The contradiction is in criticizing the team because they traded a declining player. While also criticizing the team for signing a declining player. If someone doesn't want the team to acquire a declining player, what is the problem if they trade a declining player to get out from the contract?
- MJL

How come you're ignoring the term of the deals? A declining player on a 1 year deal isn't a bad thing. A declining player on a 5 year deal is a bad thing.

if pronger does something like that, literally everyone on this board would have gobs of white in their underwear.
- stayinthefnnet

darn right.....that would mean Pronger is playing again....loads of white my friend!!!

if pronger does something like that, literally everyone on this board would have gobs of white in their underwear.
- stayinthefnnet

You know where the difference lies. First, Pronger knew he wasn't a liked guy and never apologized for it. That was his personality on and off the ice.

Crosby is a complete weasel on the ice, and acts like Hockey's messiah post-game. And for all his skill he still dives and plays a dirty game.

He says after his 15th concussion that he isn't going to play "dirty" anymore, but nothing changes. He breaks Giroux wrists, crosschecks players, jumps guys from behind, face washes... and yet if you call him out on it, you have to apologize.

So your right... If Pronger did it, I would laugh my ass off. Because that is Pronger style, and when the mics are in his face, he will handle the abuse that comes with it. But Crosby is a Phoney about it off ice. Thats what makes it different.

Couturier was a solid 3rd line center. I think most of us felt he'd be fine there.

Schenn was never given a real chance with legitimate line mates. He was saddled with Briere on his wing and now he's saddled with Vinny on his wing. He was playing real well early last year with Voracek and had a great stretch this season with Hartnell and Simmer.
- PhillySportsGuy

They've had BSchenn all over the Top 6, actually.

I'm glad they finally settled on a spot, but that wasn't such a sure thing coming into this year and even parts of last year.

The contradiction is in criticizing the team because they traded a declining player. While also criticizing the team for signing a declining player. If someone doesn't want the team to acquire a declining player, what is the problem if they trade a declining player to get out from the contract?
- MJL

You're too busy obsessing over certain peoples' posts to understand that the argument for keeping Gagne, and the argument against signing Vinny, were more nuanced than just a simple matter of decline.... but if you want to keep trying to reduce the debate down to that single point, be my guest.

I think its about time and place. Pronger was very calculated with his shenanigans. Crosby pulled that poop when things were about to go crazy. Pronger wouldn't have started that.

I remember one specific time when Pronger just wound up and fired a slapshot (from his side of the blue line) directly at an opposing player. I forget who it was, but that started a pretty big melee. It was the end of the game and the game was out of reach. It was pretty funny.

I think the glove thing was a microcosm of that series. The Pens seemed to be more concerned with they stupid poop rather than the actual game.
- PhillySportsGuy

i 110 percent agree with your last point. there was nothing calculated about it. crosby was just being a pissy little child. no problem admitting that. but for people to hold that up and be like OMG LOOK HES SUCH A ______. is ridiculous

They've had BSchenn all over the Top 6, actually.

I'm glad they finally settled on a spot, but that wasn't such a sure thing coming into this year and even parts of last year.
- johndewar

I've always thought he's played better as a center. If they would just stick him at center and give him legit wingers, he'd be good. Raffl-Schenn-Simmer would be just fine with me

i 110 percent agree with your last point. there was nothing calculated about it. crosby was just being a pissy little child. no problem admitting that. but for people to hold that up and be like OMG LOOK HES SUCH A ______. is ridiculous
- stayinthefnnet

Oh I know. I thought the worse incident was when Crosby started poop with Hartnell then had to have another player come in and fight for him. I thought that was a (frank)ed up thing to do as a captain.

Crosby is an easy target because the NHL promotes him like crazy. Sometimes, I feel like he wants to be considered a scrappy player, but other times I feel like he wants the star treatment.

i 110 percent agree with your last point. there was nothing calculated about it. crosby was just being a pissy little child. no problem admitting that. but for people to hold that up and be like OMG LOOK HES SUCH A ______. is ridiculous
- stayinthefnnet

I think I could write off Crosby if he wasn't constantly being foisted off on us as the poster child for the NHL - as the perfect player. There are a TON of players out there who every shift give it there all, don't make dirty plays, and aren't d-bags who occaisonally play like spoiled children - yet never get attention because they don't score.
Is Crosby exceedingly skilled? Yep.
Is he a player I could ever respect? Um hell no...
And I'd say the same if he was on the Flyers. I yell at G everytime he dives - I hate that poop.
Unfortunately the media has created a monster to promote the NHL and it disgusts me when he's held up as a role-model. I want to puke.

There isnt a single sports firgure I despise more than Cindy Crosby. NO ONE.
- SchennBros

Todd Bertuzzi. No competition.

I think I could write off Crosby if he wasn't constantly being foisted off on us as the poster child for the NHL - as the perfect player. There are a TON of players out there who every shift give it there all, don't make dirty plays, and aren't d-bags who occaisonally play like spoiled children - yet never get attention because they don't score.
Is Crosby exceedingly skilled? Yep.
Is he a player I could ever respect? Um hell no...
And I'd say the same if he was on the Flyers. I yell at G everytime he dives - I hate that poop.
Unfortunately the media has created a monster to promote the NHL and it disgusts me when he's held up as a role-model. I want to puke.
- FlyersGrace

i 110 percent agree with your last point. there was nothing calculated about it. crosby was just being a pissy little child. no problem admitting that. but for people to hold that up and be like OMG LOOK HES SUCH A ______. is ridiculous
- stayinthefnnet

He admits he was being a pissy little child. I'm not sure if that makes it worse or better. I'll hate him as long as his lips are unnaturally red adolescent lips. And probably beyond.

Bill Meltzer @billmeltzer
No roster limit after the trade deadline, so VandeVelde is just an extra body on roster now. No lineup changes.

He admits he was being a pissy little child. I'm not sure if that makes it worse or better. I'll hate him as long as his lips are unnaturally red adolescent lips. And probably beyond.
- bodiva88

Don't forget his crappy facial hair, it's terrible

I think I could write off Crosby if he wasn't constantly being foisted off on us as the poster child for the NHL - as the perfect player. There are a TON of players out there who every shift give it there all, don't make dirty plays, and aren't d-bags who occaisonally play like spoiled children - yet never get attention because they don't score.
Is Crosby exceedingly skilled? Yep.
Is he a player I could ever respect? Um hell no...
And I'd say the same if he was on the Flyers. I yell at G everytime he dives - I hate that poop.
Unfortunately the media has created a monster to promote the NHL and it disgusts me when he's held up as a role-model. I want to puke.
- FlyersGrace

i will agree to a point. crosby is very skilled. and he has a lot of role model qualities. but he is by no means the only player who exhibits these qualities (as the NHL would have you believe). so i agree with you there. but thats not his fault that he is the hype machine fodder.

He admits he was being a pissy little child. I'm not sure if that makes it worse or better. I'll hate him as long as his lips are unnaturally red adolescent lips. And probably beyond.
- bodiva88

He admits he was being a pissy little child. I'm not sure if that makes it worse or better. I'll hate him as long as his lips are unnaturally red adolescent lips. And probably beyond.
- bodiva88

i really dont think i bring a ton of extra bias to the equation. hes not perfect. but i just like when people use consistency in their evaluation. and using that glove incident as an example of anything, while likely being the same throngs of people who would clap like seals if pronger did it, is an invalid argument to me.

Bill Meltzer @billmeltzer
No roster limit after the trade deadline, so VandeVelde is just an extra body on roster now. No lineup changes.
- BulliesPhan87

There's a 4 recall limit post TDL right?

There's a 4 recall limit post TDL right?
- Tomahawk

I think so, yeah

Couturier was a solid 3rd line center. I think most of us felt he'd be fine there.

Schenn was never given a real chance with legitimate line mates. He was saddled with Briere on his wing and now he's saddled with Vinny on his wing. He was playing real well early last year with Voracek and had a great stretch this season with Hartnell and Simmer.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think we all new that Couturier was a decent 3rd line center going into this season, but the question was whether he would be that boarderline 4th line checking center that we saw last season... a kid. No-one knew he was going to develop this much after last season.

As far as Schenn, yes he was bounced around on Left Wing and Center with Briere, and that just adds to my point that there was no real indication whether he could handle full time 2nd line Center duties. Thus why when Lecavalier became available without costing anything, it was the perfect insurance policy.

i really dont think i bring a ton of extra bias to the equation. hes not perfect. but i just like when people use consistency in their evaluation. and using that glove incident as an example of anything, while likely being the same throngs of people who would clap like seals if pronger did it, is an invalid argument to me.
- stayinthefnnet

imo, I appreciate watching him play now more than when he came in the league. He's a great 3 zone, all around player and most of the BS is gone. He made a play in the D zone last night that was world class, and I appreciate when offensively gifted players (understatement) are dedicated to that side of the puck as well.

Neal on the other hand...

i really dont think i bring a ton of extra bias to the equation. hes not perfect. but i just like when people use consistency in their evaluation. and using that glove incident as an example of anything, while likely being the same throngs of people who would clap like seals if pronger did it, is an invalid argument to me.
- stayinthefnnet

I think its because he's the best player engaging in these acts. Most people feel he should learn to ignore these things and let his game do the talking.

Pronger is the type of player who feeds off of other player's frustrations. His game is designed to bother the opponent. Crosby's game is at its best when he's focused.

When I see him engaging in immature acts, I know he's off his game. When I saw Pronger getting players angry, I knew he was on his game.

I think the NHL has had a lot to do with the Crosby/Ovi hate. Casual fans can't name guys like Toews, Datsyuk or Giroux and that bothers a lot of real fans.

I think I could write off Crosby if he wasn't constantly being foisted off on us as the poster child for the NHL - as the perfect player. There are a TON of players out there who every shift give it there all, don't make dirty plays, and aren't d-bags who occaisonally play like spoiled children - yet never get attention because they don't score.
Is Crosby exceedingly skilled? Yep.
Is he a player I could ever respect? Um hell no...
And I'd say the same if he was on the Flyers. I yell at G everytime he dives - I hate that poop.
Unfortunately the media has created a monster to promote the NHL and it disgusts me when he's held up as a role-model. I want to puke.
- FlyersGrace

From the mouths of babes.

Couldnt have said it better.

I think its because he's the best player engaging in these acts. Most people feel he should learn to ignore these things and let his game do the talking.

Pronger is the type of player who feeds off of other player's frustrations. His game is designed to bother the opponent. Crosby's game is at its best when he's focused.

When I see him engaging in immature acts, I know he's off his game. When I saw Pronger getting players angry, I knew he was on his game.

I think the NHL has had a lot to do with the Crosby/Ovi hate. Casual fans can't name guys like Toews, Datsyuk or Giroux and that bothers a lot of real fans.
- PhillySportsGuy

let alone pronounce them right

I think we all new that Couturier was a decent 3rd line center going into this season, but the question was whether he would be that boarderline 4th line checking center that we saw last season... a kid. No-one knew he was going to develop this much after last season.

As far as Schenn, yes he was bounced around on Left Wing and Center with Briere, and that just adds to my point that there was no real indication whether he could handle full time 2nd line Center duties. Thus why when Lecavalier became available without costing anything, it was the perfect insurance policy.
- SchennBros

Hedging your bets is one thing... potentially roadblocking your own prospects is another. Like instead of being patient with Bob, they panicked after a bump in the road and brought in Bryz.