ESPN hating on the Wings... Surprise Surprise

[Antilles328 0]

I hate ESPN

Burnside and Lebrun talking about the Wings.

"Speaking of being surrounded by talent, what about Pavel Datsyuk for the Hart? His numbers are spectacular and that's hard to do on a balanced Wings team that doesn't need to overplay its stars.

Burnside: I agree Datsyuk is a rare talent, but I don't think he's got what it takes to be a Hart guy. And I think your prejudice against goalies is a bit misguided. I agree you shouldn't throw them into the Hart mix just for fun, but I also think, in rare cases, they deserve some love, and what Mason has done, as a rookie not expected to be part of the Blue Jackets' immediate plans to boot, is worthy of consideration."

And

"How about the Norris to wrap things up? They might as well call this trophy "The Lidstrom" given Nicklas Lidstrom's domination for most of the last decade, but I think this is the year that run ends. My guess is Mike Green has impressed enough voters with his offensive genius (he leads all defensemen with 63 points, 15 more than Lidstrom, and is plus-24, which is meaningless, but I threw it in there anyway). Other candidates? Dan Boyle, and I like Nashville's Shea Weber, who has 19 goals and has been a big part of a Predators team that just won't quit."

I think the Wings have been too good for too long. Everyone takes everything they do for granted. If any other player in the league had seasons like they do year in and year out, the media would love them. You hear everything about Crosby, Malkin, and AO but Datsyuk gets forgotten about. It just pisses me off.

I guess we will just have to settle for winning the cup again.

[TheOwl 77]

I don't see why how many goals/points a D-man has is more important then how effective he is at shuting down the other team. Unlike a lot of the other trophies, the Norris really can't just be handed to who has the best stats.

And Datsyuk does deserve the Hart, as he is just as important to the Wings and their success, as Ovechkin, Malkin and Crosby.

Edited March 21, 2009 by TheOwl

[55fan 5,133]

That's hating?

[dat's sick 1,002]

Malkin and Crosby are 1st and 2nd in scoring. How do you justify giving the Hart to one of them if Datsyuk isn't worth it because the Red Wings are too stacked with talent? And Ovie (3rd) has Backstrom (11th), Semin (17th), Green (1st among d-men) as well as a number of other good players on his team.

Parise is 5th in scoring and has Elias at 9th. Datsyuk is 4th and his closest teammate is Z at 22.

Datsyuk and Parise are cleary better at a lot of things than the top 3. They're better 2-way players, take less penalties, have better +/- etc.

For me, the three Hart nominees should be Datsyuk, Parise and Steve Mason. But I would be surprised if it wasn't Malkin, Crosby and Ovie.

[MissyLKS8 6]

Hey, I've given up on ESPN for a long time now. I can't stand they way they cover sports. They are bias and their announcers don't know jack about the teams they are covering. FSN was a god sent because they have people who follow the team and know the players. NO mispronouncing names or stating obvious facts for the national TV broadcast. They do they same thing with baseball or when I watch verses or just FOX. For info and stories, I'd just go the the NHL page.

This had nothing to do with really with what you had to say or the article, but I wanted to mention it.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Wait? So there actually are sports outlets that aren't stroking the Wings ego 24-7-365?! The horror! The horror!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*ends sarcasm*

[Dabura 12,232]

My guess is Mike Green has impressed enough voters with his offensive genius

ESPN in a nutshell.

[betterREDthandead 58]

wah wah wah somebody didn't bend over and kiss Pavel Datsyuk's butt wah wah wah not everyone thinks he's the best ever wah wah wah

[b.shanafan14 733]

Burnside rarely sides with the Wings, probably the same reason most don't. Sports writers usually like to pick teams that aren't the far and away favorite. If everyone guesses the best team is the best, they aren't "deep" or "knowledgable" enough.

As far as the awards, no surprise there. Glad Datsyuk is in the conversation at least. He is there at the top in scoring, which is all they seem to care about, you'll never hear the argument "but he's also the best defensive forward". More likely to hear them mention the team around him. Not a surprise.

As far as Lidstrom and the Norris, tho he has been consistently great this season, he doesn't have the offensive numbers to compete with a Mike Green if they decide to vote on offense and hasn't been the OUTWARDLY dominant defensive player that Chara has been. Nick is subtle, unfortunately, they aren't looking for subtle this season, and are definitely looking forward to runnning "_____ dethrones Norris Nick" as a headline instead of "Nick wins Norris. Again."

[dat's sick 1,002]

That's hating?

Yeah, I wouldn't call that hate.

The fact that they even mentioned Datsyuk as a possible candidate is a good thing, and about time.

As for Lids, everyone seems to want someone else to the Norris this year. I don't think most people could actually provide a very convincing argument as for why Boyle, Weber, Green or Chara deserves it over Lids. It's like now when Lidstrom for the first time in ages actually looks human and has made some mistakes during the season, they're just looking for someone, anyone, who has had a good season.. "hey, this guys has been pretty good! He should win the Norris!".. but the only one who really has a clear edge over Lids in any one department is Green, on the offensive side with all his goals.

One player I'm wondering about is Wideman (BOS). I haven't seen enough of the Bruins to really determine how good he is, but his stats look great. Why isn't he mentioned in Norris-talks?

[b.shanafan14 733]

Yeah, I wouldn't call that hate.

The fact that they even mentioned Datsyuk as a possible candidate is a good thing, and about time.

As for Lids, everyone seems to want someone else to the Norris this year. I don't think most people could actually provide a very convincing argument as for why Boyle, Weber, Green or Chara deserves it over Lids. It's like now when Lidstrom for the first time in ages actually looks human and has made some mistakes during the season, they're just looking for someone, anyone, who has had a good season.. "hey, this guys has been pretty good! He should win the Norris!".. but the only one who really has a clear edge over Lids in any one department is Green, on the offensive side with all his goals.

One player I'm wondering about is Wideman (BOS). I haven't seen enough of the Bruins to really determine how good he is, but his stats look great. Why isn't he mentioned in Norris-talks?

He isn't the best defenseman on his team, therefore can't be the best in the league. Same reason Rafalski can score so high statistically and rarely even merit an ASG invite.

[dat's sick 1,002]

He isn't the best defenseman on his team, therefore can't be the best in the league. Same reason Rafalski can score so high statistically and rarely even merit an ASG invite.

But Wideman has a better +/- (9+ more than Chara, and the best of all defensemen), much less penalty minutes (not even half as many) and basically as many points (Wideman has 1 more).. As I said, I haven't seen enough of him to know why he has better stats, but Rafalski doesn't really have better stats than Lids, other than 4 more points and 4 less penalties taken.

It just got me wondering if Chara really is the best defenseman on his team, or if that's just his reputation.

[henrik40 76]

Interesting that they throw out +/- as something that "doesn't really matter". +/- is a great indicator of your play as a defenseman, or any position for that matter.

[BlueMonk 102]

I still haven't seen the link to the part where they do the "hating."

[Carman 387]

Huh? There are other teams in the league? When the hell did this happen?

[19Hockeytown5 0]

Huh? There are other teams in the league? When the hell did this happen?

I blame Bettman

and Sammy

[b.shanafan14 733]

I blame Bettman

and Sammy

To anyone in the know, its common knowledge that Robert Lang is to blame in all affairs negative to the game of hockey, especially issues dealing with expansion, salary caps, and NHL awards.

[Guest Shoreline]

Burnside is a moron. It's actually ironic that after the game against Philly and Atlanta I was thinking of Dats for the Hart. And why the hell shouldn't he be considered? Just because Malkin has more points or Ovechkin more goals? Datsyuk is the complete player and beats the s*** out of both Malkin and Ovechkin on defense. He's now been consistently near the top of the league in points, always under consideration for the Selke, or at least, talked about, and his talent stands out just as much as the numbers.

ESPNs problem is firstly they know s*** about hockey, they don't care about hockey, and comments from assholes like Steve Levy pretty much confirm my thoughts. And for the few that like hockey there, they are probably like a majority of fans who are probably tired of seeing the Wings win at so many things. So no matter how much Dats may deserve the Hart, the fact that the Wings win at so many things is already the first strike against him.

[19Hockeytown5 0]

To anyone in the know, its common knowledge that Robert Lang is to blame in all affairs negative to the game of hockey, especially issues dealing with expansion, salary caps, and NHL awards.

I think it's also fair to assume that espn wouldn't be "bashing" us if we had an enforcer. Burnside would be too scared. Ken Holland shares part of the blame for this atrocity!

Edited March 21, 2009 by 19Hockeytown5

[lets go pavel 2]

Yeah, I don't see the hating either. I'm not sure Datsyuk is the most valuable player, but he deserves to be mentioned ... he was. Lidstrom has not had his best year, while other defensemen have raised their game. I don't see a problem ...

[TheSupafly 50]

OP, just because they don't pick a Red Wing for each award doesn't mean they're hating your team. Also, consider that these people are on TV and networks want ratings. Sometimes they will say things that may "stir the pot" so to speak. Something to spark discussion or something that isn't already the common opinion.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I don't care what ESPN says, but I do have a problem with any voter that thinks Mike Green should win the Norris over Nick Lidstrom.

[Dano33 41]

I don't care what ESPN says, but I do have a problem with any voter that thinks Mike Green should win the Norris over Nick Lidstrom.

No kidding, find anyone who will take Green over Lidstrom and i will be extremely surprised.

[Electrophile 3,554]

As far as the Norris Trophy goes, it's Nick's to lose, not everyone else's to win. That's how it has been and how it will be until Nick retires. Kind of like when you start the year with an A+ but everyone starts the year with an F. They have to try and raise their grade, you have to try and keep it.

I think Pavs is just as much of a Hart winner as Malkin or Ovechkin. I think it would be a great tribute to all the little things he does on this team if he were to win it. He's one of those players who you see what he can do in terms of the big things.....but if he's gone, suddenly all the little things become even more magnified and you realize just exactly what you had wearing your uniform. That can't be stressed enough.

[BlakChamber 8]

I still haven't seen the link to the part where they do the "hating."

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting.