I wouldn't care in the slightest. Alexei Emelin hardly speaks English. Andrei Kostitsyn hardly learned a word of it. I don't feel either of them owe it to us.

I don't think Matsyui owed it to the Yankees and their fans.
- EricEngels

I'm not even sure Kostitsyn could speak his native tongue...

I wouldn't care in the slightest. Alexei Emelin hardly speaks English. Andrei Kostitsyn hardly learned a word of it. I don't feel either of them owe it to us.

I don't think Matsyui owed it to the Yankees and their fans.
- EricEngels

actually the japanese players in MLB are a great example of this. most of them, Matsui included, speak very good english but refuse to to the media. no one has a problem at all w/ it.

cant you have no captain?
- hamiltonhabfan

if the team is in transition yes. habs made it pretty far this year and their goal should be to go further this year. every team be it work or sports related needs a leader to succeed.

I'm not even sure Kostitsyn could speak his native tongue...
- BashCH

can't feel it from all the coke.

is what you're all saying that it would be cool and nice for the captain to speak a bit of french but it shouldn't be expected of him as something he owes everyone?


becasue I think that's what you;re all saying except for the stop signs guy

actually the japanese players in MLB are a great example of this. most of them, Matsui included, speak very good english but refuse to to the media. no one has a problem at all w/ it.
- Fountain-San

Yeah but you guys are not getting assimilated by evil anglos !!!!

I wouldn't care in the slightest. Alexei Emelin hardly speaks English. Andrei Kostitsyn hardly learned a word of it. I don't feel either of them owe it to us.

I don't think Matsyui owed it to the Yankees and their fans.
- EricEngels

Pretty sure he sounds the same in Belarussian

please don't get a 3rd language involved in this
- dt99999

Personnally I don't think it's important that he is fluent in french. Let's be honest they Quebecers are gettting rarer and rarer in the NHL and having one with Captain aptitude is gonna be hard.

But learning 5-6 key phrases is at everybody's reach and something so simple would prevent so much controversy. It would be inane not to do that minimal effort that would bring consensus.
- Fredobface

And nobody is asking for more really... It's just a simple sign of respect.

Personnally I don't think it's important that he is fluent in french. Let's be honest they Quebecers are gettting rarer and rarer in the NHL and having one with Captain aptitude is gonna be hard.

But learning 5-6 key phrases is at everybody's reach and something so simple would prevent so much controversy. It would be inane not to do that minimal effort that would bring consensus.
- Fredobface

But both Gionta and Koivu did that, and we're still talking about this. That's the irony.

is what you're all saying that it would be cool and nice for the captain to speak a bit of french but it shouldn't be expected of him as something he owes everyone?

becasue I think that's what you;re all saying except for the stop signs guy
- dt99999

Yeah but you guys are not getting assimilated by evil anglos !!!!
- BashCH

true

Yeah but you guys are not getting assimilated by evil anglos !!!!
- BashCH

Bring Back Marois!!!!


She eats Anglos....and bagels.

But both Gionta and Koivu did that, and we're still talking about this. That's the irony.
- EricEngels

not enough, apparently.

And nobody is asking for more really... It's just a simple sign of respect.
- fidopro

I disagree that nobody's asking for more, and to say it's a sign of respect also intimates that it's a sign of disrespect if they don't-- and this is what I disagree with.

I want to fight everyone of you
- Not_Yan

you are a skinny artist with glasses, you would get crushed and possibly rapped.

is what you're all saying that it would be cool and nice for the captain to speak a bit of french but it shouldn't be expected of him as something he owes everyone?


becasue I think that's what you;re all saying except for the stop signs guy
- dt99999

I wouldn't care in the slightest. Alexei Emelin hardly speaks English. Andrei Kostitsyn hardly learned a word of it. I don't feel either of them owe it to us.

I don't think Matsyui owed it to the Yankees and their fans.
- EricEngels

Matsui.

But both Gionta and Koivu did that, and we're still talking about this. That's the irony.
- EricEngels

I don't remember someone complaining about Gionta's lack of French.

But both Gionta and Koivu did that, and we're still talking about this. That's the irony.
- EricEngels

Gionta did. Koivu... not really.

And nobody is asking for more really... It's just a simple sign of respect.
- fidopro

How so?

I don't remember someone complaining about Gionta's lack of French.
- BashCH

Fidopro must have. At some point.

I don't remember someone complaining about Gionta's lack of French.
- BashCH

was there ever an issue with having an american captain?

I disagree that nobody's asking for more, and to say it's a sign of respect also intimates that it's a sign of disrespect if they don't-- and this is what I disagree with.
- EricEngels

actually the japanese players in MLB are a great example of this. most of them, Matsui included, speak very good english but refuse to to the media. no one has a problem at all w/ it.
- Fountain-San

Vlad Guerrero was the same.