BENN BASKS IN ‘HOCKEY HEAVEN’
Bewhiskered defenceman cheerfully takes in hockey life, defends captain Pacioretty
Canadiens defenceman Jordie Benn had to chuckle when he got his first look at former teammate Tomas Plekanec without his trademark goatee on Monday.
Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin traded Plekanec to Toronto on Sunday and the veteran centre had to shave off his goatee because of team rules set by old-school Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello that forbid facial hair.
“I saw a picture of him,” Benn said with a big smile under his bushy beard that is one of the best in the NHL. “It is what it is. It’s just hair, I guess. It’s their team rule, so you just shave it off and keep going.”
The last time Benn had a cleanshaven face was three years ago after losing a Super Bowl bet to former Dallas Stars teammate Tyler Seguin. Benn picked the Seattle Seahawks and Seguin took the New England Patriots.
What would Benn have done if he had been traded to the Leafs?
“I’d talk a big game like I wouldn’t do it, or I’d say I’d ask for a trade,” Benn said with an- other smile after practice Tuesday in Brossard. “But it’s just a joke. I wouldn’t do any of that. I’d just shave it off. It’s a team rule … it’s just hair, so it’s not a big deal. It is what it is.”
Benn says “it is what it is” a lot and that’s a good thing when you’re trying to survive in Montreal’s hockey fishbowl. Benn is a very cool guy and doesn’t let much — if anything — bother him when it comes to off-ice distractions. There have been a lot of those for the Canadiens this season as they head into Wednesday’s game at the Bell Centre against the New York Islanders (7 p.m., SN, RDS, TSN Radio 690) in 27th place in the overall NHL standings with a 23-29-10 record.
“With this whole social-media thing going on, there’s so much more connection between us and the fans and other people,” Benn said. “If we’re going through a tough stretch, you can get direct messages telling you “you suck” and I’ve had it before. I’ve been ridiculed all over Instagram with people telling me that I’m a terrible hockey player and I can’t shoot the puck. I just laugh … I think it’s funny. I’m here for a reason. Obviously, the hockey world thinks I can play the game. If some fan or some media person doesn’t think I can play, well that’s his opinion of me and I’m not too worried about it.”
Benn added that his brother — Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn — is the same way and they embrace social media.
“Me and my brother — I don’t know if we’re different from other guys here — it’s actually quite funny seeing some of the comments you can get,” Benn said. “We just laugh it off … it doesn’t bother us. We’re here for a reason. If people think they can do a better job, I’m sure they can come and try.”
Benn said he enjoys everything about playing for the Canadiens and was happy he wasn’t traded before Monday’s deadline. The Canadiens acquired him from Dallas the day before last year’s deadline in exchange for defenceman Greg Pateryn and a fourth-round pick at last year’s draft. Benn has 4-8-12 totals in 59 games this season and is even in plus/minus while averaging 19:09 of ice time.
“This is hockey heaven,” Benn said. “There’s no better place to play than in the Bell Centre on a Saturday night, or any night for that matter. We’ve just got to get back to that winning edge and it’s an unbelievable place to play.”
Max Pacioretty has talked often about how much he loves playing in Montreal, but this season has weighed heavily on the Canadiens’ captain, who has only 17 goals after four straight seasons of at least 30 and had to listen to all kinds of rumours leading up to the trade deadline. After Monday’s 1-0 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, Pacioretty spoke from his heart about just how difficult it has been for him and his family.
Benn, who is single, can understand what Pacioretty has been going through even though he hadn’t heard the captain’s post-game comments. As captain of the Canadiens, Pacioretty lives in a different world from Benn’s brother in Dallas, who has to deal with only three or four media members who cover the Stars on a regular basis.
“Guys that aren’t producing in lower markets aren’t getting ridiculed like he was,” Benn said about Pacioretty. “He puts enough weight on his shoulders … he’s hard enough on himself, so he doesn’t need anything outside this dressing room getting on him. That’s how we approach every day. Anything outside this dressing room is just small talk and it’s rumours. But it can definitely weigh you down, that’s for sure.”
Some players more than others.
There’s no better place to play than in the Bell Centre on a Saturday night, or any night for that matter.