• Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

RedWingsRox

Do Red Wings fans deserve better?

Rate this topic

Recommended Posts

We definitely do. This thread was started to say that we are coming close to the level of the Leafs if we end up being in 9th spot in the East, which is becoming a real possibility at this rate. Except the Wings are even dumber becuz we didn't tank earlier to be in a better position to draft.

As someone alluded to, what a difference a year makes. We were so proud of the team playing their hearts out and fighting every night last year to get into the playoffs. This year ... I've never been more frustrated and disappointed with them, this team's effort is embarrassing and makes me want to throw up.

Edited by RedWingsRox

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We definitely do. If we drop out of a playoff spot, we'll be on par with the Leafs fan as the laughing stock of the league.

As someone alluded to, what a difference a year makes. We were so proud of the team playing their hearts out and fighting every night to get into the playoffs last year. This year ... this team makes me want to throw up.

I think lumping us in with the Maple Leafs is a bit of a stretch.

While we're worried about a one month slump and our team continuing a 23 year playoff streak in which our Wings have had a winning season every year from 1992 on, 6 trips to the SCF in 14 years and 4 Stanley Cups in 11 years, many Leafs fans are probably wondering if their team will ever get back to the Finals in their lifetime because they haven't won it, or even been there since 1967. Given the current ownership group in Toronto, the future's not looking too hopeful there.

The Maple Leafs are run like a big, faceless corporation while the Illitch owned Red Wings have been more like a family for the last several years.

As someone who's been a Red Wings fan practically his whole life, I couldn't ask for much better. Some of my fondest childhood and adult memories are of watching all of those great Red Wings teams of the 90s and 2000s with my dad. Such memories as seeing my 40 year old dad screaming at the top of his lungs on his bed as the Red Wings clinched their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 29 years against the Blackhawks, and the "I Want Stanley" song during the 95' Finals, the fight on March 26, 1997, my dad on the floor screaming in front of the big screen when the clock hit 0, and the Wings won their first Cup in 42 years, the nerve racking 1998 playoff run and repeat, the 2002 All Star team, and rushing home from my high school graduation to try to catch end of game 7 against the Aves, and of course 2008 and 2009.

I could seriously write a book, but I won't... tonight.

And if you really think we have it so bad, or "deserve better", try putting yourself in the shoes of a die hard Blues, Flyers, or Sabres fan, all teams with very loyal fan bases who've endured decades and decades of frustration.

As for what other team's fans think of us? Who cares? Win or lose, they hate us, call us know nothings, crybabies, obnoxious, spoiled etc. etc. Why you might ask? reread my post. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I question if we do were not really a top 5-8 fan base in the league the joe is pretty pathetic

Watch any Red Wings road game on the continent, and count the number of Red Wings fans in the stands. Yeah, I'd definitely say we are in the top 5 to 8.

Now, one can argue that many Red Wings fans have become complacent over the last several years, but I suspect that has more to do with decades of continued success, and often times impossible expectations, what is sometimes referred to as "Atlanta Braves Syndrome".

That'll change when the Red Wings move to their new arena. Many don't seem to like going to The Joe for various reasons.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I know you are frustrated, but this is the type of thread that causes other fans to call Wings fans spoiled.

The NHL is a league of parity, and we are going through a bad month. One bad month means nothing, just as one good month means nothing. At the end of the day what matters is where we finish, not how did we do in March. One thing that I think is hurting us is that our backs are not against the wall. We are in a position where we cant really get a higher seed as we are not catching Tampa, and we have had a decent lead on 7th which is fading, but still there and likely to stick.

I have said this a million times, the Wings are going through a re-build. Tatar, Nquist, Sheahan, Jurco, Pulkkinen, Smith, DD, Mrazek, Marchenko, XO, Sproul, AA, Larkin, Mantha etc. the list of young talent is endless, to compare us to the Leafs, a team that hasn't won a cup since 1967, has made the playoffs once in 10 years, has not had stable leadership, has a horrible relationship with the media (though that seems more the media's fault), and lacks prospects is just ridiculous.

Too many people seem to take things to extremes, when we are winning we are primed for the cup, and when we are losing we are absolute crap and need to get rid of everyone. We aren't either right now, we are exactly what I thought we were coming into the season, a team that falls between 3-6, and in today's NHL with parity the way it is, has a change, but is by no means the favourite. Not a bad place to be when you are on an up swing with a ton of up and coming talent.

If you are expecting a cup this year, you are probably going to be disappointed. Of course we all hope this up swing of young talent peaks before D & Z really start to decline, but that's probably not going to happen....though one can hope :)

Bottom line, you cant be elite every single year. We definitely don't "deserve" anything. We have had it better then every other fan-base in hockey since the early 90's.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We definitely do. This thread was started to say that we are coming close to the level of the Leafs if we end up being in 9th spot in the East, which is becoming a real possibility at this rate. Except the Wings are even dumber becuz we didn't tank earlier to be in a better position to draft.

As someone alluded to, what a difference a year makes. We were so proud of the team playing their hearts out and fighting every night last year to get into the playoffs. This year ... I've never been more frustrated and disappointed with them, this team's effort is embarrassing and makes me want to throw up.

Without hyperbole I think it's safe to say this year is a failure compared to last year. We were tops in the league for a while, playing the best hockey they played in years, and now we're right back to where we were last year. Only this year we benefitted from a strong record for 85% of the season, relative health, and successfully-developed kids. And yet, somehow, the end result is still likely to be the same (first round exit) or worse (missing the playoffs entirely).

I have a really hard time understanding what's happened the last month.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Our fanbase probably deserves this more than any other. We are spoiled, although that has changed the last few seasons now that we all realize we're not Cup contenders anymore.

However, this team needs to remove the Hockeytown logo, because it's getting to be embarrassing having that as your center ice sign and being a mediocre team every season.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I appreciate the voice of reason, if you take a look at the bigger picture, it's been awesome being a follower of the Winged Wheel but I was thinking of this year in particular. And these last 2-3 weeks have been the most disappointing and frustrating of this year. So we limp into the playoffs and lose in round 1 again, have we progressed? We do have to take advantage of the blend of old and new players ... Z is losing it real fast. Dat's body is breaking down. While I didn't expect us to win the Cup this year, 2 rounds would be nice ... now just getting in to the dance would be nice.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm tired of hearing about what fans do and do not deserve. Either you are a fan, and you accept what you get, or you are not, and you ***** and moan that the team isn't holding up their end of the bargain. This isn't to say that a fan can't throw out his opinions, as well as his wishes and wants, but the word "deserve" is too much. Anyone that thinks they are entitled to more than they get, should trade in their Wings memorabilia for some Coyotes stuff...they're always looking for more fans.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Our fanbase probably deserves this more than any other. We are spoiled, although that has changed the last few seasons now that we all realize we're not Cup contenders anymore.

However, this team needs to remove the Hockeytown logo, because it's getting to be embarrassing having that as your center ice sign and being a mediocre team every season.

I think they need to remove the logo not because of the mediocre team, but because it's kind of cheesy and a misnomer.

If the Red Wings miss the playoffs even one year the attendance will probably plummet. If they missed a couple years in a row? Even worse. The Lions have lost for decades but fans keep coming.

Hockey is popular here but this is footballtown, not hockeytown.

We definitely do. This thread was started to say that we are coming close to the level of the Leafs if we end up being in 9th spot in the East, which is becoming a real possibility at this rate. Except the Wings are even dumber becuz we didn't tank earlier to be in a better position to draft.

As someone alluded to, what a difference a year makes. We were so proud of the team playing their hearts out and fighting every night last year to get into the playoffs. This year ... I've never been more frustrated and disappointed with them, this team's effort is embarrassing and makes me want to throw up.

The Maple Leafs have made the playoffs once in the last 9 years, and that one time they did lost in the first round in brutal fashion.

The Wings are in a tailspin at the moment, but let's have some perspective here. We are nowhere near the level of the circus that has been the Maple Leafs.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would say we have the weakest fanbase (CURRENTLY) out of the "Original Six" teams. Then you can add in Pittsburgh, Philly, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. So we might make a case for #10, but even that would be contested.

I do agree with you, though...the new arena should help things greatly. The Joe is a dump with nicely placed seats.

Watch any Red Wings road game on the continent, and count the number of Red Wings fans in the stands. Yeah, I'd definitely say we are in the top 5 to 8.

Now, one can argue that many Red Wings fans have become complacent over the last several years, but I suspect that has more to do with decades of continued success, and often times impossible expectations, what is sometimes referred to as "Atlanta Braves Syndrome".

That'll change when the Red Wings move to their new arena. Many don't seem to like going to The Joe for various reasons.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We don't "deserve" anything, the team is what it is right now.

As someone alluded to, what a difference a year makes. We were so proud of the team playing their hearts out and fighting every night last year to get into the playoffs. This year ... I've never been more frustrated and disappointed with them, this team's effort is embarrassing and makes me want to throw up.

What a difference a year makes? I think you mean what a difference a month makes?

Remember when we came back from that long road trip with all those hard won points against good teams? When we were within touching distance of 1st?

I can't explain everything that's happened since then, because some of it is just baffling. Howard coming back from injury and struggling to find his form - it happens, we've seen it before. Our talented rookie backup can't string back to back performances together. Zetterberg is a pale shadow of his former self - no jump, no strength on the puck, its pretty obvious that he's playing injured right now. But why is Kronwall struggling so much? Why has the PK suddenly gone from #1 in the league to "get ready for a goal against"? Injuries to Dats, Franzen, Cole etc OK, they don't help, but they're not the cause of the rest of the team struggling.

It's baffling. I've been a fan of this team for 23 years and I've never seen them play this bad for this long. Even more baffling because we were so good up until February. I don't think the players can figure it out, and Babcock seems at a loss to right the ship and time is running out before we become 1st round fodder (assuming we cling to a playoff spot).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No. We really don't. Part of me likes that the team has struggled - it's weeded out some of the fair-weather fans, at least in my group of friends.

I always want this team to succeed, but I don't think a change would hurt. Things have to go south for changes to occur. Kind of a double-edged sword.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I the Wings ever get to the point where they really suck there's going to be mass suicides among "fans."

I have this mental image of people spazzing out like that kid who got his WoW account cancelled. I'd post the video, but I'm not sure it's entirely appropriate.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have this mental image of people spazzing out like that kid who got his WoW account cancelled. I'd post the video, but I'm not sure it's entirely appropriate.

Is that the one where he tries to jam the remote up his ass? :lol:

Anyway...

No. Red Wings fans don't "deserve" better. Do they have a right to be frustrated? Absolutely. But this is a sport. A hobby. Those millionaires owe us *nothing*. Don't like it? You, as a consumer, do not need to spend your money on their product. Some people, like myself, will continue to support the team both emotionally and monetarily because it is enjoyable (granted, not as enjoyable as when we're winning) to us. Others have every right to say they will not accept a sub par product and sod off to something else. But this sense of blatant entitlement is why other hockey fans can't stand the Wings and their fans.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That's the beauty of going in with no expectations or more realistic ones. I didn't belieeve the team would be as good as the standings indicated nor do I believe they are as bad as currently. The current Wings edition is one in transistion, with a good mixture of young blood and veterans but they don't have the right one when it comes down to skill and grit. When was the last time another team was intimidated of a Wings player ? I can't even remember it, Cole was supposed to fix this but sadly he got hurt and still has not played since :(

Save for Abdelkader, Ericsson and Sheahan from time to time no one on this team is willing to man up and deliver big hits to change the momentum of a game and Abdelkader while not the most skilled fighter is at least willing to drop the gloves but does thiis team rally around him ? No, they are "middly" amused pushing the stick against the walls instead of smashing it and cheering for him. People might think it's just Mach no, that's false we've seen it all season when other teams are starting to get their forcheck going the Wings are out of answers.

Personally I believe premium prices should give you a premium product in terms of entertainment and I'd rather see a hardworking, big heavy team than one that tries that boring "we're too skilled to be a blue a collar team" crap. At some point a huge trade, signing needs to happen to re-energize the fanbase and the team itself, also a culture change will be needed.

So yeah keep blaming and mentioning fans but maybe just maybe a year of missing the playoffs is exactly what this team needs in order to make a culture change happen here. Compard to teams like Calgary our fourth line is a freaking joke and that's the easiest position to fix in hockey. I really hope the Wings can pull off the Phaneuf trade he is exactly what this team needs.

Edited by frankgrimes

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

23 straight playoff appearances, four stanly cups, six conference championships, several hall of famers, and we make threads like this. I'm going to say no.

I forgot: great ownership who spends to the cap, is building a new arena (with our help), and constantly has events showing fan appreciation.

Edited by The Greek

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now