Too bad the Fems can't say the same happened for them.
- DONMURDOCH14

When it does the league will hand them, "The Next One III"

When it does the league will hand them, "The Next One III"
- Blueshirts4ever

No, Crosby gave investors the impetus to fund their state of the art new arena and the fans a reason to jump on the bandwagon.

Pittsburgh got the very, very, very, very, very, very fortunate bounce of the lottery ball and got Crosby when the team needed exactly that miracle just to stay in Pittsburgh.

How convenient, right?

When it does the league will hand them, "The Next One III"
- Blueshirts4ever

I never understood the whole "fixing" argument. You would think if the NHL wanted to fix things, they would do it where they can make the most money. They would put all the biggest stars in the biggest markets, and the 2 of the Rangers, Flyers, Blackhawks and Kings would be in the Finals every year.

Edit: Hell, Toronto would have won a Cup by now.

No, Crosby gave investors the impetus to fund their state of the art new arena and the fans a reason to jump on the bandwagon.

Pittsburgh got the very, very, very, very, very, very fortunate bounce of the lottery ball and got Crosby when the team needed exactly that miracle just to stay in Pittsburgh.

How convenient, right?
- MidnightMarauder

If the lottery balls even bounced. Behind closed doors lottery.

I never understood the whole "fixing" argument. You would think if the NHL wanted to fix things, they would do it where they can make the most money. They would put all the biggest stars in the biggest markets, and the 2 of the Rangers, Flyers, Blackhawks and Kings would be in the Finals every year.
- cap1681

BC the Penguins were a languishing franchise who threatened to move from Pittsburgh. If I'm not mistaking, they filed for bankruptcy and got nowhere in trying to get the city to build them a new arena. So, they needed a savior, the "lottery" to determine the post 2004 lockout draft order was held behind closed doors. Poof...the Penguins win, maybe it was legitimate, but its hard for rest of the league to digest especially just 20 years removed from the 1983 tanking to draft Lemiuex which was what precipitated the lottery system to be implemented in the first place.

I never understood the whole "fixing" argument. You would think if the NHL wanted to fix things, they would do it where they can make the most money. They would put all the biggest stars in the biggest markets, and the 2 of the Rangers, Flyers, Blackhawks and Kings would be in the Finals every year.
- cap1681

Really? The league was on the verge of relocating Pittsburgh right before they drafted the greatest prospect since Lindros.

Pardon us for being cynical and thinking the league sorta, kinda helped a fledgling franchise from being bounced out of town. Crosby was the exact tonic the league needed for investors and fans to regain interest in the Penguins again.

BC the Penguins were a languishing franchise who threatened to move from Pittsburgh. If I'm not mistaking, they filed for bankruptcy and got nowhere in trying to get the city to build them a new arena. So, they needed a savior, the "lottery" to determine the post 2004 lockout draft order was held behind closed doors. Poof...the Penguins win.
- Blueshirts4ever

Didn't have anything to do with the team being the worst in the league, right???

Didn't have anything to do with the team being the worst in the league, right???
- cap1681

Just being the worst doesn't guarantee the number one pick. It just gives you more ping pong balls.

Really? The league was on the verge of relocating Pittsburgh right before they drafted the greatest prospect since Lindros.

Pardon us for being cynical and thinking the league sorta, kinda helped a fledgling franchise from being bounced out of town. Crosby was the exact tonic the league needed for investors and fans to regain interest in the Penguins again.
- MidnightMarauder

It comes off more as jealously. The Penguins got lucky, but it more the factor that they were the worst team in the NHL, and had the best chance to win the lottery.

Didn't have anything to do with the team being the worst in the league, right???
- cap1681

Rangers missed the playoffs just as many years in a row and ended up with the 15th pick, too obvious

It comes off more as jealously. The Penguins got lucky, but it more the factor that they were the worst team in the NHL, and had the best chance to win the lottery.
- cap1681

So then why behind closed doors?

Just being the worst doesn't guarantee the number one pick. It just gives you more ping pong balls.
- Blueshirts4ever

So your surprised that the team with the most ping pong balls in the lottery won it???

So your surprised that the team with the most ping pong balls in the lottery won it???
- cap1681

again, why behind closed doors? If it was transparent and with public witnesses like it is usually done then nobody would have an issue.

So your surprised that the team with the most ping pong balls in the lottery won it???
- cap1681

Buffalo this year and Florida last year were.

Didn't have anything to do with the team being the worst in the league, right???
- cap1681

Actually no because how would that explain Washington not even finishing in the top three that draft?

It was a clean slate, perhaps the Penguins had more lottery balls than most, but they clearly didn't have the most.

Really? The league was on the verge of relocating Pittsburgh right before they drafted the greatest prospect since Lindros.

Pardon us for being cynical and thinking the league sorta, kinda helped a fledgling franchise from being bounced out of town. Crosby was the exact tonic the league needed for investors and fans to regain interest in the Penguins again.
- MidnightMarauder

Don't forget that Mario bought in then too. he had to be guaranteed something
( Cindy )to help save the franchise. He's not going to lose money if he's not getting something back.

Wow! This blog has deteriorated more than I thought. I bet you guys even miss some of us Flyers fans on here. I don't remember things being even close to this toxic in round 1.

Seriously though, the series is only 3 games old. The Rangers had a ridiculous shot advantage. They're overdue to bust through. They need to score first as they play so much better when ahead (true of most teams but even more so of the Rangers). They also need a second wind - they've played a pretty heavy playoff schedule between the long first round and no break before the Pens.

It comes off more as jealously. The Penguins got lucky, but it more the factor that they were the worst team in the NHL, and had the best chance to win the lottery.
- cap1681

See my other post, the Capitals were actually the worst team in the league the year before the lockout.

Wow! This blog has deteriorated more than I thought. I bet you guys even miss some of us Flyers fans on here. I don't remember things being even close to this toxic in round 1.

Seriously though, the series is only 3 games old. The Rangers had a ridiculous shot advantage. They're overdue to bust through. They need to score first as they play so much better when ahead (true of most teams but even more so of the Rangers). They also need a second wind - they've played a pretty heavy playoff schedule between the long first round and no break before the Pens.
- BOSS_TWEED

Flyers fans were actually pretty classy throughout the series. You know how some Penguins fans do it though. Fall behind, stay quiet, go ahaead, stick out their chests and rub it in.

See my other post, the Capitals were actually the worst team in the league the year before the lockout.
- MidnightMarauder

http://www.nhl.com/ice/st...?season=20032004&type=LEA

Flyers fans were actually pretty classy throughout the series. You know how some Penguins fans do it though. Fall behind, stay quiet, go ahaead, stick out their chests and rub it in.
- MidnightMarauder

I think Most teams fans hate the Fems and their fans the most. Arrogance and Ignorance to the extreme. We can all agree on that.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/st...?season=20032004&type=LEA
- cap1681

Gee, my bad, switch the teams up, Pittsburgh and Washington were both equally garbage before the lockout. Since you enjoy providing links, where did Washington wind up drafting in 2005? Anaheim also got the second overall pick; where did they finish in 2003-2004?

Point being, it wound up becoming a crapshoot, in 2005. All except for the team that needed hockey's next savior the most.

Flyers fans were actually pretty classy throughout the series. You know how some Penguins fans do it though. Fall behind, stay quiet, go ahaead, stick out their chests and rub it in.
- MidnightMarauder

thought the flyer series was one of the more enjoyable ones on here i can remember.

Gee, my bad, switch the teams up, Pittsburgh and Washington were both equally garbage before the lockout. Since you enjoy providing links, where did Washington wind up drafting in 2005? Anaheim also got the second overall pick; where did they finish in 2003-2004?

Point being, it wound up becoming a crapshoot, in 2005. All except for the team that needed hockey's next savior the most.
- MidnightMarauder

JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- DONMURDOCH14

More like nauseous. I guess Penguin fans, mostly since 2005, can talk smack because they do have the best player in the league and they are a consistent cup contending team.