dkellswo

Jul 10 2008 17:19

Now C'mon

Can not use the Russian League as a reason of demonstrated sacrifice. Almost NO ONE wants to play in Russia no matter how much they are paying. Most human beings that come to the US want to stay here versus living in arctic world for 9 months of the year under communist order. Malkin didn’t refuse the Russian league because of his undying love for the Pens….he wanted life in someplace normal on the planet. And took as much advantage of the salary offering as possible from the Pens at the same time.

On the larger scale,if these two kids were true to team first, they would make some real sacrifice so the Pens could have gone out and got one more premium player. Maybe even came up with a couple more bucks to keep Hossa.

Funny thing is the best thing that has happened to Pittsburg in over a decade is Crosby and probably the worst thing that happend to Pittsburg in the last decade is Crosby.

It’s always about him and until he grows up and finds the real meaning of team, you will likely come up “cup short” again.

svenezie

Jul 09 2008 09:35

Re:Be honest with yourselves Pen Fans

First off Malkin did sign for millions less than he could’ve in Russia and we all know Crosby could be the highest player in the NHL, but has chosen to stay in PITTSBURGH (spell it right next time).

Puck_Off

Jul 08 2008 09:08

jagr?!?!

Jagr would never have signed with the Penguins. He’s a glory-hog. He’s all about himself. He wants the goals, he wants the fans, he wants the fame, he wants it all. Esspecially the money. There’s no way Pitt could’ve paid him the cash he wanted even if he would’ve entertained the thought of going there. And with Crosby and Malkin there, he’d be a third wheel. His 2 biggest wants were money and stardom. He wants to retire not at the top of his game, but at the top of his league. And he had to go to Russia to do that. Nobody wanted to pay him the cash he wanted.

And the fact that you’d want him on your team again shows how little you know about the overall game of hockey.

Puck_Off

Jul 08 2008 10:59

RE: Ugz71

Luck did have something to do with the Penguins making it to where they did. You said it. The way the season went. Certain events that put the Pens where they were. The Senators mid season collapse, the Flyers defensive injuries. Sure, the Pens could’ve beaten both teams if it went the other way, but that was still luck that thats what happened when it did.

Also, the luck in getting the 1st draft pick the year that Crosby entered. They didn’t earn that pick, they lucked into it. So now the Leafs can’t draft the “best player in the world” because the penguins got lucky.

And what do you mean “everyone said was too young to be any good?” There were a lot of people picking the Pens to make it deep in the Playoffs and even to make or win the cup finals. And not just towards the end of the season, but in the begining of the season. I myself said during the preseason it was either gonna be the Senators or the Penguins in the cup finals for the East.

Ugz71

Jul 07 2008 12:26

What??????

For one who wouldn’t want to play for Pittsburgh. One of the biggest names in the NHL is now the owner of our team. With Malkin and Crosby playing, Staal maturing, a strong AHL team, there is no doubt we will be back to the finals within the next 5 years. Sure fans will love their players everywhere, but you have a great, young team there who everyone said was too young to be any good and they came within 2 wins of taking the cup. Ovechkin? You cannot compare him and Crosby, sure they are both young players who came into the league within the same time but you got two different players. Crosby could have 65 goals in a season if he took as many shots as A.O. It just goes to show a player like Ovechkin cannot single handly command an entire team. Crosby on the other hand is the definition of a Captain much like Lemieux was. He can make players like Malone into a 30 goal scorer, he can score those pretty goals, he is a better all around player. Ovechkin is over paid, he is a good player, but the Capitals are desperate which is why they will never be able to compete for the cup when signing a player like Ovechkin to that big of a deal, u don’t have enough cap to sign any one else. Which is why players like Malkin and Crosby are taking less money to have a better chance and better team. One player can’t take their team to the cup no matter how many goals or points he has, this year proved that. Where would they be without Malkin dominating or without Fleury being amazing in the playoffs? Well thats a stupid question, where would Detroit be if they didn’t win the Presidents Trophy, where would the Caps be if Ovechkin didn’t have 112 points? What if Zetterburg blew out his knee in round 1 against the Wild. Who knows, it just so happens thats how the season panned out. There are always what if’s in any situation. Malkin turned into a machine, same with fleury. Pittsburghs luck? Talk to anyone, it takes alot more than luck to make it to where Pittsburgh did. They have the skill, they have the players, luck has nothing to do with it. You don’t sweep a team like the Senators by luck or beat the Rangers experience level and players by luck, its just not logical, or play Detroit and manage to win 2 games and come 2 short of winning it all. And Crosby whining, well yes it’s true, but I’ll accept the whining for the points hes putting up, with his injury and missing a few months. Your gonna expect to hear your top player whine. He’s young, you do in sense get picked on by the older veterans. Ovechkin does take his fare share of harassment, but I’ll take the whining for the kind of player he is, its well worth it. Passion? just doesn’t make any sense, the points he put up in the playoffs, where he brought his team, the maturity level for a young player. It’s all nonsense. Let me know when the Leafs can draft the best player in the world, and can actually start to compete in this superstar league.

Puck_Off

Jul 11 2008 04:55

RE: bruzer8u

I have admitted that Crosby is better then every single Flyer we have. But again, that is not why I am picking on him. I’m not even picking on him. I telling you why I don’t like him. In MY OPINION, I think he can be a cheap player sometimes, he can be a whiner, he gets more credit then he deserves sometimes, and he’s given the benefit of the doubt too often. I understand most star players get preferential treatment. And that can be wrong. There were times last year Briere got away with a call, or someone was penalized for something he didn’t do to Briere, and I didn’t like it. I’d rather a game be fair. Is it gonna happen, no. But I can still not like it. Sure, that’s not Crosby’s fault, but when you see him out there whining to the ref about something, it bothers me cause he does get away with stuff. You don’t see me busting Malkin’s balls, or Ovechkin’s. And they’re also better then any Flyer, right now. There’s more to a hockey player (or any person) then just skill. A lot of people outside of San Fran don’t like Barry Bonds. But those fans love him. See, you guys love Crosby so much cause he’s on your team. You look past his flaws. And thats fine. I do that too with certain Flyers. But I at least know they’re not perfect like some people think Crosby is. I’m sorry we disagree, and I’m sorry it makes you upset.

But Philly will not move to the Armpit of America. Philly is just fine in PA. Though, it is great to talk to the man who speaks for all of Pennsylvania.

Also, I live less then an hour away from Philly, less then 5 from Pittsburgh. I don’t know the importance of this fact, but then, I didn’t understand the importance of where you live. Have a nice day… GO FLYERS!!!

Puck_Off

Jul 09 2008 07:45

RE: Thorn058

Good response. Straight forward, some good knowledge and opinions based on knowledge. I’ll admit (though I probably shouldn’t) that I don’t really have that great of a hockey knowledge. I just don’t get to talk hockey on a regular bases. Its usually short conversations. Sometimes I find someone who likes hockey enough that they’ll talk it for hours with me. I don’t care who they’re a fan of… I just like talking it. But there’s something about Penguins fans that I love to hate. I know a lot of Pittsburgh fans in general, and they’re always fun to talk to. Mostly cause it’s easy to get under their skin. And I like arguing and debating in general, so bringing in hockey makes me super excited. So I like to tease and prod Pens fans. Usually we get along fine. And we knwo it’s in jest, so when I meet new ones I keep at it. So when I say what I say, sure, some of it’s just out there, mostly cause I’m digging. Trying to get under their walls. But I liked what you had to say. There were a lot of fans on the radio here in Philly that were calling in complaining about “bad calls.” It got so bad, that one of the hosts started getting too frustrated explaining how they were nuts and wrong and being irrational, that he just started agreeing and sarcastically began fueling the fire by calling it a conspiracy against the Flyers from Bettman and the NHL. Some callers figured it out, some didn’t. But it was started to drive me nuts. I want more people to watch hockey, which I think is the greatest sport, but sometimes its frustrating hearing them make excuses for their team. I try and honestly be objective and open minded about as much as I can (when I’m not messing around with people), and that’s why I don’t dislike Crosby nearly as much as I did after his first year. It’s just fun to keep saying I don’t like him. Playing the opposite role of all the people who think he’s perfect and the second coming.

bruzer8u

Jul 09 2008 08:54

Reply to puck off

You and your fans are only picking on Crosby because he is way better than everyone on your whole team put together.
the pens rock and the filthydelfia cryers this says it all!!!when was the last time you won a stanley cup?where you even born then?Can You say SWEEP ,,,by the Red wings,at leats we won 2 games.
Just one more thing I live 2 hours from Filthy and 4 hours from Pit ,you are so close to New Jersey so they can have your city.Get out of PA WE DON`T WONT YOU!!!

Thorn058

Jul 08 2008 16:50

Where is the Hockey Talk

After reading the initial blog( of which I sorta agree with her POV) and Puck_Off’s response and response to other remarks I just have to wonder where the supposed hockey knowledge is. I think Jennie’s blog shows she at least follows the pens and has a good eye for talent but You sir other then calling Crosby a crybaby dont seem to make any hockey related observations. Whether he deserves it or not Croby is the face of the NHL and he is going to be under more ref scrunity then other players. Now us hard core old school fans might not agree with some of the pleading for calls, the new fans the NHL is trying to attract want to see end-to-end play, and brillant scoring moves, not the neutral-zone trap and hooking anf holding resulting in 0/0 games. So Crosby knows this and look for the calls. IF you are going to say you are a student of the game or at least a better then average fan then talk about the state of the game. After the Dallas/Detroit series I was excited about the cup final thinking that two highly skilled end to end teams were going to play a skill game. I was disappointed that Detroit put there right-wing lock into play and there wa more clutching hooking and grabbing then a high school prom. I was just sad, in the end I felt the Pens just werent willing to do all that was necesary to win the cup(some of them were, Malone in particular) Detroit on the other hand won by any menas necessary even playing boring skillless hockey( which is not to say the Datsuck/Zetterberg line didnt display tons of excitement just overall there was very little end to end skill on skill. Btw what was with the Flyers and whinning about the Pens playing the trap(sorry slight Flyers jab there) I have grown up In North Dakota where hockey players are treated like gods, and have watched the underachieving of the Souix for years so I know how I would like the game to be played. Im not saying call more penalties but send a message that obstruction of any type is off limits.

As for Shero, I like some of the moves he ha made but I think he got taken on the Hossa trade. He gave away three good prospects and a draft pick basically cause everyone was looking for him to make a blockbuster deal. He got dupped into helping take a problem from his buddy and making it his own. Maybe the pens dont make the finals with Armstrong and Christian this year but I would still rather have had them then not. As for Malone I think he would have stayed had not Shero been so bold as to proclaim Hossa as piority 1, cant make a guy who was there for the bad years feel that he i wanted you know

Puck_Off

Jul 08 2008 10:06

RE: PensFan72

PensFan72, I’m guessing you don’t watch a lot of games that don’t involve the Penguins. That’s cool. I used to be strickly a Flyers game man myself. I still am as I don’t have the Hockey Package, but I do watch every game that I can that is broadcast. And I read up on more then just Flyers news. I surmise this because you refered to Umberger as the Flyers up and coming star. That was not true. Sure, he was a good, talented youngster. But there were players like Richards and Carter. Both younger then R.J., and both pushed him from the center position to the wing. R.J. played plenty on the 4th line. He was a great player in that he was a versitile player. He could play any forward position and fill almost any role. But he was not the up and coming star. You probably think he was cause he scored so many goals against the Pens. In fact, most of his goals during the season were against the Penguins. I’l surely miss him, but better him then some of the other players. I’d judge him next to Joffrey Lupul more so, and it would be a toss up of which player I’d rather have. Probably R.J. due to his versatility, but Lupul has shown more flashes of being a bigger star/player.

Look up the story about the Santa Claus incident. There’s more to it then just Philadelphians throwing snowballs at him. We gained a reputation a while ago that’s been hard to shake off because people don’t know what really went down. And I’m not saying we’re the best fans ever. We’re damn good fans. We have a lot of diehard fans, and we stick with our teams. We’ve been voted best hockey fans from either The Hockey News, or Sporting News, and in an NHL player poll, we were voted most intimidating fans. Says a lot. Who cares if we have a jail. Just shows our fans get fired up.

And no, I would not want Crosby on the Flyers. Yeah, he’s a damn good player. Top 5 player at worst I’d probably say. But that doesn’t mean I’d want him on the team. Sure, he’s not as big of a crybaby as he was, but it’s still there. He wouldn’t be the first player I’d call on for every situation in a game. When I like a player, I like him to be more of an overall player. Someone who can play 5on5 or the power play. Someone you can trust to get the job done on a 5on3 penalty kill. A skater, a grinder, a shooter, a passer, a hitter, a guy not afraid to muck it up in the corners with 2 opposing players. Crosby needs to grow up a little more and show a little more respect to the other players, refs, and the game in general. He’s been slowly doing that since his first year, but he’s not there yet. I hope he does, cause he could be a much more respected player himself. Again, great player and yes, I am jealous of his talent, but his maturity isn’t there yet. Captain “C” or not. Malkin is more a captain and leading then Crosby. The only reason Crosby is a captain is cause he’s the “phenom.” He sells tickets.

And I love how during the playoffs all I heard from penguins fans was how Flyers fans cried about the bad officating. Then when you guys started losing to Detroit, that was your excuse. Bad calls. So don’t throw that argument at Flyers fans. There was bad calls through out the whole playoffs. Bettman has f’d with the NHL so much that refs are so out of tune with each other.

And lastly, people, cut it out with the “thugs” argument. It’s tired and old.

Puck_Off

Jul 08 2008 10:44

RE: Kevin151988

Kevin151988, explain to me why you need “hockey intelligence” to realize Crosby is a Crybaby? His natural ability at being a bonafide crybaby has nothing to do with hockey. They’re two different things. Him protesting a noncall isn’t making him a better passer. And it’s not just me. There are a lot of people who think of Crosby like this. Some of his own teamates think this way. Mark Recchi even told him to cut it out back when they played together. And it’s not passion. So you’re saying that he acts that way because he’s passionate? Then I guess there are a lot of other players out there that aren’t passionate about hockey. Cause I don’t see them whine as much as Crosby. And sure, when I used to play soccer I’d get so into a game and get frustrated over a bad call, but you don’t go to the ref and complain about it and try and change his mind for 5 minutes. Once a call is made, it’s made. Crosby doesn’t need to keep beating a dead horse. And he doesn’t need to bring up every little thing he doesn’t agree with. Let stuff go. He’ll gain more respect and people will listen more when he has something legitimate to bring up.

Look, I’m not saying Crosby is the only player to be like this. There are loads of players that are crybabies. It’s brought up more because of who he is. He’s in the lime light more. So people are able to pick out all the things he does. Whether they’re good or bad. He’s not the second coming of Jesus. He’s not perfect. Stop treating him like he is. I’ll admit again, that he’s a damn fine player. But he has that problem about him. I personally would like him a lot more if he toned it down. I actually started liking him more this past year because I noticed he calmed it down. But towards the end, it started creeping its ugly head. And the progress he made, started going in reverse. That’s my opinion.
And no, I couldn’t play in the pros with that much pressure. Hence, I’m not in the pros. And also, why I feel that sometimes star players are rushed into the league before their ready mentally. He should have never been given that Captain “C” when he was. That’s just more pressure on him. But because he’s a star they’re gonna give it to him. And that was wrong. If Crosby would mature a little bit more, he’d be a much better person/player. And much more respected.

I hate to bring this up, cause it’s gonna seem like I’m only saying this cause Mike Richards is a Flyer, but about a month or 2 ago, a reporter asked him since the Flyers captain Jason Smith was probably leaving, would he step up and take the Captain “C”? I mean, people have been saying since the day they drafted him that he’s the future Flyers Captain. But he told the reporter that he would rather it go to one of the veteran guys like Hatcher, Gagne, Timmonen, or Briere. Here’s a quote, “I think I’m still learning from everybody. Jason, just the way he does stuff, he would do anything for a teammate.

“I don’t feel I’m ready right now. I like the position I’m in as a little bit of a leader [alternate captain], but we have a lot of leaders in the room right now. I don’t feel like it’s the right time. I’ve only been in the NHL for three seasons. I’m still learning the game, learning the league, the situations, You learn situations. You get more mature as a player.”

I wish Crosby would have stayed away from the “C” for a little bit. Matured. Learned more about the NHL. Learned more from veterans like Roberts and Recchi. Just because people say he’s a star, doesn’t mean he can do anything.

Puck_Off

Jul 08 2008 09:23

crap... my bad!

PensFan72, I accidentally flagged your comment as inappropriate. I didn’t mean too, I’m sorry. Unfortunatly there’s no button to reverse it… that’s stupid

PensFan72

Jul 07 2008 09:51

LOL

you make it sound like Philly fans are top notch. You guys are the biggest no class whiners in all of professional sports. I don’t see videos of Steelers fans throwing snowballs at Santa Claus. Nor does Pittsburgh have a jail in any stadium. The Eagles are losers and continue to be. The Flyers, well, just put a bunch of street thugs on the ice and you got a typical Flyers team. Didn’t the Flyers let their up and coming star, Umberger, go. Smart move there. Sidney Crosby has more talent than the entire Flyers team. You know this too. That is why you have to put him down because of jealousy. Guaranteed you would take him on your team if you has the chance and welcome him with open arms. SO STFU!!! You fans are living more and more up to the name the CRYERS!

Kevin151988

Jul 06 2008 10:19

reply to Psssh Pens Fans!!!!

Firts off Yes i am from pittsburgh and yes we are “fair weathered” fans…it how we are here…but wait lets recall some facts if we must…the Eagles! lets recount how many times i hear your philly fans talk about how they are bad…yes every year you guys start off the season with so much hope for that team…their never gonna be the steelers! second off, umm yes there were some political stuff in with the new arena…but answer this also how do the Pirates get a brand new ballpark? they havent been good since the 70’s…so the Pens needed a new arena…and i still hate when people like you who have no real “hockey intelligence” try to make a point about crosby being a “crybaby”...he is an athlete and does what he needs to do to win…hes a captain at the age of 20! man you probably couldnt even play in the pros with as much pressure thats on that kid…and crybaby? no its calles passion! he gets caught up in the game…you cant tell me that you were never so into something and something goes wrong that you dont get upset…but wats words online? Nothing its always funny to listen to other peoples opinions such as urself! because it just makes me laugh…Go Pens

thisgamewelose

Jul 05 2008 22:02

Core?

That’s not keeping your core together. When The Pens aren’t on a powerplay, Malkin and Crosby don’t play together on the same line. Satan and Tenko won’t have a huge impact for the team.

FrasG16

Jul 06 2008 08:27

ah well

I like Malone, i think Shero would have tried more o keep him if he knew hossa was going.
Hossa is over-rated anyway im im not bothered hes left but i think it hurts the pens fans more by where he has gone.
Miro Satan might just have a good year if hes on the crosby line.
But Pens still need to sign some muscle with roberts, Ruttu and Laraque leaving theres a gap in the lineup for an agitator/fighter.
As for the Jagr thing, hes making something like $11usd a year in russia on a 3 year contract, hed have to take a huge paycut and pens would only give him a one year deal.