This City Spits Out Its Players
February 24, 2018
By Brian Wilde
Recrutes: Hockey scouting from a professional perspective from Grant McCagg and Habs coverage from a 33 year veteran covering the NHL from Brian Wilde.
February 24, 2018
By Brian Wilde
The Montreal Canadiens are only two days away from the unsettled feeling of roster changes are completed this season. It was with this back drop that the Habs took on one of the best teams in hockey – the Tampa Bay Lightning. Here’s Brian Wilde who goes on a rant…
Brian Wilde has worked in hockey since he was 20. He was the rink side host for the Edmonton Oilers at CTV and Ottawa Senators for Sportsnet. He was also lead reporter on the Montreal Canadiens for 17 years at CTV Montreal.
Denis Boudreau says
Marvin Matthews says
Brilliant, Brian. The last half of this video is must-see viewing.
frank says
Damn. Well said brian. Finally someone in the media calling out the BS in this city. Next please talk about the stupidity of only hiring French speaking coaches or GM. Talk about excluding 95% of the best qualified ppl. I’m so disgusted by this regime that I actually stopped caring about them.
Keep preaching brother
Scott Murray says
I’m with you on the disgusting attitude of some trolls (not fans, not ink-stained wretches who think of themselves as journalists because they know how to generate likes or get eyeballs by spreading ugly and unsubstantiated rumours around – call them what they are: trolls).
It was one thing to mock Scott Gomez for his meagre scoring while pocketing $8 million towards the end of his contract. What the trolls have done with Pacioretti, an American who has really done everything you could ask to embrace this city and its die-hard fans, and to wear the CH with respect and pride, is way below the pale. Good for you for getting on this soapbox, Brian. You are what sports journalism should be. Thank you.
Greg Hamilton says
Well said Brian. At times, it has been horrible the treatment some players have endured (Pacioretty, Brisebois, Gomez, Roy, Price, Desharnais, etc) from some of the fans and media, because the player has not lived up to their (at times impossible) expectations. Yes, they are professional athletes, and well paid, but they are humans that make mistakes like all of us do. There isn’t one of us who can say that they haven’t had bad days at work, in their profession, or in life in general, for short or extended periods of time . It happens to everyone.
That’s life. But hopefully no one has angry, spiteful people harassing them, saying awful things about them (whether true or not) when they are not perfect all the time. For the reasons you stated it is hard enough to attract players to want to come here, because nostalgia and what once was, is not enough to draw free agents to want to come to Montreal.
Stephen says
Very good piece Brian,you are absolutely right on all points.
R.P. says
Well said on all points. #GHG
Emil says
It’s good to see someone actually telling the truth. Thanks for the video Brian.
JF says
So well spoken and so bang on – well done Brian! I sure hope people finally wake up sooner than later and realize that acting like idiots will only make matters worse and keep our club uncompetitive year after year with no hope for a cup for the next 50+.years.
Roger ross says
I agree 100% with you brian on this i have been a fan since 1967 had this year is the worst that i have seen from the fan base towards alot of our star players like price,patches and plecky.i have been on social media chatting with quite a few hab fans most of the day more or less telling them pretty well the same thing.very well my friend
Patrick Coutu says
Another 25 years should make them understand the way it is. I hope their shindig gets raided and they all resist arrest. Too bad we can’t vote people off the island.
MARIO B. says
Totally agree with what you said 1000% Brian .Shame on them .Max practically gave his life for the Habs but people don’t care.Heartless city with heartless fans.And the bar thing I don’t even want to mention those idiots.Keep it up Brian .
Tony says
Fantastic Brian ! That’s all I can say.
mike brown says
Well said Brian!
habz24 says
Well said.maybe i am part of the prob,as a result i deleted my twitter and facebook accounts for good,the world can do without my opinion. Its easy to hide behind this keyboard and spew shit,true enough,ive learned ill tone the crazy shit down,but opinions are still legal.
On the opposite side of that negative coin is when the habs are winning this is the greatest city in the world to be in,its electric a constant buzzing.too bad we dont have a winning team anymore.i didnt put this garbage team together mr bergevin did.he must go,times up on his reign,i completely 2 million percent do NOT believe he can do the job at the level thats needed here.look how fast babcock and the leafs turned around the leafs,never happen as long as bergys the head of the fish.
Taxes high in que,yup,no doubt,but players get paid in usa $$$, so when thats put in thier bank accounts into cdn $$ dont they get 30% or so more after the currency exchange? Hmmmm.plus mtl lowcost of living,the habs tradition of 24 cups and loud fans.fire bergy,rebuild. The fans are fed the f up with this fiasco,other then boycotting games and protesting with picket signs outside the bell center what else can diehard pissed off fans do…explode on social media. Not me,im off that insanity.ill stick to recrutes,but tryn keep it civil,lol
Trade day monday..i wanted 67 to pick up that puck after last nights goal and salute the fans but bergy waiting for a blockbuster deal..well see..well see
Sonofgreengenes says
You completely missed the point. You’re still ranting as if you never deleted your membership to the 2 social media sites.
Milton Simitsakos says
Great, great COTW. I know a lot of fans are dying for Max To be traded and I can’t for the life of me understand why.
We haven’t had a pure, consistent goal scorer of Max’s caliber since Guy Lafleur. This is who’s the supposed problem? He’s managed to do all this without a center, his entire career, a 30 goal guy playing with at best a 3rd line center.
I know that he’s the guy that will probably get you the best return. But draft picks and prospects are just shots in the dark. They’re just hope in a city where we’re completely depleted of it right now. At the very best, one of them will pan out to be another scoring phenom just like Max. Most likely, you’ll end up landing another bottom six guy that can play top six in a crunch.
I’m not looking forward to Monday at all. Letting go of Max will create such a huge void on a team that already can’t score a goal if their lives depended on it. It would have been nice if MB could have delivered a1st line center during his tenure as GM…but I know his job is tough. He makes sure to remind everyone during every press conference he holds.
Ihab says
Brian
You always said it like it…insider, outsider or not
A true professional
Good luck
Matt Hessian says
Amazing Brian. 👏👏👏👏
You nailed it. You really did. Media and fan base in MTL gives me a headache and I live in Halifax! Not all the time but more than it should.
Your voice is refreshing, as well as this account. Really enjoy the content from Grant and yourself.
Cheers, Matt
Steve B. says
Brian, I fully agree with your rant at the end. It’s deplorable. Players should expect that their play be scrutinized – that’s a fair understanding and fair game for all. Getting into judging player’s personal lives… not treating players like people? It’s shameful and totally out of line.
charles lesage says
well dun and thank you Brian it was about time thumone put us in hour place to much talk
Andy Froncioni says
It’s fine for Carey Price to be angry at whoever initiated the rumour that you’re talking about. But NOT ok to blanket punish an entire City and all of its journalists with curt answers after receiving a spectacular contract extension. That disrespectful to the source of the money that will not only make him filthy rich, but will also make all of his children and all of theirs filthy rich. Probably forever.
The truth is that he has not played well for significant stretches this year. He’s lost goaltending battles to other goalies who, at least for now, just plain beat him more regularly than he beats them. When the other team’s offense failed them, their goalies stole the game that Price couldn’t steal for the Habs.
The Bye Bye Pacioretty party was an abomination. But again, why call out fans for that. It’s one bar. One really tasteless bar.
Faf says
Mike Bossy and Michel Bergeron are amongst the lead voice on the French media side leading the destruction of Max P. this year and shaped or significantly influenced fan sentiment. I am not saying that some of their points are valid, but the constant belittling has led down this path.
Cindy says
You are so right..thanks for being honest and saying it like it is..i appreciate and respect the habs thru good and bad times..im cindy a fan from new brunswick
Henry Viger says
Bang on Brian!
Sean O'Donnell says
Excellent remarks Brian! Your integrity and reasoning shine brightly in this dismal situation
Debbie Wald says
Wow that was so very passionate. Thank you for calling out the media and the fans. How sad it is to treat a player who has given so many years to the club with such disrespect. Kudo’s to you Brian for always taking the high road!! Shows why you have always been one of the most respected at Ctv and now.
Jens Nyberg says
Once again Brian great rant! Word of visdom. The mentality has to change, but it’s obviously hard. The mighty history of the Franchise lies heavy on the organisation and the fans always compare to the seasons when they had a Stanley Cup winner.
And then when misleading jounalists keep poring gas on the fire it’s not exactly helping the situation.
habz24 says
Patch since getting rocked by chara plays not to get hurt,a tip in artist,hey hey im open pass it to me,oh what a goal by patch.ya right.too shy to be a great captain. Glad when he finally gets dealt
habbernack says
The problem of the human heart is the heart of the human.
Steve says
M. Wilde,
Vous dénoncez vos collègues sur leurs manque de professionnalisme et de rigueur journalistique. Quant est-il de vos propos sur la promotion du restaurant qui voulait célébrer le départ de Max Pacioretty ? Mentionnez-vous que l’image dont vous faites mention n’a été affichée qu’une vingtaine de minutes sur une simple page Facebook, que les responsables ont rapidement retiré l’image et présenté leurs excuses ? Malheureusement, l’image circule encore à cause de quelques acharnés haineux… Mais trouvez-vous responsable d’encourager à manifester contre un petit commerce local qui à simplement fait valoir une opinion que beaucoup de gens partage ? Je déteste la violence verbale qui reigne sur internet, mais puisque vous utilisez vous-même ces mots, permettez-moi de vous les re-servir : you’re the one who should shut your mouth.
Christian Sévigny says
Great stuff Brian! Takes guts to call people out, especially fans. I firmly believe we as a fan base have become so toxic that we don’t deserve another cup. Fans act like we are the best but no, we only cheer on the team when the game appears to go our way. Other teams seem to get ‘encouragement’ cheers from their fans. It still happens once in a while for the Habs but it is a rare thing.
Nice Brian. Absolutely right.