In fairness to Schneids, Chief, I think it was about the surfing, too…

Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 04/21/08 at 11:31 AM ET

Does this mean that Schlonger wants out of Anaheim now?  He always wants to be traded from a team that gets eliminated from the playoffs, just like in Edmonton.  God, what a douchebag.  Glad to see that the whole thing with Selanne and Neidermeyer “coming back” halfway through the year backfired on the Poultry.  I think I wanted Anaheim eliminated worse than I wanted the Wings to eliminate Bubba, and that was a whole lot.  Have a nice summer Poultry, a$$holes.  Good riddance

Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 04/21/08 at 11:50 AM ET

Tick Tock Kenny came out on the rosey end of that deal, too. 
He locked up Rafalski:  Younger, faster, better defensively with very good offensive numbers, too.

Posted by w2j2 on 04/21/08 at 11:51 AM ET

I am no fan of the Pond Scum.  Maybe one of the things that people will see from this is that you can’t sit out for half the year and then decide to play without it having major consequences for your team.  O.k. blame Schneider if that’s easier than blaming the gutless, cheap shot Captain Sasquatch.  Or what about the PK, Dallas was 10 of 38 on the PP.  Ouch.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/21/08 at 11:51 AM ET

if you want to look at players that cost the Poultry the series, you have to look at Pronger, the half year men and the Salesman from PillowLand much more than Schneider…

you should also look at Brian Burke. It was monumentally stupid to give almost 6mill a year to Schneider, but even WORSE to give 4mill to Bertuzzi..

plus he waived Bryzgalov, traded for Doug frigging Weight and got rid of Andy McDonald, who was their best player in the playoffs last season.

the guys a nutjob, and i hope he goes to the Laughs, that’ll just make them even funnier.

Posted by Pharazon from England on 04/21/08 at 11:55 AM ET

Or what about the PK, Dallas was 10 of 38 on the PP.  Ouch.

That KILLED them in the first couple of games.  It’s all well and good to play tough and dirty if you can actually kill off the penalties - if you can’t, then you just make it that much easier for the opponent to jam power-play goals down your throat.

How about San Jose not closing out the Flames?

I swear, I was yelling at that team not to do the same thing AGAIN that they do every playoffs and just go flat at some point like a deflated balloon - and I’m not even a Sharks fan!  They seemed startled that Calgary would come at them hitting as hard and skating as fast as they did.  They can’t possibly have expected the Flames to roll over in their own building in an elimination game.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/21/08 at 11:59 AM ET

Schneider probably thought the Ducks had a better chance to repeat than the Wings had to win it this year.  Their stock appeared to be on the rise, while the Wings during his tenure have had nothing but early exit after early exit.

I bet he now wonders if he was the one holding the Wings back.

Posted by Tuba Guy from Royal Oak, MI on 04/21/08 at 12:10 PM ET

Agree on Schneider, Chief.  As a successful Jewish sportsman he’s a bit of a grudging hero to me, but I’m not blind to the reality.  He was always pretty tough defensively and brought a good physical edge to the team, but it often came at the cost of doing what he was paid to do-- play DEFENSE.  You could just about overlook that for his PP ability, but when he bolted for South Cali for more bucks than he was worth to be closer to the sun and to play mercenary to a dirty (in more than one sense of the word) team, and then had the balls (or should I say chutzpah?) to make some pretty classless statements about his former team and former teammates (especially Homer)...well...good riddance.  The upgrade with Rafalski and the replacement of his physical game with Drake has paid dividends.  Schneider can watch from the golf course.

I’m pretty glad to see the results of Niedermayer and Selanne’s bottom-line thinking come to nought.  If nothing else, this kind of selfish thinking (or possibly, organized conspiracy with team managers) could have set a precedent for other me-first players to follow.  It’s just rewards for what they did, and I’m sure Wings fans aren’t the only ones who are satisfied with this result.

Play for your team, boys, or don’t play at all.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the warm sunshine of being still in the playoffs on 04/21/08 at 12:32 PM ET

I had no problem with Schneider’s game; it certainly wasn’t the biggest problem Anaheim had in the first round.

Still, Anaheim had a general problem in redundancy on the blueline.  The fact that Schneider was paid north of $5M to essentially hold down the 3rd pairing was overkill, and cost the Ducks an opportunity to increase depth for its forwards.

There’s really no way (I think) for Niedermayer to be worth his $6.75M, Pronger to be worth his $6.25M, AND for Schneider to be worth his $5.3M.  By the time two of those guys earn their money, the third guy doesn’t have the minutes to be a difference-maker.  My thoughts, anyway.

Anyways, enjoy the high horse.  I’m sure a lot of hockey fans got their first round wish yesterday.

“Andy McDonald, who was their best player in the playoffs last season.”

I don’t think this is true at all.  Pahlsson and Pronger were much bigger factors.  McDonald had decent numbers, but he also went a ten-game stretch being largely contained, with only a goal and an assist.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 04/21/08 at 12:59 PM ET

I’m sure a lot of hockey fans got their first round wish yesterday.

Posted by O-Joe on 04/21/08 at 01:25 PM ET

Schneider is an offensive defenseman - that’s why he worked so well with Lidstrom, he didn’t have to worry about defense as much.  I don’t hink he’s ever been a defense-first guy, and never claimed to be.  He certainly never struck me as soft - he seemed to be pretty testy, actually.

...to make some pretty classless statements about his former team and former teammates (especially Homer)…

I missed that.  What did he say?

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/21/08 at 01:33 PM ET

I don’t think this is true at all.  Pahlsson and Pronger were much bigger factors.  McDonald had decent numbers, but he also went a ten-game stretch being largely contained, with only a goal and an assist.

Couldn’t agree more.

Considering how Pahlsson’s line totally shut down Ottawa’s Pizza Line (also scoring on them) and also gave the Wings a lot of headaches, he was the Conn Smythe last year in my book.

Posted by lilja4ever on 04/21/08 at 02:08 PM ET

Why is everyone still on the nuts of Brian Burke? Burke had options here. He didn’t have to let Neidermayer take his team hostage. By all accounts he had trades out there for Schneider when Neidermayer did come back, but made the Weight deal instead. I mean, weren’t Perry, Getzlaf, Pahlsson, and Penner all the doing of Murray anyways?

And what about Vancouver? How great do you think fans feel about what he did there? You know, not getting them deep in the playoffs. Stocking up on slightly above average ginger haired Swedish twin brother talent instead of improving the situation with Cloutier…

I’m not saying Burke isn’t a good GM. All GMs make mistakes. But to say he’s the best in the league like the MSM have been spouting for a year now… it’s a joke. Show me results over a 10 year period (see Detroit and New Jersey) and then you can be considered.

Posted by Nathan on 04/21/08 at 02:13 PM ET

Helene Elliot is a much respected hockey journalist.

That cherry picked quote is a very small part of a great series wrap-up.  I urge all to read the entire piece.

A2Y comments are for the most part right on regarding Schneider.  Surprised someone has not pointed out that ANA is Schneider’s 7th NHL team.
I mention that not to suggest he is damaged goods,
but to point out he is a true ‘Soldier of Fortune’.

The Ducks exit is a fitting finish for Burke’s great “Part time Star” experiment.  Current and future GM’s will probably think carefully 5 or 6 times before incorporating that tactic.

Way too much hoopla about the Ducks meltdown.  It was the product of much frustration that comes from playing the same opponent night after night.
Most of that frustration was precipitated by the stellar play of Marty Turco for the second year in the playoffs.  That, along with the fact that the Stars were more successful handling the 5 on 3 PK.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 04/21/08 at 02:40 PM ET

Most of that frustration was precipitated by the stellar play of Marty Turco for the second year in the playoffs.

That’s a bit misleading, I think.  Turco was solid, but I’m not sure if he stole any games.  Mostly the games were won in front of Turco, not because of him.

Still, he didn’t implode, so I guess that’s something.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 04/21/08 at 02:47 PM ET

I woudl agree with Earl on this one.  I think Turco was solid but....I still think he is vulnerable to implosion.

Also, the Ducks had to start the year by playing in Europe.  Given the drama surrounding the Niedermayer/Selanne situations, the Cup hangover, and Corey Perry’s injury… I as a Wings fan, know how it feels to watch your team win it all and then get bounced in the first round.  Ugh.  It isn’t fun.  Even if I hate the Ducks, I still send you condolences, Earl.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/21/08 at 02:54 PM ET

I as a Wings fan, know how it feels to watch your team win it all and then get bounced in the first round.  Ugh.  It isn’t fun.

Actually, I don’t know if this is because it was Anaheim’s first cup, or whether it’s blog-fatigue from going pretty full throttle since two Octobers ago, but I’ve been taking it way too calmly.  I guess I’ve been realistic about the Ducks’ chances, but it hasn’t been the emotional roller coaster of playoffs past.

I asked my Red Wings buddy about my feelings of detachment: “Is this normal for a post-cup year?” and he thought I was nuts.

Even if I hate the Ducks, I still send you condolences, Earl.

Thanks, hockeychic.  I’m always happy when I can show that not all Ducks fans are OC idiots.  (I just happen to be an idiot who lives in L.A.)

Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 04/21/08 at 03:06 PM ET

Elliot is a hockey journalist that is respected by her equally douchey peers. She’s shown many times she likes to cause trouble. As if we don’t get enough of that garbage from the likes of Strachan and Garrioch.

I will say that at least she asks puts it out there. That’s more than we can say about the Diggers.

Posted by Nathan on 04/21/08 at 03:28 PM ET

You are too young Nathan,
learn to do some research.

One of the first women to cover the sport, Elliott began her career in the late 1970s when many locker rooms and press boxes were closed to women, except by court order. As such, she often had to wait for hours after games ended to conduct interviews. She has covered almost all major events in ice hockey, including every Stanley Cup Final since 1980, the New York Islanders’ four championships in a row, the “Miracle on Ice” defeat of the Soviet Union national team by the U.S. team in the 1980 Winter Olympics, and the growth of hockey on the West Coast fueled by Wayne Gretzky’s arrival to the Los Angeles Kings.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 04/21/08 at 04:27 PM ET

I still think Schneider left because Holland didn’t want him back. Holland had his eye on Rafalski and went out and got him. Schneider had two major injuries in the last year with the Wings, and Holland probably figured it was time to go for a younger D-man in a similar mold. I think Schneider would have come back if we wanted him.

Posted by Pete K from Chicago, IL on 04/21/08 at 04:50 PM ET

I didn’t watch the series closely enough to say much about Schneider, but I find this a little tough to swallow, too.  By the numbers, he and Huskins were easily Anaheim’s best defencemen 5-on-5 (the only ones significantly in the pluses).  Pronger and Niedermayer were -1 and -3 respectively.

In the series, my sense was that the Ducks lost because they finally ran into an effective power play, solid goaltending, and balanced scoring--none of the four teams they beat last year had all three of those.  More specifically, they lost because Pronger and Giguere played badly, and those two guys are by a country mile the two most important players on the Ducks.  Even if everyone else had played well (which they didn’t), poor games by those two would have cost the Ducks the series anyways.

Helene’s right that Burke should have kept MacDonald and sent Schneider packing, but that’s not what cost them this series by a long shot.

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 04/21/08 at 05:12 PM ET

By the numbers, he and Huskins were easily Anaheim’s best defencemen 5-on-5 (the only ones significantly in the pluses).

That almost entirely has to do with quality of opposition.  Plus-minus without context isn’t a very good measure of “best”.

In the series, my sense was that the Ducks lost because they finally ran into an effective power play, solid goaltending, and balanced scoring--none of the four teams they beat last year had all three of those.

The Ducks would have lost this series against mediocre goaltending; they had trouble generating shots at all.  Turco was a minimal factor, other than his puck-moving.  The rest of your points are good, though.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 04/21/08 at 05:23 PM ET

I know who Helene Elliot is. Strachan and Garrioch also have lots of experience. So does Mitch Albom. Do I need to continue?

Elliot has made comments since the lockout that stink of someone that’s mailing it in instead of putting forth the same effort she once did.

Whatever. Good on her. She’s still better than Ted Kulfan. We all have our taste in writers. She is far from one of my favorites.

Posted by Nathan on 04/21/08 at 05:31 PM ET

I missed that.  What did he say?

Well, just after he rejected the braintrust’s offer and refused to let them match any offers he got on the UFA market, and then signed with Anaheim, he said that he was happy to be moving to a ‘contender.’ Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I got the implication that the Wings weren’t.  Worse, he said that he was glad that his career was ‘back on track,’ and he felt that the team wasn’t moving in the right direction under Babcock.  Now I know that a fair amount of good players, Shanny among them, chafed under Uncle Mike, but at least they went their own ways without such barbed comments.  Lang, notably, has said nothing at all, just that he had a difference of views with him.  For all his lazy and sloppy play, he stayed classy and kept his mouth shut when he left.

As for Holmstrom, he’s said that Homer stole a lot of goals from him by camping out in front of the net, ignoring how many goals Homer made possible for him to score by taking hefty punishment and abuse in the crease night after night while Schneider was comfortable up high on the blue line.  He also implied that what he did was illegal, or should be made so, I’m not quite sure-- I’ll have to track down and re-read the comment.  But he said it right after going to a team that doesn’t have a clearly-defined crease-crasher.  And maybe the officials were listening to him when they waved off the Lidstrom goal because of ‘interference’ in the last regular-season game against the Poultry.

Maybe I’m being oversensitive, and he meant nothing by those words.  Wouldn’t be the first time I was and got the wrong end of the stick.  Now if I hadn’t known him to have differences with Babcock, I might not have read between the lines.  But knowing that, it wasn’t so easy to let them go, and I’m disappointed in him if he meant what I think he did.

Still, Miss B, you have to agree that the team is better without him and with the changes made since he left.  So I don’t really give a spit in the ocean what he says now.  You?

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the newsroom, watching the wire with bated breath on 04/22/08 at 07:44 AM ET

As always Andrew, great summary and commentary!

Schneider certainly isn’t the classiest player. Here is the original post with the Homer comment: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/A2Y/comments/muddled_offerings/

Posted by lilja4ever on 04/22/08 at 12:33 PM ET