May 27, 2007

Stanley Cup Finals: Ten things to know about Anaheim : Everyone in hockey says teams have to pay the price to get to the Stanley Cup Finals.

read story | posted by commander cody to Hockey at 2:26 AM CDT (29 comments total)

As far as I'm concerned the number one thing any hockey fan needs to know about this years Stanley Cup Finals is the the Detroit Red Wings aren't in it. Still, for the rest of you hockey fans....have at it.

Comment icon posted by commander cody at 2:28 AM CDT on May 27

here's the same story about the Sens.

And the point brought up about the conditional first-rounder is an interesting one. It could hurt them if a once-in-a-lifetime player is up for that pick, but if not, considering how much he praises the Ducks' farm system, I wouldn't be too worried about that.

Comment icon posted by boredom_08 at 8:39 AM CDT on May 27

The Commander is right;the Wings absence is the central fact. I was discussing the playoffs with an old fan yesterday and he noted the repeated absence of the original six. Only Detroit has made appearances. I wonder if expansion has diluted the talent base?

Comment icon posted by sickleguy at 9:27 AM CDT on May 27

I wonder if expansion has diluted the talent base?

No. Before expansion the talent base was primarily from Canada. Now the talent base is Earth, a much bigger source for talent.

Comment icon posted by GOD at 9:54 AM CDT on May 27

Ducks in 6. If the NJ Devils have taught us anything over the last 10 years, it's that defense wins championships. Pronger and Niedermayer are the best one two punch since Stevens and Niedermayer. Anybody notice Pronger's got a small head and a big body,..kinda like a Doberman.

Comment icon posted by MGDADDYO at 10:37 AM CDT on May 27

There are 27 other teams than the Wings that aren't in the Finals this year. How about some grace in defeat, Wings fans?

Comment icon posted by qbert72 at 10:51 AM CDT on May 27

I wonder if expansion has diluted the talent base?

I wonder if expansion has made the original six fat, lazy, complacent and arrogant? Like the Leaves?

Comment icon posted by rumple at 12:08 PM CDT on May 27

I was discussing the playoffs with an old fan yesterday and he noted the repeated absence of the original six. Only Detroit has made appearances. I wonder if expansion has diluted the talent base?

I would just like to point out here that the NHL's Original Four included the Ottawa Senators, who actually won the first Stanley Cup contested exclusively between NHL teams. And today's Ottawa Senators seem to be doing fine, despite having an extra twenty-six teams in the league.

My argument here is ridiculous, but so was any point you were trying to make there.

Comment icon posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:28 PM CDT on May 27

And the original Senators had pretty sweet sweaters.

Comment icon posted by apoch at 1:01 PM CDT on May 27

The Commander is right;the Wings absence is the central fact. I was discussing the playoffs with an old fan yesterday and he noted the repeated absence of the original six. Only Detroit has made appearances. I wonder if expansion has diluted the talent base?


How is the Wings absence the central fact? I find that to be a very peculiar statement with no possible basis in fact.

As far as the Detroit Red Wings being the only ''Original Six'' team to make appearances, that's not true either.

Since the first major expansion (1967) the Montreal Canadiens have 11 appearances and 10! TEN! that's not a misprint, 10! Stanley Cup Championships.

The Boston Bruins have been there 7 times with 2 Stanley Cups.

The New York Rangers have been 3 times with 1 Stanley Cup.

The Chicago Blackhawks have 3 appearances in the Stanley Cup Final with no championships.

The only ''Original Six'' team not to have at least made it to the Final since '67 is unfortunately (personal bias), the Toronto Maple Leafs.

That is a total of 24 out of 80 possible appearances (30%) and 13 of 40 (32.5%) championships.
Considering the number of teams in the league and the fact that one of the ''Original Six'' teams has zero representation, I'd say those are pretty decent percentages.

The Detroit Red Wings have been in the final 4 times since expansion, with 3 Stanley Cups.
That hardly makes them the flagship franchise of the "Original Six".

Go Sens Go! I figure first things first, have a team in Ontario win the Cup, then maybe through osmosis, the Leafs might figure it out.

Comment icon posted by tommytrump at 1:14 PM CDT on May 27

Wasn't it bad enough that the Stanley Cup was hoisted two times in a row in the Confederacy? Now it may be going to DisneyLand! Please! Ottawa Senators, bring the Cup back to Canada where it belongs.

Comment icon posted by baldpuck at 6:01 PM CDT on May 27

Wasn't it bad enough that the Stanley Cup was hoisted two times in a row in the Confederacy? Now it may be going to DisneyLand! Please! Ottawa Senators, bring the Cup back to Canada where it belongs.

I'll be rooting on the Sens, but it'll be funny if the Ducks win.

Comment icon posted by NoMich at 7:53 PM CDT on May 27

I don't get this bring the cup to Canada business.

Anaheim has more Canadian players than Ottawa.
Carolina had more Canadians than Edmonton.
Tampa had more Canadians than Calgary.

The cup will spend more time in Canada if the American team wins, won't it?

Comment icon posted by fabulon7 at 10:05 PM CDT on May 27

I'll play Captain Obvious and say that I'm positive they mean for the organization and the fans.

Comment icon posted by igottheblues at 10:09 PM CDT on May 27

How about some grace in defeat, Wings fans?

As a Wings Fan I would say we'd show a bit more grace in defeat........if we were used to it.

Comment icon posted by commander cody at 12:52 AM CDT on May 28

You think the 41 year drought between 54-55 and 96-97 would have been enough of a lesson. Or maybe losing to an eighth seed just last year. The 10 Red Wing Stanley Cups are not equivalent to the 26 Yankee championships and even the Yanks aren't entitled to their sense of entitlement and arrogant superiority.

Comment icon posted by apoch at 7:31 AM CDT on May 28

How about some grace in defeat, Wings fans?

As a Wings Fan I would say we'd show a bit more grace in defeat........if we were used to it.

I'm a Red Wings fan, but considering their flameouts over the past few years, we should be well used to it by now.

Comment icon posted by jmd82 at 10:14 AM CDT on May 28

Hey, kudos to the Wings and their fans for being the best performing orginal six team in the last 15 years.

But, "judos" to the same for whatever weirdo smugness that has developed because of it. Remember kids, when I was growing up and for the first freaking decade (and more) of Stevie Y's career you were the Dead Things.

P.S. The kudos vs. judos is MINE. And I love it.

Comment icon posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:52 AM CDT on May 28

Asshat.

Comment icon posted by The_Black_Hand at 12:13 PM CDT on May 28

Zing!

Comment icon posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 2:18 PM CDT on May 28

I'm rather suprised by the lack of class shown by some of the Wings fans here on SpoFi. Seeing as the Wings haven't won a Cup since 2002 and have done rather poorly in the playoffs since then. Give credit where credit is due. The Ducks are Western Conference Champions and judging by game one, the finals should turn out to be an excellent series, even without the Red Wings.

Comment icon posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 8:46 AM CDT on May 29

A "10 Things To Know About Anaheim" doesn't mention Andy McDonald even when they're discussing his own line. Maybe he'll get some recognition when he wins the Conn Smyth. Or maybe he'll be overlooked there, too. Sigh.

Comment icon posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 9:48 AM CDT on May 29

Andy Macdonald for the Connie Smythe, really?

I haven't seen all the Ducks games, but they have at least 5 players more likely to get it than him. Hell, all 3 members of their checking line are better candidates, if you ask me.

Comment icon posted by qbert72 at 10:39 AM CDT on May 29

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=209227&hubname=

Comment icon posted by mkn at 1:44 PM CDT on May 29

Qbert, why would you need to see all the Ducks' games to realize that he's the best man on the ice?

Really, if you saw him in college, as I did, maybe you would change your thinking.

Comment icon posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 2:21 PM CDT on May 29

Actually, it's "you."

Still, hell of an effort.

Comment icon posted by The_Black_Hand at 4:25 PM CDT on May 29

That's interesting, thanks for the advice.

Comment icon posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 4:49 PM CDT on May 29

Buttinsky.

Comment icon posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 7:01 PM CDT on May 29

You freakin' idiom.

Comment icon posted by The_Black_Hand at 5:17 AM CDT on May 30

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