On the Wings

Update (3:54 PM): Tapeleg of Jerseys and Hockey Love has a post up on the use of the term “bandwagon” in sports.

Clearly, we need adopt a definition of “bandwagoning” that differentiates actual hockey fans who support a new team post-elimination from those non-fan leeches who ride the coattails of a team’s success and bail at the first sign of adversity. It’s one thing to follow a team that’s not your own in as a show of support for the League. It’s another to act like you’ve been there for years.  - Matt

Update (1:52 PM): James Mirtle points to an interesting quote on the octopus question in a New York Times article from last season. The League’s sudden turnaround on the issue becomes even more mystifying. - Matt

… With the Ducks getting eliminated last night, the LA media is pointing to the defense as the reason. A former Red Wing is getting particular heat:

… Schneider is incurably soft and untrustworthy defensively.

Soft maybe relative to the Ducks’ hardboiled goon squad, but then again, so are most actual hockey players. Schneider had a definite edge to him, as anyone who ever saw him react to being hit could tell you.

As for defensive untrustworthiness, he worked out pretty well in Detroit.

As Steve Ovadia points out, the problem in Anaheim can’t be pinned on one player. IwoCPO has some thoughts on this as well.

… Speaking of the Ducks, the League has belatedly decided to fine Scott Niedermayer for not showing up for training camp, as stipulated by the CBA. Why this is happening now and not in December is a mystery. James Mirtle suggests that someone in the front office of another team pushed for the fine.

… Mike Chen thinks that the officiating has been awful across the board so far in the playoffs. Dead on.

… Apparently, Wolf Blitzer doesn’t know who Sidney Crosby is. I can’t decide whether that’s sad for Blitzer as a professional journalist expected to be aware of the world around him or sad for the NHL as a professional sports league that has been pushing Crosby with all its might with that kind of reward. Probably both.

… It looks like a Wings/Blackhawks outdoor game is likely to happen (scroll way down) next season. Does anyone really think the League will foot the $200,000 bill necessary to get the Rangers and Bruins into Yankee Stadium? I didn’t think so.

… Larry Brooks says (so take it with a grain of salt) that the League is looking at eliminating the “Wayne Gretzky jersey tuck” in a bid for NFL-like uniformity. I guess it wouldn’t be surprising given the fact that the League spent tons of money on adopting sweaters that lack excess material. However, there are good ways to imitate the NFL and there are are bad ways. This is the latter.