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Vacation Deferred
by IwoCPO on 06/18/08 at 08:00 AM ET
Comments (75)
So I stayed away 4 days. I think that’s pretty good. And I’d expected to ignore you longer, but three factors forced my hand.
First, the girls at Pensblog said hurtful things.
Secondly, the Professor’s in the Hall, where he belongs.
And third, Denver’s foiled again. And this one’s funny.
Let’s go in inverse order, because I’m just crazy like that. I see the bitterness hasn’t ended in Denver, the land of hockey ignorance and little bitches who can’t stand to consider the way their little team has been violated repeatedly by The Dynasty.
And before we get into this and the sobs begin out west, let me repeat. I’m not angry at Denver. I just don’t like you and I find this beyond funny.
We have two more honorary members of the A2Y 19, along with the “emo” in Pittsburgh. Their names are Mike Timmer and Russel Hebets.
You’ve read about these two. Timmer tossed the Octopus in Denver during Game 4. Remember 4? That was the night the Wings blew the doors off the Dive to sweep that series. I’ll say it again in case the Denver fans or bloggers were wiping their eyes when they read it. Sweep that series. Anyway. Timmer tossed the ‘pus and received a citation from the DPD shrivs.
The Denver cops cited our boy Timmer for “throwing stones or missiles”. Interesting they’d lop those two together. Personally, I’ve seen both projectiles used in places far worse than Denver and I’d take the stone, if given the choice. But that’s just me.
“It was ridiculous,” he said.
Sure was. But that’s Denver. Candy ass Denver. In walks Hebets, a “transplant” from Dearborn. And isn’t that classic. One Wing fan turns to another to burn the Dive faithful. in Denver. I frigging love that. So Hebets, because he’s one of us, represented Timmer for free. Timmer gets off, so to speak, and everyone’s happy. Except for the HDID, the hockey dumb in Denver. Oh. The angst.
Have I told you how much I love being a Wing fan?
Next. Pensblog. The bastards. I get an email from them the other day, telling me that as long as I’m on vacation, they’re going to blast me. I respect that. But they’re clearly still fretting over a series that should have ended in 5 (eh, boys?), and they decided to fire at least one more shot over the A2Y bow. Effective.
In their season recap, they brought up their introduction of “Charlie”, hero to the Pensblog masses. In the process they found a way to work The Chief into the mix. Disturbing.
Now, while I appreciate the wit I couldn’t let it go unanswered. It’s just not in my nature. So we immediately launched a counter-investigation. And what we’ve found? Good god no.
I have no confirmation on this, but sources indicate Darren Garcia has migrated east, apparently offered a permanent position on the Pensblog “Staff”. Again. Not confirmed, but that’s the word on the street. A2Y interns are researching and I’ll follow up soon.
Finally. We get to the serious stuff. Claude Lemieux will be forever remembered as the piece of trash, turtling, cheap-shotting pansy that he was. We accept and revel in that. But the Wings, I suspect, understood that he wasn’t any real danger. He was a fruit fly, a nuisance. The real threat? Floppa. The golden boy. He owned us in ‘96, well before Lemieux’s head hunting. Not only was Forsberg’s talent a problem, but he was physical, and he was—naturally—a cheap shot artist and a diver.
Igor Larionov, maybe one of the smartest hockey players to ever live, understood that. He understood that if there was one player who required neutering, it was Forsberg. If there was one guy who’s discomfort could lift Wing spirits, it was Floppa. So he did something about it. March 26th, 1997 (thanks PaulinMiami). Igor, outweighed by more than a few pounds, probably never in a fight in his NHL career, took on Stamp Boy and The Brawl ensued. We’ll remember Mac’s destruction of Lemieux and Shanny’s frigging beautiful flying slam of Patty. But, we also won’t forget it was The Professor who saw an opportunity and did something about it.
The OT goal in ‘02? Icing on the cake. His adoption of Datsyuk and the lessons we’ll never know the extent of? More to appreciate.
But to me, and considering my feelings for the Dive and all things Denver, it will always be the smarts and the courage it took to pave the path to Cup #8. And how appropriate is that?
I guess I’ll go back on vacation now.
And I frigging mean it bitches.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Tags: A2Y19, datsyuk, forsberg, HDID, larionov, mccarty, shanahan, tossing+'pus, turtles,
Comments
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Hey! I already made that prediction- for all seven rounds!
*buzzer*
Sorry, incorrect. Detroit doesn’t have a pick in the second round right now - and they might pick up a couple of North American kids, too! 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/20/08 at 08:37 AM ET
Even if my draft picks don’t pan out, Tiger Woods will always be a pompous ass.
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/20/08 at 08:41 AM ET
reading about larionov gave me chills…you are dead on with your assessment of his career…the smartest player of his era clearly…I loved when that guy would score and the ot goal was the most important one of his career. What an amazing player. I kinda forgot about him over the past few years. Thanks for bringing back the memories.
Posted by yzer19man from Chicago on 06/20/08 at 11:26 AM ET
I was like, “huh? where’s Igor?” and I scrolled down to see that I got pwned.
ass
Posted by Osrt on 06/20 at 05:12 AM
LMAO. Nothing like getting RickRolled. One of the most random and gay videos of all time. What’s up with the bartender with red suspenders and short-shorts bouncing off the fence and doing back flips, and Rick’s shadow clapping, WTF? OSRT you are the first person I’ve ever “RickRolled”. Enjoy!
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/20/08 at 05:10 PM ET
What’s it like for displaced Red Wing fans ? This is why we do stupid shit like this:
A guy in a red Dodge pickup sees the inflammatory license plate above and pulls up next to me on I-295 outside Fort Lee, VA today, and held his Red Wings window flag outside with his left hand buffeting in the wind while our vehicles do a dance at 65 mph, then he exits the same as me on US 10, slows down ahead of me, pulls over slowly to the left lane right in front of a red Chevy, really pissing the driver off in the process, I pull up on the guy’s right and through his open passenger window he’s holding up some random black “FEDOROV” poster, Sergei in front and behind him some long black hair lady in a Red Wings jersey. I’d never seen it. In the meantime we’ve slowed the traffic down to about 25 mph while I hold up my Red Wings window flag while people are beginning to honk behind us.
Shortly I turn off left to my house and my daughter captures the essence of the long lost, displaced Red Wings fan, “The creepiest thing is that he was driving around in his pickup with a Fedorov poster waiting to show off to somebody.”
That is how we roll, bitches.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/20/08 at 05:34 PM ET
Condolences, Iwo. There goes your boy Olli to Phoenix.
Posted by Pete K from Chicago, IL on 06/20/08 at 06:19 PM ET
7:59 pm ET - It’s now officially “The Summer of Stanley”!!
Congrats Red Wings fans, you deserve it.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/20/08 at 07:00 PM ET
Is it just me or was that Ollie Jokinen trade three dimes for a quarter?
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/20/08 at 07:20 PM ET
Another goalie for GR to replace Howie for the Wings first pick. Now if it were Millen running the show, they would’ve drafted another defenseman!
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 06/20/08 at 11:36 PM ET
Since when do we really draft netminders? Don’t we buy them off the clearance rack? Sure several have worked out, but they’ve mostly been blue-light specials.
Does this say no confidence in Howard long term or is it just a case of taking the best player available? At the very least, I’d say the chances of signing Ryan Miller just went down even more.
I have no trouble with the idea of developing a franchise goalie one of these years, but it’s just not the way we’ve operated.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 06/20/08 at 11:58 PM ET
Nate, I completely agree. We don’t have much of a tradition of developing great goalies, and the last really good one to make it through our system was Ozzie…a while ago. Hoping Jimmy Howard can be the next one. And I guess the organization is trying to change things, because good franchise goalies don’t come cheap, whereas roleplayers up front generally do. I’d rather not go back to the bad old days of the rotating cast of netminders—sure, we won three Stanley Cups that way, but do you really want ANOTHER Backup Bob trade in the future? I never saw much chance of us going for Miller, and I see even less now.
George says that this was more a case of taking the best player still available, and I kind of agree, but I’m wondering where exactly Kirill Petrov is going—no way we’re getting him at the end of the third round. I don’t think it’s a vote of no confidence in Howard—after all, even the best goalies take four to five years to develop properly. I also liked this simile:
...For a team that attempts to score on Nicklas Lidstrom-on-Dan Ellis shots, McCollum is the Tomas Holmstrom empty-netter from three feet out.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Ken Holland's shoulder, whispering in his ear on 06/21/08 at 02:04 AM ET
Makes sense to me. The later rounds will be used for true mining of skaters, but for now, this is good.
This kid, especially in the Wings’ slow system, is quite a few years from playing in the NHL. Should Howard be the guy when Ozzie retires, (needs a nick name quick) McCollum will battle for the number 1 position and/ or be a solid back up. I’m excited about seeing this kid develop; hell, he may turn out to be another horrible goalie who just happens to help us win three cups.
Everyone reacted with surprise when the draft was announced, me included. DC nearly wet himself. Keep them/us guessing Kenny; that’s why we’re “Draft royalty.” 
btw. It was nice to see a whole slew of defenseman go early in the draft, but DC kept bringing up Raffy; as in, “oh, he’s a Rafalski type defenseman.” And, generally, the commentary kept emphasizing “how crucial puck moving defenseman are; this is a guy who will be able to push the attack up to the forwards.”
In a few years, they’ll be talking about the need for a goalie who makes key saves, but doesn’t need to steal games. A goalie who can keep his focus despite lack of activity and glamor.
So, who will the Wings pick 30th next year?
Posted by Osrt on 06/21/08 at 05:10 AM ET
something nobody mentioned…the possibility of the Wings trading McCollum for picks in the remaining rounds.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/21/08 at 10:35 AM ET
Is it just me or was that Ollie Jokinen trade three dimes for a quarter?
More like a dime, a nickel and a penny. Florida should have been able to get a much better return than that.
Love the move to draft McCallum. Some good goalies available, that’s our weakest position in terms of prospect depth, and #30 to #91 is long wait to not be able to take anyone. I expected Kenny to deal our first rounder for some later picks, but as the first round wore on I started to think he would take a goalie with the pick. Positioning and especially rebound control are excellent qualities in a young goalie. He’s also played a lot of games in the O for an 18-year old goalie, after not even being drafted into the O.
Posted by WingInTO from Toronto on 06/21/08 at 10:41 AM ET
A dime, a nickel, and a penny. Awesome.
Anyone else think this Thomas McCollum guy looks eerily like a young John Ennis? If there are any Mr. Show fans out there we should be able to come up with a pretty good nickname.
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/21/08 at 11:36 AM ET
Here they go again, drafting a totally unknown Swede at #121.
Here is his profile on the scouting report.
http://www.nhlentrydraft2008.com/featuredPlayersDetails.aspx?type=sel&page=profile&playerID=4012
Absolutely hilarious.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/21/08 at 11:41 AM ET
Hopefully he spells it NyQuist.
Capital N, small y, Huge Freaking Q! The Q is talking to me, the Q is talking to me!
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/21/08 at 01:09 PM ET
That image of Ericsson is perfect. He’s huge, is protecting the puck and has a very calm look on his face as he looks to move it up.
just thought I’d share
Posted by Osrt on 06/22/08 at 03:19 AM ET
That image of Ericsson is perfect. He’s huge, is protecting the puck and has a very calm look on his face as he looks to move it up.
Posted by Osrt on 06/22 at 04:19 AM
Ericccssson looks about 3 times as big as the other player behind him.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/22/08 at 10:22 AM ET
Posted by Osrt on 06/22 at 04:19 AM
And just WHAT in THE Hell were you doing on this blog at 4:19 a.m. Up early? Not gone to bed yet? WTF Hoser?
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/22/08 at 10:25 AM ET
Hi Dad
yes, I’m breaking curfew again 
women were involved so you can forgive me
Posted by Osrt on 06/22/08 at 04:08 PM ET
Awww, the hag in Raleigh has a wide-on for the Chief. How cute.
Posted by O-Joe on 06/25/08 at 05:02 PM ET
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Hey! I already made that prediction- for all seven rounds!
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 06/20/08 at 06:38 AM ET