Am I allowed?

What is it with people? Why can't they accept others who have different opinions? Twitter has been a revelation to me in how people react when they disagree with your opinion. Being a habs fan yes a fan unlike what some people would prefer categorizing me as, I cannot handle the reaction when I decide to criticize someone. I have been a passionate habs fan since I was a kid when the habs would win everything virtually every year. I have grown old with the habs and I have remained a fan and not abandoned ship during the lean years. Anybody remember Eric Landry? I even remember when the forum had many empty seats.

There is nothing wrong in criticizing people, especially those that have become wealthy because of their celebrity or popularity. Politicians are criticized incessantly since they are in the public eye. A sizable portion of the American right loathe Obama, Clinton, and even JFK.  A majority of liberals loathe Reagan, Bush, and Nixon. In Canada, liberals detest Stephen Harper and Brian Mulroney and don't even mention Pierre Elliot Trudeau to the oil crowd in the west. 

Critical thought is what has led humanity to debunk myths and created the life we now have. Through the centuries scientists, philosophers, and people in positions of power have led the critical thought process to ameliorate society and push forward the human cause. Those that sought to restrain or eliminate critical thought invariably led to the unproductive and disasterous dark ages of human history. It also led to mass destruction and genocide.

Anyways as a passionate fan of the habs I want them to succeed. I am used to great habs players who almost played faultlessly. I even remember these great players being criticized mercilessly at times. Peter Mahovlich was a favorite of the boo birds at the old forum. What would the present day habs give to have a tall center with great passing skills who could fake a defenceman out of his jockstrap. Peter Mahovlich unfortunately had his off nights and he had a lackadaisical personality which seemed to make habs purists seethe when he played passively. Even hall of famers were booed like Serge Savard who if he made a bad pass that resulted in a goal would be booed till he did something to win a game. Ken Dryden was almost benched in the last series of his career because he had played poorly against the bruins in the semifinals in 1979. If it wasn't for a freak injury to Bunny Larocque in practice, Dryden would never have started the final against the Rangers. Finally, Patrick Roy was booed out of Montreal. Case closed.

All this to say when someone wants to criticize the present day habs no one should be an untouchable. None of these players have won anything. I want them to win and when in my opinion someone is not up to par or his play has been overhyped by the media or other fans I have a right to criticize. That is not to say I am right. My opinion could be biased as most opinions are. My opinions are always based on my perception of what I see and feel and based on my years of experience watching the habs. I also try to base my opinions on the reality of what statistics show. Yes I understand statistics as well can be warped to favor your arguments. That is why if you disagree prove me wrong.

My experience on twitter has shown me that some habs fans cannot handle criticism of their favorite players. The most passionate defenders seem to be of Price, Pacioretty, and Plekanec. At the same time there are few passionate defenders of the habs best player PK Subban. Oops my opinion again about Pk. 

I have a hard time understanding how passionate some fans are about Price. Since Price has had a good start to this season, once again it is sacrilegious to say anything negative about Price. The Price worshippers as I now describe them will threaten and assault you in text if you make the slightest negative comment about their god. Folks we just finished the first month of the season. I think Price has to prove to us he can play like this a whole season. He has to prove that he will not crumble at the critical times in the season like the playoffs before he becomes an untouchable. He sure is getting paid like he should give us a full season of being consistently good.

Max Pacioretty has been an untouchable since Chara broke his neck. Pacioretty did not have a great year last year (in my opinion). Don't mention that to the Pacioretty groupies who will defend him to the death. Pacioretty has great potential like Price. He still has to live up to that potential. A few years back when Pacioretty was filling the net I was salivating at the thought of our next John Leclair someone who could maybe net 50. Right now I hope for 30 goals and I  don't see Pacioretty as a physical player. For the Pacs groupies he can do no wrong and he is still the next coming of hmmm ummm.

Another player who seems to be a favorite of the hockey experts and many habs fans is Thomas Plekanec. He has had a great start to this season so he is another untouchable. Once again, if you criticize Pleks the experts will tell you you know nothing about hockey and others will talk about his intangibles that make him invaluable. The thing I hear the most is he does the little things no one sees. I used to be a great Plekanec fan when he joined the habs. I was impressed with his offensive skills playing with Ak 27 and 46. I thought he had supplanted Koivu as the best offensive center on the team. However, once Koivu was banished, Plekanec seemed to falter in the top center role. As well without Ak27, Pleks seemed to struggle. All of a sudden he  metamorphosed into the two-way center that killed penalties as his offensive totals dwindled. Excuses were rampant; he played against the other team's top center, his linemates sucked, he was the shutdown center so he sacrificed his offence for defence. Unfortunately he started reminding me of Koivu in that excuses were never ending and he made several disappearances through the years in the final months of the season and the playoffs. Anyways that is my opinion, but I can feel the Pleks fans breathing down my back ready to strike. 

This is not to say that habs fans are unique. I have endured some virulent attacks by soccer fans when discussing Seria A and the azzurri. I acknowledge that I could be wrong in my opinions. I think Price might turn it around this year with the help of his new goaltending coach. Pacioretty could maybe get 40 this year. Plekanec could possibly lead us to the Cup. I really hope so. However, I do not live in fantasyland. I hope people will challenge my opinions but in a coherent rational manner not in an hysterical disturbed vitriol. Am I allowed?