Opening the Vault - Here I go AGAIN!

I promised I would not write about Sergei Kostitsyn (SK74) anymore. I said my good-bye, wished him luck with the Nashville Predators and I've moved on, in a way. However, a recent event has forced me to open that wound again. The ignorance and selective memories of some people in Montreal is making it impossible for me to completely heal from last season's events. I guess I have Max Pacioretty (Patches) to thank for that.

By now,everyone has heard about Patches comments regarding Coach Martin, being a top 6 forward and preferring to stay with the Hamilton Bulldogs. How if he was called upon,by the Habs to help out the Gionta- Gomez line, he would gladly do it. Well, excuse us Mr Professional. Last I checked, he was always among the first cut at training camp.

However,this post is not about his comments, or self glorification, but about the positive reactions to them by some media and Habs fans. In essence,Patches is being viewed as a hero. He has been described as "humble", "professional" and " still young". REALLY? You've got to be kidding me.

So, of course,me being...well, me, I post a comment about this and SK74 on twitter, and I got flooded with responses supporting Patches and chastising SK74. It's unbelievable how many people choose to only remember the events of September 2009 (and February 2008, of course that goes without saying),hence my use of the words "selective memories".

My understanding from these tweets is that it's okay for a seasoned veteran (sarcasm) like Patches to come out and criticize his potential coach, ice time and his top 6 status, but SK74's immature action's from last pre season are unforgivable and/or unforgettable. Patches is a hero for speaking his mind and considering himself a NHL top 6 forward, but SK74 was a "diva" for considering himself a NHLer (rightfully so). Patches could mouth off, in a polite way, but SK74 gets buried alive.

I have to say,I was not proud or happy with the reaction from SK74 last year.It was wrong, period. Then, however, I remembered something else. First week of training camp, with a NEW coach, NEW system and NEW teammates, Coach Martin singled out SK74, swore at him for being out of position. He embarassed and made an example of him on the first day. (I am pretty sure he was not the only player do make a mistake on day 1, but whatever)

So, SK74 got sent down to AHL, refused to go, got suspended. yada yada yada. When he did report, he played 16 games, earning 4 goals + 9 assists (Patches played 18 games with 2 goals + 9 assists) and got recalled by the Habs on Nov. 23rd 2009, and played on Nov. 24th, and earned 1st star ( I know, I was there, standing and cheering proudly)

                                             Fittingly, his face was on the ticket as well:)

After some injuries, SK74 returned to the line up in March 2010, and carried the team on his shoulders, being a star in 5 of the 9 games he played, before suffering from lingering injuries again.People tend to forget, and/or refuse to admit that he was a key in getting us into the playoffs. People only remember the negative (or made up) reports and stories about him.

Then, one lazy error in the first round of the 2010 playoffs against the Capitals, was the end of SK74 in Montreal. It's almost as if Coach Martin was just waiting for any reason to make an example of him, yet again,, be it to appease the media or because SK74 was a young kid with talent and a edge to him. However, Coach Martin made a fool of Mathieu Darche in the process.

So what is my point? My point is that a lot of people prefer to remember a specific negative event surrounding one person, who does not speak their language and hence can't clearly defend himself, or articulate an insult in such a way, that they end up being sympathized. Patches came out and blatantly criticized Coach Martin's style, praised Carbonneau, inflated his talent and got sympathy and support from most media and fans.All that, while SK74 is still the punching bag.

In my opinion, Patches just begged the Habs organization to trade him before Coach Martin does to him what he did to SK74.(You all still remember that picture of P.K. Subban consoling SK74 right?, yeah, I can't look at that picture it breaks my heart)

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment.

Anti-Homers

I will not talk about tonight's loss to the Devils. No Point. Pricey played well, everyone else,except for a select few... not so much.
I do want to write about so called "homer broadcasts". You know what I mean. Leafs TV, Sportsnet Vancouver,Calgary, Edmonton. CSN,NBC, WGNT, WGN. All of these broadcasters support their teams and so do their announcers. None of their players do any wrong. Camera's concentrate on their teams. It's fine, if you're a fan, and, I'm not against it, in any way.

I've had the priviledge of enjoying the free NHL Center Ice preview over the last 3 weeks, and let me tell you, I have enjoyed it. Saw many Canucks,Hawks,Oilers,Capitals,Flames and Predators games, and learned all about the players. Close up shots of them, the coaches, it's like the opposing team did not exist.

A lot of people would say, "what homers these guys are". But, to tell you the truth, as a trilingual "allophone" living in Quebec, I wish we had such a homer broadcast."But you have RDS!" are comments I keep hearing and that bothers me. Yes, we have RDS. Yes, I get to see all the Habs games on TV and Yes, I'm lucky for that, but RDS is FAR from being a "homer broadcast". RDS is the furthest thing from being a HABS homer, then it is from being a francophone homer.

For example, tonight we saw a pre game interview with our star player Maxime Lapierre and a pre AND post game interview with Martin Brodeur. Quite honestly, if you're supposed to be the Habs "homers", why do you not support the Habs? When we play the Penguins, HABS fans get RDS interviews with Pascal Dupuis and MA Fleury. WHY do we care? Why not interview the stars like, let me see..ummm, Sidney Crosby? Geno Malkin? We play the Flyers, there's Daniel Briere,Ian Laperierre,Claude Giroux and Martin Byron (in the past).Where's Carter? Richards?  Should I go on? You get the picture right? Why can't it ever be about the HABS? ALL the guys on the roster, win or lose. Why can't we hear more about the guys that are playing well on the team, rather than trying to move the francophone players up in lines? Why wasn't there a comment about the officiating tonight? From what I know, broadcasters can't get fined. Is it because you are too busy hearing your own voices and talking to each other,that you're not actually watching the game? Did I mention the new wave Lightning? Lecavalier, St Louis, Gagne, Boucher....we're done. I will not watch a Habs vs Lightning game again. RDS is intolerable.

Genius comment ,and I mean that sarcastically, by Benoit Brunet tonight was to move Andrei Kostitsyn from Plekanec and Cammalleri and insert Benoit Pouliot. My question is WHY??? So Andrei could falter and Pleky can make Pou look good? News flash, even Pleky can't make Pouliot look good right now. So that you could go on and criticize Kostitsyn, because you've had no reason to do so this season so far? No one but Price showed up tonight, well, Pleky, AK46 and Lars Eller showed signs of working real hard, but my point is why move AK46? 

I would like, for once,to watch a Habs game on TV, and the broadcasters are pro Canadiens. Where they make positive comments about ALL the players rather than a select three. Where they actually say "what is Auger doing? How did he not see that penalty?" or "that is not a penalty, why not call Brodeur for diving".

As an allophone die hard Habs fan, I would like it, if for once, the broadcast I'm watching supports the Montreal Canadiens. Not just the Francophones, not the francophones on the opposing teams, but MY CANADIENS. JUST FOR ONCE.

There is no relief. We have Toronto's Sports Network (TSN), well, no explanation necessary. CBC, well, with Milbury and Don Cherry...anti Habs, AGAIN no explanation needed. There is no justice for a pure Habs fan in Quebec.

My complaint is,if you haven't figured it out,is that as an anglo Habs fan born and raised in Quebec, I have yet to watch a game where the broadcasters will support the team as a whole, and get my fill of a  HOMER Habs broadcast.

What I would do if I had a day with the Habs

If you had the chance to spend a day with the Habs, what would you do? Here's what I would do:

Gionta: I would lift him well above my head and turn around in circles just to hear him giggle.

Hal Gill: I'd sit on his foot and make him walk around, just for fun

Markoy: Tickle him senseless, because his laugh is too adorable

Cammy: I'd have a spelling bee with him, just to see if he could spell as well as he speaks

AK46: I'd have a staring contest with him....sure he'd win

Spacek: watch The Flintstone's all day to see how long it takes for him to see his resemblance to Fred

Pouliot: Feed him Greek food so he can get some meat on his bony frame. Who am I kidding, I need least a month with him.

Pleky: There's so much I would do with him, but what stands out is putting him in a wheel to see how long he lasts running. ( Thanks @number31 ) :)

Hocktober is HERE!

Well guys and gals, ladies and gentlemen, the TIME HAS COME! We all hoped for this day to come and it's finally here.The countdown to Oct 7, 2010 started in June. The #isitoctoberyet twitter hashtag has been replaced with the #Octoberishere and #Hocktoberishere. Everyone has stocked up the beer fridge and dug out the delivery menus from that bottom drawer in the kitchen, you know the one with the extra batteries and cell phone chargers (we all have THAT drawer).

HOCKEY IS BACK!!!

I can't wait to see how this season turns out. Can't wait to see how soon our boys get chemistry with their linemates. Can't wait to see who will score the first goal,who will get their first NHL goal, who will fight first and who will have their first NHL fight.Most of all, I can't wait to hear "Your Captain - BRIAAAN GIONNTA! and "accueillons vos Canadiens" *goosebumps*

I FEEL GIDDY!

The boys are back! A little different, with the off season transactions and such, but the Bleu Blanc et Rouge are back and will make their presence be known as of 7:30pm tonight. THIS is OUR team! This is the Crest that we all love and adore AND support. The past is the past. We need to live for now and the future! These boys are here to make that happen. I don't know how to really express what I'm feeling now, but I can say that I can't wait for nos Glorieux to step onto the ice at the ACC and show us what they got. I just can't wait.
I know we're probably going to be missing key players like Pricey, Marky and Hammer but just to see the rest out there tomorrow, is good enough for me. We missed key players last year too, for a significant amount of time, and mostly simultaneously...so I think we'll be OK. We have a good group of guys and I am excited for this season!

ARE YOU READY!!!!

My Sources told me

Just because I can't resist the temptation to say exactly what I think, here goes. Tonight's events have had me chuckling uncontrollably all night. So this is just a quick report.

Pierre McGuire

Everyone knows him, everyone dislikes him, except for some Habs fans who call in to the Team 990 wishing he was the Habs GM because he is the best. The best at what I ask? The best at going for job interviews and never getting the gig? The best at talking to players and claiming they open up to him and that he knows a lot? Well, let me tell you, he's not.Here's why.
Earlier today on the Team 990 in Montreal, Charles Olivier Roussel (who's that you say? what? Yeah, my thoughts exactly)came on and said how Sergei Kostitsyn doesn't appear to be playing hard,in Nashville and that he is "soft". This coming from a 19 year old "pro" who got sent back down to the minors in Nashville.*chuckle*
McGuire was informed of this during his daily call at 5:25pm and he laughed. He was shocked, surprised and loved the fact that a kid would say that. Well...let's get to the TSN broadcast of the Barfallo Sabres vs The Habs tonight....
"word out of Nashville is that Sergei Kostitsyn is playing soft" quotes Pierre McGuire,in his "I know everything" voice. People, I fell off my couch laughing. I couldn't believe he said that. THOSE are his sources? Disgruntled kids not making the pros? And you want HIM to be our GM??

WHATEVER

The Antichambre Dudes:

THIS is classic.We all know the Power Play isn't working. No Marky,half a professional roster. 3 top six forwards playing each game, you know, it's the pre-season. Bergy's "manchette" tonight was "where's MAB?" They went on to talk about his one timer. They talked about how good his shot is and that he should be on the team. Half hour later, they're still talking about MAB's shot etc etc etc. They brought out a white board, did some drawings about positions and how MAB's shot would help the Habs.

Well this next part, had me tearing from laughter.

Gaston (whatever his last name is, I kinda tune out) brought up Yannick Weber. "C'est quoi la role de Weber sur le Canadiens?"  And they all answer "Sa lancer". *rolls eyes* You see where I'm going with this? I couldn't stop laughing at their stupidity. From what I understand, we already have a MAB in our organization, who is better at being a defenceman, BUT, they want the Habs to pay money for him anyways. LOL!
My thoughts?  Forget it, I won't go to politics again. Did it once, never again.

Tell me your thoughts.

My Canadiens 12 man roster

I will never back down from a challenge. So I was informed that @schmitzysays challenged all bloggers to post their 12 man forward roster, although I am new to blogging, I do know my hockey, so here goes.

1st line: Cammy- Pleky-Tit or Tank(or AK46,not to be confused with his brother Titty-SK74, sigh)

Mostly because they do have chemistry. Pleky has played with AK46 for a few years now and he can set up anybody. Also playing with Cammy in the pre-season, will only help them figure each others movements better.
This is my first line because Cammy has been challenged to score 40 goals this year, AK46 is in a contract year and Pleky, well he's just an energizer bunny who doesn't quit!


2nd line: Giant(Gionta)-Gogo(Gomez)- Pou (no explanation needed)

Yes I know, Pou is better at cleaning the ice with his bum rather than hustling and trying to score goals,but I'm not willing to give up on him yet.He hasn't been impressive in the pre-season in ANY way. Actually, he's been rather dormant,but I'd put him in there for now, on a very VERY short leash.It also helps my decision that he is on a 1 year contract.
As for Gogo and Giant, they're like an old married couple: they know exactly what the other is thinking and what they're about to do.

 3rd line: Tom Pyatt(TP. AKA:Teachers Pet)-Eller (Tin Tin)-Yappy (Lapierre)

The kids line. Let them go out and reap havoc.I was VERY impressed with Tin Tin in the pre-season. he's a big body and a natural center. I am also happy that Yappy from 2 years ago appears to have healed and is back for good.And, although TP took over my boy's position(SK74) I will not hold it against him. Although he hasn't really impressed me this pre-season, we know what a great penalty killer he is..and he can score too.


4th line: Moen(Plumber, get it)-Halpern-White(Feisty Munster or just Munster)

The shit disturber line. I love the aggression the Plumber has shown in the pre-season (something he was criticized for not doing last season). Halpern is a vet, who has a scoring touch and a good hockey sense (ya, ok, don't know much about him, shoot me). And Munster? What can I say about this kid? I liked him last year...this year, I adore him. A true team player, willing to sacrifice himself for anything and anyone, AND he can score!


On the bench: Boyd and Desharnais.
These boys are here in case Pou just can't get out of the Marshmallow (Latendresse, I am French, therefore I am God syndrome) and also in case White doesn't pan out for the NHL yet.

That's all. Let me know what you think. I was told I can't clone AK46 AND I am not allowed to trade SK74 back to the Habs, so this is all I got.

Waivers: Doctor Darche
I hate doing this, because he hasn't done anything wrong, but he's slow and doesn't fit our speedy roster.

Here we go again

It's Deja-vu all over again. First pre season game and if it's not the media that chastises the Habs, it's the so called "Fans". You know which ones I'm talking about? The ones in the nose bleeds who have no idea what's happening on the ice, because they can't see that far down and need oxygen masks to breathe because of the altitude.The ones who just see a goal  go in against the Habs and automatically blame the goaltender. Granted, a couple were weak, but who cares? Everyone is getting their feet wet in the first pre-season game, even the veterans. Cammy and Spacek didn't have a great game either. Where was Pouliot?He seemed okay at first,then nada. So why call out Carey Price? Why are you booing him?

People in Montreal need to realize that the more the media and "fans" become selfish, the more the team and players will not give a shit about you. That was your #1 goalie you were booing, in the first game of the pre-season! ARE YOU SERIOUS??? We all missed hockey, we were all desperate to see the Habs back on the ice and play a game. We all hoped to see a win and a great performance from the start, but that didn't happen.

We were rusty. The rookies were nervous as hell, the vets weren't perfect either.There was no chemistry, at FIRST, but as the game progressed, things got better on the ice.Yet, these "fans" still booed Pricey and cheered when he touched the puck,in what they conjured as a stop.

Get some class people. The media is not the sole reason why high end players don't want to come play for Montreal,you add to that.