345 replies to this topic

[haroldsnepsts]

I think it was kind of exciting to watch the underdog come out of nowhere and beat 3 top seeds and then win the cup. The way that they did it was amazing.

But who thinks it is good for hockey? Because I think it isn't. I don't mean to be so negative, but come on. I think it's a statement on how the parity in the league sucks. I don't think a team like that should be winning the cup. How can you look at a team like the 2002 wings or even the avalanche at the time and then have the same bunch of no-names that probably won't even make the playoffs next year win the cup?

I'm not trying to bash, and I'm definitely not trying to put LA down specifically, but more in general, why are the wings trying to go after high priced talent then when it is looking more and more like what it takes to win is really just grit and speed? Most people have no idea of ANY of the players on the kings. Is there really a superstar? Maybe one in the making, but right now is there really one?

I guess I just miss having two high talented teams going at it. I know I know...spilled milk. Sorry.

I just think we are in for more of these kinds of teams winning the cup.

It's crazy how essentially every highly offensive skilled team went out in round 1 this year. Is this just an aberation or is it a sign of more to come?

I honestly agree that there is a downside to parity in that having powerhouse teams year after year creates great rivalries, but mostly this sounds like sour grapes.

People may not be very familiar with the Kings because they play on the West coast and don't have creepy identical twins or a drama queen for a goalie, but in terms of star players on the Kings there's several candidates. Mostly it's just that the team is so young that it's a lot of guys who are very good now that are becoming superstars.

Doughty - great young defenseman, norris trophy nominee and will likely win one very soon. 22 years old.
Kopitar - people are finally now noticing him in spite of three 70+ point seasons and great two way play. two time all-star. 24 years old.
Richards - former captain, all star and couple 70+ point seasons. hits, scores goals, plays the PP and PK and will fight when called upon. 27 years old.
Quick - probably won't but would be a worthy winner of the Vezina this year, and the Hart. Then there's his playoff run. 26 years old
Brown - maybe not a star, but a captain who hits more than almost anyone in the league, can score goals, play on the PP and kill penalties. 27 years old.

Then think about the Wings winning in 2008. What stars did they have?

Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg. That's about it. There's a couple former stars in Hasek and Chelios but they weren't playing most of the playoffs.

More than anything it just sounds like a team won that you didn't know very much about and didn't feel any connection to, so it seems bad for hockey.

It's too bad more people don't get to see the Kings play because they've been a fun team to watch for a few seasons now. They're young, big, fast, will hit, fight. And now they're out of the goal scoring slump.

[Doc Holliday]

Bill Maher Tweet.

Stop congratulating me on Stanley Cup cuz I live in L A. No one here gives a **** about a winter sport played by Russians/Canadians in June

Dustin Penner Twitter Response.

Hey william (@billmaher) I'd guess a few more people care to watch us win then you reading a teleprompter. #moremakeup #lesshair

[Hockey13Playa]

Dustin Penner Twitter Response.

Haha that is awesome! In the words of Kelso from that 70's show:

[haroldsnepsts]

Bill Maher Tweet.





Dustin Penner Twitter Response.

I used to rip on Penner for not living up to his contract with the Kings, but ever since the pancake incident, it's hard not to love the guy.

It'll be interesting to see what the Kings do. I'm sure they're hoping to sign the Penner that they saw under Sutter, and not the floater they watched for nearly every other Kings game prior to that.

[kylee]

[Firehawk]

I honestly agree that there is a downside to parity in that having powerhouse teams year after year creates great rivalries, but mostly this sounds like sour grapes.

People may not be very familiar with the Kings because they play on the West coast and don't have creepy identical twins or a drama queen for a goalie, but in terms of star players on the Kings there's several candidates. Mostly it's just that the team is so young that it's a lot of guys who are very good now that are becoming superstars.

Doughty - great young defenseman, norris trophy nominee and will likely win one very soon. 22 years old.
Kopitar - people are finally now noticing him in spite of three 70+ point seasons and great two way play. two time all-star. 24 years old.
Richards - former captain, all star and couple 70+ point seasons. hits, scores goals, plays the PP and PK and will fight when called upon. 27 years old.
Quick - probably won't but would be a worthy winner of the Vezina this year, and the Hart. Then there's his playoff run. 26 years old
Brown - maybe not a star, but a captain who hits more than almost anyone in the league, can score goals, play on the PP and kill penalties. 27 years old.

Then think about the Wings winning in 2008. What stars did they have?

Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg. That's about it. There's a couple former stars in Hasek and Chelios but they weren't playing most of the playoffs.

More than anything it just sounds like a team won that you didn't know very much about and didn't feel any connection to, so it seems bad for hockey.

It's too bad more people don't get to see the Kings play because they've been a fun team to watch for a few seasons now. They're young, big, fast, will hit, fight. And now they're out of the goal scoring slump.

I agree with alot of what you say. However, I don't think it's sour grapes becuase if a team like Vancouver won the cup, I wouldn't say what i said. The 2008 wings had more superstars/stars on that team than the Kings. Maybe Quick is an up and coming superstar, maybe not. People thought that about Giguere. Where's he now?

I'm just saying that in general, I don't think it is good for hockey. Now, if the Kings players go on to turn into super stars, then I can look back and say "ok, it was a super star team in the making". BUt I just don't think parity works in hockey at all, at least, not with 30 teams and the talent thinned out.

I don't know, I guess I just don't like how the league is changing. On one hand I like the speed of the game, but on the other, the balanced towards the importance of 3rd and 4th line players is too high in my opinion. The saying that "you have to have your stars come through for you" is really not accurate anymore. It's always been about having a solid supporting cast, I just think that the importance of 1st/2nd liners is not as high as it used to be. I don't know how else to say better what I'm trying to get across.

I was disappointed with the Wings this year, but I had no expectations toward the end of the year when they couldn't win much.

You compare the wings 2008 to LA this year, well I think the Wings had at least one player that is arguably the most exciting player in the league, and that's Datsyuk. And they have an all time great in Lidstrom on defense. The rest were not superstars, even Zetterberg I don't consider a superstar. But at least they had a couple of superstars that made the game a bit exciting. BUT EVEN THEN, looking at the wings of 2008, the excitement level was far less than the 2002 team, or even watching other high powered teams like the Avalanche back then (I hated them but they were almost a carbon copy of the wings and were unbelievably good).

LA won the cup, but they lose 1 more regular season game and they don't even make the playoffs. Then we are talking about a completely different team, maybe Vancouver goes on to win the cup. It's just funny how things work out. LA could not even come close to making the playoffs next year. Hell, maybe the wings don't. I guess I just want to see teams that have high flying offense and aren't primarily composed of grit. That's boring, and the league ratings say it.