AEG: not the best, not the worst

Interesting that the Wings owner bought a team that had 9 consecitive losing seasons and that it took him 15 years to win the cup.

I suppose that depends on who you ask. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to see the Red Wings hoist another cup when all is said and done this year.

New York Islanders organization, I can understand its debacle.
Wang and Garth Snow are a couple of clowns. Hiring an ex-goalie (with no experience) as your GM shows me that he should stick to the software industry.

WHy isn't Phoenix on the bottom 5 list. I heard they're broke.
Where is LA ranked?

Isn't that AEG's slogan?

SI said: "MLSE is too busy running too many sports properties and breaking ground on too many real estate projects to pay enough attention to the Leafs."

Hmmm, sounds familiar...

Five best:
1. Detroit
2. New Jersey
3. Pittsburgh
4. San Jose
5. Carolina

Five worst:
1. Toronto
2. Florida
3. NY Islanders
4. Atlanta
5. Nashville
6. LA

I'm surprised that the Isles aren't in dead last. Wang is a mess of an owner and he has shamed the storied franchise's fans. You think we have it bad? Imagine playing in a toilet of a rink with zero confidence in the future of the team, only to hear that they may relocate because the city and the county have no faith in Wang's ability to turn a profit. At least we have a beautiful venue and a sense of direction.

My condolances to all Isles fans who remember the days of Trottier, Bossy, Smith...Truly one of the NHL's greatest dynasties.

TB
I don't know about our team having a sense of direction.
Dean Lombardi is not as bad as Garth Snow, but he's in the same category as Snow. As a matter of fact, Snow and DL probably would set a precedent as to what not to do as GM.
If La were to be successful again, it would not be under DL & his cronies.

Amazing how a report on OWNERS not GMs gets another antonyy complaint about Dean.

It is surprising that AEG isn't ranked the worst. Put the leash on Deano's spending and sure seem like the only reason they own the Kings is to have a reason to buy up land and build real estate in LA.

Sorry guys.
Sincerely.
Just responding to TB's opinion about the Kings sense of direction.
Didn't mean to stir things up.
Cheers.

Not that I agree with your assessment anthonyy, becasue for the most part I don't, but this actually is a thread where talk of Lombardi is relevant. One of the criteria used to evaluate these rankings was front office/management, as was performance on the ice.

I do think we have a sense of direction. I'm not sure I like it fully yet, but I don't think DL is operating without much of a clue, as Snows appears.

The top 5's seem about right to me, with the exception of the Yotes exclusion.

How about a ranking of owners that care the least about winning?

One thing you can say about the best owners in the greater LA area (Arte Moreno and Jerry Buss) is that they truly want to put a winning product on the field/court and they understand that marketing/ad dollars increase significantly with a successful product.

AEG seems mostly concerned with mitigating their losses (financially) with The Kings.

TB,

You forgot to mention Clark Gilles

It'd be nice to know where LA ranks. Toronto is puzzling, they are one of the highest revenue generating team's in the league. I guess it's because they sign stupid contracts for UFA's, and trade away all of their youngsters???? The one issue I have with this is Pittsburgh. Here's a franchise that 2x has been in the toilet, only to be saved by a superstar: 1) Lemieux, 2) Crosby. As soon as Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, etc..., retire, they'll have the same old issues in Pittsburgh. LAME DUCK FRANCHISE!!!! Sit tight, Kansas City...

Among criteria used to get the rankings were the willingness to spend money to improve the team and most important, the team's success or failure on the field. No matter how the Kings fared in the other criteria, their laughable performance in those two critical areas would make it inconceivable that AEG is not dead last among all pro team owners.

I like a good rough and tumble playoff game like the rest. However, the league is letting things get out of control. The end of the Ducks/Wings game was a good example. Getzlef taking an unnecessary run at Hossa, then Scott nedermeyer throwing an elbow to Datsuyks head. Will there be any reprocussions?? Hell no, it was Getz and Neder...........The league has shown time and time again that it does not have the balls to suspend star players.

I would be embarrassed if I were a Ducks fan. Not only were their actions chicken shit in my opinion, but they probably just sealed their own demise. Detroit will be xtra fired up at home for game 7.

Was unsure who to root for in this one.............But now......Go Wings!!!!

I don't know what else Kings fans want.. Finally we have a relatively hands off management team that is leaving all the decisions to an experienced GM that is doing things the right way for the first time in Kings' history.

src3-

I agree with you 100%!!! There's absolutely no wayyyy Getzlaf or Niedermeyer will get suspended for game 7, the NHL can't afford to do that.. They'll either fine both of them or have them apologize, something ridiculous like that. Who in their right mind starts throwing punches and elbows PAVEL DATSYUK!! the most innocent man to ever step on the ice.. how can you even get mad at the guy, he's soo innocent looking and small.. I think Getzlaf has a problem in his head, did you see the way he reacted after Hossa pushed him back?? That's not normal and Hossa didn't even do anything.. The ducks have absolutely no class and respect, like who do they think they are? Ugh, I'm disgusted..

I have to beg to differ with you guys regarding the fracas...

I've watched this entire series and was thinking of calling the wings dive masters entering into last nights game.

Chelios et al have mastered the fine are of over-reaction for this series .... clearly one of the coaches informed them that anaheim is known as a physical team so feel free to induldge

and induldge they have ... i can point to at least two goals (complete with highlights) that Detroit got after diving to draw a penalty. More actually but two popped into my head.

I've developed such a dis-respect for this team that they actually made the ducks look like victims.

So when Neidermeyer took a few sweet punches at Datsyuk I was cheering quite loudly .... too bad chelios wasn't on the ice ... i would have loved to see him get his due.

If this is a list of the best and worst owners, I wouldn't put the Isles in the bottom 5. It's not their fault that the building they play in stinks and their city won't let them build a new arena.

And I agree that Phoenix should be in the bottom 5. They're broke. They stink. They shouldn't even be in Phoenix.

src3 said: "I would be embarrassed if I were a Ducks fan. Not only were their actions chicken shit in my opinion, but they probably just sealed their own demise. Detroit will be xtra fired up at home for game 7."

Actually, I would be embarrassed if I were A Eurowings fan and my star players were getting beat up without any retribution. Obviously the Ducks can't go after the Eurowings during the game because they don't want to sit in the box, but there's only so much stick work, elbows, smack talk, dirty hits that a team can take and what better time to make them pay for it then after the game? It was a beautiful sight that I'm sure Eurowing fans and players feel embarrassed about.

The problem with the fans is that they're twisted between fights and having a successful team. But, what they don't understand is that you can have both... Go ducks

AK47...correction, Datsyuk is not small...check out his measurements on NHL.com.

khanon81...Go Ducks? Really?!?!?

Overall, last night's incident was completely warranted on both ends. Detroit was sending a message, and the Ducks were responding to it. Going into game 7, its how it should be. Developing a dislike for your opponent in a series is part of the chase for the cup. No one will be suspended, and no one will freak out about what happened. I think its a great sell for the game when Datsyuk and Niedermeyer show their teammates what they are willing to do to hoist the cup.

As T.O. put it...get yer popcorn ready!

AK47 said: "Who in their right mind starts throwing punches and elbows PAVEL DATSYUK!! the most innocent man to ever step on the ice.. how can you even get mad at the guy, he's soo innocent looking and small.. I think Getzlaf has a problem in his head, did you see the way he reacted after Hossa pushed him back?? That's not normal and Hossa didn't even do anything.. The ducks have absolutely no class and respect, like who do they think they are? Ugh, I'm disgusted.."

Who else can the Ducks go after? Also, who knows what goes on during the game between Datsyuk, Hossa, and others. There's probably a lot of stick work, smack talk, cheap shots that we simply don't have the benefit of seeing. This is playoff hockey and if the Wings actually had tough guys on the team to answer the bell, then people wouldn't have to feel sorry for them having to answer for their actions from time to time...

TB- Datsyuk is 5'11"?

AK47, Just my opinion but 5'11" is not small. I think anyone below 5'10 is where you can call someone undersized. Another point, Datsyuk is widely known for his strength and conditioning, making him less "small".

Speaking in Tangential Tongues (my trademark)...

Any thoughts on the other two game 7s? Personally, I vote for Mr. Showboat-On-Ice and the Caps to erase the Pens... And, I like the Bru-Crew to swallow the Hurricanes (even though I hate all things Boston)... It's all about the goaltenders, VarLaMoff and Thomas, IMHO.

My preference for the conference finals is based entirely on aesthetics. Boston v. Pitt would be too much black/gold/white. And Wings v. Hawks has an obviously great original-six vibe. So I'm rooting for Boston, the Caps and Detroit. Mostly, I'm hoping for lots of OT and no flukey weirdness or absurd game-changing bad calls.

Detroit-Chicago WCF
Bruins-Caps ECF
Chicago-Caps SCF

Then we're in business.

Funny thought about the game last night and all the ugliness. Aside from the stuff at the end, which I love either way, the Wings seemed to me to be the more physically dominant and intimidating force throughout the game. I was surprised and impressed by how much they were taking the body. Helm, Filpulla, Stuart, Kronwall and Ericcson were all hitting every chance they can. Especially Helm. I hope Lewis can be like that for us on the 4th line next year. To me they lost the game because Datsyuk was forcing every play. He never adjusted and only had one dominant shift. Now I love Datsyuk, but if you watch him enough you see pleanty of nasty little cross checks and things behind the play.

As for diving, the Wings have been pretty bad a few games, however to me, no one has been worse than the Pens with a big shout out to Crosby when it comes to flopping all over the place. Particularly in games 5 and 6, every time a Pen got touched, they went flying. One that comes to mind was Crosby throwing his head back to toss his helmet off in an attempt to fake a high sticking call.

Far as I'm concerned, Crosby is the new Forsberg. The big, amazing skilled center who when he wants can skate with 4 guys draped on him, but because he knows he'll get the calls most of the time, flails around and falls at the slightest touch when he wants a power play. The scary thing is, he is really good at it.

God I hope Ovechkin one (or two or three or four) ups him tonight.

There should be a rule change for the playoffs. "Any penalties given out at the end of the game will continue at the start of the next game, of the same series". That would put an end to the crap we saw last night.

I loved the Grimey-ness at the end of last nights game..... good stuff, old-time hockey at its best.

I never noticed it until this series but Mr. Lady Byng isnt so innocent after all, he pics and choses his spots, but he takes a few jabs at people. Detroit is alot more greasy then people give them credit. They dont put down the mitts that often, but they sure as hell run people over. I think they were just as aggressive if not more so then the ducks.

For those that think the wings don't have anyone to answer the bell - A) No Enforcer would be on the ice in a 1 goal game in the last minute to answer the bell. B) The ducks can do whatever they want at the end of that game because they know nobody will retaliate in a game 7... C.) Did the ducks even skate Parros last night?

4thlinechecker,

It's not about dressing an enforcer, its about dressing players that are willing to mix it up. The Eurowings use to have a few players dressed that were willing combatants: Shanahan, McCarty, and Lapointe.

Lets be real here, even if the Ducks went after them at the beginning of the game, nobody on the Eurowings would retaliate. The only retaliation I could see is some yapping and stick work. Furthermore, the Ducks don't need Parros to play against them because they have many other players who are willing to drop em: Getzlaf, Perry, all of the D-men, Brown, and a few others just to name a few.

Jeez, what a let down of a game 7.

Last night is why Bernier is in the minors. I feel bad for Varlamov having to sit all off season after such a poor performance. There may be a lot of wisdom to DL.

Ducks went down last night with Hayward taking three replays of the final goal to admit that the goalie wasn't pushed over the line when the only thing over the line was his toe when the puck went between his legs. Tool.

I'm bummed Boston went down. My playoff pool is screwed now.