Sometimes life and fan life collide.
Last week, ended for me on Friday with a rebuff of a new idea I had brought forward. Saturday ended a week of hockey in a similar way. The common theme was establishment of precedence and the pervasive fear that surrounds it.
It wasn’t the first time I have had a proposal rebuffed for the danger of the precedent it could set. Sometimes, no matter how perfect the fit, an idea just has to die for this reason. Similarly, I thought, the ideas that were floating around in the build-up to Saku Koivu’s first game back in Montreal.
Leading up to that game, there were many suggestions that the team might do something special to honour a special player in the history of the Canadiens. I was actually quite giddy in the buildup, as I anticipated something fitting from the organization that used to have a knack for gauging these events just right.
Instead, what the Canadiens offered was a video montage of a few seconds. More than that, it only showed the April 2002 ovation and none of his other moments in Montreal. It was a sad-sack effort considering what they’ve been able to pull off in the past. Luckily for the Canadiens brass, the fans still remember how to show a bit of class and picked up the mantle by giving a proper ovation anyway and then clogging the popularity contest lines with Koivu votes. As if to complete their complete fumble, the organization (who incidentally does claim they have the right to review 3 star choices and adjust) decided they’d stick to their idiotic policy of naming the OT goalscorer the first star. This despite the fact that the goal was:
a) Scored in a shootout
b) Ignored the actual stars of the game (well this rule does)
c) Went completely against the fans wishes for a special honour bestowed on Saku
And what for?
For precedence.
Worried perhaps that the honouring a returning player for another team would set a dangerous precedent in a time when the number of such players is high. Worried perhaps that all future captains will need to have some sort of ceremonious return. Worried that perhaps their 3 star system won’t be respected if contravened for this special case.
Hogwash. It’s total pig swill. None of these concerns are founded. The organization needed to recognize what a special case that Koivu was. 15 years from draft to departure with this team. Most of 13 years as the face of the franchise and the best player on the ice from game to game. 10 full years as the captain.
This game, this return, will likely be the last opportunity that the Canadiens have for a very long time to honour such a player. The bigger league, salary cap and all have changed the landscape. Teams aren’t always going to be able to hold their top players when they need leverage to rebuild. Teams will have trouble giving progressive raises without intervention from the lower free agency limits. And that’s to say nothing of the ten year captaincy. Or the player that Koivu was.
The team tripped up big time here. They didn’t need to do much other than nod to the significance of the event. They couldn’t even manage that small ask. This was a too-many-men-on-the-ice-type penalty for the management.
On that note, I’ll segue into another similar discussion: what to do on Koivu’s retirement.
Those of you who’ve commented on our banner, and read our praise for the player know that this blog is not far from camping with those who would call for a sweater retirement for the captain of a decade. And this discussion is a discussion of precedence if there ever was one. There are precedents to be followed and precedents that could be set.
On following precedents. Koivu doesn’t come close to meeting the precedents that have been set in terms of trophies, Cups, or even statistics for any of those occupying the rafters. On these precedents alone, it’s a non-starter. But hockey is not baseball. Statisticians in hockey will tell you this. It cannot be measured by some algorithm for greatness. Hockey is a game that is imperfectly measured by statistics kept by the league. My case for Koivu would include us using our collective memories to recall the games where he led and played well without a single point for the gamelog. There were many games like this.
What’s more, these honours bestowed were not based on statistics alone, were they? The great honour was weighed in many ways. And so it should, in due time, with Koivu.
On the precedents it will set. I say precedents be damned. Exceptions are the prerogative of this organization in making these decisions. They are the prerogative of the fans who ask for the recognition. If the sweater retirement is to be discussed, that doesn’t mean that a door is opened to every player who ever scored 600 points, or every player that had long tenure. Koivu is Koivu is Koivu. He was and is special. The ovations showed that. And that’s all that needs to be said.
So don’t fear precedents. Yes Koivu now has more domes this season than Tom Pyatt. There’s nothing to fear in that.
Showing posts with label Saku. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saku. Show all posts
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Game #49
Saku Wins; Helps Us Get A Point
Details
Date: 22/1/2011
Opponent: Ducks
Location: Montreal
Loss: 3-4 (SO)
Habs Goalie: Price (L)
Opposition Goalie: Hiller (W)
Habs goalscorers: Pacioretty (2), Darche
Opposition goalscorers: Fowler, Ryan (1, SO), Perry
Play of the game
The comeback goal, was of course a highlight for the Habs, but if we look at the event on a whole then the play of the game has to be the ovations that Saku got. He got a huge ovation before the first face-off and then another when he was announced as the second star (robbed of the first star thanks to Habs' questionable policy of making OT goalscorers (even in the shootout), regardless of how they played, the first star). It was great to see how much Montreal means to him and how much he means to Montreal. Who knows, maybe one day he'll be back.
Dome hockey team
The 6 players we're playing in a no changes, do or die contest in the domeMax Pacioretty - Game Puck
There was some great fight from MaxPac tonight and it paid off with two goals. 3 in 2 nights is a lot better than any Hamilton call-up would (or has) done which is why it is great that Tuesday's injury wasn't as bad as initially expected. If he keeps playing like this until, and when, Camms is back we'll be quite alright.
Tomas Plekanec
He only got one assist tonight, but I thought played a very good game. He was instrumental on the tying goal which got the Habs an always welcome point. There were a lot of chances which developed thanks to his quick foot speed, all of which made him look so much better than Anaheim's defencemen.
Saku Koivu
Why not? Two years of not being able to write in here about him, I may as well now. Saku didn't have the best game, but I'd have him on the ice all night as he invoked so many special memories. Every time that I heard his name it took me a second to remember that he didn't play for us; I guess it still hasn't sunk in. He certainly contributed to the Habs success tonight as his 3 penalties led to 2 PP goals, one of which was the tying goal. Iam sure that he was thrilled that both teams got points as both teams need him. For you purists, I have chosen a third Hab for the dome and Topham has the selection marked in his statistics.
Defencemen
PK Subban
There were times that PK looked pretty awkward tonight on some of his pivots, but those low points were overshadowed by his strong offensive presence. He attempted an incredible 16 shots which shows just how much this kid wants to shoot. Only 6, however, got through, so he is still having that same release problem, but I do think that it is getting better. He has so much energy and is so fit that I am glad he is getting tons of ice time. He should be able to chew up a lot of regular season minutes as resting our veterans in the press-box isn't a very likely scenario with the injuries, so we have to find ways to get their ice-time down.
James Wisniewski
I wasn't a huge fan of the Wis tonight in his own end, but did like what he did in their half. Hammer, Spacek and Gill all showed signs of fatigue tonight so it was good that James was good to go. In fact, he played a whopping 30 minutes and was able to kill a big chunk of our D's ice-time. Knowing that, in general, he can hold his own in all aspects of play makes using him that much quite a good thing.
Goaltender
Carey Price
This was an average game from Price, but certainly he did enough to make the dome. I can't say that he really stood out for being that bad or that good tonight, he kind of just blended in. Knowing that he doesn't get a week for the All-Star break off (like his teammates) may have been good reason to give him last night against Ottawa off (I mean, I could have been in nets and we still would have won), but that is done. I may rest him on Tuesday, but have a strong feeling that JM won't.
Comments
It was funny that Lapierre got booed tonight. The former poster-boy of this club probably didn't expect that, but apparently we boo anyone who used to play for us (other than Saku). I suppose that I am not that surprised myself, though, as he did request a trade and made a lot of people think that he thought he was way better than he was. Maybe he thought that he was the type of player that we saw last April/May and not the one that we saw the other 120 games of the past 2 seasons. The night was still Koivu night, though, and Max's appearance didn't really matter.
There was still hockey to be played, though, and early on the Habs weren't doing much of that. Luckily for us, however, the Ducks weren't firing on all cylinders so on the game went. On a whole we probably ended up playing better than them, and Hiller better than Price, so a tie was just about right. We have one more game before the break and it would be nice to pick up points, but road games in Philly are never that easy. Win or lose, however, won't really matter. What matters is that after 50 games we will have at least 59 points in the bank (a 97-point pace). The 32 games after the break will certainly be tough, but I honestly believe that our fate is in our own hands. If we want to make the playoffs, there is no reason to believe that we won't.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Ducks Happy To Have Saku
Perhaps it's only to do with his name (remember the old cheer from the movies?). Perhaps it's because they're just happy that their franchise isn't in full liquidation mode. But it appears to me that members of the Anaheim fandom are relatively chuffed at the acquisition of Saku Koivu.
Take this line from a recent newspaper column in SoCal:
Executive of the Year! It stands in sharp contrast to those Koivu detractors who would nominate Gainey for the same award for letting the Finnish captain fly.
The sense of excitement and approval seems consistent throughout the article. The same ecstatic writer from the OC seems to take Koivu's acquisition as a minor coup for the Ducks – final proof that Anaheim was the only team able to unite two players that Montreal has been talking about uniting for years. He says as much in his header: "Selanne, Koivu take Anaheim over Montreal".
And consider this line:
The Anaheim writer put down those words without a hint of irony or disappointment. Almost as if consistent seasons of 50 or more points was a good thing in this league. It's taking the very statistic we would use to bash Saku to lift him up with.
Then you move on to blogs. I found this one on the Battle of California.
Not exactly reserved in its praise. It seems an awful lot of people around the league have seen Koivu and think that maybe he's done a good job, as opposed to being the reason Montreal hasn't won a Cup.
Finding both articles came only a few days after one of oldest and best friends – banished to the hockey hinterland of Southern California – had forwarded me the promotional packs the Ducks had sent him for the upcoming season. Those were also plastered with pics of Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne – something of a surprise to those of us in Montreal who assume all hockey fans are drawn to the Getzlafs and Perrys of the world.
The grass is greener
Why am I harping on about Saku Koivu?
Well for one thing, I think the slow news and the emotional wound have combined to keep it top of mind for me. For another, I can't click 5 links without reading what a relief it is to have let him go. Then there's the talk of the leadership vacuum that he left behind. And all this while I get reminders sent from Anaheim on how exiting it will be to have a new scoring centre of Koivu's ilk.
I'm not sure if the grass is greener in Anaheim now they have Koivu or not. I have a sense that it won't be too much greener for losing him at $3.25 million it would have taken to secure his services here in Montreal. I do know I'll watch on with interest as Koivu and Selanne reunite one of the most exciting duos I've ever had the pleasure of watching.
And, if I have to put money on anyone making a good life after Montreal, it'll be Saku.
Take this line from a recent newspaper column in SoCal:
Teemu Selanne for NHL Executive of the Year!
Executive of the Year! It stands in sharp contrast to those Koivu detractors who would nominate Gainey for the same award for letting the Finnish captain fly.
The sense of excitement and approval seems consistent throughout the article. The same ecstatic writer from the OC seems to take Koivu's acquisition as a minor coup for the Ducks – final proof that Anaheim was the only team able to unite two players that Montreal has been talking about uniting for years. He says as much in his header: "Selanne, Koivu take Anaheim over Montreal".
And consider this line:
scoring ability – he racked up at least 50 points in his past six seasons
The Anaheim writer put down those words without a hint of irony or disappointment. Almost as if consistent seasons of 50 or more points was a good thing in this league. It's taking the very statistic we would use to bash Saku to lift him up with.
Then you move on to blogs. I found this one on the Battle of California.
On Koivu:
Sheer awesomeness. I have been a Team Finland fan since Nagano -- basically because of the charismatic pull of Teemu's nationalism -- and I cannot wait for these two to join forces for Team Anaheim. With Koivu, there is simply too much to talk about -- the cancer battle, the Montreal captaincy, the little-man production, the selfless passing -- Saku oozes heroism and class.
Not exactly reserved in its praise. It seems an awful lot of people around the league have seen Koivu and think that maybe he's done a good job, as opposed to being the reason Montreal hasn't won a Cup.
Finding both articles came only a few days after one of oldest and best friends – banished to the hockey hinterland of Southern California – had forwarded me the promotional packs the Ducks had sent him for the upcoming season. Those were also plastered with pics of Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne – something of a surprise to those of us in Montreal who assume all hockey fans are drawn to the Getzlafs and Perrys of the world.
The grass is greener
Why am I harping on about Saku Koivu?
Well for one thing, I think the slow news and the emotional wound have combined to keep it top of mind for me. For another, I can't click 5 links without reading what a relief it is to have let him go. Then there's the talk of the leadership vacuum that he left behind. And all this while I get reminders sent from Anaheim on how exiting it will be to have a new scoring centre of Koivu's ilk.
I'm not sure if the grass is greener in Anaheim now they have Koivu or not. I have a sense that it won't be too much greener for losing him at $3.25 million it would have taken to secure his services here in Montreal. I do know I'll watch on with interest as Koivu and Selanne reunite one of the most exciting duos I've ever had the pleasure of watching.
And, if I have to put money on anyone making a good life after Montreal, it'll be Saku.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
What Saku Koivu Meant To This Fan
So it has finally happened. The news we'd all been expecting. The news I'd been dreading.
Saku Koivu has left the Montreal Canadiens. Rather the Canadiens have left him.
I haven't felt this way in a very long time. I felt vaguely disgusted when we traded Damphousse for a draft pick. I felt quite a stab when Recchi was downgraded for Dainius Zubrus (particularly since my newly minted Recchi sweater would be vintage before its time). But those times, there was always Koivu.
Now that Saku is gone I am feeling almost bereft. Perhaps that's a tad dramatic, but there is certainly emptiness in this feeling. Emptiness with fear. I have to be honest, I didn't expect I would feel this way. It seems Koivu saved one last surprise for me.
A personal favourite for years
It's been a long time since the Koivu joined the team and even longer since that fateful day in June 1993 when I bought out every West Island card shop of their Saku Koivu Finland Junior cards. A few days later, when he was drafted I felt a real connection with a player for the very first time. A player whose stats I had scoured and decided was certainly good enough to grace my team (despite old NHL myths about size), a player who captured my imagination completely.
Those next years were the genesis of my deeper involvement. Through a desire to find out more about Koivu and his ETA, I learned a lot about prospects, Finnish military service and the dangers of drafting Europeans. As a by-product, I learned more about all the players coming through. I wasn't yet a blogger (no-one was) but a seed was sewn.
What started with a lot of hope developed over time into exhilaration followed by respect and finally total admiration for the player, and indeed the man. My late teens and early adulthood are peppered with memories of Saku Koivu. From his flirtation with the scoring lead in his earliest years, to establishing himself as the Montreal Canadiens offensive engine to his eventual evolution into the player that would do anything, play any position, to help his team, my team. He was an average skater, an effective digger and beyond all a stylish passer. He quickly surpassed the Stanley cup heroes in my lists.
While for many the pinnacle of Saku's days in Montreal will always be the night he returned to the Bell Centre (a night I can happily say I attended and cheered myself hoarse), for me the pinnacles were many. The virtuoso playoff performances against Joe Thornton where he was at once the best playoff scoring threat and the man to shut down the Art Ross pretender were top among them.
I don't think I'm alone in considering Saku Koivu a personal hero. I can safely say that if I were a drafted as a hockey player and Pierre McGuire lined up to ask who I pattern my game on – it would be Saku Koivu. I have never identified with any single player more than I have with Saku. When we are down by two in the third I look down the TV at the bench and can't understand some of what I see, but then I see the captain (usually deep in discussion with a linemate) and I see my hope reflected. His hunger for winning, his strategy for getting there and his willingness to do whatever it might take are all qualities I try to emulate. And I haven't even mentioned his trademark quick no-look backhand pass disguised as stickhandling.
No I'll miss watching him play. I'll miss just knowing he's on our side.
Overcoming the loss
Now don't get me wrong, my head is telling me it's alright. It's telling me that the analysis I and others have done shows the team needed the lift it may (and I stress may) get from replacing Koivu. I can see this team winning as much or more. My left brain can't really see them being any worse than last season.
Those of you that read here a bit will know that I'm well aware of the inverse relationship between a sentimental GM and a great GM. I can talk up a storm about the merits of telling Guy Lafleur to retire to make room for Naslund, for kicking Robinson to the Kings so as to make a new start. I'm really quite cold and calculating when I want to be. At least half of me is.
Still, on Koivu, my heart questions.
As I mentioned there is a certain emptiness now, and there's fear. After all, how will I feel watching Gomez, Gionta and Cammalleri? Will Kostitsyn become my new Koivu? Will my passion for this team fade to academic interest?
There is no honest way to know the answer to those questions. Only when the puck is dropped and play resumes will I know. Only then will I know if I will feel the pull that I've felt for near a decade and a half. Only then will the scariest question be answered:
Will I fall out of love with this team?
I hope not, but I'll have to see. Right now, I'm into the moves. I understand the motives and I'm excited by the potential. But that's my head. Ultimately my heart is the only part of me that will decide if the passion is still in this for me.
I hope not, but I've heard of these sudden awakenings happening before. People who say things like they haven't watched hockey since Bobby Orr retired or that the day the Oilers traded Gretzky was the day they stopped investing their valuable time and thoughts.
Today is the first day without Saku Koivu to look forward to in a very long time. I think for many of us, it will mark the day we lost our innocent and childish optimism, the luxury we took from knowing Koivu would be there, Koivu would be better, Koivu would save us. For all these years Koivu has been the very best quality of the Canadiens to me.
While I don't applaud the loss, it is something I would have had to deal with at some point. Now that he is gone I have a new opportunity. I may not relish it, but I think I'm about to find out what kind of fan I really am.
Saku Koivu has left the Montreal Canadiens. Rather the Canadiens have left him.
I haven't felt this way in a very long time. I felt vaguely disgusted when we traded Damphousse for a draft pick. I felt quite a stab when Recchi was downgraded for Dainius Zubrus (particularly since my newly minted Recchi sweater would be vintage before its time). But those times, there was always Koivu.
Now that Saku is gone I am feeling almost bereft. Perhaps that's a tad dramatic, but there is certainly emptiness in this feeling. Emptiness with fear. I have to be honest, I didn't expect I would feel this way. It seems Koivu saved one last surprise for me.
A personal favourite for years
It's been a long time since the Koivu joined the team and even longer since that fateful day in June 1993 when I bought out every West Island card shop of their Saku Koivu Finland Junior cards. A few days later, when he was drafted I felt a real connection with a player for the very first time. A player whose stats I had scoured and decided was certainly good enough to grace my team (despite old NHL myths about size), a player who captured my imagination completely.
Those next years were the genesis of my deeper involvement. Through a desire to find out more about Koivu and his ETA, I learned a lot about prospects, Finnish military service and the dangers of drafting Europeans. As a by-product, I learned more about all the players coming through. I wasn't yet a blogger (no-one was) but a seed was sewn.
What started with a lot of hope developed over time into exhilaration followed by respect and finally total admiration for the player, and indeed the man. My late teens and early adulthood are peppered with memories of Saku Koivu. From his flirtation with the scoring lead in his earliest years, to establishing himself as the Montreal Canadiens offensive engine to his eventual evolution into the player that would do anything, play any position, to help his team, my team. He was an average skater, an effective digger and beyond all a stylish passer. He quickly surpassed the Stanley cup heroes in my lists.
While for many the pinnacle of Saku's days in Montreal will always be the night he returned to the Bell Centre (a night I can happily say I attended and cheered myself hoarse), for me the pinnacles were many. The virtuoso playoff performances against Joe Thornton where he was at once the best playoff scoring threat and the man to shut down the Art Ross pretender were top among them.
I don't think I'm alone in considering Saku Koivu a personal hero. I can safely say that if I were a drafted as a hockey player and Pierre McGuire lined up to ask who I pattern my game on – it would be Saku Koivu. I have never identified with any single player more than I have with Saku. When we are down by two in the third I look down the TV at the bench and can't understand some of what I see, but then I see the captain (usually deep in discussion with a linemate) and I see my hope reflected. His hunger for winning, his strategy for getting there and his willingness to do whatever it might take are all qualities I try to emulate. And I haven't even mentioned his trademark quick no-look backhand pass disguised as stickhandling.
No I'll miss watching him play. I'll miss just knowing he's on our side.
Overcoming the loss
Now don't get me wrong, my head is telling me it's alright. It's telling me that the analysis I and others have done shows the team needed the lift it may (and I stress may) get from replacing Koivu. I can see this team winning as much or more. My left brain can't really see them being any worse than last season.
Those of you that read here a bit will know that I'm well aware of the inverse relationship between a sentimental GM and a great GM. I can talk up a storm about the merits of telling Guy Lafleur to retire to make room for Naslund, for kicking Robinson to the Kings so as to make a new start. I'm really quite cold and calculating when I want to be. At least half of me is.
Still, on Koivu, my heart questions.
As I mentioned there is a certain emptiness now, and there's fear. After all, how will I feel watching Gomez, Gionta and Cammalleri? Will Kostitsyn become my new Koivu? Will my passion for this team fade to academic interest?
There is no honest way to know the answer to those questions. Only when the puck is dropped and play resumes will I know. Only then will I know if I will feel the pull that I've felt for near a decade and a half. Only then will the scariest question be answered:
Will I fall out of love with this team?
I hope not, but I'll have to see. Right now, I'm into the moves. I understand the motives and I'm excited by the potential. But that's my head. Ultimately my heart is the only part of me that will decide if the passion is still in this for me.
I hope not, but I've heard of these sudden awakenings happening before. People who say things like they haven't watched hockey since Bobby Orr retired or that the day the Oilers traded Gretzky was the day they stopped investing their valuable time and thoughts.
Today is the first day without Saku Koivu to look forward to in a very long time. I think for many of us, it will mark the day we lost our innocent and childish optimism, the luxury we took from knowing Koivu would be there, Koivu would be better, Koivu would save us. For all these years Koivu has been the very best quality of the Canadiens to me.
While I don't applaud the loss, it is something I would have had to deal with at some point. Now that he is gone I have a new opportunity. I may not relish it, but I think I'm about to find out what kind of fan I really am.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Habs Review 2007-08:
Saku Koivu
Habs Review 2007-08:
Saku Koivu
The numbers
2007-08
77 GP: 16 G, 40 A, 56 Pts, 93 PIM, -4, 150 Shots
Career best year – 2006-07
81 GP: 22 G, 53 A, 75 Pts, 74 PIM, -21, 154 Shots
2007-08 playoffs
7 GP: 3 G, 6 A, 9 Pts, 4 PIM, +1, 17 Shots
Career best playoffs – 2003-04
11 GP: 3 G, 8 A, 11 Pts, 10 PIM, +1, 27 Shots
Plays of the game: 14
Game pucks: 15
Domes: 47
3 Star selections: 5 First, 4 Second, 4 Third
The story
Where he started the season
Saku was coming off the best statistical regular season of his career, as he set personal bests in both goals (22) and points (75). His previous best had been 21 goals and 71 points in the 2002-03 season. One thing that stands out to me about those two seasons is that those are the only two years that we have missed the playoffs since 2001. Koivu turns it on when there is a lot at stake, so it is no surprise that in a year in which we missed the playoffs by just one point he was our points leader. To him, that season was one long playoff series in which we lost the '7th' game, if you will. I feel that if we were to coast into the playoffs you would see his points go down as he would be spending his time perfecting other areas of his game in preparation for the post-season. I guarantee you, however, that it was the non-participation in the playoffs of that season that burned in Saku's mind during the off-season and not the career-best 75 points.
In Ryder and Higgins, Koivu had found his best linemates since Savage and Recchi (Zednik and Kovalev were considered, but that lasted a mere 20 games). The season would start with tons of promise for the Habs top-line. They had all enjoyed fantastic 2006-07's so there must have been a feeling of excitement to get back at it and get just 1 more win to book a playoff ticket. The captain was healthy, happy and hungry to put a disappointing year for the team behind him.
The season
Saku could not have started the season better as in the first game of the year, against Carolina, he played the hero. He scored 2 goals in that game including the game-winner in OT. Saku kept up his great play throughout October posting 14 points in his first 12 games. He was also a +6 in those first 12 games which was very encouraging after going a career-worst -21 the year before. However, after that first month, Carbo shook things up a bit and it seemed to hurt Saku's production.
When Ryder was demoted from Koivu's line, auditions were held for the vacant spot and it would take quite some time. Eventually Sergei Kostitsyn stepped in as the player to replace Mike alongside Sak and Higgs. For the next 44 games, however, Saku only had 25 points which I feel is an unfair assessment of how he really played. Koivu was the true professional during this whole process and continued to play very good hockey, he just wasn't getting the points at his usual pace. Once the adjustment period was over the new line eventually clicked and finished the year very strong. Koivu had 17 points in his last 21 games and 9 in just 7 playoff games. It was during the playoffs that Koivu was at his best – and was by far our best player (as usual). Unlike so many other players, Saku saves his best for when we need it most and, as usual, he delivered in the most critical of situations. Coming after three tedious months of doubt and criticism, the playoff coup de grace was as much of a pleasure for these bloggers as it must have been for Koivu himself. Ultimately, like us fans, Saku probably won't remember these playoffs in a positive light, given the outcome and the failure of the rest of the team to jump the intensity up like he did.
Highlights: No offence to Jakob Dylan, but Saku deserves the Bowie original here. Substituting the Wallflowers for Bowie is like substituting Koivu's highlights for Bulis'
Koivu by the numbers: Canadiens.com
Lions' links on Koivu:
Koivu doing Montreal proud
Kovalev Koivu Selanne
New Canadiens website
Daniel Briere = Not Jean Beliveau
Sans dix pourcent
Introducing Koivu, Habs announcer
How the Habs keep powering their PP
Plan K: Turning around the Canadiens fortunes
Habs losing – Overreacting for the cause
Some Thoughts on Loyalty
Why We Value Koivu
Koivu Misunderstood Not Forgotten
Experts Share More Wisdom
Reasons to Believe: Updated
Reasons to Believe: Shattered
Sundin: A Move Too Far?
Grade: A-
The only downside to Koivu's game this year were the 93 penalty minutes. Obviously, he didn't cost the team too badly, as we still finished first. But that number is still high. One thing I was happy to see, however, was that Koivu ended the year with only 4 penalty minutes in his last 9 games and only 2 in 7 playoff games. This to me showed that he worked on a known weakness and obviously had some success at improving upon it.
On the positive side, Koivu's play in the playoffs was absolutely phenomenal. He missed the last 4 regular season games and the first 5 playoff games with a broken foot, but when he came back you wouldn't have known he had just missed a month. He was instantly our best player when he returned and turned around a Boston series that seemed to be going the wrong way. He got a point in each of the 7 games he played in during the playoffs, which again proves just what a clutch performer he is. If he didn't even play in the regular season and only played in the playoffs I would still see his value. You cannot beat 'big-game' excellence and that is precisely what Saku brings us year in, year out.
Aside from the spectacular and the negative, the rest of Koivu's play could only be described as efficient and extremely reliable. By efficient, I mean that Koivu does not waste energy. Unlike some fourth liners who put on an amazing show of effort, but come away with little more than a sweaty red face on the bench to show for it, Koivu gives exceptional effort which leads to puck control and offensive penetration. I really start to notice his efficiency most in tight game situations, where he is constantly the better of the two centres on the ice. The criticism he receives throughout the regular season comes because he sometimes gets overshadowed by big performances from other players like Kovalev and Plekanec. But, his consistency is such that though he may not be the star we remember in a big comeback or narrow win, he is rarely outside the top 4 or 5 performers on the team on a given night. It's hard for numbers to really bear this out.
Where we'd have him next season
Saku will start the year as our #1 centre yet again, a position he has owned for about 10 years now. The captain will finally have to find a new permanent winger as his on-again, off-again partner (Ryder) is now gone. Tanguay may just be that scorer that Koivu needs. With Koivu, whose passes are world-class (I firmly believe that he is one of the world's 10 best playmakers), Alex will be good, but how nice would it be to see Koivu play with a player like Selanne (a world's 10-best scorer) once and for all.
We all know the type of success that Saku has had when playing for Finland, so I think that it is time we get him that winger he deserves and show the league just how good of a player he really is. It remains to be seen whether Tanguay can be this player, or if someone else might be acquired before the puck drops in October. One thing that you can count on, however, is that no matter who Saku plays with he will be one of our best players all year and will continue leading this gifted team to bigger and better things.
2007-08
77 GP: 16 G, 40 A, 56 Pts, 93 PIM, -4, 150 Shots
Career best year – 2006-07
81 GP: 22 G, 53 A, 75 Pts, 74 PIM, -21, 154 Shots
2007-08 playoffs
7 GP: 3 G, 6 A, 9 Pts, 4 PIM, +1, 17 Shots
Career best playoffs – 2003-04
11 GP: 3 G, 8 A, 11 Pts, 10 PIM, +1, 27 Shots
Plays of the game: 14
Game pucks: 15
Domes: 47
3 Star selections: 5 First, 4 Second, 4 Third
The story
Where he started the season
Saku was coming off the best statistical regular season of his career, as he set personal bests in both goals (22) and points (75). His previous best had been 21 goals and 71 points in the 2002-03 season. One thing that stands out to me about those two seasons is that those are the only two years that we have missed the playoffs since 2001. Koivu turns it on when there is a lot at stake, so it is no surprise that in a year in which we missed the playoffs by just one point he was our points leader. To him, that season was one long playoff series in which we lost the '7th' game, if you will. I feel that if we were to coast into the playoffs you would see his points go down as he would be spending his time perfecting other areas of his game in preparation for the post-season. I guarantee you, however, that it was the non-participation in the playoffs of that season that burned in Saku's mind during the off-season and not the career-best 75 points.
In Ryder and Higgins, Koivu had found his best linemates since Savage and Recchi (Zednik and Kovalev were considered, but that lasted a mere 20 games). The season would start with tons of promise for the Habs top-line. They had all enjoyed fantastic 2006-07's so there must have been a feeling of excitement to get back at it and get just 1 more win to book a playoff ticket. The captain was healthy, happy and hungry to put a disappointing year for the team behind him.
The season
Saku could not have started the season better as in the first game of the year, against Carolina, he played the hero. He scored 2 goals in that game including the game-winner in OT. Saku kept up his great play throughout October posting 14 points in his first 12 games. He was also a +6 in those first 12 games which was very encouraging after going a career-worst -21 the year before. However, after that first month, Carbo shook things up a bit and it seemed to hurt Saku's production.
When Ryder was demoted from Koivu's line, auditions were held for the vacant spot and it would take quite some time. Eventually Sergei Kostitsyn stepped in as the player to replace Mike alongside Sak and Higgs. For the next 44 games, however, Saku only had 25 points which I feel is an unfair assessment of how he really played. Koivu was the true professional during this whole process and continued to play very good hockey, he just wasn't getting the points at his usual pace. Once the adjustment period was over the new line eventually clicked and finished the year very strong. Koivu had 17 points in his last 21 games and 9 in just 7 playoff games. It was during the playoffs that Koivu was at his best – and was by far our best player (as usual). Unlike so many other players, Saku saves his best for when we need it most and, as usual, he delivered in the most critical of situations. Coming after three tedious months of doubt and criticism, the playoff coup de grace was as much of a pleasure for these bloggers as it must have been for Koivu himself. Ultimately, like us fans, Saku probably won't remember these playoffs in a positive light, given the outcome and the failure of the rest of the team to jump the intensity up like he did.
Highlights: No offence to Jakob Dylan, but Saku deserves the Bowie original here. Substituting the Wallflowers for Bowie is like substituting Koivu's highlights for Bulis'
Koivu by the numbers: Canadiens.com
Lions' links on Koivu:
Koivu doing Montreal proud
Kovalev Koivu Selanne
New Canadiens website
Daniel Briere = Not Jean Beliveau
Sans dix pourcent
Introducing Koivu, Habs announcer
How the Habs keep powering their PP
Plan K: Turning around the Canadiens fortunes
Habs losing – Overreacting for the cause
Some Thoughts on Loyalty
Why We Value Koivu
Koivu Misunderstood Not Forgotten
Experts Share More Wisdom
Reasons to Believe: Updated
Reasons to Believe: Shattered
Sundin: A Move Too Far?
Grade: A-
The only downside to Koivu's game this year were the 93 penalty minutes. Obviously, he didn't cost the team too badly, as we still finished first. But that number is still high. One thing I was happy to see, however, was that Koivu ended the year with only 4 penalty minutes in his last 9 games and only 2 in 7 playoff games. This to me showed that he worked on a known weakness and obviously had some success at improving upon it.
On the positive side, Koivu's play in the playoffs was absolutely phenomenal. He missed the last 4 regular season games and the first 5 playoff games with a broken foot, but when he came back you wouldn't have known he had just missed a month. He was instantly our best player when he returned and turned around a Boston series that seemed to be going the wrong way. He got a point in each of the 7 games he played in during the playoffs, which again proves just what a clutch performer he is. If he didn't even play in the regular season and only played in the playoffs I would still see his value. You cannot beat 'big-game' excellence and that is precisely what Saku brings us year in, year out.
Aside from the spectacular and the negative, the rest of Koivu's play could only be described as efficient and extremely reliable. By efficient, I mean that Koivu does not waste energy. Unlike some fourth liners who put on an amazing show of effort, but come away with little more than a sweaty red face on the bench to show for it, Koivu gives exceptional effort which leads to puck control and offensive penetration. I really start to notice his efficiency most in tight game situations, where he is constantly the better of the two centres on the ice. The criticism he receives throughout the regular season comes because he sometimes gets overshadowed by big performances from other players like Kovalev and Plekanec. But, his consistency is such that though he may not be the star we remember in a big comeback or narrow win, he is rarely outside the top 4 or 5 performers on the team on a given night. It's hard for numbers to really bear this out.
Where we'd have him next season
Saku will start the year as our #1 centre yet again, a position he has owned for about 10 years now. The captain will finally have to find a new permanent winger as his on-again, off-again partner (Ryder) is now gone. Tanguay may just be that scorer that Koivu needs. With Koivu, whose passes are world-class (I firmly believe that he is one of the world's 10 best playmakers), Alex will be good, but how nice would it be to see Koivu play with a player like Selanne (a world's 10-best scorer) once and for all.
We all know the type of success that Saku has had when playing for Finland, so I think that it is time we get him that winger he deserves and show the league just how good of a player he really is. It remains to be seen whether Tanguay can be this player, or if someone else might be acquired before the puck drops in October. One thing that you can count on, however, is that no matter who Saku plays with he will be one of our best players all year and will continue leading this gifted team to bigger and better things.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Reasons to Believe: Shattered
OK, so the season's over.
What happened to "Believe in something and it will come true"?
Have we been cheated all those years by people repeating this old adage? I don't think so. I think the truth is that not many people believed in the first place and even less believed after game 4.
First of all, witness that only 3 people replied to the post to believe. It's true this site isn't a forum and doesn't always solicit an enormous number of comments, but we had a flood of them a few days earlier about Halak. Where's Geoff's positivity for example? Especially given that Price would be the starter...
I think what actually happened is that I stole the only real reason to believe with the first item on the list, Saku Koivu. I mean, come on, I know I included it, but how many really counted Carey Price's determination and demeanour as a real reason to believe. I had serious doubts with even adding his name to the list. Appears my worries weren't unfounded.
As much for exorcising some bad feelings of my own as to provide any insight, I wanted to revisit those now hollow reasons we cited to believe:
1) Saku Koivu
I think the captain came through yet again with the effort and the skill. He basically did his part, and heroics beyond creating goals and chances were unfortunately out of even his long reach. And, yet again he shows his hunger for success by immediately heading off to fight for gold with his country.
2) Carey Price's form since his 2008 anointment (Tru7h)
As I mentioned, this reason was tenuous at best. He was either injured (the generous take) or completely fazed by the increased tempo of playoff hockey.More disturbing was his total loss of focus after a bad goal – something, incidentally, we were promised this goalie didn't ever succumb to. I for one could endure a few more broken sticks if it meant he could break out of a prolonged sulk during the same game. He has a lot of learning to do (as we knew) and it may yet be a long road with him yet.
3) Elimination games (Tru7h)
As for elimination games, I was initially sold on this reason, but the fact remains they hadn't exactly won a Cup, had they?
This team puts themselves in unnecessary elimination games sometimes, thereby skewing their record here. Until they make it past the second round, I don't think this could count as a positive for them again. What's more, most of the Habs turbo-charged efforts in elimination games can be traced back to their captain.
4) The fans
This obviously factored into an early lead (a "depart cannon" if you will), but Bell Centre fans are fickle and know a lost cause when they see one. Enthusiastic cheering and hopeful bursts only masked the fact that Game 4's outcome had sealed the fate of the Habs in fans' minds.
5) Bob Gainey (Tru7h)
A stretch to be sure. Turns out Gainey didn't do anything too drastic to change Carbonneau's plan. Sure Price played, as expected, but there were no drastic measure anywhere else. Gainey played his hand with the Huet trade anyway, when he said that "The Canadiens are going nowhere this season, so we'll save the owner a few hundred thousand bucks".
6) It has been done before (Stevens)
Of course this goes both ways. The Canadiens have lost in 5 many times, as well.
7) The Canadian media has jumped off the bandwagon
Turns out the Canadian media were right. Canada's playoff style hockey beats Canada's team (who try to play regular season hockey in the playoffs – the fools).
8) The desire to prove people wrong
I saw this desire around the team, but ultimately it wasn't enough. I suppose Carey Price did prove a lot of those prophecy mongers wrong though, didn't he?
9) Philly's victim currency has run out
Just as it did, they decided to play well. That was unlucky...
So there you have it.
I leaned on Koivu for three unlikely wins and the team's out. Far from blaming him, he is still the Canadien I admire most, as he did what under most professionally defended and goaltended circumstances would have been enough.
If the Canadiens are going to grow as everyone predicts they will, they need to make sure that next time we come to one of these situations (an we will) that I (and others) can feel confident about putting other names to paper. Whether this means trades, signings or much better psychological coaches (I'm looking to Long Island...) is yet to be seen.
Enter the next stage of the game. Go Habs Go.
What happened to "Believe in something and it will come true"?
Have we been cheated all those years by people repeating this old adage? I don't think so. I think the truth is that not many people believed in the first place and even less believed after game 4.
First of all, witness that only 3 people replied to the post to believe. It's true this site isn't a forum and doesn't always solicit an enormous number of comments, but we had a flood of them a few days earlier about Halak. Where's Geoff's positivity for example? Especially given that Price would be the starter...
I think what actually happened is that I stole the only real reason to believe with the first item on the list, Saku Koivu. I mean, come on, I know I included it, but how many really counted Carey Price's determination and demeanour as a real reason to believe. I had serious doubts with even adding his name to the list. Appears my worries weren't unfounded.
As much for exorcising some bad feelings of my own as to provide any insight, I wanted to revisit those now hollow reasons we cited to believe:
1) Saku Koivu
I think the captain came through yet again with the effort and the skill. He basically did his part, and heroics beyond creating goals and chances were unfortunately out of even his long reach. And, yet again he shows his hunger for success by immediately heading off to fight for gold with his country.
2) Carey Price's form since his 2008 anointment (Tru7h)
As I mentioned, this reason was tenuous at best. He was either injured (the generous take) or completely fazed by the increased tempo of playoff hockey.More disturbing was his total loss of focus after a bad goal – something, incidentally, we were promised this goalie didn't ever succumb to. I for one could endure a few more broken sticks if it meant he could break out of a prolonged sulk during the same game. He has a lot of learning to do (as we knew) and it may yet be a long road with him yet.
3) Elimination games (Tru7h)
As for elimination games, I was initially sold on this reason, but the fact remains they hadn't exactly won a Cup, had they?
This team puts themselves in unnecessary elimination games sometimes, thereby skewing their record here. Until they make it past the second round, I don't think this could count as a positive for them again. What's more, most of the Habs turbo-charged efforts in elimination games can be traced back to their captain.
4) The fans
This obviously factored into an early lead (a "depart cannon" if you will), but Bell Centre fans are fickle and know a lost cause when they see one. Enthusiastic cheering and hopeful bursts only masked the fact that Game 4's outcome had sealed the fate of the Habs in fans' minds.
5) Bob Gainey (Tru7h)
A stretch to be sure. Turns out Gainey didn't do anything too drastic to change Carbonneau's plan. Sure Price played, as expected, but there were no drastic measure anywhere else. Gainey played his hand with the Huet trade anyway, when he said that "The Canadiens are going nowhere this season, so we'll save the owner a few hundred thousand bucks".
6) It has been done before (Stevens)
Of course this goes both ways. The Canadiens have lost in 5 many times, as well.
7) The Canadian media has jumped off the bandwagon
Turns out the Canadian media were right. Canada's playoff style hockey beats Canada's team (who try to play regular season hockey in the playoffs – the fools).
8) The desire to prove people wrong
I saw this desire around the team, but ultimately it wasn't enough. I suppose Carey Price did prove a lot of those prophecy mongers wrong though, didn't he?
9) Philly's victim currency has run out
Just as it did, they decided to play well. That was unlucky...
So there you have it.
I leaned on Koivu for three unlikely wins and the team's out. Far from blaming him, he is still the Canadien I admire most, as he did what under most professionally defended and goaltended circumstances would have been enough.
If the Canadiens are going to grow as everyone predicts they will, they need to make sure that next time we come to one of these situations (an we will) that I (and others) can feel confident about putting other names to paper. Whether this means trades, signings or much better psychological coaches (I'm looking to Long Island...) is yet to be seen.
Enter the next stage of the game. Go Habs Go.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Reasons to Believe
It's come down to this dear readers: Game 5 in Montreal on a May evening.
I know I'm being hypocritical by turning my criticism in for faith, but frankly I'm tired of criticising just now and all I want is to feel better about the chances of winning. I know many of you feel the same way.
There are a lot of "Ifs", though. If when the Canadiens hit the post, the puck flies into the slot not into the corner. If the team can score in the first period. If they could take a lead. If the PP (which is starting to look better, btw) could convert. The list goes on.
Well, in elimination games there are always "Ifs", but it is the composition of the team that is iced that will decide how many matter. Ultimately, it will come down to individual battles – races, wrestling matches, battles of discipline.
I want to start a list now of reasons to believe. I'll start, and then I would love it if people would send in their own reasons through the comments.
I believe the Canadiens will win Game 5. To start with:
1) Saku Koivu
The best pressure player I have ever seen on any team I support. In the past 4 NHL seasons, he has played in 6 elimination games. In those 6 games, he has 2 goals and 9 assists, and has been the star of most as well. That's even without considering his victories over terrible injuries and illness. Can he play better? We may find it hard to conceive how he might, but he will – it's what he does. And, so for Captain Courageous:
And, how many times has he done just that?
Now, I want to leave it open to you readers. Please send in your reason(s) to believe. I'll gather them and compile them for the game on Saturday.
As "If" is one theme of this email, I will leave you all to ponder the immortal words of Rudyard Kipling in full – which never fail to rouse a downtrodden heart:
Go Habs Go.
Come on fans, let em feel the belief on Saturday...
I know I'm being hypocritical by turning my criticism in for faith, but frankly I'm tired of criticising just now and all I want is to feel better about the chances of winning. I know many of you feel the same way.
There are a lot of "Ifs", though. If when the Canadiens hit the post, the puck flies into the slot not into the corner. If the team can score in the first period. If they could take a lead. If the PP (which is starting to look better, btw) could convert. The list goes on.
Well, in elimination games there are always "Ifs", but it is the composition of the team that is iced that will decide how many matter. Ultimately, it will come down to individual battles – races, wrestling matches, battles of discipline.
I want to start a list now of reasons to believe. I'll start, and then I would love it if people would send in their own reasons through the comments.
I believe the Canadiens will win Game 5. To start with:
1) Saku Koivu
The best pressure player I have ever seen on any team I support. In the past 4 NHL seasons, he has played in 6 elimination games. In those 6 games, he has 2 goals and 9 assists, and has been the star of most as well. That's even without considering his victories over terrible injuries and illness. Can he play better? We may find it hard to conceive how he might, but he will – it's what he does. And, so for Captain Courageous:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
And, how many times has he done just that?
Now, I want to leave it open to you readers. Please send in your reason(s) to believe. I'll gather them and compile them for the game on Saturday.
As "If" is one theme of this email, I will leave you all to ponder the immortal words of Rudyard Kipling in full – which never fail to rouse a downtrodden heart:
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
Go Habs Go.
Come on fans, let em feel the belief on Saturday...
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Koivu Misunderstood Not Forgotten
Catching up on the weekend blog reading I saw a lot of material wrth commenting on, particularly the potential Sundin trade, Halak's play and this one article on Saku Koivu. I thought I'd touch on Koivu first, quickly.
Over in Habs World, TC Denault wrote a long article about the Habs purporting that Saku Koivu is a forgotten man this year. After rehashing all the success from the season from various new and old faces, he introduced Koivu in the following way:
Admittedly, he does go on to try and say positive things about the captain, just about coming to the conclusion that Koivu has had a slump or two. However, I feel I just can't let his introduction of Koivu slip by without explaining why I am at polar opposites on Koivu here.
First of all, there the memorable moments. Hard to dispute that The NYR game was a special comeback, but aside from that game, Koivu has figured in memorable games this year too.
The first game of the year, Koivu scored two goals, including one in OT to take a win. While some may have forgotten, it was a thrilling game, certainly fitting into the highlight category. Fast forward to game 12, and you'll see Koivu scoring another important goal, as well as setting up a beauty. It would be the first game in our equally important domination of the Flyers, one in which Koivu outshone the returning hero Briere. Koivu led the Habs to that great start while putting up the most points on the team through the first months.
Next, enter Koivu the Misunderstood. After a compulsory period of general overall scoring difficulty, Carbonneau began to dismantle lines. Amazingly, he found that Andrei Kostitsyn was better than Guillaume Latendresse and slotted him onto the Kovalev line with Plekanec. What started to happen in November with acceleration in late December when someone told Andrei Kostitsyn to shoot, was the emergence of a new scoring line on the Canadiens.
What is interesting here is to witness what happened to Saku Koivu over this period, and perhaps to understand how his role was just as important for the resurgent Canadiens as was Kovalev's over those 15 games late in 2007.
While Kovalev was beginning to find some touch off the PP for the first time, Saku Koivu was asked to play patient leader and teacher with a steady rotation of players. Ever constant, was that players (other than Michael Ryder that is) would start to produce once they got to play with the slick passing Finn. First Latendresse began to look like an NHL prospect again, next Dandenault was scoring, then Streit was getting plaudits for forward play and finally Sergei Kostitsyn comes up and makes the bridge to the NHL look easy.
This period of the season and beyond has demonstrated that although his role may seem to have changed, in reality it is the same role he has been playing for more than a decade: making young, inexperienced or less skilled wingers into legitimate top-line threats on the Canadiens.
When I watch Koivu play, I still see the strength on the puck, the balance, the quick passes on the rush, the passes I never would have thought of, the goals when they're needed. I see the penalties he takes, but also those he draws with his stealthy physical style and those drawn by teammates thanks to him creating compromising situations for the opponents with his skill and passing (note that he is on the ice for more penalties drawn than taken).
As the playoffs loom, and the Canadiens enter into important game after important game, I think you'll all be seeing what I have as Saku clears this misunderstanding up on a nightly basis...
Over in Habs World, TC Denault wrote a long article about the Habs purporting that Saku Koivu is a forgotten man this year. After rehashing all the success from the season from various new and old faces, he introduced Koivu in the following way:
Strangely, quietly, lurking in the background of this the Canadiens most celebrated season in recent memory, has been the man who up until this year had been the Canadiens most celebrated player. In this year of memorable moments; the comeback against the Rangers, the dominating of the Devils, and the crushing of the Bruins, he has had a year to forget, a year which has seen his role, his status, and his contribution to the team decline.
Admittedly, he does go on to try and say positive things about the captain, just about coming to the conclusion that Koivu has had a slump or two. However, I feel I just can't let his introduction of Koivu slip by without explaining why I am at polar opposites on Koivu here.
First of all, there the memorable moments. Hard to dispute that The NYR game was a special comeback, but aside from that game, Koivu has figured in memorable games this year too.
The first game of the year, Koivu scored two goals, including one in OT to take a win. While some may have forgotten, it was a thrilling game, certainly fitting into the highlight category. Fast forward to game 12, and you'll see Koivu scoring another important goal, as well as setting up a beauty. It would be the first game in our equally important domination of the Flyers, one in which Koivu outshone the returning hero Briere. Koivu led the Habs to that great start while putting up the most points on the team through the first months.
Next, enter Koivu the Misunderstood. After a compulsory period of general overall scoring difficulty, Carbonneau began to dismantle lines. Amazingly, he found that Andrei Kostitsyn was better than Guillaume Latendresse and slotted him onto the Kovalev line with Plekanec. What started to happen in November with acceleration in late December when someone told Andrei Kostitsyn to shoot, was the emergence of a new scoring line on the Canadiens.
What is interesting here is to witness what happened to Saku Koivu over this period, and perhaps to understand how his role was just as important for the resurgent Canadiens as was Kovalev's over those 15 games late in 2007.
While Kovalev was beginning to find some touch off the PP for the first time, Saku Koivu was asked to play patient leader and teacher with a steady rotation of players. Ever constant, was that players (other than Michael Ryder that is) would start to produce once they got to play with the slick passing Finn. First Latendresse began to look like an NHL prospect again, next Dandenault was scoring, then Streit was getting plaudits for forward play and finally Sergei Kostitsyn comes up and makes the bridge to the NHL look easy.
This period of the season and beyond has demonstrated that although his role may seem to have changed, in reality it is the same role he has been playing for more than a decade: making young, inexperienced or less skilled wingers into legitimate top-line threats on the Canadiens.
When I watch Koivu play, I still see the strength on the puck, the balance, the quick passes on the rush, the passes I never would have thought of, the goals when they're needed. I see the penalties he takes, but also those he draws with his stealthy physical style and those drawn by teammates thanks to him creating compromising situations for the opponents with his skill and passing (note that he is on the ice for more penalties drawn than taken).
As the playoffs loom, and the Canadiens enter into important game after important game, I think you'll all be seeing what I have as Saku clears this misunderstanding up on a nightly basis...
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Why We Value Koivu
I could have written this article two years ago after a certain playoff series and the "we" would have stood for the entirety of the Habs following.
I get the feeling that if I were to make a conservative estimate of who the "we" represents now, I could only account for myself, Tobalev and some of the loyal fans of Lions in Winter who we confer with on a regular basis.
In my weekly update I alluded to the fact that Koivu's popularity has been taking a nosedive. PR from the people who have always wanted him out has been ramped up and is turning once avid supporters into fence sitters over the captain of the Canadiens:
I described the feeling of sensing Koivu's dwindling popularity as distress. I can't imagine the word I would have to use if we were to find ourselves without him.
So, before this goes any further, I thought I would start a campaign of my own - to remind Habs fans (starting with the readers of this humble blog) about why we value (or valued) Koivu so highly. No one item on its own, perhaps, is reason enough to keep Koivu, when you add up these qualities, I would argue that finding a similarly valuable asset would be a quick round of about 5-10 phone calls:
1) He gives effort every night
Not only does he give effort, but his effort is fruitful. UNlike a fourth-liner who makes the league based solely on his ability to give an energetic performance, Saku has the skill to team with his effort to create openings.
2) He is very strong in possesion
Thanks in part to being small, but mainly to his wide stance when carrying the puck he is very difficult to disposess. And, when he is dogged about it, no one can strip the puck from him (that's in the playoffs)
3) He thrives in every role he is given
Let's be honest, all we heard all summer was that Koivu told Briere he could f*%& off if he wanted to be the number one centre in Montreal, playing with Higgins and Ryder. Well as the season has worn on, Saku has accepted many different wingers and indeed many roles. Sometimes he plays babysitter teaching Latendresse and Sergei K the ropes. Other nights he gets to be on the ice with 4 defensemen.
4) He can make every winger on this team a better player
Every player, bar the three on the Eastern bloc line, has produced superior performances (and numbers) with Koivu at his side. You could call this coincidence, but in science you you call this proof. Ryder has been a 30-goal scorer because of Koivu. Higgins came out of Hamilton and made the leap to NHL-calibre scorer much quicker because of Saku. Latendresse scores when he gets the chance to play with a C of that calibre. Hard to argue with that, especially when lots of similar players to those three will be coming through in the immediate future.
5) He has incredible endurance
Anyone who harps on and on about Europeans running out of gas by playoff time may be right in lots of cases, but certainly not Koivu's. He rarely drops his scoring tempo over a season, if anything he picks it up. And, from what we've seen he accelerates into the playoffs.
6) When he has a "bad" season he is far from bad
If everyone is right (in question) and Saku Koivu is having a bad season, then we should consider he has 39 points in 54 games on pace for about 60 or so. In addition, he has been a first star 4 times already, behind only Huet and Kovalev. (Ahead of Plekanec!). A look back at the game reviews show he has been a significant factor in at least 50% of games thus far (that is one of the top forwards), win or loss.
7) He represents the kind of player we would like our youngsters to develop into
Look around the league. Which other centre would you want Plekanec or Chipchura looking up to? Daniel (money bags) Briere? Joe (house of cards) Thornton? Players like Koivu are rare. He wants to win every game. He plays like he wants to make that happen. And, he overcomes adversity and losses with grace while learning lessons for the next time. This is one of those things you call intangible. This is keeping Steve Yzerman around years after his 160 point season is behind him to mentor young centres.
8) He has seen how far this team has come
If any of those green newbies starts taking things for granted or patting himself on the back with the media in tow, Saku can tell them a tale or two about how the media once went gaga for Mario Tremblay as a coach in Montreal too.
9) He thrives in pressure games
You just can't judge Saku Koivu on a regular season. He is just one of those players you want on your side when losing a game is not an option. Consider that he had a 55-point season ahead of dominating the first round of the 2004 playoffs. Ditto his 62-point total before he owned eventual Cup Champions Carolina in 2006 (before l'incident Williams). Nevermind that whenever he steps into a knockout round robin tournament his team overachieves and he usually ends up top 5 in scoring. Dragging Finland to the final of the 2006 Olympics was probably the crowning achievement of his career, thus far.
10) He desperately wants to help Montreal to the same success as Finland
All his play, his contract negotiations, his interviews, and other behaviour belie how much Saku cares for the Montreal Canadiens. If Finland Olympics 2006 is the crowning achievement of his career, he wants to eclipse that with a Stanley Cup more than anything (and here!!!), which is more than we can say about any UFA we have approached over the last 10 years.
Finally, for those writing Koivu off as a first line centre or indeed as a member of the Canadiens altogether, I would ask them to look in the mirror and ask where they were on a certain Mr. Kovalev last season.
Jacques you may remeber saying this (quoted from Eyes on the Prize, April 10):
And, after all, you may be writing this about Kovu in a few months:
I get the feeling that if I were to make a conservative estimate of who the "we" represents now, I could only account for myself, Tobalev and some of the loyal fans of Lions in Winter who we confer with on a regular basis.
In my weekly update I alluded to the fact that Koivu's popularity has been taking a nosedive. PR from the people who have always wanted him out has been ramped up and is turning once avid supporters into fence sitters over the captain of the Canadiens:
Finally, and perhaps most distressingly for me is the marginalisation of Saku Koivu. While the language issue failed to get him out of the way, his detractors have now turned his own willingness to help the team against him. I have been told, directly and indirectly that Saku Koivu has lost it, that he is becoming no more than a third line centre and that he has a discipline problem. I recognise that a penalty at the end of the game is a bad thing, but it's hardly a discipline problem. (Click here for full post)
I described the feeling of sensing Koivu's dwindling popularity as distress. I can't imagine the word I would have to use if we were to find ourselves without him.
So, before this goes any further, I thought I would start a campaign of my own - to remind Habs fans (starting with the readers of this humble blog) about why we value (or valued) Koivu so highly. No one item on its own, perhaps, is reason enough to keep Koivu, when you add up these qualities, I would argue that finding a similarly valuable asset would be a quick round of about 5-10 phone calls:
1) He gives effort every night
Not only does he give effort, but his effort is fruitful. UNlike a fourth-liner who makes the league based solely on his ability to give an energetic performance, Saku has the skill to team with his effort to create openings.
2) He is very strong in possesion
Thanks in part to being small, but mainly to his wide stance when carrying the puck he is very difficult to disposess. And, when he is dogged about it, no one can strip the puck from him (that's in the playoffs)
3) He thrives in every role he is given
Let's be honest, all we heard all summer was that Koivu told Briere he could f*%& off if he wanted to be the number one centre in Montreal, playing with Higgins and Ryder. Well as the season has worn on, Saku has accepted many different wingers and indeed many roles. Sometimes he plays babysitter teaching Latendresse and Sergei K the ropes. Other nights he gets to be on the ice with 4 defensemen.
4) He can make every winger on this team a better player
Every player, bar the three on the Eastern bloc line, has produced superior performances (and numbers) with Koivu at his side. You could call this coincidence, but in science you you call this proof. Ryder has been a 30-goal scorer because of Koivu. Higgins came out of Hamilton and made the leap to NHL-calibre scorer much quicker because of Saku. Latendresse scores when he gets the chance to play with a C of that calibre. Hard to argue with that, especially when lots of similar players to those three will be coming through in the immediate future.
5) He has incredible endurance
Anyone who harps on and on about Europeans running out of gas by playoff time may be right in lots of cases, but certainly not Koivu's. He rarely drops his scoring tempo over a season, if anything he picks it up. And, from what we've seen he accelerates into the playoffs.
6) When he has a "bad" season he is far from bad
If everyone is right (in question) and Saku Koivu is having a bad season, then we should consider he has 39 points in 54 games on pace for about 60 or so. In addition, he has been a first star 4 times already, behind only Huet and Kovalev. (Ahead of Plekanec!). A look back at the game reviews show he has been a significant factor in at least 50% of games thus far (that is one of the top forwards), win or loss.
7) He represents the kind of player we would like our youngsters to develop into
Look around the league. Which other centre would you want Plekanec or Chipchura looking up to? Daniel (money bags) Briere? Joe (house of cards) Thornton? Players like Koivu are rare. He wants to win every game. He plays like he wants to make that happen. And, he overcomes adversity and losses with grace while learning lessons for the next time. This is one of those things you call intangible. This is keeping Steve Yzerman around years after his 160 point season is behind him to mentor young centres.
8) He has seen how far this team has come
If any of those green newbies starts taking things for granted or patting himself on the back with the media in tow, Saku can tell them a tale or two about how the media once went gaga for Mario Tremblay as a coach in Montreal too.
9) He thrives in pressure games
You just can't judge Saku Koivu on a regular season. He is just one of those players you want on your side when losing a game is not an option. Consider that he had a 55-point season ahead of dominating the first round of the 2004 playoffs. Ditto his 62-point total before he owned eventual Cup Champions Carolina in 2006 (before l'incident Williams). Nevermind that whenever he steps into a knockout round robin tournament his team overachieves and he usually ends up top 5 in scoring. Dragging Finland to the final of the 2006 Olympics was probably the crowning achievement of his career, thus far.
10) He desperately wants to help Montreal to the same success as Finland
All his play, his contract negotiations, his interviews, and other behaviour belie how much Saku cares for the Montreal Canadiens. If Finland Olympics 2006 is the crowning achievement of his career, he wants to eclipse that with a Stanley Cup more than anything (and here!!!), which is more than we can say about any UFA we have approached over the last 10 years.
Finally, for those writing Koivu off as a first line centre or indeed as a member of the Canadiens altogether, I would ask them to look in the mirror and ask where they were on a certain Mr. Kovalev last season.
Jacques you may remeber saying this (quoted from Eyes on the Prize, April 10):
"He's a disgrace to the team and its fans, and he's mocked them far too long. He's not worthy of the jersey", said the coach.
And, after all, you may be writing this about Kovu in a few months:
The 34-year-old Russian (Finn) was coming off a tumultuous, sub-par season, one of just 18 goals and 47 points which saw him heckled by fans, shrouded by controversy, shredded by the media, demoted to the fourth line before being benched by coach Guy Carbonneau and, in his opinion, hung out to dry by the Montreal organization.
Now, 55 games into this season, Kovalev (Koivu) is the powerful locomotive pulling the Canadiens Express, the creative right-wing (centre) on one of the league’s premier lines with centreman Tomas Plekanec (left-wing Chris Higgins) and left-wing (right-wing) Andrei (Sergei) Kostitsyn.
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