Martin Havlat News

February 6, 2004

Havlat: I'd never ride a motorbike.

Back in October 2003 when the NHL season started, he was constantly arguing with Ottawa. After a few months, they made a deal and Ottawa has been talking about him in only superlatives since then. After two games that he had to miss because of problems with his thigh muscle, the newspapers wrote: Fortunately, Havlat will finally play.

Blesk: Martin, does this reference make you feel better after what you had to undergo before signing a deal with Ottawa?
MH: A little bit, of course. But it's not worthy to bother. They think of it as a business. When the deal is signed, everything's all right. We can be best friends again.

Blesk: Somehow strange, isn't it?
MH: Kind of. They are so nice and stuff for three years and all of a sudden they start saying some things you don't like to hear. Many players have experienced this, not just me. This belongs to hockey.

Blesk: In the beggining of the season, no one really talked about you. In the last 12 games -- you scored 9 times, had 8 assists and you've even been the Player of the Week.
MH: The beginning of the season was a bit slow. I didn't expect how I'd be missing that month! But I'm back in good form. The whole team is.

Blesk: You don't play really much, though. Doesn't that bother you?
MH: You know, everyone would like to play as much as he can. Me too. But in Ottawa Senators there's a big competition on the right wing -- Hossa, Alfredsson.

Blesk: But you don't seem to be complaining. Someone could take it more impulsively...
MH: At least I'm in a team that wins and has a chance to win something big.

Blesk: Do you like the fact that there are 7 Czechoslovaks in the team?
MH: Of course. The rest of the team isn't sometimes glad at all, because we speak Czech a lot, but sometimes it's necessary. We can complain and curse and they won't understand. But their vocabulary grows quickly...

Blesk: Do you get to see Vasek Varada sometimes? Or did he disappear after the knee injury?
MH: No, he's still in Ottawa, every day at the arena, trying to get back in form. They'll probably give him a break for three weeks because we're going to travel.

Blesk: Varada, Bonk and Rachunek are passionate motobikers. How about you?
MH: No, no! I've never ridden a motorbike and I'm going to keep it this way. You know, you make one mistake, and... I prefer cars.

Blesk: Do you still have a Hummer?
MH: No, I bought a Porsche.

Blesk: The sporty one? Carrera?
MH: No the biggest one -- Cayenne.

Blesk: Do you pay fines a lot?
MH: Not yet. Sometimes for parking, but not for speed. That's not even possible because I drive only for short distance, from my house to work. We'll see in the summer in the Czech Republic...

Blesk: You have long hair and a beard. New look?
MH: More like comfort. At least I don't look so young with the beard.