Pittsburgh press, more lunacy

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Therrien is an idiot, but you don't have to be a great coach to win the Stanley Cup.

Would anyone consider Bob Hartley, Peter Laviolette or John Tortorella as great coaches? I sure as hell don't.

[Firehawk 305]

The way I read that is he's talking about nobody putting better talent IN THE EAST out on the power play. I don't think he wanted to encompass the entire league. There's no way you can argue we have lesser talent than Pitt in any category, except whining.

[C-TownWing 0]

Maybe I have a mis-conception of what a "hometown discount" is but I thought a hometown discount referred to a player taking less money to play for the team that he grew up close to (geographically). For instance, Rafalski taking a discount because he grew up in Dearborn. Why does Pittsburgh refer to every signing as a hometown discount. Every article I've read insinuates that each player should sign for less money in order to get the "Pittsburgh Hometown Discount" whether they are from Minnesota or Russia. This just doesn't make sense to me. Can anyone explain?

It's often used in the context of players taking less to re-up with the team for whom they've been playing, as that city has become his "adopted" hometown. I don't really understand the logic either, it might apply to a guy like Lidstrom at this point, but for some guy who got traded (didn't choose to go there) and played there for 30 games (I'm talking about Hossa if you can't tell), it's a ridiculous statement to make.

[Z and D for the C 712]

"In the salary-cap era, every team outside of Detroit has holes."

Hahaha, that made me laugh

[b.shanafan14 733]

Nobody will put more talent on the ice for power plays, if the Penguins deploy, say, Crosby, Malkin and Staal up front with Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney on the points. Nobody has a superior defense, and nobody has a significantly better goaltending situation.

I felt that went unnoticed.... discuss!

[Z and D for the C 712]

He was only talking about in the East

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

I for the most part agree with the things the writer said. Hes talking about eastern conference for one, AND he was quick to point out (though probably not without gritting his teeth) the wings as a complete team, and give them their due credit. Do i think the part about their D being second to none in the east is true...not really but thats MY opinion. The only part i have to really disagree with is the part where he says fedotenko, and satan can equal up to malone and hossa to fill in their holes in the roster. When all is said and done though, pittsburgh is really still the best candidate to make it in the playoff run in the eastern conference. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see a rematch at the end of this coming season, only this time the pens are a bit weaker to us and we're a bit stronger to them...ouch lol

[Namingway 146]

In the Stanley cup finals, the Pens were outscored 17-10. That being said, I didn't see the Penguins making any sweet signings or anything that significant so if anything they lost some grit, offense and defense. Let's not forget about the likes of Laraque as well, he may not be a solid player but he did stand up during the playoffs. The Pens ARE still amongst the top of the Eastern conference teams but knowing that we're getting better and they're not, I can see the distance between the two teams growing. Sure, anything happens in the playoffs but if we are to crash into each other in the finals again... Well let me just tell you that it isn't going to be any easier for you guys than it was the last time

You can say that luck is a big thing and anybody can get lucky to win a cup. Whenever you guys got "lucky" you won a game by a goal.

When we were "lucky" we won 4-0, 3-0.

Prepare to see a faster and stronger Red Wings team, with several star players jumping into the primes of their career. We're going to be friggin' awesome this year and there's no denying that.

G'day!

Edited July 6, 2008 by Namingway

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

In the Stanley cup finals, the Pens were outscored 17-10. That being said, I didn't see the Penguins making any sweet signings or anything that significant so if anything they lost some grit, offense and defense. Let's not forget about the likes of Laraque as well, he may not be a solid player but he did stand up during the playoffs. The Pens ARE still amongst the top of the Eastern conference teams but knowing that we're getting better and they're not, I can see the distance between the two teams growing. Sure, anything happens in the playoffs but if we are to crash into each other in the finals again... Well let me just tell you that it isn't going to be any easier for you guys than it was the last time

You can say that luck is a big thing and anybody can get lucky to win a cup. Whenever you guys got "lucky" you won a game by a goal.

When we were "lucky" we won 4-0, 3-0.

Prepare to see a faster and stronger Red Wings team, with several star players jumping into the primes of their career. We're going to be friggin' awesome this year and there's no denying that.

G'day!

Well said dude....yea we didn't really lose anyone this offseason (barring hasek who didn't do much for us in the playoffs, and maybe drake) but also, we have a lot of younger guys who are only getting better with each game (see: filp, franzen, hudler, helm who i was in awe of during the finals...and im sure theres more im missing) My point is, if anything Pit only got significantly weaker yet still remains a contender, but the wings are an ever evolving beast of a team who, regardless of picking up hossa are only getting stronger and stronger as our young guys develop and age. Does anyone else agree that the wings are the new oilers dynasty? I mean we may not have some things the oilers did then but we're the closest thing there has been to it.

[T.Low 1,011]

Well said dude....yea we didn't really lose anyone this offseason (barring hasek who didn't do much for us in the playoffs, and maybe drake) but also, we have a lot of younger guys who are only getting better with each game (see: filp, franzen, hudler, helm who i was in awe of during the finals...and im sure theres more im missing) My point is, if anything Pit only got significantly weaker yet still remains a contender, but the wings are an ever evolving beast of a team who, regardless of picking up hossa are only getting stronger and stronger as our young guys develop and age. Does anyone else agree that the wings are the new oilers dynasty? I mean we may not have some things the oilers did then but we're the closest thing there has been to it.

I agree that the Wings "could be"; only time will tell. Thats why I'm buying a big flatscreen with surround sound for next season.

The Pens are going to get better, too. Lets face it, they are young. No matter what you think of Crosby and Malkin, they're still children.

The problem is that Thierren is going to hold back their maturation process with tirades like the "Osgood diving" rant. The personality of the team starts at the top down. What does that do for a team when the coach spends all his time whining and trying to make excuses? You should have heard the Vancouver radio sports talk guys imitating Thierren:

"The reason we lost da game was because Osgood was diving. The reason our guys could not keep up with Detroit was because Osgood was diving. The reason we could not backcheck Detroit is because Osgood was diving. The reason the Red Wings always had the puck and we never saw it was because Osgood was diving. The reason Detroit could alwasy find good passing lanes was because Osgood was diving".

When the coach is that immature, how can the players be expected to mature.

Edited July 6, 2008 by T.Low

[VM1138 1,921]

Saying you're the best of the East is sort of like saying you're the smartest dumb kid around.

[Kronner55 1]

"The reason we lost da game was because Osgood was diving. The reason our guys could not keep up with Detroit was because Osgood was diving. The reason we could not backcheck Detroit is because Osgood was diving. The reason the Red Wings always had the puck and we never saw it was because Osgood was diving. The reason Detroit could alwasy find good passing lanes was because Osgood was diving".

When the coach is that immature, how can the players be expected to mature.

Ok, that was good for a laugh. Wish I could have heard it instead of just reading it. If it wasn't Ozzie's diving, it was OBSTRUCTION. I think he had an obstruction all right, but not on the ice...

[Guest Crymson]

How is $8.7m per year a 'hometown discount'?

I don't doubt that Zetterberg will take considerably less than that.

[IceMunkee 15]

This article does not bother me. He basically drilled in the fact the penguins are the best in the East. He also continued to throw Detroit props by saying things the dd compare to the Wings. He is a little over confident but if he truly is a wings fan and not some media bum faking the funk, should'nt he be? They had a winning season regardless if there is a conspiracy of if the NHL wants them to win.

I also like that he said the Malkin has the potential to be the best in the world but Crosby has to improve. Finally not a Crosby wanker...

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Saying you're the best of the East is sort of like saying you're the smartest dumb kid around.

How so?

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Saying you're the best of the East is sort of like saying you're the smartest dumb kid around.

Haha I was thinking the same thing.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

How is $8.7m per year a 'hometown discount'?

I don't doubt that Zetterberg will take considerably less than that.

Zetterberg is pretty much locked in at anything less than 7.45M.

[Guest Four]

Zetterberg is pretty much locked in at anything less than 7.45M.

I could even see Hank matching Datsyuk's pay

[YoungGuns1340 1]

How so?

Cause they are loaded with mediocre teams, a lot of whom didnt make any improvements or got worse. Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, NYI, Toronto, Florida, Senators, Capitals, Pittsburgh. The Devils, Rags, Flyers, Canes, and Habs all made slight improvements, and in a few of those cases its debatable. Tampa Bay, the team who was abysmal, made huge improvements on paper, but now have a worse offense than they started out with.

Meanwhile, half the West has made improvements, and only a few teams have gotten worse..

[UKWING 8]

How is $8.7m per year a 'hometown discount'?

because they would both get considerably more than that on the open market.

whilst it is not as big a discount as lids and hopefully hank will give the wings, it is still a discount.

[miller76 463]

Cause they are loaded with mediocre teams, a lot of whom didnt make any improvements or got worse. Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, NYI, Toronto, Florida, Senators, Capitals, Pittsburgh. The Devils, Rags, Flyers, Canes, and Habs all made slight improvements, and in a few of those cases its debatable. Tampa Bay, the team who was abysmal, made huge improvements on paper, but now have a worse offense than they started out with.

Meanwhile, half the West has made improvements, and only a few teams have gotten worse..

I don't laways agree with you, but on this topic I completely agree. The East is still weak. I am not understanding why some of these teams are not improving, and are content with mediocre teams. The west is just so dominant as of late, even without the likes of Crosby and AO. in their conference.

[Anomalously 0]

Playoff totals. Just saying.

[grsbmd 0]

I don't laways agree with you, but on this topic I completely agree. The East is still weak. I am not understanding why some of these teams are not improving, and are content with mediocre teams. The west is just so dominant as of late, even without the likes of Crosby and AO. in their conference.

If you can be mediocre in the east and still make the playoffs (i.e. Boston last year), why bother spending more money. The eastern teams just play each other for the most part. If none of the east teams are getting any better, I guess you don't have to get any better yourself.

If I made one list of the teams that have gotten better, all but one (Tampa) would be in the west. I really hope we don't start seeing an NBA-like difference between the two conferences. This is why the two conferences need to play each other WAY MORE.

[Z and D for the C 712]

If you can be mediocre in the east and still make the playoffs (i.e. Boston last year), why bother spending more money. The eastern teams just play each other for the most part. If none of the east teams are getting any better, I guess you don't have to get any better yourself.

Unless you want to win the stanley cup

[Doggy 130]

If you can be mediocre in the east and still make the playoffs (i.e. Boston last year), why bother spending more money. The eastern teams just play each other for the most part. If none of the east teams are getting any better, I guess you don't have to get any better yourself.

If I made one list of the teams that have gotten better, all but one (Tampa) would be in the west. I really hope we don't start seeing an NBA-like difference between the two conferences. This is why the two conferences need to play each other WAY MORE.

The disparity b/w conferences in the NHL is greater than in the NBA now. IMO. The East is pathetic. At least the East in the NBA had two teams that could win it all (and one did). Granted, after that - LeBron and a whole lotta nothing.