same year I was told I couldn't play anymore. I put on sixty pounds and went on a reality show and lost it. It was a long, long, long story. It was hard to deal with, but at the same time, my dad, who played pro hockey, said, "Hey, you could have got injured when you were 14 or 15. But you played in the NHL. You played for the Canadiens.""
That's what matters to Ryan now. He regrets skipping that last training camp, but he's come to terms with the way his NHL career panned out...or didn't. And he's still a Habs fan.
"Recently, in the last couple of years, I've flown up and gone to the Habs games, and you're reminded when you go to the building. There's six or seven hundred names there outside. The players. I was one of them. When you think about it like that, it's kind of mind blowing," he muses.
He says his story shouldn't be a sad one. He's had a good run in hockey, even if it hasn't been in the NHL. He likes the Corner Brook Royals.
"One thing I would tell young players is there's so much more than the NHL. There's so many opportunities, and the small percentage that make the NHL...they're to be commended and looked up to. But there are a lot of avenues that young players can take. I look at my whole experience as "Wow! This all happened to me!" And I can't believe it," Ryan marvels now, fifteen years after he became a first rounder. "The draft ended up being the highlight of my career. That and my first NHL game. Those things still happened and they were still great."
When Terry Ryan watches the draft now, he can still feel those teenage emotions; the hope, trepidation and wonder of it all. The thing he feels most now is quiet satisfaction. He made it after all and for the rest of it, we'll have to read the book.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Habs Notebook: Draft Week Edition
A few thoughts on this week's happenings:
-Lots of people want Andrei Kostitsyn traded because he's not got the smarts to go with his skills. I honestly wonder if there's something developmentally wrong with him. No joke. He was born fourteen months before the Chernobyl reactor blew, and sixty percent of the fallout from the explosion fell on Belarus. Considering that the Kostitsyns grew up in a city built around a bunch of chemical factories, recognized as THE most polluted city in one of the most polluted countries in Europe, Chernobyl was just the topper. Could there be a chance that Andrei Kostitsyn is a Chernobyl child, with all the fallout issues they face?
-Speaking of Kostitsyn, those who want him traded want to get a big, scoring winger in return. Unfortunately, Kostitsyn's not going to bring that much in a trade. If you consider he's able to pot 20-plus goals when he's asleep for half the season, Kostitsyn definitely has talent. It's the sleeping part that annoys Habs fans and will turn other GMs off in trade talks. Nobody's going to give up their big, 30-goal winger for a big, 25-goal winger with consistency issues, and there's no sense in trading down. The other possibility is to dump his contract for a pick and use the money to sign a guy like Colby Armstrong. Armstrong is probably worth twenty points less than Kostitsyn, but he'll go to the net and hit people. There's no question about his will to win, but again, it would be a downgrade from Kostitsyn in pure talent.
-I really hope Carey Price has a sports psychologist on retainer for this season. No matter what his physical gifts may be, he's proven himself to be a bit of a headcase. He needs to learn not to flip out when he gets booed (fairly or not) and to get past bad goals and bad games without glaring at his defencemen, breaking his stick or taking unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. He's very sensitive, and unless he can control that, he won't be long for Montreal. The problem is, the Canadiens now NEED him to get it together or they'll have traded Halak for nothing.
-There's lots of concern out there about the Habs being too small down the middle for too long a time now that Plekanec's locked up. The biggest evidence is the three shutouts against the Flyers in the playoffs. I think that theory is misleading because Gionta and Cammalleri were able to score, despite their size. The big guys, Pouliot and Kostitsyn, were the ones who didn't produce. Gomez and Plekanec contributed in other ways, and helped set up their small linemates. The other two did nothing. As far as I can see, the wings are a much bigger problem than the centres on the first two lines. Sigh. Remember when Pouliot used to score?
-The cap is very, very tight right now. There's only $8.8 million left for eight players, including a backup goalie. I think it's safe to say Gauthier isn't done moving pieces around just yet. With PK Subban ready to make the team, getting rid of the last year of Hamrlik's deal would make the most sense. It's also going to be the toughest thing to move. If he had better offensive numbers, it'd be easier, but that's not the case. It's probably safe to say Sergei Kostitsyn will be gone for a late pick and a few dollars saved by bringing up a kid from Hamilton (maybe Trotter...hopefully not Maxwell) to fill his job. Still, that's not going to save much money so it'll be interesting to see how Gauthier works the trade market for the rest of this week.
-With Darche signed to a one-way deal, it looks like he'll be the 13th forward. Assuming Pouliot gets qualified and Kostitsyn won't be traded, that means the top-six will be the same as last year. It also means there will be only the six bottom-six forward spots open for newcomers. Moen's already got one of those spots, so that leaves Moore, Pyatt, White, Lapierre, Eller, Maxwell, Trotter, Pacioretty, Sergei Kostitsyn and Desharnais as possible candidates for the other five positions. With so much internal competition and so little money, I think Gauthier won't be signing any new free agents of note unless he can dump considerable salary.
-The draft is also really up in the air for the Canadiens. They have many needs, but are in line for another "project" pick. There are a couple of interesting possibilities, though. Dylan McIlrath is the guy a lot of Habs fans would like to get. He's a huge, tough defenceman who's pretty good in a stay-at-home role and has untapped offensive potential. He can also pound the snot out of guys. If he's available at #27, he'd be a good pick. If he's not and the Habs go for a forward, Tyler Pitlick (great name!) and John McFarland are a couple of centres with size and potential. The knock on McFarland is his low goal total in junior, and there's a question about his dedication in some circles, which is shouted down in others. Pitlick is from Minnesota, so he's a Timmins natural, as is Brock Nelson, a third possible choice if the Habs go with a big centre. Then there's the Kabanov question. Kirill Kabanov has top-five talent, but because of the "Russian factor" and some concerns about his headspace generally, has fallen sharply down the draft ranks. I'd think the Canadiens will at least consider him if he's available when they pick, although they may have finally been burned enough by Russians to bypass him despite his talent. Habs will need a goalie too, but will probably take one in the later rounds. Calvin Pickard could be available when the Habs choose, but I can't see them spending their first on a goaltender who could challenge Price within a couple of years.
-Speaking of Price, his contract is still up in the air. It doesn't make a lot of sense for Gauthier to have traded Halak with Price still unsigned. The goalie didn't have a lot of negotiating power with competition around, but now he's in the drivers' seat. Gauthier needs to sign him to keep him away from offer sheets, but based on last year's stats, the contract didn't need to be high before Halak got dealt. Price could have been qualified on his base salary of $895-thousand. Now that number will most likely shoot up.
-In terms of team structure, I'd like to see a change from the traditional "top-two lines/third line/barely used mishmash of a fourth line" set-up Martin used last year. Since the first and second lines will be likely the same as last year's, I'd like to see a very good defensive third line which will take some of the PK duties off Plekanec, Gomez and Gionta. I really liked the Moore/Pyatt/Lapierre line in the playoffs and wouldn't mind seeing it used full-time as the third line. If Moore can't be re-signed, perhaps Moen or White could take the empty spot with Lapierre moving to centre. What I'd like to see for the fourth line is three promising youngsters who complement each other. Maybe Eller, Trotter and Desharnais. I remember when White, Trotter and Desharnais got a start together last year when half the regulars were hurt, and they were on fire. I think giving them some ice time with other players at the same level could help them all develop in the NHL, and if it works, it gives the team a very nice option of having three scoring lines. It's a nice thought, although it would mean dumping Moen if Moore's back, so it probably wouldn't happen. Too bad.
-People are worried about Plekanec's no-trade clause. I think there's no need to be concerned. He's the type of guy who, if the GM came to him and said "You're not what we need anymore," would waive the no-trade because he wouldn't want to stay if they don't want him. I think he's got the clause because it gives him peace of mind. Now, when he hears his name in trade rumours, he knows it's BS. And, if there should be a deal to a crappy team requiring him to waive his NTC, he can decline and wait to go to a better team. Overall though, if it came down to getting stuck with an unproductive Plekanec or asking him to waive his NTC, I think he'd just agree to go.
-Lots of people want Andrei Kostitsyn traded because he's not got the smarts to go with his skills. I honestly wonder if there's something developmentally wrong with him. No joke. He was born fourteen months before the Chernobyl reactor blew, and sixty percent of the fallout from the explosion fell on Belarus. Considering that the Kostitsyns grew up in a city built around a bunch of chemical factories, recognized as THE most polluted city in one of the most polluted countries in Europe, Chernobyl was just the topper. Could there be a chance that Andrei Kostitsyn is a Chernobyl child, with all the fallout issues they face?
-Speaking of Kostitsyn, those who want him traded want to get a big, scoring winger in return. Unfortunately, Kostitsyn's not going to bring that much in a trade. If you consider he's able to pot 20-plus goals when he's asleep for half the season, Kostitsyn definitely has talent. It's the sleeping part that annoys Habs fans and will turn other GMs off in trade talks. Nobody's going to give up their big, 30-goal winger for a big, 25-goal winger with consistency issues, and there's no sense in trading down. The other possibility is to dump his contract for a pick and use the money to sign a guy like Colby Armstrong. Armstrong is probably worth twenty points less than Kostitsyn, but he'll go to the net and hit people. There's no question about his will to win, but again, it would be a downgrade from Kostitsyn in pure talent.
-I really hope Carey Price has a sports psychologist on retainer for this season. No matter what his physical gifts may be, he's proven himself to be a bit of a headcase. He needs to learn not to flip out when he gets booed (fairly or not) and to get past bad goals and bad games without glaring at his defencemen, breaking his stick or taking unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. He's very sensitive, and unless he can control that, he won't be long for Montreal. The problem is, the Canadiens now NEED him to get it together or they'll have traded Halak for nothing.
-There's lots of concern out there about the Habs being too small down the middle for too long a time now that Plekanec's locked up. The biggest evidence is the three shutouts against the Flyers in the playoffs. I think that theory is misleading because Gionta and Cammalleri were able to score, despite their size. The big guys, Pouliot and Kostitsyn, were the ones who didn't produce. Gomez and Plekanec contributed in other ways, and helped set up their small linemates. The other two did nothing. As far as I can see, the wings are a much bigger problem than the centres on the first two lines. Sigh. Remember when Pouliot used to score?
-The cap is very, very tight right now. There's only $8.8 million left for eight players, including a backup goalie. I think it's safe to say Gauthier isn't done moving pieces around just yet. With PK Subban ready to make the team, getting rid of the last year of Hamrlik's deal would make the most sense. It's also going to be the toughest thing to move. If he had better offensive numbers, it'd be easier, but that's not the case. It's probably safe to say Sergei Kostitsyn will be gone for a late pick and a few dollars saved by bringing up a kid from Hamilton (maybe Trotter...hopefully not Maxwell) to fill his job. Still, that's not going to save much money so it'll be interesting to see how Gauthier works the trade market for the rest of this week.
-With Darche signed to a one-way deal, it looks like he'll be the 13th forward. Assuming Pouliot gets qualified and Kostitsyn won't be traded, that means the top-six will be the same as last year. It also means there will be only the six bottom-six forward spots open for newcomers. Moen's already got one of those spots, so that leaves Moore, Pyatt, White, Lapierre, Eller, Maxwell, Trotter, Pacioretty, Sergei Kostitsyn and Desharnais as possible candidates for the other five positions. With so much internal competition and so little money, I think Gauthier won't be signing any new free agents of note unless he can dump considerable salary.
-The draft is also really up in the air for the Canadiens. They have many needs, but are in line for another "project" pick. There are a couple of interesting possibilities, though. Dylan McIlrath is the guy a lot of Habs fans would like to get. He's a huge, tough defenceman who's pretty good in a stay-at-home role and has untapped offensive potential. He can also pound the snot out of guys. If he's available at #27, he'd be a good pick. If he's not and the Habs go for a forward, Tyler Pitlick (great name!) and John McFarland are a couple of centres with size and potential. The knock on McFarland is his low goal total in junior, and there's a question about his dedication in some circles, which is shouted down in others. Pitlick is from Minnesota, so he's a Timmins natural, as is Brock Nelson, a third possible choice if the Habs go with a big centre. Then there's the Kabanov question. Kirill Kabanov has top-five talent, but because of the "Russian factor" and some concerns about his headspace generally, has fallen sharply down the draft ranks. I'd think the Canadiens will at least consider him if he's available when they pick, although they may have finally been burned enough by Russians to bypass him despite his talent. Habs will need a goalie too, but will probably take one in the later rounds. Calvin Pickard could be available when the Habs choose, but I can't see them spending their first on a goaltender who could challenge Price within a couple of years.
-Speaking of Price, his contract is still up in the air. It doesn't make a lot of sense for Gauthier to have traded Halak with Price still unsigned. The goalie didn't have a lot of negotiating power with competition around, but now he's in the drivers' seat. Gauthier needs to sign him to keep him away from offer sheets, but based on last year's stats, the contract didn't need to be high before Halak got dealt. Price could have been qualified on his base salary of $895-thousand. Now that number will most likely shoot up.
-In terms of team structure, I'd like to see a change from the traditional "top-two lines/third line/barely used mishmash of a fourth line" set-up Martin used last year. Since the first and second lines will be likely the same as last year's, I'd like to see a very good defensive third line which will take some of the PK duties off Plekanec, Gomez and Gionta. I really liked the Moore/Pyatt/Lapierre line in the playoffs and wouldn't mind seeing it used full-time as the third line. If Moore can't be re-signed, perhaps Moen or White could take the empty spot with Lapierre moving to centre. What I'd like to see for the fourth line is three promising youngsters who complement each other. Maybe Eller, Trotter and Desharnais. I remember when White, Trotter and Desharnais got a start together last year when half the regulars were hurt, and they were on fire. I think giving them some ice time with other players at the same level could help them all develop in the NHL, and if it works, it gives the team a very nice option of having three scoring lines. It's a nice thought, although it would mean dumping Moen if Moore's back, so it probably wouldn't happen. Too bad.
-People are worried about Plekanec's no-trade clause. I think there's no need to be concerned. He's the type of guy who, if the GM came to him and said "You're not what we need anymore," would waive the no-trade because he wouldn't want to stay if they don't want him. I think he's got the clause because it gives him peace of mind. Now, when he hears his name in trade rumours, he knows it's BS. And, if there should be a deal to a crappy team requiring him to waive his NTC, he can decline and wait to go to a better team. Overall though, if it came down to getting stuck with an unproductive Plekanec or asking him to waive his NTC, I think he'd just agree to go.
Hall of Shame
So, the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee has decided to pass Pat Burns over for admission this year for some incomprehensible reason, or maybe, for no reason at all. Perhaps the selection committee thinks he's enough of a fighter to stay alive until next year, despite the cancer eating away at him.
The man is going to be in the Hall some day. It should have been yesterday. He's got all the qualifications, and, if not for the devastating cancer he's battling, he'd still be coaching in the NHL. He's the only coach in league history to have won the Jack Adams with three different teams, he's got a winning record and a Stanley Cup. There's no doubt he'll be inducted eventually. Why the committee chose to let him and his family wait, when there's little chance he'll live to receive the honour in person, just defies logic and compassion.
I find it hard to believe that either none of the selection committee chose to use his "builder" nomination privilege to put Burns' name forward, or, if he was actually nominated by the committee, that fifty percent of the guys who vote didn't think he was worthy to be picked this year. These are not random yahoos. They're respected hockey men, and, you'd think, capable of understanding that time is of the essence in Burns' induction.
Overlooking Burns does two things. First, it cheapens the inductions of the people who actually got in this year. It should be a momentous occasion for women's hockey to see the first two female players honoured in the Hall. Instead, Angela James' and Cammi Granato's inductions will always be overshadowed by the slight to Burns. Dino Ciccarelli, too, will always remember being part of the Hall class that screwed Pat Burns over. The second thing it does is make hockey look like a chump sport in the eyes of a lot of fans. Thousands of people lobbied to have Burns inducted this year on compassionate grounds, as well as merit. The committee's failure to do that is a big "screw you" to the people who wanted him in the Hall.
The wise men on the selection committee, however, decided that Jimmy Devellano, who's hale and hearty, and former Flames owner Doc Seaman (ever hear of him before? anyone?), who's already dead, were better inductees this year. I hope when Seaman's family is there to receive their father's award posthumously, they'll have some tips for Pat Burns' kids, who'll probably be doing the same thing whenever the committee decides to let a great coach in. I'm thinking some of the shine will be off the HOF ring by that time.
"We have an unbelievable tough task to make selections," Hall of Fame chairman Jim Gregory said. "We don't comment on anyone who wasn't selected." Great grammar, there, Jim. And, screw you and the committee too.
The man is going to be in the Hall some day. It should have been yesterday. He's got all the qualifications, and, if not for the devastating cancer he's battling, he'd still be coaching in the NHL. He's the only coach in league history to have won the Jack Adams with three different teams, he's got a winning record and a Stanley Cup. There's no doubt he'll be inducted eventually. Why the committee chose to let him and his family wait, when there's little chance he'll live to receive the honour in person, just defies logic and compassion.
I find it hard to believe that either none of the selection committee chose to use his "builder" nomination privilege to put Burns' name forward, or, if he was actually nominated by the committee, that fifty percent of the guys who vote didn't think he was worthy to be picked this year. These are not random yahoos. They're respected hockey men, and, you'd think, capable of understanding that time is of the essence in Burns' induction.
Overlooking Burns does two things. First, it cheapens the inductions of the people who actually got in this year. It should be a momentous occasion for women's hockey to see the first two female players honoured in the Hall. Instead, Angela James' and Cammi Granato's inductions will always be overshadowed by the slight to Burns. Dino Ciccarelli, too, will always remember being part of the Hall class that screwed Pat Burns over. The second thing it does is make hockey look like a chump sport in the eyes of a lot of fans. Thousands of people lobbied to have Burns inducted this year on compassionate grounds, as well as merit. The committee's failure to do that is a big "screw you" to the people who wanted him in the Hall.
The wise men on the selection committee, however, decided that Jimmy Devellano, who's hale and hearty, and former Flames owner Doc Seaman (ever hear of him before? anyone?), who's already dead, were better inductees this year. I hope when Seaman's family is there to receive their father's award posthumously, they'll have some tips for Pat Burns' kids, who'll probably be doing the same thing whenever the committee decides to let a great coach in. I'm thinking some of the shine will be off the HOF ring by that time.
"We have an unbelievable tough task to make selections," Hall of Fame chairman Jim Gregory said. "We don't comment on anyone who wasn't selected." Great grammar, there, Jim. And, screw you and the committee too.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Good News
Well, finally the Canadiens have decided to refrain from letting a pending free agent walk for nothing. The Streits and Sourays of the past could have brought so much value to the team if management had had the wherewithal to move them when their value was high. This time, though, the Habs were on the ball. They managed to hold onto a great asset, and at a relative bargain too. It's great to see a guy who really loves playing in Montreal have his loyalty rewarded with a nice contract and a little peace of mind, especially when he was only a week away from testing the market and possibly getting quite a bit more money elsewhere. Devotion like that is a rare thing, and I'm happy to see some people still have it. Thank God for Mathieu Darche!
Okay...I kid. Obviously, I'm delighted Tomas Plekanec decided to re-sign in Montreal. I like the money, which I think is a discount over what he would have received on the free-agent market. His consistent 20-plus goal scoring pace and his strong two-way play would have given him a lot of power on the auction block. It wouldn't have hurt, either, that he would have been the best centre outside Patrick Marleau to go on sale on July first. The term is good too. He's going to turn 34 in the last year of the deal, which isn't old.
I even like the no-trade clause. Some fans are getting worried about that, and ordinarily, I'd agree. I think Sam Pollock and his belief that no player should be exempt from getting traded were right. BUT, in Plekanec's case, I think the only thing he really wants is to feel appreciated. I think a big part of his poor season two years ago was due to hearing his name thrown out there in the aborted Lecavalier trade rumours. That, I think, hurt and distracted him. In his case, having the security of knowing he's wanted by the organization will help him perform better.
What I really like, though, is that he said all along he wanted to stay in Montreal, and it wasn't a lip-service kind of stance. He'd seriously thought about the consequences of leaving, versus staying, and back in April he explained what he wanted, and why.
"Every case is different," he said then. "But I have noticed a pattern. The way it usually goes is, a player will leave Montreal and they can't stop talking about how much easier it is, and how it's so much more relaxed where they are. They'll brag about how there are two or three media in the room and how you can go anywhere and no one knows who you are. But then, two or three years later, the reality sinks in. That's when they're like, 'Wow, Montreal was special, that's the place.' But by then it's too late. That stuff has always stayed with me."
Plekanec is one of the very few pending UFAs, along with Andrei Markov and Saku Koivu...maybe Alex Kovalev right after his trade from the Rangers...who could have done better elsewhere and chose Montreal instead. I believe him when he says Montreal is his second home and he loves the city and the fans, because he signed on the dotted line and proved it.
One thing I really liked today was hearing him say "All I've accomplished, I fully deserve." Of course, he does. He's worked very hard to improve himself as a player. It's only now, though, that he's overcome his natural tendency to put himself down and minimize his status. He's a good player, and he'll be better for finally being able to admit it.
People will say Pleks didn't pull his weight in the playoffs. I say he was assigned to shut down Ovechkin and Crosby, and how many goals did they score? He was playing with a nagging hip injury, yet he still played every PK and checked the best guys in the league. He's the first player on the ice at practice every day and shows the young guys what it takes to work your way up in the league. He's not lacking courage or effort.
There are other guys who score more, and some who play better shut-down defence. There are few who do both as well as Tomas Plekanec. The Habs got a good player with a good heart on a good deal today. We should be happy.
I hope he goes out and buys a hell of a lot of turtlenecks.
Okay...I kid. Obviously, I'm delighted Tomas Plekanec decided to re-sign in Montreal. I like the money, which I think is a discount over what he would have received on the free-agent market. His consistent 20-plus goal scoring pace and his strong two-way play would have given him a lot of power on the auction block. It wouldn't have hurt, either, that he would have been the best centre outside Patrick Marleau to go on sale on July first. The term is good too. He's going to turn 34 in the last year of the deal, which isn't old.
I even like the no-trade clause. Some fans are getting worried about that, and ordinarily, I'd agree. I think Sam Pollock and his belief that no player should be exempt from getting traded were right. BUT, in Plekanec's case, I think the only thing he really wants is to feel appreciated. I think a big part of his poor season two years ago was due to hearing his name thrown out there in the aborted Lecavalier trade rumours. That, I think, hurt and distracted him. In his case, having the security of knowing he's wanted by the organization will help him perform better.
What I really like, though, is that he said all along he wanted to stay in Montreal, and it wasn't a lip-service kind of stance. He'd seriously thought about the consequences of leaving, versus staying, and back in April he explained what he wanted, and why.
"Every case is different," he said then. "But I have noticed a pattern. The way it usually goes is, a player will leave Montreal and they can't stop talking about how much easier it is, and how it's so much more relaxed where they are. They'll brag about how there are two or three media in the room and how you can go anywhere and no one knows who you are. But then, two or three years later, the reality sinks in. That's when they're like, 'Wow, Montreal was special, that's the place.' But by then it's too late. That stuff has always stayed with me."
Plekanec is one of the very few pending UFAs, along with Andrei Markov and Saku Koivu...maybe Alex Kovalev right after his trade from the Rangers...who could have done better elsewhere and chose Montreal instead. I believe him when he says Montreal is his second home and he loves the city and the fans, because he signed on the dotted line and proved it.
One thing I really liked today was hearing him say "All I've accomplished, I fully deserve." Of course, he does. He's worked very hard to improve himself as a player. It's only now, though, that he's overcome his natural tendency to put himself down and minimize his status. He's a good player, and he'll be better for finally being able to admit it.
People will say Pleks didn't pull his weight in the playoffs. I say he was assigned to shut down Ovechkin and Crosby, and how many goals did they score? He was playing with a nagging hip injury, yet he still played every PK and checked the best guys in the league. He's the first player on the ice at practice every day and shows the young guys what it takes to work your way up in the league. He's not lacking courage or effort.
There are other guys who score more, and some who play better shut-down defence. There are few who do both as well as Tomas Plekanec. The Habs got a good player with a good heart on a good deal today. We should be happy.
I hope he goes out and buys a hell of a lot of turtlenecks.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Drafting Dreamers
On Friday, the best 18-year-old hockey players on the planet will find out to which NHL team their foreseeable futures will be tied. These are kids who've been toiling in the gym every day since they were twelve or thirteen. They've run countless miles and spent every summer in at least one hockey school. They've left their homes before they were ready and many of them have given up a real chance at an education. They've won and lost, felt triumph and despair. All of it has been funnelled into a single goal: to make the NHL.
While scouts drool over big frames and explosive speed, blistering shots and leadership qualities, they're also looking for something else. They know these kids are all committed to a career in pro hockey. Less clear are their individual reasons for wanting that career. I think there are two kinds of players: pragmatists and idealists.
The pragmatist wants to play in the NHL because he knows he's got the skill to make it in pro hockey. He wants the fame and the money, and the phrase "it's a business" isn't far from his lips. The idealist believes in the romance of the sport. For him, it's all about brotherhood and fighting the good fight. The dream of the Stanley Cup makes him smile in his sleep. It's an important distinction. The idealist is the one who'll play hurt, overcome despair and keep believing, even when his team is down three games to none in a playoff series. Maybe he's naive, but he'll win more often because he wills it.
The trick in the draft is picking the believer who's also got the skills. The Canadiens have failed at this, at least in the first round. Andrei Kostitsyn has the ability, but he's never shown an idealistic drive to win. I can't claim to know what he feels, but his play doesn't reflect a burning desire to get his name on the Cup. Kyle Chipchura had dreams and drive, but never had the skill to be more than a decent third-liner. Louis Leblanc has a lot of talent, but he's a pragmatist who carefully weighed his opportunities and went with Harvard so he'd have a backup plan in case hockey doesn't work out. That's smart, and it's a very sensible choice. It makes you wonder, though, if he's able to see possbility in a jungle of reality. Can he truly believe he's going to be an NHL champion? PK Subban can, but he's a rare personality. Sometimes, especially in the first round, a team's "best player available" has to be more than just talent. Skill gives a guy the tools he needs to succeed. Dreams give him the will to use them.
I think the Canadiens did so well in the playoffs this year because they had more idealists on the team than pragmatists. A lot of guys would have looked at facing the Caps in the first round as an insurmountable challenge. Some would shrug and say "what the hell, we're getting paid anyway." Others see only as far as the next shift and go all out, blocking shots and trying like hell every time they're on the ice because they believe in the dream. If the balance on a team tips toward the latter kind of player, that team has a chance.
In a draft of 18-year-olds, idealism abounds. Most of these kids see the dream, floating tantalizingly within reach. By the time they're 25, most of them will have lost some of that. They'll be traded, demoted, or, like Jonathan Toews this week, have to face the fact that the team makes decisions because of money, not love. Finding a player who can manage to find joy and keep dreaming even when he's seen the truth up close is a special thing.
That's what I want the Habs to bring home on Friday. Twenty-seventh overall is far from a sure-thing draft position and the team needs something at every position. So whether they pick a bruising stay-at-home defenceman, a winger with some size and hands, even a goalie to restock the organization's pipeline after the Halak trade, the player they choose will be a project. He won't make the NHL right away, and may have to struggle through some time in the minors before he gets close.
I hope they pick a player who has a chance to help the team in some capacity in a couple of years. More than that, I hope they choose a dreamer.
While scouts drool over big frames and explosive speed, blistering shots and leadership qualities, they're also looking for something else. They know these kids are all committed to a career in pro hockey. Less clear are their individual reasons for wanting that career. I think there are two kinds of players: pragmatists and idealists.
The pragmatist wants to play in the NHL because he knows he's got the skill to make it in pro hockey. He wants the fame and the money, and the phrase "it's a business" isn't far from his lips. The idealist believes in the romance of the sport. For him, it's all about brotherhood and fighting the good fight. The dream of the Stanley Cup makes him smile in his sleep. It's an important distinction. The idealist is the one who'll play hurt, overcome despair and keep believing, even when his team is down three games to none in a playoff series. Maybe he's naive, but he'll win more often because he wills it.
The trick in the draft is picking the believer who's also got the skills. The Canadiens have failed at this, at least in the first round. Andrei Kostitsyn has the ability, but he's never shown an idealistic drive to win. I can't claim to know what he feels, but his play doesn't reflect a burning desire to get his name on the Cup. Kyle Chipchura had dreams and drive, but never had the skill to be more than a decent third-liner. Louis Leblanc has a lot of talent, but he's a pragmatist who carefully weighed his opportunities and went with Harvard so he'd have a backup plan in case hockey doesn't work out. That's smart, and it's a very sensible choice. It makes you wonder, though, if he's able to see possbility in a jungle of reality. Can he truly believe he's going to be an NHL champion? PK Subban can, but he's a rare personality. Sometimes, especially in the first round, a team's "best player available" has to be more than just talent. Skill gives a guy the tools he needs to succeed. Dreams give him the will to use them.
I think the Canadiens did so well in the playoffs this year because they had more idealists on the team than pragmatists. A lot of guys would have looked at facing the Caps in the first round as an insurmountable challenge. Some would shrug and say "what the hell, we're getting paid anyway." Others see only as far as the next shift and go all out, blocking shots and trying like hell every time they're on the ice because they believe in the dream. If the balance on a team tips toward the latter kind of player, that team has a chance.
In a draft of 18-year-olds, idealism abounds. Most of these kids see the dream, floating tantalizingly within reach. By the time they're 25, most of them will have lost some of that. They'll be traded, demoted, or, like Jonathan Toews this week, have to face the fact that the team makes decisions because of money, not love. Finding a player who can manage to find joy and keep dreaming even when he's seen the truth up close is a special thing.
That's what I want the Habs to bring home on Friday. Twenty-seventh overall is far from a sure-thing draft position and the team needs something at every position. So whether they pick a bruising stay-at-home defenceman, a winger with some size and hands, even a goalie to restock the organization's pipeline after the Halak trade, the player they choose will be a project. He won't make the NHL right away, and may have to struggle through some time in the minors before he gets close.
I hope they pick a player who has a chance to help the team in some capacity in a couple of years. More than that, I hope they choose a dreamer.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Class Dismissed
From my blue plastic seat, closer to the better-than-real-life action on the massive screen hanging from the Bell Centre's rafters than to the real-life game on the blue-tinted ice far below, I can see him. From here, he's a dressmaker's pin; silver-suited and white-tipped, straight and sharp. I know it's him because he sits in the third row behind the bench, and he's as consistent as a heartbeat. I think about making an intermission pilgrimage to spend a moment in his presence, just so I can say I was this close to greatness. As the thought crosses my mind, the big screen intercepts it and there he is: Jean Beliveau in glorious HD, nodding graciously in acknowledgement of the warm applause that swells to fill the building. I see other pilgrims climbing the steps to pay homage, scraps of paper ready to collect his carefully-drawn signature. He patiently signs them all, and shakes every extended hand. What a nice man, I think. Even after all this time he's still committed to these people who stand in awe of him. That's class.
I think about that. "Class" is a term so easily overused, its meaning is just as easily lost. Very often, it's what we say when a rich man who plays a boy's game for a living shows basic human kindness to another. Or when a man who plays that game better than any of us ever could shares some of the spoils he earns. I wonder why an athlete who donates to charity is "classy," while a retired teacher who does the same thing is unremarkable? Why, when my dad stops to help a stranded woman change her flat tire, nobody knows about it, but when the Capitals' Brooks Laich does it, it makes headlines all over North America? Maybe it's because these guys play the game so much better than we can, we treat them with a godlike deference. When they lower themselves to be just like the rest of us and do something good or kind, we're grateful and they're "classy."
Class is more than that, though. It's something tougher to label than a simple act of decency or generosity. Class isn't just making the grand gesture. It's doing the little things, and even more important, thinking to do them. A nice man visits the hospital and distributes team memorabilia on schedule. A classy one remembers a child's name afterwards, and mentions it when he's interviewed on Hockey Night In Canada.
The Canadiens have always been labelled a "classy" organization because they've done the little things right. When a star player retired before his contract ran out, the Habs would pay him his remaining salary anyway. When a guy like Steve Shutt wasn't playing well anymore, the Habs let him choose the team to which he'd be traded. Then, when he wanted to retire a Hab two years later, they traded for his rights. When other teams forgot their alumni, the Canadiens honoured theirs. When a guy like Doug Harvey was down on his luck, the Habs offered him a job. Of course, they haven't always done the classy thing, but they've done it often enough that they became known for it.
As time has passed, though, the Canadiens have become more like everybody else. It's obvious in the arena. The sound system, big screen and gimmicks that fill every lull in play are no different from those in any other NHL rink. There's no soul in the Bell Centre because it's no longer the home of a hockey dynasty. It's the storefront of a business operation, and when business is of the greatest importance, class is the first thing to go.
Once, they might have offered Saku Koivu another role within the organization rather than just unceremoniously cut him loose. They would have said their captain at least deserved a choice about whether to stay, even if it wasn't on the ice. When a player like Hal Gill missed the team flight with an injury during a gruelling playoff, the Canadiens could have paid for private transportation for him, instead of forcing him to take an all-day commercial flight on a small plane while he bore a leg full of stitches. When a team icon like Larry Robinson called about a job, the classy Canadiens would have made it a priority to show him some courtesy and phone him back.
The Canadiens want to be the team they used to be. Management wants to be seen as extraordinary, but they can't do it while they're acting in a very ordinary way. If "class" is doing the little things right and treating people with respect, the Canadiens aren't very classy anymore.
Jean Beliveau is the last link to that world in which the Canadiens were the class of the NHL. He's a classy man because he always makes an extra effort to show respect and kindness, even when he doesn't feel like it. He thinks about other people. Watching him graciously shake hands with fans around him at the Bell Centre, I can see it. He is the Canadiens, as they used to be. When he no longer sits three rows behind the bench, nobody will remember the Habs were once synonymous with "class." I feel sad.
I think about that. "Class" is a term so easily overused, its meaning is just as easily lost. Very often, it's what we say when a rich man who plays a boy's game for a living shows basic human kindness to another. Or when a man who plays that game better than any of us ever could shares some of the spoils he earns. I wonder why an athlete who donates to charity is "classy," while a retired teacher who does the same thing is unremarkable? Why, when my dad stops to help a stranded woman change her flat tire, nobody knows about it, but when the Capitals' Brooks Laich does it, it makes headlines all over North America? Maybe it's because these guys play the game so much better than we can, we treat them with a godlike deference. When they lower themselves to be just like the rest of us and do something good or kind, we're grateful and they're "classy."
Class is more than that, though. It's something tougher to label than a simple act of decency or generosity. Class isn't just making the grand gesture. It's doing the little things, and even more important, thinking to do them. A nice man visits the hospital and distributes team memorabilia on schedule. A classy one remembers a child's name afterwards, and mentions it when he's interviewed on Hockey Night In Canada.
The Canadiens have always been labelled a "classy" organization because they've done the little things right. When a star player retired before his contract ran out, the Habs would pay him his remaining salary anyway. When a guy like Steve Shutt wasn't playing well anymore, the Habs let him choose the team to which he'd be traded. Then, when he wanted to retire a Hab two years later, they traded for his rights. When other teams forgot their alumni, the Canadiens honoured theirs. When a guy like Doug Harvey was down on his luck, the Habs offered him a job. Of course, they haven't always done the classy thing, but they've done it often enough that they became known for it.
As time has passed, though, the Canadiens have become more like everybody else. It's obvious in the arena. The sound system, big screen and gimmicks that fill every lull in play are no different from those in any other NHL rink. There's no soul in the Bell Centre because it's no longer the home of a hockey dynasty. It's the storefront of a business operation, and when business is of the greatest importance, class is the first thing to go.
Once, they might have offered Saku Koivu another role within the organization rather than just unceremoniously cut him loose. They would have said their captain at least deserved a choice about whether to stay, even if it wasn't on the ice. When a player like Hal Gill missed the team flight with an injury during a gruelling playoff, the Canadiens could have paid for private transportation for him, instead of forcing him to take an all-day commercial flight on a small plane while he bore a leg full of stitches. When a team icon like Larry Robinson called about a job, the classy Canadiens would have made it a priority to show him some courtesy and phone him back.
The Canadiens want to be the team they used to be. Management wants to be seen as extraordinary, but they can't do it while they're acting in a very ordinary way. If "class" is doing the little things right and treating people with respect, the Canadiens aren't very classy anymore.
Jean Beliveau is the last link to that world in which the Canadiens were the class of the NHL. He's a classy man because he always makes an extra effort to show respect and kindness, even when he doesn't feel like it. He thinks about other people. Watching him graciously shake hands with fans around him at the Bell Centre, I can see it. He is the Canadiens, as they used to be. When he no longer sits three rows behind the bench, nobody will remember the Habs were once synonymous with "class." I feel sad.
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