Friday, September 07, 2007

It's Not Like It's The Punch Line Or Anything, It's Just 3 People!

So there was a fascinating story in la Presse this morning. Basically, for those of you who don't read French, it says that Danny Brière would be a Hab, but Gainey would not promise him he would play on the first line with Higgins and Ryder. Gainey insisted that Saku would remain the team's first line center. Brière went to Philly where they said he could play with who he wants.

There are so many questions here we don't even know where to start. 1 - is this true? 2 - is this just a case of la Presse stirring up shit? 3 - if this is true, why on Earth would Gainey say that? 4 - if Gainey had just asked Saku to move, wouldn't he have said yes? 5 - if Gainey knew Saku would have said no, doesn't that mean that Saku has a real problem with Kovy and can't play with him? (this is HF33's theory that we discussed at lunch today)

Look, you don't break up the Punch line, or Shutt-Lemaire-Lafleur, or a fine blonde-brunette-redhead combo like you see above. But Koivu-Ryder-Higgins ain't any of those. This is a real head-scratcher.

4 comments:

Topham said...

I think Briere is trying to save some face - he didn't want to play in Montreal because he'll take the extra million a year after tax...

Jordi said...

Um, no. I think the report is just flaming bullshit. "So Briere snubbed us, lets.... write a report about why he didn't! And make it set on the lines of Greys Anatomy!". I'm not surprised Briere skipped Montreal but painting him like a manipulating asshole doesn't make it any better.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely believe it, and I am now more convinced than ever that they did the right thing by not signing him.

I do think that Brière would have been on the first line anyway, but that the Habs didn't want to give in to Brière's demands (and that kind of attitude just doesn't sit well with Carbo's style of coaching).

Brière is overpaid and getting old (little players never last very long) and I'm convinced the Flyers will regret signing him. I can even see the Habs finishing ahead of them in the standings.

Now I'm just waiting for the first Flyers-Habs game. If that story is true, there could be some animosity between the two teams, and I fully expect Komi real hard at Brière.

Better bring a stretcher.

JT

Anonymous said...

Briere's agent was on French radio and denied that conversation between him and Gainey ever happened. I believe the French media to be the most unreliable source of hockey info in the world. I'm really starting to believe that they just hate the fact that their's no French person in the public eye for the Habs (GM, Captain, etc.), so they just look to stir up shit until they get their way...

Plus, I'm happy we didn't sign Briere for such a large amount of money and time. Philly is going to regret it down the road...