Abel to Yzerman
Next entry: The Pain Will Be So Very Good
Previous entry: Gary’s Wallpaper
Sunday Issues: Draper, Belts, Scumbags And Hossa
by IwoCPO on 06/14/09 at 09:06 AM ET
Comments (321)
Interesting. Can anyone recall a single time Kris Draper’s said anything to the media that could be construed as controversial or critical of another player? Even after his face was ravaged by one of the more cowardly hits in NHL history, Draper said little to nothing.
Draper, who’s never shirked his responsibilities after Wing losses, who’s never said an ill thing about an opponent, who’s respected league wide…is now just making stuff up. Right?
“Nick was waiting and waiting, and Crosby didn’t come over to shake his hand” in the traditional handshake line. He added that, “that’s ridiculous, especially as their captain, and make sure you write that I said that.”
Pens fans, and we’ll get to them soon, like to point out that Gary’s Baby Boy was being interviewed, distracted, roadblocked from leading his team through the handshake line. Got it.
“There’s nobody who respects the traditions of hockey more than Sidney Crosby. It was a young team celebrating its first Cup and some of the guys might have been a little late getting into the handshake line.”
That’s the Pens VP of comms. “Some of the guys…” Really? One of the guys, actually. The rest of “the guys” were looking behind them, wondering where their “captain” was.
Rosby’s a joke of a captain and we all know it, have known it. We saw it as neutral observers then became more aware of it during last year’s Final. We saw him refuse to give Hank Zetterberg credit for stifling him, for his play on the 5-3..but that was after he chased him across the ice squealing at him. Then we saw the real Crosby after Games 1 and 2 this year, playing the bitch role to perfection again.
Bitter the Wings lost? Sure. Bitter that they lost to Maxime Talbot? No. He owns the Wings and I’ll have nightmares about him for months. To Dan Bylsma? Definitely not. Hell, when Mike Babcock moves on in five or six years, and he will because that’s the nature of the business, we’ll take Bylsma. No problem. Michigan boy. Class act.
But Crosby? If he’s been looking forward to this his entire life, as the Pens organization is now saying, to include Mario Lemieux…if he’s so in tune with the “traditions of hockey”...how does that happen? How does little Thid the boy captain not get his ass to the front of that line?
Got a couple emails this morning. Here’s one from a Pens fan and I won’t put the whole thing here….just a few sentences to give you a feel for the tone.
How sweet it really is to shove this right back in your face for being a disrespectful writer whinning about everything possible and being the cockiest fanbase in the NHL. I hope the sight of crosby skating with the cup is printed in your mind forever and i hope you have a HORRIBLE day sobbing and crying over this.
That’s from Kevin, an A2Y fan. Kevin, instead of celebrating his team’s Stanley Cup, chose to write a heartfelt email to yours truly and whine for four paragraphs about how “disrespected” he felt as a Pens fan that I didn’t give his team the necessary credit for their victory.
Also got an email from the PensBlog guys today, asking where their Blogger’s Championship Belt is.
There you go boys. Congratulations.
And here’s something else…we’ve received some decent comments from good Pens fans here the last few days, a good number of them in fact. Good people and good fans who have come here to congratulate the Wings, Wing fans, the organ-I-zation, for a great Final and a great series. Thanks.
And then there have been many more who said things like this…
“What a joke of a town that is nothing but a pariah to the US. Can we vote to exclude them and their worthless beings from the U.S.. Get a f*cking job and stop asking for handouts and bailouts you f*cking losers.
Posted by Pensssss on 06/13/09 at 03:52 AM ET”
And that’s tame. But it’s one of literally hundreds since the Final began. Hundreds of comments almost identical to that.
I have exactly zero doubt where that “fan” came from or which blog he’s a product of. And because I’m certain of that I can say this: I’d be humiliated if any of you had gone over there to say things like that after the Wings won last year. It would be an embarrassment and an indictment of us all. The Pens “fans” who have come here spewing that or something like it are the definition of scum. The very definition of it.
Going after the team and me for the way I write is one thing, and it’s expected. But to those PensBlog readers who have come here before, during and after the Final to use it as a means to rub Michigan’s economic tragedy in the faces of those who have been devastated….you are despicable. And if the PensBlog operators are aware of it and not doing something about it, you’re no better and that’s a fact.
But, thankfully, there is humor to be found here. Humor in the fact that the tone is shifting from the disgusting to the bizarre. In the span of the last fifteen or sixteen hours the Pens “fans” are now coming here to whine that we haven’t given them the necessary “credit.” One ended their comment with this, “We have a damn good team.” Awww. We know you do. You won the Cup didn’t you?
You could almost hear the sobs. It’s been less than 48 hours since their team won the Cup and here they are…whining because I haven’t written something like, “the Wings lost to the better team.” That will never be written here. Ever. Not about this series. Injuries and officiating. Injuries and officiating. Those who have been here long enough recognize that and who said it first.
Hossa. I believe he’s staying because he’s said he’d take less to do so. He’s a character guy, despite the wire brushing he’s taking here and will all summer. And he’s completely embarrassed right now.
No. I don’t know how Tick Tock is going to make it happen, but I believe he will. And I’ll say this, I don’t have to analyze numbers or charts. I don’t have to because I never have. I’m going on gut and if you guys want to crunch numbers go ahead.
I believe Sammy is gone and wouldn’t be surprised if Hudler was too. I also think Kirk Maltby is gone, bought out if possible. One way or another Ken Holland is going to keep Marian Hossa in the fold and it’s going to be around 5 million/year for at least 7…if not 7 on the dot.
Holland will keep him because Hossa is a character guy and it will give the Wings a group of forwards unmatched by any team in the league, a mixture of speed, talent, grit and firepower no one can touch. Ken Holland is not going to keep Hudler and Samuelsson if it means re-signing one of the top ten forwards in the world for five million or less/year.
Hossa’s staying. And he’s going to be a madman next year. He’s going to be Verlander.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
Do I get a little bit of credit for trying to edumacate the trolls, futile as it was?
(Kidding - I know I’m appreciated around these here parts. No constant affirmation needed to validate my self worth. No pouting from this lady.) 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:20 AM ET
Question - who calls their own goaltender Flower?
NOTHING is more cutesy than that.
Just GO AWAY AND ENJOY YOUR PARADE - and don’t forget sunscreen.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:27 AM ET
Also got an email from the PensBlog guys today, asking where their Blogger’s Championship Belt is.
Bitch, whine, bitch, whine, repeat.
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/14/09 at 09:29 AM ET
My .02 Chief…
Fully acknowledge Sid got to the line late, but as you can tell from the vid, so did many others…. You can see that Nik waited for a while the first time until Bylsma ran up to the line…. Then he waited again until I believe Dupuis got there with some other Pens….. Then he waited, what, 10 seconds, and skated off….
It’s unfortunate it happened, but in my view, was just as much a case of impatience on the Wings’ part as it was tardiness on the Pens’ part….
Let me know when you get to Norfolk/VA Beach…. I prefer Bud Ice…. 
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 06/14/09 at 09:31 AM ET
Also got an email from the PensBlog guys today, asking where their Blogger’s Championship Belt is.
That is actually somewhat legit. They were pretty good about it last year.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:31 AM ET
Question - who calls their own goaltender Flower?
NOTHING is more cutesy than that.
Just GO AWAY AND ENJOY YOUR PARADE - and don’t forget sunscreen.
Fleury is flower in French, idiot….
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 06/14/09 at 09:34 AM ET
As a mostly-impartial observer, I’d say that if reports are true that the Pens waited last year until the Wings were done celebrating before lining up, then the Wings showed less class this year by not waiting for the Pens to finish their celebration before lining up.
Posted by Kel from San Jose, CA on 06/14/09 at 09:35 AM ET
Are there other non-issues to inflate as egos deflate?
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 06/14/09 at 09:40 AM ET
And Valterri is Wally in Finnish ...
I said nothing about the accuracy of the nickname, idiot. The question was about the cute factor.
Wally is a cute nickname.
Happy is a cute nickname.
Flower is a cute nickname.
Regardless of derivation, if you call your own goalie Flower don’t rip on anyone else for being cute.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:45 AM ET
Yeah, I was thinking that the thing to do would be to be classy and gracious and stuff, but you mouth-breathing Red Wings fans, who can’t get over your cutesy names for great players, are making it tough not to laugh in your faces.
See the bottom of the boot my team has on your team’s neck? Get used to it. Get used to it.
And please, please, please sign Hossa to that long-term deal. Now. Today. When his stock is low.
Cause Hossa’s a playoff failure—an absolute playoff abortion, a playoff underachiever of the worst kind—unless he’s skating on “Thid’s” wing.
So snap him up! And then get used to seeing the bottom of the boot.
YEEHAW.
Posted by Lidstrom’s Speared Testicles on 06/14/09 at 10:24 AM ET
How sad some people ^ have nothing better to do with their life
Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:46 AM ET
Nice job, Chief.
The fact Pen(i)s fans and Pen(i)s bloggers have spent time over here, mere hours after winning the Cup, proves winning the Stanley Cup is not nearly as important to them as is beating Detroit.
And why is that?
Because, overall, we are still a better team than the Pens. We know it, and their fans know it.
The Pens won a big battle, but the war is still firmly in Detroit’s favor.
Sorry, Pen(i)s fans, but this loss just doesn’t sting that much. The regular season loss to San Jose was much more difficult to take. The blowout loss to Columbus kept me up for days. Not this, not even close.
The Stanley Cup Hangover? The Wings dismantled that theory. They do stuff like that.
‘Osgood sucks’, ‘Wings are too old’. Thrown in the garbage.
The last team to repeat? The Wings. The other winning teams the last six years have either failed to make the playoffs, or were beaten out in the first round the year after their championship.
Maybe it’s the fact Rosby was pretty ineffective in the Finals, and in the end showed his true colors; colors only a parent, xenophobic North Americans, and blind fans could appreciate. But the rest of the people know. All of Gary’s best PR people can’t repair the image of the petulant and immature captain refusing to shake hands with certain players, and his cry-fest after game two of the series.
Sorry, Pen(i)s fans, but this one just doesn’t sting too much.
Maybe next year.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/14/09 at 09:47 AM ET
Fleury is flower in French, idiot….
Geez, thanks, Captain Obvious.
Still doesn’t take away from the fact it’s a laughable nickname.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/14/09 at 09:48 AM ET
And with respect to truly great players - calling a grown man “Stevie” is cute, too.
Every fan does it - to their own teams and to opponents.
Only an idiot thinks otherwise.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:49 AM ET
(For the sake of precision, flower = fleur. Fleury (fleuri) = covered with flowers.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:57 AM ET
First off great series!
As a pens fan and pensblog member i would like to appologize for the f*cking idiots that come here and bash the economic state of detroit. That is low life and low class. I truly hope we can meet you guys in the finals for the next 20 years! Congrats on a great season!!
Posted by Josh from City of Champions! on 06/14/09 at 09:58 AM ET
Guy Lafleur was known as “The Flower” during his heydays in Montreal. Still didn’t stop the few Habs fans I knew from wincing whenever that was brought up.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/14/09 at 09:59 AM ET
Posted by Josh from City of Champions! on 06/14/09 at 10:58 AM ET
Thanks. And enjoy the parade. Seriously.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:00 AM ET
Let me add one more thing: this year was also the 18th year in a row the Wings made the playoffs.
That’s not just an NHL record, that’s a major sports record; MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL.
To be a despondent Wings fans for a few days is understandable. To be a despondent Wings fan one week from now is to be a fan undeserving of this team.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/14/09 at 10:06 AM ET
It is true, Crosby was being interviewed.
I think he was running interference for Bettman, he was interviewed by CBC, while Bettman was making the presentation so viewers could not hear the fans booing. I was told yesterday that
NBC commented on the booing, as if the fans were booing the Pens.
I noticed on CBC, the fans stayed, stood and cheered the Pens (a very memorable sereies) when the cup was awarded and skated around. I regret I did not tape NBC while watching CBC. I had NBC on HD, muted the whole time, but watched CBC on the smaller TV (SD). I was fielding phone calls at the same time, but that is my recollection.
Any of the 19 confirm my observations..?
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/14/09 at 10:08 AM ET
Sorry, Pen(i)s fans, but this one just doesn’t sting too much.
Posted by Red Winger
Well, since you’ve made that clear by 5-10 comments in each and every blog entry dealing with the Stanley Cup final, I’m almost convinced.
Almost.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 06/14/09 at 10:09 AM ET
Wow, they’re still at it, huh? I thought they’d be gone by now.
I’m really interested to see what happens with Hossa and who will have to be sacrificed to keep him.
His regular season work (and some of his playoff work) was outstanding. I’m not opposed to keeping him, just not at the expense of more deserving players. I also want to make sure we have room under the cap for players like Helm, Leino, and Abdelkader down the road. And I suppose Ericsson. Who I am not completely sold on yet.
Also interested to see what happens with the Phoenix situation. I think it will set a precedent for the future of clubs in markets with poor viability - hopefully a positive one whatever the outcome - so we will see good moves and the cap go up in the next 10-15 years.
Posted by jennyquarx on 06/14/09 at 10:10 AM ET
Sorry, Pen(i)s fans, but this loss just doesn’t sting that much. The regular season loss to San Jose was much more difficult to take. The blowout loss to Columbus kept me up for days. Not this, not even close.
Exactly. Sure I’m bummed (heh…Dude) they were that close to getting the Cup for another year, and yesterday, while the supposed agony wasn’t as bad as I figured it would be…it was still there. Hell, for the first time since last fall, I was finally able to put a round of crappy golf in, and no, I won’t mention my score…that was almost more depressing then watching the game the night before. Today? I’m not depressed the Wings lost, for I’ll know they’ll be back, because they want the Cup again, and they’ll get it. I’m irritated just like the rest of 19 are. It’s not enough we tip our hats to them, it’s like they want the 19 to jump of the Mellon roof (if it even has one) proclaiming the Wings suck and we’ll never root for them again.
You know, that’ll make the drubbing the Wings will give them next year during the regular season, and, God forbid, next year’s SCF, even more sweet than it already would be.
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 06/14/09 at 10:12 AM ET
“The Pens won a big battle, but the war is still firmly in Detroit’s favor.”
Guess you haven’t heard the news. The war officially ended at approximately 10:39 PM on June 12, 2009. But you keep on fighting the good fight.
Posted by Battleship from City of Champions on 06/14/09 at 10:16 AM ET
And I suppose Ericsson. Who I am not completely sold on yet.
You must not have heard. One time, Jonny Ericsson moved an entire river in Africa in an effort to save a village!
Seriously, though, I like what I’ve seen from the kid. He really should be kept.
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 06/14/09 at 10:16 AM ET
Well, since you’ve made that clear by 5-10 comments in each and every blog entry dealing with the Stanley Cup final, I’m almost convinced.
You have a point.
In the first three rounds I didn’t have to repeat anything. However, Pen(i)s trolls on here are a different breed.
I was told in education school that children need to hear something six to seven times in order to really get it. So, i adjusted accordingly on here. 
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/14/09 at 10:18 AM ET
1st Of The Pensblog Does some great Stuff, I have No use for them though as I am an Old Fart, Old enough to Be most of those Members Dad, so it’s not my cup of tea, BUT Anyone ripping the City of Detroit for the Economic woes of the Car Industry are Despicable Human Debris
Unfortunately most of the Pensbloggers are teenagers & early 20’s so they are either still in school & Mommy Daddy pay their way or are in College & Mommy & Daddy are paying for it
They don’t have a Clue what it’s like to lose a Job !!
Keep your Head up Guys & Gals it happened in the Burgh too in the late 70’s & 80’s
But Please STOP with the “Sid Disrepected NIk” BULLSHIT!!! He was a Little late & Lidstrom left in a hurry & I don’t blame him for leaving as the team that dethroned them was about to skate with The Cup on his Ice
Franzen made his way over to Sid to Congratulate him & apologize for injuring him, Why couldn’t Nik & Draper do the same thing
You can hate Sid because he is not a Wing, But don’t disparage his reverance for the game of Hockey & the Traditions, Every player who plays with him knows he is about Hockey & winning, Ask Guerin, Kunitz, Gonchar or even ask Hossa
Posted by Evilpens on 06/14/09 at 10:19 AM ET
Nice try Red Winger. Just by posting that comment we can all see how bad it does sting. Your team did not look that dominate to me. The Caps played harder. You had one game where you were clearly better, and that is whats goin to bite you all off season. The pens had more legit scoring chances. If Ozzy was not playing his butt off, the Pens would have rapped this up in 5 or 6. I always hated Babcock, but he actually showed alot of class post game and during the handshake. In closing,,, RED WINGER, if it helps you to post all your stats and whinning opinions to soften this loss,, post away, we all know your full of crap, but its ok. I went to the same thing last year.
Posted by PenguinJuice on 06/14/09 at 10:20 AM ET
I’ve been thinking a bit about the “turning point” of the series, and I found it. Malkin’s non-suspension? Nope. Staal’s shorty? Nope. The day Talbot was born? Well maybe, but no.
It was during Game 5…against Chicago. Actually it was the end of Game 5. It was Darren freaking Helm scoring to end the series. It was talked about then, and looking back now, probably the worst thing that happened to the Wings this year. He doesn’t score there, and Chicago does, Game 1 of the SCF is Friday, June 5th. That’s 1 day before when Game 5 of the Final was actually played. 1 day before Pav came back. 1 day. So that means, in all likelihood, Pav plays the entire series, not to mention Nick has an extra week to hold a pack of frozen peas to his, uhh…errr…sorry still can’t say it, it hurts too much. Not only that, but the Wings, with Pav, could either have won (in 5) by now, or the series would still be going, and I think we all know, the Pens only win Games 6 and 7 once outta 100 tries.
Damn you Darren Helm, why do you have to be so good.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/14/09 at 10:20 AM ET
It is true, Crosby was being interviewed.
Todd, that’s not the point. Every captain would be flooded with interviews after such an event. The problem is other captains put the tradition of the post-series handshake ahead of interviews.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/14/09 at 10:20 AM ET
Nice try Red Winger. Just by posting that comment we can all see how bad it does sting.
Translation: “Damn! He’s right!!”
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/14/09 at 10:21 AM ET
Hossa is a character guy?
More like an opportunist who is devoid of leadership ability.
However, I do agree with you about the utterly horrid pensblog:
They are classless losers.
Posted by Guest on 06/14/09 at 10:22 AM ET
Guess you haven’t heard the news. The war officially ended at approximately 10:39 PM on June 12, 2009. But you keep on fighting the good fight.
Cups since Pens entered the NHL:
Pitt: 3
Det: 4
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/14/09 at 10:22 AM ET
Bitter that they lost to Maxime Talbot? No. He owns the Wings and I’ll have nightmares about him for months.
.
.
The list (Wing Killers) just keeps getting longer…
Talbot
Selanne
Deadmarsh
Drury
(Nash and Staal,only a matter of time)
They take turns waking me up at night.
I’m only sleeping good about 3 nights a week.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/14/09 at 10:24 AM ET
Posted by jennyquarx on 06/14/09 at 11:10 AM ET
Never let it be said that they don’t have stamina, I guess.
Hossa staying wouldn’t be horrible. I’ve never liked trying to judge players based on one contract only, because so often it seems as though they don’t really get comfortable with a team until the second year. And he’s an excellent player. He seemed to be very sensitive to the entire situation this year - which doesn’t surprise me when I remember how badly he played after the Berard thing. Emotionally he was a mess for a time afterwards. Wherever he winds up, as long as he has a more stable situation that doesn’t draw comments from everyone, he’ll be more comfortable and play with less pressure, I think.
The Phoenix situation is interesting. I don’t know anything about law (although I did file for bankruptcy once - does that count? Hah), but it seems from the comments of the judge that he isn’t letting the league get away with in effect saying that the team must stay there despite the fact that it meets the standards they have set out themselves for relocation - and is asking them to set a price on a relocation fee to Hamilton. When the judge is asking why you can’t follow your own rules and asking for the price, it seems as though Balsillie’s chances are better than I thought. Still slim, likely, but at least there.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:24 AM ET
Better watch out, Chief—you’re disrespecting fourteen year-olds! Some of them can get awfully testy!
Even after his face was ravaged by one of the more cowardly hits in NHL history, Draper said little to nothing.
After that, he said nothing because he couldn’t speak. I hope to hell sometime Lemieux feels what it’s like to eat through a straw for three months.
Also got an email from the PensBlog guys today, asking where their Blogger’s Championship Belt is.
Huh. They must play in the lightweight division. Because I’ve read their stuff—no way is it championship-caliber.
Hossa’s staying. And he’s going to be a madman next year. He’s going to be Verlander.
If if IF he stays, and if he lets this loss affect him like it should? Forget Verlander—he’d play better defensively even than him. Bud Light Plus/Minus award, here he comes. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see him contend for the Richard, as well as learn how to deflect shots and be a pest in front of the net from Homer in order to add yet another weapon to his arsenal of goal-scoring tools.
But that’s a couple of big ‘ifs.’
And with respect to truly great players - calling a grown man “Stevie” is cute, too.
That’s why he was, and always will be, “The Captain.” No matter what Rosby has to say about it. Or has to whine about it.
Well, since you’ve made that clear by 5-10 comments in each and every blog entry dealing with the Stanley Cup final, I’m almost convinced.
Boy, you’re really a veteran here, ain’tcha? What blog have you been watching? We get well over one hundred comments in each blog entry, no matter what the topic. Liveblogs usually number above one thousand, and even regular-season creampuff liveblogs go to several hundred. This is KID’S STUFF.
And I suppose Ericsson. Who I am not completely sold on yet.
But…but…Live rattlesnake condoms…Cross-checking Jason Voorhees…Farting the hits of Elvis…Here’s to Jonny Ericsson!
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 06/14/09 at 10:26 AM ET
Cups since Pens entered the NHL:
Pitt: 3
Det: 4
Reigning Stanley Cup Champions:
Pittsburgh: 1
Detroit (and 28 other NHL teams): 0
Posted by Battleship from City of Champions on 06/14/09 at 10:27 AM ET
We like to look at the big picture, Battleship.
You will too, someday.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/14/09 at 10:28 AM ET
Todd, that’s not the point. Every captain would be flooded with interviews after such an event. The problem is other captains put the tradition of the post-series handshake ahead of interviews.
Posted by Red Winger from The Soo on 06/14/09 at 11:20 AM ET
My question was more about him running interference so CBC would
not be broadcasting the Bettman boo’s. The earlier comment about the Wings rushing the handshake line, seemed more on the money.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/14/09 at 10:32 AM ET
Fleury is flower in French
Actually Flower is la fleur so the penguins just dont know their french, thats why guy lafleur was nicknamed flower
Posted by Red Wings and Penguins fan who likes the wings mor from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:33 AM ET
Hey Chief, let’s not forget a big F-you to all the Pen(i)sbloggers who thought Vladdie was a punchline.
Respect is earned not only in how you carry yourself in victory, but through defeat.
Many Pens fans are struggling to garner ANY respect currently. Soon Pens fans may become the big douchebag fan that must be hated at all costs, like us Wings fans currently are. The thing is, we’ve picked up some blowhard Red Wings fans over 18 years of team success. The Pens fans are acting that way after 2 years of success. Can you imagine if they have extended success how unbearable they’ll be?
Good thing we won’t have to worry about that. Getting the first or second overall pick four years in a row is an ultra-lucky thing. The Pens did not build their core through scouting and player development, they were handed a strong core (Rosby, Malkin, Fleury, and Staal) on a platter. Now they will not have the benefit of draft position (unless Li’l Gary.Ass finds a way) so we’ll see if the Pens org will be a shining light or a dim bulb. Like from their fans, I wouldn’t expect much from a team that only stayed in Pittsburgh because Bettman has a hard-on for the team.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 06/14/09 at 10:33 AM ET
Damn you Darren Helm, why do you have to be so good.
Posted by John W. from Lansing, MI on 06/14/09 at 11:20 AM ET
Holding frozen peas against his surgically-repaired testicle? I can say it. (But not giggling - when surgery is involved, it’s never funny.)
Whatever. The rest would have been nice, but you play the opponents you get and the games as set up before you. What bugged me about the whole thing was that it made the NHL look even more clueless than normal. The TV schedule was set, everyone agreed, and despite gripings from all over the place it had been accepted - then all of a sudden they change their minds and look as though they are totally making up this new-fangled “teevee schedule thingie” on a whim.
Make a decision and stick with it. It would have been less silly-looking for the league.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:34 AM ET
We like to look at the big picture, Battleship.
But even in the big picture your arguments don’t hold up. As I recall, the Wings trail the Habs by a substantial margin in overall Cups, and are even behind the pathetic Leafs. And you’ve had 42 years to catch up to them.
Looking at the “big picture” from another perspective: Since 1971:
-3 Stanley Cups
-3 World Series
-6 Super Bowls
-1 NCAA Football National Championship (3, if you include Penn State)
Posted by Battleship from City of Champions on 06/14/09 at 10:35 AM ET
Does anyone else hear “Rosby” in the voice of any of a number of cartoon dogs?
Just me? Okay, then.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:37 AM ET
Whatever. The rest would have been nice, but you play the opponents you get and the games as set up before you.
Yeah, I know Baroque. What still gets me about it is that I cannot ever remember a time where winning a series earlier gets you LESS rest. Hard to believe you can be better off, rest and injury wise, winning a long series instead of a short one. Something doesn’t seem right where the thought process of “well if we lose this game, it might be better,” is even a possibility in professional sports. But I guess that’s the point isn’t it.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/14/09 at 10:41 AM ET
You’re assuming that all sports count equally.
A basketball fan would include the Pistons championships and maybe also the WNBA Shock’s wins.
A baseball fan would give greater weight to World Series Championships.
A football fan would be impressed with Super Bowls.
While someone who is only a hockey fan (not me, but some are) doesn’t care any more about Super Bowls than about WNBA wins or MLL championships or soccer wins. If you only follow one or two sports, the others are completely irrelevant.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:42 AM ET
Red Winger = JOKE
The fact Pen(i)s fans and Pen(i)s bloggers have spent time over here, mere hours after winning the Cup, proves winning the Stanley Cup is not nearly as important to them as is beating Detroit.
Did it ever occur to you that winning The Cup is everything to us and that we only come here because this is a blog in favor of the team we beat? If it were the Sharks we just beat, we’d be at one of their blogs….DA?
Pen(i)s fans and Pen(i)s bloggers
Stay classy there guys!
Please A2Y regulars…tell me you don’t actually claim this zitt-faced teenager as one of your own!
You folks often talk with such indignation over a few derogatory things Pens fans have said. While I don’t condone it, please don’t forget that there are a few of your own who have used terms like “hillbillies, hayseeds, Pissburgh, and Shitsburgh”.
Just as the interference calls in this series were equally uncalled by the Refs, there’s been plenty of unclassy things said on both sides.
Because, overall, we are still a better team than the Pens. We know it, and their fans know it.
It’s never a good idea to attempt to put words into someone else’s mouth. I certainly don’t know it and I think seeing the Pens lift the Cup on your ice proved otherwise.
The better team usually ends up winning a 7 game series. I think your Head Coach basically said as much too.
The Wings dismantled that theory. They do stuff like that.
There was also a theory that the Wings couldn’t be beat at home in a game 7. Or that the team that is 0-2 to start a series rarely wins it. Or that the visiting team rarely has ever won a game 7. Or that the Wings rarely have ever not finished a team when it had the chance. Or that last year’s bridesmaid rarely makes it back into the Finals.
Before this series started, it was said here that it was funny that Pittsburgh fans actually thought they stood a chance in winning this thing.
.........All dismantled theories.
Maybe it’s the fact Rosby was pretty ineffective in the Finals
What conclusions then can we draw from the fact that several of your own stars were equally ineffective?
this one just doesn’t sting too much
So losing the Stanley Cup in a game 7 on your home ice with everything favoring the home team doesn’t sting as badly as losing a regular season game to San Jose?
If that’s truly the way you feel, then you obviously didn’t care and didn’t deserve to see your team win. If a Pens fan told me that losing in the Finals didn’t hurt as much as losing some regular season game, I’d tell them to stop calling themselves a fan.
Now as far as the handshake thing goes….I’ve watched the whole thing unfold multiple times now from the NBC, CBC, and TSN feeds. Yes, Crosby was being interviewed and he was not the only one to enter the line later. But later was only a matter of less than a minute. I agree with the above statement that the Pens waited last season for the entire Wings team to assemble for the handshake line and certain Wings impatience in this case is to blame.
Posted by AJ on 06/14/09 at 10:47 AM ET
It’ll be very enjoyable to watch a hungry Wings team next year and an even hungrier Hossa. Now we have the proper motivation for #12. Good win by the Pen(i)s, we’ll hopefully see who takes the rubber game next year.
Posted by Since71 from Bucharest, Romania on 06/14/09 at 10:47 AM ET
Yeah, I know Baroque. What still gets me about it is that I cannot ever remember a time where winning a series earlier gets you LESS rest.
Yeah, it’s strange - but the whiplash of the flip-flopping on exactly what the schedule was going to be was so amateurish. If it had been a nine (I think) day gap, there would have been plenty of grumbling, but the schedule was set well ahead of time, no one was happy but they understood that was the way it was going to work, and it would have been a long break for both teams - nine days or seven or whatever, at that point both teams would have been healthier and the sloppiness would have come from rust. Debateable whether or not the hockey would have been better ... but suddenly switching the schedule was just flighty pandering.
Of course, if Patrick Sharp hadn’t poked Lidstrom in the man region it wouldn’t have been an issue for him, at least - regardless of the rest situation.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:48 AM ET
The wait probably felt longer to Lidstrom because he was disappointed and wanted to get the formalities over with, get showered, and get some more frozen peas. Like the Hossa thing last year, it’s a bit of trivia that will be catapulted into a major issue via repetition.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:52 AM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
The F Stands For Finger And The Finger Could Really ______ Us All
GDT - Game #54: Red Wings at Coyotes (8:00)
So Far 4 In 2, Why Not 6 in 3?
GDT - Game #53: Red Wings at Oilers (10:00)
GDT - Game #52: Red Wings at Canucks (10:00)
All Aboard…Play Time Is Over, Live Blogging The 7th Re-Grand-Redolent Opening Of The Hasek
GDT - Game #51: Red Wings at Flames (9:00)
The NHL All-Star Game - So Unpopular It’s Not Even Worth Stealing
Good Day, Mr I. Now Keep It Going. We’ll Even Live Blog It For You.
About Abel to Yzerman
Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
When learning from experts it’s best to learn personally from them, or from their blog. We can provide that with poker lessons blog, your home to learn poker personally.
Do you get shocked from the luck in the game of poker? Stop getting shocked and start being a Poker Shoker
Get the top online sports betting bonuses available to sports betters!
Wow. That would be remarkable.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:18 AM ET