The Alumni Lounge: A Montreal Canadiens Podcast - Tomas Plekanec on turtlenecks, being a Hab and playing in the Czech Republic

Tomas Plekanec on turtlenecks, being a Hab and playing in the Czech Republic

04/08/21 • 50 min

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The Alumni Lounge: A Montreal Canadiens Podcast

0:00 Introduction
7:47 Plekanec on his turtlenecks
9:43 Raising his daughter
11:00 His sons love sports
12:39 Plekanec loses to partner and former WTA superstar Lucie Safarova on the tennis court
14:06 Living with a retired pro athlete
14:48 Playing hockey during the pandemic
16:12 Missing fans
16:30 Thoughts on playing pro hockey next season
16:58 Taking it one year at a time
17:20 Brisebois on Plekanec’s rookie camp
18:37 Plekanec developed his work ethic in North America
19:50 Waiting for an NHL call up
21:15 Transition from Europe to North America
22:55 Learning English from Seinfeld
23:33 Thoughts on a career in coaching
24:21 Plekanec on his time in Montreal
24:50 Staying in touch with players and staff in Montreal
26:00 How his role as a center evolved over his NHL career
27:20 Alex Kovalev and Mike Cammalleri are the best players he’s played with
27:56 Hard time playing against Ryan Kesler, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin
29:35 Being paired with struggling players
30:08 Challenge of playing with different line mates
32:00 Memories with teammates
32:35 Brisebois praises Plekanec
35:02 Plekanec loved the pressure of playing in Montreal
36:18 Coaching style
37:10 Being traded to Toronto
38:28 Desire to return to Montreal
39:07 Battling injuries
39:52 Finishing his career as a Hab
41:00 Playing his 1,000th game
42:10 Favorite memories as a Hab: 2010 Playoffs
43:35 First big purchase: a computer
44:10 Life advice
44:51 Playing for Guy Carbonneau, Doug Jarvis, Claude Julien and Michel Therrien
46:00 Alain Vigneault was Breezer’s favorite coach
46:25 Breezer’s impressed by Plekanec’s work ethic
48:54 Message to the fans
49:33 Conclusion

Previous Episode

Alex Kovalev on acting, playing in Montreal, and living life to the fullest

0:00 Introduction

7:20 Beginning of interview

7:33 Kovy on his many nicknames

8:51 Living in Moscow

9:20 Transition to coaching

11:58 Turning to acting after retiring

14:54 Racing around the tracks with Breezer

17:00 Being a pilot

18:15 Being traded to Montreal

24:37 Favorite memories of being a Habs

29:45 Leaving home at age 14

34:43 Style of play inspired by different players

39:30 Playing with Lemieux, Gretzky and Messier

40:07 Being a leader no matter what role he plays

41:45 Famous 7-minute shift with the Rangers

47:33 Bob Gainey’s role in reviving Kovy’s season in 2009

51:35 Disappointing end to NHL career

54:51 Importance of saving money

56:12 Living life to the fullest

Next Episode

Chris Chelios on Stanley Cups, his time as a Hab, the Malibu Mob and bobsledding

Chris Chelios took a break from the beach to join Breezer and Chantal in The Alumni Lounge. The three-time Stanley Cup champ and Hockey Hall of Famer chatted away about his career in Montreal, reminisced about his former teammates and coaches, and the Stanley Cup parade in 1986. Chelios had stories for days and spoke about founding the Malibu Mob with actor Tony Danza, briefly turning to bobsledding, the secret behind playing until age 48, and so much more.