Looks like Bettman has “hard-ons” for all Stanley Cup winners, Lidstrom, Niedermayer ...and Vince Vaughn…Who knew?

Posted by Hootie from PA on 06/14/09 at 12:42 AM ET

I think one thing all us fans, be it that we support Pittsburgh or Detroit, can agree on is thank God we’re not Blues fans.

coughNocupscough.

Ah, the Blues will get it someday. I would be surprised if it doesn’t happen in my lifetime.

Then again, there’s the Cubs, who have been choking for, what is it, a century now? I dunno.

Posted by Presidentjlh from Omaha, NE on 06/14/09 at 12:49 AM ET

His antics are what get me.  I will never forgive him for asking the ref if they could speed up the game after Ovi scored his hat trick in the Pens/Caps series.  Seriously, who does that?  The fact that he dives and that he whines diminishes from his skill.

It’s odd. On the one hand, I agree with Baroque and the Chief—he’s not comfortable being the face of the league, he didn’t ask for it, and I think he’d just as soon focus solely on playing hockey. On the other, there are still times when it looks for all the world like he’s copping a “do you know who I am” kind of attitude with the refs, and even opposing players. The OV hat trick is a good example. Which, it doesn’t matter how good you are or how much your home fans love you, you’re not going to endear yourself to a league-wide audience when you pull that kind of crap. Maybe he’ll grow up, maybe not, it’s too soon to tell. Meantime, “The Kid” is a good nickname for him, but not for the reasons it’s most commonly used.

Posted by Bio on 06/14/09 at 12:50 AM ET

And I also wanted to say thank you to Chief and the 19 for providing me so much enjoyment this season.  I couldn’t have made it without you!

Posted by Mimi36 from Illinois on 06/14/09 at 12:52 AM ET

Congrats to the Wings on another outstanding season.  If I’m honest with myself, I think the Wings are probably a more complete team, top-to-bottom.  I just think the Pens were hungrier.  They were more or less in awe last year and realized the opportunity this year and just went out and took it. 

Let’s be honest, the Wings are an embarrassment of riches.  They are the model NHL Franchise, in terms of drafting and developing, as well as creatively managing the cap (even if it is against the spirit of the CBA… it is legal and I give them credit).  Every year they have new, young guys come out of nowhere, and are able to keep their big guns and even add bigger guns.  It’s already a dynasty, regardless of the loss this year. 

That hunger will return for the Wings next year, and I can only hope that another year of development, moves, and a taste of the Cup makes our core group hungry to keep the Cup, because I’m sure that the Wings will be back and better than ever next year. 

Cheers to a great season and playoffs.

Posted by City of Champs from The Burgh on 06/14/09 at 12:56 AM ET

Alzy and OTC, I worked the numbers over at Capgeek and yeah, it would be tough and require some bargains being forced. 

Holland isn’t a miracle worker, but he may be aware of personality or motivation factors that we aren’t.  It looks like we’d have to get Hossa way down to the 4-5 range, and even considering any devaluation he took in the playoff run, that would mean a long a$$ contract.

Interesting that the re-signing rumors started so quickly, and that Holland has been praising Hossa in all his PR.  Perhaps one of the no-trade-clause players restructured his salary?

We’ll know soon enough, but I’m still with the Chief on this one.

Posted by ThirtyNineDegrees on 06/14/09 at 02:08 AM ET

I’m not one to troll one anothers team board, but I want to say thanks to the Red Wings and their fans for being classy this whole series

I appreciate the fans sticking around after the game and watching us celebrate just as we did for you and I really appreciate the ovation Mario got with the cup.

Great series, great season and I’m sure you’ll be back there next year. Thanks Detroit, and thank you for being the best fans in hockey (outside of the Burgh).

Posted by Doug from Pittsburgh on 06/14/09 at 03:44 AM ET

It’s obvious you guys are trying to move on pretty quickly here, so I won’t keep you.  Just one more thing…

I and my fellow fans really couldn’t give less of a *#$%@& whether you like Pittsburgh.  Hate them, please!  I would ask for nothing different from you!  Please, hate Crosby with the rest of the predictable turds in this league.  But, at very least, don’t lie to yourselves about his talent.  We obviously hate Detroit…but we RESPECT the hockey they play.  I just wish a fan base which considers itself “knowledgeable” would have the guts to primarily admit defeat to a more talented team, and not just bitch and moan about how poorly the NHL is run after years of exploiting that league to win its own games for years on end.  It’s called intellectual honesty.  This is how civilized discussion works.  If someone - ANYONE - would acknowledge this point, I’d be done.  Self-righteous pricks.  Go ahead and stand by your bullshit.  We’ll make do with the Stanley Cup and all the talent we need for the forseeable future, thank you.

Read the italics again.  That’s my ONLY point.  That’s all it’s ever been.  Damn reading one sentence motherfuckers.  Talk about reading comprehension.  If you disagree for a good reason, then DISAGREE.  BUT I WANT TO HEAR IT.  As long as you don’t, I THINK MY POINT IS STILL VALID.

Good lord, has this been difficult.  Up in arms because I was trying to have a conversation.  I figured, there had to be SOMETHING behind all this bitching…  No wonder Pens fans don’t like it.  It’s like talking to my *#$%@&.  Boo hoo, we’re so sad and downtrodden because of the league.  Woe is us.  And you say CROSBY bitches.  I’m actually offended by that level of hypocrisy.  I feel for the human race.  Learn to accept reality.

In conclusion, you’re certainly not all bad, but *#$%@& y’all anyway.  Piss and moan to yourselves all you want, I’ll never be back (hallelujah).  Spread the stupid, haters.</troll>

Better luck next year lol

Posted by BingCrosby5000 from Picksburgh on 06/14/09 at 03:55 AM ET

Perhaps one of the no-trade-clause players restructured his salary?

Not possible under the current CBA, so I’m still having trouble figuring out how he stays.  Still, 39°, as you said there may be other factors that we’re not aware of at work.  I honestly don’t know, but see my next bit for why I might not want him back…

Playoff injury reports

AND NO HOSSA?!?  WTF?  Right, unless we hear anything different, he’s the goat.  If he wasn’t injured like the rest of those guys were, and yet still couldn’t or wouldn’t put in the effort that they did, the effort required in order to consistently score goals in the playoffs and win Cups, then Hoss, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.  Maybe with more time he can learn to fit into the system, but I’m not sure he’s worth the cap hit to find out.

And Chief, I don’t know why you keep defending Pensblog.

Frankly, I find them indefensible (both from an argumentative standpoint and from the standpoint that the US Navy, or any other of our armed forces, should afford them protection), and I’ve always disliked them.  Haven’t been reading them and ain’t about to start now, but the way they and their readers have conducted themselves over this playoff run (in addition to last year’s) cements my view of them and Pens fans in general.  Genuine class there.

Did this happen in Detroit last year?

Nope.  I posted an article before Game Seven that the Pittsburgh PD was already asking people not to riot.  Guess that fell on deaf ears.

Am I completely classless for wishing he would have followed through on the original statement?

No, you’re human.  And kudos to you for being honest and admitting that you may not have cheered for the Wings had they won it at Mellon (incidentally, I also recall Mellon being empty last year; watching my Stanley Cup Champions 2008 DVD substantiates this).  Your fellow fans seem to have their blinders on are trying to convince themselves that they’re all class and would never do anything like troll opposing fan sites, attack rival fanbases with below-the-belt comments, or do anything but valianty cheer the victors of the series, whomever they may be.  Frankly, I’ve got a garden full of that horseshit; I don’t need any more.

the winners of the Stanley Cup are the Pittsburgh Penguins, thanks to the fantastic play our team has given us all year

I guess you weren’t watching your team around November-December then?  Playoff bandwagoner.

Then what are you doing here instead of at home in bed?

Laughing hard at the whiny posts around here of course.

Hey, thanks for making my point for me!  Coming back and rising to the bait—the last refuge of a scoundrel.  Yinz Pen(i)s trolls is too too funny.

we Pittsburgh fans feel that more direct congratulations are in order.

Then you Pittsburgh fans can demonstrate that you deserve it.  Just read some of the comments we’re getting here and tell me that I should turn around and say ‘Congratulations’ to THAT.  And don’t tell me it’s out of your control—I’m not an idiot and know that.  But since you collectively demand something from the Detroit fan base, you’ve justified me asking you and all the other ones who aren’t directly trolling, to control the entire Pittsburgh fanbase.  Can’t do it?  Tough sh*t—I can’t get the entire Detroit fanbase to kowtow before your team.

it is not a personal agenda.  he knows that a crosby/ovechkin winning the cup is better for the league, then if detroit wins again.

Of course it’s not a personal agenda, but with your second sentence you’ve just proven our point.  That being said, what Bettman has been doing for the past ten years has hurt the League, regardless of what his intentions are.  Just do me a favor and don’t act like he isn’t overjoyed by the fact that they guy he spends over half his marketing budget on has captained his team to a Cup.

I guess that was closer to my point, in this series Wings fans don’t think their enemy is the Pens (who were treated more as a nuisance) but the League…Like you didn’t lose to US, but to the conditions produced by the LEAGUE.

Bra-freaking-vo.  You finally get it.  Do me a favor and it explain it to the rest of your mouthbreathing fanbase.  And while you’re at it, try to explain to them that the Detroit Lions are NOT a hockey team.

What you do and say reflects only upon you.

Well, so far I haven’t wished dire economic conditions, homelessness, starvation, and urban poverty on anyone, nor have I accused them of being pedophiles or rapists.  Your fellow fans on the other hand…well, it reflects only upon you.

Stop complaining about the trolls.  A number of the 19 (paulinmiamibeach and voox come to mind) trolled thepensblog repeatedly during the finals both this year and last.  Now man up and deal with what you have coming thanks to what some ungracious Wings fans set you all up for.

Posted by Docc8 on 06/13/09 at 11:58 AM ET

Painting Pens fans with the broad brush of some of the idiot 12-year-olds trolling here is pretty stupid as well.

Posted by Docc8 from Maryland on 06/13/09 at 10:00 PM ET

I see consistency is a very important thing to you.

Get the *#$%@& trolls out of the way and we’ll be happy to discuss why the Wings lost.  Right now they get in the way of any conversation anyone might try to have.

If I had that ability, I would…[And] I’d suggest checking Tony’s recent post over at the Confluence.  A few of your brethren are over there trolling up a storm. 

Posted by Docc8 on 06/13/09 at 11:12 PM ET

Sigh…You just don’t get…Wait, okay, I’ll tell you what.  Let’s make a deal.  I’ll rein in my trolls when you rein in yours, ‘K?  You won the Cup, so you first.

Posted by The Other Saler from Wyoming, Mi on 06/14/09 at 12:03 AM ET

Thanks, Megan, but could you do us all a big favor and post that on the Pensblog?  Like you said—they don’t seem to know what to do to celebrate, and they can’t seem to accept that a rival team’s fanbase, whom they hate, hates them.  Strange—you’d think people spewing such venom would be VERY familiar and comfortable with hate.

Posted by Presidentjlh from Omaha, NE

Presidenjlh, yours were model comments of civility and brevity.  Congratulations to you and your Pens; they played hard and the better team won.  Enjoy the Cup now, because summers like these are over far too quickly.  Oh, and for ripping on the Blooze with us—we like you.  You can stay.

(See boys, not too hard, was it?)

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/14/09 at 04:00 AM ET

But, at very least, don’t lie to yourselves about his talent.

When did anybody here deny that he was talented?  He’s one of the most talented players in the League.  That doesn’t mean I’m willing to overlook his many flaws, or restrain my rage when he is ceaselessly shoved down my throat every day by a League that knows f*ck-all about marketing hockey.  Yeah, that makes Crosby a victim of guilt by association.  I’m sure he can find a way to whine about that too.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/14/09 at 04:05 AM ET

Wow. First of all, well fought by everyone for that shiny thingie. Both teams fought hard, and stuck it out. Congrats to the Pens, who won it within the guidelines the refs called (and no that isn’t meant to insult).

And good on you few, proud classy Pens fans. They’re decent here to people who have half a brain, even if you don’t agree with them (I’m a Ducks fan).

The others, wow dudes seriously? You won the Cup. You beat the perennial favorites. You put Hossa in his place (sorry guys I thought Hoss was treasure hunting, in it for himself instead of the team, what he does this off-season can effect that POV). Long story short, f$^# off, have some class. Would you like the 19 going to the Pensblog and $#!+ing in your cereal bowl if things had turned out the other way? The 19 may be arrogant sons-of-bitches, but they at least have that much respect. Congrats on the Cup, happy #%!@in’ day, now if you don’t have any decent insight to discuss, would you kindly direct your attention to my middle finger before removing yourselves from the premises. Thank you, and your team will not sit long on the throne, I swear it.

Posted by Bleys from Irvine, CA on 06/14/09 at 04:08 AM ET

I had this same conversation with my friend, a Lakers fan, who wants the Lakers to win at home so they “don’t get booed like the Pens did in Detroit.”  I had to explain to him, as I will to my fellow Pens fans, that I thought the Detroit fans were respectful and were clearly booing Bettman.  When the Pens were skating the Cup they were either quiet or cheering.  And let’s lay off the Crosby handshake ordeal too, he was excited, he was late, he didn’t get to everybody, oh well.  And Mr A2Y, don’t count your Hossa’s before they sign.  We thought we had him too.  He’ll probably try to jump to Pittsburgh since they provide “the best chance to win the Stanley Cup.”  Don’t think Shero would have him though.  Nor does any Pittsburgh fan want him.  Good series Wings, fun chatting it up Wings fans, I hope our teams meet again.

Posted by DeadWings from San Diego on 06/14/09 at 05:57 AM ET

This ... is unbelievable, but I think I figured out (part of) the issue.

Some of the topics of discussion have been ongoing for weeks - or even months- and jumping in right away and trying to participate with no awareness of the previously covered territory is frustrating for those who have already considered entire areas of discussion asked-and-answered, and the new commenters have no clue what has been said. 

And we move from one topic to another pretty fast - we’ve finished with “Bettman smiling the smile of love of marketing hook” and moved on to what the Wings roster will look like next year and if the Hamilton Blackberries would be an entirely logical name for the new team, given that there once existed an Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

Do try to keep up. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 06:11 AM ET

Well, 39°, since the Chief won’t offer a salary cap number for Hossa

Yeah, I was hiding it OTC.  Holding it in reserve until that perfect moment, because I’m privy to it of course.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 06/14/09 at 06:19 AM ET

Yeah, I was hiding it OTC.  Holding it in reserve until that perfect moment, because I’m privy to it of course.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 06/14/09 at 07:19 AM ET

You have a higher security clearance than I thought, then. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 06:28 AM ET

Do try to keep up.

Hey now, it’s not my fault that I had to cover everything in one post!  With the time difference, I don’t get to participate in the discussions in real-time.  Blame the fact that the Earth is round.  If those Flat-Earth Conspiracy theorists were right, then maybe we could talk.  Besides, I did cover next year’s roster…briefly.  Okay, it was only Hossa.  Whatever.  I still don’t see us keeping him, and I see Sammy sticking around unfortunately because of Uncle Mike’s man-crush on him.  Probably at the same rate too, dammit.  We need the space just to fill out the roster.  One thing I will say is that Howard will back up Ozzie next season, and then we’ll know whether we keep him or trade him.  Unlike last year, we don’t have the cap space this year to sign a veteran backup again to compete with Howard for the backup job, and with Larsson and McCollum and possibly Pearce competing for jobs with the Griffs, and Howard out of waivers, he gets the backup job by default.  One other thing I think…if we do SOMEHOW manage to extend Hossa, then it won’t happen until Leino is qualified and in the fold (probably at aorund $1 millon per), and Hudler is traded at the draft.  However we extend Hossa, it’ll leave those two vulnerable to cheapie offer sheets in the range of $1.5 million that we couldn’t match, and I don’t see a bidding war erupting over either of them.  So unless they’re both so loyal to the team that they won’t sign offer sheets unless the return is at least a first- and a third-round pick ($2.5 million), which is doubtful, there have to be contingency plans in place already before we put ourselves up against the cap.

So there.  Roster talk.  And FWIW, I always liked the name “Hamilton Predators,” but since that’s not going to happen, how about the “Chrome-Domes?”  The “Horseshoes?”  The “Tech Geeks?”  Seriously though, given the manufacturing past of the area and the fact that it’s where Dofasco was founded, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear they’ll be called the “Steelers.”  Something like that.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/14/09 at 07:30 AM ET

All you Pissburgh asshats are pulling out the split second of smile that Bettman had.  He scowled the whole time through the ceremony.

Look.  You are telling me that I need to kneel at Crosby’s altar.  I KNEEL AT NO HUMAN’S ALTAR.  SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS.

Posted by ludmeister from Kentucky on 06/14/09 at 07:42 AM ET

And I realize that there have been some very reasonable Pittsburgh fans on here, talking respect, giving respect, and I have given them respect.  I’m not referring to them. 

That said, I have no respect for miserable, whining 13-year-old Pittsburgh kool-aid drinkers.  You know who you are.  Have a nice day.  I know I will.

Posted by ludmeister from Kentucky on 06/14/09 at 07:44 AM ET

That would leave us with $379,347 in cap space, so I suppose that money could be used to bring back someone like Kopecky instead of having McCarty or Downey on the big club.

Hudler at $2 mil, Leino at $1 mil, shit-can Lebda… while the numbers do work I’m not on board with dumping Lebs.  That’s defensive depth.  We don’t know if Lilja is going to be able to come back.

I’ve been playing with that calculator for a while and I can’t find any scenario that allows for Hossa to stay.

The X-factor is the cap itself, of course.  Right now we’re all assuming it stays flat. 

What if it goes down?

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/14/09 at 07:59 AM ET

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/14/09 at 08:30 AM ET

Not you, Andrew - you get the “out of time zone” exception.  A catch-up gallimaufry post is a different animal.

I meant the trolls who are chewing on days-old bread from the dumpster while the more regular posters are on their second course in the dining room.

Someone might need to throw a ton of money at Sammy - or Tonya Harding him.  At least get him off the power play point.  Ugh!  But man-crush or no, they might have to cut him loose - and Babcock will still have Ericsson, so it isn’t as though he’ll be without anyone.

I don’t get that Hossa has a contract already, though - I wonder if the numbers being tossed around were the ones being discussed when the Hossa and Franzen negotiations were going on at the same time, and when Franzen signed the discussion was tabled until the end of the season.  If so, then that would reset everything and Holland will start over from a standpoint of who he already has instead of thinking of signing either Franzen or Hossa (depending on who came to an agreement first).  He’s pretty good at not tipping his hand in these things.

And I like the Hamilton Blackberries - it makes more sense than the Mighty Ducks, because although the team was owned by Disney, it wasn’t that dreadful piece of cinematic poop that paid for it - and in the case of the Hamilton team it will be the case.  Or the RIMshots (after Reasearch in Motion).  I think they might be dubbed the Blackberries anyway, no matter what the “official” name is.

I wonder if he ticks off the rest of the owners would switch to iPhones from Crackberries in protest if Balsillie does something they don’t like?  That would be funny.

I wish absolutely no ill on the devoted Phoenix Coyote fans, but I’d like to see the team move to somewhere they can be successful.  And Tyler (in the comments of the post I linked to earlier) made a very good observation:

Assume, for the sake of argument, that the Coyotes migrate north.

What, then, would be a better available market than Phoenix?  An available arena waiting, a highly motivated municipality that needs an anchor tenant for the arena ... might be a better option than Kansas City or Las Vegas (since they have no rink ther yet). 

And I think if Toronto is so dead set against a team on their turf, then they should buy the Coyotes themselves - it isn’t as though they don’t have the money - and either take the losses to keep them in Phoenix, or let them move north and profit from owning TWO teams in southern Ontario.  Think of the profit$!

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:00 AM ET

And good on you few, proud classy Pens fans. They’re decent here to people who have half a brain, even if you don’t agree with them (I’m a Ducks fan).

The others, wow dudes seriously? You won the Cup. You beat the perennial favorites. You put Hossa in his place (sorry guys I thought Hoss was treasure hunting, in it for himself instead of the team, what he does this off-season can effect that POV). Long story short, f$^# off, have some class. Would you like the 19 going to the Pensblog and $#!+ing in your cereal bowl if things had turned out the other way? The 19 may be arrogant sons-of-bitches, but they at least have that much respect. Congrats on the Cup, happy #%!@in’ day, now if you don’t have any decent insight to discuss, would you kindly direct your attention to my middle finger before removing yourselves from the premises. Thank you, and your team will not sit long on the throne, I swear it.

Thank you, Bleys.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/14/09 at 08:01 AM ET

The X-factor is the cap itself, of course.  Right now we’re all assuming it stays flat. 

What if it goes down?

Posted by monkey from So close, yet so far away on 06/14/09 at 08:59 AM ET

The way I have read it, it may decline slightly if the NHLPA does not apply the 5% inflator they are allowed to, as per the CBA.  If they do apply it (and they probably will, even though it may mean more salary lost to escrow by the players, because it will mean that teams don’t have to dump contracts overboard like ballast in a hot air balloon), it may go up slightly.  The concern is what happens after next season, since the cap for next year is based on the revenues for this year, and the revenues for next year will determine the cap for the year after that.  How quickly the economy recovers will play into that.

Oh!  I know!  We’ll all convince the NHL front office that the be$t thing for the league revenue$ and maximum profit$ will be a Penguin$ and Red Wing$ rematch for next $ea$on and a final $erie$ that goe$ at lea$t to $ix game$, maybe even another $even game$ of hockey, with Detroit winning thi$ time in the la$t game.  The money pulled in will be amazing.  I can’t $ee why the other owner$ wouldn’t go along with $uch a nefariou$ and cunning “plan” if it make$ them $o much money that it would be worth their while.

How to get them to go along with it, though ... what about $ubliminal me$$age$?  If we are very $ubtle about it, they won’t even notice they are being per$uaded ...

Just need to find the proper incentive. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:10 AM ET

^ ^ ^ Not a conspiracy, just a cunning plan.

There’s a difference.  Honest!

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:11 AM ET

The way I have read it, it may decline slightly if the NHLPA does not apply the 5% inflator they are allowed to, as per the CBA.  If they do apply it (and they probably will, even though it may mean more salary lost to escrow by the players, because it will mean that teams don’t have to dump contracts overboard like ballast in a hot air balloon), it may go up slightly.

If it goes up 5% that gives the Wings a few extra millions to play with, which will make it very easy to sign everyone they want besides Hossa.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/14/09 at 08:18 AM ET

@ monkey -

Right, it still comes down to Hossa versus depth - even with an uptick of a million or two.

But realistically, it would have come down to that anyway.  Even if they could afford to pay everyone, they only have so many spots on the team, and at some point you need to have someone actually play and contribute or cut him loose and let him go elsewhere.  Ice time for Hossa would take away from someone else - whether or not it is a good idea depends on who the “someone else” is.

It would have been wonderful to stash Kyle Quincey in the minors until needed - but it wouldn’t have been fair to him, as he has shown that he can play consistently on an NHL team and he wasn’t going to displace anyone in Detroit this year.  Some teams just have too many legitimate NHL players for only one roster.  Dang.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:30 AM ET

Some teams just have too many legitimate NHL players for only one roster.  Dang.

I know.  Doesn’t this suck? 

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/14/09 at 08:32 AM ET

Too, this is a bottleneck year; the Swede’s contract is up after this season.  I see him as a player willing to take a low salary to keep the team together.  While he continues to play, that is.  He is going to turn 40 soon.  Ack.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/14/09 at 08:36 AM ET

I know.  Doesn’t this suck?

I can hear about a half-dozen or so teams right now telling us to shut our whore mouths.

I like Hossa fine, but I can’t see how he fits in Detroit.  Ideally I think the best situation would be for him to go to a team that has the cap space for him because they have many young talented players who aren’t hitting huge contracts yet.  It would give him an opportunity to play with non-crappy players, and he would have a reasonable expectation that the team would improve over the time of his contract, so he wouldn’t be stuck on a bad team forever.  I wish that kind of miserable on very few people, because I don’t care how much money you make, when your job sucks, it just plain sucks.  And a hockey player can’t just take a week of vacation in the middle of the season to prevent him from throttling his bosses and/or coworkers.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:38 AM ET

I turn 40 soon, too - and it isn’t that bad.

Granted I don’t play hockey - and I haven’t also just had surgery on a testicle (which would be anatomically impossible for me - but still sounds incredibly painful).

If he’s healthy next year, I think he’ll likely go year to year as long as he feels he can be effective.  Fortunately he doesn’t play in a way that leads to a lot of wear and tear, and he doesn’t have a history of injuries that tend to lead to repeat performances - like groin troubles (Gaborik) or concussions.  The end is near, but I think we’ve got a few more years yet to watch him play.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:42 AM ET

Sorry but this post sounds SO childish…..

You claim that you do not think there was a conspiracy.  You claim that you do not believe anything nefarious took place with the officiating and that the Penguins beat you fair and square.

So what’s the controversy?

That Bettman got what he wanted?

Who would argue that he didn’t get the Stanley Cup Final he wanted to see too?  Yes, most hockey fans would agree that people high-up in the league probably hoped and prayed for a rematch this year. 

That’s no different from what you are saying now.  He got what he wanted which included your team playing in the finals.  Perhaps he got what he wanted with the Pens winning that final.

WHY DO YOU CARE WHAT HE WANTED as long as no one pulled strings (and you agree that wasn’t the case) to affect the outcome?

It just sounds like sour grapes, poor loser, and whiny.

Posted by AJ from Sixburgh on 06/14/09 at 09:08 AM ET

Posted by AJ from Sixburgh on 06/14/09 at 10:08 AM ET

See, Andrew!  NOT you - THEM!

/sigh

I give up on the entire thing.  They post like old people $#%& - slow and sloppy.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:12 AM ET

I turn 40 soon, too - and it isn’t that bad.

Granted I don’t play hockey - and I haven’t also just had surgery on a testicle (which would be anatomically impossible for me - but still sounds incredibly painful).

If he’s healthy next year, I think he’ll likely go year to year as long as he feels he can be effective.  Fortunately he doesn’t play in a way that leads to a lot of wear and tear, and he doesn’t have a history of injuries that tend to lead to repeat performances - like groin troubles (Gaborik) or concussions.  The end is near, but I think we’ve got a few more years yet to watch him play.

I don’t doubt his ability to play.  As long as he thinks he can, we know he can.  But the questions inevitably will begin.  Look at Chelios for instance.  The media has been predicting his imminent retirement for at least ten years now.  And, of course, we don’t know what’s on his mind.  How long will he want to play?

In any case once his current contract is up cap space will be cleared.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/14/09 at 09:19 AM ET

I gotcha - it will change the cap space situation.

He’ll take a little less to stay, for sure - Nick is going nowhere.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:22 AM ET

I’d like to see Baroque and Andrew get together.

They could start out the evening by comparing their book collections, continue on by discussing their non-conspiracy conspiracy theories, really heat things up with a foreplay session of intense Boggle playing, and follow that up with 13 minutes of sensible love-making.

And nine months later, their offspring would pop out, sporting baby scotch-tape repaired, horned-rimmed glasses and a pocket protector.

Posted by alexcutter on 06/14/09 at 09:26 AM ET

Long story short, f$^# off, have some class. Would you like the 19 going to the Pensblog and $#!+ing in your cereal bowl if things had turned out the other way?

Oh my….... the irony your moral indignation is hilarious.

Especially considering the fact that is EXACTLY what so many Wings trolls did last season. 

No lectures on class from the classless please.

Posted by AJ on 06/14/09 at 09:38 AM ET

Not you, Andrew - you get the “out of time zone” exception.  A catch-up gallimaufry post is a different animal.

Oh, well that’s okay then.  Thanks.  Nice use of the word ‘gallimaufry’ as well.  I dread ever playing you in Scrabble.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/14/09 at 09:49 AM ET

Posted by alexcutter on 06/14/09 at 10:26 AM ET

Funny stuff, Alex, keep it coming.  You’‘re making nobody but yourself look bad.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/14/09 at 10:00 AM ET

I’d like to see Baroque and Andrew get together.

Whatever turns you on, kiddo.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/14/09 at 11:25 AM ET

Not possible under the current CBA, so I’m still having trouble figuring out how he stays.  Still, 39°, as you said there may be other factors that we’re not aware of at work.

Confirmed, Andrew.  Thanks.  I knew it was allowed before, but wasn’t sure about the new CBA.  Buyouts are another option in Holland’s playbook, but they would seem to me more useful for big salary dumps, rather than many little dumps (pardon the imagery) to clear space for a contract.  A few buyouts would only work if Hossa’s contract is heavily back-loaded.

The Chief put it better this morning than I did the other day with my bear analogy.  Hossa is embarassed.  The big question is whether Holland can find the slightly less embarassing (and thus, appealing) contract that can also be shoehorned under the cap.

I’ll agree with some of the issues you raised regarding keeping him.  I think he’ll be back, and I want him back, but not if it requires turning the salary situation into an exercise in financial plate-spinning.

Posted by ThirtyNineDegrees on 06/14/09 at 11:45 AM ET

A few buyouts would only work if Hossa’s contract is heavily back-loaded.

Unfortunately not a viable option.  The cap hit is calculated by the total value divided by the term.  So it doesn’t vary year-to-year.  The only way a few smaller salary dumps would help would be to bump his cap hit up by $1-1.5 million.  Hence another reason why I just don’t see it happening.  We had a choice between Hossa and Franzen after getting Zetterberg re-signed.  We took that choice.  I think it was the right one, but we can’t now choose Hossa as well.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/14/09 at 12:46 PM ET

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Holy Shit, the words below are great66!!!!! Now that is a sign.

Posted by TheGuyFromPgh from Da Burgh on 06/14/09 at 05:08 PM ET

please..where does he look happier.  Your pic or the pic int he link?

Posted by Nick Beam from PA on 06/15/09 at 08:39 AM ET

Gary Bettman despises the Wings about as much as Red Wing fans despise Yzerman.  The NHL bends over for the Red Wings on a near every game basis.  Quit your crybaby whining.  Oh and why is it “disrespectful” for Crosby to not shake hands as soon as ugly Kris Draper wants him to?  He did get into the line, if Lidstrom didn’t wnat to wait, thats his problem.  Crosby was only being pulled in every direction by the NHL, NBC,CBC, NHL Network.  The Detroit Red Wings, a class organization wihtout the “CL”

Posted by brutch from stlouis on 06/15/09 at 03:55 PM ET

I guess NBC didn’t get Gary’s memo.  Pierre McGuire couldn’t have been any further up the Red Wings’ collective arses if someone tried pounding him in with a sledge hammer.  Crosby should have been called for holding on the play that Franzen interfered with him, and hurt him?  You guys are hilarious.  Yes, Bettman wanted Crosby and Pittsburgh to win.  And I know this because Red Wings fans think it is so.  LOFL at, not with, all of you.

Posted by rwhater on 06/15/09 at 05:48 PM ET

You Detroit fans are honestly unbelievable.  First and foremost, you left the arena before the Cup even came onto the ice.  That’s pathetic-at least attempt to show some respect to the league.  We didn’t leave our place last year when you guys won the cup, did we?  It remained packed.  Secondly, you’re crying about calls not getting called, and Zetternonsense complaining about Sid’s mistake-it’s really all unwarranted.  This was one of the best series in years, most certainly topping last years (and not just because Pittsburgh won).  There were ups and downs for both teams, and that’s the best part of hockey.  Face it like we did last year: you lost, plain and simple.  We did.  Just move on, and look forward to next season, like everyone else is.

Posted by Brandon P from Pittsburgh, City of Champions on 06/15/09 at 09:01 PM ET

Where did Gary and Sidney Crybaby go on their honeymoon? Did they give each other a kiss for everyone in Pittsburgh during the parade? What sexual favors will they repay one another with?
What a great couple. Too bad they’re part of the NHL.

http://www.FireBettman.com

Posted by Joe on 06/16/09 at 03:46 PM ET

Well, glad to see you’re all talking shit.  After all, what are finals for?

Just a Pens fan who wanted to stop by and say congrats on a great season.  The Wings are one of the best teams I’ve seen in the NHL for some time.  You’ve certainly earned those last 4 cups, and I think you’ll be strong for a while yet.

Great finals, though.  One of the more exciting ones I remember.  Good luck next year.

Go Pens!!

Posted by Lets Go Pens from Mellon Arena on 06/18/09 at 11:24 AM ET

Bill Houlihan founded the blog Abel To Yzerman in 2005 and joined the Kukla Empire of Blogs in 2006.  He is an initiated Navy Chief Petty Officer and is battling addictions to blocks of cheddar cheese and lukewarm, cheap American beer.  Sarcasm frightens him.

Posted by Condominiums Mississauga on 07/15/09 at 08:24 AM ET

It’s not Gary Bettman’s fault that Hal Gill accrued a grand total of 2 penalty minutes over the entire series.  Really. It’s not.

Posted by Square one condos from London on 07/25/09 at 06:19 PM ET