Montreal Canadiens

Will off-the-ice distractions keep goaltender José Théodore from returning to MVP form?

By Michael Farber

Team Page | Predicted Finish: 23

After the tribulations of recent years, including one playoff appearance in the last five seasons, the NHL's most storied franchise now must deal with a trial. Following their arrest on June 18, goalie José Théodore's father, uncle and four half-brothers face charges of conspiracy in a loan-sharking ring for their alleged involvement in an operation run out of Casino de Montréal. Though Montreal police say Théodore is not part of their investigation, the 27-year-old netminder has been drawn into the case by the blanket media coverage. Le Journal de Montréal reported that police had seized $63,000 from a safety deposit box to which Théodore and his father had access. Théodore has refused to comment on the safety deposit box. For the Canadiens, the big question is, How will Théodore, whose play fell off dramatically last season after winning the league MVP in 2001-02, handle this distraction leading up to and throughout the trial, which begins on Dec. 2?

José Théodore Dave Sandford/Getty Images/NHLI SI RANKING (1 best - 30 worst) OFFENSE 25 DEFENSE 21 GOALTENDING 8 POWER PLAY 23 PENALTY KILLING 28 G.M. AND COACH 23

Usually, the first whiff of controversy is a sure ticket out of this stodgy organization, but the Canadiens have a new general manager in repatriated Bob Gainey. A former Canadiens captain during his 16 years as a left wing with the team, Gainey will be a steadying influence and is unlikely to do anything as rash as exiling his best player.

As for the rest of the lineup, Montreal appears to have the nucleus for a promising young defense if rookie Mike Komisarek, 21, can make the jump from the AHL and join Andrei Markov, a 24-year-old who had a breakout season with 13 goals and a team-high +13 rating. But the attack is oatmeal soft and the special teams rank in the bottom third of the league.

Montreal was just as unprepossessing in 2001-02 when Théodore carried the team into the second round of the playoffs. Last season his play fell off, with some observers saying he had an MVP hangover. This time the Canadiens need him not only to regain his Hart Trophy form, but also to stay focused on the action on the ice, not in the courtroom.

Insider

This may be a long season for Canadiens fans, but things will get better in a hurry with new G.M. Bob Gainey. He's got some nice building blocks in rookies Mike Komisarek, a defenseman, and Christopher Higgins, a two-way center.... This is a make-or-break year for talented 23-year-old C Mike Ribeiro. Will he finally come to play night-in and night-out?... Expect 25-year-old backup G Mathieu Garon, who reminds observers of a young Patrick Roy, to flourish this season.

Issue date: October 13, 2003