HockeyTime for Kostitsyn to look in the mirror; plus, 30 random thoughts

Beginning of Story Content

Four years ago, Kostitsyn arrived in London, Ont., as an 18-year-old. It’s not an easy thing, being thrown into the OHL without basic command or understanding of the language. But the other players liked him, because he had a sense of humour and a willingness to try anything. Two things stood out: his enormous phone bills from sending text messages back to Belarus, and the fact they taught him English by forcing him to talk to women in social situations.

Whatever was lost in translation off the ice affected nothing on it. Kostitsyn had two excellent seasons, including 58 points in 35 playoff games. All of a sudden, the Canadiens had a seventh-round steal, a player who was in the NHL before he turned 21.

There were signs, however, that he still needed to mature. When he was sent down to Hamilton in 2007, reporters asked to speak to him about the decision. He told them he would put his equipment into his car, then talk. Kostitsyn never came back, choosing to drive off instead. For whatever reason, he’s never been made accountable.

Kostitsyn isn’t the only reason the Canadiens of 2008-09 totally imploded, but he was certainly one of the causes. Unfortunately, he clearly hasn’t learned from what happened. The season is early, but if training camp showed anything, it’s that others who underachieved really tried to change themselves during the summer.

Carey Price tinkered with his goaltending style. Ryan O’Byrne – unfortunately out for six weeks with an injury – came back a completely different player. Max Pacioretty read books on confidence and leadership.

Kostitsyn? He missed the bus for an exhibition game in Quebec City.

The best players in any sport know when to stand up and say, “You know what? That was my fault.” It’s what makes them great. If he wants any kind of career, Sergei Kostitsyn needs to learn that.

GOOD HELP AVAILABLE

Public relations experts always say to release bad news at 6 p.m. on a Friday to minimize impact. Claude Loiselle’s dismissal (announced at that time) is more damaging to himself than to the Lightning, but you have to wonder if there was a better way to handle this.

Loiselle’s contract as Tampa’s assistant GM originally expired on June 30, but the Lightning extended it until the end of September. Last week, Brian Lawton moved Imran Khan into the position. There’s nothing wrong with Lawton inserting his own people, but there is something wrong with releasing Loiselle at a time when there are no jobs available. By now, other organizations already have their management teams put together.

So, on his own dime, Loiselle is travelling around to keep visible and watch as much hockey as he can. Saturday, he went to Washington. He’ll be in New Jersey Monday night, and Philadelphia Tuesday. Then, he’ll go back to Tampa (where he lives) for a few games. Prior to joining the Lightning, he worked in the NHL office for seven years, helping put together the current CBA.

He’d be a good hire. Hopefully, someone will find room for him, since he’s a victim of bad timing more than bad performance.

NON-HOCKEY NOTE

The city of Toronto will be a less professional place when/if (and it looks a lot more like when than if) Roy Halladay is traded. As teammates trashed Cito Gaston, Halladay stood up and said that if he had any complaints, he’d tell them to the proper people, and only in private. While that’s bad for media members looking for a quote, it’s what a good organization dreams for in its best players. After JP Ricciardi’s firing, he stood up for his former boss, making it clear that people didn’t realize the depth of their relationship.

He is as irreplaceable off the field as he is on it.

As for the mutiny, well, let’s just say a few of the players who were upset have no one to complain about but themselves. I do believe Gaston has to go, simply because fans made it clear – by their complete disinterest and declining attendance – that they have no confidence in the current direction.

A word of warning, though: Things have changed radically since Pat Gillick and Paul Beeston ran this team in 1992. The Blue Jays no longer have great ownership and MLB’s highest payroll. To keep/attract great players, the team must overpay them since this is not a primary spot in baseball. (That’s why Beeston is trying to focus on drafting/developing Canadian players.)

Gord Ash knew it. Ricciardi learned it. He failed with Alex Rios and Vernon Wells. He hit Grand Slams with Halladay and Aaron Hill. That’s the way it’s going to be with this team. Big contracts, which means the big misses overshadow the big hits. And, in any sport, that will kill you.

30 THOUGHTS (IN HONOUR OF 30 TEAMS)

1. Overreaction Award I: Kings fans who booed their team off the ice in the 6-3 Opening Night loss to Phoenix. Ridiculous. It’s only one game.

2. Overreaction Award II: Senators fans complaining that goaltender coach Eli Wilson helped Price during the off-season. Look, Price (and Tim Thomas) were Wilson clients before he was hired by Ottawa. Both attended his school in 2008, too, and no one complained when Thomas won the Vezina.

3. In Boston, the Capitals play smart with a 3-0 lead and dismantle the defending Eastern Conference regular season champs, 4-1. At home, they dance around up 6-1 on Toronto and give up three in the third. They have a chance to be Stanley Cup great, but they’re going to drive Bruce Boudreau crazy.

4. Clearly, the Maple Leafs reputation is well-known. The day before Toronto/Washington, Capitals players were asking about the fights in the Montreal game (they had played at the same time) – “Who fought who?” “What hand does Rosehill throw with?” -- just in case they had to answer the bell on Saturday.

5. George McPhee doesn’t understand where the Peter Forsberg rumours are coming from. “Not from me,” he said.

6. Andrei Markov should avoid Toronto. Last two games = two major injuries.

7. Don Waddell is (wisely) changing policy and continuing to negotiate with Ilya Kovalchuk during the season. The Thrashers GM previously had a personal rule that he wouldn’t discuss contracts once the puck dropped. I asked Waddell this week about rumours that Kovalchuk will go back to Russia if he does not re-sign. He admitted that the Thrashers can’t offer as much money as the KHL (especially when you consider the tax implications), but thinks number 17 wants to play in North America. Can’t see this happening soon, though. I think Kovalchuk is going to wait and see how they play.

8. Lou Lamoriello said there will be a job in the New Jersey organization for Brendan Shanahan if the winger decides to retire.

9. Strangest weekend occurrence: Rick DiPietro’s disappearance on Long Island. Injured players/scratches Jeremy Reich, Frans Nielsen and Blake Comeau were all introduced at the Home Opener, but DiPietro wasn’t. Initially, DiPietro was ripped, but that changed when the organization released a statement indicating the team forgot to include him. It’s tough for me to know for sure, but it sounds like spin. Don’t know what to believe.

10. Second strangest weekend occurrence: Cody Hodgson and the Canucks. He is seeking another opinion on his back problems, and Vancouver management does not sound impressed. They feel he’s either blaming team doctors for misdiagnosing him or blaming injury for not making the team. Thought Alain Vigneault nailed it when he said Hodgson is struggling with a rare failure to make a team. Ron Wilson said that young players need to learn being sent down is not necessarily a demotion, but part of the process. Sometimes, though, it’s tough to hear.

11. Best thing that happened to the St. Louis Blues: the Keith Tkachuk trade falling apart last season because the proper paperwork didn’t get done by the trade deadline. (He was going to Boston.)

12. Another great non-trade: Philly was so annoyed at James Van Riemsdyk for not going to the AHL after the world juniors that he was almost dealt to Atlanta for Kari Lehtonen.

13. The Detroit Red Wings are going to have to get another goalie. Not because of Chris Osgood. Because of Jimmy Howard.

14. In going to Washington, Mike Knuble made the difficult decision to reject a free-agent plea from a former workout partner: Dan Bylsma.

15. At the suggestion of his power skating coach, Leanne Davis, Brooks Laich isn’t tying his skates to the top loop anymore. Between that and a summer of lower-body focused workouts, Laich is flying so far this season.

16. When I asked Mike Green how much weight he’d lost during the summer, his initial reply was, “I’m embarrassed to tell you.” He later admitted it was 25 pounds. The big challenge for Green is keeping it off, as he got heavier during the season last year.

17. Green is still struggling to find a stick. Easton discontinued his version, and he ran out. He was thinking of trying a Sherwood for the first time on Saturday, but went with a different Easton instead.

18. One more note about him: you may remember the story of his mother, Kate. A heart-attack survivor, she could not watch games live because of stress. She is improving, and will probably make a trip to see her son play live this season. Great news, and best wishes.

19. Can’t believe how good Ron Duguay is at Battle of the Blades. He looks like he did in 1981.

20. Curtis Joseph once said something about knowing if young players are really ready for the NHL. He said that if they can hesitate for that extra second – which allows you to make a better play – they’re ready. I was reminded of that watching John Tavares score his first NHL goal. He didn’t just slap at the bouncing puck, but collected it before ripping that great backhand over Marc-Andre Fleury.

21. The only way Nikolai Khabibulin could have started worse in Edmonton is if he’d skated out at the beginning of the game in a Flames retro jersey.

22. By the way, I love those jerseys. I wish they’d go back to them.

23. An opinion on why Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta suit each other so well: “One is always serious, and one never is.”

24. Jay Bouwmeester – 29:10 in Game 1, 30:02 two nights later.

25. By comparison, Mike Babcock said he wanted Henrik Zetterberg to play approximately 18 minutes a night. His totals – 16:44 in Game 1, 18:47 the next day. Mission accomplished, but will it stay that way?

26. Josh Gorges said he couldn’t remember ever scoring an OT winner until last Thursday.

27. There was a lot of concern about Travis Moen in training camp and the pre-season, but, as one coach said, “You can’t play like he does in the pre-season. It’s a waste. You’ll hurt yourself. Guys like him know to save it until it matters.”

28. Coyotes GM Don Maloney said he only signed Robert Lang after deciding Kyle Turris needed AHL time.

29. The five teams who voted against firing Paul Kelly: Detroit, Edmonton, Columbus, Chicago and Anaheim. The three teams who did not have a representative present: Ottawa, San Jose, Carolina.

30. Don’t you hate it when a key player on your fantasy team suffers a serious injury in Game 1? Yes, I have Andrei Markov in my pool.

End of Story Content

Back to accessibility links