Well, I always feared this day would come. Habsinsideout reports that this site's namesake has been sent home while the Habs continue their road trip. And not for medical reasons.
Well, those who are always saying Bob Gainey should "blow up the team" are getting their wish.
Gainey spoke pretty frankly about Kovalev's performance - too frankly. If there was any thought about him returning next year, Montreal fans can forget it. Players don't react well to being publicly embarassed. Patrick Roy comes to mind.
Debate Kovalev's merits all you want, but this is a larger issue than just one talented Russian.
Montreal has also just sent Sergei Kostitsyn down to Hamilton. This team managed to alienate Sergei Samsonov and Michael Ryder (both of whom, on further inspection, seem to be doing much better with a change of scenery). The first reaction a lot of people are going to have is that, when they see all these Russian names, they'll write this off as making sure the Russians play an NHL, not a European game.
Folks, that's a load of bullshit.
First of all, remember that Michael Ryder also floundered under Carbonneau's "leadership." Mike Ribeiro isn't doing so bad either. Keep in mind that Montreal will be unable to sign any Russian free agents if it gets a reputation as an inhospitable place. What's more, other players in general see playing in Montreal as an exercise in psychological torture. Mike Ribeiro and Michael Ryder have mouths, and they tell their teammates about the catty behavior of Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau. Or, hell, the players can see it for themselves when Bob Gainey fights with Kovalev in the media.
This is NOT the way good teams are managed. Good managers praise publicly, and criticize privately. Bob and Guy seem to have the opposite idea.
