Une entrevue avec Kirk Muller

Je copie ici l'entrevue réalisée par Eric Engels qui tient un blog sur le Canandien sur hockeybuzz.com (oui, le même site que Eklunds..).

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EE: Who out of the young guns impresses you most? Kotstysin, Higgins, Plecanek, Perezhogin, Komisarek, Latendresse, Lappiere?

KM: Higgins. You can see the way he approaches the game, he’s the complete package. He’s intense, great speed and you can tell he’s just got everything it takes to be a great player. Komisarek also. These two guys really bring it.


EE: Do you think they have the potential to be future captains or assistants?

KM: Ya, I do. I think even a bit later on in the season these two really started to step up, and you could tell they were developing into the type of guys we’d like them to be in the future.


EE: You and Carbo kind of look like you got a ‘good cop’ ‘bad cop’ dynamic going. Would you say that’s accurate?

KM: (Laughs) Well Carbo is the head coach, so naturally there are going to be things he says to the guys that they don’t necessarily react the best to. So I make sure the guys understand what they are being told, and make sure they know what’s expected of them. We really try to feed off of each other, and bring passion and enthusiasm to the room.


EE: Who is the most vocal player in the room?

KM: (No hesitation) Shelly. Yup! Shelly, he’s the guy.


EE: It seems unlikely he’ll re-sign in Montreal from what I’ve heard, what do you think of the whole situation?

KM: It’s said all the time that this is a business. We saw it with Chara last year going to Boston, we obviously hope we can keep him. I’m encouraged that he hasn’t ruled Montreal out as a possibility. He is very aware of how well he’s been treated here, and respects the support he was given through his injury trouble, and tough seasons.


EE: You could notice the immediate impact Chara’s leaving had on Ottawa’s PP early on in the season, how important is it to replace Sheldon’s shot from the point should he choose to part ways with the Canadiens? Maybe with a guy like Bergeron, or Schneider, who will be a UFA at the end of this year?

KM: It’s obviously key. I actually heard Schneider might be interested in returning here.


EE: Ovechkin or Crosby?

KM: That is a really tough one. They are different players. I’m not really answering your question, but what impresses me is that they both want to be the best in the world. You can see it in their attitude; they really want to be the best. I’m not sure who I like more.


EE: Who is the meanest, nastiest guy you ever dropped in a fight in the NHL?

KM: Geez, wasn’t much of a fighter. (Laughs) Not sure I ever dropped anyone. Joe Patterson (formerly of the Wings, later involved in a deal to Philly for Darryl Sittler). In my last year I got into a fight with a big western kid playing for St. Louis, that was pretty much when I decided no more fighting.

Adresse originale:
http://www2.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=35204645

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Intéressant!

On voit que Higgins et Komi sont en train de devenir le coeur de l'équipe. Ça donne aussi une idée du rôle de Sheldon Souray dans le vestiaire.

Intéressant aussi cette rumeur voulant que Schneider ait envie de finir sa carrière à Montréal. Si jamais Souray refusait une offre raisonnable, il pourrait devenir une option intéressante et relativement économique. Quoi que je le prendrais même si Souray et Markov resignent. Enfin, on aurait une brigade défensive intéressante.

Pendant ce temps, l'agent de Markov, Don Meehan, s'est rendu en Russie pour rencontrer son client. Il semblerait que les derniers détails ont été réglés. On peut donc considéré Markov comme signé, reste à voir combien lui consentiera Bob Gainey. Il semblerait qu'il exige plus que Chris Phillips qui vient de signer pour 3,5 millions avec Ottawa. 4 millions pour 5 ans, ça me paraîtrait excellent. 4,5 pour 3 ans, ce serait un peu moins bien...

J'espère aussi que Markov aura incité son coéquipier à la défense de l'équipe nationale russe, Alexei Emelin, de venir tenter sa chance l'an prochain en territoire nord-américain.