I totally agree with you Fatherhab.

I like Koivu, he's a great player and all, when he's there. We need a captain that will be on the ice all the time earning his money. Enough with the "he's good in the dressing room" crap. If he was that good in the dressing room, well we would have won by now, cause he spent enough time there. How long has he been captain now? Several years ago we missed the playoffs for 4-5 years straight and barely made it when we did. And since then, we’ve changed GM twice, coach 3-4 times and a dozen players to boot. I think now is the time to shake things up and change captains.

Ando wrote:

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OK!!?  And-o wants to know where ‘the real’ GOHABS.COM went?

 

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lol- It's evolving

i dont mean to be rude but thats the dumbest thing i heard today , you want to take the c away from koivu because nobody showed leadership whie he was hurt . if nobody showed leadership while he was hurt , who do we give the "c". to. take it off someone with leadership qualities and give it to someone who doesn't show it , thats a classic .i know they should give it to ribs.

Fatherhab wrote:

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...7 yrs. as Captain and Koivu has lead the team where?...I believe it is time to move on with a different perspective and hopefully a better outcome than the past 7 years. 

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Amen Father...A-FREAKIN-MEN!!!

...7+ years of maybe's...if only's...excuses...heartbreak...heartache...and never ending soap-opera type drama!

Just take the switching of the 'C' from LeCavalier in Tampa as one example of what such a change can bring!!!  Cripes...Saku might actually appreciate and respond positively to this (as LeCavalier did)!

 

Doesnt seem to me that creating a drama over the captaincy is what's needed for the habs. Firstly, Koivu is a leader. He's the captain of the medal winning Finnish national team, and he's also a member of the Olympic Committee. Saku is also a tireless volunteer and fund raiser and a presence in the city of Montreal (no small feat considering he doesn't speak French).

And exactly who do you think should replace Saku?  Kovy (never captained any team he's played on .. and defintetly not a leaders work ethic)? Souray (too soft and friendly)?

There is no better choice for captain at the moment ... so stop trying to create a buzz over a non issue.

 

Fatherhab wrote:

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Is that a grumpy pill in the bottom of the martini?

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Wife must be givinghim a hard time lol

nietche wrote:

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  ... so stop trying to create a buzz over a non issue.

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Ummmm, I'm pretty sure that is all that has been going on all summer. Opinions on different trades, rumours... you know.... lots of things like that, stuff to keep it fun while we are off for the summer.

There is nothin' wrong with people givin' opinions regardin' Captaincy. The purpose of this board is to discuss hockey/Habs & that IS hockey/Habs related.

You may not feel a change is needed... but some do (not sayin' I do, but some do) & these others feel it IS an "issue".

 

Don't stop buzzin' boys... I don't mind hearing your differing opinions, views or issues. That's the fun of this board & I'd hate for it to change.

and where has iginla , sundin , thornton and alfie led their teams , none has won a cup, only 1 has made it to the finals and all have had better teams than saks has had . for christs sake it was only a couple of years ago that they had saks a couple other players and a bunch of ahlers as a team . they were leading the league in man games lost for years and you want saks to take a team like that to the cup . sundin , sakic , thornton yzerman have all burried a few coaches ,that doesnt make them bad leaders . as for stock he played a whole 20 games in montreal so i guess he knows whats going on there .

Fatherhab wrote:

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Guess my Bumper Sticker today will read" Jesus Loves you- everyone else thinks you're an ass"

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Actually the captaincy issue has been around in Montreal for years and always will be. It is part of the charm that comes with playing for les habitants. Some may recall that there was a time that fans wanted Yvan Cornyoyer dethroned as captain. Muller I am not so sure that the vote would be 25-1 if the players had a secret ballot. The dressing room is not that tight. But I am confident that Koivu would be voted back in.

As far as other candidates on the team I believe there are a few. Souray. Rivet. Even the Cube. All have shown leadership qualities. To sit here and say that Koivu is the ONLY logical choice as captain is a wee bit shotrsighted don't you think? Let me ask all posters this. IF Koivu had not had cancer and come back would the sentiment be as strong as it is for him? Would a 3 year contract with no trade (The ONLY player on the habs with a no trade clause and one of the few in the league) be ok with you? My point is that when it comes to discussions regarding Saku Koivu, the strong emotions which come to the surface due to his courageous battles tend to cloud reason. (and before some jump on me for being cold regarding cancer, my dad battled with it and passed away when I was 18)

I guess my point is that Koivu gets cut alot of slack by the fans and the media because of the adversity he has faced. On the other hand, facing adversity and overcoming it, are great leadership qualities and help you to gain the respect of your teamates. No one respects what this guy has done more than me. However, I refuse to put him on a pedestal because of it. He is the highest paid player on the team and our number one center. Having that role comes with a great deal of responsibility. He asked for a no-trade clause so he must like and want that responsibility (and do not construe his no trade clause with a sense of loyalty..it is business and only business). The only player I have higher expectations for on this team is Kovalev. He has underperformed.

I felt that, to be honest, Koivu should have sat out the Olympics last year. He was tired before he went over there and never recovered when he came back. It really showed the last few weeks of the season. He was taking lazy penalties because he was tired. I have been saying all along that Koivu has been getting way too many minutes as a first line center and it shows. That is NOT a knock on Saks. It is a fact. My hope is that Ribs can carry the load on the number one line with Kovalev and Samsonov. Use Koivu less and on specialty teams and you will get more mileage out of him. Because, in my opinion, last season he played very tired.

 

barry33 wrote:

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Fatherhab wrote:

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Guess my Bumper Sticker today will read" Jesus Loves you- everyone else thinks you're an ass"

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Actually the captaincy issue has been around in Montreal for years and always will be. It is part of the charm that comes with playing for les habitants. Some may recall that there was a time that fans wanted Yvan Cornyoyer dethroned as captain. Muller I am not so sure that the vote would be 25-1 if the players had a secret ballot. The dressing room is not that tight. But I am confident that Koivu would be voted back in.

As far as other candidates on the team I believe there are a few. Souray. Rivet. Even the Cube. All have shown leadership qualities. To sit here and say that Koivu is the ONLY logical choice as captain is a wee bit shotrsighted don't you think? Let me ask all posters this. IF Koivu had not had cancer and come back would the sentiment be as strong as it is for him? Would a 3 year contract with no trade (The ONLY player on the habs with a no trade clause and one of the few in the league) be ok with you? My point is that when it comes to discussions regarding Saku Koivu, the strong emotions which come to the surface due to his courageous battles tend to cloud reason. (and before some jump on me for being cold regarding cancer, my dad battled with it and passed away when I was 18)

I guess my point is that Koivu gets cut alot of slack by the fans and the media because of the adversity he has faced. On the other hand, facing adversity and overcoming it, are great leadership qualities and help you to gain the respect of your teamates. No one respects what this guy has done more than me. However, I refuse to put him on a pedestal because of it. He is the highest paid player on the team and our number one center. Having that role comes with a great deal of responsibility. He asked for a no-trade clause so he must like and want that responsibility (and do not construe his no trade clause with a sense of loyalty..it is business and only business). The only player I have higher expectations for on this team is Kovalev. He has underperformed.

I felt that, to be honest, Koivu should have sat out the Olympics last year. He was tired before he went over there and never recovered when he came back. It really showed the last few weeks of the season. He was taking lazy penalties because he was tired. I have been saying all along that Koivu has been getting way too many minutes as a first line center and it shows. That is NOT a knock on Saks. It is a fact. My hope is that Ribs can carry the load on the number one line with Kovalev and Samsonov. Use Koivu less and on specialty teams and you will get more mileage out of him. Because, in my opinion, last season he played very tired.

 

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Good post Barry... & I'm sorry to hear about your father.

Nil d wrote:

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If Saku is the choice of 60% of the players, then he should be captain.  Doesn't majority rule?

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Not sure Nilsey!  Let's ask that question to those who opposed Beliveau's captaincy...or Gainey's...or Muller's...oh, yeah...that's right...there were NONE!!!

macneil wrote:

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barry , speaking as someone who just recently battled cancer , i can tell you that has nothing to do with why i support saks . as a matter of fact it has nothing to do with his off ice life at all . he is a player who gives his all every shift , is a natural leader , and is nearly (.8) ppg. there are alot of players that  some people covet that are no better than koivu.

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The great Saku Hudini shows up every night?  Every shift?  I don't know about that, he is notorious for becoming invisible.  When that happens, posters on here talk about what a great defensive game he played, or how he clogged up the neutral zone so well.  Truth is, he shows up as much as Kovalev does.  When he wants.

you guys are crazy. he may not show up on the score sheet every night but on the ice
hes 1 of the few that shows up to play everynight .

McHab wrote:

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I'm with ya Mac! I can't believe this is even an issue. By some thinking here, if someone other than Saku had the C on their chest ( with the same players and coaches ) the Montreal canadiens would have been a better team and maybe have won a cup? Wow! That's sounds like a pretty simple solution. Some good smoke goin round!!

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Right-on, Gary!  The Habs with another captain would have been lucky to scrape into the playoffs every year for the past seven - just like they did - no better, maybe worse. 

Saku is an able leader, not a freakin' magician!  An abundance of talent in a lineup will make anyone look like a great leader.  Hell, I'd be in the Hall of Fame if I had been captain of the Habs' 70's teams!