Hooligans Sportsbook

Notes from the Toronto sports scene

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I would say we are in complete agreement on every point.

There is reality and there is perception.

Where we differ is our own perceptions of the wider perception. Perhaps I encounter more dopey, soft-minded people out there than you - or they just stand out to me more.
 
Mudcat
Au contraire Pierre.

Okay I myself was raised a Habs fan. I am not any more but would still vote for them in that vote. (It would be more of an anti-Leafs vote).



And I don't know how the overall vote would go but I really feel that the Habs are all about the French to a lot of Canada. Between the constant hysteria over the coach's/GM's/captain's level of bilinguality, and politicians and tabloids and various individuals trying to tie the team to different separatist/language agendas - the Habs are the frenchies.

Not saying that insisting on a bilingual coach isn't completely sensible - because it is - and I'm not saying that intelligent people shouldn't disregard when one idiot talks about booing the English part of O Canada or banning the Canadian flag at the Bell Centre or whatever. But there is perception.

To many, the Habs are seen as one of the most "racist" (languagist?) organizations in pro sports. People get uppity about too many white guys on the Utah Jazz/Minny Timberwolves? How about the open - almost official - preference for Frenchness from the Habs?


Where's Pucky? Puckayyyy!
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Remember the French Canadian Rule???
 
PuckOff
Remember the French Canadian Rule???
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There was no such thing. The team was in financial trouble in the 30's so the NHL tried to help by allowing them to pick 2 Quebec players in a special draft. There were a bunch of restrictions. The impact of such a special draft would seem to be pretty minor.

The NHL always tries to help poor teams. Sue them.
 
PuckOff
http://liammaguiresultimatehockey.com/the-french-canadian-rule-fact-or-fiction-2/
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Exactly:

The NHL Guide states that this special draft was only in place for three years. My research indicates that it may have been in place for as many as seven seasons however that is not 100% confirmed. My research indicates that not one player who Montreal protected during this time frame ever played a minute in the NHL. Reason being, anybody who could tie their skates and chew gum at the same time were already long signed by other NHL teams including the Canadiens who certainly were not going to survive solely with this rule. The hope was that there would be a spark of interest in the hockey fan base after Montreal signed one of these French Canadian players. It would be a bonus if he could play a bit. The thought was that this could help attendance and thereby help Montreal. Unfortunately it never did, in fact Montreal slipped even further into an abyss.
 
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