NHL Hockey

[Ripley]

May 14, 2009 19:13:32 GMT -4 Brookie said:

Who names their team the DUCKS anyway?

A lame-assed Mickey Mouse team, that's who.

Good job, Wings! Go get the Blackhawks!

[Deleted]

May 14, 2009 19:13:32 GMT -4 Brookie said:

Red Wings gotta win tonight - Game #7 with Anaheim. The DUCKS. Who names their team the DUCKS anyway?

It's still an improvement over "The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim".

[Deleted]

I was hoping the Bruins would win over Carolina (Lucic is especially fun to watch). Bah! I'm hoping to see a Wings/Penguins final.

[Ripley]

Go Red Wings!!!

[Deleted]

I am going to miss the Stanley Cup final because I have to work.

[Deleted]

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!! GO PENS!!!

First the Steelers, now the Penguins! If only the Pirates didn't suck more than a two dollar whore.

[Ella]

Congrats to the Pens! What a game. Sid the kid and Mario are quit a team.

[Deleted]

I wonder if people have been going up to Marion Hossa and quoting Nelson Munz?

[Mugsy]

So does anyone have any inside information as to why the NHL commissioner and owners are being such pissants to Jim Balsillie, who wants to buy the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes? Balsillie is the owner of RIM, which invented the Blackberry.

Balsillie is offering tens of millions of dollars more than anyone else, the team can't make a go of it in Phoenix, it would very successful in Southern Ontario (where he wants to move it) and it's not like hockey + Canada don't mix. Wouldn't the NHL want their league to be successful? Wouldn't they want a popular team with a sold-out arena instead of losing money and empty seats?

Instead, they say Balsillie isn't "moral" enough, which isn't even a reason to exclude someone from a business transaction, and is laughable considering half the other owners have shaky morals too (by their own definition).

Anyone know what's really going on here?

[bitterntwisted]

I'm not going to claim to know all the ins and outs about the situation, though I have followed it somewhat when it is in the news. The latest is that the Maple Leafs organization is in cahoots with Bettman behind the scenes to block Balsille's bid, as it would cut into their profits and territory. If this is indeed true, I would just say to the Leafs organization that you have a history for one and two just start getting your arses to the finals already and stop treating your star players like crap (Mats Sundin).

Personally, I think this has to do with pride on the NHL and Gary Bettman's part. They don't want to admit defeat, despite the books being in the red for expansion teams like Phoenix. You don't have to be a hockey fan to know that a franchise in Saskatoon is a better bet than Nashville, Phoenix or Carolina. Also, they don't like a Canadian billionaire coming along and taking an American based team back to Canada, I mean how dare he? As long as the shots are being called in the States, Canada's game will be out of the control of Canadians.

Speaking of which, where exactly are the Canadian hockey players in this situation? I find their silence a bit peculiar and quite frankly (yes I am going there) an act of treason. They make a pretty penny out of our nation's sport, but when it comes to actually supporting it within Canada, with Canadian based teams they are MIA. Even Phil Esposito said he would make a fuss if his precious Tampa Bay was taken to Canada. Who has said publicly that Gary Bettman is a twerp and turned the NHL to crap? What are they good for?

Sorry for the rant, but this topic has obviously been festering for me for some time.