Gotta go with the ABC theory.  Anybody but Calgary

Posted by Trevor from Edmonton on 04/13/09 at 02:16 PM ET

Where is option d - No One.

I think that most fans would rather see the Cup stay in the States than for it to go to one of their rivals. Personally, I can think of nothing worse than any of those teams winning especially a franchise whose fanbase mocks us with chants of 1967 when they have never won a Cup despite being in the league since 1970.

Posted by Pension Plan Puppets on 04/13/09 at 02:36 PM ET

Trevor -- Good way to live!  And incidentally, after that game against Calgary the other day, I myself hold a soft-spot for your Oilers. So I’ll try and remember that come next season when I’m considering cursing them.

PPP -- Sorry I didn’t give you that option; didn’t think of that.  But I wouldn’t take the mocking of Canucks fans too seriously; it’s a coping mechanism (as you say, we’ve been sputtering along since 1970… that’s a lot of pain to carry around!).So I think we just mock teams we’re jealous of. For instance, I’m inclined to mock every team in the NHL most of the time. (Except, perhaps, Tampa. Sometimes teasing is just plain cruel...)

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 04/13/09 at 02:53 PM ET

But I wouldn’t take the mocking of Canucks fans too seriously

Oh, we don’t

(Except, perhaps, Tampa. Sometimes teasing is just plain cruel...)

It would be tantamout to laughing while pulling the wings off of a fly.

Plus...they have a Stanley Cup!

Posted by Pension Plan Puppets on 04/13/09 at 02:59 PM ET

Why nationalize it? If you were hoping a certain team did not win the Cup from October until late-March, why all of the sudden change? For nationalistic reasons?

Isn’t that what Canadians criticize Americans for, hyper-nationalism? Blind jingoism?

It is what it is. If your team is out, then too bad. Get an early jump on your golf game.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste. Marie on 04/13/09 at 03:06 PM ET

Red Winger - BINGO! It’s a terrible argument that people make. It was at it’s worst in 2007 when the Ducks had an almost entirely Canadian roster against the senators.

Also, the Cup is in Canada year-round. People just have to travel to the Centre of the Universe to see it.

Posted by Pension Plan Puppets on 04/13/09 at 03:10 PM ET

Speaking of ”The Center of the Universe”, anyone know what time Luke Schenn teed off today?

(feels slight twinge of guilt for mocking Leafs fans, who are, once again, spending the second week of April in mourning)

(the above isn’t true, I can’t lie)

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste. Marie on 04/13/09 at 03:14 PM ET

Speaking of ”The Center of the Universe”, anyone know what time Luke Schenn teed off today?

Our Luke and Saviour won’t be teeing off until the first forward tries to get past him at the Worlds.

Posted by Pension Plan Puppets on 04/13/09 at 03:16 PM ET

PPP—“Plus...they have a Stanley Cup!”

Oh man. Do we really have to count that? Does anybody?!  (Okay, now I guess I’ve mocked them. That’s just cruel.)

Red Winger—You make a good point, but I don’t think it comes entirely out of hyper-nationalism. In part I think it’s just that we’re so exposed to every Canadian team, all the time. (One of the residual benefits/evils of Hockey Night in Canada, maybe.) And so somewhere along the way, we sorta develop soft spots for other Canadian teams.

However in my case, my own soft spots are only for Eastern Conference teams. Anytime I see another WC Canadian team in the playoffs (when the Canucks are golfing) I get bitter and annoyed and just want them all to go down in flames. 

I’m not a very benevolent hockey fan.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 04/13/09 at 03:18 PM ET

Interesting how Leaf fans (who would be the first to rub it in (if they could)) claim they are not bothered by the mocking/ridicule of others......then why bring it up?  Why? Because a Leaf fan sees the survey you have put up, and just can’t believe the Leafs aren’t on the list (even though they didn’t even make the playoffs), and then claim Canadians shouldn’t cheer for a Canadian team to bring the cup home, even if they are not a fan of the team.  What a crock.  If Toronto ever makes the playoffs again (according to Ron Wilson sometime in the 2010’s), their first proclamation will no doubt be “let’s bring the cup back to Canada”, when they really mean Toronto.

The most pathetic thing I have seen in recent hockey memory (couple of years ago) was when they rolled out (some literally) the surviving members of the 1967 Leafs cup winner prior to a game at the ACC.  Toronto fans started chanting we want the cup.....knowing full well there was a snowballs chance in hell....but because it is Toronto, they probably think the Leafs should get a bye to the final or just be given the cup once in a while.  Seems ironic that the cup resides in Toronto most of the year.  Maybe that’s why they’re cursed (read horrible).

On the other hand, we will all be Canadiens in January 2010, won’t we?. 

Vent completed.

Posted by Martin from Victoria on 04/13/09 at 04:31 PM ET

I’ve been saying it all year, I don’t think the Canucks are poised for a lengthy playoff run.  I’ve been hoping for the Canucks to bomb a bit in hopes of being in the tavares sweepstakes.(hodgson and tavares 1-2 punch *drool) The Canucks have stepped it up as of late, but I’m not too sure how long it will last.  Well since we are in the playoffs, I’ll root for my team all the way till they get knocked out in the second round.  Hope I’m not being too pessimestic here. 
The only way I see us passing the sharks or wings, is if the sharks injury troubles continue, or osnotsogood maintains his horrible goaltending this season and does not up his game to last years playoff standards.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 04/13/09 at 05:19 PM ET

Martin from Victoria - Leave it to someone from the West Coast to vent about Toronto. No Napoleon complex there

Interesting how Leaf fans (who would be the first to rub it in (if they could)) claim they are not bothered by the mocking/ridicule of others......then why bring it up?  Why?

Because I find it humourous that Canucks fans mock the Leafs for not doing something in a long time that they have never done.

What a crock. 

So you’re saying that you’d cheer for a rival to win the Stanley Cup? If so then I am not sure if you know how sports work.

If Toronto ever makes the playoffs again (according to Ron Wilson sometime in the 2010’s), their first proclamation will no doubt be “let’s bring the cup back to Canada”, when they really mean Toronto.

You might hear it since you hear it from every other idiotic fanbase that has delusions of grandeur. It might break your heart to hear but if the Leafs ever make the playoffs again I think most Leaf fans would agree that we’ll be ok for numbers without having to beg the rest of the country to cheer them on.

The most pathetic thing I have seen in recent hockey memory (couple of years ago) was when they rolled out (some literally) the surviving members of the 1967 Leafs cup winner prior to a game at the ACC.

Yeah, we should all forget history as soon as it passes. Unless we’re Oilers fans and then it’s okay to continue running the team as if it’s the 80s or we’re most Canucks fans and we think that we actually have any meaningful history beyond a string of hideous jerseys. 

Toronto fans started chanting we want the cup.....knowing full well there was a snowballs chance in hell....but because it is Toronto, they probably think the Leafs should get a bye to the final or just be given the cup once in a while.

Are you even trying to make any sense? I don’t think fans were chanting for the cup in February so much as telling management that they could care less about history and want a Cup now. 

Seems ironic that the cup resides in Toronto most of the year.  Maybe that’s why they’re cursed (read horrible).

You know, England keeps the Ashes even when Australia wins it and English reporters have brought the same thing up. Maybe it would be extra encouragement for the Leafs to win. But if you’re right then why are the Canucks usually horrible?

On the other hand, we will all be Canadiens in January 2010, won’t we?. 

Only among the mittenstringers and those that need validation.

Posted by Pension Plan Puppets on 04/13/09 at 05:33 PM ET

Luongo-is-my-hero - With the best goalie in the West the Canucks are a threat to come out of the conference. They’ve also been the best team since February right? I’d have a little more confiednce in them.

Posted by Pension Plan Puppets on 04/13/09 at 05:34 PM ET

I don’t know about Canada but, since neither Seattle nor Portland have teams, that leaves the Canucks as the only team for Cascadia. So, I gotta back them—after my hometown Red Wings of course.

Posted by voline from Portland, Oregon on 04/13/09 at 06:11 PM ET

Hey Pee Pee Pee

I know the truth hurts, so put whatever typical eastern revisionist spin you want on others comments.  Just win sometime and we’ll talk.  Until then you just come across as “know it all” also ran with a big mouth.

Posted by Martin from Victoria on 04/13/09 at 08:34 PM ET

I know the truth hurts, so put whatever typical eastern revisionist spin you want on others comments.

I thought Western insecurity was a myth!

Just win sometime and we’ll talk. 

You’re a Canucks fan and telling me that we’ll talk after the Leafs win something? Well, at least I can’t say that you don’t have a sense of humour.

Until then you just come across as “know it all” also ran with a big mouth.

Not sure I can type what you come across as on this site

Posted by Pension Plan Puppets on 04/13/09 at 08:50 PM ET

I don’t think PPP has ever claimed NOT to have a big mouth. 

I don’t “automatically” switch alliances if my team is knocked out - but sometimes there are other teams I like that I follow a little bit, as secondary options.  Once any teams I’m interested are out of the playoffs entirely, I don’t bother watching.

Of those three teams, Vancouver has the best chance to advance past the first round, so anyone looking for a Canadian team purely to cheer for as long as possible should follow the Canucks.  Although the drama surrounding Montreal can’t be bettered - it’s like a soap opera on ice.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/14/09 at 05:37 AM ET