Abel to Yzerman
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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.
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Comments
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And no more of those abominable third jerseys. EVERYONE goes back to decent uniforms.
Original Six are fine. Classic logos, recognizable history, nice colors - those are okay. Couple more white stripes with Toronto, though. The ones they have are so simple they look like pajamas. And all evidence that the Boston Bruins Pooh jerseys ever existed will be erased.
Calgary - at least 80% of the piping and striping is eliminated. They look the the German National Team right now and are far too busy. The flaming C logo stays - better than the horsey.
Edmonton - back to the old blue and orange numbers. Gaudy, but man do they ever look sharp. Much better than the plain boring ones they have now.
Vancouver - blue, green, and white, probably the stick in rink logo. I’d put that to a fan vote, since the team clearly can’t make up it’s mind.
(For starters.) 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:16 PM ET
Effective immediately upon my taking over - all women’s items will be offered in the ACTUAL TEAM COLORS, not just a choice of pink and baby blue!
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:09 PM ET
Most excellent. Get on that because I could really use a new hat that doesn’t scream “Oh hai. I likes teh Wings.”
Posted by jennyquarx on 06/14/09 at 08:17 PM ET
“Hossa’s staying. And he’s going to be a madman next year. He’s going to be Verlander.”
Don’t kid yourself. Verlanders take less than 12 years.
Sid took 4, in case you didn’t know. And Lemieux took 7.
Posted by jerseyfan from New Jersey on 06/14/09 at 08:22 PM ET
Great, now no one is going to read it because all the words will scare them off.
So I’ve been mostly away from electronics all weekend. I’m trying to catch up. Your comment is the first one I read. I knew it would be logical and balanced, and I could apply the proper homerism from there.
My first comments back: Congrats to the Penguins, and the fans. However, it’s disappointing to see the way some of them are reacting… to a win. Very classy. I’m upset to hear that personal interviews took precedence over a handshake, even when some players were waiting extra time. I don’t understand why someone (on the Pens) didn’t tap him on the shoulder. However, I will give him the benefit of the doubt, this time.
Malts had a monster series, I thought. There were long stretches of time in which he was one of the only ones providing energy to our team, much like Helm had been doing through 3 rounds. He played well below his age. I will not be surprised by a retirement or two this summer, though. It will be tough. Cheli should accept a position as the PK coach. He has lots of experience to bestow upon the kids, and our PK can’t get any worse.
I could see Emery channeling a little Hextall and becoming pretty popular in Philthy (I can say that, I grew up in it’s shadow and lived through its network broadcasts).
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/14/09 at 08:25 PM ET
Most excellent. Get on that because I could really use a new hat that doesn’t scream “Oh hai. I likes teh Wings.”
Posted by jennyquarx on 06/14/09 at 09:17 PM ET
Have you seen the abominations with little hearts on the pink tee-shirts, and “Detroit Red Wings” in cute cursive script? BARF!
Nothing hollers to the world, “I have no idea what a power play is, or icing, or even how many men are supposed to be on the ice at one time, but Darren Helm is so CUTE! I just want to HUG him!” like pink hearts and cursive script.
I actually crocheted a drawstring bag in red with a couple white stripes - and another version in white with red stripes - and I have to make a few more for a couple other people who wanted to use them as either home or away Red Wings-inspired purses. For a total of about $10.00 in materials and a few evenings of my time, I think it came out even better than the $325 sequined things the NHL sells - and it’s more practical, too, because they are washable.
Not everyone can make their own stuff, though.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:28 PM ET
You let it go, too. The only way this stops is if everyone drops it at once.
Coming from someone who posts like they’re being paid by the word…
Posted by alexcutter on 06/14/09 at 08:29 PM ET
Posted by jerseyfan from New Jersey on 06/14/09 at 09:22 PM ET
Buzz off - unless you want to enter a vote on the Emery vs. Avery fight.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:30 PM ET
I also don’t have a good feeling about Lilja. With him on the long term IR, he won’t count against the cap.
Rafalski didn’t look like himself most of the series. He made far more subtle errors than in the past, as well as a few big ones. I don’t have a problem “demoting” him to D pairing 1B.
Conklin goes to Boston, who plays at Fenway on Jan 1. He also returns home to New Hampshire and is instantly adored.
Howard comes up. He puts up some wins this year or we’re done with him, with Larsson and McCollum next in line. I like the kid, and I’m not trying to sound like an ass, just being realistic.
Kindl and Leino will get a few call-ups next year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an unexpected Griff or two make the team out of camp. After seeing the success Helm and Big Rig have had this year, they have to be inspired to work hard this summer.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/14/09 at 08:31 PM ET
Posted by alexcutter on 06/14/09 at 09:29 PM ET
I’m posting about something else.
Just wondering - is your real name Steve? Because you remind me an awful lot of someone I knew once.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:32 PM ET
Posted by alexcutter on 06/14/09 at 09:29 PM ET
You go through me to mess with Baroque.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/14/09 at 08:32 PM ET
I also won’t be too surprised to see Leino sign elsewhere. He might fit in well with a young team, and I’m not sure how much loyalty he feels to the Wings just yet.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/14/09 at 08:34 PM ET
I also don’t have a good feeling about Lilja. With him on the long term IR, he won’t count against the cap.
True. His relapse of headaches is worrisome. It isn’t unusual for a concussion to take a year to fully go away, and if it’s more than a few months he won’t be ready for training camp. It would just be good to see him healthy, for the sake of his quality of life.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:35 PM ET
“The rules allow what the Red Wings have done,” Bettman said during the playoffs. “But if I was running a team, which I’m not, I would opt for shorter-term contracts.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/14/09 at 08:35 PM ET
Baroque, in case you missed my first post that got buried quickly, I picked Emery.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/14/09 at 08:36 PM ET
I also won’t be too surprised to see Leino sign elsewhere. He might fit in well with a young team, and I’m not sure how much loyalty he feels to the Wings just yet.
Posted by MarkK from Ithaca on 06/14/09 at 09:34 PM ET
That’s an interesting case. He hasn’t shown enough at the NHL level to really attract attention from other teams, I think - that was part of the reason they couldn’t trade Kyle Quincey, other teams hadn’t seen him enough to have a good idea of how he would perform when given an NHL job - but I don’t think he has any interest in spending another year in Grand Rapids. Good for him for sticking it out, though.
He clearly has skills.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:39 PM ET
I mentioned a long while back that Lilja could possibly have a career ending injury. What really made me sick was the fact that to me he seemed like the most improved Wing this season. I guess the up side (if you want to call it that) is it won’t count against the cap.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 06/14/09 at 08:41 PM ET
Nothing hollers to the world, “I have no idea what a power play is, or icing, or even how many men are supposed to be on the ice at one time, but Darren Helm is so CUTE! I just want to HUG him!” like pink hearts and cursive script.
Not everyone can make their own stuff, though.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:28 PM ET
Count me among the uncrafty. I’d like to see that. Sounds awesome. I could use that. You should be selling them somewhere.
A little piece of me died inside a few years back when I saw the pink Yzerman shirts.
The cutesy stuff is not for me and is overloading the market and taking up valuable space in place of things I would actually buy. Zephyr makes the only hats that fit right on my Irish head and this year they only offered sparkly ones. Uncool.
And yes, I judge. That is exactly what I think when I see those shirts.
I prefer your standard man-fare. But in women’s sizes.
Posted by jennyquarx on 06/14/09 at 08:42 PM ET
Baroque, in case you missed my first post that got buried quickly, I picked Emery.
Posted by MarkK from Ithaca on 06/14/09 at 09:36 PM ET
Everyone is, apparently.
I don’t know the whole deal in Ottawa - he clearly has a very short fuse and was involved in a lot of off-ice stupidity - but the man has talent. I wonder if a lot of things that should have been addressed were ignored by management just because he was winning at the time, to his detriment.
Whatever happened, I hope he does well. It’s always sad to see a life go right off the rails ... speaking of which, how about the charges against Ryan Leaf? Even a non-football fan such as I am knows the Ryan Leaf - Peyton Manning story. What a sad outcome.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:43 PM ET
I also won’t be too surprised to see Leino sign elsewhere. He might fit in well with a young team, and I’m not sure how much loyalty he feels to the Wings just yet.
Posted by MarkK from Ithaca on 06/14/09 at 09:34 PM ET
I don’t think the Wings would let him go unless absolutely necessary. The buzz on him is huge. His Finnish stats are impressive. He might not have shown much in the Playoffs (and he didn’t get much of a chance) but I’d like to see him stay here.
Posted by jennyquarx on 06/14/09 at 08:47 PM ET
Gosh dang. I really hate the pink crap. It is not a color for hockey fans of any gender.
Little girls? I don’t think so. The team colors are the only colors. Screw the think pink mentality. Fr-Ack!
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 06/14/09 at 08:48 PM ET
Count me among the uncrafty. I’d like to see that. Sounds awesome. I could use that. You should be selling them somewhere.
When I get them finished (I need to set up my sewing machine to stitch the lining) I’ll have to toss a picture up on Flikr or something. I’m actually pretty happy with how they turned out - I don’t normally have the patience to design something myself, because it takes time to test it, but I couldn’t find any patterns that were exactly what I wanted, so that was my only option.
Just for fun (and because I have as much of an issue with yarn as I do with books) I did a few in Toronto Maple Leafs blue and white, Montreal red, white, and blue, and Vancouver Canucks green, blue, and white. I figured why not, since I had the colors.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:50 PM ET
I don’t think the Wings would let him go unless absolutely necessary. The buzz on him is huge. His Finnish stats are impressive. He might not have shown much in the Playoffs (and he didn’t get much of a chance) but I’d like to see him stay here.
Posted by jennyquarx on 06/14/09 at 09:47 PM ET
Remember all the buzz about him signing just after Fabian Brunnsstromm (too many consonants, I know) signed with Dallas?
I’d like to see him stay, too. He’s had a year in North America now, so he should have a better idea about how to play on the smaller rink. That will help him a lot going forward.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 08:53 PM ET
Ryan Leaf- too much too fast for him. Same thing I think happened to Britney Spears, in a serious way. Some people need time to develop a mature foundation on which to build their careers. If not, it’s a hard fall and harder to break some bad habits.
Good to be back; I’ll catch you guys this week as injury and contract info trickles in.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/14/09 at 08:55 PM ET
Since I have been very busy this past week I haven’t been able to piss in any contest. No apologies. Like Bella I don’t have much to say yet.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 06/14/09 at 08:56 PM ET
Hey guys, if you remember me, you remember I’m a Pens fan…
More important to me than the Crosby/Lidstrom controversy, is the fact that Wings fans actually cheered when Sid got hurt by Franzen in the 2nd…I don’t care how much you hate a player, but you never want to see them get hurt. What happened to sportsmanship?
I understand that it’s real hard to watch a Cup celebration for an away team in your barn. We had to go through it last year. I get the hate for Bettman. I completely understand…but I was horrified when I heard boos coming down from the crowd. The greatest trophy in sports was on the ice, and people were booing the individual that happened to be carrying it. It seemed disrespectful to the history and meaning of Lord Stanley’s Cup. I don’t mean to pontificate on your message board, and I’m far from one of those dumb trolls who come on here and do nothing but insult you, but come on.
19, you mention classless Pens fans (which there DEFINITELY are) as though you guys don’t have any assholes taking up seats in your arena..I think every fanbase is in denial that it is a haven for irrational idiots.
Just a few thoughts.
Posted by Joe from Columbus on 06/14/09 at 08:58 PM ET
Remember all the buzz about him signing just after Fabian Brunnsstromm (too many consonants, I know) signed with Dallas?
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:53 PM ET
Yeah, that’s not going to turn out to bad for them, eh? My husband collects cards and he’s almost always right. His money is on Leino. Well, he is Finnish too so I suppose there is a bias.
Posted by jennyquarx on 06/14/09 at 09:07 PM ET
^^
Too badly.
I has grammar. But I’m tired.
Thanks all for an interesting day. I shall catch up with you tomorrow.
Posted by jennyquarx on 06/14/09 at 09:08 PM ET
OH SHUT THE *#$%@& UP YOU WHINY SNIVELLY LITTLE *#$%@& *#$%@& OF A BITCH. I’M SO *#$%@& SICK OF YOUR *#$%@& WHINING, C3PO. *#$%@&, YOU’RE SUCH A PATHETIC DOUCHE TOUGH GUY DETROIT BITCH. GO SUCK YOUR MOTHER’S COCK, YOU *#$%@&.
Posted by hector on 06/14/09 at 09:14 PM ET
Nothing like finishing up work for Monday just in time to get ready for bed on Sunday night. :(
G’night, all.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/14/09 at 09:14 PM ET
(For starters.)
Thoughts on Atlanta? 
And yeah, I agree with killing the cutesy Women’s stuff. Most women I know buy the regular sweaters as opposed to the pink crap, anyway.
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 06/14/09 at 09:27 PM ET
I was born in Pittsburgh, moved back in adulthood, and was a season ticket holder from 2000-06. I lived, as a child, in the Detroit metropolitan area from 1977-84, and went to a number of Red Wings games at Joe Louis Arena (along with GLI & CCHA Championships). I learned how to play the game of ice hockey in the Detroit metro area. I also remember a number of empty seats in Joe Louis Arena in those days, the same could be said about the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. There is a strong core of excellent, loyal NHL fans in both cities. Fans which live and die for their teams. There are also a lot of bandwagon fans of both teams, some of which live in the local metro area, some live across the world. On this website there seem to be a lot of bandwagon fans, for both teams. Detroit fans who really think that they should win every single Stanley Cup that will ever be played. Pittsburgh fans who forget the cheap shot their own team makes, but never forget the cheap shots against their own team. These are tough, working class towns with sports in their souls. The Detroit Red Wings were the champions for 2007-08 and the Pittsburgh Penguins are champions for 2008-09. Two GREAT teams competing for one trophy, the Stanley Cup. Detroit fans you disrespect the game in not acknowledging your team was beaten, Pittsburgh fans do the same in not backing off from the insults (many are low blows). I have said some very insulting things about Detroit and the Red Wings, which I regret. I do think some Red Wings players and many fans will be ashamed about what they have said when their emotions cool down. This rivalry, and that’s what it is, is going to be burning for a while. Hopefully it can be civil. Penguins fans have enough hate when dealing with the animals from Philadelphia (I also lived there too - THE WORST!), hopefully Detroit won’t enter that level. Enjoy your summer and here’s to a great 2009-10.
Posted by Pens Fan in DC on 06/14/09 at 09:28 PM ET
..man it was going so well for a while too. Anyways ignoring that last adolescent outburst by a classy Pens fan, moving on…
Nothing hollers to the world, “I have no idea what a power play is, or icing, or even how many men are supposed to be on the ice at one time, but Darren Helm is so CUTE! I just want to HUG him!” like pink hearts and cursive script.
To be fair Baroque, some refs don’t know that either Hey there’s an idea, can you make the refs where pink and white striped shirts when you take over the league? Then at least we will all know not to take them seriously.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/14/09 at 09:34 PM ET
For the record, my comment about the adolescent Pens fan was NOT directed at you, Pens Fan in DC, but the all Caps Lock post above yours. I thought your post actually was classy.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/14/09 at 09:38 PM ET
Wow, what a whiny pussy you are, Queef. Some of your flock are okay folks, it would seem. That they follow your joke of an existence is a pitty. Same shit, evey post, you’re just trying to convince yourself of your own bullshit. “We hate Thid! Thixteen to 12, bitcheths!”
The Wings are the flagship team of the NHL, it’s all assclowns like Pierre MacGuire can do to mention what a “magician Kenny Holland is.” Quit your pathetic whining, you sound like a *#$%@& Leafs fan!
The Wings and Pens are so much better than the rest of the league they’ll probably meet again next year. Maybe the result will be different, maybe not. Try to not be such a sandy vagina your whole life.
Posted by Puckhead from Jersey, you morons! on 06/14/09 at 09:39 PM ET
Posted by Puckhead from Jersey, you morons! on 06/14/09 at 10:39 PM ET
I do believe Baroque made a fair request regarding the hostilities. Would you mind respecting her wishes?
If you do mind, you really don’t have to post here. It’s not hard to be respectful, you know.
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 06/14/09 at 09:47 PM ET
I know it isn’t the Chief’s way. but if a thread could ever use to be locked, not deleted just locked, it’s this one.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/14/09 at 09:49 PM ET
I just got back from Pittsburgh and I thought I’d check out what’s going on in A2Y.
Holy. Hell.
I think I may come back tomorrow when it’s—hopefully—calmed down. Another viewing of The Dark Knight may be in my near future.
Oh, and pink anything for female hockey fans is an abomination.
Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 06/14/09 at 09:52 PM ET
Hi WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHngs fans!
Some of you may know me from Wyshynski’s blog. I wanted to personally congratulate you on your completely predictable lack of class, grace, and anything resembling good sportsmanship in defeat. Thank you, Pittsburgh and your fans, for burying this sham “dynasty” right where it belongs: under the ersatz title of “Hockeytown”, painted arrogantly on the ice where your team destroyed the Red Wings in game 7.
Give WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHngs fans a couple weeks; they’ll mourn, and shift back into delusional self-aggrandization mode, celebrating their 4 Stanley Cup wins since 1956 as if it’s some sort of grand achievement, refusing to acknowledge how forcefully the “torch” was seized from them in this series. I’ve accused you of many things in the past, Detroit fans, but intelligence and realism aren’t two of them. Have a great summer!
Posted by Anthrax Jones from Quebec's Ghost on 06/14/09 at 10:01 PM ET
Classy, you have a great summer too.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/14/09 at 10:05 PM ET
It really lets you know how great the Wings really are when you see how happy it makes everyone else when they lose.
Thanks to all the haters for letting us know how great you really think our team is through your blind rage.
Posted by John W. from a bubble wrap cocoon on 06/14/09 at 10:08 PM ET
Again, I say it. Penguins fans have no idea what to do with themselves when their team wins the Cup. 98% of them weren’t fans the last time they won it…heck probably were either new to the world or not yet in it (in the literal sense; not like right now when they live in their own little world where the Penguins are the best team in the world, and always have been, everyone has their own unicorn, and riding on rainbows is a national pastime). Just like the Penguins needed a loss to learn how to win (apparently…), their fans need more time to learn how to deal with a win. Maybe next time…oh wait.
Give it two years tops, and that team will be nowhere near where it is right now. 18 million in two guys? Add their goalie, and you’re up to 21 mil for three. Add Staal, 25 mil for four. Right now, a lot of their major players are not signed. Hal Gill is unsigned. Scuderi is unsigned. Letang has one year left on his contract, his rookie contract, and then I’m sure will want a significant raise. Where are the Penguins gonna find the money? They have eleven forwards signed right now, total, and two of them are not NHL players. They have a total of five defensemen, all but one making at least 2 mil. They have one goalie (though they can probably easily sign Garon to an inexpensive contract). And what are they going to do now that they don’t get the #1 pick anymore? Their roster as it stands right now for next year has 11 Canadians on it. 3 Americans. Everybody scouts N.A., so it’s really hard to get top players when you have the 30th pick. Wonder why the Wings went so European? Because they could find gems like Dats and Zetter that no one else knew about, not to mention we favor that style of play. They’ve had late picks for over a decade, and a lot of times never had a first round pick (because of trading them away).
Meanwhile, the Wings are sittin pretty. Dats, Hank, Mule all in it for the long haul. Hossa likely to join them. Defensive depth like no other, and a lot of really good kids coming through the system in that position. Even our goaltending is looking good, if 2009 Playoffs Howard shows up for training camp. After him, there’s Larsson and that kid…what’s his name…Oh yeah, McCollum.
And this, Pens fans, is why we are not afraid. Our dynasty is alive and strong, looking good for the future. We have the best GM in hockey, maybe in all of sports. We have, unquestionably, the best owner in all of sports. We have a fanbase that never gives up. Yes, we can be cocky. But no, we do not have a sense of entitlement. No fan here, nor player on our team, expects to be handed the Cup. We expect for our team to play their hearts out. We expect to sit in front of the television on a cold night in February, fretting about our annual slump and what it does to our chances at home-ice advantage. That’s right, our chances at home-ice, not the playoffs. Why? Because we make the playoffs. Every year. And we don’t make it in the East, where a team like Florida (for crying out loud) barely misses the playoffs. We make it in the West, where nothing is ever guaranteed. When the Wings win the Cup, we revel in it. We celebrate it together as a nation of Wings fans. And when the don’t win it, we mourn together, before we pick ourselves up and start thinking about next season. That’s what Hockeytown is. Slava Kozlov put it best: “Great fans make great team. Together, they make Hockeytown.”
Posted by MrsOtW from Wyoming, Mi on 06/14/09 at 10:23 PM ET
We’ve seen Yzerman and Fedorov turn over to Zetterberg and Datsyuk. We’ve seen the Wings re-claim re-treads like Samuelsson and Cleary and turn them into important role players and big game goal scorers. We’ve seen the Wings take Larry Murphy and Brad Stuart from the scrap heap and help them regain their dominance or attain their potential.
In short, wer’ve seen this franchise do it all, from pulling off coup trades for a Hart/Vezina goaltender or a dominant Irish winger to drafting superstars in the 7th round. So, we will not be down, we will not declare fealty to the Pens or Gary.Ass or Thid. We will not willingly cede the title of dominance because one year, one series does not erase 12 years of league dominance. You are the City of Champions this year and again I say kudos to you for that. But, the Wings have won more Cups than all the Pittsburgh teams combined have won titles in the past 12 years. To me, that still makes this place Hockeytown.
The Wings and their fans will be ready next year. Some players (and fans) will be better for this experience, all wiser and that just makes the team that much more dangerous. So, again I say enjoy the summer. You’ve got 15 more years of making the playoffs, four more Finals appearances and three more Cups in the next 11 years for the Pens to equal what the Wings have done in that same span.
Posted by wingsfan31 from Toledo, OH on 06/14/09 at 12:51 PM ET
excellent !!!!
Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:32 PM ET
Posted by The Other Saler from Wyoming, Mi on 06/14/09 at 11:23 PM ET
Great post. And I love that you quoted one of my favorite former Wings, Kozlov. That man could be streaky as hell, but he was a tough son of a bitch, with a mean streak if someone pissed him off.
Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 06/14/09 at 10:48 PM ET
It really lets you know how great the Wings really are when you see how happy it makes everyone else when they lose.
Thanks to all the haters for letting us know how great you really think our team is through your blind rage.
Posted by John W. from Lansing, MI on 06/14/09 at 11:08 PM ET
Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:54 PM ET
Rafalski didn’t look like himself most of the series. He made far more subtle errors than in the past, as well as a few big ones. I don’t have a problem “demoting” him to D pairing 1B.
Raffy was suffering from a herniated disk ... having back problems myself I think explains a lot. I cannot imagine playing hockey with that kind of pain
Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/14/09 at 10:57 PM ET
((quote:Gary Bettman’s comments—as in nothing about the Red Wings, save, “It takes a champion to beat a champion.” It’s traditional for the commissioner to congratulate both teams and both teams’ owners, and he completely ignored both the Wings and Mike and Marian Ilitch.
Bettman oozed thanks to the owners of the new Cup winners, “for saving the Pittsburgh Penguins.” Apparently Detroit owner Mike Ilitch was unmoved; after Bettman failed to acknowledge the Wings in his Cup presentation speech, Ilitch kept walking past the commissioner as Bettman stuck out his hand under the stands. - George Malik - Snapshots blog))
Posted by MsRedWingFan from West Michigan on 06/14/09 at 11:16 PM ET
A herniated disk is tough, sure. But a partially torn MCL in the knee has to be a lot more painful.
Posted by meecrofilm on 06/14/09 at 11:20 PM ET
Anything interesting about this picture?
It’s the dump in that lead to the first goal in Game 7.
Posted by From Inside Zetterberg's beard on 06/14/09 at 11:27 PM ET
ok…well here’s to next year.
Players i’d like to replace… Lebda, Rafalski ,Stuart, Sammy, Cheli…
Posted by dave from berkley mi on 06/14/09 at 11:28 PM ET
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Protocol.From the very first Cup awarded to the last. It is the absolute first thing on the list after the game ends. The Cup will be with the Penguins until the beginning of the new season. No excuse what so ever.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 06/14/09 at 08:09 PM ET