Everyone remembers Rodney Dangerfield?
That bombastic comedian who utilized all of his off-color remarks to their utmost potential. Gaining him a spot not just in Hollywood – in the comedic recesses of the comedy fan’s mind …
Well – he’s back!
After all, have you ever seen Montreal Canadien coach Michel Therrien and Mr. Dangerfield together? Of course not. They are – one in the same …
Michel Therrien is ‘ Back to School‘. A return behind the bench with hockey’s most storied franchise ( unless you live in San Jose – the stories they have …). Therrien is back and pretty is not the proper description …
Saturday night, the first game of a season shortened by a lock -out which presumably made the rich richer and the hot-dog stand employees search for work – a great sign of things to come. Status quo should be the numbers on the back of the bleu,blanc et rouge. La plus ça change – la plus c’est la meme esti colis de … never mind.
If the league gave championships for championship ceremonies, the Habs would win every year as they did when the league provided a silver cup along with French Canadians to this French Canadian team. Once again, the marketing boys proved behind the bench is the place for them . If the on – ice performances and the coaching staff could offer spine – tingling moments like Jean Beliveau holding a torch at the house that Corey built, banner makers in this city would be living on the beach four months a year. Instead, the assemblers of banners past, reside in dingy apartments in Park Extension. Holding material in their hands like a bride would hold her dress following a ditching at the altar.
The home team, Les Canadiens – amid pomp (ous?) and ceremony, played the game as if it were they – the visitors. Opposing teams, in the day of the Rocket, Lafleur and even Naslund, would arrive in this city with their respective two points already deposited in the Canadiens’ bank account on Atwater. A trip to Montreal for a visiting team was not about hockey. It was about the strip joints and the bars. Opposing players took the opportunity to play off – ice since the on-ice battle – completed (and lost) once they stepped on the plane in their home town.
Presumably, with a new slogan for this shortened hockey season, Habs’ management are attempting to get the ghosts to move from their cozy movie seats at the Forum. Unfortunately, the ghosts enjoy Tarantino’s flick much more than Therrien / Dangerfield’s ‘Easy Money‘. Ironic? You betcha. Because the current players begin a season ‘haunted’ with easy money in the forefront of everyone’s mind.
Easy money because the Habs roster – filled with guys who will collect their paychecks amid Therrien’s antics. Shenanigans which will lead to more and more bizarre decisions on the part of the new / old coach. Decisions which will enable the players to skate around in a fog like last year. A fact which is none of Therrien’s fault. He is the French patsy. A ‘how to you say goat in french’?
He is the French coach required to place a revolt in submission. Therrien’s face upon his introduction Saturday night – a perfect imitation of Mario Tremblay circa la beginning of the ‘run the franchise into the ground’ era. Aka – the money years. Aka – WTF? Damphousse among the legends in the ceremonial ‘wake the ghosts’ ceremony?
Whether or not newly named General Manager Bergevin will see the errors of the team’s ways and avoid the old system as best he can – remains to be seen.
If he can bring a more modern approach to a team which has believed that the defensive style of 1968 is the way to go, the Canadiens will have a chance to compete. Yet, at the same time, if he ‘kills all the golfers’ – there will be no one around to play hockey.
Yup – he’s back! Now we know for certain – why tigers eat their young!
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- NHL returns, Habs add size at last minute (dcmontreal.wordpress.com)
- Wharnsby: Habs fail to provide happy ending (cbc.ca)
- Kind of sloppy: Lots to work on for Montreal Canadiens after season-opening loss (timescolonist.com)
- Habs’ charge falls short against Leafs (canada.com)
- Habs’ charge falls short against Leafs (o.canada.com)
Rick Keene ' s Le Forum de Montreal 