Ducks lacking passion?

[Third Man In 2,091]

As a follow-up to edicius' thread about the lack of passion amongst the Ducks' fans, here's an article that suggests that apathy exists in the locker room as well:

Ducks don't appear to be on track to repeat

"I think last year we had more of that eye of the tiger, 'We need to do this,' " defenseman Chris Pronger said. "Going into this year it was, 'Man, it's here already?' "

[redwings56 1]

GO STARS in 4 games hopefully, because if the Ducks decide to get that passion then I think they can go far.

[Jwo 7]

Their reign will end, though, leaving the Detroit Red Wings of 1996-97 and 1997-98 as the last team to win back-to-back championships.

Glad she mention that, as a lot of Red Wing haters tend to forget about that.

Edited April 11, 2008 by Jwo

[Guest wingsin08]

L o L at the sucks

[Death2duder 0]

This article totally underscores the point I try to make when talking about the Red Wings organization. The Wings sign long term deals with players that have "character" (Yzerman, Lidstrom etc...). When the Wings won the cup in '97 the captain of their team didn't sit on the couch waiting for Ken Holland to drop a huge check in the mail box (uhh hmm... Neidermeyer, Selanne). They geared up for the next season to make a run. They also took pay cuts to make room for better players instead of forcing the organization to sacrifice good players.

I will never understand how someone can be a fan of an organization with such a terrible culture as the Ducks have. It's a shame that their name is on the most holy of holies.

[Third Man In 2,091]

This article totally underscores the point I try to make when talking about the Red Wings organization. The Wings sign long term deals with players that have "character" (Yzerman, Lidstrom etc...). When the Wings won the cup in '97 the captain of their team didn't sit on the couch waiting for Ken Holland to drop a huge check in the mail box (uhh hmm... Neidermeyer, Selanne). They geared up for the next season to make a run. They also took pay cuts to make room for better players instead of forcing the organization to sacrifice good players.

I will never understand how someone can be a fan of an organization with such a terrible culture as the Ducks have. It's a shame that their name is on the most holy of holies.

I'm willing to give Selanne a pass because he wasn't under contract, but the Niedermayer fiasco really took something out of the team that they're going to have to get back to advance in the playoffs. It forced them to trade Andy McDonald for Dougie Weight, who's currently riding the bench and likely headed into retirement or back to St. Louis (again) at the end of the year.

[jvxp 0]

As a follow-up to edicius' thread about the lack of passion amongst the Ducks' fans, here's an article that suggests that apathy exists in the locker room as well:

Ducks don't appear to be on track to repeat

"I think last year we had more of that eye of the tiger, 'We need to do this,' " defenseman Chris Pronger said. "Going into this year it was, 'Man, it's here already?' "

Good, I hate the Ducks and Pronger! I hope they loose 4 straight.

[BlueMonk 102]

Nobody here cared much for Helene Elliot last Spring, when she wrote some inflammatory comments about the Wings on the eve of the playoff series between the Wings and Ducks.

Writers like her are a dime a dozen. They write to get a reaction. Not particularly worth reading, IMO. Occasionally, they'll write something you agree with. But their columns are less about stating their opinions than just inventing something to generate controversy.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

As a follow-up to edicius' thread about the lack of passion amongst the Ducks' fans, here's an article that suggests that apathy exists in the locker room as well:

Ducks don't appear to be on track to repeat

"I think last year we had more of that eye of the tiger, 'We need to do this,' " defenseman Chris Pronger said. "Going into this year it was, 'Man, it's here already?' "

That is a horrible attitude to have.

Although it is always hard to have that winning/exciting attitude when you just won a cup, which is exactly why the Ducks will go nowhere. IMO.

[Duck Guy 86]

ducks lost 1 game not 4 O.o this reminds me about the article on nhl.com where someone went to the beach to ask people about hockey during the stanley cup finals lol...

Edited April 11, 2008 by Duck Guy

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

ducks lost 1 game not 4 O.o this reminds me about the article on nhl.com where someone went to the beach to ask people about hockey lol...

ahhhh there you are...hows the hangover? hehehehe

[BlueMonk 102]

That is a horrible attitude to have.

Yeah it is. Keep in mind, Pronger is now the captain of that team. I confess to being a bit shocked that Pronger was a key player on a Stanley Cup winning team. He always struck me as a loser. A really super talented loser, but a loser nonetheless. His play with the Blues garnered a lot of individual acclaim - and deservedly so - but his boneheaded play, particulary taking stupid, selfish penalties at critical moments, hurt the team. Worse yet, the rest of the team would follow his lead. I think he turned the corner a bit after the lockout when he got the Oilers to the Finals and seemed to smarten up a bit, but he didn't win a Cup until he played for a Ducks team led by proven winner Scott Niedermayer.

Well, now Pronger's the captain, and who knows how the dressing room has changed. I still think Nierdermayer's will he/won't he retirement fiasco was a distraction for the Ducks, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are some hard feelings there. Look at Doug Weight. He's there strictly for economic/salary cap reasons. And he's not playing, which he's pretty clearly not happy about. I dunno, I just wonder how it's affecting team chemistry. Add Bertuzzi and his proclivity for playing stupid, and you've got some question marks. You can add questionable players to a strong team with strong leadership and it can work. But when you have loose canons leading the team, that's a little different.

It's premature to start dumping dirt on the Ducks. I still think they'll win this series. But they looked friggin' awful last night. No heart at all. They can't win games like that.

[Wings_Fan_In_Exile 3]

SWEEP! SWEEP!! SWEEP!!! SWEEP!!!!

I can dream

[Z and D for the C 712]

It's weird how she acts like they already won the first and second rounds but lost in the conference finals or something.

[puckloo39 5,686]

Dallas was passionate last night in beating the Yucks. I love it, although I don't know that the Stars can sustain the effort they showed in Game 1. It would make me very happy to see the Stars sweep the Cup pretenders in Anaheim. Turco was great, and has something to prove (can't get outta round one to save his life, even though its usually not on him).

I would be one gleeful loooo if that happened. Go, Stars, GO!!!!

[Kira 451]

I have to admit, Terry and I watched part of that game last night, and we laughed our asses off. It was hilarious. I want to see Anaheim get their collective egos handed to them on a platter.

Guys, crow goes down better with barbecue sauce!

[FedorovGurl 2]

Yeah, I watched that game and the Ducks just took stupid penalties all night. They just did not seem like the same Ducks that ruled the playoffs last year, it was weird to watch them. They looked almost awkward or something...

(sorry Duckguy, just my observation)

[Guest wingsin08]

Yeah it is. Keep in mind, Pronger is now the captain of that team. I confess to being a bit shocked that Pronger was a key player on a Stanley Cup winning team. He always struck me as a loser. A really super talented loser, but a loser nonetheless. His play with the Blues garnered a lot of individual acclaim - and deservedly so - but his boneheaded play, particulary taking stupid, selfish penalties at critical moments, hurt the team. Worse yet, the rest of the team would follow his lead. I think he turned the corner a bit after the lockout when he got the Oilers to the Finals and seemed to smarten up a bit, but he didn't win a Cup until he played for a Ducks team led by proven winner Scott Niedermayer.

Well, now Pronger's the captain, and who knows how the dressing room has changed. I still think Nierdermayer's will he/won't he retirement fiasco was a distraction for the Ducks, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are some hard feelings there. Look at Doug Weight. He's there strictly for economic/salary cap reasons. And he's not playing, which he's pretty clearly not happy about. I dunno, I just wonder how it's affecting team chemistry. Add Bertuzzi and his proclivity for playing stupid, and you've got some question marks. You can add questionable players to a strong team with strong leadership and it can work. But when you have loose canons leading the team, that's a little different.

It's premature to start dumping dirt on the Ducks. I still think they'll win this series. But they looked friggin' awful last night. No heart at all. They can't win games like that.

i always wondered how he felt going into anaheim knowing he was there only because he was cheap. do you think he hates the org?

[Copenhagen848 58]

It's way too early to say anything....they lost one game. That might be all that is needed to kick them into gear. I absolutely hate Pronger and the Ducks, but they still scare me and are a very good team. They won't be swept and will probably win the series.

[Guest Crymson]

They played an ABSOLUTELY GOD-AWFUL GAME last night. Even with the Wings having won, the Ducks getting tromped was the highlight of my night!

As was typical, Pronger laid down a dirty hit when the Ducks were down 0-4. Fortunately, Lundqvist wasn't hurt.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Whoever wins, I just hope it goes to seven games

[rick zombo 3,739]

I hope it goes 7 games as well. And Dallas wins.

On a sidenote: only one overtime in 8 games so far in the playoffs. What's up with that?

edit: Grammar, to make Zion happy.

Edited April 11, 2008 by rick zombo

[Nev 1,085]

Much as I would love to see the Ducks dumped in the 1st round they've lost ONE game. Way to over-react.

In fact, that article is one of the dumbest I've ever read. So dumb it could've been written by Drew Sharpe. Because the Ducks lost the first game 4-0, they're going to go on and win this series, win the 2nd round, but lose in the 3rd? What kind of logic is that?

[Stu in Israel 0]

I don't see what the big deal is about winning the Stanley Cup two years in a row. The Montreal Canadiens won the Cup 4 straight years from the 76/77 season to the 78/79 season; the New York Islanders won it 4 straight years, 79/80 to 82/83; and between 55/56 to 59/60 the Montreal Canadiens won it 5 straight times!

By the way, after the Wings won their "double" in 97/98, Marty Lapointe criticized his teamates for not playing with enough passion the following year, indicating that he thought the Wings were capable of a "triple" at that time.

[Third Man In 2,091]

Nobody here cared much for Helene Elliot last Spring, when she wrote some inflammatory comments about the Wings on the eve of the playoff series between the Wings and Ducks.

Writers like her are a dime a dozen. They write to get a reaction. Not particularly worth reading, IMO. Occasionally, they'll write something you agree with. But their columns are less about stating their opinions than just inventing something to generate controversy.

The point of the thread, and what I should have been clearer about in opening it, is not Helene Elliot (though it is unfortunate that she's what passes as a hockey columnist for the Times). It should also be noted that this was written before the game and wasn't a hockey writer jumping off the bandwagon after one poor showing. This also wasn't intended as a 'let's dump on the Ducks' thread.

The point was the locker room attitude of Chrissy Pronger et al, which doesn't bode well for the team and showed up on the ice last night.

Edit: What BlueMonk says in his second post is spot on btw--you expect better from your captain (imagine an Yzerman or a Messier coming out and saying this).

Edited April 11, 2008 by Third Man In