Koivu...

[Asterix]

I read somewhere, and I can't find the link for the moment, that Koivu is skating and might be ready in time for training camp! What a great news! I'll be the first to admit that I've had a change of hearts when it comes to our team captain...

Early in his career, he definately was accident prone and then he managed to put some strong seasons as far as games played are concerned... until cancer it. This wasn't about being injury prone anymore. Against all odds, Koivu still made an emotional comeback and helped his team's morale for a playoff drive. Now he's faced with another serious challenge. An injury like the one he suffered against Carolina last year has nothing to due again with being fragile as a stick to the eye will do the same damage on everyone, even the toughest competitor. It's simply bad luck! But guess what? It looks like Captain Koivu will come back on top in this one once again. So if adversity builds character, Saku has enough to share with his entire team!

You know how that story kept on coming out in the media questioning Koivu's leadership on this team, over and over again, year in year out? I have no doubt anymore. Why? Because Bob Gainey (one of the greatest leaders, former captain) went behind the bench, brought with him another former team captain in Guy Carbonneau and still, before Koivu could think of testing the free agent's market, they signed him to another contract. Had Koivu not been a good leader, I don't beleive they would have signed him. Was this contract a little too rich? Maybe... but am I ever thankful that I'm not the one managing the team's budget and salary cap! Further to that, Koivu proved me, in spite of the constant media's non-sense (read questioning his leadership, performances or not speaking French), he chose to sign back here instead of testing the free agent's market. It proved that he loves Montreal and wants to play here!

I trust management, so I rally 100% behind Koivu and hope that he lives to hoist the Stanley Cup over his head at center-ice at the Bell Center in the next couple of seasons!

[TimmyTabasco]

Good news.."Asterix"................:nod:

[Asterix]

Here's an update from canadiens.com as the Canadiens held thier annual golf tournament today...

School is in for the Canadiens
Saku Koivu ready to put his eye to the test
(09/05/2006)


http://www.canadiens.com/_static/webupload/news/5143_3.jpg
Saku Koivu is looking forward to hitting the ice with the rest of his teammates.

LAVAL - Like school kids everywhere, this week marks a return to action for the Canadiens, beginning with the team’s annual golf tournament. With the players pulling up in sports cars and SUVs rather than a crowded yellow school bus, a recovering Saku Koivu answered the bell for the first day of class.

The Canadiens’ captain, still working his way back from an eye injury suffered against the Hurricanes in the opening round of the playoffs, is eager to put his surgically-repaired left eye to the test with the regular season now less than one month away.

“It’s taken a little time, but I really do feel much better,” said Koivu upon his arrival at the Laval-sur-le-Lac golf course. “Hockey-wise, I’ve been working really hard on the ice since the end of July and it’s been going well.

“I’m still experiencing some problems with my peripheral vision, but as far as day-to-day stuff is concerned, I feel fine,” said Koivu. “I did, after all, drive here this morning but the real test will be when I’m back on the ice in a game situation.”

No one was happier to see a smiling Koivu in attendance than general manager Bob Gainey, who preached patience concerning his captain’s return to action.

“Following this type of serious injury, there is always a bridge that must be crossed before returning to competition,” explained Gainey. “There’s certainly a difference between skating and game situations.

“Saku has been working out this his former team in Finland and once he is back on the ice with us at training camp, we will all have a much better idea of where we’re at.”

Continued... (http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsNewsDetails.cfm&newsItemID=5143)

[Asterix]

Koivu to dress for Canadiens on Tuesday

TSN.ca Staff

9/18/2006 6:16:37 PM

Captain Saku Koivu will be in the lineup when the Montreal Canadiens take on the Boston Bruins in their first preseason game on Tuesday night.

It will be Koivu's first NHL action since April 26, when his eye was clipped under his visor by a high stick from Carolina's Justin Williams during Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. Koivu had surgery to repair a detached retina in the off-season.

He has been wearing a contact lens on the eye, which still has a blind spot and recently developed a small cataract. He has also been wearing a larger visor than the one he had on when he was clipped.

Koivu will centre a line with wingers Michael Ryder and Chris Higgins.

Full article... (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=177979&hubname=nhl)
Now that's a good news. He's been playing in scrimmages and has apparently scored and set-up both Ryder and Higgins. On a side note, I was reading on rds.ca that in January, Koivu will have his final test to confirm that he is fully recovered from cancer. Way to go Saku! :thumb:

[KB in Kelowna]

It is good to see him back from the eye injury and here's hoping that the test in January are good:thumb: