Mike Cammalleri Under Fire For Honest Remarks About Struggling Canadiens

Mike Cammalleri has always be an open and honest player off the ice and after signing a five-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens in 2009, has been one of the more candid players in the Habs locker room. In a city that places extreme scrutiny upon their hockey players and is never afraid to run off players they deem unworthy of wearing the Habs sweater, it's no wonder that a player like Cammalleri has become a bit of controversial figure in Montreal.

At $6 million a season, there are some that say he's underperformed in two and a half seasons in Montreal. With just 22 points through 37 games this season, Cammalleri has struggled along with his team and in the midst of mid-season change, coaching controversy and with the GM under fire -- it's no wonder that Cammalleri would let his frustrations be known publicly.

Unfortunately, his honesty may lead to his departure from Montreal.

Depending on which source you get your quote from, either Cammalleri called said that his team "plays like losers", or merely suggested they are playing with a losing mentality. According to La Presse, this is what Cammalleri had to say on Wednesday:

"I can't accept that we will display a losing attitude as we're doing this year. We prepare for our games like losers. We play like losers. So it's no wonder why we lose"

Now, the NHL.com report says it was merely "strongly suggested" that the Habs play with a losing mentality, but the damage has already been done. Judging by the online reaction to the quotes, the fans and media are ready to be done with a player who they feel not only has underperformed according to his contract, but is now daring to call out his team for what is plainly obvious to those to those that follow the sport.

The truth is that this is possibly the perfect excuse for fans to want Cammalleri gone after two years of frustration. Of course, let's forget his 13 goals in 19 games for the Habs during their miraculous 2010 playoff run -- I don't think that matters much to Habs fans any longer.