While in the Queen City for the Hockey Hall of Fame induction gala, Serge Savard attended the Montreal Canadiens’ 4-1 defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Saturday, and he did not didn’t like what he saw at all.
The former general manager and star defenseman of the Canadiens, an elegant man who nevertheless always expressed himself with candor, would like to see more anger within the team.
“I was discouraged,” he told Renaud Lavoie on the red carpet Monday in Toronto. In hockey, you have to play with emotion and I didn’t see anything. I’m even surprised they won in Buffalo this afternoon, but oh well.”
Obviously, the injury suffered by Patrik Laine during training camp and the fact that the team is so young doesn’t help.
“We have a couple of good young people who will give us a little more, but we have to give them a little time,” conceded the man we nicknamed the Senator.
Weber’s class
On the subject of Weber, who is preparing to become an immortal, Savard was very complimentary.
He told an anecdote that says a lot about the class of the former Habs captain.
“I went into a restaurant in Candiac,” Savard remembered. I didn’t recognize him and he paid my bill. When I realized it was him, we chatted for a few minutes together.”
Even if he lacks a Stanley Cup on his record, Weber fully deserves his place in the Hall, believes Savard.
“We would have taken him in the Big Three [redoutable trio de défenseurs que formaient Serge Savard, Larry Robinson et Guy Lapointe dans les années 70]Shea Weber! It would have made a Big Four! Unfortunately, he never managed to win the Stanley Cup, but you just have to look at his performances in international hockey and his time in Montreal.
Damphousse and Provost, them?
But Vincent Damphousse too, some will say, and, yet, he is still waiting his turn, just like Claude Provost.
“There is no doubt that Vincent deserves to be there,” said Mr. Savard. I have been on the selection committee for 15 years and it is not easy [d’être admis au Temple]. It takes 14 votes out of 18.
“Claude Provost in Montreal won nine Stanley Cups. One year he ended up on the first all-star team, beating out Gordie Howe right. He’s been nominated two or three times now and he hasn’t passed yet.”
Watch the full interview with Mr. Savard in the video above.
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