barry33 wrote:

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As I recall, Saint Patrick got booed a few times too

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JohnM wrote:

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...You know the special fans who expect the world from 1 player.

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John...why are you instigating...mocking...provoking anyone and everyone?

This issue is fast becoming...well...just plain irritating...and without purpose!   

Please page back to the original questions.  And-o answered your questions honestly...and without hostile intent.  What don't you understand about the answer??? 

And-o needs to get used to Saku being around for three more years...and you need to get used to the idea that Saku is going to face more-and-more scrutiny, especially if his regime is deemed one of constant turmoil...losing...etc...  In fact, only Saku can ultimately settle this mess!!! 

If you don't agree...so be it...but this back-and-forth is going nowhere...and it is deteriorating with each post into personal spite filled things (And-o is as guilty as anyone as well). 

So perhaps this issue is best left alone for now...sound reasonable?

...but if you don't want an answer - And-o suggests not asking a question!

"Geesh Plouf..Gainey went and signed Kovalev and put him on a line with Koivu..you are calling one of the most talented wingers in the game today (aside from his effort) a "misfit"? Uhmm..I dont think so. The booing goes on in EVERY sport in EVERY city. IS it worse in Montreal with non-francophone players? Probably. But lets not turn Montreal into a city full of biggots and racists because they boo players..Belliveau has been booed there, Brisebois, Lafleur...I am really going to leave that argument to others. And this is a bad business decision. What pisses me off are people tryin tto sell it as "Koivu making a sacrifice to stay in Montreal". PUHHHHHHLEASEEEEEEEEE..3 years..no trade..4.75 million..he does not have to worry about being traded to some sawed off hockey city and has job security for 3 years. Quite the sacrifice. Koivu's agent looked after his client. Bottom line. I for one will not swallow the "Saks gave up opportunities to stay in Montreal"."

Barry, I think you're misunderstanding me a bit there.

The point was that throughout his career Koivu has played on a fairly mediocre team, but people are pointing the finger in his direction w/r to the six coaching changes.

I'm also not saying Montreal is any more bigoted than anywhere else. But I do think we have the harshest fans in the league. This can be a good thing; it worked for Lafleur and Belliveau (maybe)...and I think it helps to have that type of fan on an already good team. Keeps the players on a healthy edge. I just don't think it always works. When the team is full of young players and trying to develop new chemistry, I think it divides the team and makes Montreal an unattractive destination for free agents.

I think you are exaggerating what the Koivu defenders are saying in some cases. I don't think it's fair to say that we have been painting the no-trade clause as a sacrifice. I don't recall anyone describing it in those terms. It does demonstrate a desire to stick with this team, probably for a variety of reasons, some of them "selfish". And that's a good thing. It means a good player wants to be here, and doesn't want to sign just to be traded. Which is not something we've been having a lot of luck with over the last 5 years.

barry33 wrote:

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As for those who say that because Gainey saw fit to re-sign Koivu that this is definitive proof that Saks is as awesome as some say he is...one needs only to look at the Theo sigining. Is there anyone here who now says that Gainey was a genisu for signing Theo to all that money? Cmon..speak up. Sometimes signings are made out of neccessity or for lack of a better option, or becauise of fan pressure. For those praising Gainey for signing Koivu and suggesting he is in the best position to judge talent etc...would you be singing the sam etune had he traded Saks before the Olympics? The Bonk trade. Just because Gainey sees fit to do something does not neccessarily mean it is right. Time will be the true test which is why I suggest we put this topic to bed.

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Gainey's signing of Theo to a long-term contract was a good move at the time.  It is Theo, by playing lousy, who did not live up to his end of the bargain.  We'll see how Koivu does.............

First of all i dont dislike Saku John, and i dont want to see him go. The problem is that the way Saku is underperforming it is not acceptable. He is the Captain of the Team and a leader, He has not shown any sign of the Koivu we grew to love, Feisty, skillful, smart, and one of a kind. Saku is not the only one underperforming, we all know that, but we have come to expect the underperformance from other players , but not from Saku. When we see him underperform it is Kind of like "If he doesnt lead by example, who will" So he takes the Brunt. It not usual to see Saku take a stupid penalty or be outskated or have so many giveaways like he has, and the way the season has gone, its we needed someone, specially our LEADER to step up. Have you noticed when you guys speak about Saku, you speak in the past tense. He averaged , He scored , he played hard, who has led the team, and so on. Its sad to say this, but in sports its not what you did for me, its what are you DOING for me at present time. Its sad to say but Saku has done Nothing all year. A handful of good games and thats about it. Look at Theodore!! He started out great, a promising year, but not producing. Same story with Koivu! its easy to bench a goalie and say he is tired. Nobody will look past it. But try and bench your Captain, and he is a trade rumor. Also, you cant sit here and say he does not have support. Look at Crosby in pittsburgh!! look at Ovechkin!! Look at Thornton in San Jose!! Look at Iginla in Calgary!! These players have no Superstars around them, and look at their production!

Why all the Saku hating for?  He's a 1B/2nd line centre in the NHL, yet for his entire career he's had to line up head-to-head with 1A's in the Eastern Conference (Sundin, Thornton, Richards/Lecavlier, Lindros, Lemieux etc.) and getting matched up on a nightly basis with other teams top D pairings.  There is no shame in being a fringe 1st line/2nd line centre.  It is the teams fault for not addressing this the past 10 years, not Saku's.  And let's be honest, the supporting cast the past 10 years on the wings and blueline haven't been all that great.  Saku is a great leader, a great player, and worth every penny of his new contract - especially with the likes of Ryder & Kovalev riding shot gun now.

If you want to blame him for the chemistry in the dressing room.....well, go for it.  I don't blame Saku for hating Riberio the way he conducts himself on & off the ice is a complete joke.  He should have been outta here after the stunt he pulled in the playoffs last year.  Any character guy like Koivu, River, Souray etc. couldn't look that guy in the eye if they wanted to.

plouf wrote:

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You're taking stuff out of context here. The main reason why people are saying Gainey's signing was "proof" of anything was just because And-o kept going on and on about how what Gainey decided to do would end the argument right there. As in, "you'll see, when Gainey doesn't sign him it'll prove you guys are overrating Saku..." I'm sure you could track back and find plenty of posts that more or less say this. Keep in mind, Barry, that most of the pro-Saku posts are responses to some pretty over-the-top posts from a couple of Saku haters. It's not like And-o and AB's posts come off balanced.

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JohnM wrote:

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He came on this board right around the time And-o and AB were bashing Saku at their highest this season and started posting the same crap. Some of us think he is the reincarnation of And-o or AB from Bizzaro world.

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