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Post by blny on Dec 18, 2014 18:59:42 GMT -5
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Post by CentreHice on Dec 18, 2014 19:32:56 GMT -5
We'll probably move it to the Highlight Reel thread. Becoming more of a video time capsule.
Thanks for posting it, blny.
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Post by seventeen on Dec 19, 2014 18:56:14 GMT -5
Eric Engels's blog on last night's game. He questions the way Koivu left the Habs and I'm puzzled as well. Gainey was the GM and he's usually pretty good with his players, so what happened? Does anyone have any real insights into the departure? That was before Gainey's daughter died, I believe, so that wouldn't have played a role. Was a decision really made that he wasn't the right leader for the team? That's a harsh decision considering the guys he played with (plumbers and drywallers more or less) and given what he did when it counted. I just find it strange and would really like to know "what really happened".
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Post by CentreHice on Dec 19, 2014 19:33:03 GMT -5
Just looked it up….Laura Gainey died in December 2006. So Koivu was very much there.
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Post by blny on Dec 19, 2014 19:43:23 GMT -5
Hard to say what the motives were. Koivu made it a point to mention Gainey during his pre game speech. And Gillett. I can't imagine there are any hard feelings from Saku after that.
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Post by CentreHice on Dec 19, 2014 21:06:59 GMT -5
Seems as if Koivu simply got lumped into Gainey's UFA exodus of 2009. Perhaps Saku was okay with it at the time. The Habs were still mired in transition…go find someplace to perhaps get a shot at silver.
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Post by stoat on Dec 19, 2014 23:03:19 GMT -5
Part of the lingering hard feelings among Habs fans was that his sterling replacement was Scott Gomez--that Scott Gomez in fact.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Dec 19, 2014 23:17:49 GMT -5
Here's what I remember from Saku's departure ... the organization wanted to go in a different direction and Saku was not part of that ... I didn't know this until I looked it up, but Gainey mentioned this to Koivu a few days before the draft ... it became official just before July 1st and it didn't sit well with Koivu he still respects Gainey when all is said and done ... we could all learn something from Koivu ... Cheers.
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Post by Skilly on Dec 19, 2014 23:19:42 GMT -5
Eric Engels's blog on last night's game. He questions the way Koivu left the Habs and I'm puzzled as well. Gainey was the GM and he's usually pretty good with his players, so what happened? Does anyone have any real insights into the departure? That was before Gainey's daughter died, I believe, so that wouldn't have played a role. Was a decision really made that he wasn't the right leader for the team? That's a harsh decision considering the guys he played with (plumbers and drywallers more or less) and given what he did when it counted. I just find it strange and would really like to know "what really happened". I think if Eric Engels looked into it, he could find an answer. I'll offer mine , and I apologize if it's long winded. The way I remember 2008-09, the Habs were the defending Eastern Conference regular season champs. We got off to a really good start. And around Xmas the arse fell out of it. There was all kinds of rumours and drama following the team regarding partying, cliques, etc. If I'm not mistaken, towards the deadline, Gainey had reached so deal with Tampa Bay to acquire Vincent Lecavalier. The Tampa GM, Brian Lawton, then did, by all accounts , an industry no-no. Before the trade was filed, he called other teams to see what he could get for the names coming his way ... Essentially releasing the players names, and they found out, which ticked Gainey off, and the trade was cancelled. (The players involved were Higgins, Plekanec and Gorges) What does this have to do with Koivu? Gainey tried to get a #1 Center. But he didn't let Koivu in on the plan. Not only did he try to get a #1 Center but THE prodigal son. If I also recall, at the season end press conference, Koivu mentioned a few things, well more likely, he gave Gainey a subtle ultimatum, in my opinion. He said he wanted to remain a Montreal Canadien, he wanted to know more about the direction management wanted the team to go in, and he also expressed concerns about the ownership (Gillette was looking for a minority partner). He also said something very un-Koivu like. He wanted a contract offer from Gainey prior to July 1st, if not he was probably not going to return. Gainey did not offer him a contract before July 1st. So I'm guessing, Koivu left because Gainey wasn't keeping the captain in the loop. And he felt Gainey was looking for the big fish at Koivu's expense ... hoping Koivu was plan B do to speak. It was a gamble by Gainey, and probably a good gamble, but it failed nonetheless. So after all the turmoil of that year, and the collapse at the end .. I'd say not getting a contract and showing some faith in him was the last straw.
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Post by seventeen on Dec 20, 2014 1:28:21 GMT -5
I'm assuming much of your theory is speculation, Skilly, derived from some facts, and you may be right. I dunno. I tend to think Gainey wanted an entire change in direction and was not impressed with Koivu's leadership. He probably guessed wrong on that part, and he defintely guessed wrong on the Gomez deal. He got himself a #1 centre all right, for the ECHL. Koivu would have been superior to Gomez in all aspects and it wouldn't have cost Higgins and McDonagh. But perhaps that's why Gainey has never been anything but a mediocre GM. Great players seldom if ever make good managers or coaches, though I would have bet more on Gainey than most. Oh well, water under the bridge, but knowing how things really panned out, often reminds you how simple most reasons are, and how warped perceptions can be.
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