NHL: March 2013

The Game Room
101

A couple of notes for the folks reading this thread, as I realize there aren’t a lot of Hockey fans out here… And I consider myself a long-time fan of the game (I remember when the Pens joined the league, (have my little blue and white jersey to prove it!), and remember when the Pens and the Kings were in the same division!

Anyway, the Penguins are the first team in NHL HISTORY to go undefeated for a month. That is an amazing stat right there. That’s one of those "may be tied, but NEVER broken records. Pretty cool.

Crosby is really a hard luck case, isn’t he? In Pittsburgh, we’ve been fortunate to have two of the three best players in the modern era, if not the history of the game. (Lemieux and Crosby, Gretzky obviously the third one). I hope Crosby doesnt get in the injury loop like Lindros, who was a fabulous player, but who beat his body too hard. Crosby is built a bit like Gretzky (Wayne and Sid are both on the smaller side, Crosby is much stronger than Wayne in his heyday, but Wayne was a faster skater). He needs to get some luck on his side, as well as a very large enforcer that will protect him on e ice. I hae the idea of an enforcer because I hate that part of hockey, but I don’t remember Wayne Gretzky getting a cheap shot when McSorely was on the Oilers.

I know the puck thing was a fluke, but that’s the point. He can’t afford pucks in the head with his history of concussions. It could shorten one of the potentially greatest careers we will see in our lifetime. As a hockey fan, that would be a tragedy. As a Pens fan, it would be a catastrophe.

If folks remember Mario’s history of injury and illness, there is no doubt it robbed him of so many points and records over the course of his amazing career. I think Gretzky was a better passer, but Mario was the overall better player (IMHO), and my proof is he took the Pens from a perennial loser to back to back cups, without even close to the HOF talent Gretzky had on the Oilers. I would hate to see Crosby lose any more major time to injury or illness.

cheers! And sorry for any typos… I’m on the move, and the auto correct on my iPad has a mind of its own.

102

Not to be a surly Steve, but they’re built nothing alike, IMHO. Crosby is short for an NHL player but he is immensely strong and muscular. He weighs 200 pounds withou an ounce of fat, which means at 5’11" he is basically a human tank. Gretzky wasn’t strong or muscular at all, and wasn’t actually an especially fast skater. Crosby’s physical skill set is far, far beyond Gretzky’s.

Being big and muscular is not particularly advantageous in being durable in sports, though in this case the injury is purely a fluke anyway.

103

I may have misrepresented what I meant. I meant in height and upper body only. Crosby supposedly has thighs like a speed skater (think Eric Heiden). Just thick, powerful muscles. His lower half is much different than Wayne’s.

If I am wrong on Wayne’s speed, I appreciate the correction and will check back on that. Wayne maybe just looked faster because to me he looked more fluid on the ice. I may be misrembering.

I think Crosby, if he stays healthy and has HOF talent around him will break many of Gretzkys records. He’s THAT good. His passes are amazing, always on the tape, and almost always the right speed. He sees the ice like no one I’ve ever seen, and that includes Mario.

I will always believe Mario was the better talent than Gretzky, and not just because I’m a homer (although that does play into it). He was so big (6’4" I believe) that he was much faster than he looked. His strides were just longer. But more important was his reach. Mario could do anything with a puck.

Sorry.. I know I can hi-jack a thread quickly when it comes to watching the truly great players play. Their hand-eye coordination is second to no one in the sports world (again, MHO) and since hockey is such a forgotten sport in the US, I like to give it as much pub as I can.

104

Stars go full rebuild by trading Roy, who hadn’t done much, and Jagr who had done a lot. It is going to be tough in Dallas for another couple of years.

105

Looks like we’re watching the news at the same time.

April thread here.

106

I can’t believe Jagr is still playing at such a high level. I would have loved to see him back in a Pens uniform, I know they made a play for him a year or two ago when he ended up in Philadelphia (that was just wrong, seeing him in a Flyers jersey.)

Not sure why he didn’t come back to the aspens, but I’m sure it was about money. He’s somewhat of a rock star in Pittsburgh for his days as a Penguin. It would be nice to see him retire as a Penguin (and under the Cup!)

107

Well, it looks like the streak may end. Oh well. It’s still fucking incredible.

Stink Fish Pot, I don’t know what rock you’ve been sleeping under for the past 13 years, but Jagr is probably Public Enemy #1 among Penguins fans. Don’t you remember right before he was traded the first time, how he was always whining about Pittsburgh was Hell compared to Czechoslavakia? The “dying alive” quote? There were plenty of rumors about what a prima donna he was becoming, how much of a pain he was in the locker room, etc.

So then when we needed to trade someone, apparently he volunteered. For the first few years he’d be booed everytime he came back to Pittsburgh to play.

But in the last few years, people began to forget, especially since he would talk about his days here in Pittsburgh fondly, and how he’d always go on and on about how much he looked up to Mario, about how Mario was his hero, he’d play for the league minimum, etc. That his “heart was in Pittsburgh”.
So Jagr says he’s coming back to the NHL to play. Mario tells Shero to give him an offer. Pens fans are ready to forgive and forget. Let bygones be bygones, you were an important part of Pens history, etc.

Jagr kind of dicks around, saying, “maybe, maybe not”. Finally Mario gets sick of it, and tells Shero to pull the offer. The very next day, Jagr signs with the Flyers, then denies he EVER said ANYTHING about playing with the Pens. People are pissed. (Word is that Mario was livid). Jagr gives lame excuses about not signing with Pittsburgh. People burn Jagr jerseys.

Meanwhile, Max Talbot, another fan favorite and an unrestricted free agent, signs with the Flyers. People are stunned, but most wish him well. The first time the Flyers return to Pittsburgh, Jagr gets booed. Max gets cheered, with signs welcoming him back.

Mind you, I am NOT trying to diminish Jagr’s time here in Pittsburgh. He was an important player here, and I don’t think anyone would deny that. But he basically burned his bridges here, pretty much ensuring he’ll ever get his jersey retired – which technically he should. But it’s unlikely to happen, at least not for a long time.

He’s certainly not the first player to sign with a major rival – Talbot and Rick Tocchet both played with the Flyers. However, it was his attitude that pissed people off, and I doubt anyone’s going to forget it anytime soon.

108

Guin,

I admit not living there, so I wasn’t privy to the day to day feelings of the fans. I read that he was coming back to the NHL and the Pens were trying to make him an offer. I had no idea what you told me in this thread.

I do remember the first time he left, but people have a way of forgiving that stuff, especially when he was such a big part of the two cups. (And it was what, 15 years ago?) But, clearly, I have been living under a rock when it comes to the Pens fans and Jagr. Thanks for filling me in, although to be honest it saddens me. Oh well, everyone has to move on, I guess. I didn’t realize his dislike of Pittsburgh ran that deeply. Any idea what set that in motion? Was it the first trade?

I read he’s going to Boston. Is that true?

Yeah, the streak will end. Tonight unless a miracle occurs. But that’s ok with me. Glad to see #12 get his first goal.

109

Oh, and I missed the edit window… I was wondering why 68 had not joined the rafters, and assumed it was because he was still playing. If what you are saying is true (and I have no reason to doubt it), that explains a lot.

Sad really. Burning all of the bridges in Pittsburgh is hard to do, considering there is so many of them, but wow. I had no idea people burned his jersey. That is so strange to me. Up until reading your note, I had a totally different opinion of him.

I remember when he left the first time, he WAS a prima Donna, but a lot of that could be because he was the best player in the league and would always be under Mario’s shadow. Mario Jr. Being an anagram for Jaromir is stuff you can’t even make up, so I’m sure he was glad to leave town and make his own mark.

I would love to know what really happened between him and Mario. Because in my opinion, Mario doesn’t win the first cup without Jagr, and probably not the second either. Jagr, to me at least, was that missing piece that was needed for so long.

What a shame. I’ll always have a soft spot for him, but not as soft as it used to be. He was right up there with Mark Recci (sp?) in terms of positive memories.

And glad to hear the fans applauded Talbot when he came back. I always liked him.

I guess that’s one good thing about hockey not being a front page news story. The story about Jagr jerseys being burned never made my radar screen and I’m a hockey fan! I got to feel good about him for a little while longer.

Seriously, thanks for the info.

110

Yep, apparently he’s gone to Boston, that’s what they said on the radio today. And I agree with you about Jagr – it IS sad the way things turned out, but what can you do? He’s still part of the “Ring of Honor”. There have only been two jerseys retired: Mario’s, obviously and Michel Briere (21), who died in a car accident when he was still a rookie.

Obviously Sid’s jersey will be retired and most likely Malkin’s.