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Gone, But not Forgotten-- A Player Hab Fans Should Miss |
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A lot of questions headed into unrestricted free agency centered on who would replace Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, and Alex Kovalev had the Habs passed on them, or had they decided to move on from Montreal. We didn’t have to wait until July 1st to get our answers, as Scott Gomez was added to the fold, and shortly after Mike Cammalleri, and Brian Gionta signed long-term deals with the Canadiens. But one player left the lineup well before the offseason began, and oddly no one put much thought into who could adequately replace him.
I’m talking about Steve Begin. For the first time in 5 years, there will be no discussion when training camp rolls around about whether, or not Steve Begin is assured a spot on the team. But that discussion, held annually, has great relevance in explaining what was so special about Begin’s time with the Canadiens.
If there is a player in the league whose work ethic could never be called into question, it’s Begin. In his time in Montreal, Begin consistently had to earn the respect of the fans with his aggressive style, his leadership, and his humility through long stretches of sitting out games despite long losing streaks.
Long stints on the sidelines due to injury, illness, and a lack of conviction on Guy Carbonneau’s behalf helped feed the opinion that Begin was incapable of being a regular on a team that lacked serious character on any given night, over the last couple of seasons. Yet, loyal Begin fans knew what he could consistently provide, and the others followed suit in chanting his name with each return to the Bell Centre ice; each opportunity to prove his coach, and others, wrong. How often does a fourth-liner skate his shifts to echoes of his name throughout the building?
Begin’s grit is worn on his face. Our memories will log his concentrated grin, his ferocity in killing off the 2-man advantage, and his competitiveness in battles where the odds were stacked against him. While Montrealers quickly forget the value he brought to the Canadiens, Peter Chiarelli, and the Boston Bruins knew exactly what they were bargaining for when they signed him in early July. Currently, Alex Tanguay, Mathieu Dandenault, Francis Bouillon, Mathieu Schneider, and Patrice Brisebois are still seeking valid offers for their services. How many other fourth-line players were signed in the first days of July? How many others sit in similar situations to the 5-ex Canadiens above?
In the meantime, those Montrealers who forgot Begin, and are happy to move on from his services, will be reminded on 6 different occasions this season of why they chanted his name on so many nights (particularly against the team he now has a spot on).
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All love for Begin aside, Canadiens fans can thank Bob Gainey for obtaining an upgrade on him in Travis Moen. In all categories, Moen fills what would be a massive hole if the Canadiens didn’t replace the heart and effort that Steve Begin brought on a nightly basis. And those characteristics that Moen has ingrained in his play will see him take Begin’s adulation from the fans as well. But, in an era of hockey where loyalty to the crest on the front of a jersey is as hard to find as a healthy choice at your local McDonald’s, no one in Montreal should forget about Steve Begin, nor should anyone abstain from paying him the respect he deserves when he plays his first game back at the Bell Centre as a part of the Canadiens’ greatest rival.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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