posted by FlyersRule
All Habs
After hearing the news today that the Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey stepped down from his position – and that Pierre Gauthier will take his place as interim GM – I couldn’t believe my ears (well, eyes – since I had to read about it online). I’m still learning a lot about the Canadiens franchise, but I’ve always had the impression and understanding that Bob Gainey was doing good things for the organization. So why would he step down? The unspoken answer troubles me.
It doesn’t take an advanced degree to figure out that I’m a fan of an American hockey team…my name says it all. I’m very proud to be a Flyers fan – we were the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, and we did it two years in a row. That may not sound like much, but Philadelphia fans are extremely loyal to their team – almost to a fault – because we simply appreciate the hard work that our guys display each and every time they step onto the ice. For us, it’s not about how many banners hang from the rafters of the Wachovia Center, it’s about staying true to what hockey is all about.
However within the last year I’ve also expanded my hockey support beyond this country’s borders and have adopted the Montreal Canadiens as my official #2 team. Yes, that makes me a “newbie” to Habs-land – but I’m learning a lot about the bleu blanc et rouge… It’s a very different experience for me to root for a team with such a storied history. It fills me with a completely different sense of pride to talk about the 24 Stanley Cup Championships which belong to the Canadiens. The Habs are one of the original six – a legacy team, an organization inspiring fans and players worldwide through their class, style, leadership and talent.
However, I have never heard of a franchise (in ANY sport) so driven by nationality and language restrictions until I started to “dig into” the Canadiens’ background. Some folks like to pretend the “To Be or Not To Be…French” debate isn’t really there. But if you know where to look, you can find plenty of examples. What about Louis Leblanc, the latest Habs recruit picked up at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Hmmm, anyone notice that he’s French? Go figure. But ok, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt…he’s probably a phenomenal player and THAT’S why the Habs took him first in the draft, right? I think many will argue that there were better choices out there – Leblanc didn’t need to be first. (Check out this article on the All Habs blog with some true “scouting” of Leblanc’s abilities: Louis Leblanc’s Development will Require Patience)
The apparent francophone hierarchy leaves me, as an English-speaking American, feeling a bit alienated – Boivin (at today’s press conference) talked about how important bilingualism is in order to maintain relativity to the 3/4 of Habs fans who are French. Now I’d love to learn the French language, but I don’t see having the time or resources available to do so anytime soon. Of course a practical solution would be to simply move to Quebec to immerse myself in the language and the culture, right? Yeah, ok. Why should a fan/supporter/enthusiast have to resort to such extreme measures to feel “accepted” by the organization? And does the front office have any “official” research showing the numbers of Habs fans WORLDWIDE who are French? These fans are found EVERYWHERE – and I would bet that there’s a lot more of them who aren’t French then management would like us to believe. (see this article posted by Rocket: Nous Sommes Canadiens / We Are Canadiens )
So a question I raise for the Canadiens management is this – What do you care more about, winning hockey games and championships? Or building a team based on discrimination regardless of whether your French personnel will actually contribute to the success of the team? Why risk losing one of the largest hockey fan bases in the WORLD simply for the sake of furthering your own political agendas and nationalistic biases?
Listen, the language of hockey is hits, dekes, checks, slapshots, saves, goals, power plays, penalty kills, faceoffs, passes, sticks, gloves, skates and ice. It’s a language of hard work, perseverance, dedication, education, teamwork and courage. Feel free to translate that into French or any other language you’d prefer – but what happens during those 60 minutes on the ice transcends any language barrier…I just hope the Habs’ front office figures that out before it’s too late.
Truer words have never been spoken, and I'm glad that a voice from outside of Quebec has emerged!
The Canadiens organization has reaffirmed their committment to mediocrity, despite Gauthier's claims that the goal is the Stanley Cup.
I challenge anyone to find me an industry that voluntarily eliminates 90% of the talent pool before even beginning their search. But because Boivin has insulated himself with the support of the majority of the population here, there's little reason to think he will change his ways. When Gauthier fails (and he eventually will), they will go about their business of pulling up the short list of candidates who may fit their criteria. Jacques Martin, Pierre Lacroix and a couple other names exist. None inspire confidence.
French-English political issues in the country and in the province of Québec are far more complicated and usually have a "raison d'être", but this is hockey and this limitation is providing us from having the best team.
Why settle for the best "french" when you could simply get the best? That is beyond me. That being said, sometimes the "french" is the best choice. We have to be careful and not roll our eyes every time the organization goes for the "french". Let's be better than the organization and not judge somebody by their birthplace or the language they speak, because I'm sorry, but we do it too.
Great post FlyersRule! I really appreciate having diverse perspectives, and on this occasion it expands the conversation to read the view of an enlightened fan from across the border.
I was struck when you wrote about feeling alienated as a fan by the words of a president who sees francophones as his primary market. Franchises who alienate fans usually lose them. It is a tribute to the passionate fans of the Canadiens worldwide that they remain loyal despite getting nothing back from the organization, not even recognition.
I liked your last paragraph. On first glance, some Canadians may be put off by an American telling them what the game is about. But I understand this wasn't your intention. For the execs of the Canadiens, who have clearly lost their focus, it was an important reminder of what the game is about…and that there isn't a place for politics.
Couldn't agree more Anon. The solution is simple. Remove the language restrictions and hire based on merit alone. If the best candidate turns out to be bilingual, so be it. All the better. But language or birthplace should not be the first checkpoint that eliminates 90-95% of the qualified candidates.
First off, thank you to Kyle, Anon & All Habs for your comments – I appreciate the feedback! And I'm glad to see that my views from "down south" line up with some of you who live in the thick of things up there in Quebec.
Kyle, I can't agree more with your comment about no industries even daring to eliminate such a high percentage of their talent pool right off the bat – this is what truly baffles me about this practice that the Canadiens seem to have adopted. This is a SPORT first and foremost – focus should be on the game and how well the team, coaches and management can help the organization be successful. I just have to shake my head in wonder.
Anon, I certainly understand your points as well – and I am the first to admit that I still have plenty to learn about the political nuances of Quebec. I would love nothing more than to see the Habs successfully hire a francophone coach or GM who was actually the best pick for the job…that way their needs for bilingualism are satisfied without allowing the team to suffer.
All Habs, thank you for your compliments! I'm glad that you understand how my last paragraph was not intended to sound as if this American girl was trying to have the audacity to tell Canadians what hockey is all about. I was simply explaining what hockey means to ME and, in my humble opinion, most true hockey fans as well. I have the utmost respect for Canadians when it comes to this sport and can only hope that my views can find a place within the conversations about this great team :)
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