Do the Habs have a 'party' problem?

by James Mirtle on Feb 17, 2009 2:56 PM CST Comment 45 comments

Habs-party_medium

So that's the "Carey Price smoking!" picture we've been hearing so much about ... he'll have a pack-an-hour habit in no time at that rate.

Last season, rumours and inuendo about off-ice conduct plagued the Ottawa Senators, and the team ultimately imploded at the halfway point of the season. The coach was fired, Ray Emery was benched (and ultimately bought out and exiled) and Brian McGrattan was dumped for a draft pick to Phoenix and is now in the care of the NHL's substance abuse program.

This season, with the team in a mini-death spiral, those same rumours are coming out about the Habs.

Former Canadiens coach Jean Perron yesterday singled out three players — Chris Higgins, Carey Price and Sergei Kostitsyn — as particularly guilty of enjoying life too much these days. (My Google translation calls it "too on the 'party.'")

Another former Habs coach, Jacques Demers, today says "the party is over."

And to think we just found out about it.

Just under an hour ago, Kostitsyn was demoted to the AHL after spending the entire season in the NHL and playing more than 14 minutes a game. The Habs have recalled plugger Greg Stewart in his place.

Now, despite the fact these reports are coming from pretty well-placed sources, these are just rumours. The picture I've posted above is apparently from a trip to Mexico that Price and a few other Habs youngsters took last summer, and who among us hasn't lit up (times three) after a few too many cervezas? I'm still waiting for photos of me wearing a lampshade to make the rounds.

The photos are getting a lot of buzz in Montreal, but as far as I can tell, they're irrelevant, more a product of the fishbowl these guys play in these days than anything else. It's not much of a headline to say hockey players party, and whether some of the Habs are "too on the party" or not, my guess is we're only now hearing about all this because of how the team's playing.

Kostitsyn deserved a demotion simply based on his play, and Higgins has been fine in the 11 games since coming back from injury. Price, however, has really struggled in the situation he's in, and I'm not surprised he's out on the town on his nights off.

It's beginning to become a question of whether he can handle the role of the No. 1 netminder in Montreal. He's still just 21, and his metoric rise into NHL star might simply be too much, too soon.

We'll know soon enough.

BREAKING NEWS Canadiens star Alex Kovalev has been given a leave of absence and will not be travelling with the team this week to Washington and Pittsburgh. As of now, the team is saying the reason is that he is tired and not playing well.

GM Bob Gainey called his play "unacceptable," and I have a feeling Kovalev won't be on this team as of March 4. If the Habs had really wanted to damage control this situation, they simply could have made Kovalev a healthy scratch or said he was out with an "undisclosed injury."

Something big is up in Montreal. It sounds like Gainey is putting the hammer down in an effort to save the season.

0 recs | Comment 45 comments | Add comment | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Check this website for Habs pics → http://www.25stanley.com/

by Fred Poulin on Feb 17, 2009 3:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think I knocked a few points off my IQ by visiting that site…

"Without good hard work, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of success." - Anatoli Tarasov

by PRC on Feb 17, 2009 3:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Uhhhh a French Canadian Perez?

Ain't nothing but puck drops and poke checks, babydoll.

by wrap around curl on Feb 17, 2009 11:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The even more intriguing bit out of all of this is that Gainey’s now asking Kovalev to sit out the next two games to rest:

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/sports/hockey/200902/17/01-828302-gainey-met-kovalev-au-repos.php

by thepenismightier on Feb 17, 2009 3:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So Schneider is added, SK74 is sent down to be replaced by gritty Stewart who’s got a mean streak and Kovalev is a healthy scratch in disguise for the next 2 games…
Slightly different team we’ll see in Washington and Pittsburgh. I like Gainey’s moves so far, even though they’re all small ones – I think they send a good message.

by Habs on Feb 17, 2009 3:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

James- Kovalev is not the actual team Captain. That would be Saku Koivu, however Kovalev did wear the C when Koivu was injured.

by Habs on Feb 17, 2009 3:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks. I’m updating rather quickly here as info comes in.

by James Mirtle on Feb 17, 2009 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

you mean a GM actually taking some responsibility and sitting down players who aren’t earning their keep?

You listening, Mr. Sather?

by poploser on Feb 17, 2009 3:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Flyers have had similar pictures posted on the ‘net. You don’t see a death spiral in the standings out of Philadelphia.

Young players are going to do this sort of thing. They are people, too and they deserve to have fun on night off just like the rest of us. That’s pretty much how Paul Holmgren and the Flyers approached the situation.

Honestly, if Hab fans are making a big deal out of this and are using it as a reason for their teams struggles, they’re just looking for an excuse.

Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.

by Travis Hughes on Feb 17, 2009 3:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The pictures are pretty harmless, and Sergei Kostitsyn was not in any of them. The accusations and innuendos are what’s driving the story as we speak. Right now, that’s all they are, accusations and innuendo, but the pictures are pretty much all the media has at this point.

If the story has any legs, there will be more. If it’s just blowing smoke, it’ll die out in time.

These photos are definitely no ‘Theodore with Hells Angels’ shockers, that’s for sure.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Feb 17, 2009 3:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How are the Habs situated with the cap? Can they really do much wheeling and dealing to salvage this thing?

Also, I really don’t care if hockey players drink, grab each others crotches (see Roy, Derek) or anything else. I enjoy their play on the ice and am probably too envious of their play off of it.

The population of Pominville keeps rising!

by Blackcapricorn on Feb 17, 2009 3:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Habs have a decent amount of cap space because Robert Lang was put on IR yesterday (he has a cap hit of 4M annually).
O’Byrne and SK74 both got demoted – they combine for close to 2M.
Considering Kovalev will probably be traded soon, that’s a 4,5M cap hit gone.

by Habs on Feb 17, 2009 3:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So they are gearing up for #4?

The population of Pominville keeps rising!

by Blackcapricorn on Feb 17, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I sure hope not! I’d like to still have a couple of NHL caliber players on the roster after the trade deadline…

by Habs on Feb 17, 2009 5:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think bringing in Schneider hurts them a bit, but not to the point that they can’t continue to retool things. Moving Kovalev would obviously free up a lot of space.

by James Mirtle on Feb 17, 2009 3:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If Gainey were being honest....

He’d issue a press release announcing that the Canadiens were undergoing treatment for cancer. On the advice of doctors (albeit psychologists) Alice Kovalev has been surgically removed from the Habs body. A biopsy showed Kovalev is a malignant tumour that has killed coaches and playoff hopes in several other cities. Following the season, he will be sent to Russia for further analysis.

by Dr Van Nostrum on Feb 17, 2009 3:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You say tomato…

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Feb 17, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

love Dr. VanNostrum...

…but its amazing to me how much fire Kovalev takes wherever he goes. He carried that team last season, and deserved MVP votes. This is a guy who, lifetime, averages .80 PPG. This year, he’s at .68 PPG. A whopping difference of 10 points under where he would be if he played to his average over the course of a season. He’s hardly the key reason the Habs are struggling. [Hello, Carey Price and you’re 29th out of 30 goaltending stats!]

And at 4 M a year…he’s probably not far outside of the the marketplace for a player of that performance. If he was getting 7.5 M a year (Gomez…Calling Scott Gomez) he would be worthy of this anger. Yes, it would be awesome if Kovalev played to his skill level all the time because he can be amazing to watch. Burt he’s been in the league 15 years now..Anyone who is surprised by this is misguided.

Glen Sather is a Hockey Genius.

http://glensathersucks.wordpress.com/

by poploser on Feb 17, 2009 4:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with this. I simply think people are really frustrated because he’s not the same player he was last year. And numbers don’t tell the whole story here. On many nights, he looked disinterested. Personnaly, I’m not blaming Kovy for all the habs woes. He’s struggling, as is most of the team. I’m really not sure it’s a good thing to trade him now, because in spite of all his problems, he’s still the most talented guy in the team. But at the same time, he’ll be a free agent next summer, and it’s far from a guarantee he’ll be back, so why not try to get something out of this? Good thing I’m not the GM… :)

http://softeuropean.wordpress.com

by Grrrreg on Feb 17, 2009 4:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with Kovy is not the stats. I personally would be ok with him putting up 60-65 points, if he showed up every night.
The real issue is he doesn’t show up every night. Actually, as we speak, he hasn’t show up once since the ASG. He’s immensely frustrating to watch because not only is he not performing up to his potential, he’s also a turnover machine, takes a lot of silly penalties at really wrong moments, and routinely ignores his linemates, who then look lost because any offensive system that should be in place is screwed over by him being egotistical and trying to do everything by himself.
I realize he’s not like this all the time, but it’s much much more often than any other way, and it’s driving fans (and coaches) up the wall.

by Habs on Feb 17, 2009 5:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Now Kovy?

Any good news on the centennial front?

You expect this type of drama out of Toronto.

The Litter Box: Your SBNation Florida Panthers Blogging Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Feb 17, 2009 4:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The good news is that we have lots of cap space for next year because no one is signed!

"Without good hard work, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle of success." - Anatoli Tarasov

by PRC on Feb 17, 2009 4:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s what Pens fans said last year …

by James Mirtle on Feb 17, 2009 5:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch. That one hurt.

by Habs on Feb 17, 2009 5:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I wish cell phone cameras were common when I was in college.

I’d have fantastic blackmail pictures of some of my classmates!

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Feb 17, 2009 5:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

do you have famous classmates?

by Karina on Feb 17, 2009 5:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You've got to think...

That Kovalev will be back. Look at Montreal’s top 2 lines right now:

Higgins – Koivu – D’Agostini
Pacioretty – Plekanec – A Kostitsyn

After that, it’s just grinders…

Begin/Stewart – Lapierre – Kostopolous
Laraque – Chipchura – Dandenault

Tanguay is supposed to be back by the trade deadline, and Latendresse not far behind, but that’s a couple weeks the Habs need to survive.

Gainey actually said they had looked at getting Schneider back in November (maybe when Komisarek was hurt) but then Lawton called him up to talk Vinny.

The good news about Montreal’s current top 6 is that only Koivu is a UFA at the end of the year so if this works, they’ll at least have something to build off of going forward.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Feb 17, 2009 6:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I actually like this top 6… it has potential to turn out somewhat like Buffalo’s top 6: no big superstars but some good balanced offensive threats.

In the ‘right here right now’ though, I’m not sure they can pull it off, especially seeing the collective state of mind the team is in. We’ll see tomorrow in Washington how they respond!

by Habs on Feb 17, 2009 7:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hung up on stats

NHL history is littered with the corpses of guys who could score, yet their teams couldn’t get rid of them fast enough because they set a bad example, they played one end of the ice, the showed up only half the time, etc.

Pierre Larouche springs to mind since we’re talking Habs today. Frank Mahovlich had the rep, too. Vinny Damphousse, anyone?

Yes, Kovalev turned up last year. About once every 7 years is his average. I seem to recall he had a good year near the end of the last millenium. And his rookie season was solid. Pretty impressive to be cashing cheques for 15 years while only showing up for work for three of them. Makes civil servants look like hard workers by comparison.

A guy who is valuable to his team doesn’t get put on holiday during a fight for the playoffs. The only mystery is that Carbo didn’t do it weeks ago.

by Dr Van Nostrum on Feb 17, 2009 9:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Don’t forget Pierre Turgeon.

by Doogie2K on Feb 18, 2009 8:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong on Mahovlich. Look at his playoff stats in 4 seasons with Montreal.

by Robert L on Feb 18, 2009 4:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Or Gainey, whatever.

by Dr Van Nostrum on Feb 17, 2009 9:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

What's a Habs season without a Kovalev controversy?

2004 against the Bruins, he quit after being slashed by Travis Green, ran into Souray and the Habs lost in OT. Souray ripped him for quitting on the play and Julien didn’t back him up.
2005-06, he was called out by Julien to come up with some suggestions to get the team going…He said “You’re the coach” Julien fired shortly afterwards. Later that year, after Koivu is taken out by Hacksaw Williams, Habs fade Gainey calls him out after the series for the no show.
06-07, cuts up Carbo in Russian language magazine article, later denies it. Sucks canine testicles most of the season, Habs miss playoffs.
Last year, has an epiphany plays well. No contract extension.
Sulks.
Finally benched.
He’s dug himself a big hole here and I doubt there are any teams that will want to take chance on him now at the deadline or in the summer as a free agent.

by Exit716 on Feb 17, 2009 10:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

He actually has some pretty impressive playoff career stats so I remain confident that some team somewhere will want him. Hey if someone wants Sean Avery… surely Kovalev can have a home somewhere.

by Habs on Feb 17, 2009 11:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But wait...

2004-2005: After he “quit” in the game that put the Habs down 3-1, he came back in the next three games to score 2G, 2A. Scores GWG in Game 5. Games 5 and 7, btw, on the road in Boston.

2005-6: Goes 4-3-7 in 6 playoff games.

2006-7: Goes 5-6-11 in 12 playoff games.

Sounds like the kinda play a lot of teams looking for playoff scoring might “take a chance on”

Glen Sather is a Hockey Genius.

http://glensathersucks.wordpress.com/

by poploser on Feb 18, 2009 8:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The problem is

He didn’t play in the 2007 playoffs as Montreal did not make it that year.
Last year he had 11 points in 12 games.
But in 2006 after Koivu went down he was called out specifically by Gainey for not picking up the slack against Carolina.

by Exit716 on Feb 18, 2009 3:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Rutherford in Caroline is interested in another ‘reclamation project’. After Samsonnov and Corvo, Kovalev?

by Habs on Feb 18, 2009 10:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Benched? Sure. Scratched? Sure. Sent to the minors? Sure. Traded? Sure.

But sent home while the team went on a two-game road trip?

I’ve followed the NHL for a lot of years, and my memory’s pretty good; but I don’t recall ever seeing this move before.

Anyone seen it? James?

(It certainly is a refreshing change on, “You can’t fire 20 players so you fire the coach.”, though.)

by Bob Roberts on Feb 18, 2009 11:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Avery was sent home for the season when he was in LA in ’06. I think Grabovski was sent home last year after he pulled his stupid stunt on the West Coast trip, too.

by Doogie2K on Feb 18, 2009 11:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True...

But they’re not Kovalev-level players, wouldn’t you say?

(I mean “Kovalev-level” as he can play, of course, not as he has been this season. I should have specified that.)

by Bob Roberts on Feb 18, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No, no star-calibre players that I can think of. Fair distinction.

by Doogie2K on Feb 18, 2009 6:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Went to the Habs-Caps game tonight

I sat in the second row and yelled at Carey Price to quit smoking. My firend even held up a pack of cigarettes and we could make out a smile on his face.

Other than that, I though the Candiens played desperate, but they weren’t a great, merely just good tonight. I thought Mathieu Schneider played very well, and got alot of ice time in his first game as a Canadien. Not really that impressed with Mike Komisarek.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Feb 19, 2009 12:37 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not many people are impressed with Mike Komisarek these days… it looks like he’s playing with a shoulder injury and that’s not helping. But his on-ice positioning is terrible too.

by Habs on Feb 19, 2009 8:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs