Just last night, a co-worker mentioned how long this summer was with so few news about the Habs. Maybe he's also known as Vankovich?
I like AK but I'm surprised he's still here. No doubt in my mind he'd hit the 30-goals mark, maybe even 40, playing elsewhere. If he had spent the last couple years on a more offensive team, his value would be higher. I heard someone saying he's not worth a 2nd-round pick. Seriously undervalued.
As for AK's comments, no news there. It's obvious Martin doesn't like him.
This is a ploy to be traded. He's looking to have a career year at the end of a contract and he won't have that happen on the 3rd/4th line in Montreal.
Bingo.
With us bringing in Cole, and with Patches likely playing the full year in Montreal this upcoming season, AKost's chances of getting on the Top 2 lines with any sort of regularity are pretty much gone.
At least last year Martin was more or less forced to use AKost there with some regularity because no winger after Gionta, Cammy, AKost, and Patches had any business being on the Top 2 lines (even then, Martin made facepalm-worthy attempts to turn Moen into a 2nd liner).
Now with Gionta, Cammy, Cole, and Patches on the team, Martin can bury AKost on the 3rd/4th lines, and it might even be justifiable.
I honestly can't blame AKost for wanting out, for the sake of his career.
It's unfortunate though, as I was looking forward to Eller-AKost-??? (probably Moen) as a really kickass third line...
One thing I know, if AK goes to another team and doesn't explode and score 30-40g, I'll eat a crow. I'm one of those people. Ribeiro proved me right though, so I can only hope we keep on to AK and he bounces back for us (and really, it's not a bouncing back, and about not bouncing him anymore through the lineup, and letting him gain confidence with ONE center, not 3).
With us bringing in Cole, and with Patches likely playing the full year in Montreal this upcoming season, AKost's chances of getting on the Top 2 lines with any sort of regularity are pretty much gone.
At least last year Martin was more or less forced to use AKost there with some regularity because no winger after Gionta, Cammy, AKost, and Patches had any business being on the Top 2 lines (even then, Martin made facepalm-worthy attempts to turn Moen into a 2nd liner).
Now with Gionta, Cammy, Cole, and Patches on the team, Martin can bury AKost on the 3rd/4th lines, and it might even be justifiable.
I honestly can't blame AKost for wanting out, for the sake of his career.
It's unfortunate though, as I was looking forward to Eller-AKost-??? (probably Moen) as a really kickass third line...
This would really suck. Why can't we ever have depth? Most teams that win the cup have all 3 lines that can produce, and the players don't appear to have a problem with that, of course.
We have depth. Kostitsyn hasn't been traded, and no one will talk about this anymore in a week.
Yeah JM will really be happy when he hears this.. If what Kosty is saying is true, JM will ignore him even more and play him on the 4th or bench him now.
No, he's paid quite fairly for a guy who usually gets 20 goals and hits quite a bit too. Do you have an issue with his salary?
Yes I do have an issue paying a 20 goal guy, who doesn't fight, kill penalties, or be some form of a leader this kind of money. He's streaky, he will rarely turn a game around by himself, and is replaceable.
I don't think he'll ever take this team anywhere, I would rather spend the money on someone else. I don't feel he has any attachment to this team, or the fans, I like players that look like they give a damn on most nights.
My thoughts apply to more than him on this team btw.
Yes I do have an issue paying a 20 goal guy, who doesn't fight, kill penalties, or be some form of a leader this kind of money. He's streaky, he will rarely turn a game around by himself, and is replaceable.
I don't think he'll ever take this team anywhere, I would rather spend the money on someone else. I don't feel he has any attachment to this team, or the fans, I like players that look like they give a damn on most nights.
My thoughts apply to more than him on this team btw.
We already have extra money to spend... what do you want more than a third liner that can pot 20??
What an idiot. I've been supporting him throughout this past season, but then he does something like this. Good god. Stupid players do stupid things I guess.
Andrei K feels lost in Montreal, the coach hates him, the fans dont understand him, most of HF boards hates him. It is a nothing story in August, it will pass just like all the other crap.
It goes back to how I described Martin in another thread, who really is more concerned with the "now", or the most the "this season", rather than managing with a perspective to the future as well as now. The latter approach is the hallmark of successful managers of young teams, such as Arsene Wenger or Alex Ferguson in the Premier League, who mentor young players constantly. By contrast, Martin wants results now, and will make a point of reminding players who the boss is, with ice time: he uses the stick exclusively rather than combining the carrot and the stick.
Edit: by contrast, Tampa's coach is a master of the carrot approach: he emphasizes the psychology of the individual, and moulds 20 highly motivated individuals into a team.
It depends on how you value a coach: Martin gets a lot out of what he has, but the team he has is decimated in relation to the team with which he started out.
Posts like these renew my faith with the boards. Thank you.
We'll see about Boucher...I'm not convinced he's the next Scottie Bowman just yet. Lets see what Tampa does next year, they are a team I could see falling out of the playoffs.
He doesn't have to be the next Scotty Bowman. I don't necessarily demand the next Scotty Bowman. I want a coach that understands that it's a little bit about the future of the org and it's also about using players even if they don't fit your mold/system. I also want a coach that places a bit more importance on actual performances than on how many years a player has spent in the league (more than Martin anyway).
He's right that Martin has put him on 3rd & 4th line while he was producing lots of points on the 1st line just to accomodate some other guys that weren't working.
I would have been pissed too if I was him.
Hell , I'm pissed at Martin just by watching the games , can't imagine what it's like to play for him ( of course I would because of the NHL players dream and salary situation , but once I'm in the league I don't see why I shouldn't look for my best interest and be frustrated if a coach doesn't believe in me )
Yes I do have an issue paying a 20 goal guy, who doesn't fight, kill penalties, or be some form of a leader this kind of money. He's streaky, he will rarely turn a game around by himself, and is replaceable.
I don't think he'll ever take this team anywhere, I would rather spend the money on someone else. I don't feel he has any attachment to this team, or the fans, I like players that look like they give a damn on most nights.
My thoughts apply to more than him on this team btw.
Meh, I think KOstitsyn is definitely worth his 3.25 million dollar salary.
Russians are treaded like crap by the North American media and fans. They're always portrayed as being greedy, soft and lazy athletes who have no heart. It's friggen ridiculous.
Heads up, bud. The media in question was Belorussian or Russian.
It's funny because comments like these were common place for many of the Habs greats that composed our Dynasties.
There were more then a few occasions where Canadiens players trashed their coaches in public. Got them fired. This is nothing new. However, there was never much of a problem with someone like Toe Blake who got the most out of his players.
You can side with one or the other. The truth is, Martin is not doing his job as coach. If Andrei isn't feeling heard, then Martin isn't hearing him or isn't communicating properly. Every individual responds to different things. Jacques is not handling Andrei properly and if he wants to win, then he will adjust his approach with Andrei or lose a talented player.
