Static Burn

So now you're complaining about me? My how the tables have turned....
If Bettman was running the sport into the ground, they wouldn't continually be smashing profit records every year. Stern is running his sport into the ground.
And just so you know, every rule passed or idea that has been implemented had to go through a committee vote. Bettman doesn't just say, 'I like the shootout, so let it be!'. No, it goes through serious discussions and gets voted on.

I didn't say for anyone to explain a neg rep. I said for people to stop being cowards and actually rebut Konnan in some capacity.
Go ahead. Anyone?

Bettman is a ******.

I would rather have Brad Richards for 6.6 mil

The owners all like the job he is doing. I say good for him. I just hope that there isn't a lockout when the CBA expires. We don't need another debacle like we had last time the CBA expired.

Geez, here we all thought Ericsson's contract was bad.

Pound-for-pound, he's the world's most expensive manure spreader.

Terrible overpayment.

To put this in perspective, since the lockout Bettman's salary doubled and Datsyuk's did not.

So another bash Bettman thread... how original...

Ericsson's contract is bad. Bettman was hired to increase the popularity and range of the NHL, and it has always been his job to increase profits and revenue. He has excelled at that.
Have you SEEN his hairline?

He's doing pretty well for having his thumbs up his ass.

Another complaint about someone complaining abut people complaining about Bettman... How original...
If you're not interested in commenting, don't. Just because you like it, it doesn't mean others should as well.
See how that works?
Bettman has done a wondrous job as commissioner. The players are making bank and the owners are making bank and the ratings just keep going up up and up.
He tried expanding the NHL south like he should have and it has failed in two places while places like Tampa Bay, Nashville, Dallas and the California teams are thriving. Canada has another team now as well. Who the hell cares if hockey failed in Atlanta? Who cares if it is failing in Phoenix? How do those two teams personally affect you, given that the NHL is trying to expand it's demographic? If you run a league and aren't trying to globalize, then you are a terrible league commissionaire. Football expanded north, soccer expanded West, and hockey is expanding south. Deal with it.

Agreed. Over on hfboards the Sharks fans as a group are among the friendliest and most civil.

Lol @ judging a fanbase based on kids on internet forums.
Go to a Wings/Sharks game next season Cali wearing your Wings jersey and see how "friendly" the sharks fans really are. Oh, and bring some of your crew, as those "friendly" folks will try to physically attack you as well as throw beers and s*** at you for wearing your Wings jersey there and cheering for your team.
While I haven't been to every arena, in the ones I have, I have never experienced such assholes as those sharks "fans". I'm just glad I went there somewhat recently, now that I'm older, calmer, and more pacifistic, as if that s*** had happened to me 10 years ago, I wouldn't have had the strength to try to brush it off, and there probably would have been one guy in prison (me) and several severely injured sharks "fans".
Maybe it was a fluke or something, but that experience is burned in my mind and my opinion of those fans is cemented.
Thats just one guys experience though, yours may vary...

I've been to a handful of games at the HP Pavilion (only once at the Cow Palace but don't remember it much as I had other things on my mind at that time), both when the Sharks were playing the Red Wings, and when the Sharks were playing other teams -- in my Red Wings attire. I've been to heavy metal concerts at the HP Pavilion -- ALSO wearing Red Wings attire purposely rubbing it in their faces in years our team won the Cup or even eliminated the Sharks.
I've also worked in San Jose, Santa Clara, Mountain View (that's where I got this username), Redwood City, San Francisco, and Millbrae. In my 18 years of being a Red Wings fan I can count how many times on one hand anyone said s*** to me anywhere in public that wasn't related to a game. Indeed it was "Detroit Sucks", and they were rednecks that likely didn't even care about hockey.
One of my favourite places to go, when I wasn't at the HP, was the Tied House Brewery just off the 87 a few blocks away from the HP. I don't know if it's around or not anymore (I heard it shut down), but I wore Red Wings gear there too, and I happily drank their brewed wheat beer with the locals there.. guess what? No beer or any other s*** thrown at me, no fights.
Edit: Whenever I would go out to public places, most commonly Safeway, Costco, Valley Fair, or Great Mall (Dave & Busters) wearing Red Wings attire, it was more common to run into another Red Wings fan spotting me and start yapping about the team excitedly.
My experiences directly contradict yours, and even more interesting, I wouldn't go to a hockey game or anywhere in San Jose with your attitude -- it's asking for a fight. However, you can say anything you like behind a computer on the internet, which is how you get away with the notion of taking a handful of Sharks fans to the hospital like you're a Marvel superhero or some embellished crap. Give it a rest and enjoy some fricken hockey. Sharks fans are tame.

I've had beer dumped on me at the United Center, I've gotten called every foul word for a woman you can possibly think of and then some.....but that doesn't mean I don't think people should watch Wings/Hawks games there, nor does that mean I think all Hawks fans are classless punks. There are assholes EVERYWHERE. Even we have them.
What the hell kind of dipstick decides to broadbrush an entire group of people just because SOME rode his ass a little? Grow up man, it's hockey. If I'm a 5'2 female and I can take it, so can you.

I'm sorry, did I miss the:
Go to a Wings/Sharks game next season Cali wearing your Wings jersey and see how "friendly" the sharks fans really are.
bring some of your crew, as those "friendly" folks will try to physically attack you as well as throw beers and s*** at you
there probably would have been one guy in prison (me) and several severely injured sharks "fans"
Your attitude is asking for a fight.
And I don't know how I would confirm anything, because I got along with Sharks fans, even with constantly rubbing my team in their faces, being a Red Wings fan in the Bay Area. Obviously you're embellishing a fanbase and suggesting you can take down a good number of Sharks fans in a fight. You act like you confirmed something with my post (I wonder what?) when I was even suggesting that the attitude would cause a fight, strangely, now -I- am thrown into your messy nonsensical rant about Sharks fans?
You seriously need a reality check.

Huh?
What attitude? I was there with absolutely no negative attitude at all and was there to simply enjoy a hockey game. Even when beer was thrown at me, I was physically assaulted and harrased, I had no attitude, maintained my cool, and shrugged it off and simply left.
If that is asking for a fight, then you just confimed my experience and how common it likely is, and that San Jose fans are complete assholes and view a rival fan simply coming to their arena to watch a game as "asking for a fight".

1) I was replying to someone who mentioned the word "enforcer" so read before posting, please. Would save everyone time.
2) Aw babes. I know you don't like me but chin up...the minus rating is back so you can go through alllll my post history and minus every single one. Again. It'll be like old times.

Never seen you post in any of the draft or prospect threads. Let alone the AHL section. You know anything about our prospects? How they're getting along?
Feel free to watch a Grand Rapids game at any time. You might learn something.

Actually, the response was because you failed to address any other part of my post.. which pertained to hockey, to make your anal retentive ad hominem post. By all means, try again. Add a little grit to it though.

Actually, the response was because you failed to address any other part of my post.. which pertained to hockey, to make your anal retentive ad hominem post. By all means, try again. Add a little grit to it though.

Bad, incorrect, horrible, crappy.. that would describe the post I just quoted. The topic title does not say "enforcers" it says "gritty". While I did point out how many times the OP used the word "fighter", it's perfectly valid to debate the necessity of having the many definitions of "gritty" players compared to the current roster. Believe it or not, there are plenty of fans who are not a fighter slappy and want to see both an entertaining and winning set of players fielded for this team. It's been well established that there are some people on this forum who value fighting more than productivity and cannot balance toughness with risk. These values are obviously NOT in line with management of this team. Therefore, expect some criticism of something that will reasonably be judged "head in the clouds".
There's a reason you keep arguing for the Wings to sign certain players, and surprise!.. they don't.
I want "gritty" players too. I want a good mucker who can hit, who can fight, and above all, can create plays that lead to goals and do what the grind line of yore did which is work against an opponent's top line and wear them down with puck possession, hitting, and even scoring, allowing the top scoring lines to play against opponents' weaker ones which has long played into the hands of Detroit Red Wing strategy.
This is a strategy that has long worked and caters to the Red Wings' depth play which is what they've been given so much acclamation for over the last 15+ years.
This team has a laundry list of skill players developing. Goons are cheap. If the Red Wings wanted one, they could have got one. They didn't therefore they don't. Simple as that.

You also were telling someone, out of place mind you, to stay out of a topic.
Old times like how? The only topics I know you post on relate to enforcers. Beyond that, I don't give a s***. Looks like you confused me with someone else.
Let me know when you wanna talk hockey.
Until then, try not to be so full of yourself.