Comments on: Why don’t the Habs stink?

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:12:20 +0000

Part of it is also that the ticket prices in Montreal (while still high) do not compare to the stratospheric rates they charge at the ACC. Lucky for them they have all those head offices in TO willing to lay out ridiculous dough for mediocre hockey. This is one of the reasons that when the Habs, Senators or Sabres host the Leafs, it feels like half the crowd is wearing blue and white: the trip to those places plus the ticket is cheaper (and easier to get) than the same ticket would be at a Leaf home game.

One other thing about the difference in the hockey media/culture between the two cities: there is a chance that someone along the lines of a Sidney Crosby or Steven Stamkos (an English Canadian superstar) will one day play for the Maple Leafs. On the other hand, it's going to be a long time before you see the next great francophone star playing for the Habs - the media here is just too invasive and demanding if you're local. There's a reason that guys like Daniel Briere, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Simon Gagne consistently choose not to play in what is effectively their hometown.

By: HabsFan29

HabsFan29 — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:27:02 +0000

I vote management. George Gillett has been the perfect owner, hands off and not interfering. Bob Gainey knows what he's doing. Leafs ownership and managment, also hampered by MLSE managments, is a disaster.

By: Montrealiste

Montrealiste — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 13:49:28 +0000

You build a team through draft picks (Plek, Price, Komi, Higgi, Lapierre, GUI!, Kotstis's) not with money (Blake, Rayyyyyycroft). That is why the Habs don't suck.

And about that "kids glove treatment", I remember a Gazette article about the new rates for the tickets. It was a solid diss if you ask me.

And half the journalist at La Presse are old Nordiques fans.

So Maclean's, when you write an article about the rest of the country, i propose you GTFO of Toronto.