I've always found that it was difficult for Koivu to achieve the label of a #1 center in the eyes of NHL fans. Truth be told he has been nothing but electric throughout his entire career. If you are an ardent Canadiens fan, you see year after year what he does, and it becomes difficult to criticize his abilities.
His success post-cancer is astounding, but it is the manner in which he does it that places him with hockey's elite class. Grit, determination, skill, deceptive quickness, heart, composure, and professionalism...top ten smartest players with the puck in the game! The nature of his play does not classify him as a goal scorer, but he never was billed as one. Either way, when he manages to put one in, it’s usually gorgeous-- a trait, which has been highlighted specifically in the shootout over the last two seasons.
Speaking of pressure, he does all of this in the Mecca of Hockey (that’s Montreal with an ‘accent aigu’ for all you confused Toronto fans out there). A place where fans chose to boo him because he got into a scuffle with Mike Ribiero a few years ago during a practice. Mike Ribiero...think about that! I'll never forget listening to those boos as Montreal faced Calgary the following night at the Bell Center. I was sitting two rows above Montreal's bench, and during the game I hollered to Saku: "Don’t listen to them!" But he seemed quite insulted at what was transpiring. After the game he was interviewed as he always is. He said he noticed the boos, but in typical fashion shrugged them off knowing that certain elements of the game are out of his control. Four days later the club waltzed into New York City, and Saku put up a goal and two assists en route to a 4-1 victory, and miraculously the whole Ribiero debacle was ancient history. But not to me! I was personally disturbed that certain Montreal fans, spoiled with 24 Stanley Cup victories, would ever boo a player who has sacrificed so much to please them, in a city where hockey and the Habs mean everything! I wasn't surprised though! People have been underestimating Koivu since he made his NHL debut in the fall of 1995-1996. Unless you are able to analyze a player’s worth with broad scope, beyond point totals, perhaps you’ll never be able to appreciate what makes Saku Koivu so special.
What is consistently ignored about Finland’s Winter Olympic Ambassador is that he makes everyone he plays with look like a star. In his years playing for Montreal, he has never played with an outright first line star. All due respect to his former linemates, you guys be the judge… Rucinski, Recchi, Savage, Stevenson, Audette, Berezin, Czerkawski, Zednik, V. Bure, Bulis, Ryder, Higgins, Kovalev, Latendresse, Streit, Perezhogin (I don’t think I’m missing anyone, but if I am I’m sure they wouldn’t stand out on this list). Now it’s evident that Ryder, Higgins, and Recchi stand out on that list, but the first two wouldn’t be singled out if they hadn’t played with Saku. Alex Kovalev has spent little time next to Koivu since the team acquired him late in 2004. Later that year, the two of them playing alongside Richard Zednik, led the playoffs in scoring for five games after the Habs were eliminated. Only then did people begin to realize what Koivu could do with talent by his side. You would be hard-pressed to find a player who has played as well as him with unproven wingers.
I have never seen Saku bail on a game in my life! He never would, it's not in his character. The first to throw a hit in a playoff game (ask Hal Gill, or Joseph Vasicek), the man was bar none the best player in the Olympics, not to mention the World Cup in ’04. He has brought Finland closer to success than anyone else (not that silver shouldn't be considered success). He has bounced back from several devastating injuries. He wears two knee braces. He battled cancer in 6 months, a year in which he led the Canadiens in playoff scoring after the first round, against a Boston team that was far better than the Canadiens. We witnessed him training like an animal after aggressive stints of chemotherapy, in order to return to hockey, after being given a 50/50 chance of living.
After everything, he gets his eye taken out last year, permitting Carolina to sneak back into a game they were trailing going into the third, which would have put them down 3-1 in the series (we all know what happened next). Yet, he still did not bail! He's never been a gem in the face-off circle, but he was unbelievable this year (considering he has trouble spotting the puck at his feet, this is sure proof of Koivu's dedication to hard work). He also hit career highs for goals and points. Bash him for being minus 21 on the year, he’ll be the first to tell you he’s disappointed by that…but it shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s been a + player for 7/12 seasons in the NHL.
When I wrote to Nhl.com blogger Risto Pakarinen back in February, I wanted to convey the message that: “Not only is Saku Koivu the elite, he is and has been a source of inspiration for anyone who aspires to persevere through adversity, as he does so on a consistent basis in a field where he competes with the best of the best. He is hockey's Lance Armstrong.” The fans in Turku certainly understood who he was when he left for the NHL many years ago, it is time that people around North America took notice!
I pray that Saku can tolerate the critics in this city a bit longer. I sincerely believe that Bob Gainey understands the importance of surrounding the captain with the type of support necessary for him to fulfill his role as a #1 center. One thing is for sure, no matter what happens in his case, Saku Koivu has earned a fan for life!
EE
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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