At least Sheldon Souray Accepts Responsibility

barry33 · Guru

At least Sheldon Souray Accepts Responsibility

heet_150 · Guru

To add to that Barry, I saw a quick interview with Souray this am and he was responding to Gainey saying that he was one of the guys who needed to play better. I don't have the exact quote, but it was along the lines of He's (Gainey) right. I need to play better. Why can't there be more players (coaches too, paging Mr. Therien) like Souray that don't take their battles into the media?

barry33 · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

To add to that Barry, I saw a quick interview with Souray this am and he was responding to Gainey saying that he was one of the guys who needed to play better. I don't have the exact quote, but it was along the lines of He's (Gainey) right. I need to play better. Why can't there be more players (coaches too, paging Mr. Therien) like Souray that don't take their battles into the media?

Exactly heet!! Too many guys on this team take the "it is not my fault" approach. Nice of Souray to agree with Gainey and admit he needs to step up (personally there would have been a very long list before Souray that I would have called out if I was Gainey). It is just a shame that these players did not afford Julien the same respect that he gave them Never ONCE did he go in the media to call a player out..not ONE TIME! Way to reward the coach for his loyalty boys. Gutless to be honest.

Jay1982 · Guru

I was going to bring up this point when I saw the interview, but wasn't near a computer. He also mentioned a few other points, however Barry hit the issue dead on. Souray didn't shy away from anything and said straight up that he, along with everyone else in a Habs uniform was to blame for what happened to the Claude

Habhead · Veteran Member

As poorly as Souray's played so far this season (for various on and off the ice reasons I might add), I sure would like to have 20 players like him on my team.

Interesting he would comment on the "long shifts" . . . Ribs anyone?

Koivu's response to Julien's firing definitely wasn't as "Captain" like as Souray's for sure.

barry33 · Guru

Habhead wrote:

As poorly as Souray's played so far this season (for various on and off the ice reasons I might add), I sure would like to have 20 players like him on my team. Interesting he would comment on the "long shifts" . . . Ribs anyone? Koivu's response to Julien's firing definitely wasn't as "Captain" like as Souray's for sure.

Many will read into my post on this that I am just lamenting over the firing of a good friend. I am not. I am over it. But I am habs fan first and formost!! But my experience tells me that your supposed team leaders should have responded in a manner that would make the players accountable no matter WHO the coach now. In my opinion, the fact that Souray said what had to be said and everyone else passed the buck says alot about that dressing room guys. Hopefully Gainey will straighten it out. If Koivu does go and Souray is still here, I hope he is given very serious consideration as captain because it is quite obvious he is a leader.

Desi · Senior Member

Bravo for Sheldon. Something tells me we will see his play pick up once he returns, too - if only because Gainey is on record as saying he can play better. Markov's already has stepped up his game, at least for one night. Theo? Well, we'll see. Gainey put his finger on three players the Habs really HAVE to have play better if they're going to have any chance of making the playoffs. We have just got to stop giving away soft goals to our opponents. Do the forwards have to pick up their games, too? Yes, of course. But winning starts with being tough in your own end, and BG identified Theo, Souray and Markov as the backbone of that effort.

I have a feeling BG may be discussing some things wirh certain forwards, too, maybe in a less public way. Keep an eye on who's really hustling and you may know to whom he's been talking.

Les Canadiens Sont La

24 Rings · Guru

I'm a big Koivs supporter, but I think you nailed it barry33. His remarks were dispointing at best. Makes you think he and CJ may have had some disagreements or didn't see eye to eye.

In my opinion CJ was a good coach and he took the fall for a bunch of guys who are playing below their potential and underachieveing. With that said, I think he lost control of his players and BG had no choice. I did; however, think that there was going to be a transaction instead of just canning the coach. By Koivs' remarks, it seems that he maybe saw this one coming and has zero quams about it???

Power · Veteran Member

I have always considered Souray as a stand up-guy, and this interview proves my thoughts right. I once mentioned that I didn`t know what went wrong in Saks head, this statement tells that his ability to lead is not the same as it used to be. If you carry "C", you should be able to encourage players to search faults from themselves, that is straight way to improve the team. I`m little bit disapointed the way Koivu deal with this situation

I have to mention that I am afraid there is one captain in every little group in the team(francophonics, group Koivu and others). Saku is no longer captain of the whole team

-- Edited by Power at 11:38, 2006-01-16

24 Rings · Guru

Power wrote:

I have always considered Souray as a stand up-guy, and this interview proves my thoughts right. I once mentioned that I didn`t know what went wrong in Saks head, this statement tells that his ability to lead is not the same as it used to be. If you carry "C", you should be able to encourage players to search faults from themselves, that is straight way to improve the team. I`m little bit disapointed the way Koivu deal with this situation I have to mention that I am afraid there is one captain in every little group in the team(francophonics, group Koivu and others). Saku is no longer captain of the hole team

HAHA...."hole team" is absolutely right, at the moment!!!!

I really like Souray, but he his play has been extremely disappointing this year. I think he has all the tools, but it is hard to watch him out there some nights. He just looks like he isn't comfortable or something?

Anyone else think he looks like he is struggling a bit? We absolutely need this guy to be a force on the blueline.

Power · Veteran Member

24 Rings wrote:

HAHA...."hole team" is absolutely right, at the moment!!!!

my mistake

-- Edited by Power at 11:49, 2006-01-16

TheoDoor · Member

I'll give Sheldon props for spelling it out for everyone in responsible manner. But let's not hand
him the 'C' quite so fast. He has been a MASSIVE disappointment this season. Anyone who denies that
isn't watching enough RDS. The guy blows tires all over the place, he takes stupid penalties, he's not moving the puck well and he's not scoring. What value has he added? If he's such an amazing leader, why didn't he
share his noble thoughts about team leadership before CJ was canned ?? He makes perfect sense now, agreed, but frankly, the guy's performance has been a major bust in my books and he needs to pick up his own game before calling anyone else out.

As for Saks, he's never been the most eloquent speaker but you can't doubt that he leads by example.
Regretably, I think he'll be elsewhere next season after free agency nabs him.

barry33 · Guru

TheoDoor wrote:

I'll give Sheldon props for spelling it out for everyone in responsible manner. But let's not hand him the 'C' quite so fast. He has been a MASSIVE disappointment this season. Anyone who denies that isn't watching enough RDS. The guy blows tires all over the place, he takes stupid penalties, he's not moving the puck well and he's not scoring. What value has he added? If he's such an amazing leader, why didn't he share his noble thoughts about team leadership before CJ was canned ?? He makes perfect sense now, agreed, but frankly, the guy's performance has been a major bust in my books and he needs to pick up his own game before calling anyone else out. As for Saks, he's never been the most eloquent speaker but you can't doubt that he leads by example. Regretably, I think he'll be elsewhere next season after free agency nabs him.

Well put Theodoor. I admit he has been a disappointment but then again, so have many players in a habs uniform this season. At least he admits it. The other 2 players said nothing about being called out (although Markov answered his critic on the ice Saturday). Theo, on the other hand, said nothing. In fact, unless I am missing something, I have not heard Theo yet say he was playing poorly?

24 Rings · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Theo, on the other hand, said nothing. In fact, unless I am missing something, I have not heard Theo yet say he was playing poorly?

You see it on Theo's face that he was stewing when Huet played in Denver. The Quebec media want him to succeed so badly - as can be seen by the humorous commercials on RDS... At times it seems like he is exempt from the criticisms that the other guys shoulder.

Jay1982 · Guru

I hate those god damn truck commericals with theo in them, I swear I want to take the TV out and throw it

barry33 · Guru

24 Rings wrote:

barry33 wrote: Theo, on the other hand, said nothing. In fact, unless I am missing something, I have not heard Theo yet say he was playing poorly? You see it on Theo's face that he was stewing when Huet played in Denver. The Quebec media want him to succeed so badly - as can be seen by the humorous commercials on RDS... At times it seems like he is exempt from the criticisms that the other guys shoulder.

24- all I am asking is that some of these pro athletes start accepting responsibilty for a poor performance. That was why I felt it was so refreshing for Souray to step up. It is rare today. Many times when one of these players signs a 3 year contract and end up having a career year, they will refuse to report to training camp until the GM re-negotiates their contract for more money. I am wondering if Theo will refuse to report next year because he feels he is ripping off the team? Uhmmm...no

24 Rings · Guru

barry, I am agreeing with you! I think he gets special considerations because he is Quebec's favourite son. He needs to face the music one way or the other. I would love to see him silence people by standing on his head this road-trip, but if he doesn't, the media will be all over him and I think you'll see him admit he has been sub-par.

AB Habman · Guru

All excellent points and well thought out posts starting with Barry! I agree to it all! The whole team is to blame and only Souray has sounded like he cares! Too many players playing Captain because the guy with the "C" lost the rooms' respect!

My prediction is Souray will have the "C" next season! It will mean alot to him and he won't tolerate lazy play or dressing room animosity or vendettas that Koivu plus Rivet are in the middle of presently!

davidb · Guru

Well atleast someone will step up and take control of things. We needed leadership in the d room all season long