Latest news with #Nilan
Global News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
Former Canadiens player Chris Nilan to hit the stage in 1-man show about addiction, career, life
Chris Nilan, the former Montreal Canadiens enforcer, is taking the stage in late May in a one-man show titled Knuckles: The Chris Nilan Story. The former NHLer joined Global News Morning in Montreal on Friday and said the show promises to dive deep into the emotional and physical battles that defined his turbulent life. 2:17 Former Habs player Chris Nilan confronts his struggles with mental health in a new one-man show Nicknamed Chris 'Knuckles' Nilan, the notorious Boston-born hockey player, whose career was marked by controversy and his physicality on the ice, says the show will discuss his life story — from his career and his multiple surgeries, to his journey with addiction, an overdose and his mental health struggles. Story continues below advertisement Nilan said the show will discuss his early formative years, his career, and his life after hockey. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I feel good about doing this,' Nilan told host Laura Casella. 'In my life I've hurt quite a few people. I don't want to hurt people anymore, I want to help people.' The former radio host and right-winger with the Habs, the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins worked with playwright and director Vittorio Rossi on the show. Knuckles: The Chris Nilan Story premières at Maison Principale in Montreal on May 28.
News18
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Maaman Review: Soori's Film Is A Celebration Of Traditionalism As Virtue
Last Updated: Maaman Movie Review: Beneath its sentimental warmth, Soori's Maaman clings to outdated ideals under the guise of virtue. Maaman Movie Review: There is an old couple in Maaman played by Rajkiran and Viji Chandrasekar. His name is Singarayar and hers is Pavun. Their subplot has no bearing on the central conflict (which itself doesn't seem to find closure), but this digression is intended to draw a parallel between their relationship and that of the lead couple Inba (Soori) and Reka (Aishwarya Lekshmi). It's a rural attempt at recreating Ganapathy Iyer (Prakash Raj) and Bhavani Ganapathy (Leela Samson) from Mani Ratnam's OK Kanmani. If you've followed Tamil cinema since the late '90s, you'll know exactly how this relationship will play out—down to its morbid end. A running, friendly tussle between them is that Singarayar only buys her flowers but doesn't braid them into her hair himself. The emotional payoff is designed to move you to tears, and if it does, Maaman will strike many such chords throughout. If it doesn't—and you squirm at the melodrama—the film will feel like a bundle of clichés. Moving to the central conflict of the film, it revolves around the strong bond between Inba and his nephew Nilan aka Laddu (Prageeth Sivan). Nilan is the long-awaited child of Girija (Swasika) and Ravi (Baba Baskar). Girija has been harshly criticised and slandered for being childless till 33, and so her affectionate brother Inba becomes deeply attached to Laddu and obsessed with his well-being. This unwavering devotion to his family draws Reka, a doctor treating Girija, to fall in love with him. However, Nilan grows equally obsessed with Inba, much to a bit of dismay of his father. The conflict arises when Reka and Inba get married, and he continues to prioritise Nilan over her. Nilan monopolises Inba's time and affection, leaving Reka alone in a marriage. The film remains mostly engaging until this conflict surfaces. It becomes frustrating to watch the adults' parenting, as they remain oblivious to the brat Nilan is becoming. Neither the child nor the grown-up manchild Inba understands boundaries. Still, the film's gaze on this relationship is reverent. When questioned about the growing tension with his wife, Inba tells his father-in-law, 'Give it four to five years, he (Nilan) will not mind me at all, even if forced." Inba shows no concern for Reka, and when she relocates them under the guise of a job transfer, he weaponises the truth to shame her for her physical needs. When Inba slaps Reka for questioning his bond with his sister, Singarayar says, 'I have never raised my hands against my wife, and she proudly proclaims it all over. I have pride in it too, and you just lost that respect." This encapsulates the film's philosophy on familial relationships. According to Maaman, slapping a wife is ordinary—it only becomes honourable when refrained from. While such deep-rooted sexism is a problem in the film, it isn't the source. The root issue lies in the deification of traditionalism. Everything familial is framed as virtuous. Inba's self-destructive devotion is portrayed as noble. While the film occasionally feigns sympathy for Reka, it subtly shifts the blame onto her. In the end, she is the one apologising to Inba for pulling him away from his beloved family. Nilan's accident—caused by his father's carelessness—only reinforces Inba as the better caregiver. The film is quietly skewed in Inba's favour, even while pretending otherwise. Crucially, it never addresses how the family will resolve the Inba–Nilan dynamic. It's implied that Reka will simply accept it. Worse, the film concludes with a hint that Nilan is turning into a toxic version of Inba for his two nephews. First Published:
Montreal Gazette
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
Chris Nilan fights his demons in new one-man show
The Corner Booth Chris Nilan has never turned down a battle — on the ice and in life. Now, that fearlessness is extending to the stage for the first time. The former Montreal Canadiens player and 1985-86 Stanley Cup winner, known affectionately to Habs fans as Knuckles, will be telling the story of his remarkable life from West Roxbury in Boston to the NHL — as well as to hell and back — in the new one-man show Knuckles: The Chris Nilan Story. Knucks joined this week's episode of The Corner Booth with hosts Aaron Rand and Bill Brownstein at Snowdon Deli to talk about his theatre debut and what compelled him to lay bare his mental and physical struggles in such an intimate setting. 'There's one thing I've never been and never will be is an actor,' Nilan said. 'I'm telling my story, I'm telling it from the heart, and I'm going to be upfront, raw and personal. People are probably going to be mad at me, people are probably going to cry.' Nilan has long been open about his demons, from fighting drug and alcohol addiction to the toll his body took from years of being one of hockey's most respected enforcers. He might be an open book, but his new show, directed by Vittorio Rossi and coming to Maison Principale on May 28, 30 and June 3, 5, still has some secrets that might surprise even the most passionate Habs diehards. 'We come into the hockey world, become a Montreal Canadien, and you get introduced on the ice and everybody stands up clapping,' Nilan said. 'But who are they clapping for? They really don't know.'
Montreal Gazette
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Former Canadien Chris Nilan loved Josh Anderson's bench fight
Montreal Canadiens Chris Nilan was in the stands at the Bell Centre for the Canadiens' 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Friday night. Not surprisingly, the Canadiens' all-time leader in penalty minutes with 2,248 loved it when Josh Anderson and the Capitals' Tom Wilson got into a fight at the end of the second period and ended up in the Washington bench. 'Oh yeah, that looked fun,' Nilan said with a chuckle Sunday while getting ready to attend Game 4 Sunday night at the Bell Centre. (6:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports). 'The door opened and they ended up on the bench. That never would have happened if that wasn't the case. The whole Capitals team has to leave the bench and go on the ice to get to their dressing room ... so what do you expect the Canadiens players to do? Go to their room? So there's going to be a confrontation. 'I was in the stands and I could not sit down,' Nilan added. 'I was on edge, I was up and down with the fans. People were hugging me ... it was incredible. It was the most electric, passionate atmosphere I've ever been in at a sporting event. It really was. It was unbelievable. People have waited so long for these kids to come around and they finally have. Hopefully they keep it going.' Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reported that the NHL told management of the Canadiens and Capitals to be more careful during warm-ups, TV timeouts and at the end of periods in Game 4 because the league didn't like what happened in Game 3. The fight between Anderson and Miller brought back memories of the 'Brawl in the Hall' Nilan was involved in at Boston Garden on Nov. 20, 1986. Nilan received a fighting major and a game misconduct at 15:09 of the second period of a game the Canadiens would end up winning 3-1. Nilan was being escorted off the ice by a linesman and had to go through a door beside the Bruins bench to get to the Canadiens' locker room. Ken Linseman stood up on the Bruins bench and was staring at Nilan. 'You had to stand up to it in there (at Boston Garden) or just put your tail between your legs and go home,' Nilan said. 'Listen, I'm an idiot if I trust Ken Linseman,' he added. 'He stood up on the bench, turned and was facing me. I was looking straight ahead and saw him out of the corner of my eye. I was like, I ain't waiting, and that's when I threw the punch and then all hell broke loose.' A brawl ensued in the hallway leading to the locker rooms. 'I had him down in the hallway and was giving it to him and he was freaking scratching and clawing me,' Nilan said. 'He was trying to scratch my face and he did scratch me, the little rat.' Nilan and Linseman have since become good friends and Nilan had him as a guest last year on his Raw Knuckles Podcast to talk about the Brawl in the Hall. Nilan even sells sweatshirts on his website with 'Brawl in the Hall — Knuckles vs. The Rat' written on the front, along with the date and location. 'He's a great guy ... he's a really good guy,' Nilan said about Linseman. 'He's been a successful businessman in life. He's a really sharp kid ... he's done well.' Nilan loves what Anderson has brought to the Canadiens this season and during the playoffs after what was an off-season for him last year. 'I give Josh Anderson all the marks in the world for what he has done,' Nilan said. 'We saw what he did to the Rangers' Jacob Trouba this season ... he beat the doors off him. 'Here's what I'll say about Josh,' Nilan added. 'He's been an incredible leader. The previous year he had an off-year and I don't think people realize just how difficult it is for a veteran to be part of a rebuild and come every day thinking, I'm going to take everyone by storm, when you're losing all the time. It's not fun. So he had an off-year. But then he got his s--- together and he's bounced back big-time. He's been an awesome leader. That whole line with (Brendan) Gallagher and (Christian) Dvorak ... they've all stepped up in their leadership roles. Josh Anderson, I love him as a player — always have.' Nilan also loves Arber Xhekaj and was very happy to see head coach Martin St. Louis put the 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenceman in the lineup for Game 3 after he was a healthy scratch for the first two games. We already got Xhekaj and Tom Wilson throwing chirps during warmups — NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) April 25, 2025 'Listen, there was a lot of pressure on that kid,' Nilan said. 'They bring him in the lineup, they're down 2-0, and it's like: 'Don't make any mistakes.' I'm sure that's in his head. He wants to go play and he wants to bring some aggression and stand up to these guys and I thought he did a great job chirping them in pregame warm-up. He tried to get involved physically. 'Marty said Wilson ain't going to play any different with Xhekaj in the lineup ... I beg to differ,' Nilan added. 'Plus, Wilson wasn't the only one in the first two games ... everybody on the Capitals was taking shots at the Habs. Now, it's like screw you. With Arber in there guys know that their backs are covered. It's a big plus to have him in the lineup. 'I think they've kind of put Washington on notice.'
Vancouver Sun
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Former Canadien Chris Nilan loved Josh Anderson's bench fight
Article content Chris Nilan was in the stands at the Bell Centre for the Canadiens' 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Friday night. Article content Not surprisingly, the Canadiens' all-time leader in penalty minutes with 2,248 loved it when Josh Anderson and the Capitals' Tom Wilson got into a fight at the end of the second period and ended up in the Washington bench. Article content Article content 'Oh yeah, that looked fun,' Nilan said with a chuckle Sunday while getting ready to attend Game 4 Sunday night at the Bell Centre. (6:30 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports). 'The door opened and they ended up on the bench. That never would have happened if that wasn't the case. The whole Capitals team has to leave the bench and go on the ice to get to their dressing room … so what do you expect the Canadiens players to do? Go to their room? So there's going to be a confrontation. Article content Article content 'I was in the stands and I could not sit down,' Nilan added. 'I was on edge, I was up and down with the fans. People were hugging me … it was incredible. It was the most electric, passionate atmosphere I've ever been in at a sporting event. It really was. It was unbelievable. People have waited so long for these kids to come around and they finally have. Hopefully they keep it going.' Article content Article content Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reported that the NHL told management of the Canadiens and Capitals to be more careful during warm-ups, TV timeouts and at the end of periods in Game 4 because the league didn't like what happened in Game 3. Article content Article content The fight between Anderson and Miller brought back memories of the 'Brawl in the Hall' Nilan was involved in at Boston Garden on Nov. 20, 1986. Nilan received a fighting major and a game misconduct at 15:09 of the second period of a game the Canadiens would end up winning 3-1. Article content Nilan was being escorted off the ice by a linesman and had to go through a door beside the Bruins bench to get to the Canadiens' locker room. Ken Linseman stood up on the Bruins bench and was staring at Nilan.
