But more interesting to me: what’s with all these Canadians-R-Evil theories circulating lately?

I think they come from the factory right next to the one that makes “Red Wings-R-Evil and their fans even worse” theories.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/02/08 at 04:03 PM ET

I think they come from the factory right next to the one that makes “Red Wings-R-Evil and their fans even worse” theories.

Yeah, but the difference is, THOSE theories are true!

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 05/02/08 at 04:06 PM ET

Tater, WTF?  Floppa dished out at least as many cheap shots as he ever took.  Selective memory indeed. Floppa is over the hill and a shell, and that’s why he should retire. Floppa, Neidermeyer, Selanne...I’m glad they’ve all been unceremoniously bounced out, and with their teams performing badly while having their azzes handed to them.  I’m fed up with these “legendary heroes” retiring in glory, and then magically appearing again just in time to be the center of attention because they want the glamor and attention of the playoffs without paying their dues over the entire 80 game schedule.  You never saw Yzerman do that, then again, those three aren’t Yzerman in their wildest dreams.

Posted by RWBill from Richmond, VA on 05/02/08 at 04:14 PM ET

Sadly, it’s just what Colorado hockey fans know to expect from Dater.  I’ve heard (and made) plenty of complaints about refs this season, but his reasoning is, as usual, ridiculous.
He’s right about one thing, though: There’s a whole lot of life outside hockey, and it’s time Peter embraced it.  The battle against his body is one he can’t win.

Posted by Amy from Colorado on 05/02/08 at 04:19 PM ET

You never saw Yzerman do that, then again, those three aren’t Yzerman in their wildest dreams.

Yzerman never missed games because of injury?  He must have been a swell guy.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 05/02/08 at 04:28 PM ET

RWBill -- Forsberg could definitely dish it out as good as he got. Never exactly a shrinking violet on the ice, and in his biggest years, could get away with murder for all the refs seemed to care sometimes (grrr!)

Amy -- Yeah, it’s time he ended his hockey career. But as an Avs fan, you certainly got some great years out of the guy. God, I hated when the Canucks played the Avs over the years… and mostly due to Forsberg. A scary-good player.

Guys like Ryan Smyth make your team much harder for me to hate.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 05/02/08 at 04:41 PM ET

Maybe Forsberg should try out for a real league—I got a kick of this beaut today: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/nhl_star_called_up_to_big_leagues

(maybe it’s already made the rounds, but I hadn’t seen it)

Posted by Jeremy from Summerland, BC on 05/02/08 at 05:03 PM ET

Alanah - It’s OK to like the Avs a teeny bit.
I’ll go first:  I like the Canucks a little bit when they’re not playing the Avalanche and I don’t care who knows it!
See?  Unity, baby.

Posted by Amy from Colorado on 05/02/08 at 05:10 PM ET

Yzerman never missed games because of injury?  He must have been a swell guy.

RWBill is referring to skip the first part of a season and then coming in for late season push. No, Yzerman never did not nor would he ever.

Did he miss games because of injury? Unfortunately, yes. But he also carried several teams to the Cup with one knee.

Posted by Osrt on 05/02/08 at 05:53 PM ET

*skipping*

Posted by Osrt on 05/02/08 at 05:54 PM ET

RWBill is referring to skip the first part of a season and then coming in for late season push.  No, Yzerman never did not nor would he ever.

Well, he somehow managed to play 16 games in ‘02-’03 before playing in the postseason, but that can’t be the same thing as Forsberg, could it?

Maybe I just need some of those Stevie Y glasses.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 05/02/08 at 06:01 PM ET

Yzerman also had a procedure where they cut his knee literally in half in order to fix the problems that he had.  Yzerman also knew when it was time to get out, and didn’t pull a Forsberg for consecutive seasons where Peter Injured List declares hes never felt better, signs a money deal then only plays a few games.  Im not down on Foppa, but it’s time for him to go.

Posted by Yzerman19 from Nashville on 05/02/08 at 07:06 PM ET

Meh, can’t blame the guy for wanting to play hockey.

Posted by Django on 05/02/08 at 07:11 PM ET

Earl I’m not sure if you are that stupid or merely ignorant.  The reason Yzerman missed 02-03 was due to a splicing of his shin bone and knee, an operation that no player in the history of professional sports has ever overcome to play professionally again, except for Yzerman.  Players like Floppa wouldn’t even have dreamed of trying to come back that same season, or likely ever.  You should learn some hockey before you post so you aren’t exposed to be so ignorant.

Posted by RWBill from the Old Dominion, waitin for Jan 31 Wings invasion on 05/02/08 at 09:11 PM ET

I think he is right. Foppa should go back to Europe if he can’t handle the NHL.

Maybe he can play soccer… er football over there where his style is embraced.

Posted by Laker from dapuddle on 05/02/08 at 10:06 PM ET

Ah, yes.

Every exchange between Forsberg and most NHL teams’ players seemed to unfold as follows:

Opposing player: whacks Forsberg with slash/hook/tug/etc.

Forsberg: Returns in kind.

Opposing player: gives Forsberg another jab.

Forsberg: Splays on ice.

Referee: PENALTY!

Am I allowed to suggest that the league doesn’t deserve Tomas Holmstrom because he gets the crap kicked out of him and has to simply deal with the vast majority of it, even in the supposed no-contact obstruction-free league (I don’t buy the former, and don’t mind the latter), because if he reacts to getting cross-checked, it’s his fault?  Um...right. 

There wasn’t a star player that didn’t endure being “gooned up” during the pre-lockout days of what Dater would deem “Canadian good old boys,” and they still have to battle through uncalled penalties because they’re skilled players trying to battle their way to the net.  Ask the so-called soft Sedins, who buck the league-wide trend of wearing kiddie-sized hockey gloves for a reason.  The best players do their best to earn their breaks, lobby the refs on occasion, and draw penalties by keepin’ on keepin’ on instead of embracing their inner soccer player. 

As far as Forsberg’s playing status is concerned, the problem, as far as I’m concerned, is that Forsberg’s living proof that overcompensating for one physical problem tends to cause another, and that’s especially so for hockey players.  The wear and tear he’s put on his groins because of his ankle/foot issues has been severe, and at this point in his career, Forsberg’s a player that you can’t count upon to be in any more than 2/3rds of your team’s games, regular season or post-season. The Avs thought he was worth the hassle, but I’m not sure that Forsberg is willing to deal it anymore.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 05/03/08 at 08:45 AM ET

Earl I’m not sure if you are that stupid or merely ignorant.

You would be awesome on message boards.  I know Yzerman was hurt and that his comeback was remarkable.  My point wasn’t really to slam Stevie Y, it was to take issue with RWBill’s contention that Forsberg was classless for missing the start of the season because of injury, and that’s something Yzerman would never do.

I respect both players for battling through their injury issues.  Sorry if I was unclear.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Los Angeles, CA on 05/03/08 at 11:21 AM ET

“Floppa, Neidermeyer, Selanne...I’m glad they’ve all been unceremoniously bounced out, and with their teams performing badly while having their azzes handed to them.”

Every day I’m still surprised by the hate that some people can pour out. Forsberg wasn’t playing due to injury so you can’t compare his situation to Selanne and Niedermyer.

And though those were an oddity and I don’t agree with sitting out just for extra rest only to come back late in the season, it doesn’t make me happy that two star players might end their careers on that note.

“overcompensating for one physical problem tends to cause another”

That’s bang on the money.  As soon as you have a wonky foot, your body picks up the slack with other muscles, often overtaxing them to the point of breaking. Given that he played in game 3 with two torn groin muscles, that seems to be exactly what happened.

Oh...and Canadians are friggin’ awesome!

Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 05/03/08 at 02:43 PM ET

That Canadians-R-Evil article was interesting, because I’ve always felt that the reffing towards the Canucks was biased for the other team. And before you say everyone thinks that, I took the liberty of watching a Canucks/Blues game with my Stars-fan friend, while I tried to stay as neutral as possible, and we both agreed the officiating was pretty harsh on the Van City boys.

Posted by Just Another Fan from Gibsons BC on 05/03/08 at 05:21 PM ET

Man, I can’t even begin to understand why people would try and put Forsberg and in the same lake, nevermind the same boat, as Yzerman.  We’re talking about guy who should be wearing scuba gear on the ice because he dives so much to a guy who can apparently squat the stanley cup with only one good knee.

An a side note, I never understood why the Flyers but the C on Foppa’s chest.  Guys with great character usually wear that letter, but I guess some teams use it as another marketing tool to sell seats.

I’m fed up with these “legendary heroes” retiring in glory, and then magically appearing again

I think the problem is that the game of hockey is actually fun and people actually like doing it especially those who are good at it.  Hell, there are a lot worse situations to poke fun at...Michael Jordan tried to come back in an entirely other sport for chrissakes.

Posted by LOUiE from Cowtown on 05/06/08 at 09:37 AM ET