Thoughts from the Penguin's Nest

[BewareThePenguin 1]

I don't think that he sucks, but I completely agree that he should start modeling his game after Yzerman. When Crosby isn't scoring, he is relatively useless. He needs to start sacrificing some points and focus on developing his play in his own zone. He has all the physical ability in the world and he obviously has the desire to win. I mean, guys like Zetterberg or Yzerman could be shut out of the scoresheet, but still have a significant impact on the game.

He also needs to realize that he is the captain of an NHL team. Start acting like it. Two-handed slashes to player's knees out of frustration, jumping a guy off-guard at the faceoff circle, and continuous whining to the officials is not captain-like behavior. I'm not a Crosby hater at all. I think he's a really good player, but he needs to develop his two-way play and start acting like a captain and a leader before I'll consider him a great player.

You make some good points here. Crosby apparently does have things to learn, and remember, he's still barely past the legal drinking age. That's not an excuse, that's more support for what you say. I personally think they hung the C on him way too young, but since he's wearing it, he needs to start acting like it.

[Firehawk 305]

Would you really be cheering Hossa -- you really have that much admiration for the guy -- who's contributed, uh exactly what to the championship run? Even if the Wings win, what Pens fans say about Hossa would be true: he simply boarded the bus, put his feet up, and told Zetterberg and Osgood to do the driving. Heck, it was just a couple days ago that Detroit fans who screaming about the NOTHING that this freeloader was contributing. And to dump his sorry non-producing butt. (See: re-sign Hossa thread.)

A Cup hoist like that by Hossa would be a victory for welfare collectors, free-government-cheese recipients, and false insurance-claim payees everywhere.

Hossa = Hockey Socialism.

He has 6 goals in the playoffs, some of the goals pretty big ones...

What's Crosby done in the finals other than give us reasons he shouldn't be captain of a professional team?

[RWK23 0]

Would you really be cheering Hossa -- you really have that much admiration for the guy -- who's contributed, uh exactly what to the championship run? Even if the Wings win, what Pens fans say about Hossa would be true: he simply boarded the bus, put his feet up, and told Zetterberg and Osgood to do the driving. Heck, it was just a couple days ago that Detroit fans who screaming about the NOTHING that this freeloader was contributing. And to dump his sorry non-producing butt. (See: re-sign Hossa thread.)

A Cup hoist like that by Hossa would be a victory for welfare collectors, free-government-cheese recipients, and false insurance-claim payees everywhere.

Hossa = Hockey Socialism.

He's a Red Wing and he's never won the Cup before. So, uhhh, yeah, I'd be cheering him.

And let's stop acting like he isn't doing anything or not producing. He has 15 points, good for fourth on the team, and his backchecking has been phenomenonal. You don't need to score in order to contribute to a winning team.

[BewareThePenguin 1]

He has 6 goals in the playoffs, some of the goals pretty big ones...

What's Crosby done in the finals other than give us reasons he shouldn't be captain of a professional team?

Hossa's been fed like a hungry baby by his wingmates the whole playoffs. Frankly I'm embarrassed for his lack of production. Last night was a prime example -- he was passed the puck, all alone in front of the Pens' backup goalie. He whiffed badly. If the game hadn't been a blowout at that point, you'd have been going wild over that goof.

Nice double standard you have there, btw. Hossa gets credit for the ENTIRE playoffs, while Crosby gets singled out for just the finals. OK -- Hossa has 6 goals in four series. How many does Crosby have over the entire run? "Overall scoring leader of the NHL playoffs," anyone?

Again, Hossa is Hockey Socialism.

[Trapt1307 81]

Look at it this way, If it weren't for Hossa and his two goal performance in game 4 against Anaheim, the Wings probably would have lost that series.

Hossa might not be scoring as much as we'd like him to, but he's still one of the best players on the ice in every game. Crosby's hardly done more than Hossa in this series, and the Pens NEED Crosby in order to win. The Wings don't NEED Hossa. He's a luxury.

Edited June 7, 2009 by Trapt1307

[BewareThePenguin 1]

He's a Red Wing and he's never won the Cup before. So, uhhh, yeah, I'd be cheering him.

And let's stop acting like he isn't doing anything or not producing. He has 15 points, good for fourth on the team, and his backchecking has been phenomenonal. You don't need to score in order to contribute to a winning team.

Want me to link you to the thread where all the Wings fans here are screaming to dump his sorry butt after this season?

And speaking of stopping the drama, let's stop acting like you'd be happy for Hossa because he's such a swell guy. It would be only from spite, to rub the salt into Pittsburgh fans' wounds. Which is why there was the talk of him hoisting the Cup in Pittsburgh, by so many here.

I guarantee you if the Wings lose this series, Marian Hossa becomes public whipping boy #1 in Detroit.

As it is, he's one win away from cashing hockey's ultimate welfare check.

[BewareThePenguin 1]

Look at it this way, If it weren't for Hossa and his two goal performance in game 4 against Anaheim, the Wings probably would have lost that series.

Hossa might not be scoring as much as we'd like him to, but he's still one of the best players on the ice in every game. Crosby's hardly done more than Hossa in this series, and the Pens NEED Crosby in order to win. The Wings don't NEED Hossa. He's a luxury.

You have a point about the Pens needing Crosby a LOT more than the Wings need Hossa -- but that's part of my point too. And Hossa needs a center like Crosby to excel -- witness what a stud he was last year against your own team. The irony is, had Hossa stayed there's a chance he makes the difference for the Pens in a game vs. Detroit -- he in fact could've collected his championship ring with the Pens after all. Now we'll never know, as he's contributed a big fat zilch this finals.

[pirateasaurus 0]

You have a point about the Pens needing Crosby a LOT more than the Wings need Hossa -- but that's part of my point too. And Hossa needs a center like Crosby to excel -- witness what a stud he was last year against your own team. The irony is, had Hossa stayed there's a chance he makes the difference for the Pens in a game vs. Detroit -- he in fact could've collected his championship ring with the Pens after all. Now we'll never know, as he's contributed a big fat zilch this finals.

My my aren't you just butthurt to hell and back.

[RWK23 0]

Want me to link you to the thread where all the Wings fans here are screaming to dump his sorry butt after this season?

And speaking of stopping the drama, let's stop acting like you'd be happy for Hossa because he's such a swell guy. It would be only from spite, to rub the salt into Pittsburgh fans' wounds. Which is why there was the talk of him hoisting the Cup in Pittsburgh, by so many here.

I guarantee you if the Wings lose this series, Marian Hossa becomes public whipping boy #1 in Detroit.

As it is, he's one win away from cashing hockey's ultimate welfare check.

I live in Detroit. Trust me, I know how some people feel about Marian. And your second point about me cheering Hossa out of spite for Pittsburgh fans, you're giving yourself and your fellow fanbase WAY too much credit. I couldn't care less about you guys. I care about the twenty guys on the ice playing the game and seeing them hoist that 35lb. silver trophy at the end of the season. Outside of Claude Lemieux and Chris Pronger, I would cheer any Red Wing hoisting Lord Stanley's hardware.

[hamip1998 3]

Want me to link you to the thread where all the Wings fans here are screaming to dump his sorry butt after this season?

And speaking of stopping the drama, let's stop acting like you'd be happy for Hossa because he's such a swell guy. It would be only from spite, to rub the salt into Pittsburgh fans' wounds. Which is why there was the talk of him hoisting the Cup in Pittsburgh, by so many here.

I guarantee you if the Wings lose this series, Marian Hossa becomes public whipping boy #1 in Detroit.

As it is, he's one win away from cashing hockey's ultimate welfare check.

Please forgive me for feeding the troll.

Why is it that whenever a Pittsburgh fan cannot come up with a valid point in a conversation, they always resort to the "welfare" type of comments? It's basically a "your momma..." comeback. Classless, just like your team.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Look at it this way, If it weren't for Hossa and his two goal performance in game 4 against Anaheim, the Wings probably would have lost that series.

Hossa might not be scoring as much as we'd like him to, but he's still one of the best players on the ice in every game. Crosby's hardly done more than Hossa in this series, and the Pens NEED Crosby in order to win. The Wings don't NEED Hossa. He's a luxury.

The problem is if we signed depth instead of Hossa, we may not have been in that 2-1 deficit to begin with.

[Trapt1307 81]

Why is it that whenever a Pittsburgh fan cannot come up with a valid point in a conversation, they always resort to the "welfare" type of comments? It's basically a "your momma..." comeback. Classless, just like your team.

He's referring to Hossa getting a free ride to the cup.

[C-TownWing 0]

Yes, and nothing says "class" like a good ol' chant of "______ sucks!" You sure showed him.

He doesn't need us to "show him," he's doing a great job all on his own. I almost feel bad for you guys, since you pretty much have to hitch your wagon to that POS, given that he captains your team. Maybe in 2013, someone else can take the $8.7 million cap hit for a guy who doesn't lead, play defense, kill penalties or grow a decent playoff beard and you can see the light.

...and I'm a guy that used to stick up for him here.

[Trapt1307 81]

The problem is if we signed depth instead of Hossa, we may not have been in that 2-1 deficit to begin with.

Who exactly would we have signed? The odds of signing multiple players to one year deals is slim to none, and that's about all Wings brass would have been comfortable handing out last year.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Who exactly would we have signed? The odds of signing multiple players to one year deals is slim to none, and that's about all Wings brass would have been comfortable handing out last year.

I don't know who the FAs were over the summer and who could have been signed at the deadline, but you can't say we wouldn't have had anyone to replace Hossa.

I believe this year was the first time Holland did not make a move at the trade deadline, and Hossa was the reason why.

[BewareThePenguin 1]

Please forgive me for feeding the troll.

Why is it that whenever a Pittsburgh fan cannot come up with a valid point in a conversation, they always resort to the "welfare" type of comments? It's basically a "your momma..." comeback. Classless, just like your team.

How am I being off topic here? I'm simply referring to Hossa and the free ride he's taken with the Wings. As in "welfare" or whatever freebie term you want to ascribe to it. No "your momma" at all -- I don't think you're grasping what's a very simple idea, whether you agree with it or not.

And pardon me if I find it humorous that you all scream "classless" while chanting "Crosby Sucks!" or referring to him as a "POS" as another poster here did.

And while you're criticizing Pens fans for having no class, and being total off-topic insulters, funny, I have yet to hear one poster here call out one of YOURS for posing this little nugget:

i jinxed the pens when i felt his mom..

THERE'S your momma" comment, and it's coming from one of YOURS. That's a real quote from a real poster here. Way to show that Detroit "class" you're always talking about huh? But I guess that's OK 'cuz he roots for the right team and all that.

C'mon, let me here you defend THIS one.

Edited June 7, 2009 by BewareThePenguin

[BewareThePenguin 1]

He doesn't need us to "show him," he's doing a great job all on his own. I almost feel bad for you guys, since you pretty much have to hitch your wagon to that POS, given that he captains your team. Maybe in 2013, someone else can take the $8.7 million cap hit for a guy who doesn't lead, play defense, kill penalties or grow a decent playoff beard and you can see the light.

...and I'm a guy that used to stick up for him here.

Good gosh, the guy's been the leading scorer of the whole playoffs and you act like he's a big flop or something.

As for two-way, you missed the other night when his brilliant bat of a puck -- right out of the air -- killed off a last-second charge by the Wing to even the score (Game 3). He managed to get the puck into the Detroit zone, but just enough to die and have to be played by Osgood before iceing could be called. If that's not big-time defense in the clutch, I don't know what is. But of course, you don't see things like that wearing the hater's glasses. Just saying.

The guy turned 22 not long ago -- yeah he's got some maturing to do, but what were your star players doing when they were 19 or 20? Watching Power Rangers in their feetie pajamas. I'll take Crosby on my team over just about any other player in the NHL, any day. So would you, if you were being honest.

[jollymania 162]

every arena chants crosby sucks, but every arena does not boo a player who played 2 seconds for them and left to join a proven winner becasue he was a FA

[Rivalred 630]

This just in.... RivalRed raids penguins nest Sunday morning and this is the end result:

[Doc Holiday 0]

Good gosh, the guy's been the leading scorer of the whole playoffs and you act like he's a big flop or something.

As for two-way, you missed the other night when his brilliant bat of a puck -- right out of the air -- killed off a last-second charge by the Wing to even the score (Game 3). He managed to get the puck into the Detroit zone, but just enough to die and have to be played by Osgood before iceing could be called. If that's not big-time defense in the clutch, I don't know what is. But of course, you don't see things like that wearing the hater's glasses. Just saying.

The guy turned 22 not long ago -- yeah he's got some maturing to do, but what were your star players doing when they were 19 or 20? Watching Power Rangers in their feetie pajamas. I'll take Crosby on my team over just about any other player in the NHL, any day. So would you, if you were being honest.

You can make your point without acting like an idiot, you know.

[Tman77 40]

How am I being off topic here? I'm simply referring to Hossa and the free ride he's taken with the Wings. As in "welfare" or whatever freebie term you want to ascribe to it. No "your momma" at all -- I don't think you're grasping what's a very simple idea, whether you agree with it or not.

And pardon me if I find it humorous that you all scream "classless" while chanting "Crosby Sucks!" or referring to him as a "POS" as another poster here did.

Free ride? Are you that dumb? Look at his stats through the season. He was the top goal scorer on the club and posted 40g and 31a for 71pts and a +27. Notice the wings had home ice through the entire playoffs? Hossa was a big contributor to that.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

As for two-way, you missed the other night when his brilliant bat of a puck -- right out of the air -- killed off a last-second charge by the Wing to even the score (Game 3). He managed to get the puck into the Detroit zone, but just enough to die and have to be played by Osgood before iceing could be called. If that's not big-time defense in the clutch, I don't know what is. But of course, you don't see things like that wearing the hater's glasses. Just saying.

On the other hand, we witness Crosby floating lazily on the backcheck, not taking Pavel Datsyuk or Dan Cleary or the passing lane in between, on Cleary's opening tally last night. He hasn't really impressed me with his two-way play to this point.

[Theophany 110]

Good gosh, the guy's been the leading scorer of the whole playoffs and you act like he's a big flop or something.

As for two-way, you missed the other night when his brilliant bat of a puck -- right out of the air -- killed off a last-second charge by the Wing to even the score (Game 3). He managed to get the puck into the Detroit zone, but just enough to die and have to be played by Osgood before iceing could be called. If that's not big-time defense in the clutch, I don't know what is. But of course, you don't see things like that wearing the hater's glasses. Just saying.

The guy turned 22 not long ago -- yeah he's got some maturing to do, but what were your star players doing when they were 19 or 20? Watching Power Rangers in their feetie pajamas. I'll take Crosby on my team over just about any other player in the NHL, any day. So would you, if you were being honest.

Kronwall took a puck from behind the goal line and scored through three Pens defenders! He's the best forward ever! Why is he playing defense?!

That's how stupid that one argument looks to 99% of the posters here. One example of good two-way play does not a Selke-winner make.

BTW, Toews is right behind Crosby for being one of the youngest captains ever (at 21), and he's much, much more mature than Crosby. He's also a pretty good two-way forward.

[BewareThePenguin 1]

Free ride? Are you that dumb? Look at his stats through the season. He was the top goal scorer on the club and posted 40g and 31a for 71pts and a +27. Notice the wings had home ice through the entire playoffs? Hossa was a big contributor to that.

Again, the double standard: want me to point out Crosby's regular season numbers? Not to mention how his numbers blow away Hossa's stats in the playoffs. But posters here only want to bust on Crosby for his FINALS performance.

I've seen about every Detroit playoff game -- when performance matters most. Hossa was invisible about every game except maybe one vs. the Ducks. The Pens rode Crosby to the finals, the Wings carried Hossa there. Big diff, bud.

Hossa = Hockey Socialism.

[jollymania 162]

On the other hand, we witness Crosby floating lazily on the backcheck, not taking Pavel Datsyuk or Dan Cleary or the passing lane in between, on Cleary's opening tally last night. He hasn't really impressed me with his two-way play to this point.

or that goal i think in game 2 where crosby just conveniently pranced around the net while z who was untouched scored.