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NHL PLayoffs 2009

#481
Allow my ignorant self to make some comments......

Things look pretty even across the board in the NHL from my eyes. Keep in mind I have only been closely following the NHL for about three years now, and a casual fan before then. I follow the entire NHL now instead of just one or two teams.

I don't think the Pens or Wings are vastly superior to anyone else in the NHL. Detroit didn't get good by "buying" players from poor teams or ripping off other teams in trades. Same with the Pens. We even let a few of our better guys go and still maintained status quo.

Like warwick said....no team can step on the ice in the NHL and say "we got this". Heck...look at this years playoffs.....the Ducks and Canes proved it. When I compare that to the NFL, MLB, or the NBA, the opposite is true. There are teams in those sports who just plain suck and always will. There are even games that are considered "given" when the season starts. None of that here in the NHL.

The Wings and Pens are in the Finals because they fought their way here with good coaching, player development, and skilled players. The Wings and Pens players buy into the system their coaches are selling, and that is a huge factor. Does it help to have the likes of Franzen, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Lidstrom on your team? Sure does. But it doesn't gaurantee anything. You put Kobe, LeBron, Dwight Howard, KG, and Paul on one team and there is your NBA champs as long as they stay together....end of story.

Now before you get all excited and tear my comments apart....remember I'm still a newbie to the NHL.

-Mike
 
#482
I still miss "The Russian 5".

Federov, Kozlov, Fetisov, Larianov, and Konstantinov. Man, you saw some pretty skating and passing when those guys were in.

Vladdy will always be my all time favorite player. That guy was a badass through and through.

GO WINGS!
 
#483
I think your assessment is on the money Mike. Maybe before the salary cap there were truly dominant teams...The Red Wings and The Av's stand out in my mind from the early 2000's, but don't quote me.

Of the 4 teams that brought up the caboose in standings during the regular season this year only the Thrasher haven't hoisted the Stanley Cup...Even TB has a Stanley Cup.
 
#484
cheezewiz said:
I still miss "The Russian 5".

Federov, Kozlov, Fetisov, Larianov, and Konstantinov. Man, you saw some pretty skating and passing when those guys were in.

Vladdy will always be my all time favorite player. That guy was a badass through and through.

GO WINGS!
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Yeah Vladdy was one of my faves too. I remember watching Sports Center, back when ESPN actually talked about hockey, and hearing about the limo accident. I felt like I got a phone call about a family member being in the hospital. I scoured all over the TV, since I didn't have internet, looking for news. Man that sucked.

Come to think of it, Detroit's had a few things happen to them. Remember Jiri Fischer? That man was a great defenseman and he could scrap. I remember a fight where he took out Scott Hartnell. Made him look stupid in front everyone. Here's the link:

 
#485
One thing I'd like to see is a change back to the old format of 1 vs. 16; 2 vs. 15; etc. Conferences be damned! I liked that much better than having to fight out of your own Conference every year. Every year it seems to be the same path through the playoffs.

Yeah, I know that that's how it's done in all the major sports, but hockey was always a different world altogether. In the old format, you'd get a lot of very interesting match-ups with teams playing against teams they had not seen a lot of during the regular season. Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way, but I preferred the old way...
 
#486
What's with all the Hossa hate in Pittsburg?

He played there 1/3 of a season. They are acting like he was born and raised there, then turned his back on them. He never said anything bad about the city or the organization when he left. If anything, he should be cheered for turning down money and playing for less somewhere he feels he would fit in better.
 
#487
Bad Brains said:
What's with all the Hossa hate in Pittsburg?
Click to expand...

Where are you getting it from?

A lot of fans felt a little burned when he left for the team that beat us in the Finals. Heck, you'd feel the same if Zetterberg or Franzen signed with the team that beat you in the Finals just a few months after the fact. Plus, Hossa was a great addition to the team and community. I think we were all hoping he would stick around and help guide us to the Finals again. As it turns out, we didn't need him for that after all. :D

As a person from Pittsurgh, I can tell you the fans get emotionally attached to their players right away. I'm not saying we are the only fans like that in the world, but it is a little unique in Pittsburgh as to the level of attachment.

-Mike
 
#488
MJ5150 said:
Where are you getting it from?

A lot of fans felt a little burned when he left for the team that beat us in the Finals. Heck, you'd feel the same if Zetterberg or Franzen signed with the team that beat you in the Finals just a few months after the fact. Plus, Hossa was a great addition to the team and community. I think we were all hoping he would stick around and help guide us to the Finals again. As it turns out, we didn't need him for that after all. :D

As a person from Pittsurgh, I can tell you the fans get emotionally attached to their players right away. I'm not saying we are the only fans like that in the world, but it is a little unique in Pittsburgh as to the level of attachment.

-Mike
Click to expand...

It's been in the news here. Reports out of Pittsburg is that Hossa is being attacked on his decision. Plus, during a regular season game played in Pittsburgh, Hossa was booed every time he touched the puck.

If Franzen or Zetterburg left for the team that beat us in the finals, it would be a different story because they were drafted and developed here.

Hossa was nothing more than a rent-a-player for the Penguins last 1/3 season. I don't see a reason to boo him. I'm assuming it's mostly fake outrage and in good fun.

Either way, it makes the series funner and more interesting. The NHL benefits from this. This is a very interesting match up.
 
#489
Bad Brains said:
.....during a regular season game played in Pittsburgh, Hossa was booed every time he touched the puck.

I'm assuming it's mostly fake outrage and in good fun.
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I remember the booing in that game in February, but it did not last all game long.

Nothing fake about it. My uncle is still disappointed he left, as are a few other people I know. People in the Burgh latched on to Hossa and were really hoping he would re-sign with us. I understand he didn't owe the city of Pittsburgh anything, but it was still the same emotions as getting dumped by your S/O for your best friend.

I'll admit it....I was really bummed when I heard he left. I went to both Red Wings games in Vancouver this year. I cheered louder for Hossa than anyone else, at the same time feeling sad that he wasn't still one of "us".

I'll be happy for him if he gets to hoist the Cup this year.

-Mike
 
#490
I'm sure it was a bummer he didn't decide to stay. But I still don't get the booing. He didn't do anything. The people of Edmonton should be more pissed, he turned down something like 80-million to play in Detroit.

Same example is with Chicago. Every time Chelios plays there he get's booed, but Chicago traded him here!
 
#491
Yeah...Danny Briere get's booed in Montreal and Buffalo...seriously...he's like the meekest guy in the league.

Any reason to throw out the boo birds...Every game I've ever been to; the zebras get booed as soon as they hit the ice...

Yeah Flyer Fans boo Cindy Crosby, but to me there is a legit reason....it's called a rivalry...

And just so you know....they were Eagle fans who booed Santa Claus, not Flyer fans. =)
 
#492
Bad Brains said:
I'm sure it was a bummer he didn't decide to stay. But I still don't get the booing. He didn't do anything. The people of Edmonton should be more pissed, he turned down something like 80-million to play in Detroit.

Same example is with Chicago. Every time Chelios plays there he get's booed, but Chicago traded him here!
Click to expand...

An example of a guy like Hossa is Brendan Shanahan. He played for the Whalers, came to Detroit, won a couple of cups, and then high tailed it to New York. When he plays in Detroit people still cheer for him because he was a significant part of the Stanley Cup wins we had when he played for us and the fans know that. I still like the guy even though he's a freakin' Ranger. It's all about respect and I remember Shanahan beating the crap out of guys to protect Yzerman. He was a great teammate and even up to today, he still gets respect at the Joe.
 
#493
Bad Brains said:
I'm sure it was a bummer he didn't decide to stay. But I still don't get the booing. He didn't do anything. The people of Edmonton should be more pissed, he turned down something like 80-million to play in Detroit.

Same example is with Chicago. Every time Chelios plays there he get's booed, but Chicago traded him here!
Click to expand...

The thing with Chelios, when he was younger he actually made the statement that he absolutely hates Detroit and would NEVER play there even if they traded him to the Red Wings. Lo and behold he gets traded there and is still playing there. They don't really boo him any more though.
 
#494
capnsandwich said:
An example of a guy like Hossa is Brendan Shanahan. He played for the Whalers, came to Detroit, won a couple of cups, and then high tailed it to New York. When he plays in Detroit people still cheer for him because he was a significant part of the Stanley Cup wins we had when he played for us and the fans know that. I still like the guy even though he's a freakin' Ranger. It's all about respect and I remember Shanahan beating the crap out of guys to protect Yzerman. He was a great teammate and even up to today, he still gets respect at the Joe.
Click to expand...

He's on the Devils now. Again.
 
#498
warwick.hoy said:
From what I know it wasn't even the scheduled santa,...just some skinny drunk guy from the stands.
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I might be wrong, but I remember watching a documentary one time about the rabid Philly fans. They interviewed several people about the "Santa Incident", including the Santa himself. I seem to remember that he had actually been hired, and wasn't just a drunken fan in a Santa suit. But again, my memory is not what it used to be... :hiding:
 
#499
Bad Brains said:
It's been in the news here. Reports out of Pittsburg is that Hossa is being attacked on his decision. Plus, during a regular season game played in Pittsburgh, Hossa was booed every time he touched the puck.
...
Click to expand...

In all fairness, the first couple times Sergei Federov came back to JLA with the Sharks, he got booed every time he touched the puck. In a way, it's a term of endearment or at least a grudging respect for the player's skill. Nobody boos a marginal player when he comes back with his new team.
 

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