Embarrassment

I have never been more embarrassed to be a Montreal Canadiens fan than I am tonight. After making a committment to change and improvement by firing their talented and well-respected coach, the Canadiens spat in the faces of all their fans by putting out their worst effort since winning the Cup in 1993 tonight against the Vancouver Canucks. After resisting the temptation to blame and be angry for so long, I am tired of making excuses for the players I am supposed to like that are doing nothing to uphold the tradition that this great franchise obligates them to be a part of. The following are an embarrassment to the Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club, to all their fans, and to the city of Montreal and the National Hockey League:

• JOSÉ THEODORE: You let in three goals in the first 4:30 of tonight's game against the Vancouver Canucks. Regardless of the final outcome of the game (it happened to be a 6-2 loss for your team), you are being paid $4.5 million to stop the puck regardless of how useless your defensemen are. You have no excuse for your incredibly pathetic play. I saw you crying in the hallway on national TV after being pulled from the game; your time in Montreal is done. I have been a staunch supporter of yours despite your lack of effort this season. Clearly, you are more committed to ITECH than to the Montreal Canadiens, so good riddance, and good luck to you wherever you end up after this sad and sorry excuse for a hockey game you played.
  
• SAKU KOIVU: Saku, I have supported you too despite the tough times you have endured with this team. I was inspired by you when you came back from your cancer treatment to help lead your team into the playoffs. However, in your 10 years with the Montreal Canadiens, you have been a part of only four Habs teams that have finished above .500 in the regular season, and have only won a handful of playoff series to go with that less-than-amazing statistic. You are a hard-working player, but as captain of this team, anything less than .500 should be unacceptable to you, and you have failed to motivate this team to be better than that. At this point, it might be better for you to sign elsewhere so that the Canadiens can truly have a fresh start next season.
  
• ALEX KOVALEV: I have been dazzled by your play this season and last; however, you only have 10 G and 21 A to show for the $4.5 million you are making this season. A player of your calibre should expect more from his teammates, and from himself.
  
• MIKE RIBEIRO: Your lazy play and disruptive attitude are a big reason why Claude Julien got fired, and why this team is so cliquey and unmotivated. Shame on you for being a Montrealer who is making the Canadiens worse than they could and should be. You deserve to be cast off from this island more than anyone else on this team.
  
• RADEK BONK: You sorry excuse for a third-line centre, you cost Claude Julien his job and took a stupid penalty on what could have been a Canadiens breakaway after your team went down 3-0 early in the game tonight. You are making $2.394 million this year, and, considering how you were traded for Mathieu Garon, you were probably one of the worst acquisitions the Canadiens have made since Jocelyn Thibault. Get out of our town.
  
• MATHIEU DANDENAULT: You were acquired after being a part of the Red Wings for your whole career, yet you have shown no evidence of being a component of their success. You have probably been involved in more unnecessary goals than any other teammate on the Canadiens, and have certainly not lived up to your expectations as a solid two-way player. Who are you exactly??
  
• MIKE KOMISAREK: People are touting you as the next captain of this team. I am sorry for the tragedy you have had to endure this season; however, you are not living up to your potential as a top defender. Again, it's difficult for me to blame you for anything based on your situation, but you have to show why the Canadiens have placed so much faith in you as a prospect.
  
• SHELDON SOURAY: I understand that you are going through marital problems, but enough's enough. Know the rules of fighting, and don't screw things up for your teammates. You've got to bring out your vintage slapshot again.
  
• MARK STREIT: Too many rookie mistakes. Wrong place, wrong time.
  
• RICHARD ZEDNIK: You're the first-line left wing. Where has your production gone? You better be some good trade bait...
  

And now for those who I'm either indifferent to, or who have actually contributed positively this season:

• STEVE BÉGIN: Haven't heard from you in awhile, buddy.
  
• FRANÇIS BOUILLON: You still know how to throw your weight around. One of the hardest workers on the team.
  
• JAN BULIS: Great season! You have really established yourself as an effective and reliable role player.
  
• CHRIS HIGGINS, TOMAS PLEKANEC, ALEXANDER PEREZHOGIN, ANDREI KOSTITSYIN: The exciting rookie class.
  
• ANDREI MARKOV: By far the team's best defenseman. Thank the Rocket you're here.
  
• GARTH MURRAY: We actually got something for Marcel Hossa!
  
• CRAIG RIVET: I hear you're cocky, but wow, are you holding the fort on defense. Too bad no one else is, asides from Markov
  
• MICHAEL RYDER: You are an amazing player. Only one of a select few Habs to score 20 goals in his first two seasons in the NHL. Keep it up!!
  
• NIKLAS SUNDSTROM: I'm still bitter about the Jeff Hackett trade, but you've done nothing wrong.
  
• CRISTOBAL HUET: I'd never thought I'd say this, but, for the foreseeable future, you are the Habs' #1 netminder in my view. You're calm, collected, modest, and well-trained. Most importantly, you're playing 1000x better than Theodore. Keep it up.
  

I hate being a bandwagon jumper, but I'm tired of the frustration that comes with being a Canadiens fan. If a big change is not made by the end of this horrendous road trip, I am switching my allegiance to the Senators for the rest of the season, if not beyond that. I'm tired of being the embarrassment of the bunch amongst my friends. This is not the Canadiens that I'm proud of. I was sad to see Henri Richard watching the Canucks game in Vancouver tonight. This game, and this season, goes against everything him and his brother, as well as so many other proud men, fought so hard for. I've had enough.