Loyalty questions for Canadian Wings fans

[redeyedwings 2]

I know this hit home with me -- I personally can't do it. Whenever Pronger's on the ice, I just want Babcock to get him off it. Niedermayer's been a thorn in our sides, but he's good enough and classy enough that I can live with it, and as for Crosby, I just want Canada to win without him scoring too many points -- if Iginla, Staal and Toews could lead the way for us (three of my favourite non-Wings) I'd be even happier.

As it is though, I don't wanna see Pronger, Getzlaf or Perry hoisting the damn Tourney MVP trophy or whatever it is...

http://thegamesheet.com/?p=216

There's a good essay on it, what do other Canadian Wings fans think?

I envy the American Wings fans right now ... team's doing well and Rafalski kicking ass for them!

[DRW Dominance 255]

I like having Luongo, Getzlaf, Toews, Staal, the four young D men, and Nash. The rest are just meh.

[Serapth 3]

Bah, fan loyalty is a crock of s*** anyways.

Most of the players people hate, they deep down hate because that player is extremely talented and as a result as stuck it to your favorite team on more than one occasion. This is doubly true for agitators... fans always love their local agitators or goons but hate other teams, its just one of those stupid things about being a fan. This is just silly blind fanboy rage.

And amazingly enough, it disappears about 20 seconds after that player joins your team. I know a number of people here despise Jarome Iginla for various reasons, but you bet your ass if he became a Wing, he would be a fan favorite within days.

What would be humourous though, is to see what would happen if Crosby became a Wing....

Edited February 26, 2010 by Serapth

[redeyedwings 2]

Bah, fan loyalty is a crock of s*** anyways.

Most of the players people hate, they deep down hate because that player is extremely talented and as a result as stuck it to your favorite team on more than one occasion. This is doubly true for agitators... fans always love their local agitators or goons but hate other teams, its just one of those stupid things about being a fan. This is just silly blind fanboy rage.

And amazingly enough, it disappears about 20 seconds after that player joins your team. I know a number of people here despise Jarome Iginla for various reasons, but you bet your ass if he became a Wing, he would be a fan favorite within days.

What would be humourous though, is to see what would happen if Crosby became a Wing....

Well hell, look at the many contortions some Wings fans went through to get behind the Todd Bertuzzi signing.

And I seem to remember some trade rumours for Ian Lapierre -- who I can personally remember cursing out loud about to my TV -- that had many of us excited.

It will always fel wrong though to cheer for Pronger, I think even Ducks and Flyers fans probably know that deep down.

[T.Low 1,011]

Well hell, look at the many contortions some Wings fans went through to get behind the Todd Bertuzzi signing.

And I seem to remember some trade rumours for Ian Lapierre -- who I can personally remember cursing out loud about to my TV -- that had many of us excited.

It will always fel wrong though to cheer for Pronger, I think even Ducks and Flyers fans probably know that deep down.

Since I've moved out west, I try to be groovey and free love and rise above that kinda thing, but while watching a "making of Team Canada" documentary they showed a clip from Slat Lake where Yzerman scores and Pronger was the first skater into Stevies arms for the after score line hug...I involuntarily thowup a little in my own mouth. f***sakes, it was nasty.

I know that if they can put aside their differences, we should be able to also, but I guess it's a very different perspective when you are the one watching vs the one actually in the battle.

[55fan 5,133]

Since I've moved out west, I try to be groovey and free love and rise above that kinda thing, but while watching a "making of Team Canada" documentary they showed a clip from Slat Lake where Yzerman scores and Pronger was the first skater into Stevies arms for the after score line hug...I involuntarily thowup a little in my own mouth. f***sakes, it was nasty.

I know that if they can put aside their differences, we should be able to also, but I guess it's a very different perspective when you are the one watching vs the one actually in the battle.

That. They can do the "name on front>name on back" thing.

It's much easier to look at Canada from the perspective of a US fan and say, "Ugh. Look at the (insert insult here) guys they have on that team" than it is to have them on your own team and have to root for them.

For me, it's Kane. I don't hate him; I just have no respect for him. I see him on the ice in my country's jersey and I have to remind myself that they ice the best players, not the nicest. Then I look at Raffy and feel fluffy bunnies in my heart. (Ok, exaggeration there. I actually just think "Go Raffy!")

[superstarsingh 23]

Can't do it either. Simply cannot cheer for a team that contains Pronger, Neidermayer, Getzlaf, Perry, Thornton, Marleau, Heatley, Boyle, Toews, Keith, Seabrook and worst of all, Crosby. If they win gold, great for Babs and Stevie but if they don't, I would not care at all.

Edited February 26, 2010 by superstarsingh

[lookalive07 251]

I found it kind of classless that Getzlaf would be talking s*** to Malkin when he plays with Crosby for the Olympics. Guess he got what he deserved though.

[SDavis35 140]

I found it kind of classless that Getzlaf would be talking s*** to Malkin when he plays with Crosby for the Olympics. Guess he got what he deserved though.

I don't understand what the problem is with this... it's not like players don't do this in NHL games. Isn't Maltby known for being the pest of the Wings? If there was something different I obviously missed it, but that's not the same as the "classlessness" that I see out of Pronger/Niedermeyer.

Iginla on the other hand has something that just brings me to be happy he's on my team. I think he's one of the players who brings it on the ice, but is still pretty classy off the ice. Crosby has such a bad rep on these boards that it's hard to see that he's a really good player, I hate his publicity but his play is deserving of his captaincy on Pittsburgh - he may not get all the points, but with the game on the line (Switzerland) he seemed pissed off and took control. Even scored to make the USA game close.

It's hard to root for the cheapshotters, but the rivals are not quite as difficult. Also enjoy seeing Luongo out there saving us from time to time. Overall though, I find myself cheering for the Wings players on the other teams rather than their teams themselves. Something about Canadian pride pulls me into root for Babcock's team.

[Yellowknife Redwing 57]

I set aside all meaningless rivalries when it comes to international play and get behind every player that has ever worn the Maple Leaf. How a Canadian could hate Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf right now is beyond me. I have an enormous amount of pride in our country, our system and our continued success at every level of international hockey. As stated above, nearly all "hatred" in hockey stems from jealousy of the player's skill or ability to dominate your own team.

[newfy 695]

If everyone just sits back and tihnks about it why do we hate guys like Getzlaf? He's one of the most clutch, best playoffs performers in the game. Do we hate him because he amost single handedly beat us out last year or what?

I personally get behind every player when they put the leaf on their jersey(as long as it isnt blue) and cheer until I can't. Yeah Pronger is a prick to play against but when he's playing for my country he's a prick to the other countries, not mine.

Yeah I don't like how much everyone in the media goes nuts for Crosby but he doesn't ask for that its not his fault I'm the first to critisize how he hasn't done much this olympics but he's still got a leaf on so I'm going nuts if he scores a goal. PLain and simple.

[superstarsingh 23]

Its not "hate" of Getzlaf or Perry. Its just that I cannot cheer for rival players. Would I want them in Red and White (Detroit's that is), of course. I cannot leave my views as a Wings fan behind to support rival players.

[mmamolo 287]

I think it all depends on your perspective. Personally I've always been a fan of the bad guys. I'll be the first to admit that a guy like Getzlaf or Perry aren't the classiest of players out there and yeah if we were discussing Corey Perry I'd say he's a whiney, chippy little f***** but it has nothing to do with him being a good player and beatin gup on the Wings. I just happen to be one of those guys who cheers for the bad guys. As much as I love the Wings I've always liked guys who are able to beat up on the Wings too - don't ask me why. I really like the Ryan Getzlaf (despite his b.s) and I always loved Peter Forsberg and Adam Deadmarsh. So it had nothnig to do with being Wing killers.

To me it's more about integrity than it is about being chippy or classless. What's always pissed me off about both Pronger and Niedermeyer is that they hide beyond the bulls***. I like the fact they both have mean streaks (Pronger's is obviuosly far bigger) and that at times they both straddle the line but what grinds my gears is that everyone rushes to defend them and says they're just good Canadian boys playing hard and had no ill intent. I remember Niedermeyer throwing that elbow at Datsyuk in the playoffs and than playing innocent and that was a load of s***. Just call it like it is and I can respect you. Same with Pronger when he elbowed Holmstrom in the back of the head or when he stomped his skate down on the back of Kesler's leg and played it off like they were accidents and he couldn't avoid these things. It's that type of s*** that makes me have zero respect for those guys.

I find guys like Getzlaf to play in a similar fashion but to me he's a no nonsense, no excuse kind of guy. He plays hard and loose with the rules because he knows it'll give him the advantage and when I played I was similar. I wouldn't go so far as to say I was dirty but when the time called for it I could be chippy.

As far as the original question goes, I am Canadian, and I do find myself cheering for guys like Getzlaf, Staal, Nash, Doughty, Weber, Keith, Toews and any other player I thought deserved to be on the team (including Niedermeyer and Pronger despite having no respect for them) simply because I am Canadian. However, when it comes to hockey I'm not the most patriotic person out there. As I said, I always like the bad guys. I always cheer for Russia when Canada plays Russia in hockey. I just happen to like the players more. The only reason this year that's been different is because of Yzerman, Holland, and Babcock.

[redeyedwings 2]

If everyone just sits back and tihnks about it why do we hate guys like Getzlaf? He's one of the most clutch, best playoffs performers in the game. Do we hate him because he amost single handedly beat us out last year or what?

I personally get behind every player when they put the leaf on their jersey(as long as it isnt blue) and cheer until I can't. Yeah Pronger is a prick to play against but when he's playing for my country he's a prick to the other countries, not mine.

Yeah I don't like how much everyone in the media goes nuts for Crosby but he doesn't ask for that its not his fault I'm the first to critisize how he hasn't done much this olympics but he's still got a leaf on so I'm going nuts if he scores a goal. PLain and simple.

Personally, I hate Getzlaf because he's a punk, a bit of a bully and he looks like an idiot. I don't like the attitude of almost that whole Ducks team. It's better since the Burke days, but not much.

Would I like him in Detroit? Yeah, probably, but much like the way I felt about Bertuzzi, I'd need to see him buy into the culture of the organization before I'd really start cheering for HIM, as opposed to the team in general.

But for tonight? Hell yeah, f--k those Slovaks up, Getz. This is national pride on the line!

[T.Low 1,011]

I don't understand what the problem is with this... it's not like players don't do this in NHL games. Isn't Maltby known for being the pest of the Wings? If there was something different I obviously missed it, but that's not the same as the "classlessness" that I see out of Pronger/Niedermeyer.

Iginla on the other hand has something that just brings me to be happy he's on my team. I think he's one of the players who brings it on the ice, but is still pretty classy off the ice. Crosby has such a bad rep on these boards that it's hard to see that he's a really good player, I hate his publicity but his play is deserving of his captaincy on Pittsburgh - he may not get all the points, but with the game on the line (Switzerland) he seemed pissed off and took control. Even scored to make the USA game close.

It's hard to root for the cheapshotters, but the rivals are not quite as difficult. Also enjoy seeing Luongo out there saving us from time to time. Overall though, I find myself cheering for the Wings players on the other teams rather than their teams themselves. Something about Canadian pride pulls me into root for Babcock's team.

Agreed.

Here's a question: Who would you rather have win the 2010 Gold Medals; Stevie Y and Chris Pronger, or Brian Rafalski and Brian Burke?

As an AMerican that has lived within an hour of the border much of my life (equidistant from Windsor and Sarnia, and now closer to Vancouver than Seattle), and crossed it often for both work and recreation, I have a lot of 2nd hand pride in many things Canadian. I like to belt out Oh Canada at the games but struggle trying to sing The Star Bangled Banner, prefer Maelle Rickert to Hollywood Lindsay Vonn, Nellie Furtado over Brittney Spears, would rather watch Rick Mercer than Steven Colbert; have a much bigger emotional attatchment to Stevie Y and Mike Babcock than Brian Burke and Ron Wilson; listen to Vancouver's Team 1040 instead of Jim Rome, prefer the feal of a sweet one timer slapshot than the sweet spot of a good golf drive (come to think of it, I own a lot of hockey sticks and no golf clubs), and I am planted in my seat in front of the big screen to see the handoff succession of The Stanley Cup, but am usually out riding or paddling instead of watching the Super Bowl at all.

Of course I realize it's not easy being America's next door neighbor, especially when you are outweighed 300 million people to 35 million. We, of course, can be quite overbearing and self centerred . I think this helps breed the comradary I see amongst so many of my Canadian friends, much more so than with Americans.

So here's to the largest unfortified border in the world, and while my patriot pride wants the US and the Michigan boys to Gold Medal (don't misunderstand me, I am indeed a very Proud American) , a lot of me wants Stevie Y to lead Team Canada to it's first Gold on Canadian soil, Pronger and all.

[evilmrt 636]

Going off on a slight tangent here...but what kind of chances do we have of anyone from the Wings being on Team Canada in 2014?

[Inultus 12]

I know what you mean, but I have to root for Kane even though he plays for a division rival AND I have no respect for him.

I root for him out of love for my country. Go USA!

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

If everyone just sits back and tihnks about it why do we hate guys like Getzlaf? He's one of the most clutch, best playoffs performers in the game. Do we hate him because he amost single handedly beat us out last year or what?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I wasn't much of a fan of his after he jumped a much smaller, weaker, unaware, just-off-injury Rafalski from behind and pummeled him for absolutely zero reason, other than he happened to be on the ice when the Ducks had one of their collective temper tantrums.

[redeyedwings 2]

Going off on a slight tangent here...but what kind of chances do we have of anyone from the Wings being on Team Canada in 2014?

I would say that Darren Helm has a decent shot in the sort of role that Draper filled on the 2002 team.

Dan Cleary will probably be too old by then, and unless a whole bunch of our best d-men get injured, I'd think Brad Stuart has no chance at all.

In the system we have Logan Pyette (who played on the WJC team two years ago) and Brendan Smith, who is getting better all the time ... but it's far and away too much to expect them to be able to make an Olympic team in four years.

I think Helm's probably the best bet -- though really, Stevie, Holland and Babcock have a much better chance at being back running the team in 2014 than any Wings' players have of wearing the uniform... barring a trade for, say Jonathan Toews (hey! I can dream, can't I?)

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Getzlaf just acts tougher than what he really is.

He's a freaking poser who deserves a good beating.

[superstarsingh 23]

I would say that Darren Helm has a decent shot in the sort of role that Draper filled on the 2002 team.

Draper was not on the 2002 Olympic team that won gold in Salt Lake City. You're thinking of the 2004 World Cup, when he and Maltby were on the team.

[mmamolo 287]

... barring a trade for, say Jonathan Toews (hey! I can dream, can't I?)

I was thinking about this the other day....

Everyone knows how much Yzerman loves Toews and as these Olympics have progressed it's becoming more and more apparent how much Babcock is starting to appreciate his abilities as well. It's really becoming more abundantly clear how unfortunate it is that Toews ended up re-signing with Chicago when he did as I am sure Yzerman and Babcock would have pushed hard for Toews to land in Detroit this summer one way or another.

That being said, the Wings usually find a way to get what they need - Jason Williams being last summer's exception ha ha

[redeyedwings 2]

Draper was not on the 2002 Olympic team that won gold in Salt Lake City. You're thinking of the 2004 World Cup, when he and Maltby were on the team.

My bad. You're right, I get those teams confused ALWAYS.

[redeyedwings 2]

I was thinking about this the other day....

Everyone knows how much Yzerman loves Toews and as these Olympics have progressed it's becoming more and more apparent how much Babcock is starting to appreciate his abilities as well. It's really becoming more abundantly clear how unfortunate it is that Toews ended up re-signing with Chicago when he did as I am sure Yzerman and Babcock would have pushed hard for Toews to land in Detroit this summer one way or another.

That being said, the Wings usually find a way to get what they need - Jason Williams being last summer's exception ha ha

I have loved Toews ever since that WJC shootout vs. Team USA. He's been my favourite non-Wing since he came into the league and every single thing I've seen from him so far reminds me of Stevie Y.

I would buy his jersey -- broke as I am -- within an hour of hearing the news, were he ever to become a Red Wing. In fact, he's the only reason I can't bring myself to despise the Blackhawks.

[superstarsingh 23]

My bad. You're right, I get those teams confused ALWAYS.

Yeah. I remember some of my Leaf fan friends being outraged that Drapes and Malts were picked. Draper played well in that tournament in my opinion.