Catching Up With The Past - Playoff Edition

Dave Stubbs over at Habs Inside Out/Montreal Gazette re-posted a 2005 article on Bob Gainey. Dave shows off his fine writing skills in this article that really humanizes one of the great respected hockey minds in the game. A must read. Here's an excerpt:

Chin tucked to his chest and broad shoulders squared, he strides purposefully into the sea of train-bound commuters. They show flickers of "Hey, isn't that ...?" just as he's out the door and headed up de la Montagne, into a sharp winter wind that cuts like a blade.

Gainey has charted a few routes home, designed to elude both the gusts and the crowds.

"They're very nice," he says of Montrealers, "but having horns honked at you as you walk down the street isn't my preference. There's still a tradition and richness to the franchise here. The city still cares, and that's important."

His step quickens as he passes two young men, one wearing a Canadiens cap, who give him a double-take.

"And you know, by the time I tell them I'm not Larry Robinson, I'm gone."

Full Montreal Gazette Article -- Bob Gainey Biography

In other pieces:

James Mirtle recently bumped into former Washington Capital Pat Peake, the convincing argument for no-touch icing.

Robert L at Eyes on the Prize looks at the history of the Montreal Canadiens captaincy and goaltending.

Eric McErlain of the new AOL NHL Fanhouse directs our attention to a L.A. Times article that catches up with none other than Dave "Tiger" Williams. It seems the Tiger is the same as always.