The story was broked by a credible writer and then confirmed by two solid writers who have entries and sources among agents and staff around the NHL. The Habs lied in the Kovalev case and try to hide a blunder from their GM. This is an unfortunate situation for the Habs where the more it goes, the more it’s clear that the organisation is trying to control the information about the club. For those who read Red Fisher, don’t bet your house on his report. For years, now, Fisher is more a corporate tool then anything else for the Habs. Fisher was one of the best writers, at times, but it’S definitely not the case, anymore. A very sad situation for the fans who hammered Brière only to discover that their favorite team lied to tem…

Posted by Latrappe on 09/09/07 at 09:20 AM ET

It’s curious that this story about Briere appears a full two months after the fact. So, Brunet has two credible sources but none were Briere’s agent, who denied the story claiming Briere’s role with the Habs was never discussed during negotiations.

Also interesting that this story appears after Briere was slammed in the Quebec media for not signing with the Habs.

Again, what was the point of the Brunet article? To make Gainey look bad and Briere look good? Most of the reaction I’ve heard to this story was supportive of Gainey.

Besides, it’s not as though this article is gonna get Gainey fired or magically turn Briere into a Hab.

If Brunet’s intent was to stir things up during a slow news period regarding the Canadiens, mission accomplished.

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 09/09/07 at 09:29 AM ET

Brière family lived in Québec. Don’t you think that they were tired to see Brière nailed, in the media, for the wrong reasons. Brunet probably have a source among Brière’s family… The most important point, IMO, is the fact that the Habs were ready to pay a guy 7 per without knowing or telling him what kind of status he will have on the team. That’s not very smart and the fact that Gainey was not ready to spend more after the Brière signing indicate to me that it was a DOA situation for him. No, the Habs doesn’t look good on this one and they are, 2 for 2, in that regard in this offseason.

Posted by Latrappe on 09/09/07 at 05:05 PM ET

Let me add that Eric Bélanger, who have the same agent as Brière, said otherwise ( in a radio show ) then his agent regarding issues mentionned in the paper.

Posted by Latrappe on 09/09/07 at 05:08 PM ET

So the best this article serves is a response to Briere’s media critics for spurning the Habs for the Flyers. The story might’ve had more relevance if it had appeared in early July, now it just sounds like somebody - Briere, his family, another person, possibly the reporter - had an agenda.

It still won’t change what’s already happened a full two months ago, regardless of the reason why Briere signed with the Flyers, and it won’t lead to Gainey’s firing. 

I believe Briere was intent on joining the Flyers from the get-go. His buddy Biron had been dealt to Philly at the trade deadline and he made it clear from the start that he’d do all he could to convince Briere to join the Flyers. Holmgren never publicly stated his intent but only the naive would believe Briere wasn’t his priority for this summer and obviously wasn’t going to silence Biron for his public statements. Briere himself stated well before July 1st that the possibility of playing for the Flyers was an intriguing one.

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 09/09/07 at 05:33 PM ET

Latrappe, I think you’re missing something here. 

First, of course the Habs will try to control info coming out about the team.  Name me a team in any sport that doesn’t.

Second, Brunet is of questionable credibility. 

Third, the story was confirmed by two anonymous sources, not credible writers. 

Fourth, really, who the *#$%@& cares?  Brière’s over-rated, and he’s not going to save the Habs.  Nor is he going to save Philly.  Maybe he used the Habs to bolster the offer from Philly? 

Fifth, this is a useless story from a generally useless writer that tells us nothing important.  If it had been published in July, sure, it would be something, now the only thing it really does is distract attention from the RIDICULOUS story about Koivu (oh, look at that, it was also published in La Presse).

Next?

Posted by LeBouef from Montréal on 09/09/07 at 10:19 PM ET

Yvon Pedneault and Rejean Tremblay have their own sources and these two guys are credibles. They confirmed the story. The whole thing is about an organisation who’s overpromissing the fans, for year, without delivering. The Brière thing was another item on the long list of deception for the fans.

We might disgaree but i still that, as an organisation, the Habs should have known better. As far for Koivu? It was plain dumb to try to recover from his ” We are not Cup contender ” thing. Someone, within the organisation, probably told him that he could not say that even if it’s the truth. Brière wouldn’t have save the Habs but it would have been a better option then Saku ” grossly overrated ” Koivu.

Posted by Latrappe on 09/10/07 at 01:12 AM ET

Over-promising the fans, Latrappe? Come on now, that’s a ridiculous statement to make. If anything, Canadiens fans (of which I am one)and the Quebec media are guilty of unrealistic expectations based on the club’s rich history. Name one example where the team “overpromised” the fans and didn’t deliver.

The Koivu situation is a typical example of media overkill in Montreal. Anyone with a brain and eyes can see the Canadiens aren’t a Cup contender, not yet anyway. The assessments that they’re at best a marginal playoff club are accurate unless the core of promising young talent collectively makes significant improvement this season.

As for Koivu being “grossly overrated”, you’re entitled to that opinion. Most observers would disagree with you. If anything, I give Koivu credit for not bailing on this team years ago when he had the opportunity. He’s been supremely patient with this club and the wild expectations of the media and fans for years. That patience could soon come to an end, but I won’t blame him if it does. Perhaps those wild expectations played a significant role in Briere’s decision not to sign with the Habs, or perhaps Briere was using the Habs to get a better contract from the Flyers, his original choice.

We can debate the merits of Briere all we want, but you have to admit that a $52 million contract is grossly overpaying a player of his caliber.

Regardless, at the end of the day, Brunet’s article served no real purpose. It won’t magically turn Briere into a Hab, it won’t result in Bob Gainey getting fired, and it has no bearing on the Canadiens season. It’s nothing more than gossip to get Habs fans talking and sell papers, and in both regards it’s succeeded.

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 09/10/07 at 06:22 AM ET