Article on Savard
Feb 6, 2002 0:22:02 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Feb 6, 2002 0:22:02 GMT -5
It is an interesting article but he has one HUGE problem in his analysis. HUGE. It has to do with what ducks do. And a Hab's player.
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www.allsports.com/network/content?site=1009&story=27253
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How About Those Montreal Maple Leafs?
Once again, Savard has a plan
By P.R. Quintin
February 4, 2002
If you didn't know before how highly regarded the Toronto Maple Leafs are by Andre Savard, you sure do now. First it was the signing of Toronto's unrestricted free agent Yannic Perreault. Then it was Doug Gilmour, a Leaf thrice removed. Last week it was another former "Bud" Sergei Berezin who arrived in Montreal via Phoenix in a trade that saw the Brian Savage "experiment" come to a merciful end. The point is that while Gilmour and Berezin did not come directly from Toronto, they are identified as Leafs because of the success they enjoyed there.
Truth be told the Montreal Canadiens and Leafs rarely trade with one another directly. Had either Gilmour or Berezin still been with Toronto it is doubtful that either one of them would be wearing the bleu, blanc, et rouge today. Usually, the erstwhile Leaf in question arrives in Montreal via some third party, like Frank Mahovlich from Detroit or Vincent Damphousse from Edmonton. Traditionally, the Leafs haven't fared too well on deals with the Canadiens. The last one I can remember was when Toronto sent Russ Courtnall to the Habs for John Kordic back in 1989. Courtnall and the Habs went to the finals that year while Kordic and the Leafs just plain "went".
At first glance, it seems unclear what Savard envisions for Perreault, Gilmour and Berezin. Certainly the Maple Leafs braintrust has no use for them any longer. But, as is always the case with Andre, there's a definite method to the madness. On the surface you have Perreault as a great face-off man, Gilmour as a playmaker and elder statesman, and Berezin as a sniper (albeit a somewhat inconsistent one). But the quality that they all posess, the one that Savard is most enamoured with is their quickness. That is what Savard REALLY covets.
It has become apparent to anyone following the progress of the Canadiens since the new regime took over that speed is a non-negotiable commodity. Players who posess it get to play while their slower teammates find themselves in the press box, on a bus bound for Quebec City, or, in some instances, working for a different employer. Montreal has a lost tradition of firewagon hockey that Savard is trying to recapture. He realizes that in this town, you get points for style. Winning is good but winning with panache is better. That is why every roster move, every trade, and every free agent signing is predicated on the need for speed.
It is indeed a relief to know that the Canadiens finally have a man in charge who has a clue. During Rejean Houle's tenure as general manager, the ship was rudderless and indecisive. Players of all sorts were shuttled in and out of the line up with no rhyme or reason and the results, if unfortunate, were at least predictable. Not so with Savard. There is a quiet, confident consistency about him that is hard not to admire. Savard wants a fast team and that's what he's building. If it means that the team is a trifle undersized in the short term, well, so be it.
This philosophy explains the presence of the "Montreal Maple Leafs", Perreault, Gilmour, and Berezin. These players, along with other speedsters like Oleg Petrov, Richard Zednik, and the up-and-coming Mike Ribeiro have the Camnadiens right where they need to be in the standings going into the home stretch of the season. Gilmour has finally hit his stride and is using the speed he has left to create opportunities for his linemates as well as scoring timely goals. If Berezin and Perreault can rediscover the magic act they had going when they were in Toronto they will become the lynchpin of the Habs' offensive attack and a playoff spot will be a virtual certainty.
If Savard pulls this off, the rebuilding job he began a year ago will get a huge boost. A fast, exciting, winning team can do wonders for development. Savard has identified the need for the Canadiens (and, by extention, their fans) to regain that old swagger before they can take the next step. Making the playoffs and looking good doing it will put the neccessary spring in all our steps.
And to think that three ex-Leafs could wind up leading us all to the promised land, well, what can you say?
How about those Montreal Maple Leafs!
------------------------
JV once coined a term that struck the right note. Gilmour waddles on the ice.
-----------------
www.allsports.com/network/content?site=1009&story=27253
----------------
How About Those Montreal Maple Leafs?
Once again, Savard has a plan
By P.R. Quintin
February 4, 2002
If you didn't know before how highly regarded the Toronto Maple Leafs are by Andre Savard, you sure do now. First it was the signing of Toronto's unrestricted free agent Yannic Perreault. Then it was Doug Gilmour, a Leaf thrice removed. Last week it was another former "Bud" Sergei Berezin who arrived in Montreal via Phoenix in a trade that saw the Brian Savage "experiment" come to a merciful end. The point is that while Gilmour and Berezin did not come directly from Toronto, they are identified as Leafs because of the success they enjoyed there.
Truth be told the Montreal Canadiens and Leafs rarely trade with one another directly. Had either Gilmour or Berezin still been with Toronto it is doubtful that either one of them would be wearing the bleu, blanc, et rouge today. Usually, the erstwhile Leaf in question arrives in Montreal via some third party, like Frank Mahovlich from Detroit or Vincent Damphousse from Edmonton. Traditionally, the Leafs haven't fared too well on deals with the Canadiens. The last one I can remember was when Toronto sent Russ Courtnall to the Habs for John Kordic back in 1989. Courtnall and the Habs went to the finals that year while Kordic and the Leafs just plain "went".
At first glance, it seems unclear what Savard envisions for Perreault, Gilmour and Berezin. Certainly the Maple Leafs braintrust has no use for them any longer. But, as is always the case with Andre, there's a definite method to the madness. On the surface you have Perreault as a great face-off man, Gilmour as a playmaker and elder statesman, and Berezin as a sniper (albeit a somewhat inconsistent one). But the quality that they all posess, the one that Savard is most enamoured with is their quickness. That is what Savard REALLY covets.
It has become apparent to anyone following the progress of the Canadiens since the new regime took over that speed is a non-negotiable commodity. Players who posess it get to play while their slower teammates find themselves in the press box, on a bus bound for Quebec City, or, in some instances, working for a different employer. Montreal has a lost tradition of firewagon hockey that Savard is trying to recapture. He realizes that in this town, you get points for style. Winning is good but winning with panache is better. That is why every roster move, every trade, and every free agent signing is predicated on the need for speed.
It is indeed a relief to know that the Canadiens finally have a man in charge who has a clue. During Rejean Houle's tenure as general manager, the ship was rudderless and indecisive. Players of all sorts were shuttled in and out of the line up with no rhyme or reason and the results, if unfortunate, were at least predictable. Not so with Savard. There is a quiet, confident consistency about him that is hard not to admire. Savard wants a fast team and that's what he's building. If it means that the team is a trifle undersized in the short term, well, so be it.
This philosophy explains the presence of the "Montreal Maple Leafs", Perreault, Gilmour, and Berezin. These players, along with other speedsters like Oleg Petrov, Richard Zednik, and the up-and-coming Mike Ribeiro have the Camnadiens right where they need to be in the standings going into the home stretch of the season. Gilmour has finally hit his stride and is using the speed he has left to create opportunities for his linemates as well as scoring timely goals. If Berezin and Perreault can rediscover the magic act they had going when they were in Toronto they will become the lynchpin of the Habs' offensive attack and a playoff spot will be a virtual certainty.
If Savard pulls this off, the rebuilding job he began a year ago will get a huge boost. A fast, exciting, winning team can do wonders for development. Savard has identified the need for the Canadiens (and, by extention, their fans) to regain that old swagger before they can take the next step. Making the playoffs and looking good doing it will put the neccessary spring in all our steps.
And to think that three ex-Leafs could wind up leading us all to the promised land, well, what can you say?
How about those Montreal Maple Leafs!
------------------------
JV once coined a term that struck the right note. Gilmour waddles on the ice.
