Saku Koivu Discussion

[SB164]

 

[Masao]

I was there that day.

Good memories.

I remember taping the game and watching the 110% show after and they were talking about how badly Koivu played. I don't remember who was there but they said something like "ok now the clouds are gone. Seriously, how well did he play from one to ten? 2."

It was ridiculous.

I also met Jacques Demers at the game that day. It was fun.

 

[vHAB]

One of the moments that cemented my passion for the Habs. I was only 10 but I remember it like it were yesterday. Gotta love Saku.

 

[Masao]

The playoffs that year were horribly frustrating though. The team completely gave up against Carolina. I'll never forget poor Gilmour smacking that door.

Then Theodore cashed in on his hart and vezina by signing a gigantic contract in the offseason and then just sucking completely after that.

 

[DAChampion]

Koivu is the greatest Have of my life.

 

[PaulD]

The playoffs that year were horribly frustrating though. The team completely gave up against Carolina. I'll never forget poor Gilmour smacking that door.

Then Theodore cashed in on his hart and vezina by signing a gigantic contract in the offseason and then just sucking completely after that.

The yellow jacket series.

 

[PaulD]

Great Hab and a great captain.

Saku was admired and well liked by team mates and players

around the league.

For how he carried himself both on and off the ice.

 

[Masao]

A lot of people forget he was near the top of the league in scoring when he got that bad injury in 1996. He wasn't the same after that.

Koivu, Pierre Turgeon, Mark Recchi, Damphousse... there was a lot of scoring potential there in those years. Too bad Roy was let go for peanuts.

But then...

Nothing in return for Turgeon
Nothing in return for Recchi
Nothing in return for Damphousse

Koivu did his best and he was a great player, but the team literally collapsed around him.

 

[Tuggy]

My favorite all time player. Saku!

That moment was very special.

 

[Masao]

 

[mariolemieux66]

I stopped watching the Habs for years after all the bad trades they made starting with the Roy and LeClair, so i haven't seen much of Koivu.

I know Koivu was love by many.

 

[TRG]

What a great moment.

 

[SB164]

For many of us growing up, myself included, Saku Koivu was basically synonymous with the Montreal Canadiens.

 

[Masao]

Anyone remembers when Michel Bergeron was doing the play-by-play he would call him "Saiko Koivo"?

 

[the]

A true playoff warrior!

 

[SB164]

A true playoff warrior!

He had 10 points in 12 games in the 2002 playoffs. Just an absolute warrior in every way.

 

[TRG]

He had 10 points in 12 games in the 2002 playoffs. Just an absolute warrior in every way.

That winning goal!

 

[Yarborough]

Flames fan here in peace.

Saku Koivu is my favourite player of all time, when I was young I cheered for the Habs not only because my father was a Habs fan but because Saku was the greatest to me when I was younger. He still is and I have to say I have fond memories of watching Habs games with him playing. It was a shame he never won a cup there in Montreal, would of been amazing to see the him lift the trophy over his head. Still, to beat cancer and continue playing is no tiny task and watching that clip brings back memories. What an amazing player Saku was, his number should be retired in the bell centre in my opinion (of course when it is no longer in use by an active player.)

 

[SB164]

I can't find a video for this anywhere, but I remember watching an interview on TV years ago featuring Erik Gudbranson, who was highly-touted in his draft year.

So Erik grew up a Habs fan and his little brother was diagnosed with cancer. According to him, one day out of the blue, none other than Saku Koivu called his house to speak to his brother and offer words of support.

I wish Koivu had never played for another team. I still think he should've retired as a Montreal Canadien.

 

[SquiddFX]

That was a goosebumps moment I remember from when I was a kid. Saku was my favourite player during those years. I never got to see the legends like Beliveau, Lafleur, Rocket, etc, so Koivu was the Habs legend of my youth. It sucks he never won a cup here because he deserved one.

 

[Brainiac]

That was really something.

And godamm, 15 years ago... I feel old now.

 

[PaulD]

A lot of people forget he was near the top of the league in scoring when he got that bad injury in 1996. He wasn't the same after that.

Koivu, Pierre Turgeon, Mark Recchi, Damphousse... there was a lot of scoring potential there in those years. Too bad Roy was let go for peanuts.

But then...

Nothing in return for Turgeon
Nothing in return for Recchi
Nothing in return for Damphousse

Koivu did his best and he was a great player, but the team literally collapsed around him.

Yes. I remember the game his knee was blown out. Against the Hawks. Might have been Suter.

The line of Koive Reichi and Corson at one time were all in the top 5 . That was early is season (i think saku went down in november or December) but still they had the makings of a great line. He was never the same after that. Lost a step and some agility.

 

[le_sean]

He had 10 points in 12 games in the 2002 playoffs. Just an absolute warrior in every way.

He completely owned 6'4 Thornton.

A legend. It's a shame they never got him the support he deserved.

 

[BLONG7]

He completely owned 6'4 Thornton.

A legend. It's a shame they never got him the support he deserved.

This big time...a true playoff warrior for the Habs!!

What a moment, that was, when he came back...

Boy, did the franco media always crap on him though....

Koivu was a Hab Legend!! During a really tough time...

 

[the]

Stupid Gainey letting him walk away in 2009 and replacing him with Gomez!

It took me years to recover from that move