SouthernWingsFan

Unforutunately you have a fair amount of people in here who seem to believe or try to compose conspiracy theories Bettman and the NHL rigging games or the referees intentionally calling a game one way or inconsistently in order for Anaheim or lesser-known or smaller-market teams to win the Cup. While I certainly don't think much of Bettman and already knew the ratings were going to be low overall on TV, it's really a shme to see how bad and bitter the whining and ranting during the Finals in here about the Ducks and the NHL. 2006-07 was a great year indeed. Wings did better than any of us could expect. Yes it stinks that they were so close to get the Finals and didn't, but they never gave up and showed more hustle and determination than ever since winning the Cup in 2002. Am definitely proud of this year's version of the Wings and don't really hold much ill will towards the Ducks anymore. Any foul taste or petty bitterness isn't going to change the results. It's done, over with, we move on. Congrats again to the Ducks and here's hoping the Wings go 1 round higher next season and win the in 2007-08!

nm

Here's a goofy picture of me acting like a retard at some point in time, don't remember when this was taken.

Even though the Ducks won the 2 games Pronger was suspended in, you could make a strong case that he was a final piece to help the Ducks have a solid regular season and win the Stanley Cup. While I barely saw the Ducks play this year during the regular season, I wouldn't really know if Pronger was "the main difference-maker" in getting the Ducks to where they were in the playoffs. He did a large share of helping out though.

:violin: Soon Bettman will be blamed for such things as global warming, throwing trash on I-90 in the middle of nowhere in Montana, and for not being able to prevent the next earthquake in San Francisco. Just you wait, it will happen!

Good that he should eventually be all right. While I bet it was hard for Giguere to miss time early in the playoffs, it's great to know that he put family first over job. While I certainly don't think much of a small bunch of the Duck players, pretty much Pronger and Perry, the Ducks did deserve to win it in spite of what a lot of us might have to say in here right now about the Ducks or a lot of their players. I'm still disappointed the Wings were so damn close to going to the Finals but not able to pull it off, I'm not bitter or angry at the rest of the Ducks, that's just not healthy. I pretty much put that aside the day after the Wings were eliminated. I mean what can you do, the Ducks just did enough with less chances to move on, it sucks for us but I can't control the outcome of the game. Some of the bitterness and posts about the Ducks cheating or playing cheap and dirty has gone completely overboard in here over the past few days unfortunately, but hopefully after a few days all will be calm in here and posters will give the Ducks their fair due and fair amount of credit for doing what they had to do to win the Cup (minus Pronger, we're gonna be upset at him for a while ). Keep soaking the championship in, cuse the celebrations don't last long.

3 quickies for me... 1. The schedule is awful. I just don't buy that all fans like the schedule against teams 8x a year. Even if you like to play the other team or are big rivals, 8 games against any team, I don't care who they are, is too many. What was wrong with the previous format. You were guaranteed to see every team at least once, and see every team in your home arena at least every other season. 2. Eliminate the instigator rule. It's crap. I don't want games getting out of hand but nothing is wrong with a good ol' 1-on-1 fight every now and then, even late in the games. 3. I actually don't mind the deal with VS. Hell, if the NHL could somehow get back on ESPN, I'd go back to them in a heartbeat, despite annoying and redundant ESPN jokes in here how they don't care about hockey. Well, they still showed it back then. But, it's going to be on VS for a while for better or worse. I think they have done a decent job with post-game analyses, showing hockey related shows and movies every now and then, and so forth. VS also broadcasts some college football games now from the Mountain West Confernce, starting this past football season. So VS is trying to become a little more mainstream. For both the NHL and the MWC, it's the same situation. If you focus on results in a 1 or 2-year window, you aren't going to be happy with the deal on VS, because it is not widely available (yet) in a lot of households across the country. For both parties, this was a long-term decision. In 5-7 years, maybe VS will be more available. That's up to everybody. For VS to promote themselves, for fans of both the NHL and schools in the Mountain West Conference to request more availability of the station, and for the NHL and MWC to partner up with VS in some fashion for some marketing. If, by that 5-7 year window VS is still not in more markets and the NHL is still difficult to find, then the experiment with VS could be deemed a failure. Until then, it is too early in the relationship and judgment is pre-mature.

Rod Stewart - Have You Ever Seen The Rain

All right, I don't speak pirate, but I do have some more questions. If there's supposed to be an undisputed heavyweight champion, what's all the fighting about? Why are a camel's chest implants on her back, instead of where they are supposed to be up front? Why can't midgets grow up at all? Why the hell can't Chinese restaurants serve normal silverware? Using chopsticks suck, they are impossible to grip properly. Why do people tell you that there are monsters under your bed when you are a kid, when they actually aren't? Adults can be big liars sometimes!

It's definitely close to the V!

The Red Wings didn't get screwed out of a Cup. They didn't capitalize on more of the chances they had. Anaheim capitalized on less chances. That happens a lot in hockey and is nothing new.

Cool pic. What's the word on Giguere's son? While I've watched all but game 3 of the Finals since the Wings got eliminated, I really haven't read a lot of hockey news in general and of just skimmed through some of the major sports sites online a few times, so I'm out of any loops. I read his eye is something that probably isn't life threatening, but still unfortunately isn't going to go away anytime soon. Hopefully I am incorrect there and can get some more understanding of the situation. Congrats to Giguere (save the large pad jokes, that joke got stale a long time ago), congrats to his family, and congrats for also having a new baby boy that should be healthy for the most part it seems. *crosses fingers*

Quoted for truth.

Agreed. Definitely difficult to repeat, but the Ducks will be back in the playoffs next year. If they aren't one of the top 4 seeds in the WC next season, I'll be surprised.

Pretty damn difficut to repeat, but to think they are going to miss the playoffs is a pretty bold and obnoxious statement.

No, it isn't, don't be so dramatic.

They'll return to the playoffs next year at the very least.

Yes, they did. We just didn't want them to win. They capitalized on enough chances, they scored more than the other team. Minus a couple of people I don't think much of, they deserved to win it.

Good grief let's get a grip here people. It's not that bad.

We don't know that. Ottawa could've shown up different if they played Detroit or Detroit could've just started stinking up the joint for whatever reason. The Ducks deserved to win the Cup, they did just enough to get past Detroit even though they were outchanced. Simple as that.

If they hold, and it looks like they will, congrats indeed. Minus Pronger, I don't really have any ill-will or bitterness towards the Ducks. Not really healthy if I did. Give them their fair amount of credit, they did just enough with a little less opportunities than the Wings, so they deserved to be in the Finals, like it or not. Here's to the Wings hopefully raising it in 2007-08. :beerbuddy:

Groovy cool. Hasek pretty much pssed the physical test this season, missing very little time. And whatever time that was missed was not because of his groin. While you have to still show some concern about the obvious, Hasek will be 43 and the "groin" is still there, there aren't many that come as intensed and as focus as Hasek in my opinion in terms of work or practice. If he still has the will mentally, I have little doubt he'll bust his tail off to try to remain healthy physically. Hasek and Osgood seemed to develop a great working relationship as well. Two guys that absolutely wanted to be playing for the Red Wings. I'd definitely be happy with Hasek-Osgood once again.

QUOTED FOR TRUTH. He's only played 121 games total in the NHL (115 + 6 playoffs). Despite injuries, he still is in his mid-20s. Anybody who has said that he's getting old in the tooth is being ridiculous. The man has plenty of time to be a solid d-man in the NHL for years to come, he's go at least 8 - 10 good years left in the NHL, at minimum, if he can have some more luck and continue to get more PT and big game experience. And he's going to get a lot of game experience whether we like it or not, at least for the next 4 seasons with the Wings, so we might as well get behind him and hope for the best.

While I certainly don't defend Alfredsson for what he did, I'm going to get really irritated if every single hard check or hit or questionable call/penalty eventually comes to the point where fans area always saying "suspend him". This is hockey, not hop-scotch.

Where are the real pirates? Greenville, NC (East Carolina Pirates) or Pittsburgh? Who is the freakiest? Rupal, Michael Jackson, or Big *** Al? Do people wear underwear in heaven?