MONTREAL, QC. – What’s emotion got to do with it?
With the Habs, a whole hell of a lot it seems.
With every breath, every stride, people react.
People rant.
People rave.
Such is life in Montreal as a Habs fan.
Why is this happening? The mistrust that many feel of Pierre Gauthier’s abilities to manage the team and to a lesser extent, Geoff Molson, as their owner.
Our number 13, Mike Cammalleri was traded. Mid-game no less. A move that is so rare, that it caused quite a stir.
My reaction?
He isn’t my Norris Trophy winning, co-captain Greek God, Adonis Chis Chelios, so there really wasn’t one.
The only time I got emotional over a trade was when my #24 was traded on June 29, 1990 to the Chicago Blackhawks.
I cried that day.
Why? I had met him. I used to see him downtown at the bars. He came to see my dying cousin in the hospital. He was like family. He was by far my all time favourite player. Him leaving my beloved Habs hurt. Hurt like hell.
It took me a long time to separate the love for a player with the love of the team.
Yet here we are, and people are reacting to the Mike Cammalleri trade like it’s the end of the world as we know it. I totally understand, as that is how I felt when Chris Chelios left the team.
I was simply surprised with how it happened with Cammalleri.
Many fans may be quicker to get over the fact their favorite player was dealt if they had confidence in who is running the ship, and that the trades make positive results.
This is the root of much of the cynicism.
Seeing the way my friends and others reacted, Cammalleri to them was my version of Chelios. They hurt and cried like I did, for similar reasons.
There will be lingering bitterness for those fans until there is proof positive that Rene Bourque and/or the picks involved lead to fruit instead of rocks.
The rocks are what people are seeing, and why the fans reacted as they did.
Scott Gomez captured the emotions of the players, and it is of those we should be mindful.
Hockey is a business. Scott says it. It’s something many people seem to forget.
Hockey players are a commodity. We may not like to hear this but it’s true. They can change teams on any given day. It’s the nature of this beast we call the NHL.
Is it fair to the fans?
Absolutely not. The fans want to see their favourites wear the Bleu Blanc Rouge.
Having said this though, if the fans believe that the crest, the C H is more important than the player, then they will understand.
I now understand this.
Mind you, if Gorges gets traded…