"Le Canadien et lui en sont là: au point de non-retour. C'est triste, mais Saku Koivu doit partir. Ce serait le meilleur scénario. Pour le Canadien, mais aussi pour lui."
Disingenuous crap. Does anyone believe Labbe is shedding anything other than crocodile tears?
"Évidemment, le Canadien a certes contribué au problème en payant un peu trop cher pour lui - il touche un salaire de 4,7 millions cette saison -, mais ça, c'est un autre débat."
Any hockey journalist should know better than this. He should know what comparable players around the league are being payed, and that Saku has been a bargain. Throwing out a figure that is more than any of us working class folk can ever dream of, without giving it it's proper context in the world of NHL salaries, is misleading to the casual reader.
Maybe it is time to trade Koivu. Labbe should at least least be decent, sincere and responsible with his arguments.
So, I read the article and I understood it to mean that 'it's time' to go, noy an absolute 'must' The guy says that Koivu never became the 100 point man that he was predicted to be. I don't know about predictions, but it's true he hasn't.
The guy reads more into facial expressions and Tuesday's game that I do. I think Koivu's has to adjust to a changing role. The writer disagrees. He doesn't refer to Koivu dismissively, or in an insulting afshion, I'm not sure where all the ings and **** come from unless we are so sensitive that we can't deal with a differeing opinion.
I don't know anything about L'abbe other than a general mistrust of apostrophied names. It's an opinion piece, what's the big deal. We're getting like teenage girls when a cold breeze enters the room.
The article is not so bad... Labbé is being realistic. It'd be hard not to admit age is catching up on Koivu. But i disagree that Koivu is no longer a useful player. Players are capable of transitioning into new roles and a player of Koivu's character would seemingly have the perfect make-up to do that.
My biggest issue with the article is that Labbé acknowledges Koivu as a 2nd line player on a team that doesn't have a consistent second line (night in night out anyhow), here you'd think he'd recognize that as Saku's value to the club. As for him being overpaid, well who isn't it. Add to this Koivu wasn't overpaid last year, might not be next year, or better- he might not be in the playoffs. Koivu is still one of our better players, sure he's getting old, but we need the veterans and the experience with all of our young players coming up. Who could teach a guy anymore about playing in Montreal than Koivu.
Short sighted thinking best evidenced by someone charged with selling papers which is juxtapposed to the long range thinking someone charged with building a winning hockey team would need.
I don't really that he said anything that inflammatory...
I might not agree with everything he says, but at the same time it's not like he's accusing Saku of murder or anything.
I'm too lazy to go searching to find all the stats, but off the top of my head, it seems to me that Koivu's production started to lag right about when Pleks line really started to click and score consistantly.
Now this may be purely coincidental, it may be just the standard "koivu's getting tired and saving himself a bit for the stretch run/playoffs", but it could also be the sign of something else...
A while back i posted something regarding Koivu's attitude. I have a source relatively well placed at the time, and the comments made to me were that, despite the public image/reputation Koivu has, internally it's clear that he's much more moody and not always the consumate teammate you would expect a captain to be.
That may just be one person's mistaken perception, but I find it interesting that Labbe describes him in the same way.
in any case, I hope Koivu picks it up during the stretch run and into the playoffs.
This really would be a terrible time for him to completely disapear/get traded. After years of being the only offensive weapon on the team, and forced to carry the load because no one else could produce, it's painful to see him struggling now that he actually has another line scoring and drawing the other team's primary checking focus.
If koivu (and higgins) can round back into top form, we could have one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the league...
We're a point away from 1st place and this is what he writes about? Koivu had a bad game in a mediocre season. That being said, he has 6 points in his last 7 games and he's been the best player on his revolving line for awhile now ( more indicative of the inconsistency of this team besides the first line than praise but...).
I am more than confident that by the playoffs he'll get a second wind.
I don't get the reaction here. It's an opinion piece, he gives his opinion. You may disagree with his conclusions, but just because he's not kneeling in adoration at Saku's feet doesn't mean he's a low-life. His piece at least gives food for thought.
So, I read the article and I understood it to mean that 'it's time' to go, noy an absolute 'must' The guy says that Koivu never became the 100 point man that he was predicted to be. I don't know about predictions, but it's true he hasn't.
The guy reads more into facial expressions and Tuesday's game that I do. I think Koivu's has to adjust to a changing role. The writer disagrees. He doesn't refer to Koivu dismissively, or in an insulting afshion, I'm not sure where all the ings and **** come from unless we are so sensitive that we can't deal with a differeing opinion.
I don't know anything about L'abbe other than a general mistrust of apostrophied names. It's an opinion piece, what's the big deal. We're getting like teenage girls when a cold breeze enters the room.
exactly...thats what I got from reading it as well...
he doesnt seem to be bashing Koivu in any way...he is just giving his opinion that maybe its time the Habs and Koivu parted ways...because he feels that it would be the best thing for BOTH parties...and it will give Saku a chance to revitalize his career somewhere where there isnt as much pressure or expectations of him.
He seems to be basing his opinion SOLELY on Saku's overall performance...or lack of (with respect to the statement that many people predicted Koivu to become a 100pt player), and also his demeanour and the fact that Saku just looks like he is running out of steam.
I personally see no reason to bash this article...we don't have to AGREE with it, but there shouldnt be any reason to get offended by it either
I don't get the reaction here. It's an opinion piece, he gives his opinion. You may disagree with his conclusions, but just because he's not kneeling in adoration at Saku's feet doesn't mean he's a low-life. His piece at least gives food for thought.
Honest question here, but do you work in the media?
Saku Koivu does not want to go anywhere..............NTC..............THE END.
NTC equates to Saku gets to pick where he goes. NOT that he doesn't want to go anywhere.
With regards to Saku and his role on the team, I'm sure it's not easy for a proud warrior to accept or come to the realization that his role is changing on the team. Stev Yzerman went through it with the Red Wings. It is something for the management and Koivu to work out during the transition.
But keep in mind this city is not very kind to aging veteran warriors who are not performing to the standards they are used to.
