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Wednesday, November 10, 1999
Pardon my French, but ...
Sacre bleu! From Les Glorieux to Les Miserables.
Excuse my French ...
But the NHL's Team of the Century isn't exactly headed into the millennium in the manner of its baseball counterparts - the World Series champion New York Yankees.
Here's one statistic that won't sit overly well with le rouge, blanc et bleu ...
The Journal de Montreal has reported that when the Canadiens dropped into 29th place last week with a 3-10-1 log, it marked the first time the Habs were last overall after 14 games since 1935.
Back in 1935-36 when the NHL embraced eight teams, the Canadiens started the season at 3-7-4.
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR
For the current edition the season has been a case of close, but no light on the proverbial cigar. And, don't forget, this has been an organization that has long taken pride in passing the torch.
Of Montreal's last eight losses, all but one have been by one goal.
"It's very frustrating,'' coach Alain Vigneault muttered of the fact the Habs haven't won since Oct. 16 (2-1 over Buffalo). "We've felt in all games we've put out a very honest and determined effort.
"We haven't been overpowered offensively by teams, even though the area we're most vulnerable is defence because we have a lot of young players there.''
Saturday in Ottawa, with four defencemen hurt, the Habs dressed Eric Weinrich, Scott Lachance, Barry Richter, Karl Dykhuis, Francis Bouillon and Miloslav Guren on the blueline. I don't detect a potential Denis Potvin in that sextet, do you?
The big problem has been an inability to score.
"The only way we're going to win games,'' admitted Vigneault, "is if we win them 1-0 or 2-1.''
The discontent within is starting to show.
"I was always proud to wear the Canadiens' jersey,'' lamented ex-Oiler Shayne Corson. "We've got to get some pride back on the team. I don't know if some people are indifferent, but if that's the case - if they want to go somewhere else - they should go to management and ask.
"Personally, it makes me sick to keep losing. I want to win in Montreal.''
While Corson maintains unhappy campers can be moved, it's been a steady exodus of talent out of Montreal that has led to the current plight.
Consider some of these ill-fated '90s deals:
* The erosion began in 1990 when the Canadiens unloaded three veterans - Chris Chelios to Chicago for Denis Savard; Claude Lemieux to New Jersey for Sylvain Turgeon; and Guy Carbonneau to St. Louis for Jim Montgomery.
* Two years later two defencemen were sent packing - Sylvain Lefevbre to Toronto for a second-round draft (Martin Belanger) and Petr Svoboda to Buffalo for Kevin Haller, who two years later was sent to Philadelphia for Yves Racine.
* Patrick Roy was quickly dispatched to Colorado in 1995 along with Mike Keane for Andre Kovalenko, Martin Rucinsky and Jocelyn Thibault. A malcontent Roy, though, forced that particular exchange.
* John LeClair, Eric Desjardins and Gilbert Dionne were shipped to Philadelphia the same year for Mark Recchi and a third-rounder (Martin Hohenberger). Last spring Recchi returned to the Flyers for Dainius Zubrus, plus second- and sixth-round picks.
* Lyle Odelein was traded to New Jersey in 1996 for Stephane Richer, then Richer, Darcy Tucker and a minor leaguer were sent to Tampa Bay for Patrick Poulin, Mick Vukota and Igor Ulanov.
* Valeri Bure, along with a fourth-round pick (Shaun Sutter), was dealt to Calgary in 1998 for Jonas Hoglund and Zarley Zalapski. Hoglund escaped to Toronto as a free agent and Zalapski has since been released. While the Habs die for offence, Bure leads the Flames with 10 goals, 17 points after 15 games.
* Vincent Damphousse's contract was unloaded to San Jose last March for two drafts.
Bad drafting has been another Montreal Achilles heel. Brent Bilodeau, David Wilkie, Terry Ryan, Matt Higgins, Jason Ward and Eric Chouinard have been some of the first-round flops of the '90s.
STAGGERING INJURIES
To worsen matters, the Canadiens have a staggering list of injuries that amounts to $12 million US in salaries - Ulanov (broken foot), Vladimir Malakhov (knee ligaments), Patrice Brisebois (back surgery), Craig Rivert (virus), Saku Koivu (shoulder) and Benoit Brunet (back).
Yet hope springs eternal that they'll turn things around.
"That's pro sport in the '90s,'' reasoned Vigneault. "Look at the NFL. The top four teams from last year are having a tough time.
"Things change quickly in pro sports.''
The Habs can only hope, beginning tonight in Pittsburgh, where two oufits - each with eight standings points - clash in a (sinking) titanic struggle.
Something's gotta give.
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