Figaro wrote:

---

Ok, let's face it.  Hate him or love him, he played tonight and set helped his team with 3 assists.  And not a peep.  Not even an "I told you so!"  What gives?  The regualr Koivu bashers have nothing to say and the Pro-Koivu have nothing to say.  I think we all gave up Koivu for Lent.

---

Pro Koivu.....against Koivu.....not an issue here.  The TEAM did it.  And that's the real issue.  I could not watch the game but am certainly happy with the result no matter who did or didn't contribute.

Go Habs!

Figaro wrote:

---

Ok, let's face it.  Hate him or love him, he played tonight and set helped his team with 3 assists.  And not a peep.  Not even an "I told you so!"  What gives?  The regualr Koivu bashers have nothing to say and the Pro-Koivu have nothing to say.  I think we all gave up Koivu for Lent.

---

Muller93 wrote:

---

By the way, he asked for the "day" off....The "day" off...

---

C'mon Muller...the guy wanted the game off...and it was a foolish request given the circumstances! 

What would you have posted if any other Hab asked this (in similar circumstances)???

Hypocracy!??!?!?!?

Accountability!  The guy is played the big buckaroos to play...he did...but why not hold all players accountable??? 

...that helmet can't come soon enough!

Ando wrote:

---

What would you have posted if any other Hab asked this (in similar circumstances)???

---

barry33 wrote:

---

heet_150 wrote: Ando wrote: What would you have posted if any other Hab asked this (in similar circumstances)??? Probably nothing, as only those few members that hate Koivu took exception to the thought of him asking for the night off, and those that don't hate him, felt the attacks warranted a response. You see Heet that is the problem. I do not hate Koivu. I like the guy.  I cannot speak for others however, I only speak for myself. Although I do not hate him, I do not make him immune to criticism or questioning, nor am I shy with praise when he does well. I guess that, in a sense, I tend to expect more out of our better players than I do of the 3rd liners. But that is how I coach as well.

---

Actually Barry, you are correct, I painted you with the same paint brush as a few others and that was wrong. 

Even though the whole matter is over and done with (the game has been played, and he was in the line-up), it just gets frustrating that people that are supposed fans continue to bash on one player, and one player alone.  Last night, I thought that Ryder was one of the worst players out there.  Sure he had a goal, but the Habs scored 5 last night and they looked terrible outside of those goals.  Instead of bringing up what I saw (ie - Ryder, oh, and Rivet) I'm still defending the Captain.  Most people would say "so, ignore them", normally I do, however, I quit smoking and coffee 8 days ago, so I am extra grouchy these days, and the constant bashing is really p!$$ing me off.

Oh, and guess what, yes he had 3 points last night, but it wasn't his best game as a Hab.  See, objectivity.  I'm not in the Koivu worshipper group, I'm in the Hab Fan group.

Ando wrote:

---

Right on Barry33!    And-o does not hate Saku either…although And-o does hate the cult like following that has arisen to give him immunity from anything and everything.  

---

You absolutely do hate Koivu.  You have never been able to say a nice thing without turning it into a backhanded compliment, or better yet, you have never been able turn down an opportunity to take a shot at him.

---

Fact is, ever since this guy came back from his battle with the BIG ‘C’, he has become absolutely untouchable to many…even in the face of very average years for a top line guy that have been plagued with injuries, dry spells and early Springs.

---

Do you honestly believe that the Canadiens have left Koivu as their Captain because he had cancer and came back?  He may seem untouchable to some, only because he is their favorite player.  How long did it take you to admit that Bonk wasn't the second coming?  Guess what, it took me a long time to admit that Kovalev was being a world class jerk towards Julien's dismissal.  I tried saying "Something was lost in translation".  Why?  Because he was my favorite player.

---

Furthermore, whether you love Saku or not…it is Saku’s actions (or inactions…or apparent inabilities) that are what draw the ire of many Hab fans!

---

What was it that drew the ire of Hab fans?  Was it going to the Olympics?  Was it the fact that his country went to the gold medal game and Canada didn't?  Or inactions-was it that he didn't win the gold medal?  Was it his three points last night?  Was it the fact that he was probably tired from thrying to get back from the Olympics?  It's too bad that he is the only player in the NHL that had to go through this.  Oh, wait.  There were tons, and quite frankly, his performance was the best out of all of them.  Detroit had five players not come back for their game.

---

Just for example…things like his foolish request for last night off (it did happen)…

---

Well thank God we've got you to tell us what Koivu was thinking. 

---

his inability to unite the dressing room (which has been rumored to be divided lonnnngggg before Ribs/Kovy walked in the door)

---

Has been rumoured.  You just love those rumours where Koivu looks bad, don't you?

---

…ducking out on post-game interviews to let the others mop up (remember Begin swinging in the breeze a few weeks ago)

---

Why yes I do remember that incident.  That would be the same game where you called Koivu out for playing when he still had effects from the flu that kept Zednik off the ice.

---

…six coaching changes (the last one he just let Shelley handle the media)...

---

Yes, that's right, he was responsible for 6 coaches being fired.  That is why the current coach/GM just signed him to a new contract for 4.75 million.  Makes him sound like a real problem in the dressing room.

---

  Anyway, these types of things get people upset…and simply fluffing it off is not going to help in the long-term!  

---

Nobody is fluffing anything off.  When he screws up, many, many people on this board say "He screwed up".  Like the Buffalo game that you brought up, where he took that stupid penalty to negate the Habs' power play.  Koivu was lambasted on this board.  Then it was time to move on.  You know, next game.

---

Saku is signed for 3 more years…for ALLOT of $$$....so, why not actually expect ALLOT for the $$$...and not just a string of 2 or 3 games either!  TEAM SUCCESS!  Just like Muller…Carbo…Gainey…Robinson…etc   That is what And-o expects!

---

He was in a slump leading up to the Olympics.  He has had one game back, where he played better than most on his team, and already you are saying that this will only be for 2 or 3 games. 

It isn't just so much that you continually bash Koivu, it is also the fact that you never seem to have any real praise for anyone else on the team.  Are you actually a Habs fan?  Or are you just a fan of being a Habs fan?

...and there you have it ~ THAT is the Koivu cult...a counterpoint for every point...an excuse for every comment...a criticism for every view!     

Just imagine the divisions on the other side of the dressing room door!!! 

Would you like to comment here yet Barry33 about the things you know (although would it matter???)?