And that wasn't the worst of it ...

posted by Mike Boone at 22h22 EST on Feb 19


The Canadiens took three of a possible 12 points on their road trip.

They are clinging to a playoff spot, and the future of their most talented player is uncertain.

Things couldn't possibly get worse, right?

Wrong.

La Presse columnist Richard Labbé is on 110% promising a blockbuster story in Friday's edition of the paper.

It pertains to the suggestion, by former coach Jean Perron, that some younger Canadiens have been enjoying too much of Montreal's celebrated nightlife.

Boys will be boys, right? This is a great party town.

Labbé says this is more than a few beers, a few shots and some late-night skirt-chasing. He's hinting at behaviour that brings criminal charges.

Wow!

Desperate Puck Bunnies?

Centennial bongs, priced to move?

How hot is this?

The 110% gang say Alex Kovalev will  be the second most important hockey story in Montreal on Friday.

What a mess!

Free agents will be lining up to play here.




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There is a sad history here with (attempted?) extortion of Russian players. Besides, even the appearance of impropriety, hanging out with mobsters, is not a good thing. While I hope not, some of it may go a long way to explaining the unexplainable.

Steiner's picture
The best part about it is how the french media will now start to complain how Gainey can't bring any coveted free agents or blockbuster trades to Montreal, and will wonder why he can't, when they should all just look at themselves in the mirror.

Don Carnage's picture
Yes its the french media that the RCMP were wire tapping not the players ....

Bugs's picture
Will the Artiste's pride be restoked again to the point of releasing his talent full-force and carrying us for the rest of the way? Yes or no? Peace Out _____________________________________________________ Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Earl of Fluppitburg, Baron of Fleenshire County and Knight of the Flannel Republic.

Gr8stFranchizEvr's picture
i've seen enough of the so-called 'superstar'. i hope he goes, sooner the better.

YES,ABSOLUTELY....maybe

mrhabby's picture
long time supporter of Carbs but leaving pluggers out on the ice with 1-2 minutes left boggles my mind. maybe were all missing something here. the line changes i get..its his job to get the best lines working and he would be called on it if he did not try this. i read an interesting artice on the Penguins state of affairs before Michelle T was let go. biggest issue team was not having any fun, no chemistry team was all robotic and distant from each other a result of no communication with players by coaches.locker room cold and players distant..no creativity..

xaverian001's picture
Innocent until proven guilty. The only thing these players did was hang out with the wrong guy, or crowd. I think this guy was just taking advantage of a couple of young guys (Hammer's involvement confuses me) with lots of money. Offering to help them get settled in the city and linking them to a good party scene. The only thing the boys are guilty of is being a little too naive. The youth on this team is really starting to show and they are just going through some tough life lessons on what it's like to be a pro right now ... I wouldn't mind having a few of their "tough lessons" for a little while myself though. Anyhoo, they haven't done anything wrong other than having a greasy association. Hopefully, now that it is out in the open they will realize they have to keep a low profile off the ice and focus on hockey and hockey alone for the stretch drive and the playoffs. I truly believe this controversy is a good thing for the team and they will do some serious growing up after this.

GP HABS FAN's picture
Read this article in the 'other wing' http://habsinsideout.com/otherwing/j-t/15920

xaverian001's picture
Thanks for the link ... that was a great read.

Bugs's picture
The Brothers K + The Hamr For Vinny. Yes or no? Peace Out _____________________________________________________ Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Earl of Fluppitburg, Baron of Fleenshire County and Knight of the Flannel Republic.

lefreak's picture
do you actually think gainey can get fair value for anyone right now? when dirty laundry is so public, the other gms are smart enough to know that gainey is between a rock and a hard place.

lefreak's picture
do you actually think gainey can get fair value for anyone right now? when dirty laundry is so public, the other gms are smart enough to know that gainey is between a rock and a hard place.

mrhabby's picture
sure but TB would say forget it. more like. markov. higgs or pleks or both. subbie or mcdonaugh. 1st rounder and 2nd rounders. for vinny, ranger and/or artukini.

forskis's picture
I think Ranger is out for the season...shoulder surgery, saw it on Sportsnet...Meszaros too...

mrhabby's picture
hmm. well if thats the case we give them lesss players if we get less in return. thats to bad about ranger..he is cheap and lots of upside.

Hi way robbery if they could pull it off.Vinny,s stock hasn,t gone down that much has it?

Yes Vinny's five extra goals would give us the cup

The Cat's picture
Of course, but that's not enough though.

and people wonder why no UFA's want to play in Montreal. I find it particulary strange that it is La Presse that breaks the story. I bet if the parties involved were francophone there would not be such a big karfuffle. I am sick of this team losing, why do we have checkers on the ice in a one goal game with 1 minute left???? Boggles the mind forget rolling 4 lines....Need a new coach that has an actual system!!!!

Jrock33's picture
I know It's always been in Bob we trust, but now I'm starting to get bothered by these kind of distractions to the team. This is the last thing we need with the habs. You sure anyone will even think of comming here after this. Ya, I mean Vinny. No gangsters in T.Bay. One thing if it is true does make sence, it explains why Serrgie K. always acted like he had been in the NHL for years. Keep hopes alive, and just keep saying in "Bob we trust". And where is Vinny, if this is true, I'll trade him for anyone on the team at this point. He's the French Canadaian cornerstone the would bring pride, and class back to the habs.

If two of the major personalities on the team are hanging with organized crime bosses, how do we know that the recent slump isn't a result of players being bullied to throw games because of gambling scams? Can this explain why Price is playing so badly?

Bugs's picture
The way the Globe and Mail presents it (for those quick to blame the French, always the French for spreading the sauce that tops "the reason why FA won't come here", a LOVELY hypothesis), this wasn't reporters rummaging in people's personal lives; this was a POLICE investigation, with certain facts to become public knowledge. French just got there first is all. http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090220.wspthabs0... Et toc! Peace Out _____________________________________________________ Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Earl of Fluppitburg, Baron of Fleenshire County and Knight of the Flannel Republic.

JasonM's picture
So, some Hab players are acquaintances with a wiseguy. OH NOOOES!!!

Harani's picture
You know the media is desperately looking for something when CTV takes their cams to the airports and showing the Habs getting off the plane in their coats in the cold and show that this morning. I just thought it was funny. They were possibly expecting an arrest like in the movies. The guy gets off the plane...you get him. Yea literally where can they hide? Anywayz...I just hope these distraction don't keep them away from playin' a good game tomoro. We have to wait to see what two games at home has done to Kovy^ Will it be like Pleky?

lefreak's picture
ctv used footage from a french sister media outlet. ;)

habs33's picture
I'm tired. I'm tired of losing to bad teams. I'm tired of the drama and the media circus. I'm tired of caring about the drama and the media circus. I'm tired of shitty line changes. I'm tired of goalies who can't find their game. I'm tired of coaches who won't admit that something is seriously wrong. I am tired of prima donnas who float around the ice. I'm tired of checking out the latest Habs news only to read a new doom-and-gloom headline. It's a hard time to be a Habs fan. That being said, I am, and always will, keep the faith. This will pass. The bad news headlines will disappear, the coaches will coach, the goalies will make the saves and maybe, just maybe the GM will make that one clutch move. I am not a big believer in shaking up a line up but, man, we really need it. Let's shed the dead weight and get on with our season. I don't even care about a Stanley Cup at this point. I just want a team, and an organization, that I can respect.

Bugs's picture
You will be rewarded for keeping the faith, Pat; that's a promise from me to you. Suggest you keep...um...an even keel. (sorry, just LOVE sayin "even keel") Bright spot possibly ahead: The return of a PIQUED Artiste. (however, we must also remember that the LAST time Kovy left the lineup for dubious reasons, dubbed "the vertigo incident", we expected to see flair exude from his vexation upon THAT return. Against da Trashers. 'Member how that turned out? I do. Not good.) The Artiste is our only hope. I truly believe that. ... Ok, who wants to bash me? Peace Out _____________________________________________________ Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Earl of Fluppitburg, Baron of Fleenshire County and Knight of the Flannel Republic.

GP HABS FAN's picture
Well put

HardHabits's picture
Here, here!

habsperspective's picture
Go Bolts Go We need help from them, if they lose to Carolina tonight, we will be 2 points from being out of the playoffs.

HardHabits's picture
So this is what it's come down to? Depending on another team's misfortune to keep the Habs in the playoff hunt. Disgusting!

lefreak's picture
this would never happen, but i think it would be amazing if somehow the team had its sell out streak at bc broken, even if it was 50 seats. Maybe then George G would get hi head out of the sand and rescue this sinking ship. bob hartley would be a great start.

zooziff's picture
The Canadiens have called a press conference at 2PM Eastern to respond to the rumours. It will probably go something like this: "They never knew he was involved in organized crime”. "Sending down Sergei was strictly hockey related and only a coincidence". "This off ice situation has nothing to do with our current performance on the ice." Any questions?

It would be nice to have either Gainey or Koivu come out and denounce the french media and put them in their place.

forskis's picture
Could happen...Koivu already has no stock with that part of the media...what the heck, right?

lefreak's picture
i see a world were we lose many ufas and can't replace them.

mjames's picture
You imply that someone was involved in organized crime. You should be careful what you are saying. You are legally exposing yourself. mjames

Rice Miller's picture
Don't you have any ambulances to chase?

Who the hell are you? Lionel Hutz? All of a sudden you're telling people what they can and cannot legally say? People have the right to open their mouth and speak an opinion. If those hockey players with criminal ties have a problem with it, come and sue me. You obviously don't know jack about libel cases and the difficulty to prove 'damages'.

Cut To The Chase's picture
m"Lionel Hutz"james LMAO

Cut To The Chase's picture
Yeah, I'm sure the lawyers are all lined up reading everything this bunch of arm chair quarterbacks have been speculating about on this flimsy, 'he said, she said', french media blockbuster. Either you live in the land of litigation, the good ol' US of A, or you're paranoid delusional.

zooziff's picture
I don't think they were involved in crime at all. You're missing the point here. The problem is that they were associated with someone who maybe! Sarcasm is great isn't it? Oh brother!

coachdoug's picture
Are you a lawyer or did you stay at a Holiday Inn express? Speculation on news stories about Public figures on a blog are not going to legally expose anyone...whatever that means now the newspapers and reporters, whole other story...but they have an army of lawyers ready to do their bidding... Go Habs Go!

zooziff's picture
Dbl post

What do you guys expect to be done. B.G. can't do anything and either can Carbo. unless they are arrested. Koivu can do nothing. He would be told where to go in a hurry. I know if someone asked me what I was doing with someone they would be told to f***off in a hurry.You can not suspend them cause the players ass. would fine you heavy. The only thing anyone can do is wait for the police to move if they have a reason. Then things could be done

Bugs's picture
Ugh...I'm tired...just feel so tired all of a sudden. But while the jaws of disaster are about to clamp their teeth about our necks, something Freddy Nietzsche said might help keep the even keel (LOVE saying "even keel";...don't really knows what it means though). "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." We're gonna come out of this TITANS, I tells ya. Chin up, mates. Peace Out _____________________________________________________ Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Earl of Fluppitburg, Baron of Fleenshire County and Knight of the Flannel Republic.

coachdoug's picture
Even keel means the ship is steering straight and in calm water... I think that says it all my friend... We will be titanium after this all settles... Go Habs Go!

RetroMikey's picture
What a mess our team is in this year! "We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"

RC-51's picture
"Isn't our government a version of a legalized mob giving themselfs raises and making 6 digit salaries for doing nothing,spending our money,on trips, big dinners, drinks and almost never succeed in solving this countries problems. We should fix them before we worry about a couple of our hockey players having drinks with some so called criminals"

Xtrahabsfan's picture
Agreed

WindsorHab-10's picture
3-12 in our last 15 games and yet the three stooges behind the bench are able to keep their jobs. Can someone please explain that?

the real vinnydj's picture
And I still don't know what type of system we play. It's kind of like a football team with really bad offense....3 tries to get out of our zone then we just punt it.

zooziff's picture
Bob Gainey. That's why you don't hire your friends.

the real vinnydj's picture
Ok so how come with 1 min left we had Kostop and stewart out there? I'm confused.

namgel's picture
One more thig ......."HIRE A REAL BLOODY NHL PROVEN VETERAN COACH" enough with the chumps already...

habs33's picture
Pat Quinn?!?

habsfan0's picture
I have one thing to say about the French media: "NYUK NYUK NYUK!"

Bugs's picture
Qu'est-ce que t'en sais, Zéro, des médias françaises? Peace Out _____________________________________________________ Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Earl of Fluppitburg, Baron of Fleenshire County and Knight of the Flannel Republic.

habsfan0's picture
Je sais rien..comme toi...

HardHabits's picture
Hey with all the hoopla maybe everyone will forget just how bad the Canadiens have been playing as of late. I don't care much for panicky moves or end-of-the-world/sky-is-falling exhaggerations and abherations of behaviour from the press, pundits, management and players. This team honks! They suck so hard all I hear when the Habs play is Ross Perot's jobs analogy. I can see the 5 year plan wasn't stuck to. Having a 100th anniversary somewhere in between can cause a change of plans if not wrongfully exceed expectations. I would be in favour of trading the veterans and start rebuilding. Forget the Cup for this year and focus on the next few coming up. If the Habs want to play the "Lemaire" trap or create a team of 4th liners and defensive specialists than in all honesty I will not follow such a boring team. I look at Detroit and can only sigh in envy. They are today what the Habs were yesterday. I know I am gonna cop a lot of flack for saying this, but the team should trade Koivu while he's still worth something. Bring up Don Lever and dump Carbonneau. At least Don won a few playoff series. I'd rather watch the Hamilton Bulldogs play right now. From failing hands we pass the torch, be yours to light it up again, the fire has been doused!

namgel's picture
Everybody is saying "We are in a huge slump and now this!" I'm willing to bet the slump is a direct result of this. The investigation has been going on for months. It didn't just happen. The players caught wind of it and all began to ***t their pants. Asking questions like "Was that girl 18 ?" "What do you mean its not icing sugar ?" They all got really nervous and paranoid and boom slumpville. Hamrlik looked extra terrible last night and Koivu was plain awefull. Makes ya think anyway.

I think your example would have been much funnier if you left it simply as "Was that a girl?" :P

zooziff's picture
Gillett needs to dump both Gainey and Carbonneau now. The players that hung around with this guy are disgraceful.

Why do I have this feeling that the Kostitsyn brothers and Hamrlik owe the mob some serious money? Or just maybe, THEY were funding loan sharks with capital for their operations. Who could resist short-term %200 interest rates when the stock markets are hitting new lows every day? Now I understand that just because they knew someone involved in crime doesn't mean that they're criminals themselves. However when you start using their "goods and services" to the point being reported, you're involvement with the mob reaches another plateau. I wouldn't be shocked if they ever discussed any 'quick' money making opportunities. Anyways, something is really fishy here and I have a feeling we're just at the beginning of it. Gainey must be punching his office walls today.

Bugs's picture
You want scary? (and before I offend anyone, I'd like to POINT OUT that I'm ignorant, thank you, and so my speculatin is to be taken with the appropriate grain'o'salt) Heard a name: Mazzola? What if, in fact, it's not Mazzola but "Mazovski"? Piotr Ivanovich Mazovski? THAT'S what scares me. "THOSE" guys. 'Member Pavel? 'Member MOGILNY? Always wondered if the Artiste (old school, after all) was under any pressure of THAT particular kind. But these young and still impressionable kids? Showered with gifts and temptations? Corrupted possibly? Hope it IS Mazzola and not Mazovski. Peace Out _____________________________________________________ Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Earl of Fluppitburg, Baron of Fleenshire County and Knight of the Flannel Republic.

mjames's picture
You might want to be careful with what you say. It is libelous. I do not think you have immunity just because you post here. mjames

cautiousoptimist's picture
It's tempting to speculate about things like this, and I'll admit that in the past I haven't always resisted that temptation to the extent that I should have. But until we know otherwise, we have to assume that all our boys' problems are limited to what happens on the ice, and our criticisms should be too. 1. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat 2. Josh Gorges on Montreal's attack: "They're comin', they're comin' and they keep comin'. Just line after line, wave after wave..."

mjames's picture
With all due respect I would not categorize what is being said here as speculation. It is more slander than anything else. mjames

Xtrahabsfan's picture
Gambling ????

To be honest, I don't think its gambling. Loan sharking sounds like a more plausible idea. Cash loans (and their sources) are very difficult to trace. However, if they were stupid enough to discuss these investments over the phone. The police may have it in their recorded conversations with Mangiola. We'll have to see.

VintageFan's picture
Cut the press some slack. It is not easy for them to understand the difference between fact, inuendo, allegation and make believe

cautiousoptimist's picture
You hit the nail on the head. Good journalism isn't easy. But what we're reading from La Presse isn't good journalism -- it's rumour-mongering for the purpose of selling newspapers and drawing clicks. All newspapers do this to some extent, but a line has been crossed here; there's nothing illegal about having a drink with an ex-con, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a sports star, politician or reporter for that matter who doesn't know a few unsavoury characters. When an editor considers whether to run a story that's potentially damaging to someone's reputation, he's supposed to weigh the public interest value of the piece against the potential harm it can do to the person being covered. Certainly harm has been done to our boys' reputations, but I'd argue that unless charges have been laid, or there's evidence of wrongdoing of some kind, it is not in the public interest to know that the Kostitsyns have a friend who's an alleged criminal. This is a non-story, people. 1. www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat 2. Josh Gorges on Montreal's attack: "They're comin', they're comin' and they keep comin'. Just line after line, wave after wave..."

t1tan5's picture
Well the most important job of a journalist is to make 100% sure that whatever he is about to write is fact and not any of the alternatives you listed.

VintageFan's picture
what "should be" and what "is" are unfortunately two very different things

mrhabby's picture
prediction..if we lose against Ottawa saturday afternoon carbo will be replaced.

t1tan5's picture
I'm so sick and tired of the media's and some poster's innuendos about players. Either say what's going on so that we can all know or don't talk about it.

AlexKovalevAK27's picture
Why is it that when everything is going bad, the French media needs to dig us a BIGGER hole... This is not the time to be printing this b/s... It's abosolutely ridiculous...

DD's picture
I think I'm going to watch as "As The Stomach Turns" this afternoon. It will probably be a lot more factual then the $#it we're have been inundated with by the french press, again.

mrhabby's picture
is this all there is..a few players hanging out with a person with a bad backound . the players may not have even known about him and his past. did anything illegal take place seems not by the players. did he arrange for some party girls to hang out with the brothers (big deal). what a bunch of crap..i miss montreal but not the french media.

Xtrahabsfan's picture
Igots news for you all ,this isn't going to be the first time or last time.I remember the Oilers had the same thing going on ,Grant Fuer(spelling?)among others apparently had there noses pack with the shit quite often.

Fansincebirth's picture
Redden, Spezza and Emery in Ottawa Once a Habs fan, always a Habs fan

forskis's picture
RetroMikey and VinnyDJ....no offense to you guys, but you keep saying "there is more", "tip of the iceberg", "we see and keep hearing things"...granted in Hamilton the news may spread quicker and more accurately, but both of you keep writing using these innocuous terms...if you got "the real news" then say it (you probably can't/shouldn't) otherwise you are starting to sound like the Antichambre and 110% guys...and you guys have been sounding like it for a while.

the real vinnydj's picture
I hear you man, but really who am I to report something that I may have heard or seen? These guys are human just like you and I (Bigger wallets, granted) My comments are directed towards the people who think our players can do no harm, remember they are human. Like I said, its not up to me to tell the news, but what I can do is walk up to one of these guys and tell them how I feel, and how the rest of the Habs family feels AND THATS WHAT I HAVE DONE.

forskis's picture
I agree with you that it is not your place to give news and definitely your right to say nothing about what you have seen and heard...but why compound the situation with innuendo (especially given the BS of last night). And trust me...given their play of late, we know they can do plenty of harm.

RetroMikey's picture
I'm keeping quiet as are some of the media. You want answers you go searching. Face it, this is reality. Our Habs are sinking every day. "We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"

forskis's picture
That is my point...keep quiet, no names, etc...that is fair enough it is definitely not your place to release the news...but when you throw innuendo out there anyway and without details it almost is the same thing as giving the news regardless, creating news when there may or may not be any does not help the situation...it just makes Mount Everests out of anthills. All I am trying to say is that if you cannot give real news but can only give innuendo...give nothing at all...it does not help matters. You know what I mean? It is like the following: "I got a secret" "Really? What?" "I can't tell you." "Then why did you tell me in the first place?" It is like a bad sitcom skit.

mjames's picture
You reference this as news. It is more hearsay and innuedo. I really think people who deal in such have a seriuos chartacter flaw. That is my opinion. mjames

RetroMikey's picture
People that criticize individuals on this site 24/7 like you have serious problems in life, that's my opinion as well. You are a very negative individual and have serious anger issues in your life directed toward fans on this site. You need help. "We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"

RetroMikey's picture
It's not a secret, you'll hear more from the media. "We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"