Leaderboard

Almost all of the Sharks fans I ran across last series were rude, hostile, childish, ignorant, uninformed, and possessed of an enormous case of homerism. They are the worst fans I've interacted with thus far in my hockey-watching career, eclipsing even Penguins and Blackhawks fans in how unpleasant they are to discuss anything with and in the sheer volume of unprovoked hostility I saw them issue towards Wings fans and the Red Wings in general. Further, they cheer for a team that is highly unsportsmanlike---the Sharks willingly and deliberately dive and embellish on a regular basis. I'm glad to see them lose.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2010/05/spartak_moscow_courting_former.html so much for retiring ever

I know I'll be watching college football instead of this. It's really too bad, cause I would rather watch a good outdoor game without all the lovefest of Ovi Vs Bitchboy87 on NBC and have them yak about how great they are when no one can play any real defense (see Montreal) on them. It's not that they aren't good players its just I can't stand NBC and their announcers, I would rather watch it on CBC. The other point I'm trying to make is that I would like to watch other players and know other players rather than Ovi and bitchboy. I know there trying to draw in regular fans but cmon its just disappointing is all. I just wish they would market other players like the NFL does. I mean is there really a "face" of the NFL right now if you can I'll name 10 that would be comparable. Thats how you market teams and players.

So wait... having better linemates, confidence and more ice time makes a player play better!? No one tell the Hudler haters... lol keep the negs coming instead of replying.

1) The Shark's themselves have no control over who becomes a fan of their team. 2)A small sample size of fan's does not warrant generalizations 3)You act as if no one on the Wing's Roster has never dived. A few years ago Franzen was pretty bad. 4) A great deal of the hostility you speak of can also be said for you in the Game Chats, as you constantly asked if Sharksfan was happy and proud of a team of divers, as if he has any control over that. lol @ the Negs. I can tell some people are still bitter

Blatant penalty, he just ran over the goalie. That's a penalty no matter what nationality you are. If your team is on the wrong side of that play you'd be screaming at the TV. Especially considering a goal was scored.

The Hawks are laughing all the way to the Finals knowing they won't have to face the Wings to get the Cup. Thanks Refs!!!!!!!!! esteef

What's the point of having a cheap salary if you suck so bad the coach won't put you in. Hell I'd take any warm body at his position right now if they could come in play 25 games and not suck. I could post a large list of players that meet your requirements, but it would be pointless. All Osgood slappy's see is what's behind them. Thankfully this is the last season we have to have this discussion.

I'm not arguing, and don't care if you think my "arguments" aren't up to snuff. Just stating an opinion. I won't watch the Sidney Slappie Show (again) on Jan 1. Big deal if I don't, I say. I won't watch Pronger gallumph around the ice with the Cup, either, if Phillie manages to win it. Just stating my opinion. Shoot me, I guess.

Yep. If he still thinks he can play at a competitive level and remain physically healthy, why stop anytime soon doing what he enjoys doing for a living/life and has got the support of family (I am assuming)?

What are you talking about, Ritola has been solid in every NHL game I watched him. He makes stuff happen and plays a solid defensive game in his own end. I think he will make a solid 3rd line center. I think the contract is a steal. I like the way he plays. I doubt he'll ever be a 2nd line scorer, but I do think he'll make one hell of a 3rd liner. I am excited to see him play more. He's fun to watch and can dangle the s*** out of people. He strong along the board and is great winning 1 on 1 battles. His take away skills remind me of Datsyuk. He's got the tools to become one of those Franzen story.

This just pisses me off more that the Red Wings couldn't beat the Sharks. They are no match for Chicago - the last team I want to see win it all.

I'd like to see a Hasek/Howard tandem! Howard would have gotten tutoring from both Hasek and Osgood and we could actually throw in a goalie that would win his games when given the chance.... Hasek might even be able to snag the lead role from Howard, who knows?!

why retire when people want to pay you a bunch of money to do something you love doing...good for dominic.

We need 3rd and 4th liners who can actually punch people in the face. We don't have that now. We need our superstar big money 1st and 2nd liners (Z and D) to put up more points than Babs expects out of Hudler next year (70). Those two playing to potential (along with a healthy mule) instead of 70 f'n points will make far more difference on the scoreboard than a 4th line LW having 6pts instead of 25 would. We need scorers that score and grinders that grind. There are very few effective grinders that score.

I just talk about the players I know about. I've watched him play since 2002 - I think I know what I'm talking about. You can call me biased, but it's a fact that it was a matter of confidence more than working hard or wanting it.I defend someone if I see a comment that is wrong IMO. You can defend Howard, I can defend Leino. But I certainly don't defend all Finnish players because they're Finnish. I couldn't care less what Timonen does on the ice for example. Would I like to watch Leino if he wansn't Finnish? Probably not. But so what? I never wasn't one of those guys who said Leino scores 50 points and wins the rookie of the year. The fact that Leino or someone else is Finnish doesn't blind my ability to judge that player.

Leino with his second assist and making a nice screen there.

He's centering a line with Malkin and Kovalchuk and scored a goal against Denmark.

You think so? It was a nice combination on the goal, but usually this is what happens: *Pavel is deep in the defensive zone working to win the puck while Malkin and Kovy are floating ready to jump up offensively* *Pavel wins puck and passes one of the two linemates* *Kovy/Malkin skates and dribbles for a while and either shoots the puck or loses it some other way* *Other teams goes back the other way and the process starts over* I hate watching Pavel playing with guys who never give him the puck back after he passes them. That's one of the reasons I've never been sold on the idea of getting Kovalchuk to Detroit. Pav is best with guys like Zetterberg, or even Franzen and Holmstrom, players that return the puck back to him once in a while. Btw, I would give anything to see Bykov play Fedorov and Datsyuk on the same line.. it won't happen since those are their two best Centers, but they are my two biggest hockey-heroes of all-time and to see them on the same line would be a dream come true.

This. Don't be bitter, because it was never gonna work here. Just like Latendresse was never going to work in Montreal and Jokinen was never going to work in Tampa Bay.

I said we need an enforcer on the 4th line. Everything else will be ok. Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Hudler-Franzen-Filppula Cleary-Abdelkader-Eaves/UFA Draper-Helm-Eaves/UFA + Miller, Ritola

LOL. Read the whole post and reply after that. I said how you don't know how tough "average" Finnish player is not to mention about European players in general because you haven't seen anything else but NHL games. I'm not gonna argue about this again and I certainly wasn't bashing NHL or anything. Read the other posts and THINK before you say something.

That Leino trade looking good.

As said earlier, they'll draft the best player available. There could be even some trade, but Kirill Kabanov at 22nd is a risk in my opinion. Medium or high risk with a high reward of course. I'd love to get Granlund, but I'll doubt he drops that much. He could though, because of his size.

First Denmark beats Finland 4-1 and then USA 2-1 on the OT. They're doing pretty good.