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Habs 2008 - 2009 Centennial Season Official Thread. (pg. 28)
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| Spin Laden |
| quote: | Originally posted by kanaBEATya
really? that's too bad. im from the old school. if you're gonna fight. drop the gloves. drop the helmet. if you're scared then dont fight. |
I love it too but after that minor league player dying last night and a few concussions I've seen on hockeyfights.com over the years from heads hitting the ice, the NHL can't afford the bad press. |
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| elFreak |
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| malek |
Habs owner won't apologize for zealous fans
Saturday, 01.10.2009 / 10:00 AM / 2009 NHL All-Star Game
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Staff Writer
Montreal Canadiens owner George N. Gillett Jr. believes in the numbers, not in the hooey that critics say led to the Habs having four representatives in the Eastern Conference's starting lineup for NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 25 at the Bell Centre.
Gillett told NHL.com Wednesday from Madison Square Garden that Mike Komisarek, Andrei Markov, Alexei Kovalev and Carey Price received more than 5.675 million votes combined in the XM NHL All-Star Fan Balloting presented by 2K Sports only "because of the passion of the fans."
"There is obviously some suspicion that something nefarious was going on and I don't think so at all. I think it was just tremendous fan interest," Gillett said while his team was on the ice for its morning skate. "You have to remember Montreal is a city of about 3.7 million people and the Province (of Quebec) has 7.5 million and they are huge hockey fans. There are 186,000 junior hockey players up there and those kids love it so they all voted.
"Did we have a marketing program going on? No. This is natural passion."
Gillett went on to admit that "there were players that were perhaps not selected to the starting lineup that you might say, 'Hmmm.' Like (Alex) Ovechkin, right? But, the fans spoke. There is a level of passion and interest there and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. That is why we get such huge television ratings and so forth."
Gillett, an American entrepreneur who grew up in Wisconsin and now lives in Vail, Colo., admitted that when he took ownership of Les Habitants in 2001 he underestimated the passion of those who bleed bleu, blanc et rouge.
"It's extraordinary the passion of the fans, and also their knowledge," he said. "Oh, I had no idea. People would say things to me, 'Do you understand this and this?' I'd say, 'Oh sure, oh sure,' but you really don't until you feel it. It's visceral."
That's what has made the 100th anniversary so special to Gillett. The celebration allows him to loosen his tie and step away from the board room table.
"I'm a fan," he proudly proclaims, adding, with excitement, that he can't wait to be in Montreal for All-Star Weekend.
"Absolutely," he said. "Oh yeah. Wednesday through Sunday. Oh, you bet."
Gillett identified the Patrick Roy jersey retirement night as one of his highlights of the Centennial Celebration so far, but his smile grew when he talked about witnessing the history of the club come to life in the vintage jerseys the Canadiens have been wearing on special nights this season.
Montreal has already worn jerseys from 1915-16, 1945-46 and 1970-71 this season. It is planning nine more Centennial Jersey Nights until the Centennial Game on Dec. 4, 2009, the official 100-year anniversary of the franchise's founding.
"Going back and looking at the history, it's just really amazing," Gillett said.
NHL All-Star Weekend will be another way for the Habs to celebrate their history, but Gillett feels it's also going to be a salute to the city itself.
"It really, in many ways, is celebrating Montreal and what it means," the owner said. "It's not just about hockey. It's so much about being able to showcase the beautiful city. That is going to be something very special."
So, too, would an outdoor game next season. Gillett believes it can happen, even if it's not on New Year's Day and isn't called the NHL Winter Classic.
"Hopefully we'll be doing something in November, either an outdoor or a semi-outdoor game," he said. "It's all part of the same celebration."
Contact Dan Rosen at [email protected] |
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| kanaBEATya |
| I think people should only be allowed to vote once and zats it. |
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| elFreak |
lecavalier for pk subban, josh georges, chris higgins, tomas pleknanec and 2 draft picks(1st round).
i would love vinnie but i am not sure i would be willing to give that much for a player with bad shoulder problems.
he would look sexy in red though. |
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| kanaBEATya |
lecavalier for koivu, plekanec, chipchura and another promising youngin'......
as much as i would like to get rid of higgins right now, i dont think they would. when komisarek will be the future C of the Habs he will have his buddy Higgins wearing the A right next to him!
man........ lecavalier in MTL. wow. let's keep dreaming just for a little longer... until the Rangers get him lol. |
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| ChemEnhanced |
any trade for lecavalier is going to involve Subban, a roster member forward, a first round pick and at least either another draft pick and/or prospect.
Seems like a lot to give up for Lecavalier. |
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| elFreak |
it is a lot to give up and that salary is a pretty huge one. I don't know what to think, but part of me would love to see it and the other part does not get trading away all of the young talent we developed. Gainey has done good so far, so i have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
(assuming this is true to begin with...last year everyone reported hossa being 100% in montreal.) |
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| Spin Laden |
| Kaberle makes a lot more sense, imo. |
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| elFreak |
| no thanks...does not want. |
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| Passskal |
| quote: | Originally posted by elFreak
lecavalier for pk subban, josh georges, chris higgins, tomas pleknanec and 2 draft picks(1st round).
i would love vinnie but i am not sure i would be willing to give that much for a player with bad shoulder problems.
he would look sexy in red though. |
At this price I'm buying! Pacioretty and Ben Maxwell are gonna make us forget Higgins and Pleky in a couple years! PK Subban... I really like him but heck, we got Weber, Mathieu Carle, McDonagh, Valatenko and Alexei Emelin as D with huge NHL potential in the pipeline!
The Lightning is re-building...and we got what they need! |
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