Polaris922

@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

@canoli A lot of good points there. Now imagine if they'd drafted Toews instead of Staal... Oh the humanity! Lol

@flyercanuck That thought scares a lot of Flyers fans I'm sure! @brelic I really don't know. The guy wasn't terrible just terribly overpaid. But the Pens have enough numbers to deal with already, and I'm not sure Richards is an upgrade over Sutter anymore. @hf101 Makes you wonder if they'd spent his cap hit more wisely it could've mattered against the Kings. Or the opposite... Would they have gotten as far without him?

We've beaten this topic to death worse than this article ever will. I can't even FIND the article but I already know what it says. Yes the Pens made some moves over the last ten games or so that all but assured a drop in standings. Just like the Devils did. But isn't that common? What do losing teams do at the trade deadline? Exactly what the Pens did. They sold off Randy Carlyle for a top draft pick (Doug Bodger). They were a losing franchise all year, do the last ten games really matter? They sent a 4.2 GAA goalie down for a goalie who'd never played in the NHL before and ended up with a 6.00 GAA. Does it matter? Yes the general manager told the coach "we won't get upset about losing" clearly indicating it didnt matter anymore. But their season was already over. They were already eliminated. The Devils were mad we "out tanked" them the last ten games or whatever it was. So what? How many Flyers fans wanted the Flyers to lose out once they knew they weren't making the playoffs? A lot of hands just went up. And if it were for Lemieux or Crosby or maybe MacDavid who would encourage it again? I don't know why this remains a topic people have like it somehow taints our franchise. The team genuinely sucked and then won. Went back to genuinely sucking then won again. Small markets often endure such cycles in sports. The salary cap is helping with that in football and hockey. I wish my teams never sucked, but they have (and the Pirates still do frequently). But does any of this really matter? Does it change anything? No. I'm more worried about who my coach is. What our philosophy will become. Who will be signed and who will not. Who we will draft. I'm worried about winning again. As all of us should be right now. No matter what team you follow.

With six years left on his contract. Bye bye!

I posted this in the other thread as well... http://triblive.com/mobile/6294742-96/ulf-samuelsson-penguins

He does? Where did he do that??

Crosby has no say in this, of that I am certain. Lemieux has spoken and he doesn't bend the knee to Sid. An interesting article on Ulf... http://triblive.com/mobile/6294742-96/ulf-samuelsson-penguins

I'm shocked more Pittsburgh market than Philly for game 5... You guys are 3 times our size!

I think if Kennedy gets bought out its under the rules that leaves a cap hit for it since he was signed AFTER the current labor agreement. Not 100% sure though.

Agree on all points. I loved Ulfie on my team in the Cup wins, but how much respect would the skill guys have for him? I mean, he clearly sets an example for the "whatever it takes" crowd. But is that the face of your organization?

So what I said AFTER your aggression caused it.... right. I'll send you some Pamprin next day I get off. I think you've taken my disagreement that the call itself was a major factor and turned it into a personal judgement of your opinion somehow. You go on with that. I'll be moving on to the next thread.

Wow... So what exactly am I supposed to say I'm wrong about? My opinion that one blown call does not decide the series? The only thing close to handed the series I'd have said was the Pens have nobody but themselves to blame for handing the Rangers the series after being up 3-1? That's something I might have said. And I have said from the start that was a bad call. But again it did not directly lead to a goal. It led to a power play. The Rangers had to kill a man advantage for the Kings and failed to do so. Or the Rags could've played a better third period or OT. The game didnt end with that call. There was horrible officiating in every series as far as what I saw. As I said with the Habs and Pens as well. NY even had OT power plays here and lost. That's not on that call. I don't know why you feel you have to get aggressive with me over this. I didn't put words in your mouth or anything. I just disagree that this call was that big of a deal. The Kings dominated the Rags in every third period. THAT was the Rags' problem. They couldn't hold leads or compete late in games to name two.

@sarsippius Off the ensuing face off though means there was time to change lines, play the man, whatever else they wanted to do. Not like it resulted in a breakaway the other direction. They still had to play the game. Those who don't seize the moment and all... And momentum is a matter of willpower. If you're going to fold like a pansy over one blown call you better find a different sport. @mojo1917 @radoran I don't want to hear twenty years of whining by Rags fans either, which is why I pointed our Muir's quote about just how lopsided that series was. One missed call that didn't result in a goal on that very play is irrelevant in a best of seven series.

I have no sour grapes. The Pens have nobody to blame but themselves. But to watch a team that blew numerous leads, failed to score in a third period or overtime, and thought being outshot 40's to 20's almost every game was good complain about officiating when really only one call went against them in an evenly blown officiating series is ridiculous. Maybe if it were in overtime of a game 7 and directly led to the GW I could see it. This series? The Rags were lucky to win one.