NHL 2011-2012 Season

[Eli26]

For understanding the game from a hands on/technical POV , sure does.I didn't play AAA but, it helped..its experience and it did enhance my interest and understanding for OHL/AHL/NHL hockey during those years and onward.

What i mean't really though with my reply to bum is that Toronto was never just "my team" and now i'm forced to watch another or some ____?..thats a stupid way of thinking, hence i state that i'm not some casual fan of one team maybe like he is. XD

Well, I had a very short-lived hockey career and my understanding of the game, player development, and player talent, skill-set, and the grueling training that goes on is very acute. I know players before they get drafted, and usually am that guy who tells others in fantasy leagues and hockey pools who to watch for and get. I look into training, their camps, and their conditioning level. I pretty much predicted Malkin as the leading scorer. His training was well documented on the Pens fan sites, as well as the official site. While everyone takes their time off from hockey during the Summer, I am still clued in! I saw the impact and devotion he went through to get himself back in that Big 4 discussion, when everyone else had him written off. In fact, I even attempted the idea of taking a scouting course. My dream is to become a scout. I don't care at what level, but I have a great eye for talent. I have hockey in my family. My brother played for the Super 7's which is huge in Manitoba. Only the best of the best play in that tournament. Yes, it's a bunch of seven year-olds, but you have to be pretty damn good to make that team. He played against Alexander Steen. Almost all my cousins played the game, and that even goes for my girl cousin Jenn. My uncle played at high levels and even became a coach. He coached ex-NHLer Kevin Todd as a teenager. Yes, THE Kevin Todd who ripped up the NHL as a rookie with 60-plus points, and would play in Anaheim and stink it up... but my point is, hockey is in my family's blood as well. I know Heizinger on a personal level (Assistant GM), and proof... he gave me a Birthday present. He doesn't do that for all the fans. No, he knows me cause I am the crazy fan who goes to great conversations with the entire staff... many people in the Jets franchise know of me. Except for the players, as there hasn't been a lot of that this year. Point is, I get it... but no matter how much you play, does not make you an expert or a better fan than the other person. There is other ways to experience hockey.

 

[Eli26]

P.S. Valfar, nobody thinks you're some dumb dumb who doesn't know the game. That's all on you. Just some people have a difference of opinion, even if their opinion comes off all high and mighty! Selling their opinion as fact! Who does that?! I would never! We know that you played hockey and love the sport. That is well documented. Nobody is challenging that or is ignorant to those facts. But you do follow a team that leaves many scratching their head, why? Just sayin'. I get it, it's the team from your area. Much like my Jets of old and new were my team, despite the fact they have done nothing in my life-time or better yet, since they adjoined with the NHL.

 

[Grenouille]

No Stanley Cups, but no one can take the record 3 Avco Cups from the Jets.

 

[Eli26]

No Stanley Cups, but no one can take the record 3 Avco Cups from the Jets.

Yeah, we owned the WHA! I just wished that the league still mattered to someone today! But a lot of the greats, even Gretzky, played in that league! I really do believe the NHL deconstructed the Winnipeg Jets when they joined the league, so we couldn't prove if the WHA's top team could best the likes of the NHL's best. Oh well... We'll never know.

btw Lil' Trivia, Winnipeg did win the Stanley Cup. But it was over a hundred years ago and the team was called the Victoria. But we did win hockey's Holy Grail. Oh, scratch that! We won it twice!

1901-02 - Winnipeg Victoria

1900-01 - Winnipeg Victoria

But of course, what does that all mean when the City of Kenora (all of 10,000 inhabitants) won a Stanley Cup?

https://proicehockey.about.com/od/stanleycupbunker/a/stanley_cuplist.htm

 

[Dark Passenger]

Tortorella's been fined $20,000 according to Larry Brooks. I will not be saying anything further about the Pens before I am fined too.

Larry Brooks Twitter.
"The double standard as applied to Penguins by NHL office is appalling."
"Cost of protecting Mario Lemieux apparently starts with $20,000 out of John Tortorella's pocket."
"Lemieux writes public letter threatening to sell team, excoriating league and gets off scot-free for his tantrum."

 

[Deeznutz6]

Tortorella's been fined $20,000 according to Larry Brooks. I will not be saying anything further about the Pens before I am fined too.

Larry Brooks Twitter.
"The double standard as applied to Penguins by NHL office is appalling."
"Cost of protecting Mario Lemieux apparently starts with $20,000 out of John Tortorella's pocket."
"Lemieux writes public letter threatening to sell team, excoriating league and gets off scot-free for his tantrum."

The league has just also sent you a 20 000$ fine

Doubt its just because of this statement, think it has more to do woth him constantly running his mouth about the league. If this was the NFL hed get 100 000K fine

 

[Grenouille]

This further proves Mario's point that the NHL is a "garage league" he should think about selling the team again.

 

[risingstar]

Four straight losses for St Louis, including a loss to Columbus. Fatigue may be setting in? It looks like they may be resting Halak. I'd like to feel more confident about the Blues... I don't think anyone is more surprised by their numbers than the Blues players themselves. I think I see the Blues like I do the Rangers -- Teams which way overperformed.

 

[Eli26]

Torts ran his mouth about the Pens big two stars who had nothing to do with the incident. Torts has done this lots. And why shouldn't Lemieux threaten? Nobody was helping the team... I don't know if it was a threat or his group of owners who had controlling interest of the team (people have to realize he was just the face of the ownership and nothing more)... we don't know all the politics and stuff that went behind those closed doors. And the team was fledging at one point. The league was smart to get on that and help rescue that franchise, because as it stands today, it's one of the more lucrative NHL teams today. So yes, lets leave Mario out of this. We just get a small serving of what's going on. And lets face it, No. 66 does love that team and wanted it to remain there. He saw the potential. Thankfully the NHL came in and helped recognize it. Whether you want to say the 2005 Draft was rigged to help with that or not, the 2004 Draft saw them select one of their best players ever, in Evgeni Malkin.

I just hate when people always use the past to poke and prod... what Torts did was completely unprofessional. The guy is a big chirper and a douche bag. He even singles out his own players in the media and rips them. No coach should do that. You do that behind closed doors, or heck, even in front of the team. Never to the media! That gets spilled out into the public. He's a very selfish, ignorant man who has been in trouble many times. As a coach, you're a leader, a mentor... a true leader and mentor does not pull the ____ that guy does. A Stanley Cup here (which btw was not even a legit victory, Calgary had a goal called back, a legal goal, which would have seen them win that series) and a strong year this season. But if you want to go into the past. I am sure I can dig up some really good stuff on Johnny. After all, he is the Sean Avery of NHL coaches.

 

[Eli26]

Four straight losses for St Louis, including a loss to Columbus. Fatigue may be setting in? It looks like they may be resting Halak. I'd like to feel more confident about the Blues... I don't think anyone is more surprised by their numbers than the Blues players themselves. I think I see the Blues like I do the Rangers -- Teams which way overperformed.

Columbus has been coming on lately and that Cam Atkinson kid has been one of the reasons why. He's 3-4-7, +7 in his past 5 games. Kid is gonna be huge! They may not have Carter anymore, but they have someone who'll replace his offence and more in this kid. Also, add to the fact his potential new linemate will be Nail Yakupov...WOW! Even if it's that Mikhail Grigorenko kid, the future is looking bright there. Lets just hope Howson is catapulted off of the team.

 

[The Craw]

Meh, Torts is a joke. I love listening to his rants though. Wasn't he complaining about the refs in the WC too. Guy can't take blame for any loses. Just pushes it off on the refs and the league. He is exactly like every other fan saying the Pens get special treatment. Whatever. Even Crosby just laughs it off. All those people who keep saying the Pens are cheap, whiney, and get special treatment, do me a favor. Next year, get the NHL CI package and watch all 82 Pens games. All 82. Watch every one and tell me they don't deserve to be where they are at right now. Don't just watch the high light reel and the crap in the press to judge them. Watch every single game and then tell me they suck. It's the only way i'll ever take any of those homers seriously. Just a bunch of poser hockey fans. Putting on the blinders and cheering blindly for their team and dismissing every team that is better than their's as cheap and whiney.

 

[Eli26]

Meh, Torts is a joke. I love listening to his rants though. Wasn't he complaining about the refs in the WC too. Guy can't take blame for any loses. Just pushes it off on the refs and the league. He is exactly like every other fan saying the Pens get special treatment. Whatever. Even Crosby just laughs it off. All those people who keep saying the Pens are cheap, whiney, and get special treatment, do me a favor. Next year, get the NHL CI package and watch all 82 Pens games. All 82. Watch every one and tell me they don't deserve to be where they are at right now. Don't just watch the high light reel and the crap in the press to judge them. Watch every single game and then tell me they suck. It's the only way i'll ever take any of those homers seriously. Just a bunch of poser hockey fans. Putting on the blinders and cheering blindly for their team and dismissing every team that is better than their's as cheap and whiney.

Well F--K'ing said!

 

[Grenouille]

All those people who keep saying the Pens are cheap, whiney, and get special treatment, do me a favor. Next year, get the NHL CI package and watch all 82 Pens games. All 82. Watch every one and tell me they don't deserve to be where they are at right now. Don't just watch the high light reel and the crap in the press to judge them. Watch every single game and then tell me they suck. It's the only way i'll ever take any of those homers seriously. Just a bunch of poser hockey fans. Putting on the blinders and cheering blindly for their team and dismissing every team that is better than their's as cheap and whiney.

Who said the Penguins suck? They're probably the most talented team in the East and should be one of the favorites this playoff.

As for whining, It's Lemieux that annoys me the most. Where was he when Cooke knocked Savard silly? Totally quiet. At least Crosby came out and spoke against it. There's also the take my ball and go home routine which he's employed since his playing days. It wore thin in 1996, even more so in 2012.

 

[The Craw]

Who said the Penguins suck? They're probably the most talented team in the East and should be one of the favorites this playoff.

As for whining, It's Lemieux that annoys me the most. Where was he when Cooke knocked Savard silly? Totally quiet. At least Crosby came out and spoke against it. There's also the take my ball and go home routine which he's employed since his playing days. It wore thin in 1996, even more so in 2012.

It's not so much people saying they suck. It's those people who seem to think the Pens only win games cuz they have "special privleges" from the refs and the league. Or that the league wants them to win cuz they need to sell the Crosby and Pens package to casual sports fans. Utter bull-____ if you ask me, and i'm sick of hearing it.

 

[praxitas]

Who said the Penguins suck? They're probably the most talented team in the East and should be one of the favorites this playoff.

As for whining, It's Lemieux that annoys me the most. Where was he when Cooke knocked Savard silly? Totally quiet. At least Crosby came out and spoke against it. There's also the take my ball and go home routine which he's employed since his playing days. It wore thin in 1996, even more so in 2012.

He was watching the game from the owners box more than likely. What people fail to remember is that was NOT an illegal hit at the time. That was another vicious open ice hit. That hit did turn the tide to eliminate headshots, BUT at the time was perfectly legal.

He was far from the only head hunter out there too. Mike Richards decapitated David Booth with an exact or even worse hit than Cookes. Colby Armstrong was a blindside head hunting specialist. Cooke just did it to a pretty well known star and already had a history of cheap hits so he become the poster boy and public enemy number 1.

 

[Grenouille]

He was watching the game from the owners box more than likely. What people fail to remember is that was NOT an illegal hit at the time. That was another vicious open ice hit. That hit did turn the tide to eliminate headshots, BUT at the time was perfectly legal.

Would that be the same box he sat in to magically heal that broken wrist in '92?

It just seemed to me that headshots and other thuggery were not such terrible problems to Mario until David Steckel cheap shotted Crosby and then the Islander game which I'll agree with him was an embarrassment to the league.

Anyway here's to a great upcoming playoffs. I've been waiting since '09 for a Bruins-Pens series. I think it'd be pretty good, hopefully this is the year.

 

[praxitas]

Would that be the same box he sat in to magically heal that broken wrist in '92?

It just seemed to me that headshots and other thuggery were not such terrible problems to Mario until David Steckel cheap shotted Crosby and then the Islander game which I'll agree with him was an embarrassment to the league.

Anyway here's to a great upcoming playoffs. I've been waiting since '09 for a Bruins-Pens series. I think it'd be pretty good, hopefully this is the year.

Oh I would agree with that.

I can't speak for him obviously, but I would assume until it happens to you and with it being his star player, you realize the effect it can have on the player and team as a whole. I am glad he did speak up at that point because until then I don't recall an owner/ambassador to the game being vocal about it.

People can say what they want about Cooke and Mario being his boss. I am sure after last season they sat him down and gave him an ultimatum. He turned his game around big time this season, and of his 30-40 pim's at least a quarter of them were because his last name was Cooke and not about what he did.

But yeah, Playoff time!!

Butterfly's, trouble concentrating at work, nervous energy, mood swings. Ughh.. don't know if im ready

 

[Fisherprice]

Sixteen years. I have waited sixteen years and the coyotes have finally won the Pacific. I think we match up well with the Blackhawks. If we could get out of the first round for once I'd be doing cartwheels and backflips.

 

[xjamiex]

I agree, it's pretty cool that the Coyotes won the Pacific Should make for a great series and playoffs (even if they don't make it past the first round haha).

 

[ebor]

Canucks YEAH, Pres. and West winners again. Time for the real season to begin...