I think Bure would be a modern day comp, but honestly #12 hasn't been seen before or since. One thing about the Montreal Canadiens that was true in my youth--the annual story of the season was always either Habs Win! or Habs don't win!
They were, for lack of a better name, the hockey Yankees.
The French language was always an issue for Montreal fans. Al MacNeil was basically fired after winning the '71 Staney, because he'd benched Henri Richard during the playoffs. Little or no mention about John Ferguson's being pushed to the background, but the Richard issue got MacNeil a job with the Nova Scotia Vayageurs and Scotty Bowman (who could speak French) the best job in hockey.
The French language issue remains, but the Habs are handling it differently. Worse. Badly. Sam Pollock somehow managed to replace his Stanley-winning coach with another guy who had an English last name and not skip a beat, and if you try to tell me the political climate was less edgy then I'll call you a liar.
This is really about one thing: winning. Habs fans should stop embarrassing themselves with vicious verbal toward their English speaking coach and beg the God they pray to for the day when their French speaking GM gets the gaspipe.
In hockey, politics changes with W's. Even in Quebec province.
Is there a Quebecois kid who is lottery worthy? Because this team looks like its stepped into the elevator shaft.
ReplyDeleteI figured them for borderline playoff contender and they've had some bad luck with injury but man they just have gone from bad to worse this past week.
If it keeps up I don't think Cunneyworth even lasts the season.
I grew up a Habs fan because of my grandfather. I remember Koivu getting killed in the press all the time cause he never learned french. his whole family did, just not him. The "need" of a french top end player is so huge it's crazy. Talk about pressure. the poor kid LeBlanc who just got called up is at best a 3rd liner, but they talk about him being a top player. No wonder guys like LeCavalier opted not to go there. I wonder if they would deal for him. A few top end French guys and a few wins and all will be well.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I think the whole need to speak French is a bit overplayed by certain Quebecios folks, I do understand the need since more then half the province does not speak english, and get pissed about not hearing from their coach or players in french. They are as passionate as Rider fans, so you can see how they'd react to a a perceived lack of respect to their culture. Not saying it's right, just saying I know how my family out there feels and while most speak great english, culturally they are proud French, and disrespecting that culture (true or not) will not go over well.
As of Martin's firing, the only thing wrong with the Habs as the PP, and specifically the SH% on the PP: EV possession was only decent, but still the best since the lockout, and the PK was lights-out. They traded for Kaberle to serve as a PP specialist, and to maybe try to jolt the team out of a funk.
ReplyDeleteGauthier gave his desperate move about a week to take, and then made another one. Good show.
Talk about pressure. the poor kid LeBlanc who just got called up is at best a 3rd liner, but they talk about him being a top player. No wonder guys like LeCavalier opted not to go there. I wonder if they would deal for him. A few top end French guys and a few wins and all will be well.
ReplyDeleteI remember thinking that when Leblanc was drafted - "Damn, I'm sorry for that kid, the pressure he's going to face is going to be insane". Unrealistic expectations and all that.
As for Lecavalier, it's a matter of time before one of two things happen with that guy:
- He gets dealt to Montreal when the Gomez contract goes away (or before then, for Gomez himself).
- He lands in Vancouver in a swap for Luongo. And no, I'm not kidding - long deal for long deal, Luongo goes back to where his wife still is, and either becomes 2C behind Henrik (with Kesler shifting to wing with the twins) or makes the move to the wing himself....
Ray Ferraro was on the radio the other day and his point was... Als coach Marc Trestman doesn't speak a word of French. Heard anything about that? Nope.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLuongo goes back to where his wife still is, and either becomes 2C behind Henrik (with Kesler shifting to wing with the twins) or makes the move to the wing himself
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure Luongo is clutch enough to play 2C
- He gets dealt to Montreal when the Gomez contract goes away (or before then, for Gomez himself).
ReplyDeleteI don't remember which show I was watching but they got into the "Lecavalier to Montreal" talk and they flat out said that Lecavalier will not ever accept a trade to Montreal.
Florida has no State income tax (one of the big reasons why Chris Bosh and Lebron James took slightly less money to play for the Heat) and Lecavalier would earn a lot less playing in Quebec. Plus the fact that Lecavalier isn't deluged with reporters every waking hour in TB, he wouldn't take less money for more pressure and worse teammates in MTL. I think it was Ferraro who said this but it did make a lot of sense.
Quick search for decent Quebec born current NHLers:
ReplyDeleteFrancois BEauchemin
Derek Brassard
Jonathan Bernier
Oiler killer Pierre Marc Bouchard
Alex Burrows
Pascal Dupuis
Marc Andre Fleury
Roberto Luongo
Matthew Lombardi
Kris Letang
David Perron
Mike Ribeiro
Stephane Robidas
Martin St. Louis
Alex Tanguay
Jose Theodore
Antoine Vermette
I'm sure I missed some of them. But it would be fun to see the team try and make deals to both help their team and also improve the French content on the team. Get a bunch of French players and no one will complain about the coach.
Here's some fun trades that could make some sense:
- Price and Camalleri for Luongo and Burrows
More salary to Vancouver t gives them a easier chip to move one of Schneider or Price if needed. Montreal gets two impact French players (yes I know Luongo would not waive his no movement, just having fun).
- Gomez and a pick and prospect for LeCavalier and Bergeron
= saves Tampa some money and years on deal, and allows them to make moves to address other needs (like Goaltending and D)
- Kostitsyn and prospect for Brassard.
= Columbus needs to move Brassard, and maybe Kostitsyn helps their O this year, as Howson is fighting for his job.
Not saying it makes sense, just fun to think about the Christmas present the Habs fans would see this as. Here's hoping something like ti happens just to make the Habs fans happy, if only until the first game they lose.
And yes I know both Luongo and LeCavalier will never go there. Montreal is in cap trouble, with small vets making too much money and injured D making too much money. And Price is gonna get a huge payday next year. Gonna be ugly for a few years unless they blow it up.
ReplyDeleteAdd to that this coach and English thing and it is gonna be ugly for awhile
One of the draws of this site is the quality humour in most threads.
ReplyDeleteThe winning line from yesterday's thread is:
Like I also said, you aren't going to score 4 goals (or more) on Khabibulin in most games.
certain Quebecios folks, I do understand the need since more then half the province does not speak english, and get pissed about not hearing from their coach or players in french.
ReplyDeleteMessed up priorities in my way of thinking. If Ales Hemsky had 47 points this year, I wouldn't care if he could utter a word of English.
And just for fun, Chicago Blackhawks sing Christmas songs:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR6mhS0KUq4&feature=youtu.be
enjoy
Mr DeBakey - I loved that analysis as well (and it looked rather serious). Basically, the jist of the argument was that the Oiler would win more games if they scored four or more goals in most games.
ReplyDeleteGenius, I dare the 'numbers guys' to prove that argument wrong!
F 'em I hope they lose every damn game from here on in and I hope they hire a Spanish speaking coach.
ReplyDeleteBuddy of mine said he tried to burn down the Bell center, but the concrete wouldn't burn.
I'm not sure Luongo is clutch enough to play 2C
ReplyDeleteSure he can. You just have to pump his tires a bit first.
Cunneyworth is deadmanwalking. If I was him I'd just quit the whole organization.
ReplyDeleteIts sounds like they will bring in Roy as coach.
That will be fun. Not only has been barely able to hold things together in the QMJHL, he hates the media, had a very strained relationship with the fans, and is generally a hot head.
How long before Habs fans start screaming to bring in Jonathan Huberdeau?
Sam Pollock somehow managed to replace his Stanley-winning coach with another guy who had an English last name and not skip a beat, and if you try to tell me the political climate was less edgy then I'll call you a liar.
ReplyDeleteLess edgy back then? You mean after the FLQ, October Crisis, martial law, Separatists throwing bottles at Trudeau while at the same time the English were mad at the beginning of French language rights... the rise of Levesque in Quebec and the propsect of a then unfamiliar minority government running the country... compared to a half-asleep Harper at the Flames-Wings game?
Yeah, I'd say it wasn't less edgy back then, lol.
I'm pretty sure Don Matthews learned Quebec French while he coached in Montreal... or was that just the Trudeau salute?
ReplyDeleteLT's post seems apropos... seeing as two Of Pierre's fils were born on Christmas Day.
ReplyDeleteIt's a different day, get the best coaches and players and if they speak french, bonus. Original six is done, Quebec born players have many more places they may end up, and given a choice, many will likely avoid Montreal due to ++pressure. That sector of Montreal fans and media who cling to those traditions are only torturing themselves IMO. Cherish them but let them go. You're right LT, wins are a universal language in sports.
ReplyDeleteWhat if they drafted the best player in the world,which turned out to be of french ancestory, but didn't speak french, and then refused to learn. That would be crazy funny.
ReplyDeleteKyle Quincy a healthy scratch last night. ST should make a call.
ReplyDeleteI love every minute of the Habs crisis. I grew up a Leafs fan with my Dad and we were tired of their success while all we had to delight in was Palmateer flip flopping around and Ballard running or is that ruining the asylum.
ReplyDeleteTo top it off that damn Bruin coach who shall remain nameless costs me months of my allowances with hockey wagers on the bus. All due to stupid too many men on the ice penalty.
I have lots of reasons to hate the Habs, but the hatred isn't that strong as that for the Leafs now (hate them and Burke) and the Dys and of course the flames.
The hatred for the Habs has been replaced by the delight in watching the insanity of it all. I love it ! Every single second of it and their team circles the toilet.
Mangez la merde, Les Glorieux!
ReplyDeleteLoved The Roadrunner though.
Yes... so poor for the Habs. SNIFF!
ReplyDeleteIf it keeps up I don't think Cunneyworth even lasts the season.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Cunneyworth lasts the Holiday season. Poor bastard was histoire before he started.
Never hated the Canadiens, sure envied them a lot, which doubled as hate. As a Hockey fan, had to love that talented team. The arrogance of the gifted.
ReplyDeleteRobinson - "If I hit all game long, I'd be 5' 6" by the end of the season. If needed I'll hit once at the beginning of the game"
"The measure of intelligence by a person is how much they agree with you".
Kyle Quincy a healthy scratch last night. ST should make a call.
ReplyDeleteApparently "The Coroner" has a groin injury.
Awwwwww. Lets all commiserate shall we?
ReplyDeleteThere is something so wonderfully perfect about the Habs languishing in the basement while the Blackhawks whoop it up in the penthouse. Take that for 71 and 73 assholes.
Just leave your women, St Catherines St, and a few of your stip clubs behind when you leave k?
Au Revoir.
And just for fun, Chicago Blackhawks sing Christmas songs:
ReplyDeleteThat's good stuff. Sure beats this Flames effort:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9eF6DVI0tk
Leaving whether they should or should not care about French players/coach aside, it seems to me that the onus is less on the team to hire them than on the province to produce them.
ReplyDeleteQuebec: You used to be beautiful, we all know it. In a weird way, many of us even miss it, but the facts are you just aren't the center of the hockey world anymore. The Habs will have more French all-stars and coaches when the league has enough of them to go around.
Ah, the Montreal women - some might not be great looking, but they all have style, it's all about presentation. Montreal street watching is just outstanding. Love em.
ReplyDeleteYou're all jealous because French chicks are hot and you know you're never going to get one sticking her tits into your shoulder blade, like I have.
ReplyDeleteOilers whipped the Habs post-dynasty in the 80's, and that's good enough for me.
It's good to see that no one here carries a grudge for a long time.
ReplyDeleteAnd here I was just happy to know the Leafs have never won a cup while I have been alive being born in '68.
This Habs hatred is awesome !
The way the habs imploded is absolutely stunning. When Gomez went down for good on Nov. 23rd, they had a score-tied fenwick of 52,6%. Since then, they are sitting at 39,8%.
ReplyDeleteGabriel Desjardins alluded to the fact that firing Pearns was assinine; I wasn't sure. It's now painfully clear that Gauthier has been smoking the drapes and is in the midst of an epic freak out. Oh well.
The current language spat is stunning to me for one simple reason: almost every single soul out there is acting like learning french is more rare and tough and grueling a process than getting a sex change. I mean, Gauthier simply stated "languages can be learned" and everybody laughed at him.
How the habs never even kinda sorta developed the ability to teach french to personnel is always baffling me. I mean, you don't force it on any players, it's useless. But from time to time, you are bound to stumble on a curious soul who may wanna give it a try.
As far as coaches and GM are concerned, again I'm baffled: with the kind of resources the habs have at their disposal and the fact that, y'know, coaching in the NHL isn't the kind of gig you come upon every other day, it's a mystery to me that when hiring some dude who doesn't speak the language, teach him the ropes during his first summer on the job and then ease him into the public aspect, how that whole process isn't just standard procedure.
That being said, Cunneyworth is doing an awful job, as in making the club explicitly worse (tall order, I know); dunno if it's his incompetence or the fact that he must act as a puppet of his panicking GM, but he's terrible.
The whole episode has at least underlined the fact that getting a guy who doesn't speak french doesn't exclude the possibility of getting, y'know, an incompetent.
The irony of all this is guys...
ReplyDeleteBack in the original 6 days as Canadians you're practically obliged to pick between either the Habs or Leafs, since they were the only 2 home teams you were ever likely to see.
Therefore, you're all proto-Leaf fans.
Not a chance. And because you're not my age I'll give you this: Edmonton was a feeder to the Red Wings going back to Ullman, Bucyk and before.
ReplyDeleteCanada was divided alright, but not by two.
I don't have much time to comment on this topic, but two quick things to point out, since I'm from Quebec (sorry if somebody else already said similar things):
ReplyDelete1- it's not like Gauthier hired a proven winning coach like a Mike Babcock or a Scotty Bowman. Cunneyworth had 0 experience as an NHL coach, so it's easy to build an argument that there are french speaking coaches at least as qualified as Cunneyworth to run this franchise (like Pascal Vincent, for instance);
2- let's not forget the NHL is first and foremost in the entertainment business, which means that you have to connect with fans to generate revenue. Hiring a coach that about 50% of the habitants of Quebec can't understand a word that comes from is mouth is not a very good start...
As an Edmontonian living in Montreal, it doesn't even really matter if he learns French. At least to most. Many people out there will respond to French speaking Anglos in English just because it's obvious they don't speak Quebecois French. It's true that many Quebecois don't speak English, but in Montreal, almost everyone does, it's just a matter of whether they admit it.
ReplyDeleteLowetide,
ReplyDeleteI was in the press box with RDS a couple of weeks ago. They (and the Quebec paper guys) are 20 years behind in understanding their team. All they can see is Gomez and the PP not scoring, and the team a few points out of a playoff spot.
The RDS guys were pissed about the Cunneyworth hiring, but they had to bring me - a French-speaking Anglo who hasn't seen a hockey game in French for almost 20 years - to do an interview. It seems like they already know they can't find the Francophone guy they want.
Gabriel: The real question: Is *Gauthier* 20 years behind in understanding his team?
ReplyDeleteQCoilers said...Hiring a coach that about 50% of the habitants of Quebec can't understand a word that comes from is mouth is not a very good start...
ReplyDeleteNow you know how we feel about most of our prime ministers.
Dem dere guys dere.
Quebec elected an MP last May who didn't
ReplyDeleteSpeak a word of French. She's learning fast.
No problem.
Maybe she can be coach.
I'm coming to this late, and skimmed the comments very quickly, but I don't think anyone has pointed out that KEVIN LOWE SPEAKS FRENCH.
ReplyDeleteIt was his ticket to being part of Gretzky's Olympic program, as it required someone who could speak French in management.
Not that I'm trying to start a rumour by mentioning it.