Area exit welcomes a rookie in its ranks, and not the least: Antoine Roussel, from the top of his 607 games in the National League. The adopted Saguenean will obviously shed a different light on a whole host of issues, and it starts in force the day after a fight by Arber Xhekaj which was not unanimous, in the defeat of the Canadian in Columbus.
Nobody around the table is a fan of “planned” fights, Roussel either, but the latter believes that Xhekaj, as a rookie who is making a name for himself, had no choice but to accept the challenge from Mathieu Olivier . For Philippe Cantin, this fight rather brought us back to the NHL of 15 years ago. It was a nice contrast to what Martin St-Louis considers to be “modern” hockey played by his men. So what is modern hockey? Philosophical debate between our guests. As long as you have a former teammate of Phil Kessel at the table, you might as well talk about the incredible streak of 1,000 games in a row of the one Jérémie Rainville describes as “unloved in the National League”.
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That the National League still tolerates that, I find that appalling. That these two players today are not suspended, that the line judges who most certainly heard the meeting on the ice did not manage to stop it, I find it frankly absurd.
Philippe Cantin, about the Xhekaj-Olivier fight
I found it so disjointed in the first period. Maybe it was good on penalties, but I found it so difficult to watch that if I hadn’t been talking about it today, I think I would have changed positions.
Antoine Roussel, about the Canadiens-Blue Jackets game
Episode details
Block 1
- 3:10 – Defeat of the Canadian in Columbus after a poor first period
- 10:00 a.m. — The NHL puts on quite a show, do you agree?
- 2:45 pm — Martin St-Louis: “We play modern hockey”
Block 2
- 10:00 p.m. — If Mike Matheson returns, who will be left out?
Block 3
- 41:30 – Some players don’t want to be traded to Canada, why?
- 51:35 — Phil Kessel has played 1000 games in a row