# NHL: December 2011 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 3, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979 "2011-12-03T21:02:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/81 "2011-12-31T14:31:38Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Ballot box stuffing much? That happens every year and so long as they allow people to vote multiple times per day it will continue to happen. The All Star Game is just a popularity contest, typically led by the fans of the hosting city plus delusional Leafs fans. It’s why I have to laugh when someone mentions ASG appearances on a player’s resume as some kind of career accomplishment. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/82 "2011-12-31T16:37:57Z")
“Mike Komisarek, NHL All-Star” I know, Montreal fans are guilty of that one, but it’s still hilarious. The way I see it now, it just shows how great a defenceman Andrei Markov is (I refuse to say was!) to make Komi look so good 😉 Last game of 2011 tonight…Go Habs Go! Here’s hoping to a much better 2012. WJHC: Canada has clinched Pool B and the USA must play a relegation game in order to be invited back next year, regardless of the outcome of tonight’s game between the two teams. I’m pretty sure that counts as a massive upset. I am so impressed by the Czech goalie, Petr Mrazek. He’s faced a bazillion shots and not allowed all that many. Calm, focused and great puck tracking and positional play. I haven’t watched most of the other games, but so far, he’s the standout player of this tournament (with Mark Stone as a strong runner-up). Congratulations to him, if for nothing other than turning away 50+ shots by team USA and winning that game! ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/83 "2011-12-31T18:19:03Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You have no idea how he acted here in Pittsburgh back before he left. He made comments about how he was miserable here, he was pulling temper tantrums in the locker room, and acting like a total diva. Okay, fine, it’s been years, we’ve moved on. > > Well, for the last few years, he’s expressed interest in coming back to the NHL and he said his #1 choice would be Pittsburgh. His agent said his heart was here, and he’s always talking about how he’d play the league minimum, that Mario was his hero, and how much he owed him, etc etc… > > And then bang! He signs with the Flyers, our biggest rival. After flirting around with the contract that Shero offered to him, with the whole, “maybe, maybe not”. He keeps coming up with different reasons. First it was that Sid and Malkin played left-handed, (?), now it’s they were more concerned with resigning Tyler Kennedy, and making an offhand remark about Kennedy being a nobody. > > I believe he had stated before that he had talked to Mario, now he’s claiming he didn’t, etc. So it’s not that he didn’t sign here, but HOW he acted about it. And that really, really pissed off a lot of people. > > Jagr has a long history here of pulling the primadonna act. But a LOT would have been forgiven if he had come back (as he had hinted for years). Hell, I was sad that he didn’t. I expressed doubt, but you know, I do remember back in the day when it was Mario and Jagr, the big two, and it would have been kinda cool for him to finish out his days here. But ultimately, I believe it came down to the fact that he couldn’t stand the idea that he wouldn’t be #1. (Sid is) > > There’s talk that Mario himself was absolutely livid about it and felt really betrayed. > And compare that to the reaction fans gave to Max Talbot. He was given a big tribute, and a standing ovation. Talbot too helped us win the Stanley Cup (he was the one who scored the two goals in that game), he was one of our most popular players. People were really sad to see him go (especially to the Flyers), but except from a few individuals, Max wasn’t booed – he was welcomed back. So you might want to do some research before you condemn Pittsburgh fans. It’s all about context. > > I was annoyed that they had showed Max’s big tribute during intermission. Here’s hoping they’ll show it on the finale of _24/7_. (They did one for Sergei Gonchar when he left as well, but they did at the beginning of the game) You can dress it up any way you want, it was still completely classless. Jagr was instrumental in Pittsburgh winning back to back Stanley Cups. He was traded by the team because they couldn’t afford him. He won multiple scoring titles as a Penguin and is a sure fire hall of famer. Right thinking Penguin fans should be embarrassed by the booing, not justifying it. I’d guess the ovation to Talbot was just another dig at Jagr, but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/84 "2011-12-31T19:46:08Z")
> [@Quint](#): > > You can dress it up any way you want, it was still completely classless. Jagr was instrumental in Pittsburgh winning back to back Stanley Cups. He was traded by the team because they couldn’t afford him. He won multiple scoring titles as a Penguin and is a sure fire hall of famer. Right thinking Penguin fans should be embarrassed by the booing, not justifying it. I’d guess the ovation to Talbot was just another dig at Jagr, but I could be wrong. Part of the trade was his idea. (Jagr himself as said so) He wasn’t all that happy here in Pittsburgh. And classless? Maybe so, but people have long memories. No one is doubting his contributions to the Pens, but they also don’t appreciate the way he treated the very people who once supported him. I’ve heard that he also wore out his welcome with the Caps when he was traded to the Rangers. And yes, you are wrong. Very, very wrong. Max was extremely popular here, and the reaction was genuine. The idea that people would only do so to piss off Jagr is insulting to Talbot. And Flyers fans have no room calling Pittsburgh fans “classless”. Hell, these people booed a “Hockey Fights Cancer” ad because it had Crosby in it! ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/85 "2011-12-31T20:43:30Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And Flyers fans have no room calling Pittsburgh fans “classless”. Hell, these people booed a “Hockey Fights Cancer” ad because it had Crosby in it! Well obviously we were just booing cancer. 🙂 If anyone can find it on TV, the outdoor alumni game is on right now between the Flyers and Rangers. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/86 "2011-12-31T20:54:19Z")
Looks like it’s on Versus. (That pisses me off, since they didn’t broadcast it last year) ---
**Author:** ![DxZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DxZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DxZero)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/87 "2011-12-31T20:58:12Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Looks like it’s on Versus. (That pisses me off, since they didn’t broadcast it last year) Its a sell-out too apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/88 "2012-01-01T19:21:32Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > And Flyers fans have no room calling Pittsburgh fans “classless”. Hell, these people booed a “Hockey Fights Cancer” ad because it had Crosby in it! I am not a Flyers fan. I am a hockey fan. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/89 "2012-01-01T21:18:22Z")
Stay classy,[Krys Barch](http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/7409914/florida-panthers-f-krys-barch-ejected-racial-slur-report-says). :rolleyes: Team Canada is still undefeated at the World Juniors. Canada will next play the winner of tomorrow’s Russia-Czech match up. Sweden will meet the winner of the Slovakia-Finland game in the other semifinal. The USA will play in the relegation round, with Denmark, Switzerland and Latvia. Bob McKenzie from TSN kept calling the US being relegated “an epic fail”, then trying to make it seem like it wasn’t so bad. It’s like he couldn’t avoid using those words…it was kind of funny! It’s been a great tournament so far. WJHC hockey is good hockey. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/90 "2012-01-02T02:20:45Z")
> [@Quint](#): > > I am not a Flyers fan. I am a hockey fan. Fine then, I appologize for being wrong. But I’m not going to pretend there wasn’t a history of Jagr spitting all over the fans here, and for all that he claims to admire Mario, he sure has a funny way of showing it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/91 "2012-01-02T04:04:23Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Stay classy,[Krys Barch](http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/7409914/florida-panthers-f-krys-barch-ejected-racial-slur-report-says). :rolleyes: > Team Canada is still undefeated at the World Juniors. Canada will next play the winner of tomorrow’s Russia-Czech match up. Sweden will meet the winner of the Slovakia-Finland game in the other semifinal. > > The USA will play in the relegation round, with Denmark, Switzerland and Latvia. Bob McKenzie from TSN kept calling the US being relegated “an epic fail”, then trying to make it seem like it wasn’t so bad. It’s like he couldn’t avoid using those words…it was kind of funny! > > It’s been a great tournament so far. WJHC hockey is good hockey. It’s nice when we can all cheer for the same team. Go Canada! ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/92 "2012-01-02T04:47:36Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Fine then, I appologize for being wrong. But I’m not going to pretend there wasn’t a history of Jagr spitting all over the fans here, and for all that he claims to admire Mario, he sure has a funny way of showing it. Apology accepted. Here’s the thing- and I mean this in the nicest way possible… Penguin fans are spoiled. In the last 17 years the NHL scoring champion has been a Penguin NINE times. Four different players!!! No other team comes even close to having had anything like that. Malkin could do it again this year, and if Crosby should ever regain his health (and I for one am sincerely hoping his career will resume soon) he could win it multiple times in the next ten years. How’s about you guys share the wealth a little? Fans of every other team in the league would piss on their own feet to have a former player like Jagr in the history of their team. I realize that you will never know the feeling of futility of being a fan of a team that has never had such talent, but just try to see things from the other side of the fence! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/93 "2012-01-02T04:57:46Z")
> [@Quint](#): > > In the last 17 years the NHL scoring champion has been a Penguin NINE times. Four different players!!! No other team comes even close to having had anything like that. Edmonton? An Edmonton Oiler won the scoring championship SEVEN times in SEVEN years. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979/94 "2012-01-02T05:40:26Z")
Ok there might have been some slight hyperbole in my statement. If you go back to 1980 Edmonton did have one guy who was pretty good at hockey and he won 7 times in a row. That is somewhat close to Pittsburgh’s record since that time of having one guy win it six times, another guy win it five, and two others win it once apiece. Pittsburgh can match the 7 straight years of having an Art Ross winner though, and they throw in another six more wins for good measure. And just to be completely clear Edmonton fans were super spoiled to have the team they did in the 80s. Why don’t they drink coffee in Vancouver? Cuz all the cups are in Edmonton! Bastards!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-december-2011/604979.md?page=4)