Whats to be surprised about?  I'll bet you most of the guys who played for Finland and Sweden are taking the first night off .

8 games in 11 is a lot, plus the international travel.  I'm not defending his decision or the way he handled it (which I disagree with), but that is a lot for anyone to handle.

Ando - you must admit that Saku makes the team better then, otherwise why would you care?  Guys have taken a game off for less than this.

Ando wrote:

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Can you just imagine the outrage around here if any other player besides Saku requested time-off under any similar circumstances for being tired???  Didn't Saku know the circumstances before heading off to Italy?  And-o just can't believe the nerve of this guy...and I'm actually blown away that this doesn't absolutely irk every single Hab fan!!! Cripes you guys, the Habs are embarking on a six game roady and are scrapping for the final playoff spot....HEEELLLLLLLLOOOOOOO!?!?!?!?  ANYONE THERE???    How can anyone possibly defend Saku's request? ...this guy doesn't do himself any favors by not showing up tomorrow night! And, how many games "grace" does Saku get before everyone expects him to contribute offensively??? Hypocracy!!!  Plain and simple!  And, And-o doesn't want to read one word about him being "biased" against Saku! And-o is tired today...I worked all last week...can I have tomorrow off??? GAW'D!!!  MAKE A GUY PUKE OR WHAT!!!  

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Can anyone track what all the Finnish and Sweden NHL players do first game back?( preferably tuesday night games). Not canada/Russia and US because they were ousted earlier. Can anyone do that? That would be interesting I think.

 I'm too bothered by this request, he knew what he was getting into along time ago.  I've always been a Koivu supporter, but I'm losing my faith in him slowly.  Especially after the team gave him a generous new contract.  And another thing Mats Sundin wouldn't ask for the day off!  Just a thougth

Muller93 wrote:

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Ando wrote: Can you just imagine the outrage around here if any other player besides Saku requested time-off under any similar circumstances for being tired???  Didn't Saku know the circumstances before heading off to Italy?  And-o just can't believe the nerve of this guy...and I'm actually blown away that this doesn't absolutely irk every single Hab fan!!! Cripes you guys, the Habs are embarking on a six game roady and are scrapping for the final playoff spot....HEEELLLLLLLLOOOOOOO!?!?!?!?  ANYONE THERE???    How can anyone possibly defend Saku's request? ...this guy doesn't do himself any favors by not showing up tomorrow night! And, how many games "grace" does Saku get before everyone expects him to contribute offensively??? Hypocracy!!!  Plain and simple!  And, And-o doesn't want to read one word about him being "biased" against Saku! And-o is tired today...I worked all last week...can I have tomorrow off??? GAW'D!!!  MAKE A GUY PUKE OR WHAT!!!   Can anyone track what all the Finnish and Sweden NHL players do first game back?( preferably tuesday night games). Not canada/Russia and US because they were ousted earlier. Can anyone do that? That would be interesting I think.

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The Swedish players from detroit are taking Tues off because they are busy celebrating in Stockholm..now THAT would piss ME off lol

Ando wrote:

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Can you just imagine the outrage around here if any other player besides Saku requested time-off under any similar circumstances for being tired???  Didn't Saku know the circumstances before heading off to Italy?  And-o just can't believe the nerve of this guy...and I'm actually blown away that this doesn't absolutely irk every single Hab fan!!! Cripes you guys, the Habs are embarking on a six game roady and are scrapping for the final playoff spot....HEEELLLLLLLLOOOOOOO!?!?!?!?  ANYONE THERE???    How can anyone possibly defend Saku's request? ...this guy doesn't do himself any favors by not showing up tomorrow night! And, how many games "grace" does Saku get before everyone expects him to contribute offensively??? Hypocracy!!!  Plain and simple!  And, And-o doesn't want to read one word about him being "biased" against Saku! And-o is tired today...I worked all last week...can I have tomorrow off??? GAW'D!!!  MAKE A GUY PUKE OR WHAT!!!  

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As a Koviu supporter, i find it strange but i actually have to agree with Ando on this one, although not with the same degree of venom. Koviu was quoted  as saying prior to the Olympics that the schedule maker for the NHL and for the Olympic tournament was crazy for compressing so many games into as few a days as possible. Saku knew full well the toll it was going to take on him to play in the olympics and then play the remaining portion of the NHL schedule. In essence he was in a no win position, to play for your country, I think anyone of us would give their right arm to do that, and yet knowing the physical and mental toll it would take afterwards playing for your NHL team. Nonetheless, Koviu knew that going in, so he has to suck it up and play, no special treatment.

     There must be two moons in the universe, because i disagree with Muller's assertion that Kipersoff is /was lazy for skipping the Olympics. It takes real guts to decide to skip the Olympics knowing that you are going to become persona non grata within your country. To play or not play there is no real right answer, but if you go to the Olympics then you have to suck it up and give your all for your NHL team after. The people paying your salary have every right to expect you to play at the highest level possible retgardless of the circumstances.

Ando wrote:

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Only a complete idiot would defend Saku's request to sit!  ...there will not be one square inch of space for Saku to hide in Montreal if the Habs miss the playoffs because he was primping following a night-out celebrating second place!!! How does this guy get up the nerve to ask for a free-pass??? What a joke! ...too much!   

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No And-o...your posts on the topic are the joke. Your thoughts lack insight and seem filled with hatred rather than being constructive.

In the long run that request for a rest day may be the better thing to do. Have you had a bad day And-o? someone speak to you the wrong way?

I think your posts are meant to poke away until someone says something. How stupid am I for responding to such childish gibbersh...

JohnM wrote:

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Bobby Clark was on off the record to discuss the likes of Forsberg and Gagne missing the next few to many games because of the Olympics. He said if that's what it takes to come back from the Olympics, that what it takes. If he can get over it I suggest the rest of you do the same. Like I said Saku is not the only one who is taking the rest... Stop being your usual "fan" self and realize MTL is not the center of the universe...

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The one major difference of course is that Philly is firmly ensconced in a playoff position, the Habs are in a life and death situation to make it. Knowing Bobby Clarke's mentality I am not so sure that he would be so gracious if the Flyers were in the Canadiens position. The other issue is what about Bulis,Markov,Kovalev, they all faced the same brutal schedule. What would the Habs do if they all requested a game or two off? The Habs position is precarious to say the least, even if these guys are not 100 percent at least having them in the lineup to play only on special teams would be better than not having them in the lineup at all.

Well, Ando, I wonder how many of your 511 posts thus far has dealt with the subject of Saku Koivu?  Good thing he's still around, otherwise I suspect that you would not have much to write about.  I think that you would be quite welcome at Le Journal de Montreal.  After all, they've been on a "Saku Koivu seek and destroy mission" for the last many years.

In looking at the last three years, I cannot think of another player who has consistently shown up for the Habs.  He's been there for the big games too.  He's led Montreal in playoff scoring during his tenure.  Unlike many European players, he raised his intensity level during the playoffs.   Just name one Hab player who has consistently outperformed Koivu during the past three years.

Look at the big picture.  If Montreal's playoff chances revolve around Saku Koivu playing against the Islanders tomorrow, then we do not deserve to make the playoffs anyway.  Cut him some slack just once.  Probably not, since that might be out of character for you.

 

 

JohnM wrote:

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Flyers are in a battle with the Rangers for 3rd spot in the East. I think it's just as important for them to fight for home ice advantage as long as possible for playoff dollars, etc... I see your point but all the teams are in the same boat. I think only teams with Finns and Swedes on them should really worry for the extra day off because the rest were off on Saturday and there wasn't much celebrating going on...

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as i said John. the only thing that disappoints me is that he could have made a real statement to the rest of the team by somehow finding the energy to play. And I woul dnot be surpised to see him do just that!.  His comments about not playing were made as soon as he stepped off the ice Sunday. What would they expect him to say? He cannot wait to get to Long Island and play 60 minutes of hockey? But. as a habs fan, I think it will go a very long way to showing his leadership by playing tomorrow. That will show the likes of Ribs and Kovalev that Saks is prepared to do whatever it takes to make the playoffs.  But maybe that is asking an awful lot of him. I just think the habs are in desperate need of someone to step up and say "OK boys, follow me, we are playoff bound".

Muller93 wrote:

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...Have you had a bad day And-o? someone speak to you the wrong way? I think your posts are meant to poke away until someone says something. How stupid am I for responding to such childish gibbersh...

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Why does it have to come-back to a personal insult every single time anyone expects accountability from Saku?    

Anyway, Saku has brought all of this mess on himself...and all he has to do to fix it is just play with the same desire and passion as in Italy!  Why is that too much to expect???  Why would you accept anything less? 

Honestly Muller93...what would have been your reaction if any other Hab made such a request?

HYPOCRACY...plain and simple! 

...Saku has been paid very well!  He needs to zip-it and get back to work.

Disgusting??? When I read that word, I can't believe me eyes. You use that word to describe that incident? You must really hate Saks...disappointed, surprised, even pissed off but disgusting? Thank god the world is made of drama queens and rational thinkers, or else, this would be a boring world to live in.

i somewhat agree andy , i wonder if koivu would need a rest if finland had a game tomorrow , he may be tired but if he can play all those game for finland , he can play for the team that actually feeds him .

Ando wrote:

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Muller93 wrote: ...Have you had a bad day And-o? someone speak to you the wrong way? I think your posts are meant to poke away until someone says something. How stupid am I for responding to such childish gibbersh... Why does it have to come-back to a personal insult every single time anyone expects accountability from Saku?     Anyway, Saku has brought all of this mess on himself...and all he has to do to fix it is just play with the same desire and passion as in Italy!  Why is that too much to expect???  Why would you accept anything less?  Honestly Muller93...what would have been your reaction if any other Hab made such a request? HYPOCRACY...plain and simple!  ...Saku has been paid very well!  He needs to zip-it and get back to work.

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Really and-0, you just love to spin things your own way.  Muller or John turn things personal?  Let's see, somewhere up a few posts I believe you posted that "Only a complete idiot would defend Saku's request to sit!"  That sounds personal to me.  Oh, let me guess, that doesn't count because, let's see, oh yeah, it doesn't agree with your statement.  Aren't you one of the people that lambasted Koivu for PLAYING when he may still have had effects of the flu?  Which is it and-0?  I suppose it depends on which way would make Koivu look less of a leader, right?  And just for my own curiousity, if he is such a piece of crap player, with no leadership skills, why is it so important to you that he plays?  If he is so useless, why would you want him in the lineup?  Is it because it gives you the opportunity to take shots at him?

The interesting paralel or comparison will be Sundin. Toronto plays tonite. John Ferguson Jr. has gone on record as saying he expects Sundin to play tonite ...quote "I expect Matts to play tonite. Yes it is unfortunate but we are in a playoff fight for our lives right now. Matts knew the schedule before he went over there. It has not changed in 2 weeks".

IMHO opinion. if Sundin plays tonite (especially in lieu of the celebration and beer fest he had in Stockholm), and Koivu does not, it will not look good on Saks. Both are captains of their teams. Both teams are fighting for a playoff spot. Both played a tough final on Sunday.

I am actually predicting that Koivu WILL play tonite. I think that what he said was a reaction at a bad time. And, as much as I fully disagree with And-O's way of delivering his opinions some time (I remember him  callinG CJ a "moron"), I do agree with one thing. If this were Kovalev or Markov asking for the night off, people would be all over them.

 

 

-- Edited by barry33 at 10:00, 2006-02-28