Thanks Guys

barry33 · Guru

Thanks Guys

wright · Veteran Member

As usual, the coach fell victim to the old adage, you can't fire 20 players, so it is far easier to create the impression that you are doing something by firing the coach. How is it Julien's fault when he has to coach the likes of Bonk and Riberio. After Koviu the Habs have absolutely nothing down the middle. The problems which have plagued this team for years are still there: lack of grit and heart, lacke of goal scoring ability, and a supposed mvp goalie that is probably a little over rated. By the way, can you elaborate on your comments with regard to the selfish players in the dressing room?

Jay1982 · Guru

Barry bro, I felt the same way you did when I found out CJ was fired, I was shocked and wasn't expecting it. I hadn't heard anything from my piegons and was dumbfounded. Seriously though, I do think respect in general is a big problem with these million dollar babies, not just the habs, but professional sports. They are spoiled and lack respect for everything.

In my mind CJ was one of the better coaches in the league, and very classy. I liked how he handled the media, and I actually enjoyed his speeches. The problem in the Habs dressing room is something that every major sports team faces. Egos get to big as the player's bank fills up, and the players then try to dictate what happenes through passiveness or lack of intensity, either to prove a point, or just because they flat out don't care till the paycheck stops coming in.

Someone needs to give these grow-up babies like Kobe Bryant, Jose Theodore, Alexi Yashin, Vince Carter, Renaldo, and so forth a big god damn reality check.

I wish Claude the best, and I know it won't be long before he is being another bench doing his thing

davidb · Guru

I hate it when we trade a do nothing player who comes back to haunt us later. Now, not that Claude was a do nothing (not at all), But I know someday he will be behind the bench again at the Bell Center. However, it will be for another team. I know he will be their doing very well. In fact in a number of years he will be the GM for someone. I have never had a coach leave Montreal before that I still want to root for in the future as much as I want to root for him. I just think he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He has so much potential and I( know he will be there to haunt us for a long time, and good for him

Muller93 · Guru

Barry. I suspect from your posts you are implicating Koivu. I am not questioning your credability in any way but....something smells fishy about that allegation if it is the case. Koivu is a guy who came back from cancer and played his heart out. He is the guy who puts his body into position to get hit to make a play night after night. Leaders lead on the ice.

I have to go withy my instincts on this one( and in trusting my instincts I have rarely been wrong...not never however). If Koivu has had the finger pointed at him by CJ...I begin to question CJ's abilities honestly...and I never did before.

By the way...I now do agree with Ando. I think Koivu would be a better Number 2 center at this stage in his career. But how are we gonna get a number one?

JohnM · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

By the way...I now do agree with Ando. I think Koivu would be a better Number 2 center at this stage in his career. But how are we gonna get a number one?

If you agree with Andy then you would also agree that we should put Bonk as our #1 center....

Ando · Guru

...Hey JohnM, if Carbo gets through Bonk's thick skull - THAT IS EXACTLY what is coming on the upcoming roadtrip!!!

I suggest that you...and others...get over it now.

Don't forget that the Habs are now coached by perhaps the 3 top defensive forwards in Montreal Canadiens history...think about that!

Defense is clearly NOT Saku's strength...NO WAY are these three going to stick with Saku as #1...NO WAY!!!

TEN YEARS IS ENOUGH!!!

Nil d · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Guys and Girls- I just wanted to thank everyone here for listening to my rants and writings regarding the firing of a good frfiend yesterday. I know that perhaps it was getting a bit repititious and annoying but I needed to say alot and get it out of my system.
There are 3 very distinct cliques in the dressing room

Barry: No need to apologize. For one thing, your rants are always well thought-out and entertaining, and for another, the recent firing has an added dimension for you in that he was your friend. Few of us can know exactly how you feel in this circumstance.

As far as the three cliques are concerned, may I be allowed to guess?:

1. Ribeiro, Theodore, Dagenais, etc - the Francophone clique

2. Koivu/Rivet (possibly others) - mutual admiration society

3. Markov, Kovalev, etc. - the Russian connection.

Am I close?

JohnM · Guru

Andy, Bonkers has had 41 games to prove what he's worth and so far it's been pretty much zero. The guy can't score, hit or even kill penalties (see game against Avs). If BG, Carbo and Jarvis can work some magic and get him to be a qualified 3rd line center, I'd be happy. So far he belongs with Dags in the minors.

We do need talent, can't argue with that. We have nobody pushing anyone for jobs right now. BG needs to work in the summer to sign talent and work on the drafting because one day we won't have Sak as our #1 center and we will need a replacement.

Muller93 · Guru

Ando wrote:

...Hey JohnM, if Carbo gets through Bonk's thick skull - THAT IS EXACTLY what is coming on the upcoming roadtrip!!! I suggest that you...and others...get over it now. Don't forget that the Habs are now coached by perhaps the 3 top defensive forwards in Montreal Canadiens history...think about that! Defense is clearly NOT Saku's strength...NO WAY are these three going to stick with Saku as #1...NO WAY!!! TEN YEARS IS ENOUGH!!!

hold up! I always thought that Koivu was a number one center through his whole career. All I was saying is that due to injuries(caused by being one of the only guys who worked every night), and his age, perhaps he would be at a point in his career where he would shine as a number two center...only perhaps. I mean it could be that if they got a decent second center, Koivu would dominate like I think he would have had he been given the proper support...not the 12th floating Rib...( medical joke for those medically inclined...)

BONK. Hmmm. He does have all the tools really. But I don't know Ando. He could not do it in Ottawa, what makes you think he can do it here? I actually think they envisioned Bonk as a Carbonneau type...defensive skills, smart, with an offensive upside. But not a number one center. IMHO.

Nil d · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

I mean it could be that if they got a decent second center, Koivu would dominate like I think he would have had he been given the proper support...not the 12th floating Rib...( medical joke for those medically inclined...)

Good one, Muller!

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

Barry. I suspect from your posts you are implicating Koivu. I am not questioning your credability in any way but....something smells fishy about that allegation if it is the case. Koivu is a guy who came back from cancer and played his heart out. He is the guy who puts his body into position to get hit to make a play night after night. Leaders lead on the ice. I have to go withy my instincts on this one( and in trusting my instincts I have rarely been wrong...not never however). If Koivu has had the finger pointed at him by CJ...I begin to question CJ's abilities honestly...and I never did before. By the way...I now do agree with Ando. I think Koivu would be a better Number 2 center at this stage in his career. But how are we gonna get a number one?

Muller- No way and I implicating Koivu in any way, shape or form (and if it sounded that way I apologize) and CJ has not pointed the finger at anyone. He knows that in his position, the bottom line for a coach is to win and he did not do much of that lately. All I am saying is that there are porblems in that dressing room (duhh like that is a newsflash here lol) and that there are players in there that should have taken control who either did not want to, or could not and that needs to be remedied so that the team can avoid that in the future.

barry33 · Guru

Nil d wrote:

barry33 wrote: Guys and Girls- I just wanted to thank everyone here for listening to my rants and writings regarding the firing of a good frfiend yesterday. I know that perhaps it was getting a bit repititious and annoying but I needed to say alot and get it out of my system. There are 3 very distinct cliques in the dressing room Barry: No need to apologize. For one thing, your rants are always well thought-out and entertaining, and for another, the recent firing has an added dimension for you in that he was your friend. Few of us can know exactly how you feel in this circumstance. As far as the three cliques are concerned, may I be allowed to guess?: 1. Ribeiro, Theodore, Dagenais, etc - the Francophone clique 2. Koivu/Rivet (possibly others) - mutual admiration society 3. Markov, Kovalev, etc. - the Russian connection. Am I close?

Ladies and gentlemn I think we have a winner !

AB Habman · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Muller93 wrote: Barry. I suspect from your posts you are implicating Koivu. I am not questioning your credability in any way but....something smells fishy about that allegation if it is the case. Koivu is a guy who came back from cancer and played his heart out. He is the guy who puts his body into position to get hit to make a play night after night. Leaders lead on the ice. I have to go withy my instincts on this one( and in trusting my instincts I have rarely been wrong...not never however). If Koivu has had the finger pointed at him by CJ...I begin to question CJ's abilities honestly...and I never did before. By the way...I now do agree with Ando. I think Koivu would be a better Number 2 center at this stage in his career. But how are we gonna get a number one? Muller- No way and I implicating Koivu in any way, shape or form (and if it sounded that way I apologize) and CJ has not pointed the finger at anyone. He knows that in his position, the bottom line for a coach is to win and he did not do much of that lately. All I am saying is that there are porblems in that dressing room (duhh like that is a newsflash here lol) and that there are players in there that should have taken control who either did not want to, or could not and that needs to be remedied so that the team can avoid that in the future.

I quess having three cliques and a divided room says alot about this roster from top to bottom! Carb was a great Captain and like you suggested hopefully his leadership can go a long way into unifying this team. Actually he still looks fit enough to Captain our team on the ice also!