WANTED: Players with Heart

11rings · Member

WANTED: Players with Heart

Jonny G · Senior Member

11rings wrote:

Hey all
I agree with 24rings' previous post 100%, I'll take it a step farther, we should abandon the habit of acquiring european players. I'm sick and tired of seeing the Habs play without emotion. I think we have enough europeans with KOIVU, KOVALEV, ZEDNIK, BULIS, KOSTITSYN AND MARKOV. Like 24rigns said lets get some kids from Praires or some kids from atlantic canada that have some heart.

So that's how it works! All this time I was wondering how come some players play with heart and others don't. It turns out that it's not the player's own fault, but the fault of ... wait for it ... his nationality! Why couldn't I have seen it? Maybe if I had put together some spreadsheet analysis, it would have popped out at me.

That is the most uninformed, disgusting, and unveiled racist remark that I have read on this board.

24 Rings · Guru

I don't think 11rings meant it as "racist" or whatever you want to call it. I think that is just seems or appears that (and this is probably going to iritate some people, but it is difficult to wiggle this one) some Francophone/Euro players play a little soft when the time comes from mental and physical toughness. There are for sure several exceptions to this rule and it is most likely a stereotype, but I guess all stereotypes stem from somewhere.

I guess just look at Canada at the WJC. Sutter and Co. took a lot of flak for not selecting more heavily from the QMJHL...what do you think people said after the crushed the Russians?

Anyhow, I just don't think it would hurt the Habs to shy away from drafting so many Quebec-born players, just to appease the fans.

11rings · Member

sorry jonny

I don't see whats so disgusting about it. But I digress, if I have offended you I apologize.

11rings · Member

thanks 24 i couldn't have said it better myself

superhab · Guru

There are many parts of this post that i don't agree with like jumping Rapheal, there is obviously something wrong with this guy if their wasn't we would all know more than just his first name.

Jonny G wrote:

So that's how it works! All this time I was wondering how come some players play with heart and others don't. It turns out that it's not the player's own fault, but the fault of ... wait for it ... his nationality! Why couldn't I have seen it? Maybe if I had put together some spreadsheet analysis, it would have popped out at me. That is the most uninformed, disgusting, and unveiled racist remark that I have read on this board.

But the comments on euro players not having a heart for the most part is true. When you grow up in Russia, Czech, Slovkia etc most kids do not dream of winning the cup its all about International competition. Ruchinsky always played great in international competition but was always inconsistant in the NHL. Kovalev is one of the biggest underachiever's in the game, you can't question his talent but his heart is lacking, and he for sure isn't worth four million. Look at last year when Jager played in the World Championship and he played through a minor concussion(SP) and finger injury. Meanwhile in the NHL he would have taken a week off. Malakov always a force on the Russia team yet when he was here he was off skiing most of the time.

Of course their are a few exceptions like Koviu, Forsberg, Alferdson, Sundin, and many others but can you think of a Russian captain in the present NHL? Personally i can't.

24 Rings · Guru

The only Russian captian I can remember in recent history is Tverdovsky in Phoenix (not even sure about that one). Fedorov may have donned the C in Motown, if Yzerman was hurt.

I am not sure if there has ever been a Russian captain in the NHL? Anyone think of one?

That tells you something doesn't it?

habs93 · Veteran Member

A Russian Captain in the NHL........Isn't Alex Yashin Captain of the Islanders also try Alexander Molginy in Buffalo for awhile (Fill in for Pat Lafontaine when he was injured and after Lafontaine left Buffalo or did Moligny leave first to the Canucks) Fact 1 : No NHL team has won the Stanley Cup with a non-Canadian as a captain. Would make for some history as 4 out of 6 Canadian teams as well as LA/Islanders have a Europeon Captain - Maybe more. Fact 2 : Only two non-Canadians have won the Con Symthe Trophy as playoff MVP - Brian Leetch/Rangers & Nicholas Lindstrom/Wings (Makes for good trivia questions)//

brooklynhabfan · Guru

habs93 wrote:

A Russian Captain in the NHL........Isn't Alex Yashin Captain of the Islanders also try Alexander Molginy in Buffalo for awhile (Fill in for Pat Lafontaine when he was injured and after Lafontaine left Buffalo or did Moligny leave first to the Canucks) Fact 1 : No NHL team has won the Stanley Cup with a non-Canadian as a captain. Would make for some history as 4 out of 6 Canadian teams as well as LA/Islanders have a Europeon Captain - Maybe more. Fact 2 : Only two non-Canadians have won the Con Symthe Trophy as playoff MVP - Brian Leetch/Rangers & Nicholas Lindstrom/Wings (Makes for good trivia questions)//

Wow, that's interesting stuff... I'll bet you a million we'll be seeing a lot of good US born captains coming up, Russians? Not so sure, but there's been a few good tough ones in the past...

What abouth the WHA? Didn't Polski McYankstrom captain the Vancouver Blazers to a Whaaa? Cup victory? Maybe I'm remembering that one wrong

heet_150 · Guru

24 Rings wrote:

I am not sure if there has ever been a Russian captain in the NHL? Anyone think of one?

While he isn't a Russian (close enough at the time he came over), Peter Stasny.

TheoDoor · Member

Either Derian Hatcher or Mike Modano (both Yanks, if that's not 'racist') was captains in

Dallas. Yashin is the most embarrassing captain in league history. Denis Potvin started cheering for the Rangers the day that jackpot got the "C".

Euro's/Quebec players were trained to played the game in a finesse style. Other players were taught to play the game physical and with passion. It's far from being 'racist'- it's nurture, not nature. If i were to call the french players 'Frogs', THAT would be racist/ethnically biased.

24 Rings · Guru

Theodoor, you are without a doubt the most entertaining person on here. Not the most politically correct, but funny as hell.

Habtastic · Guru

Jonny G wrote:

11rings wrote: Hey all I agree with 24rings' previous post 100%, I'll take it a step farther, we should abandon the habit of acquiring european players. I'm sick and tired of seeing the Habs play without emotion. I think we have enough europeans with KOIVU, KOVALEV, ZEDNIK, BULIS, KOSTITSYN AND MARKOV. Like 24rigns said lets get some kids from Praires or some kids from atlantic canada that have some heart. So that's how it works! All this time I was wondering how come some players play with heart and others don't. It turns out that it's not the player's own fault, but the fault of ... wait for it ... his nationality! Why couldn't I have seen it? Maybe if I had put together some spreadsheet analysis, it would have popped out at me. That is the most uninformed, disgusting, and unveiled racist remark that I have read on this board.

I am with ya' on this one, Johnny.

Habtastic