Moron, yes, yes, you're entitled to your opinion.

Answer this, if the Penguins had Ryan and Barker instead of Crosby and Malkin, would they still be in Pittsburgh?

Ownership made mistakes, of course. But seriously, don't try to act like drafting two of the best three players in the entire world in consecutive years didn't have anything to do with the survival of the Penguins. You seriously think that Milan Kraft and Richard Tarnstrom would have been enough to help the Penguins survive???

Wrong.

If Crosby and Malkin hadn't been drafted by Pittsburgh, in two of the biggest no-brainer draft picks in NHL history, then the Penguins WOULD be playing elsewhere. Hamilton, KC, take your pick, but people in Pittsburgh aren't interested in following a loser. And why would they? I don't think fans anywhere except Toronto and Montreal are prepared to follow their NHL team religiously no matter how good or bad they might be.

It's not the point any of the contrarians are trying to make. 'Morons' like me are simply pointing out that the subject of the blog, as in why it's good to be a fan of a team that got good because it lucked out in the draft lottery, is a source of mockery and ridicule among fans of the other 29 NHL teams. Not because the Penguins aren't good, because they undoubtedly are, but because of how they got good. Every other team in the NHL had to earn it. Pittsburgh won the lottery.

Don't tell me you don't resent drunk hillbillies that win the powerball and end up blowing their newfound wealth on rusted out muscle cars and crystal meth. That's what the Penguins are to every other fanbase in the league. Call it jealousy if you will, not sure anyone really cares. Just sayin' that respect isn't given to success that isn't earned.
- the_terror

I told you ALL we should have declined Crosby and Malkin so a Bruin fan and a Flyer fan would respect us more! Damn you Damn you all!

The Penguins had the worst record in the NHL and lost the lottery for Ovechkin. They could draft no lower than second that year. By losing that lottery it allowed the Penguins to receive a third lottery ball in the Crosby sweepstakes the following year

Differing opinions are welcomed, but sensationalizing your point with factually incorrect information doesn't add to the conversation.
- Ryan_Wilson

Ok, still not my point.

What I'm asking, again, would the Penguins have survived in Pittsburgh if they hadn't been able to draft Malkin and Crosby?

They needed a new building, nobody wanted to throw money at that, nobody wanted to watch the team, there were investors in multiple cities that wanted to buy and move them, and suddenly they have 2 of the best 3 players in the world on their roster within two calendar years. You cannot honestly say that team would have survived it Pittsburgh without those two. So OBVIOUSLY it's good to be a Penguins fan. Sweet f'ing hell, of course it is. Your. Team. Won. The. Lottery.

That's not sensationalism. Those are facts, presented as facts.

Here's one to chew on. Since Gary Bettman has been commissioner of the NHL, he has watched four teams relocate. Three of them were remnants of the WHA, the one remaining team from the WHA, the Edmonton Oilers, won a pile of championships. The only team that moved under his watch that wasn't a WHA team was the Atlanta Thrashers. It seems to me that Bettman does not want former Stanley Cup champs to leave their cities. The Whalers, Jets, and Nordiques had 0 championships between them.

I have no evidence to suggest that the Crosby draft lottery was rigged, and even though the Penguins had better odds than any other TEAM to win it, they had basically only 50/50 odds to win it against the league. Most folks would agree that drafting Crosby was the only thing that could possibly save the Penguins, so you have a 'closed door' lottery, and wouldn't you know it, Penguins win, team is saved, they get a new arena, etc, etc, etc.

You don't have to like any of this. But the reason most folks hate the Penguins is because most folks feel like they didn't earn it.

I told you ALL we should have declined Crosby and Malkin so a Bruin fan and a Flyer fan would respect us more! Damn you Damn you all!
- Sell My Monkey

Sigh. Another one misses the point.

Your blogger writes a blog about why it's good to be a Penguins fan. I point out that the ONLY reason you even have a team anymore is because you won the lottery, so of course it's good to be a Penguins fan.

You don't have to get all sensitive about it muffin. Instead of masking your arrogance, you should simply own it and wear it. Admit the fact that the only reason you have a team to support, in fact the only reason you're even a hockey fan in the first place, is because it's super easy to support a winner. There's nothing wrong with being a bandwagon fanbase, it's just easy for the rest of us to ridicule you for it.

Ok, still not my point.

What I'm asking, again, would the Penguins have survived in Pittsburgh if they hadn't been able to draft Malkin and Crosby?

They needed a new building, nobody wanted to throw money at that, nobody wanted to watch the team, there were investors in multiple cities that wanted to buy and move them, and suddenly they have 2 of the best 3 players in the world on their roster within two calendar years. You cannot honestly say that team would have survived it Pittsburgh without those two. So OBVIOUSLY it's good to be a Penguins fan. Sweet f'ing hell, of course it is. Your. Team. Won. The. Lottery.

That's not sensationalism. Those are facts, presented as facts.

Here's one to chew on. Since Gary Bettman has been commissioner of the NHL, he has watched four teams relocate. Three of them were remnants of the WHA, the one remaining team from the WHA, the Edmonton Oilers, won a pile of championships. The only team that moved under his watch that wasn't a WHA team was the Atlanta Thrashers. It seems to me that Bettman does not want former Stanley Cup champs to leave their cities. The Whalers, Jets, and Nordiques had 0 championships between them.

I have no evidence to suggest that the Crosby draft lottery was rigged, and even though the Penguins had better odds than any other TEAM to win it, they had basically only 50/50 odds to win it against the league. Most folks would agree that drafting Crosby was the only thing that could possibly save the Penguins, so you have a 'closed door' lottery, and wouldn't you know it, Penguins win, team is saved, they get a new arena, etc, etc, etc.

You don't have to like any of this. But the reason most folks hate the Penguins is because most folks feel like they didn't earn it.
- the_terror

If my Aunt had balls she 'd be my Uncle.

If my Aunt had balls she 'd be my Uncle.
- Ryan_Wilson

Moron, yes, yes, you're entitled to your opinion.

Answer this, if the Penguins had Ryan and Barker instead of Crosby and Malkin, would they still be in Pittsburgh?

Ownership made mistakes, of course. But seriously, don't try to act like drafting two of the best three players in the entire world in consecutive years didn't have anything to do with the survival of the Penguins. You seriously think that Milan Kraft and Richard Tarnstrom would have been enough to help the Penguins survive???

Wrong.

If Crosby and Malkin hadn't been drafted by Pittsburgh, in two of the biggest no-brainer draft picks in NHL history, then the Penguins WOULD be playing elsewhere. Hamilton, KC, take your pick, but people in Pittsburgh aren't interested in following a loser. And why would they? I don't think fans anywhere except Toronto and Montreal are prepared to follow their NHL team religiously no matter how good or bad they might be.

It's not the point any of the contrarians are trying to make. 'Morons' like me are simply pointing out that the subject of the blog, as in why it's good to be a fan of a team that got good because it lucked out in the draft lottery, is a source of mockery and ridicule among fans of the other 29 NHL teams. Not because the Penguins aren't good, because they undoubtedly are, but because of how they got good. Every other team in the NHL had to earn it. Pittsburgh won the lottery.

Don't tell me you don't resent drunk hillbillies that win the powerball and end up blowing their newfound wealth on rusted out muscle cars and crystal meth. That's what the Penguins are to every other fanbase in the league. Call it jealousy if you will, not sure anyone really cares. Just sayin' that respect isn't given to success that isn't earned.
- the_terror

Again... More proof that you know nothing about the situation with our team. The possibility of team leaving was solely based on getting a new building regardless who would actually play on the new ice....nothing more, nothing less. I absolutely agree that drafting Crosby and Malkin had a significant effect on the team staying, but not based on their performance on the ice or the ticket draw. However, It was the leverage the the Pens needed to squeeze the local politicians to finally make a deal for a new building. The team staying was still in question until they signed a deal for the new building as late as 2007 even though the old arena was filled by that point.

The Pens have missed the playoffs 4 times since 1990. Not all of that is because they drafted Crosby and Malkin. Your entitled to your own opinion, just not your own facts. The Pens had a full building with Crosby and Malkin on the ice and there was still a threat of them leaving. Fan support had nothing to do with it.

I don't resent anybody for what they have as long as they have it legally. Jealousy and resentment aren't in my DNA.

I love the haters. They have no idea. They have no proof and it's the same bullpoop that we have to read through all the time.

The Penguins had the worst record in the NHL and lost the lottery for Ovechkin. They could draft no lower than second that year. By losing that lottery it allowed the Penguins to receive a third lottery ball in the Crosby sweepstakes the following year

Differing opinions are welcomed, but sensationalizing your point with factually incorrect information doesn't add to the conversation.
- Ryan_Wilson

Thank you...

Sigh. Another one misses the point.

Your blogger writes a blog about why it's good to be a Penguins fan. I point out that the ONLY reason you even have a team anymore is because you won the lottery, so of course it's good to be a Penguins fan.

You don't have to get all sensitive about it muffin. Instead of masking your arrogance, you should simply own it and wear it. Admit the fact that the only reason you have a team to support, in fact the only reason you're even a hockey fan in the first place, is because it's super easy to support a winner. There's nothing wrong with being a bandwagon fanbase, it's just easy for the rest of us to ridicule you for it.
- the_terror

I'd say its because we won a lottery and lost one. Thank goodness we lost the Ovechkin lottery.

Sigh. Another one misses the point.

Your blogger writes a blog about why it's good to be a Penguins fan. I point out that the ONLY reason you even have a team anymore is because you won the lottery, so of course it's good to be a Penguins fan.

You don't have to get all sensitive about it muffin. Instead of masking your arrogance, you should simply own it and wear it. Admit the fact that the only reason you have a team to support, in fact the only reason you're even a hockey fan in the first place, is because it's super easy to support a winner. There's nothing wrong with being a bandwagon fanbase, it's just easy for the rest of us to ridicule you for it.
- the_terror

Do you talk to people like this in real life, or just on the internet?

Ok, still not my point.

What I'm asking, again, would the Penguins have survived in Pittsburgh if they hadn't been able to draft Malkin and Crosby?

They needed a new building, nobody wanted to throw money at that, nobody wanted to watch the team, there were investors in multiple cities that wanted to buy and move them, and suddenly they have 2 of the best 3 players in the world on their roster within two calendar years. You cannot honestly say that team would have survived it Pittsburgh without those two. So OBVIOUSLY it's good to be a Penguins fan. Sweet f'ing hell, of course it is. Your. Team. Won. The. Lottery.

That's not sensationalism. Those are facts, presented as facts.

Here's one to chew on. Since Gary Bettman has been commissioner of the NHL, he has watched four teams relocate. Three of them were remnants of the WHA, the one remaining team from the WHA, the Edmonton Oilers, won a pile of championships. The only team that moved under his watch that wasn't a WHA team was the Atlanta Thrashers. It seems to me that Bettman does not want former Stanley Cup champs to leave their cities. The Whalers, Jets, and Nordiques had 0 championships between them.

I have no evidence to suggest that the Crosby draft lottery was rigged, and even though the Penguins had better odds than any other TEAM to win it, they had basically only 50/50 odds to win it against the league. Most folks would agree that drafting Crosby was the only thing that could possibly save the Penguins, so you have a 'closed door' lottery, and wouldn't you know it, Penguins win, team is saved, they get a new arena, etc, etc, etc.

You don't have to like any of this. But the reason most folks hate the Penguins is because most folks feel like they didn't earn it.
- the_terror

What's funny is Winnipeg has a team again and Quebec may also soon...and "only" a 50/50 shot? Do you not know what 50/50 means? So every time there's a coin flip for football, there's reason to believe that the toss was rigged for the team to receive first??

Do you talk to people like this in real life, or just on the internet?
- BulliesPhan87

***highlight words...left click...theosaraus***

Do you talk to people like this in real life, or just on the internet?
- BulliesPhan87

3/17/14

This is when the Wild play the Bruins and Cooke ends the careers of Chara Bergeron and Rask....

I love the haters. They have no idea. They have no proof and it's the same bullpoop that we have to read through all the time.
- Ben37

I know a lot of you guys don't live in Pittsburgh, but the Pirates have the all time record for losing by a professional sports team......21 years I think, and they still draw 20k. It's actually remarkable for such a small city that has 2 other professional sports teams.

Both Boston and Philly are at least twice the size of Pittsburgh. In 03-04 when the Pens basically iced an AHL team, the Bruins drew only 3000 more fans per game in an area that had at least 2 million more people to draw from. They finished first in the Northeast, but only filled their building to 86% capacity

I fail to understand some of the comments in this chain. It seems to have deteriorated to a level of "luck" vs top draft picks. Perhaps Im missing something, but it seems to me that the author just wanted to say "its great to be a Penguins fan" with one of the reasons being they have great offensive stars in their history. Again, just my opinion but the joy of being a fan is irregardless of how they obtained their stars, but just enjoying the talent adorning their sweaters. High scorers are a part of the Penguins history plain and simple. Any of us would be ecstatic to have some of those players on our teams

As a Flyers fan should I not enjoy my team year in and year out because many Flyer-haters cant stand the Bullies of the 70s? I find it a silly argument to tell someone of an opposing team their history is marred, therefore you should not enjoy the players on the team.

I know a lot of you guys don't live in Pittsburgh, but the Pirates have the all time record for losing by a professional sports team......21 years I think, and they still draw 20k. It's actually remarkable for such a small city that has 2 other professional sports teams.

Both Boston and Philly are at least twice the size of Pittsburgh. In 03-04 when the Pens basically iced an AHL team, the Bruins drew only 3000 more fans per game in an area that had at least 2 million more people to draw from. They finished first in the Northeast, but only filled their building to 86% capacity
- madmike71

Oh I get it. I live just north of Edmonton which the population of is about 800,000 and maybe pushes 1,000,000 with the outlaying communities like Spruce Grove and St. Albert. But they pack Rexall Place, even with a last place team. But in the mid 90's right around the time that the Jets first left, the Oilers were really close to going too. From that time to following the 05 lockout there were a number of teams that had problems. Such as the Sens, Sabres, Flames, Canucks, Penguins and certainly a few more.

***highlight words...left click...theosaraus***
- drummer829

His brow must be awfully sore after that lengthy beating. Oy vey.

Nothing like the flyers missing the playoffs last year! Wooo!
- madmike71

yea you guys really lit it up with your "slam dunk cup favorite team"

nothing like that post lockout closed door "lottery" for the top overall draft pick....

- Pyzik

A closed door lottery that included a representative from each team, and an auditing firm (in the actual drawing, not just the televised envelope opening).

So anyone who says the lottery was rigged, or just eludes to it without the balls to come out and say it, is also saying that their team was in on it too, a global auditing firm was ok endorsing fraud, and everyone in the room kept the secret for the past 10 years.

Ok then...

Nothing like the flyers missing the playoffs last year! Wooo!
- madmike71

Really? Nothing like it? How about winning a Cup? Wouldn't that be a bit more fulfilling?

A closed door lottery that included a representative from each team, and an auditing firm (in the actual drawing, not just the televised envelope opening).

So anyone who says the lottery was rigged, or just eludes to it without the balls to come out and say it, is also saying that their team was in on it too, a global auditing firm was ok endorsing fraud, and everyone in the room kept the secret for the past 10 years.

Ok then...
- rival22

I think the only reason it'sever brought up is BECAUSE it was a closed-door lottery. Heck, even the obviously-rigged Patrick Ewing lottery was televised live. Not sure why the NHL has to go through so much secrecy. Just give each GM a piece of paper (weighted, obviously) and have a non-NHL-affiliated person draw a slip from a bag.

I know a lot of you guys don't live in Pittsburgh, but the Pirates have the all time record for losing by a professional sports team......21 years I think, and they still draw 20k. It's actually remarkable for such a small city that has 2 other professional sports teams.

Both Boston and Philly are at least twice the size of Pittsburgh. In 03-04 when the Pens basically iced an AHL team, the Bruins drew only 3000 more fans per game in an area that had at least 2 million more people to draw from. They finished first in the Northeast, but only filled their building to 86% capacity
- madmike71

Thats funny. Nice facts!

I think the only reason it'sever brought up is BECAUSE it was a closed-door lottery. Heck, even the obviously-rigged Patrick Ewing lottery was televised live. Not sure why the NHL has to go through so much secrecy. Just give each GM a piece of paper (weighted, obviously) and have a non-NHL-affiliated person draw a slip from a bag.
- jmatchett383

I think that it's for the drama/TV factor. Look at this past draft. They brought the bottom 5 (I think) teams in a TV studio and unveiled the envelopes that were already pre-numbered. Apparently counting down is more suspenseful than actually drawing numbered balls.

There is a video of the actual ball drawing from the 2013 draft and even then, it isn't transparent. There were number combinations already assigned to each team, and they just pulled a number combination, and it was one of Colorado's predetermined numbers (that we never saw).

Reading through the blog, it's funny to see a Boston fan calling Pens' fans "bandwagon" fans. Boston is full of the biggest bandwagon fans for all sports in the US.

Wow the haters are out. That's why it's good to be a pens fan. Everyone else hates us which stems from jealousy which is a female trait. Thanks for the input ladies!!