15 replies to this topic

[Canadian_Yzerman_Fan]

I'm wondering what people around here think of the Avs nowadays.

The rivalry is very dead and the only guys they have remaining from it are Foote (will possibly retire after this season) and Hejduk (who wasn't a big part of the rivalry anyway).

I used to loathe the Avs pretty hard, but I can't help but find this rookie loaded team to be exciting and fun to watch. Granted they still have a lot to prove (especially on defense), but they also have a lot of room to grow into being a powerhouse within a couple years. I'm glad the goon squad of the 90's is gone, because I think it would be a real shame to hate a team this good. Coincidentally, I think Matt Duchene may end up being one of my favorite non-Red Wings in the league. I can't wait to see what this kid can do with a little more size and experience, because he looks unstoppable on most nights as it is right now.

So... are average Wings fans Avs haters for life as a result of one of the greatest NHL rivalries, or can a roster full of new faces and a different style help you ignore the jersey they wear? I can't be the only one enjoying watching these guys play.

[stevkrause]

I'm wondering what people around here think of the Avs nowadays.

The rivalry is very dead and the only guys they have remaining from it are Foote (will possibly retire after this season) and Hejduk (who wasn't a big part of the rivalry anyway).

I used to loathe the Avs pretty hard, but I can't help but find this rookie loaded team to be exciting and fun to watch. Granted they still have a lot to prove (especially on defense), but they also have a lot of room to grow into being a powerhouse within a couple years. I'm glad the goon squad of the 90's is gone, because I think it would be a real shame to hate a team this good. Coincidentally, I think Matt Duchene may end up being one of my favorite non-Red Wings in the league. I can't wait to see what this kid can do with a little more size and experience, because he looks unstoppable on most nights as it is right now.

So... are average Wings fans Avs haters for life as a result of one of the greatest NHL rivalries, or can a roster full of new faces and a different style help you ignore the jersey they wear? I can't be the only one enjoying watching these guys play.

I actually like the way the new style Avs play the game... I still hate Foote and it would take MUCH less to start hating them again than another team, but as things stand right now, I enjoy the Avs game... there are really only 6 participants still around from the rivalry, and 4 are here (Maltby is LTIR and hardly counts)... so no real reason to hate them now, unless you hate the jersey...

For the record, I am a die-hard and have been following the wings for over 20 years...

Edited by stevkrause, 07 April 2010 - 01:23 PM.

[ElCapitan]

The Avs have been very entertaining to watch this year. They are fast, gritty and have a lot of good, young talent. My youngest son & I watched them play against SJ on Sunday. The beginning of the game, they played awful and were down by 2, but by the end of the 2nd they were up by 2 & ended up winning the game in OT. They just never seem to give up on the game, despite their youth. SJ, on the other hand, doesn't ever seem to play with heart, at least when I watch them play. So I wouldn't be suprised to see them get bounced in the first round...again

Because I live here, it's nice to see the Avs do well, but it's hard really cheer them on simply b/c of the old rivalry.

[b.shanafan14]

Like others, I liked how the Avs were playing this season, before their slide. The rivalry is completely dead as far as I'm concerned. I hope they regain their form from earlier in the season and they do some damage against SJ.

[titanium2]

I'm not sure if there will be another period like 96-02 where the competition between the two was so fierce. If it were to happen again, the media would place that comparison to no end and it seemingly wouldn't live up to the hype. But it's possible. Corey Perry might become an Av one day and Craig Anderson could turn into a moron like Roy.

[rwfan007]

I think if Pronger, Perry, Tootoo, and Crosby all went to the Avs, the Wings and their fans would gladly bring that rivalry back. But yeah, I think it is really dead since the lock-out because a lot of players from both teams are retired or were not able to stay with the teams because of the cap. It was a good run, but all good things must come to an end.

[Lidstromboli]

i can't help but like stastny, stewart, duchene, quincey, etc.

except when they play the wings of course

foote is still a turd though

[Tommy_Like_Wingy]

They're a great young team and they're going to become very dangerous in the next few seasons.

[GMRwings1983]

I still hate their ****** fans.

The team is hard to hate, since I haven't heard of most of their players.

[Canadian_Yzerman_Fan]

WOW!!!

This has to be by far the most positive thread regarding an opposing team that I have ever seen on this website. That definitely rings out of how much things have changed. I wonder if any other teams are held in this high of a regard on this board... I'm not sure I can think of any possibilities.... especially not in the western conference.

Good on ya LGWers!

[hooon]

It was a great rivalry while it lasted. It wasn't a traditional rivalry born out of teams with regional proximity or decades of historic game. It was a rivalry born out of the two teams matching up so well against each other and battling hard every time they faced one another. I miss it, but its gone.

I agree with OP and others in that I find myself pulling for the Aves. I'd love for them to get back into their old ways and become a powerhouse force in the league. Denver is a great place for hockey with lots of passionate fans, glad to see them doing well this year.

[McAwesome]

I found myself hating them less and less over the last couple of seasons, especially this year since they were really fun to watch in a purely hockey sense, all rivalries aside.

Now that they dealt Wolski, I can go back to hating them outright, he was the only Avs player I can say I actually liked and would want on the Red Wings.

I don't know if the rivalry will ever return to it's prime form, nor whether any hockey rivalry will be as intense with the parity that exists in today's NHL, but it was a great run and was great for the game.

[sharkfan20]

As a Sharks fan, i'm scared of their speed. YEah, thats about it.

But I do like their style of play, its exicting to watch. I love Watching Duchene and Mueller. THeir pretty much amazing.

[ben_usmc]

well Chris Stewart is my favorite nonWing and Duchene is amazing as a rookie, but i wanted them to fail this year simply for the fact my friend is a huge Avs fan and has done nothing but talk s*** about the wings this season. Other then that I think they are a fun team to watch, oh and I hate foote he plays like a complete *******(but would take him on the wings as a 4 dman anyday) Oh and I was pissed when they got Mueller and Porter because I think Mueller is great and Porter is a UofM kid.

I found myself hating them less and less over the last couple of seasons, especially this year since they were really fun to watch in a purely hockey sense, all rivalries aside.

Now that they dealt Wolski, I can go back to hating them outright, he was the only Avs player I can say I actually liked and would want on the Red Wings.

I don't know if the rivalry will ever return to it's prime form, nor whether any hockey rivalry will be as intense with the parity that exists in today's NHL, but it was a great run and was great for the game.

you wouldn't want Stewart (iggy that doesn't throw tantrums) or Yip, Duchene?

Edited by ben_usmc, 07 April 2010 - 04:04 PM.

[Drake_Marcus]

I actually like the way the new style Avs play the game... I still hate Foote and it would take MUCH less to start hating them again than another team, but as things stand right now, I enjoy the Avs game... there are really only 6 participants still around from the rivalry, and 4 are here (Maltby is LTIR and hardly counts)... so no real reason to hate them now, unless you hate the jersey...

For the record, I am a die-hard and have been following the wings for over 20 years...

You have to admit the captain's C looks really stupid with their goofy font.

[VM1138]

With the rivalry dead and Colorado being so consistently irrelevant, I don't hate the current team. There's no reason to, other than Foote. But if things were to go south and a new rivalry were to start, it'd be easier than most teams to hate them again.

That was such a fantastic rivalry it's sad to see it go. The Anaheim one was really turning into a good rivalry too until it just faded really quickly.