A new Montreal Canadiens book hit the shelves last week, and it's a great read for fans to get pumped ahead of the new season.
A new hockey season often means a new book about the Montreal Canadiens. There’s always something to say about the league's most storied franchise, and this year, it’s La Presse journalist Richard Labbe who launched a 225-page book titled Après le Forum -Les hauts et les bas du Canadien that focuses on the Habs’ fortunes after leaving their mythic home, the Forum, in 1996.
Through 30 chapters, Labbe tells 30 different Canadiens stories that have taken place since the Sainte-Flanelle moved into the Bell Centre. As you can no doubt imagine, there’s no happy ending here: the Canadiens have not won a Stanley Cup since 1993, and those who believe in superstition would argue that it’s because they left the Forum ghosts behind.
Ill-advised draft picks, ill-advised trades, recycled coaches, coaches who didn’t last, former players who turned GM with various results, players who have marked recent Canadiens history, both those who are still here and those who have now left- it’s all discussed in the book.
How Roy feels looking back on his departure from the Canadiens, how Guy Carbonneau feels about his surprising dismissal, how Jocelyn Thibault feels about the few years he spent in Montreal- there are plenty of interviews with former players to shed some light on events of the past.
What makes the book most interesting, however, is the fact that it’s written through the eyes of a journalist who has been on the beat for over 25 years. This is a must-read for aspiring journalists and for those who cannot get enough information about the Montreal Canadiens.
For younger fans, this is a good book to give some context about the team and understand how it went from being a powerhouse in the league to one that was and is still fighting for the spotlight. It covers inside information on Mike Cammalleri, Brendan Gallagher, thoughts on PK Subban, and Andrei Markov’s divorce from the only team he’s ever played for. It’s not all doom and gloom, however, and the author acknowledges that this new version of the Canadiens is on the right path.
The book was released last week and is sure to make an appearance under Christmas trees this year. If there’s a big Habs fan in your life, you cannot go wrong with this read. The book is available in print (26.95$) or electronic format (19.99$).
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