Polaris922

I disagree with a the "an awful lot of people became hockey fans because of Lindros". I've never met a single non-Flyer fan that said they were drawn to the sport by him. I'm sure in Flyer circles it helped a lot, but not much elsewhere. His Quebec issue was ridiculous and angered many hockey fans over the disrespect for tradition and the league. He was known as a selfish crybaby team wrecker. The guy was a holdout in JUNIORS for crying out loud. What did he do to promote the game? Nothing. How generous of a player was he with his millions? He wasn't. Not until he himself was treated for his injuries and upon retirement made a huge donation. He won nothing. Penalty minutes support him? I beg to differ. Do you want Giroux in the box or on the ice? Thought so. Yes borderline stats. And nothing else positive to push him over the hump. Nothing but black marks that I can see.

@Samifan Maybe he can also teach Flyers fans to come up with new material?

Lindros had borderline numbers. But the Hall is about more than numbers. It's about a player's legacy and how it promoted hockey. Lindros' legacy is a blemish on hockey. He doesn't deserve it. Yes I hate him. Not because he was a Flyer. Not because he was good. But the minute he threw a temper tantrum refusing to play for the team that would draft him I felt and still feel he deserved to be banned from the NHL. The idea of Lindros the person in the Hall disgusts me. I don't care what jersey he was wearing.

I'm sure that was the priority for all the players in the NHL. We should have an award for fans along those lines too, so Flyers fans who whine trying to discredit other teams' star players could get recognized as well. About the "other players" thinking, Crosby was far and wide the MVP on this team. He played with Gibbons and "insert AHL name here" for quite a few games and STILL won the Art Ross by a good margin. The Pens were decimated by injury all season yet led the Conference the first half of it. Mostly because of Crosby. Bottom line is the Pens win a lot without him, but this past season he clearly carried them all the way up till the last few games of the season. The true story is told by the other players saying so. By league wide majority.

Also fair. No argument here.

@yave1964 @B21 Could be letting the rumor mill cause fear to get the team to do more of what he wants in some aspect. Personnel, salary, or whatever. Guess we'll find out!

He still lives here in Pittsburgh so not too surprising. I see him quite often at a local Moe's. PENS: Mike Johnston has been named head coach of the Penguins http://pens.pe/1iwb0Ss Rick Tocchet has been named Assistant Coach http://pens.pe/1lpBDaQ

PENS: Mike Johnston has been named head coach of the Penguins http://pens.pe/1iwb0Ss Rick Tocchet has been named Assistant Coach http://pens.pe/1lpBDaQ

Just heard the Pens will have a press announcement today and are expected to name Johnston head coach. Stop gap? Outside the box? Interesting...

But Cups are the goal, and a losing playoff record is a step down from Bylsma not an improvement.

The Hart, Lindsay and Ross. The kid needs new shelves...

@hf101 In fairness, Datsyuk missed half the season.

We can talk about how Angotti never said such things and the fallibility of Wikipedia. Actually I'm hoping the summer gives us lots of news to discuss all around.

@jammer2 And will be supplied in some way shape or form throughout the next five as well. Lol.

@nossagog Agreed on Cook. Still don't know what the plan is.

I'm sure there's a plan somewhere... Talk is a one year fill in till Babcock is free... I dunno. I can't figure it out either.

Nooooooooooooo!

The coach never said they tanked. Angotti's interview regarding the "tanking" was as follows: "If Pittsburgh hadn't gotten Mario Lemieux that year, I think the franchise would've folded," Angotti said. The plan was hatched over a midseason lunch between him and E.J. Forget gold, they were going for the mold. "We didn't actually try to throw games. But, you know, we went in there with the understanding ... we weren't going to be upset if we lost." The "We didn't actually try to throw games" part often gets left off to argue the point. Most of their good players, Kehoe, Paul Gardner and Randy Carlysle were all hurt. Did they make a questionable move in bringing up an AHL goalie to play some games towards the end of the season? Sure.. but many teams that are out of playoff contention do so to see what the kid has, which is exactly how E.J. Johnson said they did it. It's not like their current goalies were winning big games. Why did they not mess with Mike Bullard? He scored 51 that season... you'd think he'd be someone you'd want sitting, not scoring 92 points. The best goaltender was Denis Heron... with 8.. yes EIGHT wins. A stellar 4.08 GAA. That team just really really sucked! And if you look, the Devils losing streak to end the season was a couple games longer than the Pens. What was the big lineup change they made to guarantee them losing? Replacing a 25 losses goalie with a young kid to see what he can do? Bringing up some AHL kids to cover injuries to Kehoe and Gardner? They traded Carlysle trying to fill gaps and get a high pick for the draft in an already lost season. commin practice. They lost a ton of games before the end of the season, and the Devils lost their last 8... more than the Pens... so who was really tanking at that point?? I get your notion of just embracing the idea and saying "so what". I just don't think the facts really bear out the allegation. I agree 100% on the so what part at least. I used to think that's what happened till the discussion last year got me looking more closely at what was actually said and done. Now I think they just really did suck that badly.

He's 65 and running a packaging company?? Lol.

He won the conference ONE time, no Cups. He's 47-48 all time in the playoffs. A losing record. No success there and no thank you Mr.Wilson here.

Always felt Primeau was overrated. Solid #3 center who could play #2 on his best days, but not someone I'd have wanted as #1. Just never thought much of his skill set. Guy had heart most of the time, but seemed to take a lot if shifts off.

You Guys keep confusing our girls for West Virginia girls. Ours have all their teeth and BIG hair to go with them. Some of us are trapped in the 80's I fear...

@B21 I don't embrace the idea they "tanked" to the level you do. I agree they weakened the team through trades, but all of those trades were building a future. Did they care if they lost more? No. Who would? They sucked and had no chance. Did they intentionally throw games? No.

That actually defends the Pens as rebuilding that season. Something I agree they were doing. Thanks! Lol

Word was it was a contract terms issue so I don't know. We weren't too far behind Vancouver on the liveable cities list! Lol