Swede Loc: Trail, BC Canada

Politics in hockey- Sydney Crosby - Conn Smyth Trophy winner (MVP)- he did next to nothing

Disgusted with the NHL, but ya gotta like Nashville fans,

Subban out played Syd the relic x 10

SWEDE

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

I'm a big hockey fan and I agree with you. Crosby was absent for most of the last two series. I believe he only scored one goal in the final series. Giving him the Conn Smyth trophy was purely political. I'm a Detroit Red Wings fan but I would have loved to see Nashville beat Pittsburgh for the cup. The fans in Nashville are awesome in the way they back that team. They have the loudest arena in all the NHL and who would think that was even possible. Hats off to the Predators for some great hockey, wish they could have taken the cup for their fans.

Rich

Vicfarrari Loc: New Bedford, Ma.

Crosby will probably retire and then quickly go into a vegetative state from the 23 concussions he has had, The Penguins will then have a fire sale getting rid of any talent and tank deliberately over the next 7 seasons to stock up on number one draft picks.

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

The Pens won. Back to back. Vegas gives them good odds to "threepeat" Objectively, they are the better team. Deal with it, and move on.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Being a Red Wings fan after growing up in Detroit, its difficult for me to say but Crosby actually has become a leader and showed it in the finals ! People think that an MVP has to have the most goals or make a couple of spectacular plays but really they need to be able to control the game. When Crosby is on the ice, he has a lot of people gunning for him and attracts a crowd so he has learned to use that in order to get the puck to someone who is available and can make the scoring play. As much as I really HATE to admit it, he has gown from his crybaby days and this year, I actually stopped referring to him as Cindy Crosby. For his influence on the game when he hits the ice, he deserved the MVP. Now I wouldn't compare him to Steve Yzerman but he is getting up there in the same crowd ...

On a very sad note, next year Gordie Howe's name will no longer be on the cup !!!!! The Pens's names will occupy the lowest ring on the cup and that fills the empty space. Next year the upper most ring will be removed and a new one added to the lowest tier. This practice started in 1992. The upper rings go to the hall of fame but guys like Howe, Maurice "Rocket" Richard and Bobby Hull (along with others) will no longer be on the cup that travels ! Full article: http://www.wxyz.com/sports/why-gordie-howes-name-will-soon-be-off-of-the-stanley-cup

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

That is indeed sad, But I guess that's the "price" of awarding the actual cup as opposed to custom trophies like MLB, the NFL and the NBA uses.

whitewolfowner

The refs were screwing Nashville from the first game. My son is in Nashville and has gone to some Predators games and, yes, the fan base is awesome. I told my son after the first game that the refs were screwing Nashville and that they would make sure that Pittsburg would win. I believe that all of pro sports today is mafia controlled and the winners and losers are well picked before the action ever starts. We are scammed every time we turn around in society today as we are played like a fine fiddle form every aspect of life.

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

I didn't know that Pittsburg had an NHL franchise.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I wasn't going to say anything but after that comment I feel I have to... A crowd that is so disrespectful and obnoxious is NOT 'awesome'. They are self-centered and now are looking for somebody else to blame. I completely agree that the officiating was bad - and that the non-goal should have counted but at least the rules were followed - the whistle had blown. I think Nashville has some talent but the goon effect was a little tiresome. Saw more elbows than a plumbing supply convention ! I guess when you are out-skilled all you can do is try to hurt people. Saw it against Detroit for years. Pittsburgh as a team and a fan base was certainly NOT faultless but it seems from the game stats alone that the goal of Nashville was to injure first and actually play second. Worst possible final to attract a newer crowd.

Please keep in mind, I don't care for the Pens team and think Crosby is overrated - but they and their fans had a LOT more class on display than Nashville could manage to scrape together. Interesting that they thought Murray 'Sucked' according to their chants (and thats the only one I can repeat) but then how obviously little skill could they have if they couldn't beat a goalie who sucked. Nashville showed as no class, tasteless, vulgar boors in my opinion. But then again don't just take my word for it - their coach tried to explain to fans how to act because even he was embarrassed !

Based on all the negative condescending comments I always see here, I am sure that civility won't be appreciated and can't wait to read the highbrow responses. Stepping off my soapbox now...

fantom Loc: Colorado

I wish that instead of throwing catfish onto the ice that the Pred fans would have thrown fan-hating Commisioner Bettman---preferably from the press box.

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

I seriously doubt that there will be anything CLOSE to highbrow upcoming. If anything, sports is worse than politics in terms of vitriol!

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

I don't think I could agree with you less, the fans in Nashville are great fans. They show their love for their team by filling the streets outside the arena. Their were probably more fans outside the arena than there were inside. Crosby getting the Conn Smythe was a slap in the face to hockey fans. I remember early in his career that when anyone got near him he would drop to the ice and try to draw a penalty. It was so bad that when someone did interfere, or hold him the refs wouldn't call it.
You haven't been around hockey for long to think Nashville is playing "goon" hockey. They played good hard hockey, if you wanted to see some tough, hard, intimidating hockey you should have been around in the 70's. Philadelphia was known as the broad street bullies, Boston had some players that would make you think about going into some other line of work. Compared to hockey from the early years, a wussy like Crosby should be skating with a purse and wearing a skirt.

Rich

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

👍👍👍👍👍👍

Fotoserj Loc: St calixte Qc Ca

NHL as but one purpose, squeeze as much as possible out of the fan. The level of the game as bin going downhill ever since the first expansion and nothing will stop that players are in only for the money, team owner give salary to player at a undeserved level, there not transplanting brain for god sake, theirs pushing a f.....g puck across the ice.

PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

You really should ask before making assumptions ...

My problem with the Nashville fans isn't their lack of showing up but their crude and classless actions.

I have been following hockey since the 'Deadwings' were playing out of Olympia. I have talked to Gordie, Mark and Marty Howe numerous times and been to Stanley cup games in Detroit. Yes there have been worse goon teams than Nashville but they were not playing in the finals this year. If you are impressed with fans in the streets then you should be thrilled with the Pittsburgh fans. This year the arena was sold out out (proceeds given to charities) for the out-of-town game 6, over 10,000 fans watching the big screen outside the stadium or tailgating in the parking lots huddled around radios. It is great to see a newer team like Nashville getting the fan support but this is not new for Pittsburgh. Last year the number of fans outside the arena was almost triple the number inside for the final game. No arrests, no fights, no chanting vulgarities - just rabid enthusiasm for the team.

This has not always been the case - Pittsburgh is a football town first and foremost. When I first came to Pittsburgh, the Penguins had won the cup the previous year and were beginning the playoffs for their first back to back cup wins. At that time, there were still tickets available for the second round playoff games !

As stated previously, I have not been a fan of Crosby and agree that he was a crybaby who didn't play in the defensive end. The past 2 years he grew up a LOT and in the playoffs was a team leader on and off the ice. Still I don't think he or Lemieux can hold a candle to Howe or Yzerman - but perhaps I am just a bit biased ...