Very good point about the Gomez trade, since he and Chris Drury were dead weight dragging the club down. In fact those two signings were indicative of the dark ages of the Rangers from 1998-2004 that were characterized by throwing money at free agents past their primes. Once those two were gone the team was able to go younger.
McDonaugh is not quite on the upper echelon of defensemen occupied by the likes of Karlsson and Weber, but he’s right at the top of the second tier. It’s apparent that time off to end the season did him some good since he played extremely well.
@Young:
I’m cashing in my emotional investment on the Habs, and all sports for that matter… FYI, I earned one penny on the dollar.
Final Thoughts: The Ryan McDonagh trade for Scott Gomez put that organization back a whole decade and counting.
Oh no. Don’t jump! You have friends here!
But I know what you mean. I did the same thing with college sports teams. Ohio State football has been more of a disappointment than a return on emotional investment, on the whole. So sometime back after 2006 when they lost two national championships, I kinda just detached and am happy if they do well, but don’t really hope and yearn for it like I used to.
I must say that I it has helped a lot. I can enjoy it more now if I just don’t care as much. There were some rough years for the Wings too, where I went through the same thing (like being the No. 1 seed and losing to Edmonton back around… hey, 2006). But their slow decline for 10 years after that helped ease the transition.
Don’t want to derail the hockey talk but Ohio State’s track record since 2002 is still pretty good, especially compared to their neighbors up north. Granted it would not look as rosy if it weren’t for the most delayed pass interference call in American gridiron history at the Fiesta Bowl waaaaay back when.
I dumped the whole stock, getting out while I can and forever, because if PK Subban scores the OT winner to win the cup this year… I would shot up my whole neighborhood before turning the gun on myself.
@Young:
I dumped the whole stock, getting out while I can and forever, because if PK Subban scores the OT winner to win the cup this year… I would shot up my whole neighborhood before turning the gun on myself.
Oh Lord in heaven. Take it out on non-mammals.
Don’t want to derail the hockey talk but Ohio State’s track record since 2002 is still pretty good, especially compared to their neighbors up north. Granted it would not look as rosy if it weren’t for the most delayed pass interference call in American gridiron history at the Fiesta Bowl waaaaay back when.
I agree. They are similar to the Washington Capitals in a small way: post-season/championship expectations always seem to be high for them. More often than not, they disappoint.
Michigan is on the upswing and I am very happy about that. It’s boring when you crush your arch-rival every year and it takes away from the sense of accomplishment in victory. Having a very good Michigan and a very good Ohio State is better for everyone. Besides, I have really become a fan of the Big 10 in general. SEC and ACC be damned.
So after outplaying Price, Lundqvist picks the worst possible time to revert to his spotty midseason form. As sloppy as the Rangers played in the last three minutes of regulation, you have to take a two-goal lead home.
So after outplaying Price, Lundqvist picks the worst possible time to revert to his spotty midseason form. As sloppy as the Rangers played in the last three minutes of regulation, you have to take a two-goal lead home.
MSG is a tough place to play, let’s just wait and see where the series is at after game 4.
Oilers go down 3-0 in the first 12 minutes of game three, claw back to make it 3-2 in the 2nd, then McDavid scores one of the nicest goals of the season to tie it 3-3…. aaaaand then The Ducks score 40 seconds later, and ultimately win it 6-3.
It’s heartbreaking, and perhaps a sign The Oilers aren’t quite ready to compete for the Cup just yet. :-(
Tonight’s match should answer a lot of questions. Get your popcorn ready.
At least The Capitals managed to eke out a win last night.
@Young:
So after outplaying Price, Lundqvist picks the worst possible time to revert to his spotty midseason form. As sloppy as the Rangers played in the last three minutes of regulation, you have to take a two-goal lead home.
MSG is a tough place to play, let’s just wait and see where the series is at after game 4.
You see… Rangers at home are very tough road games.
But somehow Canadian Tire Centre (why isn’t it spelled ‘tyre’?) has become a house of horrors for the Rangers. The first game was lost on a tough angle shot you shrug your shoulders at but the last two games involved horrific defensive breakdowns against an admittedly dogged Ottawa club.
Guess no one here caught Pittsburgh-Smash(blech)ville fever. For all the parity Bettman espouses it seems like it only applies to losers in the Cup Finals, since winners have been usual suspects the last ten years. Of course the cap has hit the Hawks and will affect the Pens but when you have two superstars it’s not hard to mix and match a supporting cast.
Guess no one here caught Pittsburgh-Smash(blech)ville fever. For all the parity Bettman espouses it seems like it only applies to losers in the Cup Finals, since winners have been usual suspects the last ten years. Of course the cap has hit the Hawks and will affect the Pens but when you have two superstars it’s not hard to mix and match a supporting cast.
I enjoyed the series, but unfortunately wasn’t able to watch the last game. Game 5 was pretty boring. I was excited for Nashville. Just a shame they couldn’t make it happen.
Kinda sucks for Pittsburgh in a way… 3 cups since 2009 and none of them won on home ice.
For poor YG at least Subban doesn’t get his name on the Cup nine months after leaving Montreal.
It also feels like a lot of Cups have been awarded in the loser’s building, which certainly doesn’t help Bettman when he’s presenting it.
It wouldn’t matter if he was presenting the cup at home. People boo him wherever he goes and whatever he does. It has nothing to do with him presenting to the visiting team, more to do with him holding the game as a hostage. A recent example would be declaring that NHL players would not be competing in the Olympics. He’s doing that as a negotiation tactic to try and get more money for his extremely wealthy team owners knowing how much the players want to play. The players will be expected to give up something in order to be “allowed” to play in the Olympics. No thought to the integrity of the game or the wishes of the fans who have made him and his band of billionaires ridiculously wealthy. One of the most hated people in Canada. Just the latest dick move from a man who deserves every boo that gets rained down on him.
It wouldn’t matter if he was presenting the cup at home. People boo him wherever he goes and whatever he does. It has nothing to do with him presenting to the visiting team, more to do with him holding the game as a hostage. A recent example would be declaring that NHL players would not be competing in the Olympics. He’s doing that as a negotiation tactic to try and get more money for his extremely wealthy team owners knowing how much the players want to play. The players will be expected to give up something in order to be “allowed” to play in the Olympics. No thought to the integrity of the game or the wishes of the fans who have made him and his band of billionaires ridiculously wealthy. One of the most hated people in Canada. Just the latest dick move from a man who deserves every boo that gets rained down on him.
I mean, he is only protecting his side of the business. Minus the unfortunate work stoppages, which are the fault of both sides not just one, Bettman has done a lot of good for the NHL. He is a very easy guy to hate on though and he seems to take it well. I think the boos will always be worse in a road setting… the fans naturally have more to be upset about.
I agree with everything you say GHG, but as LHoffman pointed out Bettman is merely doing the owners’ bidding, which is the role of the modern commissioner. The position is no longer a “caretaker of the game” but a pit bull used in mauling the player unions during collective bargaining agreements.
The funny thing is Nashville fans should have been appreciate of Bettman since sunbelt expansion and team preservation is one of his primary legacies. Let’s see the result of this Cup run on the Predators’ TV ratings next year, which were laughably low this season.
Sitting out the Olympics will be a huge mistake for the league and its branding, I figure the owners will have to blink eventually.
