…And Laraque is Gone
Well that was fast.
Just two days ago I wrote that coach should play BGL a little more. You want proof positive that he doesn’t read this blog? The Habs bought BGL out today. The cap hit (two thirds of his salary, $1million) will be spread over two seasons, so there’s some relief there for a player who wasn’t getting a lot of ice time anyway.
In light of the situation in Haiti, BGL called the move “classless”. On a more hockey-related note, the Habs got mauled in their last two games against the Rangers and the Blues (yeah, like Carey Price is really going to fight now), but clearly, the Habs didn’t think BGL was the answer to that problem – if they even think it’s a problem.
I for one will miss him. Laraque is a very interesting ‘character’: A feared warrior who wishes opposing fighters “good luck” before pummeling them. He admits his reluctance to fighting players smaller than him (which is like, the whole league – and who does that anyway?). He takes himself out of games at the slightest sign of injuries to his back, his groin, his toenails but was regarded as the heavyweight champion of the NHL. He probably doesn’t practice too hard either. Dude was a vegan. And a goof (remember those energy drink commercials?)
I don’t know BGL at all, except for what I read, but I always got the sense that he sort of resented the fact that he had to be the one to play the enforcer – that that was his meal ticket. I get the sense BGL wanted to be known for other things too. Georges was much MUCH happier after scoring that goal against Dallas (on the heals of Haiti) than after any fight. Deep down, he’s a lover, not a fighter. And the fans were tickled with him too!
I would say that coach lost patience with BGL, but I don’t think coach ever had any patience for him. Coach barely played him this year. Even worse, according to BGL, coach never even shared his concerns, whatever they were, with BGL directly. And if that’s true, that’s not a good sign.
Equally worrisome is the fact that coach himself could not justify to the press a clear reason why he didn’t use BGL more in that game against the Rangers. He gave two reporters two different reasons.
So what is the real reason BGL is gone? Maybe Coach just doesn’t like him. Nothing you can do about it really. Coach is buttoned up and old-school, and maybe BGL’s gregarious anti-leather act just doesn’t mesh with him. I’m sure BGL’s going to the press about his lack of playing time didn’t help, either.
Now let’s step away from the soap opera and get back to what this means on a hockey level: unless Bob has something else in mind, the Habs remain a physically soft team, and now they don’t even have an enforcer – or, depending on your view of things, an ‘enforcer’.
Georges – we hardly knew ya!
