On Monday, the Boston Bruins became the first NHL team to play a third outdoor game in front of their fans. On February 18, the Carolina Hurricanes will be the 23rd team on the league to host this popular event. Seattle, the league's newest addition, will join the roster next January. And Montreal in all this?
The project is no longer in the cards, according to the response I got from the Canadian. If the organization is not really to blame, it remains that it is a blow for the image of the city.
Montreal is considered the cradle of hockey,
The Stanley Cup was the prerogative of Montreal teams in its first years of existence, at the end of the 19th century, and the Canadiens continued this tradition for a long time.
The Bleu-Blanc-Rouge is the oldest organization in the National League, having been established in 1909.
This was before the founding of the league, which was founded in 1917 at the old Windsor Hotel on Peel Street.
Jean Drapeau must shudder
That Montreal has not yet been the scene of an away game is an aberration.
We know the cause. Our sports facilities are tough.
The face of the Olympic Stadium has hardly changed since it opened for the 1976 Olympics.
The canvas has been permanently screwed down for moons.
His replacement is scheduled for next year and again. We'll believe it when we see it.
Sadder still, the stadium has lost its sporting vocation.
The Expos have gone to Washington, the Alouettes have moved to Percival-Molson Stadium and CF Montreal is only playing its first local game of the season there while waiting for weather conditions to allow them to play at Saputo Stadium.
At the height of the pandemic, the stadium served as a vaccination center against COVID-19.
Jean Drapeau must be turning in his grave if he sees what his great stadium has become.
It's shameful for Montreal.
Two stadiums too small
Let's go to the Saputo stadium. With its 20,801 seats, there are fewer places than at the Bell Centre, which can accommodate up to 21,302 spectators.
Percival-Molson Stadium's capacity has been reduced to 20,025 in recent years. But we can assume that by making adjustments, we could cram up to 25,000 fans, as was the case following the renovations made in 2010.
But again, it would not be enough for the Canadian to play there.
And, let's face it, the stadium is as old as the earth and the conditions of accessibility are poor.
Why not on Île Notre-Dame?
That said, there are places in Montreal that would lend themselves to hosting an outdoor hockey game.
Think of the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit where there are plenty of bleachers. The site offers a splendid view of downtown Montreal. There would also be on the other shore, in Old Montreal.
But it is said that the costs would be too onerous.
So how do you explain that just last year the NHL played two games, without spectators, on the 18th fairway of the Edgewood Golf Club in Lake Tahoe?
Behind Hamilton and Regina
Hamilton and Regina, which are not part of the NHL, were also the scene of this great happening.
Edmonton, which had been the site of the very first game in November 2003 against the Canadiens, will live the experience again next October.
I do not know what Geoff Molson and the mayor of Montreal think of it, but it has the effect of a nasty slap for our city.
Someone should see to it, because for the moment, Montreal is no longer the cradle of hockey.
We suspected that the Canadian would hit a wall at some point. But what we have been seeing for three weeks is haunting and painful, as friend Jacques Laperrière said in an advertisement for Anacin tablets.
Martin St. Louis' squad have won just one victory in their last 10 games (1-8-1) and they needed all their little change to defeat the Arizona Coyotes in overtime.
More enthusiasm
It is true that the injuries suffered by Sean Monahan, David Savard and Kaiden Guhle did not help.
But something else snapped.
The Habs no longer play with the enthusiasm and resilience that characterized them during the first two months of the season.
As hard as they were to face during that time, they're easy prey now.
Suzuki needs to pull itself together
Nick Suzuki is going through a bad patch. But as captain and as the team's highest-paid player, he has some homework to do.
He cannot feel sorry for himself and blame his slump on his youth.
If he's hurt, let him take a break.
Cole Caufield is young, too, but he finds a way to produce.
There are also veterans in this formation who do not give much.
We know them, we all have the same names on our lists.
By their poor performance, they do not help Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes to get rid of it, but good.
If the Canadian continues to accumulate poor performances in the second half of the season, hopefully it will earn him the lottery for first choice in the repechage and the very session of this event.
Go Connor Bedard go !
