Farewell, Montreal?

Guy played what may well be his last game in Montreal on December 1, 1999. It was an occasion, and whenever there is an occasion, you can count upon Carbonneau to rise to it...

Coverage from Montreal

This story is excerpted from "Carbonneau and Keane shine for Stars" by Jack Todd of the Montreal Gazette

The Canadiens took another one on the shins from two guys who once bled bleu-blanc-rouge last night. This time it was Guy Carbonneau, assisting on Brett Hull's tying goal at 14:28 of the third period, when it looked like Jose Theodore might steal the two points even though the Canadiens were trailing 38-14 in shots at the time.

Mike Keane followed with the winner 45 seconds later, off a feed from Joe Nieuwendyk, and the Stars skated off into the sunset with a 3-2 win in what might have been Carbonneau's last appearance as a player in Montreal. If that's the case, it should be noted for the record that he helped put an end to the Canadiens' four-game winning streak.

Pierre McGuire caught a little glimpse yesterday of what that tradition is about: Carbonneau sitting next to the ice three hours before game time, a cup of coffee at hand, meticulously taping three sticks, spending seven or eight minutes on each stick. All alone, preparing for battle.

Three hours later, Carbonneau was on the ice, taking a faceoff against Mike Ribeiro, who was a year old when Carbonneau first dressed for the Canadiens. A few seconds before the tying goal, Theodore had to make two point-blank saves off Carbonneau - who had four shots on goal on the night and played 16 minutes and 20 seconds. Ribeiro, 20 years Carbonneau's junior, played 5:35 and had no shots.

"Hitch understood this might be the last time for me, unless we meet in the playoffs," Carbonneau said of coach Ken Hitchcock. "That's why he gave me the night off on Long Island, so I could rest for this. It's always emotional coming back here. It doesn't matter whether it's one year or six years."

There is a revisionist school of thought around here which has it that Serge Savard was a superb general manager while Rejean Houle is a bumbling fool. That ignores the reality of Savard's last few seasons at the helm, seasons which included more than a few of the deals like the one he made on Aug. 19, 1994, when he dealt Carbonneau to St. Louis for Jim Montgomery. It was a foolish, bull-headed deal, based on the fact that Carbonneau had flipped the bird at a photographer from Le Journal on the golf course as much as anything else.

No player who has been dealt away from Montreal has been missed more than Carbonneau. Others have put up gaudier numbers, but something of what the Habs were about left with Carbo, and the Canadiens have never been able to get it back.

Carbonneau, like Gainey and Keane and even Skrudland, has those special qualities you look for when you're trying to build a winner - a combination of brains and heart, guts and the persistence to study the game. That's why Carbonneau is mentioned so often as a candidate to coach the Canadiens, although the Habs have a young coach who is doing very well at the moment, thank you very much. Carbonneau is signed to a two-year deal in Dallas - but he will turn 40 in March, so he would be 41 before season's end if he decides to come back for another tour.

Carbonneau said yesterday that right now it's 50/50 that he'll return for another season, but that the odds would be better if the Stars were to repeat as Stanley Cup winners, in part because Gainey likes to keep a winning combination together. At this point in the season, the Stars seem about as likely to win another Stanley Cup as the Cowboys are to win the Super Bowl; logically, that would mean Carbonneau will be free.

Coincidentally, the Canadiens have a post open behind the bench. They have gone with three coaches this year, with Clement Jodoin and Roland Melanson assisting Alain Vigneault after Dave King was nudged into pro scouting in Europe. You would like to think that the Canadiens were thinking far enough ahead to keep a spot open for Carbonneau, but that's unlikely. Still, the place is there if Carbonneau is available, and indications are he would accept the position.

Last night, he sounded very much like a man who would jump at the offer.

"I still have my home here," Carbonneau said. "My wife still loves it here. After the season, I'll come back here for the summer, and then we'll see. Right now, I'm sacrificing everything I have to help this team win. That's enough for now."

Asked if he could see Carbonneau as an assistant coach for the Canadiens, Keane said: "How about GM? No, actually, I could see him buying the team. His mattress is getting pretty thick. If he ever tears it open, he's got enough money to buy the Canadiens, 'cause he never spends any of it."

Hey - assistant coach, GM or owner, the fans will welcome Carbo's return in any guise. Now it's just a matter of getting it done.

Coverage from Dallas

This story is excerpted from "Carbonneau leaves Montreal with memories" by Bill Nichols of The Dallas Morning News

Having spent 12 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens before he arrived in Dallas, Stars center Guy Carbonneau held his own farewell party Wednesday night.

At 39 and in his final season, the oldest player in the NHL knew that this probably was his last game against his former team, which basically thought he was washed up six seasons ago. Coach Ken Hitchcock sensed Carbonneau's emotion. So did the rest of the Stars.

Playing with the determination of a rookie, Carbonneau assisted on Brett Hull's tying goal, then another former Canadien, Mike Keane, scored the winner 45 seconds later in a 3-2 victory before 19,172 at the Molson Centre.

"I know this is my last year," Carbonneau said. "To be able to come back and win, and get an assist on that goal, makes for a little bit of revenge, especially since it's probably my last time. I don't care if it's a year or 10 years. It's always emotional. I have a lot of friends here. It's harder because you're on the other side of the ice. But it's still a great place to play."

After just missing on a one-timer from point blank, Carbonneau got the puck from Blake Sloan, then zipped a perfect pass in the slot for Hull, who beat Theodore on the glove side at 14:28.

"I was really excited to get that goal off the pass from him because I know there's nothing he likes more than to win in here," Hull said. "To assist on a big goal like that means a lot to him."

Hitchcock, realizing the game's importance to Carbonneau, scratched him for Tuesday's game against the New York Islanders and sent him to Montreal a day before the team. During the game, he could sense Carbonneau's determination, and he played him on different lines to build on that.

"I think all he wanted to do was be a factor in the game," Hitchcock said. "He's old as dirt. Most guys his age are looking at their 401(k). The amazing thing is he's still an effective player. It's his upbringing and belief that when he tees it up, he's better than the guy in front of him."

Bill Nichols' three stars of the game

12/2/99

1	Mike Keane, Dallas: Highlighted an aggressive night with the game-winning goal.
2	Guy Carbonneau, Dallas: His emotion and determination were major factors, and his assist on the tying goal sparked the comeback.
3	Jose Theodore, Montreal: Backup looked more like a starter, making 38 saves.