A Montreal Canadiens fan blog
Posts tagged UFA
To Saku Koivu
Jul 8th
After last season, it had been a while that the cries for a change were getting louder in Montreal. And I thought that a major change was certainly in order.
As July 1st came and went, I had (at first) felt some “doom and gloom” because I didn’t like the Gomez deal. And then with the UFAs that were signed, I felt a new optimism.
I somewhat knew that you (Saku) were not coming back to Montreal, and somehow that was ok.
But as a rumour broke about a slight chance that you (Saku) would return to Montreal.. I started thinking, not just about hockey, but about who you are and how you carried yourself as the captain and the face of the Montreal Canadiens.
I found myself caught in a little nostalgia to be honest, but aside from that, I couldn’t deny the fact that you carried yourself so well in spite of everything. In spite of the injuries that could have ended your career. In spite of the Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that certainly would have finished others….. you pushed on, with endless class and a commitment to your team.
I fully believe you gave %100 every time you hit the ice. Through the great highs and great lows of your time in the Montreal Canadiens organisation…. you gave it %100.
Through all kinds of media crap, language issues that in my opinion, you were a target of circumstance… you gave it %100.
Saku, you have been a model player, a model captain and a model citizen with the charity work you have done.
Today, your signing in Anaheim signals the true end of an era for the Canadiens. After the news broke, it started sinking in for me. That the face of the team I’ve loved for many years is no longer a member of the team.
I will truely miss you. I have spent many many hours cheering you and your linemates on over the years… sharing the highs and the lows of your career with the Montreal Canadiens.
I wish only the very best for you and your family and I do infact wish you all the success in Anaheim. I will continue to follow your play as much as I can.
The Anaheim Ducks know who and what they are getting in your signing… to quote Adam Brady on the Ducks blog:
“In Koivu, the Ducks are getting so much. They’re getting a terrific playmaker, a guy who scored more than 50 points each of the last six seasons, someone who takes pride in his defense as well. Just as importantly, they’re getting a born leader who had one of the toughest jobs in hockey — captain of the Montreal Canadiens — for the last decade, as long as anyone in the 100-year history of the team.”
(Ducks blog here)
And I really can’t help but feeling a little bit of … “don’t know what you got, until it’s gone”.
You will be missed. I hope you get another 8 to 10 minute standing ovation if/when you play in Montreal this year. You deserve it.
With respect,
Yves.
A clarification on Kovalev
Jul 8th
Yesterday, I had written an email to PJ Stock over at the Team990 about Kovalev being in Ottawa. And as I’m not writer, I think I came out sounding a bit harsh.
Basically, I’ve always loved Kovalev in Montreal. I would have gladly taken him back.
I’m actually a bit sad to see him go… and according to reports, he did want to stay in Montreal… and Gainey did want him back. A lack of communication it seems.
Now, one thing that I don’t understand is that while people have been to the streets in Montreal prior to his (Kovalev) signing in Ottawa, in attempts to convince Bob Gainey to sign him, is that while he was a member of the Canadiens, I would often hear and read comments by people calling him the best player on the face of the earth… and other comments calling him a bum.
The opposite ends of the spectrum.
We all know that Kovalev is likely one of the very top skilled forwards in the world. I don’t think there is any doubt. But, consistency has dogged him.
Mind you, last year has been called a disappoint… but it was far better then the 2007-2008 season. Statiscally, I don’t think it was that bad a year. Since the whole team seemed to go down the drain at the mid-way point. People just see what talents he has and believe (or expect) that he should carry the team… be the offensive leader.
And while some people were calling to put the “C” on Kovalev in Montreal. I’m not so sure. In a way, if he would have signed, it certainly would have been major motivation for him. In another way, I would put the “C” on someone who brings it every night without a doubt… someone who buys into the system the team is playing… etc.
Kovalev might indeed have been a good captain and player in Montreal for the proposed 2 years / 10 Million. But, we’ll never know.
Alex, once again. Have a great year in Ottawa. Loved your time in Montreal and I will keep watching you play for Ottawa. But I hope you understand, I gotta cheer against you when you’re playing against Montreal…. 
No hard feelings right??
Operation facelift – 2009 edition
Jul 3rd
Over the last several days the Montreal Canadiens have gone through enormous changes.
Going into “Free agent frenzy”… I was “super looking forward” to that date.. to see what if anything was gonna happen with my loved Montreal Canadiens.
I was floored when Gainey pulled off that trade for Scott Gomez. I was totally floored…
I didn’t like that deal at all. Gomez comes with a hefty price tag. Mind you, I do think that he comes with considerable puck moving skill… but it was obviously a commitment to take on that contract.
By noon time, July 1st…. I had a doom and gloom feeling… and couldn’t shake it… but as soon as the signings started (not montreal’s… but in general) I felt much better.
Montreal’s day started with the signing of Jaroslav Spacek, an offensive defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres. I was not thrilled at this signing…. 3 years for a 35 year old… but after checking out his numbers… he has seemed very durable… and fairly consistent… he has pretty much always been a “plus” player in +/-… except in his Columbus years…
Then later… Hal Gill… which I didn’t like at all either… essentially, I had gone through about 2 days of Mr Negativity in regards to the Habs after the draft. Then when I thought about Gill, I actually felt a bit better. He’s big…. and what sold me a bit on him, was that he made it to the cup finals 2 years in a row and won last year. And he was used in both playoff runs. He could be effective in clearing room for Price… which we need.
I was ready to step out.. and go with the family to the July 1st fireworks… when all of a sudden, I saw that the Habs signed Mike Cammalleri.. at first I thought.. “wow.. Gainey landed Mike Cammalleri!”.. all of a sudden, it was looking better. I was starting to become very optimistic.
When I got back late that night… what??? Gainey signed Brian Gionta?? Now, I was floored.. the face of the team was changed… and changed much more dramatically then anyone could have guessed.
Now, most of these guys are small…. which seems like a problem. But I gotta say… 2 years in a row… 2 puck possession teams won the cup. Some of their most important players weren’t huge in stature… (think of Crosby and Maxim Talbot)
It surely didn’t seem to be a problem when the Canadiens finished 1st in the east 2 seasons ago and all the “experts” picked them to contend for the cup.
There are many variables that come into play for a team to succeed. Is the team well disciplined? Do they really play within their coach’s plan? Are they having an injury free season (Habs 2 seasons ago)? Are they having an injury filled season (Habs last season)? Do the players get along? How is the dressing room? etc…etc.. etc..
If rough and tough teams won the cup every year… then Philly should have won several years running…
Talk was about re-signing Kovalev… which I had hoped for … some talked about Tanguay.. Koivu… Even though there has been an overwhelming consensus about changing the team’s core. But that wouldn’t really “changed” the face of the team.
I would certainly welcome back any of those guys if Gainey and Martin think they fit. I’m hoping that Martin runs a tight defensive system this year… and shots on goal go down…. Gionta and Gomez played their best years under such a system.
I love Kovalev… I love Koivu… Koivu has been one of my favorite players for years and years. I would take them back in a heartbeat.
Tanguay… if it’s true he chose not to play in a little pain in last year’s playoff… I don’t mind him going.
After a couple of days to think all this over… I’m very positive about this year’s team. Although, there are still a couple of holes to fill. Gotta have 1 more D-man.. And, get a bigger center.
I’m really lookin’ forward to the pre-season camps…. really really lookin’ forward to it.
So we have 3 new core guys locked in for 5 years….. next year, I believe there’s only 1 guy who will be UFA… so this will be the core for a few years.
I’m optimistic.
Go HABS!
Habs sign Mikael Johansson
May 25th
Habs Inside/Out reports that they’ve signed swedish elite leaguer Mikael Johansson to a 1 year (2 way) deal.
A pretty minor deal.
Johansson is a small forward and had his best season last year with Farjestads BK Karlstad with:
GP: 53 G:15 A:24 P:39
And had 80 penalty minutes.
Week 2 – Post Guy era
Mar 16th
Posted by Yves in Game comments
Comments
I for one thought the team would respond a bit better to having Gainey behind the bench.