2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Off Topic
321

[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
I think it is perfectly reasonable to be frustrated with the loss/movement of a team, but ultimately the NHL is a business, and they are going to expand into the markets that they think bring the best opportunity for financial success (obviously they aren’t always correct).

To say that the level of play has deteriorated is simply incorrect. I can understand if you don’t like how the game is being played now, because you prefer what you watched long ago, but sports progress, rules change, and athletes get better. The game has not gotten worse, it has simply evolved, and I would bet that the athletes now are far superior to those 20 years ago.[/quote]

That’s a completely different point. Enjoyment from a fan perspective and “level of play” as you define them are separate things.

The game has certainly involved, but whether or not that makes it “better” is up for debate. yes, players are more talented and teams of today would beat teams of previous eras. However, from a fan perspective, other eras were much more enjoyable (to me). One of the reasons (among many), I feel, is that the league has tried to cater to the average sports fan in an effort to get more fans in general. Hockey fans have never been like average sports fans, though, and these efforts have, in part, taken away from my enjoyment.

Give me a tough, balls to the wall, do anything to win type of team of the 80’s any day over what’s out there now.

322

Canucks in 7! WOoowoo!! who’s with me?? Woo hoo… woo?

:frowning:

323

[quote]debraD wrote:
Canucks in 7! WOoowoo!! who’s with me?? Woo hoo… woo?

:([/quote]
With you in heart but not mind… But it aint over till its over!

324

[quote]debraD wrote:
Canucks in 7! WOoowoo!! who’s with me?? Woo hoo… woo?

:([/quote]
Good luck. My friend is a Canucks fan, I am going to his bar to watch the game

325

[quote]debraD wrote:
Canucks in 7! WOoowoo!! who’s with me?? Woo hoo… woo?

:([/quote]

I figger I’m about 3 hrs from a change of avatar.
This seems appropriate.

326

hahaha, that’s hilarious.

327

[quote]mrw173 wrote:

[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
I think it is perfectly reasonable to be frustrated with the loss/movement of a team, but ultimately the NHL is a business, and they are going to expand into the markets that they think bring the best opportunity for financial success (obviously they aren’t always correct).

To say that the level of play has deteriorated is simply incorrect. I can understand if you don’t like how the game is being played now, because you prefer what you watched long ago, but sports progress, rules change, and athletes get better. The game has not gotten worse, it has simply evolved, and I would bet that the athletes now are far superior to those 20 years ago.[/quote]

That’s a completely different point. Enjoyment from a fan perspective and “level of play” as you define them are separate things.

The game has certainly involved, but whether or not that makes it “better” is up for debate. yes, players are more talented and teams of today would beat teams of previous eras. However, from a fan perspective, other eras were much more enjoyable (to me). One of the reasons (among many), I feel, is that the league has tried to cater to the average sports fan in an effort to get more fans in general. Hockey fans have never been like average sports fans, though, and these efforts have, in part, taken away from my enjoyment.

Give me a tough, balls to the wall, do anything to win type of team of the 80’s any day over what’s out there now.[/quote]

Bingo. Remember the Battles of Alberta? THAT was hockey. In Gretzky’s best year, he got 212 points in regular season. This year’s top player was something like 102. I can tell you which I’d rather watch, and personally I don’t think there’re any players today who could hold a candle to Gretzky or Lemieux.

328

Wooo! I should start betting heavily in favour of the Hawks. That’ll fuck things up for them.

329

[quote]nrt wrote:

[quote]mrw173 wrote:

[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
I think it is perfectly reasonable to be frustrated with the loss/movement of a team, but ultimately the NHL is a business, and they are going to expand into the markets that they think bring the best opportunity for financial success (obviously they aren’t always correct).

To say that the level of play has deteriorated is simply incorrect. I can understand if you don’t like how the game is being played now, because you prefer what you watched long ago, but sports progress, rules change, and athletes get better. The game has not gotten worse, it has simply evolved, and I would bet that the athletes now are far superior to those 20 years ago.[/quote]

That’s a completely different point. Enjoyment from a fan perspective and “level of play” as you define them are separate things.

The game has certainly involved, but whether or not that makes it “better” is up for debate. yes, players are more talented and teams of today would beat teams of previous eras. However, from a fan perspective, other eras were much more enjoyable (to me). One of the reasons (among many), I feel, is that the league has tried to cater to the average sports fan in an effort to get more fans in general. Hockey fans have never been like average sports fans, though, and these efforts have, in part, taken away from my enjoyment.

Give me a tough, balls to the wall, do anything to win type of team of the 80’s any day over what’s out there now.[/quote]

Bingo. Remember the Battles of Alberta? THAT was hockey. In Gretzky’s best year, he got 212 points in regular season. This year’s top player was something like 102. I can tell you which I’d rather watch, and personally I don’t think there’re any players today who could hold a candle to Gretzky or Lemieux.
[/quote]

He got 215 a couple years after that. I think the problem now is that there are so many more good players that the talented ones aren’t so ridiculously far ahead of everyone else. I doubt anyone will ever come close to that record again.

330

Its gotta be pretty easy to score goals when the d-men you’re going up against are Rob Ramsey and Garth Butcher…ugh…

I really don’t care who wins it though, as long as its not the Pens and their bandwagon fans.

Good thing those diehard fans they have stuck it out with them before Crosby came along…I mean its not like they went bankrupt from having too many fans or anything…

331

FFS: Sami Salo 11 years in the NHL / 39 injuries. tonight: Ruptured testicle.

332

Keep it up Vancouver, the more you win, the more the Sharks get to rest!

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[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
Keep it up Vancouver, the more you win, the more the Sharks get to rest![/quote]

They’re gonna need it. Chicago/Vancouver vs San Jose has potential to be an awesome series if both teams bring their A game. And I’m not sure how it will play out. Could be super fast paced or could be a grind-out slug fest. All three of those teams can play either way. So many speedy skilled players, but also quite a few big bodies to slam around.

334

[quote]Mad_Duck wrote:
FFS: Sami Salo 11 years in the NHL / 39 injuries. tonight: Ruptured testicle.[/quote]

Yeah man…i felt sick to my stomach just watching that shot hit him…eek

335

[quote]BobCat77 wrote:

[quote]Mad_Duck wrote:
FFS: Sami Salo 11 years in the NHL / 39 injuries. tonight: Ruptured testicle.[/quote]

Yeah man…i felt sick to my stomach just watching that shot hit him…eek[/quote]

Apparently it didn’t actually rupture, still, that was not cool at all.

336

Boucher down! FUCK!

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[quote]Saint Anger wrote:

[quote]WestCoast7 wrote:
Keep it up Vancouver, the more you win, the more the Sharks get to rest![/quote]

They’re gonna need it. Chicago/Vancouver vs San Jose has potential to be an awesome series if both teams bring their A game. And I’m not sure how it will play out. Could be super fast paced or could be a grind-out slug fest. All three of those teams can play either way. So many speedy skilled players, but also quite a few big bodies to slam around.[/quote]

Personally, I think the Wings were a much tougher challenge than either the Canucks/Hawks will be for the Sharks. The Wings played the exact same style of hockey, but had a savvy veteran core and coaching staff that had been doing it for much longer (and with much more playoff experience).

I feel much better with how the Sharks match up against Chicago/Vancouver, and think the extra rest will prove to be a major factor heading into the Western Conference Finals.

338

Announcer: “Every time Briere goes down, he looks like he’s mortally wounded.”

LOL.

339

[quote]SteelyD wrote:
Announcer: “Every time Briere goes down, he looks like he’s mortally wounded.”

LOL.[/quote]

Jack Edwards is hilarious. Unfortunately the Bruins took yesterday off, and it looks like they’re taking today off too.

340

so much for leighton dropping the ball…apparently Pronger is gonna save the day again?