Talk of conspiracies and questionable officiating lessens us a hockey fans and discredits our great league.

True.  But nobody’s mentioned a conspiracy.  And talk of incompetent officiating does not lessen us as hockey fans, but it does lessen hockey.  And not the talk, but the officiating itself, is a discredit to our ‘great’ league.  And if a few calls or non-calls went the Pens’ way?  The non-suspension on Malkin, the interference non-calls on at least two of their goals?  Eh.  Overlooked in favor of marketing, with no prior knowledge by the refs.  There’s no conspiracy, but there is far too much tolerance of horrible standards.

Now.  Pens trolls.  You have a forum for debating, and this isn’t it.  Take it back to the Pensblog.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/13/09 at 10:14 AM ET

“EVIL PEN” SAYS IT ALL…YOUR A BITTER LOSER.

Wow.  If the caps lock didn’t give it away, that did.  Evilpens…don’t bother.  Celebrate.

Dude…EP is a Pens fan.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 06/13/09 at 11:09 AM ET

Heh.

What’s that they say about giving monkeys typewriters and enough time they will create Shakespeare?

This guy ... two monkeys, twenty minutes.  And a Commodore 64 computer, too. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 10:14 AM ET

Posted by badvibesdude from Spahn Ranch on 06/13/09 at 11:15 AM ET

Thanks for the thoughtful answer.  I didn’t see Staal being traded either, but that particular Oilers site isn’t in the habit of tossing stuff around without it making some sense - doesn’t mean it will happen, but at least it isn’t Mike Milbury logic.

And we’ll get you guys next time.  Just wait - reports of the Red Wings’ decline have been greatly exaggerated (wishful thinking on the part of the rest of the conference). 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 10:21 AM ET

He’ll re-sign and it will be for 7 years or more.

So, Chief, what do you say his cap hit will be? Just a ballpark figure.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/13/09 at 10:28 AM ET

Nick Lidstrom had surgery on his injured testicle during the Chicago series.

Said it was the most painful injury he ever had.  No shit.

And he still nearly tied the game late.  Wow.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 10:31 AM ET

Been a long time reader of the blog, but have never been inspired to comment as I feel I have nothing more to add to the brilliant posts….until now.

For you idiot trolls that keep insisting the Red Wing fans were booing YOUR team or even OUR team - don’t believe everything you see/hear on that 13 inch black and white tv in your moms basement. The fans were lustily booing the jackoff commisioner of hockey - Gary. Ass. The fans were loudly cheering when the cup was brought onto the ice and began booing when Gary. Ass. walked in.

Prior to that, the boos that you heard were indeed for your fearful leader and Captain Sid Crosby as he DID NOT (at first) participate in the handshake with the players. He was too busy playing grabass with some other people that were on the ice (media, fringe coaches?). He did get into line towards the end and did shake the coaches hands.

For someone to claim to have always been a fan of hockey and it’s traditions, he hadn’t a clue on how to act once the game was over. I don’t think he intentionally slighted the Red Wing players, he just didn’t know the procedure (handshake first, trophy presentation, pictures, media, etc.).

I am sure that you won’t see this on Sportcenter or hear about it from the league. The Red Wing players have way too much class to bring it up, but Crosby did not initially get in line to shake hands - that is why he was booed and that is why you heard booing as the Red Wing players were leaving the ice - because Crosby was not in line. The booing you heard after that was directed at none other than Gary. Ass.

Not that it matters, but I was there - I was not limited to what was being shown via the tv feed - which I am sure did not show Crosby playing grabass with a bunch of hangers on that filtered onto the ice instead of in line with HIS team.

To pensin7 - I suggest YOU youtube the end of ANY final game of the Cup finals. You should be able to clearly see all captains gathering their team (win or lose) and LEADING them out for the handshake. Something your captain failed to realize and fail to do.

Posted by Mutante from Hockeytown West on 06/13/09 at 10:34 AM ET

Congrats to the Red Wings on a great season and an outstanding Stanley Cup final. You guys have nothing to be down about, as any other team’s fans would LOVE to have the players on your team. I’m exceptionally happy that the Pens won, and I’m also happy that the last game of the season was so damned exciting to watch. Good luck in the off-season(God help us all) and see you next year!

Posted by Rage on 06/13/09 at 10:46 AM ET

Posted by Mutante from Hockeytown West on 06/13/09 at 11:34 AM ET

I was there as well and just want to second everything that you said.

Bettman got booed, not either team.

Crosby is just a classless punk, plain and simple.

Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/13/09 at 10:54 AM ET

Nick Lidstrom had surgery on his injured testicle during the Chicago series.

And it goes without saying that this is probably just the tip of the iceberg. And when the extent of the Wings’ injuries comes out in the next few days or weeks, I’m sure I’ll think back to certain of my live blog posts—horrible posts born of anger, sadness, hatred, and a generous helping of alcohol, posts where I questioned the team’s attitude—feel like quite the jackass.

Posted by Bio on 06/13/09 at 10:54 AM ET

If I’m Uncle Mike, I send that to Hank Zetterberg every morning.  And I send it to Marian Hossa with little notes, like….“Just checking to see how your summer’s going,” or “Man, Sid looks happy.  Good kid.  He earned it.  Did you?”

Epic. Hilarious.

When that final buzzer sounded, all my hate for the Red Wings washed off of me like water running down a drain. It’s painful to watch the faces of the losers, as always, even though I’m absolutely ecstatic about the Pens’ win. Hossa’s right about something: if he’d signed with the Pens, I don’t think they would’ve been here right now. They might not even have made the playoffs. Still, the way he left put a bitter taste in the mouth - a taste that’s now washed out.

You guys didn’t deserve to be trolled last night. I saw some of the comments posted in the live blog and I hate to see that from people rooting for my team. That’s not what hockey’s about. This win would’ve meant a lot to Michiganites, I’m sure, and part of me feels bad about bringing you down even more. But you won last year, and no one can take that away from you. You’ll have a great team for a long time, because your organization has an ubelieveable way of restocking talent. And Detroit, as a city, is going to bounce back. That’s what the spirit of America is all about.

But man, I’ve been checking this site out during the series, and some of the comments posted here (not all of them, or even most of them) have shown such a defeatist attitude. A thousand excuses have been thrown out there. I’ve seen people explain why the Wings lost the cup, even before Pittsburgh had three wins, let alone four. That’s insane. C’mon. Everyone hates Gary Bettman. Everyone thinks the officiating sucks. Pittsburgh fans have been complaining just as much about the officiating as Wings fans have. Both teams are blind to the other side. But the difference is that a lot of you guys seem to feel that there is a conspiracy. I understand it must be a great morale boost to believe that Detroit has flourished despite concerted efforts to put them down, but another way to look at it is that no team has been so favored by the league as Detroit. Is that an outrageous standpoint? Yes, but no more outrageous than your standpoint.

You’re right about one thing though. Fans of every other team does seem to hate the Red Wings. But that’s because you’ve been the most successful team over 20 years. Heck, I’m Swedish, and I’ve come to dislike swedes more and more, watching your team. I’m not even sure how I’ll feel when the Sweden Red Wings take the ice for the 2010 Olympics. But I’ve got a lot of respect for the Red Wings team as a whole. And Mike Babcock is a class act, despite having perhaps the goofiest voice in the NHL. Is there actually a place in Canada where people talk like that, or is it just him?

Good luck with your summer, and see you next season!

PS. J.J. from Kansas, Since71, Youcan’thandlethedepth, thanks for being good sports.

Posted by Ormiss from Sweden on 06/13/09 at 10:58 AM ET

A few things:

1.  Cheif, I expected more from you.  Starting out the morning after with this anti-Bettman shit, complaining about no-calls on Hal Gill?  Weak.  And please stop with the “I’m not calling it a conspiracy, but…” stuff.  It sounds like someone saying, “I’m not calling your mother a whore, but I know she bangs bikers for a living.”  The 19 have been claiming officiating bias for Crosby all season long (and during the Finals last year).  Go back and look at the live blog on November 11th for reference.

Let’s just call this series what it was—the two best teams in the league competing in one of the the greatest Finals we’ll ever see.  And why shouldn’t Bettman be happy?  This series has helped the NHL market itself in ways that a Chicago/Carolina matchup could never have done.  None of us like Gary, even Pens fans (I blame him for the instigator rule).  But really, don’t turn your disappointment into a “blame Gary” session.  That’s pathetic.

2.  As a Pens fan, there’s only one thing that would make me happier than Hossa staying in Detroit—Hossa being signed by the Flyers.  He’d fit in better there, where an entire team does a good job of choking in the playoffs repeatedly.  Detroit would do better to use that money elsewhere.

3.  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.  We took their shit.  They dished out their E-thugness after Game 2 as though the Cup was already being shined up in Detroit.  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 10:58 AM ET

George Malik figures that Hudler could easily be the target of an offer sheet that Detroit would be unable to match - his wild guess is $3 million to $3.5 million (which works out to a 1st round pick and a 3rd round pick as compensation - I think - based on his included chart).

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/06/salary_cap_issues_portend_a_bu.html#more

I do not want to see Hudler go, but it seems to be inevitable - and I have to admit, I think he’d be a better target for an offer sheet than some other players who have gotten them (he certainly plays with more effort than Dustin Penner, for one example).  It will make me sad - but good for him in getting a good salary, and good luck in all games against other opponents.

Helm has played his last game in Grand Rapids, but my guess is that Abdelkader still has another year to go - at least to shuttle back and forth - unless maybe he blows them out of the water in training camp.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 10:59 AM ET

And Mike Babcock is a class act, despite having perhaps the goofiest voice in the NHL. Is there actually a place in Canada where people talk like that, or is it just him?

Saskatchewan.  Although North Dakotans are like that, too.

And if you think that’s goofy, wait until you hear Crawford’s talks with Dallas next year.  The best thing about him getting hired to coach the Stars is that he will no longer bring his bizarre vocal stylings to the late games on CBC.  Holy hell, he was dreadful.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 11:05 AM ET

Oh, I forgot to mention something. Man, I’m so relieved that Justin Abdelkader was taken out of the roster for Draper’s(?) return. That guy was killing us.

Posted by Ormiss from Sweden on 06/13/09 at 11:07 AM ET

And it goes without saying that this is probably just the tip of the iceberg. And when the extent of the Wings’ injuries comes out in the next few days or weeks, I’m sure I’ll think back to certain of my live blog posts—horrible posts born of anger, sadness, hatred, and a generous helping of alcohol, posts where I questioned the team’s attitude—feel like quite the jackass.

Posted by Bio on 06/13/09 at 11:54 AM ET

For sure.  That’s why I try to give all of them the benefit of the doubt - I don’t want to feel as though I have shrunk to the size of an atomic nucleus when I find out that the entire team used MacGyver as a trainer and was stuck together with chewing gum, spit, and duct tape.

That’s why Nick was a surprise scratch in game four in the Chicago series - he wasn’t suffering from illness, he was having his testicle operated on.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 11:10 AM ET

Hey badvides dude….read my post again. I didn’t say that he never got in line. I said that he was being booed for not getting in line with the rest of his team - HE DID GET IN LINE after many of the Red Wing players had already gone through the line. That is the booing you hear - because he wasn’t in line when the handshake started. I know - I was there. People were friggen pissed that he did not lead his team out for the handshake and he did not shake the hands of the MAJORITY of Red Wing Players.

I also stated that I did not think he did it on purpose - he is young and was wrapped up in the moment. It wasn’t “captain like” of him. That is all I am saying. I don’t know who finally gathered the team together for the handshake, but I think if we were all relying on your captain to do it, the Wings might still be on the ice waiting.

Posted by mutante from Hockeytown West on 06/13/09 at 11:23 AM ET

George Malik figures that Hudler could easily be the target of an offer sheet that Detroit would be unable to match - his wild guess is $3 million to $3.5 million…

If the Wings sign Hossa, a team could offer Happy $1.5M and the Wings couldn’t match it (without trading someone). An early signing of Hossa means the Wings will lose Happy for very little in return…unless there are multiple offer sheets that result in a bidding war.

And if Hossa stays, Happy’s not the only one who will get an offer sheet. You can count on someone offering Leino about $1.5M as well. And the Wings won’t be able to match that either.

For me, the bottom line is Hossa just isn’t worth everyone the Wings would have to give up in order to keep him.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/13/09 at 11:23 AM ET

Congratulations to the Pens organization on a well played series and a deserved victory.  To the real Pens fans congrats also.  To the trolls, may all the hate and cruelty you spew come back to you tenfold.

Posted by calquake on 06/13/09 at 11:41 AM ET

Many of your own journalists used the words “classless” and “no class” to describe the booing last night.

Problem is they are incompetent.  There is an excellent reason that Red Wings fans rip their own journalists to shreds - they flat-out suck most of the time.  Also don’t know hockey (and on occasion write articles that have, shall we say, “inaccuracies”).

I hope some the the media will leave Crosby alone for a while.  No better than stalkers.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 11:49 AM ET

I feel very sick.  As much as I want the Wings to win the Cup each year, I have the same intense desire for Crosby to fail.  Man does this one hurt.  The worst part is I never saw it coming.

Posted by Jak-O on 06/13/09 at 12:00 PM ET

You are right on the money with this one.  Every league needs a player to “supposedly” market the game but this is where the dumbasses in NY & Toronto make the mistake.  The game markets itself.  Where the hell was Crosby in the Finals.  Detroit shut him down.  If it wasn’t for the role players & Detroit’s Western Conference run (more of a grind than the cream puff East) & health issues,  Wings would of repeated, NO ARGUMENT!!!

The games were tense, exciting (only when Detroit won) & fast -paced.  BUT when Paul Kelly comes out & blatantly says that the NHL need more GM 7"s, then I think you have a credibility problem.

McCreary calls a penalty on Hank from centre ice, while Jonette doesn’t even though he is right on top of the play, because he knows Staal pushed Hank into the goalie.

Cleary on a breakaway, clearly hacked & slashed by Orpic, no call,

Your comments on Gill, dead on.

& what was that call on Holstrom last night.  He falls, Gill falls.  Homer gets the call.

Too bad Wings didn’t score first.

CryBaby will go down as the biggest fraud in the NHL.  I hope OVI was watching.

CBC is loving this one, now they have Gretzky all over again.  I hope someone nails this guy big time!!!

Posted by Bobby from Toronto, ON on 06/13/09 at 12:09 PM ET

I hope they don’t sign Hossa, for one. I’ve said it all playoffs long. We got more production from guys like Huds and Sammy, and those are the guys we’d have to give up. I’d like to give Hossa another shot, because I think he could be really great for us. But we just don’t have the room. We don’t want to be in the same situation as Pittsburgh will be, with over 20 mil locked up in three players.
Honestly, I’m not sure they’ll sign Kopecky. The guy was great this year, and I love him (as I do all products of the Griffins) but he’s just so injury prone. Is it worth it to sign a guy like that when half way through the season or at the start of the playoffs you’re gonna have to replace him?
Helm and Ericsson are for sure on the team. It would be a crime if they weren’t. Lilja himself doubts his return for training camp, which is really a tragedy. I ragged on him a lot, but he was just starting to deserve his spot, and he gets this crazy concussion. Also, it’s a shame to see any player’s career ended that way. Here’s hoping he can come back.
If Lilja by some miracle does come back, that gives us too many defensemen. What are the opinions on Chelios? Kindl needs plenty more time in GR (trust me, you don’t want him up here. Kindl = turnover machine), so he shouldn’t be a factor this year.
Also, what do you guys think is the fate of Darren McCarty? I could see the Wings resigning him and keeping him in GR. He’s great for the young guys. However, I don’t know if they’ll want to use one of their spaces on GR’s roster. If they don’t, I’d love to see GR sign him to an AHL contract.
I see them leaving Abby in GR for another season, probably back and forth. The kid’s great and I’m excited to see him in Detroit. But there’s just not room right now, and he needs another year to work on his maturation. Still too many penalties. He’ll be great, though.
Howard will back up Ozzie next year, it’s all but guaranteed. I get the impression that the Wings are frustrated with him. But he showed real improvement in the Griffins playoffs this year. Really, he was outstanding. The only one to show up, most games. I would think they’d give him a few months, and if he’s not shaping up, trade him at the deadline. Afterall, we’ve got Larsson and McCollum waiting in the wings. Larsson is probably more ready than Howard, and I think McCollum is the new chosen goaltender of the future. I can’t wait to see him in GR next season.

Posted by MrsOtW from Wyoming, Mi on 06/13/09 at 12:22 PM ET

McCreary calls a penalty on Hank from centre ice, while Jonette doesn’t even though he is right on top of the play, because he knows Staal pushed Hank into the goalie.

Not only did he not call it, he was explaining to MAF why it wasn’t a penalty. Gosh, the refs don’t even agree with each other what the penalties are!

what was that call on Holstrom last night.  He falls, Gill falls.  Homer gets the call.

Home was falling and grabbed onto his jersey and pulled him down with him. That was actually a good call.

Something that hasn’t been said here and I think needs to be: the Wings played a hell of a third period. The pens had the puck, what, four times? It was amazing. Too bad MAF was really on his game last night, and he sure deserves credit for that. I used to like him, before he turned all creepy. The pens defense was also amazing that period.

Posted by MrsOtW from Wyoming, Mi on 06/13/09 at 12:27 PM ET

to badvibesdude:
You started out ok, and actually gained a little credibility. Now you’re just annoying. Could you please go away?

Posted by MrsOtW from Wyoming, Mi on 06/13/09 at 12:37 PM ET

Drink it down Iwo, you cocky prick.
2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins!

Posted by Jordan from Walston, PA on 06/13/09 at 12:39 PM ET

Crosby didn’t skip the handshake line. NBC didn’t show it, but FSN did.

Posted by Stay classy Detroit on 06/13/09 at 01:14 PM ET

No Houses.
No Jobs.
No Cars.
No Cup.

How’s life in bailout city, dick touchers?

Posted by Bailout Cash on 06/13/09 at 01:14 PM ET

Iwo, you cocky prick.

Exactly.  And I’m in recovery mode right now tough guy.  Give me a week or two and I’ll be even cockier.  Today is a good day to congratulate Pittsburgh for what they accomplished.

But that shit’s not going to last too long.

Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 06/13/09 at 01:17 PM ET

But that shit’s not going to last too long.

Just like you when you’re touching little boys.

Hope you keep a towel nearby.

Posted by WOOOOOOOOOOO on 06/13/09 at 01:19 PM ET

The Detroit Red Wings are going to win this motherfu**er and they’re going to do it despite a blatant league agenda to arrange circumstances that would hand the Cup to Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh.

from a post after game 3 on this blog….......................thats called claiming a conspiracy.

Posted by just sayin on 06/13/09 at 01:46 PM ET

Last year when then Red Wings won, I blamed my own team., our lack of ability to close, our inexperience.

Now that we have won I don’t know if I should be shocked or not at the reaction of the Red Wings face who for some reason felt so entitled. 

Win or Lose with class and dignity.

Posted by Ozman51 from Oklahoma City, Ok via Pittsburgh, Pa on 06/13/09 at 01:51 PM ET

You may not know this, but the Wings almost traded him to Ottawa in 95 for some roster filler and a bag of pucks.

At the time, it was rumored to be a big name top-line forward, some roster players, and picks.  Hardly a minor trade for ‘roster filler and a bag of pucks.’  I know this because I was one of the people thinking that it might have been a good trade.  It later transpired that the top-line forward coming back in return would have been Alexei Yashin—in the mid-Nineties, he was hardly a slouch.  In the long-term, I’m glad I was wrong and we kept him.  But don’t act like he wasn’t worth a song.

Now man up and deal with what you have coming thanks to what some ungracious Wings fans set you all up for.

No problem.  If that’s how you want to play it, then it’s an eye for an eye until we all end up blind.  You man up too when we all tar you with the same brush your brother trolls have given us.  Classy, not classy, I don’t care.  You’re all a bunch of moronic trolls spewing hateful below-the-belt sh*t beyond the bounds of decency and good taste.  Now f*ck off, troll, before I start to make jokes about Mario Lemieux being a cancerous homosexual pedophile who keeps young boys in his basement.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/13/09 at 01:54 PM ET

Chief, today should be a weirdly proud day for you. On a day when these trolls should be thinking of nothing but how happy they are, how good their team is, how nice it is to have won it all after a decade-plus of suckitude—they’re still so angry at you that they come to this place and heave still more bile into your comments section, because you have gotten so far under their collective skin that the anger you have inspired prevents them from enjoying this moment as they should.

I can’t think of a better form of revenge against the redolent underbelly of the Penguins fan base than that.

Posted by Bio on 06/13/09 at 01:58 PM ET

Last year when then Red Wings won, I blamed my own team., our lack of ability to close, our inexperience.

Yes, you Pens fans are just the epitome of class, dignity, and respect for the opposition.  Calling your own team out for their failures, applauding the victor last year, and saluting a fallen opponent with grace this year.  We could all learn so much from you.

Too bad this ain’t a schoolhouse.  P*ss off.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/13/09 at 01:59 PM ET

At the time, it was rumored to be a big name top-line forward, some roster players, and picks.  Hardly a minor trade for ‘roster filler and a bag of pucks.’ I know this because I was one of the people thinking that it might have been a good trade.  It later transpired that the top-line forward coming back in return would have been Alexei Yashin—in the mid-Nineties, he was hardly a slouch.  In the long-term, I’m glad I was wrong and we kept him.  But don’t act like he wasn’t worth a song.

I remember that - vaguely, but yes.  Alexei Yashin’s problem was always that he had a ten-cent head to go with all his considerable talent.  And of course if the picks had developed luckily, it could have looked like an amazing trade a few years down the road.

Certainly not a Mike Milbury maneuver.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 01:59 PM ET

(See above, buddy—you’re all trolls now thanks to how your fellow fans have defined the term.)

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/13/09 at 02:00 PM ET

No Houses.
No Jobs.
No Cars.
No Cup.

How’s life in bailout city, dick touchers?

You are a sad case for a human being. Your team won the cup and still you are threatened by the best American NHL team in history. If not then why the hell are you hear?

The trolls have no idea what it takes to make to the playoffs or a game seven final…NONE!  If they did they would shut up and be pleased without hateful comm nets!.

Thanks to the Pen’s fans who displayed some sense of social grace..

The fans who bash people who are struggling in this economy….Rot in Hell and sorry you have a small dick!

Posted by dwingsrock on 06/13/09 at 02:09 PM ET

Whine like the little bitches you are Wings fans.  Your team lost.  Your team scored TWO goals in the last two games.  Read it and weep:  THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ARE THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS FOR 2008-2009!  You can spin it anyway you want, but you are claiming a conspiracy by Gary Bettman/NHL/referees to have the Red Wings lose.  It’s lame.  Your team lost.  You can cry, whine, make comments which you think will make this easier to accept, but in the end your team lost.  THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ARE THE BETTER TEAM - THIS YEAR.  Just like the Red Wings were the better team last year.  You can make all the comments you want about the best player in the game Sidney Crosby, but he hoisted the Cup last night.  Get used to it, the Pens will be doing this on a regular basis for the next decade.  That’s probably why you are all crying like little kids, because you know this is just the first of many.  Oh, by the way, the Red Wings do all of the same things the Pens do, in fact the Red Wings taught the Pens all of this subtle cheating in last year’s Cup Finals.  LET’S GO PENS!

Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 06/13/09 at 02:28 PM ET

Oh, I forgot to mention something. Man, I’m so relieved that Justin Abdelkader was taken out of the roster for Draper’s(?) return. That guy was killing us.

Agreed. This was an extremely dumb move on Babcock’s part.

You don’t take the hot hand out until it goes cold. I think Kader’s size, speed, and youth would’ve really cut into the advantage PItt seemed to gain from getting the last change at home.

Posted by thethirdcoast from Rottenchester on 06/13/09 at 02:30 PM ET

Bettman smiled when he handed Lidstrom the cup too.

But hey, call Crosby whatever you’d like. But you’ll have to live with that image of him holding the cup, on your home ice.

We’ll see you next year.

Posted by ThePensblogStaff on 06/13/09 at 02:44 PM ET

Any comments about “how classless” the Pens fans act are shakier than your boy Muhammad Ali.
The Joke exploding for Crosby’s injury was disgusting.
You all are officially worse than the Caps and Flyers fans.
Enjoy the little slice of the third world that you cockgrabbers call home.
I hope you have fond memories of your former Stanley Cup glory cause those days are gone you bunch of whining losers.

Posted by H.C. Frick on 06/13/09 at 02:52 PM ET

We’ll see you next year

NO!  The Wings and the Bruins! That is my perdiction!

One and Done!

Posted by dwingsrock on 06/13/09 at 02:57 PM ET

I think the Chief is dead on regarding the Hossa re-signing.  And you know what?  I hope he is absolutely correct, if its at a reasonable price.

And that reasonable price might be one that shocks all of us.  Anyone remember that old joke about two guys being chased by the bear?  One guy says to the other: “We can’t outrun a bear?”.  Other guy says:  “I don’t have to outrun the bear.  I just have to outrun you.”

Point being, Hoss normally might look bad accepting a lower offer from Tick Tock.  But now, he might look bad accepting any other offer.  So Tick Tock just has to find the money point that is just a bit more reasonable for Hoss than him risking going elsewhere. 

And don’t even think that Tick Tock doesn’t know this.  I expect it to happen, and quickly.

Posted by ThirtyNineDegrees on 06/13/09 at 03:00 PM ET

“Dead Things”?

If a team that has won four Cups since 1997 is the “Dead Things”, then what is a team that has only won one cup since 1997 known as?

Oh, yeah, The Penguins.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/13/09 at 03:02 PM ET

As Sean Connery once said:

“Losers whine, winners go home and *#$%@& the prom queen.”

Ha ha!

Posted by PenguinsRock from Where the Cup is! on 06/13/09 at 03:05 PM ET

Pens fans quote Sean Connery.

There is something just so…right about that.

Thanks for the great laugh.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/13/09 at 03:09 PM ET

Corey Perry can suck it all summer long.

Posted by dougie on 06/13/09 at 03:10 PM ET

“Losers whine, winners go home and *#$%@& the prom queen.”

Then what are you doing here instead of at home in bed?  Or do you not want to admit to just what you have in your bed?

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/13/09 at 03:27 PM ET

And I thought I was going to be able to keep from having to see The Boy and his Daddy with the Cup for at least a few days.  Thanks a lot, Chief.  Now I have to find some bleach…

I just CANNOT feel sorry for The Boy ‘having’ to be the face of the NHL.  It IS his face, his image, his name.  If he didn’t want all of the attention and glory, he wouldn’t put himself in the position he’s in.  He has the money—just like any actor, singer, celebrity—and he has the public’s attention, so he has to deal with it.  With celebrity comes pressure.  If it is THAT hard of a life, then get yourself out of the NHL.  It IS that simple. It IS his life and he is living it just the way he wants.  Absolutely NO sympathy from me.

Posted by cmk from the top of MI on 06/13/09 at 03:28 PM ET

Is no one going to make a “sloppy seconds” joke about the prom queen?

Missing an opportunity.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/13/09 at 03:29 PM ET