The 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Thread

[hippiesandwich]

I was with you until you named Columbus. That is a hockey town far more than it gets credit for. I'd personally rank it higher than San Jose as far as hockey towns go. If they ever make it to the playoffs, quite frankly, I'd love to see it in person. Nashville clearly is a joke.

Winning a cup does provide validation for an organization. Even in places where there probably shouldn't be hockey (like Dallas or Tampa), getting that chance to be champions does give some credibility. The example of this I love is the WHA. When they folded and the NHL adopted a few teams, every team folded and moved away EXCEPT for the one that won the cup.

And I do kinda have an issue with there being hockey in places that don't naturally form ice. I blame Gretzky for that.

Lastly, the Seals sucked.

Of course winning a cup provides validation for a franchise, but please re-read what I was actually responding to: the notion that you somehow have to have a cup to 'deserve' your franchise - which is ludicrous. Columbus may very well be a GREAT hockey town, but how long do you realistically think it will take them to win a Cup in a 32 team (OR MORE if Bettman gets his way) league?

The Seals did suck, as did the Nordiques and the North Stars right before they started to get good and were gift wrapped and sent to Colorado and Dallas. You'll find that many fans in true expansion cities more than a little resentful of that - there's nothing like having a Cup contender moved to your city already built. Also don't confuse me with 'kserg', as I am not here to rip on Dallas or it's fans. Hockey fans are among the most passionate, dedicated fans there are regardless of who you are cheering for. There are always a certain % of people who seem to show up at playoff games for the spectacle of it all that you can tell haven't a clue as to what is happening.

Expansion into warm weather areas seems here to stay, like it or not. Given that, of course a huge metropolitan area such as Dallas deserves a franchise, just as Los Angeles should have a football team again!

And lastly, don't blame #99 for there being hockey in places that don't have natural ice (blame expansion instead). I've been a Californian my entire life and a hockey fan (of local teams) for nearly 40 years now. Hockey was here way before Wayne showed up - people just noticed it more afterwards.

 

[Bard2dbone]

I miss when the North Stars came down and became the Stars. They would sell seats for CHEAP, because they were trying to jumpstart a fanbase. I went and saw a LOT of games.

Then they got a cup and ticket prices went waaaaaay up. I won tickets a couple of seasons ago to see them play Nashville and they just stomped them. It was wonderful. But I noticed the tickets from the raffle said "face value $65" That's a pretty far cry from the $15 it cost when they first came to town.

 

[burk48237]

Wings are up 5-1 in the second, looks like their closing down Colorado tonight. With the second line guys stepping up, if they stay healthy it may be Stanley time in the D.

 

[burk48237]

Now 7-1, Franzien has 11 goals ALREADY in the playoffs!

 

[kserg]

I might lend some credence to this if it came from Toronto, Montreal,.... maybe even Buffalo.

But San Jose? Are you kidding? The Shark Tank? Home of old time hockey...... and old time hockey fans. Please.....

I was prepared to actually say something nice about the Sharks effort last night but now.............

When you're watching Stars/Wings in the Conference Finals look at the rafters of the buildings........ Those are CUP banners up there.

Mix in a Cup and then tell me who deserves a team.

Yeah, i don't expect to hear anything "nice" from person who doesn't read posts and reply to them.

Oh and i am not sure but if suggest that i don't know hockey or hockey fans because i live in San Jose... Just silly...

Do i have your permission or "credence" to comment that that it's saddens me that Dallas can not fill in their arena and no body cheers even if their team scores or wins but rather seats there not even known where the puck is?

Sharks in 7.

FACE

 

[kserg]

If theres no ice naturally I have a hard time with it.


How would you feel Minnesota had a surfing team and you didn't?


At least the Stars have some roots.

See, most people have this big misunderstanding about Cal to think people in Cal never seen snow. 90% of my friends snowboard, plenty of people play hockey, it takes 2-3 hours from here to get into 4 feet of snow.

This however was never my point. I am still disappointed at what Dallas crowd looks like. IMO its bad for the game, San Jose fan base is not even close to being bad for the game. They are great team, no doubt about it. I would much rather loose to team like the flames. Because our lose would mean that people who truly enjoy the game will enjoy it a little longer. Rather then fans that don't show up to games. That is all.

 

[kserg]

Oh and regarding how much of a south we are.

SHASTA, CA is 41.3225
Sacramento is 38.581N
The latitude of San Jose is 37.339N
Washington DC 38.89N
Philadelphia PA 39.94N
Springfield MO 37.19N
Nashville TN 36.19N

Deep south I tell you!

 

[Bad Brains]

I have no problem with expansion only if they move Detroit to the East where they should be.

Let all the teams nobody cares about play each other. One of the reaons why I can't stand hockey anymore is the fact that Detroit plays these columbus/Nashville type teams like 50 times a year, and it's boring. Just imagine how much more exciting it would be if Detroit was in the East.

 

[kserg]

I have no problem with expansion only if they move Detroit to the East where they should be.

Let all the teams nobody cares about play each other. One of the reaons why I can't stand hockey anymore is the fact that Detroit plays these columbus/Nashville type teams like 50 times a year, and it's boring. Just imagine how much more exciting it would be if Detroit was in the East.

Because Nashville is soooooo much more west of Detroit.

People who determine if place should have a team or not based on it's location need help, as well as a lot of help in geography it seems. Winapeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Chicago, St Louis, Minisotta, not at all hockey places...

 

[hippiesandwich]

I miss when the North Stars came down and became the Stars. They would sell seats for CHEAP, because they were trying to jumpstart a fanbase. I went and saw a LOT of games.

Then they got a cup and ticket prices went waaaaaay up. I won tickets a couple of seasons ago to see them play Nashville and they just stomped them. It was wonderful. But I noticed the tickets from the raffle said "face value $65" That's a pretty far cry from the $15 it cost when they first came to town.

I had the same experience in Tampa around 2001. I saw the Sharks and Wings play there. $49 to sit near the glass, a free program, free yearbook, and the office staff of the Lightening standing outside the building on the way out thanking you for attending.


So how about Zetterberg's backhander tonight?

 

[Joey3313]

And lastly, don't blame #99 for there being hockey in places that don't have natural ice (blame expansion instead). I've been a Californian my entire life and a hockey fan (of local teams) for nearly 40 years now. Hockey was here way before Wayne showed up - people just noticed it more afterwards.

Hockey was there, but in far smaller quantities than when he left.
There is ZERO chance that Anaheim, San Jose, or Phoenix would have a team if he never played there. I was kidding about blaming Gretzky though. He isn't the commish.


And the Avalanche were destroyed...then again, with Smyth, Stastny, Wolski, Svatos, and Forsberg out, I'm not surprised.



And let's leave this on a note that any real hockey fan can agree with:

Gary Bettman blows. Hard.

 

[embellisher]

I had the same experience in Tampa around 2001. I saw the Sharks and Wings play there. $49 to sit near the glass, a free program, free yearbook, and the office staff of the Lightening standing outside the building on the way out thanking you for attending.


So how about Zetterberg's backhander tonight?

I lived in St Pete the year the Lightning started up, and back then they played in what was known at the time as the Florida Suncoast Dome. Now known as Tropicana field, it seated 35,000+ for hockey. They were selling season tickets in the cheap seats for $99! My wife and I bought a pair and attended a bunch of games.

 

[Andrew Jones]

How many of you guys play/played Ice Hockey? What level?




Andrew

 

[JimK]

...it's saddens me that Dallas cannot fill in their arena and nobody cheers even if their team scores or wins but rather seats there not even known where the puck is?

Meanwhile...
Bard said-
"Whenever I watch the game, they lose. I think this was my fault. If I wait and look later, they usually win. But if I look while the game is on they always lose".

See, Serg, there's your reason.
Maybe they're in the arena's bar(s)?

 

[burk48237]

Because Nashville is soooooo much more west of Detroit.

People who determine if place should have a team or not based on it's location need help, as well as a lot of help in geography it seems. Winapeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Chicago, St Louis, Minisotta, not at all hockey places...

Serg, Actually Nashville is in the Central Time Zone, Detroit is in the Easter time zone. The frustration for Wings fans with the west is two fold. First, Natural rivalries, Detroit has always had a rivalry with Toronto, Montreal and the Rangers. Also Detroit is an original six team. Detroit now plays the East teams about once a year, some years Toronto doesn't even come to the Joe. Supposedly Bettman is abandoning the asinine schedules of the last couple of years where Detroit plays Columbus and Nashville like seventy times, and the Rangers every other year.

The second problem is the time zone with night games in the playoff. It hurts the cities productivity and accounts for poor quality control in the big three! You can't blame a fan for being bushy eyed and hung over when that overtime game with Calgary didn't end till 2:15 AM Detroit time. So if you got a Ford without the steering column bolts it was probably Gary Bettmans fault. Many of those west coast playoff games were starting at 11 PM Detroit time.

 

[MJ5150]

Well schucks, I was hoping for another Pen's sweep. The Rangers are too good of a team to have been swept though. I certainly believe my Pens will win game five on Sunday, but I would not be shocked if they beat us again.

-Mike

 

[Fo' Shizzle]

Seriously? :scowl:
So by your logic old time hockey cities like Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Anaheim (as I throw up in my mouth a little) somehow 'deserve' their franchises because they each now have a cup banner?

Sadly, where ever Bettman thinks he can make a buck is who now "deserves" to get a team. A city like Winnipeg SHOULD have an NHL team again but instead he expands into Nashville and Columbus? (no offense to their die hard fan bases)

As for San Jose:
1) There has been pro hockey in the Bay area since 1967 (Seals)
2) There are many transplants here from the "old time" hockey cities working in the tech industry
3) After watching and going to games for 17 years, the locals have learned a thing or two about the game

I agree that the league is watered down by probably 8 too many teams...... I just don't think that Dallas should be part of the contraction (San Jose either). I was pissed that my town was very inaccurately attacked by a bitter fan who's team is about to get bounced out of the playoffs again. (By the way, we know all too well the pain of the early exit. The Stars this year are the 1st ones to advance out of the first round in any sport in YEARS....). I do have a nugget for you on your 3 points:

1)Dallas (and Fort Worth) were part of the same expansion in 1967....... The Dallas BlackHawks and the Ft Worth Red Wings.

2)The Sunbelt defines Northeastern transplants. They're everywhere.

3)The Stars got here in '93. The season ticket base (14K or so) know their hockey, too.


I remember a phrase that that has been thrown around after our early exits the last several years.......... "We ran into a hot team" or "We ran into a hot goalie" and I would think to myself, "When is that gonna be our team (or our goalie) that's hot?" Well, that happening to the Sharks this year. The Stars haven't played this well at any point this year. They are peaking at the perfect time and Turco is playing at a crazy high level. It happens..........

Nice season........It ends tonight.

Fo

 

[kserg]

How many of you guys play/played Ice Hockey? What level?




Andrew

Haven't played in few years, actually trying to lose weight and get back into it. I was in mid D's level and lots of pick up games.

 

[Fo' Shizzle]

See, most people have this big misunderstanding about Cal to think people in Cal never seen snow. 90% of my friends snowboard, plenty of people play hockey, it takes 2-3 hours from here to get into 4 feet of snow.

This however was never my point. I am still disappointed at what Dallas crowd looks like. IMO its bad for the game, San Jose fan base is not even close to being bad for the game. They are great team, no doubt about it. I would much rather loose to team like the flames. Because our lose would mean that people who truly enjoy the game will enjoy it a little longer. Rather then fans that don't show up to games. That is all.

I'm going to reply with this quote because it seems to go more directly to your issue with Dallas fans (and it doesn't have pics of Godless Russians in it)

Serg, I just don't know what you're seeing at our arena. That place has been packed out every night. And by a fully engaged crowd.

Are you referring to early 1st period? If that's the case, I'd agree to a point: Dallas is a notoriously late arriving crowd (in all sports) and trying to get to the place is very difficult at certain times of the day (like the stupid 6:00 start for game 3!). But when they get there they're ready to go.........

But to suggest that Dallas doesn't deserve a team is laughable. Of this last group of teams that joined the league (or moved in our case) Dallas is certainly one of the most successful, both on and off the ice.

Start making those tee times Sharks.......... 10:00 tomorrow morning sounds about right.

I also want to start my Morrow-Conn Smythe campaign with this thread..........

Go Stars,
Fo

 

[Fo' Shizzle]

Haven't played in few years, actually trying to lose weight and get back into it. I was in mid D's level and lots of pick up games.

I would have loved to play the game. It was non-existent here in North Texas when I was growing up. I don't know about Northern Cali but here the Stars (and the owner) have built 8 to 10 rinks and the high schools have teams now.

We are close to seeing the first home-grown Texas kids in the league.