Guide to the Playoffs: Detroit Red Wings
by birky on Apr 12, 2011 12:45 PM EDT
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PrintThe Toronto Maple Leafs have left their fans without a rooting interest past the middle of April for the 6th Spring in a row. The league kicked in one more Spring possibly as part of some sort of promotion. Anyway, we here at PPP Amalgamated Heavy Industries, Kitten Ranch, Pug Manufacturing, and Phantasy Sports Conglomerate want nothing more than to help Leafs fans in their time of need as they struggle to find a team to support.
You know the saying: "these ain't your daddy's..."? Well, the Detroit Red Wings actually are your dad's Detroit Red Wings. I remember watching Mike Modano in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991. I was 5. HE IS STILL PLAYING. But hey, who says veteran laden teams can't be Cup contenders? The 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs certainly were. If you're still looking for a team to throw your support behind this spring, continue reading below to see if the Motor City is worthy of your fandom.
The Case Against Detroit
They've been at the top for nearly two decades and christ their fans are smug about it. Any fan base that prides itself on an innate ability to smuggle dead sea creatures into opposing rinks is questionable. The Wings stole Cujo from Toronto in 2002 and will never be forgiven. But mostly, teams that enjoy long term success after decades of futility often live to see themselves become the enemy (see also: Boston Red Sox, soon the Chicago Blackhawks). Unless your team is the one at the top, nobody wants to see the same group reign forever. It's time the Wings sank into the abyss like the rest of Detroit.
The Case For Detroit
Detroit is the most successful franchise of the past twenty years. They won four Cups between 1997 and 2008 and haven't missed the playoffs since 1990. Ken Holland is a sure-fire Hall of Famer in the builder category and they're led by Nicklas Lidstrom, one of the top defensemen of all time. Beyond that, they play a near perfect brand of hockey. Every member of the team can skate, they move the puck well, they're dogged forcheckers, and their forwards display both determination and ingenuity. The Wings are poetry out on the ice. They're also the best bet among any of the Western Conference teams to knock out the Vancouver Canucks. That's enough reason for me.
The Sales Pitch
Just a heads up, but I've been telling Leaf fans for years why they should cheer for the Wings. The thing about me is that I grew up in Toronto, and have a unique understanding of Leaf fans. I know your passion and your loyalty for the Leafs run deep. It's something you're born with, and I just never had that connection. So I turned elsewhere, and my choice to back the Wings (made in 1988) [Editor's Note: Not bloody likely] has paid off immensely. Why should you cheer for the Wings in the playoffs? Because you deserve to back a winner. Leaf fans, like Cub fans, have a reputation that you will support your team no matter what. That's very admirable, but isn't it about time that loyalty was rewarded? I know the future of the Leafs is bright, but we don't live in the future, we live in the here and now. Forget all the talk about "underdogs" and "Cinderella" teams; last time I checked, Cinderella only gets the Prince in the movies, not in real life.
The Leafs and Wings are not so different, you see. They are both Original 6 franchises with storied pasts that have hit rough patches at one point or another. But we're also part of the "big boys" club: mere playoff appearances are not enough. We crave the Cup. Join us in our quest to add another Stanley Cup to our trophy case (and would still leave us 1 shy of you overall), marvel at Nicklas Lidstrom, one of the greatest defenseman to ever put on skates as he embarks on what could be his final playoff run. Be amazed at Pavel Datysuk's dangles every night as he constantly does things with the puck that you never thought possible. I said it earlier, but you Leaf fans deserve the best from your hockey team; who is better than the Wings? Besides, it's very likely the Wings are going to make the Western Conference Finals, and I know you're not going to cheer for Vancouver. Get on the bandwagon early; we've got more than enough room.
This is probably the safest thing to lick in Detroit
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Outsider looking in...
But what happened to the Leafs-Wings rivalry of old? Just my two cents.
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
they switched around the conferences and they only play each other once a year and haven’t met in the playoffs in over a decade
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Apr 12, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I understand that...
I just don’t see the compelling arguments for Leafs fans picking Detroit over another playoff-bound team, given the historic and awe-inspiring nature of the rivalry. I sympathize with wanting to hitch the wagon to a good horse, but the Winged Wheel used to inspire so much vitriol amongst Leafs fans that I find it difficult to believe that anyone here would want to root for them. In the 1980s, I doubt that your hatred for the Habs lessened just because you were in opposite conferences.
I’m actually the one in the need of a history / rivalry lesson, so forgive me if I seem arrogant / preachy. Just trying to understand the situation better. Thanks.
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
its just hard to maintain hatred over a generation when the teams never see each other, My dad still hates the wings with all his soul, but those my age and younger never saw that rivalry and have a hard time maintaining it
Sure the tail end in the early 90s was there, but it has since been eclipsed with the rise and fall of the other ontario team, the moving of the habs and leafs to the same division and other events.
there really is so much hate to go around
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Apr 12, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
In my hockey lifetime, the Wings are the biggest Leaf rivals. They currently represent everything good about hockey (other than employment of Todd Bertuzzi), and I’ll be cheering against them anyway.
Buffalo is a good rival, but the Leafs have never met them in the playoffs. I could never really hate Ottawa; it’s sort of like declaring your kid brother is your biggest rival. It’s kind of cute but you’ll always beat him when it matters.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Apr 12, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Correction, Hasek beat us in 99.
The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP
by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Apr 12, 2011 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Forgot that one
I knew I should have looked that up. Yeah, I don’t ever cheer for Buffalo either.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Apr 12, 2011 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d say 2001-02 and 2003-04 compete for that crown. Except for the latter in the playoffs with that 2nd round exit.
Visit my blog at: http://50-mission-cap.blogspot.com/
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Apr 13, 2011 3:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Gary Bettman and the wonderful idea that some teams only need to play each other once every three years.
The leafs would have played the red wings like every year if they made it to the SCF. That’s not Gary Bettman’s problem.
On the Mike Weber bandwagon!
Sabres took the scenic route, but they still MADE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS!!!1
No, that one is Arturs Irbe’s fault.
Visit my blog at: http://50-mission-cap.blogspot.com/
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Apr 12, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
That would have been the second round.
...rely a bit to heavily on alcohol and irony...
by My Poor Friend Me on Apr 12, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
NM, I was thinking of ’94, not ’02. I had totally blocked out Irbe in that series…
...rely a bit to heavily on alcohol and irony...
by My Poor Friend Me on Apr 12, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t remember a thing of the rivalry. I started watching hockey in the early 90’s; soon after the Leafs switched conferences. Then after the lockout, Bettman made it so the Leafs and Wings play each other once a year. Since I live near Detroit it’s the only NHL hockey around, they’ve grown on me. And since they play the Leafs once a year, there’s little conflict. They’re my second favourite team.
As for their chances, I foresee a replay of last year. Phoenix might take them to 7 games, then without a few days off their age catches up with them, and San Jose or whoever beats them in 5 in round 2.
Scoring by committee FTMFW!
by Peter de Chatham on Apr 12, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
..........
They’re my second favourite team
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I was (still am) a huge Yzerman fan, love lidstrom and many other players they had in the mid to late 90s, plus I love how Osgood and Mcsorly kicked the shit out of Roy and not mario
I have always had a soft spot for the wings
Rule #20
by JaredFromLondon on Apr 12, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Teams I hate:
1) Montreal
2) Detroit
3) Ottawa
http://twitter.com/ItsWags
by McCabe the Martyr on Apr 12, 2011 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
This list most closely resembles my uneducated views of Leafs rivalries.
Fear The Fin = Man goes into cage... Cage goes into salsa... Shark's in the salsa... Our shark.
I would guess geography plays a role. As outlined previously, the rivalry doesn’t have divisional relevance any more. Having grown up in Soutwestern Ontario a stone’s throw away from Michigan, you were either a Wings, Leafs or Habs fan.
Wings games being on TV regularly and having to listen to Mickey Redmond helped fuel the hate.
http://twitter.com/ItsWags
by McCabe the Martyr on Apr 12, 2011 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions
There might be 1 or 2 others.
You can't give up hope just because it's hopeless. You have to hope even harder, cover your ears, and go 'blah blah blah blah blah!'
by nhlcheapshot on Apr 12, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t mind the Vancouver Cannucks winning the cup – I think they are a solid, deep, wonderful hockey team. I mind them winning the cup then having to listen to their fans. I mind Canadian Media fawning over them for the sake of “a Canadian team hasn’t won the cup since…”
But if I could just mute that annoying part of the world, hell, I’d cheer for Vancouver.
I don’t mind their team but I sure as hell don’t want to give their already smug-as-fuck fans the satisfaction of winning a stanley cup to back up their Wellwood sized egos.
Sometimes it seems this cycle never ends, we slide from top to bottom then we turn and climb again.
Stoik_Leafs Twitter
by Chris Stoikoff on Apr 12, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
"[Editor's Note: Not bloody likely]"
Well played, but it’s true: I adopted the Wings at the tender age of 9 after watching and following Steve Yzerman for 2 years. I don’t apologize for it, nor do I care what others think about me being a “bandwagon” fan. I’ve put my time in, and I’ll be here IF the Wing ever become bad. It disappoints my father to this day. I will hate the Maple Leafs forever thanks to dealing with Leaf fans up to the age of 25 (when I moved to Chicago) and for 1993 (rot in hell, Borschevsky).
In response to Mr K, the rivalry was one that Bettman allowed to die, despite it being one of the best ones around. I still say they should make an exception for the Wings and Leafs to play a home-and-home every year. They can call it the “Original 6” or “Old Norris Division” exception. Unfortunately, unless they somehow meet in the Finals, the rivalry won’t be what it once was.
FUCK YOU IRBE
CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP
Visit my blog at: http://50-mission-cap.blogspot.com/
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Apr 12, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
No. As much as I love my granpa, and he was a die hard Wings fan….no. no no a thousand times no.
I have a family of habs fans and thats enough smugness for me.
I love a feel good story more than I love tradition, so i say Go Yotes!
"He should be wearing a Sens sweater" - describing someone acting less than sane or competent. Use it.
Yeah, to be honest, if the Canucks beat the Blackhawks in round 1, I will be cheering for Vancouver. NOT because I want them to win, but because I live in BC and it would be awesome to go to a live game deep in the playoffs.
Either I root for the Blackhawks or I root for my own self-interest.
Visit my blog at: http://50-mission-cap.blogspot.com/
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Apr 12, 2011 1:59 PM EDT reply actions
Hmmmm… pro – the Red Wings are very successful. Con – the Red Wings are very successful.
This is hard…
As a Leafs fan and native of the ’Peg, this is a clear “cheer for the meteor” situation.
...rely a bit to heavily on alcohol and irony...
by My Poor Friend Me on Apr 12, 2011 2:18 PM EDT reply actions
Or..cheer for the team you could potentially cheer for next year, before it’s cool to do so?
Visit my blog at: http://50-mission-cap.blogspot.com/
Leaf fan for life! (No, really. They gave me a no-trade clause when I was born.)
by FiftyMissionCap on Apr 12, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Don’t need/want him on the bandwagon.
Support Your Local Coyotes Blog - Five For Howling
JaredFromLondon: ...Odin, he's cool.
I’ll be cheering for the Leafs next year.
...rely a bit to heavily on alcohol and irony...
by My Poor Friend Me on Apr 12, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
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