I have to vent. I sit here watching my beloved Vancouver Canucks about to give away another game, this time to the lowly Florida Panthers, while watching their playoff aspirations slip further away. As Aaron Miller said after the last game, losing can become contagious. For very selfish reasons the Canucks have to start winning. After each Canuck loss I have to face ‘Hab Crazy’ Montrealers as they buzz about how ‘amazing’ their Canadiens are and how they are certainly cup bound this season. I admit I may have it coming as I have greatly enjoyed the Canucks dominance over the Habs during the past half-decade; I still havn’t paid to see the Canucks lose a game at the Bell Centre. And yet, even the most ardent Vancouver fan is tempered with the reality of 30+ years of regular season and playoff futility. (Naslund just missed on a penalty shot to win the game in overtime…)
That lack of reality is what drives me nuts living in this city. Habs fans are crazy! They might only be rivaled by the media in this town. On the wagon, off the wagon. Trade everyone one day, going to the finals the next. A rookie has one good game and they’re suddenly the next Maurice Richard or Patrick Roy. And Habs fans wonder why free agents don’t want to come here…well, it’s not the money, not the team, not the coach or GM, not the city…could it be manic fans and the unrelenting, invasive local media?? Who could blame even local francophone players who grew up idolizing the Habs for saying ‘non merci’ and heading to Philly or Tampa Bay to bask in millions of dollars and the relative anonymity that a non-traditional hockey market affords. Besides, they can always come back in the off-season and enjoy all the poutine and smoked meat that money can buy. (Canucks can’t buy a goal in the shootout…brutal. Florida wins 4-3.)
I suppose the spark for this blog was the simultaneous slide of the Canucks and rise of the Habs. Any other situation I could stomach, but to be mourning the Canucks and then have to hear for the hundredth time that Luongo is all they have while Cristobal Huet is apparently the second coming in Montreal was too much. I’m a realist, the Canucks are okay; they are not going to set the league on fire but are better than their recent record shows. They do indeed rely heavily on Roberto Luongo. They do play a rather ‘conservative’ brand of hockey. They do lack scoring depth. And they have been ravaged by injuries this season. You won’t catch me ranting and raving on call-in radio shows demanding trades or the coach’s head…but I won’t be planning a parade down Robson Street any time soon either. I just wish Habs fans and media could slow down long enough to realize that the Canadiens are also not as good as their recent record indicates. I say this out of sympathy for Habs fans and players as they will be subject to a rabid Montreal media machine as it scrutinizes every last detail of the player’s lives and game while saturating this insatiable market with stories of impending doom as the Canadiens naturally come back to Earth. Just let your Habs be and good things will continue to happen.
In the meantime, my in-laws have brainwashed my 3 year old daughter into chanting ‘Go Habs Go’. There goes the future. Lord give me strength, I’m all alone here in Hab-Land.
‘Go Canucks Go’
3 responses so far ↓
habs fan in canuck land // February 6, 2008 at 3:45 am
Hey Mike or CFIHL,
Nice blog, you should write all of these while watching a Canucks game – it adds a certain spontaneity to the piece.
It’s amazing the similarities in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal in respect to the media and fan ‘rabidness’. On the 1040 it was trade the team and fire Vigneault early this year and whenever they lose Luongo let them down. Then they had a great November and Luongo is the greatest ever and the Canucks are definite contenders. The thing that really bugs me about the media here is that whenever they pick up another player they talk about him like he’s going to be the difference, which is a lot of malarkey because they only seem to pick up scraps (and that’s a huge pet peeve about Nonis and his refusal to make a real addition to this team that could realistically help).
Anyway, can’t wait for the next blog!
Go and tuck yourself in with your Loser Blanket, No-goal-off!
Stewart // February 7, 2008 at 3:36 am
Thanks for the comment and encouragement. I may have been too hard on the Habs, they looked really good against Ottawa last night and as I flipped back and forth from the Vancouver game i found myself lingering around a little longer on RDS with so much action. Full marks to the Canucks though for a solid point with a minor league defence. Now, if they can get some bodies back and…say…sign some Swedish star(s) I could turn that blanket into a winner.
Peace.
habs fan in canuck land // February 8, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Hey dere!
I hate the Leafs.
They always seem to find a way to beat Montreal when they’re not playing well.
I should have called in sick today, that’s how bad I feel about last night… and I didn’t even watch the game.
Boy there seems to be a lot of buzz about Forsberg coming to Vancouver, eh? I think that even in his diminished state it would be a good thing for the Canucks, although again typical of their acquisitions-a player not quite at the top of his game but still brought in because maybe he can help with scoring.
I think we should come up with a new swear word based on this. How about ISBISTER! It kinda feels dirty.
But the real problem with the Canucks is injuries, they simply can’t win with so many regulars out of the lineup. But really who could?
anyway talk to you soon
Frank