Bits and Pieces

I'm still not completely sure I'm going to continue with this blog.  I don't feel as if I have any new or insightful things to say--at least not anything that can't be found elsewhere.  But, until I decide, I should keep this up to date.

So, the Blackhawks won the Cup.  Whoop-de-fricking-do.  Although I knew it would happen some day--as it did with The Boy--Kane is getting his name on the Cup.  Three of the past four years an absolute travesty has been done with Pronger, The Boy, and now Kane having their names inscribed on the Stanley Cup.  I could just cry.  But I am most upset about Kane because he is such an embarrassment--the epitome of a spoiled brat athlete.  I'm STILL not over the fact that he got less than a slap on the wrist for his 'antics' last summer.  I just cannot stand how the privileged get away with shit like that.  But I guess that's the way it is...

I didn't watch much hockey after the Wings were eliminated.  Don't get me wrong, if there was a game on, I usually had the TV tuned in, I just didn't pay much attention or listen.  That doesn't mean I was totally ignorant of what went on, however.  And I have opinions...

I'm so happy we will/should be done with hearing about Hossa and his not being able to win the Cup.  Several people have opined that he will be looking for a new team now that he finally has what he's wanted.  Interesting.  And it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he DOESN'T play out his contract with Chicago.  So far, he hasn't shown any desire to be loyal to a team, so time will tell.

I couldn't decide if I was more annoyed or amused by Kopecky.  He kept coming off like he thought he was some big shot.  Does he really think so much of himself?  I actually didn't think he was THAT good during the playoffs, was he?  It will be interesting to see whether he will follow Hossa when he leaves Chicago--if he's still around the entire time Hossa is.  I think Kopecky will just fade away in the next few years, never to be heard from again.

The player that I was most confused by was Leino.  While he was with the Wings, I was one of his biggest supporters--especially when he would give interviews and come off as a bit of an asshole.  Now I'm wondering if I was wrong about him.  His interviews as the playoffs went on didn't do him any favors, that's for sure.  He really came off as whiny and carrying a grudge against the Red Wing organization.  I hope I'm wrong and he still is being misunderstood--because of English being his second language and Finns aren't always easy to understand, etc--but I'm beginning to wonder if it really is so.  (I have relatives in Finland who I communicate with and THEIR English isn't as good as Leino's, but we still understand each other.)  I'm afraid I gave Leino the benefit of the doubt when maybe I shouldn't have.  It will be interesting to see how he plays next year, but I have a feeling he won't be universally loved in Philly by the end of the season.

I really wonder if there is going to be that big of an OMG thing happening with the Hawks in terms of players they will/won't be signing.  About this time last year, everyone was so sure the Penguins would be decimated because of the salary cap, but that doesn't seem to have been the case.  Sure, they didn't get as far into the playoffs as they had the two years previous, but they weren't at the bottom of the heap, either.  Any Penguin hater was so sure--and I was among them--that they would crash and burn this year, but it didn't happen.  So, I won't be surprised--despite the fact that quite a few players will have to go--if the Hawks make things extremely uncomfortable for the Wings this next season.  I think they will be able to work something out and the Wings and Hawks will spend the entire season fighting over the number one spot in the division, if not the conference.

Next year's Wings won't be much different than last year's.  Lebda and Williams will be gone--thank goodness--but there doesn't seem to be any new faces coming in.  With all the players healthy--from my lips to God's ears--the team should be good.  And I can't wait for the season to start.  Is this summer ever going to end?

Detroit 3-Colorado 2

Tonight's game was a little bit of everything. The first period was good old Red Wing hockey--the kind we always counted on. And that's what we got--until this year. THAT is the kind of hockey we got in the second period--THIS year's Red Wing hockey. Yeah, they had a meltdown and lost the lead. Thankfully, Lidstrom FINALLY got another goal (first for the year on the road?) and they managed to hang on to the lead for a regulation win. Damn but it was good to get back to NHL hockey again.

So, what stood out for me. First, that second goal that Howard let in was very, very sad. I'm sure he's beating himself with a wet noodle right about now, thinking about it. However, there COULD have been some coverage from the other players, but...it still was sad. Z, Pavel, Holmstrom, Franzen--just great to see them out there. All in all, not a bad effort after two weeks.

Of course, I seem to concentrate a little more on my Baby Boy than a lot of the other players. He is playing his little heart out and getting great opportunities to score--he just can't seem to do it. Damn, but he came so close so many times tonight. Also, he better get his skates looked at because he wipes out so damn much--and has been for a while, even during the Olympics. Yes, I know some of the fault lies with his being molested by other players, but it is getting to be something that happens almost every time he is on the ice. Just an observation. And I couldn't believe he wasn't on the ice during the last minute so that he could get the empty-netter! He was getting to be the king of the empty-net goals in the Olympics--you'd think Babcock would utilize that. ;)

I'm really waiting to see how they play on Wednesday--it will let us know whether the Wings are back or not.

And Everything Stays The Same

Well, NOT so much everything being the same with the Wings. That was a very nice game last night--something we haven't seen enough of this year. It looked more like 'Red Wing hockey' than we've seen at any time this year. Now, if they can only bring it tonight against the Ducks. I'm not optimistic--SURPRISE!

The thing that is 'same old, same old' is my computer troubles. The replacement tower came in today--a full 1-2 weeks earlier than Dell told me would happen. While I'm happy to get the tower, this just means my time will not be my own, again, until I get it set up properly. So, I shall probably be MIA--again.

Go Wings!