Brisebois happy to leave Montreal

[Deleted]

www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_2914936

Defenseman glad to shed Canadiens


When Patrice Brisebois became an unrestricted free agent, item No. 1 on his agenda was: "To play as far as I can from Montreal," the newest Avalanche defenseman said Thursday.

Those may seem like strange words for a Montreal native who played for the Canadiens. But anybody who has spent time in the city knows what a pressure cooker it is for professional hockey players. Hockey was invented, after all, on the campus of Montreal's McGill University, and the Canadiens are not just a team, they're a religion. The media glare is intense.

"When (Montreal general manager) Bob Gainey called me to tell me they were not picking up my option, to tell you the truth, I was happy. I think my time in Montreal was over. I needed a new challenge, new teammates."

Brisebois, 34, said he is thrilled to join the Avalanche, a franchise that was born in the province of Quebec.

"I'm honored to be part of a great organization," Brisebois said. "I'm really excited. It's really a big relief for me and my family."

Brisebois, who played 13-plus seasons in Montreal, is considered a mobile defenseman with a good slap shot and outlet pass. He is not a physical force in the mode of the departed Adam Foote, but he has never been considered soft.

"I can finish my check, for sure," Brisebois said. "But I think my game is vision, skating, making the first pass."

Brisebois, who has 342 points and 501 penalty minutes in 791 career games, was first contacted Tuesday by the Avalanche. By Wednesday, they had a deal. He'll make $1.5 million this season and $3 million in 2006-07.

Brisebois is aware Avalanche fans are hurting, having seen stars Peter Forsberg and Foote depart.

"For sure, they lost two good players," Brisebois said of the Avs. "I'm sure the organization offered the maximum to keep them, and Pierre Lacroix had no choice to let them go. But I still think we have a pretty good team. I think we have a very good chance at a championship."

The Avalanche's other new acquisition, center Pierre Turgeon, was not available for comment Thursday.

[Skilly]

Someone better check that journalists credentials??? Not soft? Good slap shot? Has he ever taken a slap shot? All I remember is those weak wrist shots from the point that wouldn't break a pane of glass, that were 90% of the time blocked!!

Does anyone know if Colorado has a race track? That must be the vision he was talking about.

[clear observer]

"To play as far as I can from Montreal,"


Seems to me that's how he ALWAYS played.


Lord, I couldn't stand this pussy....as many of our regs know.


Good riddence.

[cigarviper]

"To play as far as I can from Montreal."

LOL, that's what the fans have been wanting for him too.

Seriously, that's not the way to make friends. Classless thing to say publicly after all his supporters have done for him over the years. Buh-bye.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

The thin air is already affecting him.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Poor Denver fans. They have 3 strikes against them.

1. They lose Forsberg
2. They lose Foote
3. They get Brisebois

Ouch!

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

I had to put the following two paragraphs through the bozolator™:

Brisebois, who played 13-plus seasons in Montreal, is considered a mobile defenseman with a good slap shot and outlet pass. He is not a physical force in the mode of the departed Adam Foote, but he has never been considered soft.

"I can finish my check, for sure," Brisebois said. "But I think my game is vision, skating, making the first pass."

---

Here is the result:

Brisebois, who stayed 13-plus seasons in Montreal, considers himself a mobile defenseman with a good sense of slapstick and a nose for outlet sales. He is not a physical force.

"I can cash my cheque, for sure," Brisebois said, "But I think my game is visionary—skating away from the opposition, making the first pass to them."

[Forum Ghost]

mrbozo said:

I had to put the following two paragraphs through the bozolator™:

Brisebois, who played 13-plus seasons in Montreal, is considered a mobile defenseman with a good slap shot and outlet pass. He is not a physical force in the mode of the departed Adam Foote, but he has never been considered soft.

"I can finish my check, for sure," Brisebois said. "But I think my game is vision, skating, making the first pass."

---

Here is the result:

Brisebois, who stayed 13-plus seasons in Montreal, considers himself a mobile defenseman with a good sense of slapstick and a nose for outlet sales. He is not a physical force.

"I can cash my cheque, for sure," Brisebois said, "But I think my game is visionary—skating away from the opposition, making the first pass to them."

LOL! That's gold!! ;D

*

But on a serious note, deep down I actually think that Patrice is going to have a really good season. He's on a new team that wants him, he's in a new conference and he's away from all the boo-birds of Montreal. He wasn't a great player but we always made him out to be worse than he was.

Having said that, I am not at all sad that he's gone. Especially since the compensation is Mathieu Dandeneault.

[Deleted]

May he continue to give away the puck in peace.

(BTW, anybody else having accessing problems with this particular forum)?

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

forumghost2 said:

mrbozo said:

I had to put the following two paragraphs through the bozolator™:

Brisebois, who played 13-plus seasons in Montreal, is considered a mobile defenseman with a good slap shot and outlet pass. He is not a physical force in the mode of the departed Adam Foote, but he has never been considered soft.

"I can finish my check, for sure," Brisebois said. "But I think my game is vision, skating, making the first pass."

---

Here is the result:

Brisebois, who stayed 13-plus seasons in Montreal, considers himself a mobile defenseman with a good sense of slapstick and a nose for outlet sales. He is not a physical force.

"I can cash my cheque, for sure," Brisebois said, "But I think my game is visionary—skating away from the opposition, making the first pass to them."

LOL! That's gold!! ;D

*

But on a serious note, deep down I actually think that Patrice is going to have a really good season. He's on a new team that wants him, he's in a new conference and he's away from all the boo-birds of Montreal. He wasn't a great player but we always made him out to be worse than he was.

Having said that, I am not at all sad that he's gone. Especially since the compensation is Mathieu Dandeneault.

Brisebois will make Avalanche fans forget Foote—because what he brings to the team will in no way compare. Patrice's rare gifts will certainly astound the team's faithful.

Dandeneault is a dandy alternative for us, for sure.

[Cranky]

"To play as far as I can from Montreal,"

Occasionally, the sewer system breaks down and I can smell the same kind of......"sewer byproduct" as his comments.

At best, I could barely tolerate him wearing the CH, now I can hate him with a clear conscious.

[SiR]

How is it that he was the last remnant of the Habs' 1993 Cup victory??? Seriously, who'd have thought that 12 years down the road, he would be the last piece of that team??? Sad.

[seventeen]

In typical Brisebois fashion he hasn't thought the move out very well. He has yet to realize he put another 2 time zones between himself and Paris.

[cigarviper]

Do we dare dream that one day the offensive Brisebois will rush in off the point on a PP, whiff on a one timer and get thumped by Komo? Maybe if we all close our eyes real tight and wish real hard it will happen.

[PTH]

forumghost2 said:

He wasn't a great player but we always made him out to be worse than he was.

Yup.... I often thought that he just couldn't win around here, and I wish him luck In Colorado. I doubt in a year that we'll miss him, but we will wonder why players improve when they leave.

[cigarviper]

"...but we will wonder why players improve when they leave."

Not always. There are plenty of players who fans were sorry to see go that faded into obscurity with their new team. Then, there's players who come to Montreal and become better as well. Different roles, different environments, different dressing room, different coaches, etc., all have an effect.

[Forum Ghost]

pth said:

I doubt in a year that we'll miss him, but we will wonder why players improve when they leave.

I think that applies to all teams. Any time a player gets traded he does well in order to:

A) impress his new team

B) stick it to their old team for not having faith in them.


I don't think that this is a rule that applies only to Montreal. We just notice it more because we follow Habs and ex-Habs closer. Not that I have statistics about this, but I'm sure the same thing happens to other teams as well.

[clear observer]

"...but we will wonder why players improve when they leave."


"IF"...(and it may very-well be a big "IF") Patrice Brisebois does improve (and regardless of the magnitude of this improvement) his play in his new environment, I for one will not only NOT wonder why it came about, but won't give a rat's ass about it either.

All I cared about was his play during his tenure with our team and how he represented both himself and the team.

Never liked this player. Even at his best......never.

CO

[Big_D]

admin said:

Never liked this player. Even at his best......never.

Tell us how you really feel about him CO.

[Cranky]

bigd said:

admin said:

Never liked this player. Even at his best......never.

Tell us how you really feel about him CO.

No he wont. We have to ban him if he did! LOL!