Saku Koivu

Well, it's over.  The much hyped return of Saku Koivu to Montreal has come and gone and none are happier that it is over than Koivu himself.

By all accounts, Koivu was extremely nervous before the game in which he received a rousing ovation from the crowd in a moment that was as powerful for Saku as it was for his adoring fans.

Aside from the emotional return of Koivu, there was actually a hockey game to be played and, once it started, it was kind of hard to get into it for the first few minutes.

With the recent passing of Pat Burns I have heard some in the media talking about the possibility of making a movie about his life.  He was a colorful character who experienced great success in the NHL so it's easy to see why a movie about him would be a good idea. 

Now that we are a little over a quarter of the way through the season, it's time to look back at how well each piece of Anaheim's roster has done, and which piece of the game needs the most polishing in order to return to the postseason.  Let's start with offense. Please keep in mind that I am a tough grader, simply because I know what this club is capable of.

Offense: B

So after 11 points in 13 games, and being one month into the season, it's time to bust out our metaphorical microscope and check out the players.

For the purpose of effectiveness, we will have the five worst performances, one performance that breaks even, and the five best performances. 

Without further ado, here we go!

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As of Sunday night, Anaheim announced that first-line center Ryan Getzlaf will now lead the team as captain, with help from both Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne as alternates.

It was recently up in the air with who will be wearing the "C," with the main candidates Ryan Getzlaf and veteran Saku Koivu. Many people, myself included, expected experience to land the "C" on Saku Koivu's jersey, with Getzlaf learning and growing under a new captain. 

The Leafs, as many of you loyal Buds fans know, have not won a Stanley Cup in nearly 43 years...and counting.

They've had some stellar teams since 1967, but haven't quite had the talent to make it to the Stanley Cup finals.

Gone are the days of Darryl Sittler, Lanny MacDonald, and Borje Salming in the 1970's. How about the days of an early Wendel Clark, Rick Vaive and Russ Courtnall of the 1980's?

Lastly, gone are the days of Dougie Gilmour, Mats Sundin, and Dave Andreychuk of the early and late 1990's.

Heading into an offseason filled with projections of who will go where ran into many road bumps.  A year that many may not forget is being referenced as a "salary cap" stricken period.

With numerous teams facing strict budgets and tight salary caps, there has been very little room for over-spending.

Oft-mentioned 2010 Stanley Cup champion, the Chicago Blackhawks, knows firsthand how the salary cap can be compared to that of a guillotine in the Middle Ages.

What a busy afternoon it has been! We promise this will be our last report of the day to give my fingers a rest!

The New York Rangers have expressed interest in Saku Koivu to be the team’s number one center. There is no word from my partner Loeb if the two parties have actually contacted each other yet, but there is a mutual interest between the two.

Expect Koivu to come cheap, and on the first of July, the two parties will be in contact.

Koivu to Rangers: HRM 2

A lot happened with the Montreal Canadiens since July 1st.  New players came in the organization, while other players to who we cheered night after night in front of our television sets or at the Bell Centre went to other teams.

Here are two players that will be missed the most by the fans of the Montreal Canadiens.

The offseason brings new chances for teams to rebuild, improve and sometimes redeem themselves. 

Beginning July 1, the only thing that is predictable is that nothing will be. 

Time does fly.