Kukla's Korner Hockey
Fans Share Their Hopes, Pain & Questions Too
by Paul on 03/31/09 at 08:50 AM ET
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I receive around 500 emails a week and most of them are from hockey fans who want to express their feelings on our great game.
Here is a sampling of those emails and I will be pointing to this blog post in my NHL.com article today, so feel free to add your comments & questions too.
from John, a St. Louis Blues fan for over 30 years,
I’ve been a St Louis fan since 1967 and this playoff run since the break has to rank as #1 up to this point. For all practical purposes, this team has been in playoff mode since the Boston game just before Christmas. That is where the season turned for the Blues.
Think where they could be in the standings if they hadn’t lost nearly 400 man days to injury. Not injury of just any players, but most of the defense and key front line offense. Even if the hole dug the first half of the season due to these injuries turns out to be too deep to climb into a playoff spot, the future is very bright for next season.
If John Davidson is smart, he will lock up the kid line in early long term contracts. These kids are the real deal and they own the third period. The line of Berglund, Peron and Oshie is phenomenal with high skill and energy. Oshie for his size is a horse. He can take hits and has pancaked guys 50 lbs bigger while he is carrying the puck! Peron is stick handler with GORILLA GLUE on his stick. Berglund is a sniper coming into his own with some of the best goalies in the league notched on his tick.Andy Murray has his team is playing the most complete and consistent hockey in the league since the break. They just keep plugging along and find ways to win games. If they make the playoffs and Mason can stay healthy, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
This BLUES TEAM since the break, is the one of if not the strongest BLUES TEAM I’ve ever seen since"67"even though they might not have the most individual stars of any BLUES TEAM I’ve watched. They are playing a great system and are getting stronger every game. More importantly they are starting to out work more importantly out play teams above them in the standings. The upcoming week will be a test, but I beleive this TEAM is the real deal and will pass the test. What has been great to watch is the vetrans set the tone and the kids finish off the oponents.
The players have a “hard hat” they award to the hardest working team player after games. It’s very appropriate because they are playing hard nose in your face hockey. LET’S GO BLUES!!!!
from Luc, formerly from Northern Ontario and now living in Chicago,
Hey Paul,
Miss seeing you in uniform - particularly on the Predators’ power play with you and Sully parked on opposite sides of the goal line!
Anyway, as a 31 year old hockey player, I’m not sure what to make of my taping the ankles debate. From watching games on t.v., it seems as though guys like Holdstrom (Detroit) and Keith (Chicago) tape up pretty heavily. Watching some college hockey recently, it appears as though younger players are going without ankle tape. I can obviously see the benefits of going without tape to get a better snap, but man, my stability is so off I can barely skate! (I skate in a pair of 705 Grafs - very good condition). If you suggest still taping the ankles, where should I place it and how tight?
Thanks for your input - hope this may inspire an article on the state of ankle tape. The internet doesn’t seem to have any entries on this topic at this time. Maybe you can shed some light.
from FonJu of Elk Grove, CA,
Hi Paul, I grew up a Bruins fan, lived in MA. from 1969 to 1982. I moved to Northern California in 1982. In 1989 an outfit run by the Gunds (Bay Area Hockey) sent out a request to hockey fans to send in $100 deposit for each season ticket the individual wanted. I sent in $200 and for the first long hard years of Sharks hockey I was a season ticket holder.
So here I am almots twenty years of bring a Sharks fan and 40 years of being a Bruins fan. This has been a great year as a fan of both. The best final would be to see these two teams against each other but I honestly believe that neither one will make it. San Jose as powerful as they are does not have the “Teeth” to get it done. They should be picking it up and pounding opponents. But either they are too tired (long season) or simply don’t care. They have not looked good in the last 6 weeks or so.
The Bruins are too young right now, this will be a good year for experience under belt, watch out next year this team is for real. And so are the Sharks but until they want it bad enough they will always underachieve.
I hope I’m wrong and one of these teams surprises me. I pray I’m wrong about both of them.
I could use some help on this one, feel free to answer some of Alexander’s (Александр) questions.
Good day, Mr. Paul Kukla!
I like your articles and do really find them sometimes thrilling, informative and able to stir up our minds. I truly love the NHL since there is a bunch of great and unsurpassed Russian players who just skyrocket the league to the new horizons and image (chiefly about Ovechkin’s celebration and all that staff). Queer as might seem and sound, I even carry out my degree paper at my University based on North American leagues (club names, club slogans and club home arenas).
That is why, I would appreciate your opinion about them because what Russian sports correspondents say about them is merely one side of the concept, while I want objectiveness.
To your mind, what is the best Russian player of all times?What do you think about highly probable Winter Olympics Hockey Final Russia-Canada? What are the key personalities on both sides?
Finally, without determination to bend your ears and fingers, what is your opinion about Ovechkin’s celebrations and 50-plus goals a season?Terribly sorry, but here I can not but ask once more - when was it easier to score - now or 20 years ago?
I believe these are the questions that do count now and, in fact, surely will during some time.
Thank you in advance for your attention and time.and concern.
I would appreciate your reply.
from Mike in Ontario,
Just wondering why Ilitch has not yet retired Norm’ Ullman’s (Wiki) sweater? His stats are outstanding? He’s a great guy, I know him personally. He still plays every Wed. night at the age of 72 and kicks our butt all the time.
Cheers…
from a Loyal Caucks Fan,
Luongo was highly touted when he came to the Canucks but he does not seem to have the consistency of being the very best of the best in my opinion.
Since his groin injury and return to play it seems he is making some excellent saves but he also lets in the odd soft goal too. Could it be he does not want to tweak his groin again so he is not going full out like he useto…where are those timely saves and shutout streaks we were seeing…maybe he has peaked and we have seen his best.
from Lynn, The Texas Winger,
Kuklameister,
Tell me now; isn’t it your fantasy to see Brodeur in the nets of a 7th game finals at the Joe? Oh yeah 3rd overtime too?
from Tony, a fan of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
You as a Red Wings fan must be shaking in your boots knowing there is no way the Wings could beat the Blue Jackets in a best of seven series. Our time has come, Detroit goes down!
Feel free to let Maria, a new hockey fan from Alaska, know what sites you visit.
Mr. K, I am just a new hockey fan and want to follow the game on a daily basis. Can you suggest what hockey websites and blogs I could read to be better informed?
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