Canadiens need a personality transplant
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 | 10:35 AM ET
It isn’t easy to make hockey history in Montreal, but the Canadiens did it last weekend.
Following their 5-3 loss to Ottawa, the players held a 29-minute meeting – no coaches, just themselves. Media, many of whom have covered the team for years, couldn’t remember anything like it. When the thick steel doors finally opened, every player was sitting there waiting (which is another rarity). They answered the questions off the ice, but the team still lacks answers on it.
The Canadiens are among the worst teams in the NHL five-on-five, a problem now exploited because the team’s penalty killing – which was number one last month – has dropped. Neither Cristobal Huet nor David Aebsicher can avoid giving up at least one bad goal a game. Their top offensive talents can’t score.
Guy Carbonneau doesn’t have any answers. Alexei Kovalev and Janne Niinimaa were the latest to be benched, nailed to the pine for long stretches last Saturday night. Sergei Samsonov and Craig Rivet were other high-profile punishees over the past weeks. It’s clear this idea isn’t working.
Some reports out of Montreal indicate Sheldon Souray and Alexei Kovalev started the screaming match. It’s not certain if the two were yelling at each other, but these two have a history. You might remember Game 4 of the 2004 first-round series between the Canadiens and the Bruins. Kovalev gave up on the puck when slashed in overtime, Glen Murray picked it up and scored the winner. Boston went up 3-1 in the series. Immediately afterward, Souray ripped Kovalev publicly.
Kovalev isn’t exactly a blameless target. He has a history of infuriating teammates/coaches/management. There’s a well-known story about Mike Keenan getting so angry at Kovalev’s lengthy shifts that he tried to punish him by refusing to let him off the ice. Kovalev loved it, with the coach getting angrier as he realized the player didn’t realize it was a punishment.
I give him credit, though. The guy never ducks responsibility. He stands out there and answers all questions.
But this exchange was the most interesting:
Q (from a local radio reporter): How is your health right now?
A: It’s fine.
Q: There’s nothing wrong with you?
A: Every hockey player is injured right now. I’m no different.
Judges call that leading the witness. I asked around, and there is some belief that Kovalev has a bothersome knee injury.
Whatever the case, Bob Gainey has a big problem. All of the benchings, all of the losses and all of the arguments within equals one unhappy team. Samsonov is locked in for one more year and Kovalev for two. Their contracts make them almost untradeable, unless you are willing to accept someone else’s problems for yours.
Then, there are the unrestricted free agents: Rivet, Souray, Markov. The Brad Stuart/Ladislav Nagy trades make one thing clear: GMs are getting rid of the guys they don’t think they can sign.
Gainey keeps his dealings pretty private, but it’s believed the team considers Markov the priority. Souray’s daughter lives on the west coast, and rumours are that he wants to go there. If that’s the case, will Gainey trade his leading goal scorer? Or, will he hold on and risk losing him for nothing in order to get to the playoffs? Clearly, Gainey won’t get equal value in return.
The Canadiens obviously need a personality transplant. Does it come now, or in the summer?
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Elliotte Friedman is the host of the CFL ON CBC. Prior to being named host in 2006, Friedman worked on the CFL on CBC broadcasts for the three seasons as a sideline reporter. A Toronto native, Friedman is well known for his additional work on Hockey Night in Canada, as well as his presence on the Torino 2006 Winter Games telecasts as a hockey reporter. Prior to joining the CBC, Friedman worked at The Score network and was widely regarded as one of the best reporters in the country. Friedman used his reporting skills to break stories and file feature reports for high profile events including six Stanley Cup Finals, four Grey Cup Championships, two World Series and one Olympic Games. He is also a regular on the nationally syndicated Prime Time Sports radio telecast, hosted by Bob McCown.
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Comments
Glen Long
Detroit
Souray is the one guy they need to hold on to. He stands up to (and for) his teammates, hits, and scores. His plus/minus isn't up to par, but the whole team is struggling 5 on 5. Niinimaa and Samsonov were horrible additions, I was suprised the Bob Gainey picked up either one. Hopefully he doesn't compound the problem by letting Souray go.
Posted February 16, 2007 12:30 PM
Mike
qb
This team is in trouble and a change is needed. Not one person can be blamed. Koivu, Higgins, Kovalev, Samsonov. etc... none are producing. Carbonneau is a rookie coach and is frustrated. Gainey has serious off ice issues that may be affecting the team and his duties. Now the injuries... Is kovalev faking??? Probably to an extent but he sees the ship sinking. Trade rumours involve there best player this year...Souray... Changes need to be made and its upper management that needs to step in.
Posted February 16, 2007 11:46 AM
Walter Tkach
Winnipeg
As a former Montrealer who grew up with the "Rocket", Harvey, Beliveau, etc.the team then had character. Now it's flat. non -inspiring & lacks any star power.It still hurts (a bit) to see the Habs lose.
Walter T
Posted February 16, 2007 05:55 AM
Blaise
USA
If the Habs are truly in a state of discord and mayhem, then Carbonneau has revealed himself to be incapable of exerting discipline. A coach has to be much more than a mere technician. He has to be able to handle personalities and to promote the sense of a team.
Posted February 15, 2007 11:12 PM
sally
montreal
am a die hard habs fan and some people..they stink from the start of the year...and das not true! I think this team can turn it around if Koivu will turn on his game once again..bcuz this team is nuthing widout koivu...remember last years playoff aginst carolina?
Posted February 15, 2007 05:30 PM
Brandon
newy
happy days out west kids,
GO CANUCKS GO
owned minni in OT
Posted February 14, 2007 11:52 PM
Ed the gumper
Toronto
The NHL is not the league that it once was and the Habs are not the team they once were either.
There are way too many teams and a frightfully imbalanced schedule. The management of the league is foreighn and in the hands of business men not hockey men. The constant rule changes made in a futile attempt to sell the game to an audience of "American sport's junkies" who have never played the game has produced no fruit. But it has ruined the game
we were so passionate about. The Habs of today
could not carry the undergarments of their illustrious predecessors. And why should we expect that they could. They are all mercenary business men themselves with little connection to our city or our country.
Posted February 14, 2007 11:10 PM
Roland Hurtubise
I think that the combination of a rookie coach and some "attitude" are the cause of the problem. Neither deal with adversity very well. All was great at the beginning of the year when they were winning but they are not dealing very well with the slump. I think patience is the key. Things are not as desperate as they seem.
Posted February 14, 2007 04:10 PM
Pat O'Leary
It has to happen now! There in a huge hole things have to change now or they'll miss the playoffs. They stink and I hate this team. I wish Bob and Guy could turn itt around and I could find my love again (on this, the day of LOVE). 'til then. Go SENS go!
Posted February 14, 2007 11:09 AM
Doug
Ottawa
GO SENS GO!!!
Posted February 13, 2007 01:04 PM
Tommy Callahan
Animosity in the dressing room is nothing new for the Habs. They have a long history of players not being on the same page. Sometimes this can't be controlled at the source and should be dealt with top-down.
The problem is, they have too many "Me" players and not enough team oriented players. I don't think cleaning house is the answer. They just need to weed out the problems. Problem is, nobody wants them. They have been rebuilding for years, when does that end and they try to build a contender. You have to spend money on the right combination of players to win. Sure they've made mistakes ($3.5 million in reasons is Samsonov), but you need vets to groom the young. Seems like there are too many chiefs and not enough indians.
Waiting for summer isn't the answer. That will just disgruntle the Habitant faithful. Let's not forget, they aren't afraid to boo their team on home ice.
Thank god the Oilers got rid of Janne Niinimaa, I couldn't handle watching him lollygag around the ice for another season.
Posted February 13, 2007 12:00 PM