#19forPresident!

Its usually a choice on a case by case basis. Last year I rooted for Edmonton because they played hard hockey and earned a late seed by playing great, and with the exception of Pronger I thought they had a class group of guys and a solid organization. Having said that, this year I'll be a Senators fan. I think on the whole the Ducks management and front end of their organization is pretty classless after seeing the way they handled Pronger's joke of a suspension. Brian Burke is one big joker in a deck of dirty cards. Pronger gets off for a song and they still couldn't admit it was a dirty play, and furthermore they have the audacity to defend that as acceptable, and to put the blame on Homer's "helmet" is laughable. I just have no respect for that, I suppose if Homer had ended up like Steve Moore they might have had to own up to their BS, but because he's lucky and healthy it goes by the wayside. So with all things considered, I think Ottawa has a great team and organization, Alfredesson definitely deserves his name on the cup. He's turning into the Sen's Stevie Y, he stuck around since day one through thick and thin, so I think he's due. Also I don't ever want to see Pronger's name etched on, alot of skilled players with poor sportsmanship and tact have already gotten lucky enough to get theirs on it, we don't need anymore. That organization doesn't deserve it, Selanne and Jiggy, sure they're fine by me. But their team's, coaching staff's, and front offices attitude behind them is suspect in my opinion. So this year its.............Ottawa, the other red team. GO SENS GO!!

Heh, not that you are, but you shouldn't take any offense to the anti Pronger rhetoric. As Wings fans its pretty much ritual to hate that guy, not so much even because of his recent antics, or because he's a Duck. Its just cooincidence that we happen to be playing the Ducks who have him on the roster. Most people here have been anti Pronger for years, so yeah pretty much Eff that guy no matter what team or situation, he's a dolt win or lose. If I could pay $1000 to kick him in the baby maker without threat of being brutally pummled by a 7 foot tall gap toothed bloodthirsty freak, I would seriously consider paying up. He earned a perma spot on my sh*t list when he tried to cheap shot Stevie Y with St.Louis, and the Homer hit just puts more icing on the cake. He might be a good player, but his attitude and sportsmanship are crap. If I was in the desert dyinig of thirst and Pronger came from the sky and offered me his gatorade bottle, I would spray it in his face, then ask him how his wife was doing so I could die quicker.

I can relate to this too, but wouldn't you say its pretty true that any hockey fan you meet around NWO is a Wings one and not a Blue Jackets? And you're right, they usually know their stuff too.

Thats great to hear, I think most people could see he wasn't operating at 100% because when he does he's hard to miss. I'm sure alot of the guys still in the tourney are probably in the same boat with miscelaneous bumps and scrapes. I have to say, I like most people after his incident and suspension had nothing but distain for the guy, but everyone makes mistakes, its best to get over it because life is too short to hate people. I have a couple of friends from Vancouver / Victoria area who reminded me that tons of other players took shots on guys like he did. It's just that everyone has forgotten those people now because they were fortunate enough to just piss the other person off and catch a penalty, and not injure them severely. Anyways having said that, it still took me awhile to warm up to him being in Detroit's dressing room, I've forgiven him but I don't think I can forget what he did. Frankly before the trade I could have done without seeing his face again period, I rather enjoyed the fact he was in a Panthers uniform because the way NHL scheduling works currently it pretty much guaranteed that. BUT.... The guy's human, things happen fast on the ice and emotions run high, hell Pronger could be wearing his shoes right now if it wasn't for Homer's hard head. I'll support anybody wearing the winged wheel, while I'll probably never forget what he did, I've forgiven him and am glad to hear he's in good spirits and to see him playing well. Keep us updated!

I didn't notice him after the first, he was miced up for the game on VS and the only clips they had with him were from the 1st so I just assumed he never came back..... Even if he was he was alright he was only logging around 5mins a game this series anyway so no big suprise.

Quincey only played 4 shifts because he left for the dressing room in the 1st period, and never came back. They haven't said what his deal is, but it's only fitting to go with our trend this year of constant play ending injuries to defenseman.

Yeah special teams overall were off point tonight, let in our first 2 PP goals of the series, and failed to capitalize on two 5 on 3's Not to mention Filp's amazing Datsyuk-like move up the middle that went off the bar, the hockey gods were not smiling on us tonight. Oh well, water under the bridge. Its best of 3 now w/ home ice advantage, time to buckle down

lol, no no what I need is 2 mins for being retarded and forgetting that almost everyone I put up there is on UFA hahaha. I made this on about 3 hours of sleep so a little forgiveness would be appriciated This poll can be deleted since its pretty full of moot options

Haha, thats great, I can picture hiim saying it with his patented grin

Oh I wish I was, I went to game 2 so I'm saving my pennies to go big on cup finals tickets, so hopefully, god willing we can finish these guys. GO WINGS!!! No thats a good thing, you keep your ducks right where they belong, right in the sh*tter sorry thats a little juvenile for me, but I had to, it was right there.

Oh yeah, I understand the logic behind his questioning of the suspension. But at what point do we start putting the welfare of the game and NHL players as a whole over the best interests of our own team? You would think he could see the big picture being the former Dirctor of Hockey Operations, but he isn't so much concerned with Pronger's actions, only pissed off that he lost a key player. Playoffs or not that suspension is well deserved and he knows it, admitting it on the other hand, now thats a whole nother story. Bleh Im done spewing over that tool, just waiting for tonight, as Mickey says, it'll be a dandy.

Here's the way I feel about that putz, this is an excerpt from a post I made in the "Pronger suspended: Its not about game 4" thread. Pretty much sums up Burke's incompetence to see the problem. Imagine if they come out next season and Pronger runs someone down like that again because its "okay" with his boss, and that guy ends up like Draper after the Lemiux hit, or Steve Moore or worse. Everyone will be sorry then, including him and the organization. Don't get me wrong I'm not going to say that was anything close to what happened to Moore or Drapes, but it easily could have been. Hitting someone blind hard and high without reguard like that can have the same effect. Asked if Pronger's hit warranted a suspension, Wings coach Mike Babcock said, "Everybody saw it. He's got cuts, he's got 13 stitches. It's not like it's a boo-boo." Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke said in a press conference:" Well, again, our view of the hit is there shouldn't have been a suspension. The player wasn't injured. He finished the game. Got a couple stitches, which would have been preventable if his helmet was properly attached." Well sorry Brian, apparently you forgot your time as NHL Senior Vice President, and Director of Hockey Operations, but the NHL doesn't assess suspensions for not attatching helmets correctly or nobody would play. Unfortunately though hitting their face into the glass from behind is just alot illegal. Apparently13 stitches to the kisser after a high hit from behind isn't bad enough to punish someone in your eyes? Do they need to be sent to the hospital before its a no no? End their career? Perhaps you want to blame the glass next for not flexing properly? If you want to find something to blame, get down to the real problem in that situation, look in your locker room where No.25 hangs his equipment. The next problem after that is the way you handled it. That logic baffles me, its the act that needs punishment reguardless of the outcome. If someone robs a bank they don't say well if the bank had the safe closed I wouldn't have been able to steal any money so I shouldn't be charged, if the bank wants the safe open thats their business. Not to mention you're still charged with robbery reguardless if you took $500 or $500,000. They don't say oh it was only $500 it could have been worse I shouldn't be charged. You pay for your actions, intent is intent, we're simply lucky the outcome wasn't worse They are lucky the only thing assessed to Pronger for the incident was a suspension, and for condoning it they deserve to be fined as an organization. Certainly they are entitled to their right to disagree with the suspension, but they should imply they will take measures to ensure nobody does something like that on their watch again. Instead they basically say they didn't think he did anything out of line. The fact that some young kids learning the game are out there watching this on a pro level and hearing plays like that are acceptable is scary.

gotta love Mickey, that man is pure Badass. Bingo Bango!

Well he may be slumping, but everyone has to sometime, he's still a firecracker offensively and he knows how to put the body to good use. Im not sure if its pure slumping or some kind of nagging injury he doesn't want to disclose, but make no mistake our defensive strategy doesn't write a player like him off under any circumstance.

You've got that right, I can guarantee you with all our veteran presence like Cheli, Nick, Drapes, Malts, Homer, etc, etc, the list goes on.........So with all the guys in our locker room that have been playing playoff hockey for 10+ years there is nobody expecting to have anything handed out in game 4. Both teams will be prepared, both teams will be motivated, it should be a hell of a game.

I remember that game, 6-2 victory, and the zinger was the Blues netminder was none other than Ozzie! Man Kocur was pissed that game, he looked like he wanted to step out on the ice and beat all of them down one by one, starting with Quenneville

Sigh..... so true, Fisch would have knocked pronger the F*@#$ out, or tried his damndest And on the topic of the original post, Joey Kocur was a freakin gladiator, you didn't dare even think bad thoughts about his teamates around him.

Ohhhh Kronner does some skating on Saturday. Wether he's coming back to action for these playoffs or not, that is still some happy news

You're absolutely right about fines. Although I believe fighting still has its place in the game, because most players understand the on ice chain of command and respect and how to deal with questionable issues, and its usually a mutual and willing event. But that's neither here nor there, fighitng could be debated about forever if we wanted to. Now I definitely agree with you about fines, these guys on the whole aren't exactly making MLB/ NBA/NFL salaries, you peg them with a stiff fine and they'll think alot harder before they go out and make a bonehead play. I like what the league did with Calgary, giving fines to players and the coach, because the staff in that case clearly played a part instigating some of that goonery. The sad thing is not only does Pronger think the suspension is rediculous, but the Anaheim organization itself doesn't see what is wrong with this hit, or agree with the suspension. Therefore basically saying this type of thing is okay to see in their uniforms. I don't believe they went as far as Calgary did with Mclelan and gave Prongs the green light to go out there and do that. But after hearing their position on the hit they are basically saying they don't see the problem with it, so its not much different. Imagine if they come out next season and Pronger runs someone down like that agian because its "okay" with his boss, and that guy ends up like Draper after the Lemiux hit, or Steve Moore or worse. Everyone will be sorry then, including him and the organization. Don't get me wrong I'm not going to say that was anything close to what happened to Moore or Drapes, but it easily could have been. Hitting someone blind hard and high without reguard like that can have the same effect. Asked if Pronger's hit warranted a suspension, Wings coach Mike Babcock said, "everybody saw it. He's got cuts, he's got 13 stitches. It's not like it's a boo-boo." Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke said in a press conference:" Well, again, our view of the hit is there shouldn't have been a suspension. The player wasn't injured. He finished the game. Got a couple stitches, which would have been preventable if his helmet was properly attached." Well sorry Brian, apparently you forgot your time as NHL Senior Vice President, and Director of Hockey operations, but the NHL doesn't assess suspensions for not attatching helmets correctly or nobody would play. Unfortunately though hitting their face into the glass from behind is just alot illegal. Apparently13 stitches to the kisser after a high hit from behind isn't bad enough to punish someone in your eyes? Do they need to be sent to the hospital before its a no no? End their career? Perhaps you want to blame the glass next for not flexing properly? If you want to find something to blame, get down to the real problem in that situation, look in your locker room where No.25 hangs his equipment. The next problem after that is the way you handled it. That logic baffles me, its the act that needs punishment reguardless of the outcome. If someone robs a bank they don't say well if the bank had the safe closed I wouldn't have been able to steal any money so I shouldn't be charged, if the bank wants the safe open thats their business. Not to mention you're still charged with robbery reguardless if you took $500 or $500,000. They don't say oh it was only $500 it could have been worse I shouldn't be charged. You pay for your actions, intent is intent, we're simply lucky the outcome wasn't worse They are lucky the only thing assessed to Pronger for the incident was a suspension, and for condoning it they deserve to be fined as an organization. Certainly they are entitled to their right to disagree with the suspension, but they should imply they will take measures to ensure nobody does something like that on their watch again. Instead they basically say they didn't think he did anything out of line. The fact that some young kids learning the game are out there watching this on a pro level and hearing plays like that are acceptable is scary. Fine these guys, and anybody who provides a place for activity like that to thrive. Its like FUUFNF said, some people only understand the universal language of money, hard nosed hockey is one thing head hunting is another entirely. If they can't tell the difference, or they don't listen to reason or respect the game, then make them pay up.

Well they probably said that because the Ducks management and coaching staff didn't acknowledge the fact that it was a cheap hit. They disagreed with the suspension and don't think that Pronger did anything wrong which is frankly unbelievable coming from people with years of experience in the sport. That is pretty poor sportsmanship coming from management of a professional hockey club, because anybody that has seen that hit can easily say it was a cheap hit. Sportscasters that have picked on and against Detroit all postseason have said the punishment fit the crime, it was blatant, it was obvious, there's not a question about it. Unless you ask Ducks management, which is sad. Its a big player to lose but he deserved it and the fact that they can't admit that as an organization is scary. Support is one thing, but blind support of something that was clearly an error of judgement is just stupidity. So that is most likely why some people might say they have lost respect for the club, they probably don't mean every individual player in the locker room, but the way that the organization handled the punishment. To deny something that obvious is pretty incredible. It basically implies that they advocate that as acceptable behavior on the ice, which is a joke.

Get one of the SJ Puck Fronger shirts IMO, and a towel to wave while you're at it http://www.cafepress.com/puckfronger

Starting to get real interesting now 3-2 Sabres 4 left in the 3rd

If you want the postgame press meets you can get them at www.nhl.com usually on the front page. Unfortuanately I believe they take them down after the other conference plays so theirs can go up, but there is usually a link up onthe main page front and center the same night after every game's official press conference.

You know its a straight up and down situation when Melrose puts it out there like that, he picks against us every series so you know he's not in our corner personally, and he is a former Defenseman himself, as well as coach. What amazed me was the kind of denial of wrongdoing by Pronger coming out of his own locker room, I fully understand supporting your players, but there is no question he was out of line. It doesn't get any more blatantly obivous than that hit.

No they do not love us because they're Detroit fans, but the media does rally with whoever is doing well and we happened to win every series so far after we were picked to lose. Although I can't stand VS commentary on the whole, I will give all sports media credit it is a TOUGH JOB to cover a spots event and not seem biased to one team or another. They simply get behind the team that is doing well, and they often do seem biased for it, but if we were sucking that game they were also against us. If you remember back before every series they doubt us, doubt us, doubt us, get behind the opposition until we start doing well then they remark about our good play. It happened in round one vs. Calgary, two vs. SJ, and its happening now, but as I said before I can't blame them. Its hard to cover a game and do color commentary without saying "this team is doing well" or etc. etc. and if they say things bad about the team doing well then they seem baised against them. So in my opnion they have a fine line to tread. So in short, my opinion is sportscasters are fairweather fans pretty much by default, its their job to analyze what people winning did right, and what people losing did wrong, and that will always make them seem biased against losers and in suport of the winners. Even the infamous super mullet man himself Mr.Melrose has to do some backpeddaling when he does game analysis and recaps for ESPN, he picks against us round in and round out every time we win he still talks about what we did great, its his job I can about guarantee he'd love to see us lose, but he's not gonna come out and say that on TV.