Steve Bégin, a former Canadiens forward, expresses optimism about Montreal’s future despite current challenges. In an interview, he discusses the team’s inconsistency and defensive struggles, emphasizing the need for improved focus and communication among players. He highlights Cole Caufield’s impressive performance this season while reflecting on his own personal bankruptcy, showcasing a resilient mindset. Additionally, Bégin is advocating for a campaign to raise awareness for young individuals with learning disabilities.
Former Canadiens player Steve Bégin is optimistic about the team’s future, although he acknowledges that there are challenges to face in the near term.
“The performance varies; you never know which team will take the ice,” the former No. 22 shared during an interview on “JiC” this Tuesday.
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“We need to maintain our confidence. We’ve got a young team in the midst of rebuilding, and the future looks promising. However, I’m eager for us to establish our rhythm, particularly on the defensive end,” he remarked.
When prompted by host Jean-Charles Lajoie to elaborate on this issue, Bégin pinpointed a potential reason for the team’s defensive struggles.
“Without criticizing anyone, while coaches impose a structure, execution relies heavily on individuals and teamwork,” he explained. “If one player errs and another tries to compensate with their own mistake, that’s two errors in quick succession, and it leads to confusion.”
“What I’ve observed since the season began is that players are overly focused on the puck,” he noted. “They tend to overlook what’s happening behind them and where opposing players are situated.”
Bégin believes that once the defense improves, the offense will follow suit.
“It’s a cliché to say you need to excel with and without the puck,” he acknowledged. “However, the current situation in our zone exemplifies the problem. We lack awareness of player positioning without the puck, resulting in mistakes.”
“We’re granting the opposition countless high-quality scoring opportunities—it’s incredible,” he expressed. “We need to rectify this aspect of our game. Offense begins with solid defense. Once we identify and address the issue, we’ll start racking up wins.”
Caufield Shining Bright
Bégin also praised forward Cole Caufield, who has netted six goals in the first six games of the season.
“I joked, ‘He’s been watching my old game tapes,'” he said with a laugh. “It’s great to see him thriving this year; he appears confident and is less hesitant when it’s time to shoot.”
A Difficult Personal Challenge
The 46-year-old opened up about his personal bankruptcy, which he declared over a year ago after the construction company he invested in faced financial difficulties.
“Life presents many challenges, and hiding from them won’t help you overcome them,” he reflected on his public admission of bankruptcy.
“I wanted to confront the situation head-on. I can’t delve into specifics for legal reasons, but certain factors were beyond my control,” he added. “This situation is never easy, but I trust that the truth will eventually surface, leading to a positive outcome.”
“I’m an optimist; I’m confident a solution will be found,” he assured.
Steve Bégin is currently the spokesperson for the provincial “J’aime mon DYS” campaign, which runs until November 1. This initiative seeks to foster public understanding and acceptance of young individuals with learning disabilities.
For further details, visit the official campaign website.