*

[I'm A Banana]

Rules were made to be house ruled.

 

[Remathilis]

You know, I watched basketball, politics, and pro wrestling; nothing beats a good game of hockey.

Now, lets see if we find one...

 

[Bront]

I really feel for the fans of the Blackhawks. Hirtz has systematically destroyed the franchise with his beyond penny pinching means. Bringing in Theuron Fleury a couple of years ago seemed to be the nail in the coffin. I was really hoping that if the Cunucks didn't get Crosby, then the Blackhawks would. That would have been great for Chicago, and the NHL. Thankfully the team has a bunch of really talented prospects coming up the pipe.

Penguins fans don't deserve Crosby. The way they have abandoned that franchise is sad. Although, we often hear rumors of the Penguins relocating, and if that were to happen, I know there would be a group in Winnipeg, trying to get a team back. Crosby with a Jets uniform on would be a pretty amazing thing, even if it is unlikely to ever happen.

What's more unfortunate is that his son has stated that when he takes over the team, he'll continue in his dad's tradition. Fleury could worked, and it's hard to blame the 'Hawks for his mistakes. The real nail was what they did with Amonte, Roenick, and Belfore. If they had sucked it up and kept all 3 of them, they probably would have won a cup some time in the late '90s. Never even talking to some of the free agents out there each year didn't help build excitement in the off season, which made it an exersize in "Who are we loosing this year?", and the year they made the playoffs (2-3 seasons ago?) they still didn't televise the home games. Way to cultivate the fans.

In Chicago, the Cubs are, well, the Cubs. The Bears always had someone interesting to watch even if the team wasn't great, and they're the Bears. The White Sox have always been underapreciated untill this year, and even now they're often second fiddle to the problems the Cubs have. The Bulls were riding a legacy for a few years, and have had promise for a while which they finaly began to show. Meanwhile, in the early '90s, the Blackhawks had this town, and as that degraded so bad that by the end of the '90s, Hawks talk had all but become a rarity, and sports radio stations would actualy avoid it because it would alienate most listeners almost immediately.

They only thing they have going is one of the best looking Uni's in hockey, and onlookers who will have a morbid curiosity with life after the death of the NHL, which is what the next season will be.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Rules were made to be house ruled.

That'd be funny: every arena has its own rules.

AR

 

[IronWolf]

The real nail was what they did with Amonte, Roenick, and Belfore. If they had sucked it up and kept all 3 of them, they probably would have won a cup some time in the late '90s.

That was the last I ever really followed the Blackhawks. I was a big fan of Belfour and Roenick.

 

[Kastil]

As a die hard Pens fan, I'm stoked. It'll be a treat to see Crosby play but I'm just happy there's hockey. PERIOD. I plan on making copious amounts of hot wings and staying up to the wee hours of the night watching NHL Center Ice.

Welll...I MIGHT miss a game or two to see my favorite hockey player... my son on the JV team this year! :-D

 

[devilbat]

Fleury could worked, and it's hard to blame the 'Hawks for his mistakes.

I disagree with this. The team knew of the many issues this guy faced, and believe me when I tell you alcohol wasn't the only one. They signed him because his asking price was very low, and they didn't monitor his after hours activities.

If you are going to bring in a potential public relations nightmare, at least have someone watching him, so he doesn't disgrace the team.

 

[The_lurkeR]

At least Chicago has an NHL team.

I miss our Hartford Whalers... those loveable losers

 

[Welverin]

The owners finally ratify the CBA, and they hold a draft whose rules are almost unprecendented in North American sports, and they announce the results and unveil the "new NHL"...

(drumroll)

at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon.

Yes, folks...when other people release news on Friday afternoon they are accused of trying to "hide" it. You know, because no one will see it, care about it, or talk about it until Monday. And most likely, by then, some other news will be more important by then.

But this is soprts, 4 pm on Firday afternoon gives plenty of time for reporting and discussion on ESPN, with Jim Rome is Burning at 4:30, AtH at 5, PtI at 5:30, and Sportscenter at 6, 11, 1, and 2 there is plenty of time for the news to get out there.

Besides, it's the NHL next to no one in this country cares anyway, so it hardly matters when they made the announcement.

 

[Templeton580]

*