the "this might/will be my last chance for a cup" factor

[j.hoop 64]

we have a few guys who could possibly never be this close again for a cup (drake, hasek (vocal support), maltby, draper, mccarty, chelios) do you think that could be a huge inspiration for them?? they are not role players (sans PP and PK) but could put up a few points like drake did, and deliver some huge hits (drake im looking at you again) to put us over the top. anyone think this come into play??

i envision drake eating two young penguins daily, playing the best series and games of his life, and the rest going full throttle for the next weeks

Edited May 23, 2008 by j.hoop

[55fan 5,133]

It's definately a mental factor for those guys. I don't know how much it will translate onto the ice. They are professionals who give it their best in these circumstances whether it is the "last" time or not. It may also motivate the younger set to play for the older ones, but again, they are professionals who are going to do what it takes anyway.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

If Lilja doesn't come back next year, this could be his last chance for a Cup. He'll play like a beast, and will be eager to atone for last year's mulligan.

I see him scoring the Cup winning goal in OT on a wrap-around.

[high_stick69 7]

As a fan... do you feel less desire for the Wings to win the cup than you did back in '95 or '97? There are a lot of young players on the Wings that have lived their hockey lives for this series. I think some of the older guys like Drake need to let the younger guys know that the potential to go the rest of their careers without being in the finals is good! Hopefully that's not the case, but look at Doug Weight of a few years ago, and Rod Brindamour. Those guys waited an eternity to win the cup. Even Dom waited quite a while to get his hands on it.

[Echolalia 2,961]

If Lilja doesn't come back next year, this could be his last chance for a Cup. He'll play like a beast, and will be eager to atone for last year's mulligan.

I see him scoring the Cup winning goal in OT on a wrap-around.

Because its Lilja, I have to ask: who wins the cup on the wrap-around?

[betterREDthandead 58]

Because its Lilja, I have to ask: who wins the cup on the wrap-around?

I do expect a big series from Drake for this reason.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Because its Lilja, I have to ask: who wins the cup on the wrap-around?

As soon as I wrote that, I knew some "wise guy" would probably ask that question.

[Bad Vlad Forever 1]

I think Chelios will do his best work in this entire playoffs if he stays on the bench. This has GOT to be his last season. Hasek as well.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Crosby will be seeing Drake in his nightmares for the rest of his life after this series. Draper and Maltby always show up to play in the finals, Lidstrom speaks for himself. I think our guys are gonna raise their games alot in the finals.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

As soon as I wrote that, I knew some "wise guy" would probably ask that question.

Couldnt resist

[Gutierrez 7]

lol great movie.

"No you said I was Funny? What the f*** is so funny about me?" haha.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Couldnt resist

Hey, Det # 1 Fan, "go home and get your f***ing shinebox"

J/K

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Hey, Det # 1 Fan, "go home and get your f***ing shinebox"

J/K

[eva unit zero 271]

As a fan... do you feel less desire for the Wings to win the cup than you did back in '95 or '97? There are a lot of young players on the Wings that have lived their hockey lives for this series. I think some of the older guys like Drake need to let the younger guys know that the potential to go the rest of their careers without being in the finals is good! Hopefully that's not the case, but look at Doug Weight of a few years ago, and Rod Brindamour. Those guys waited an eternity to win the cup. Even Dom waited quite a while to get his hands on it.

Neal Broten is my favorite example of this kind of thing. He went to the finals as a rookie with Minnesota, lost in the conference finals to Edmonton a few years later, and had one more trip to the finals in 1991. In his first two finals appearances, his teams won a combined 3 games between the two seasons. In his third finals appearance, 1995 as a Devil, his team went 4-0, with him serving a key purpose providing veteran experience, two-way play, and key faceoff wins. I don't like the example of Hasek because he was a guy who basically was able to pick and choose his contender. Ray Bourque is a similar situation; he had a couple finals trips with Boston but ultimately had to request a trade to Colorado to get something done. Broten was basically shipped out of the Stars organization because they felt journeyman Corey Millen would help the team more. Broten would go on to score the 1995 Cup-winning goal after basically being cast aside by the organization he had been the face of for more than a decade.

Imagine the Wings shipping Steve Yzerman out in 1996-97, only to see him score the Cup winner for some other team that same season? That's Neal Broten.

[VM1138 1,921]

Drake is so pumped he's going to explode all over Pittsburgh like a.....ehhh......let's just say he's going to demolish Pittsburgh, one by one. Drake is going to be like a rampaging rhino. I feel sorry for a player who tries to stand between him and the Cup.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

we have a few guys who could possibly never be this close again for a cup (drake, hasek (vocal support), maltby, draper, mccarty, chelios) do you think that could be a huge inspiration for them?? they are not role players (sans PP and PK) but could put up a few points like drake did, and deliver some huge hits (drake im looking at you again) to put us over the top. anyone think this come into play??

i envision drake eating two young penguins daily, playing the best series and games of his life, and the rest going full throttle for the next weeks

To a certain degree it helps, but I think like a lot of playoff games after the first 10 - 15 minutes nerves and out of whack emotions settle down for all the players and the largely focus more on playing just hockey.