Hockey fans anyone?

[Grifter]

Wow...  I was just looking over the Carolina site... to see what they were saying.  I looked at the standings and came to see that Carolina finished 7th in the East in points (won their division, but behind the thrid place finish of the Senators even).  Not only that, but were in 17th place overall in points this year.  It's amazing that they made it to the finals that far behind.

What happened to them?  I only saw them play twice in the regular season to Detroit (both WIng's wins and one close).  But in the playoffs, they've played tough and Irbe has been on fire..   what happened in the regular season?  Which one is the fluke?

Now I get why they are considered such an underdog.

[Bondo]

These are the players Quebec/Colorado has gotten from the draft.

Joe Sakic
Peter Forsberg (Draft day trade of draft picks sending Lindros to Flyers).
Adam Foote
Chris Drury
Milan Hejduk
David Abischer
Alex Tanguay
Martin Skoula
Radim Verbata
Brian Willsie
Riku Hahl
Dan Hinote
Eric Messier (Not drafted, but has only played for CO)
Scott Parker

Maybe it would have been easier if I pointed out that the only significant players who were not original Avs were:
Mike Keane
Patrick Roy
Rob Blake
Greg DeVries
Stephan Yelle
Darius Kasparitis
Stephen Reinprect
All of the above were gotten through trades, not through free agency.

[jn.loudnotes]

Grifter...it's because no one has given Carolina any benefit of the doubt.

During the regular season and in previous seasons, they haven't done especially well because they've lacked a lot of popular support.  People didn't believe that hockey could survive down here.  And I can sort of see where they're coming from - I went ice skating for only the second time in my life yesterday.  I think in Detroit that would probably be considered inhuman.

Anyway, now that the Canes have at least a few people that believe in them (though obviously no one on this forum...sigh) they should do better.  No matter what happens in the Finals, next season should be great.

And besides, every hockey fan knows the regular season points have almost nothing to do with performance in the playoffs.

[Bondo]

Well, last year the team that won the President's Trophy won the Cup and if the Wings win this year it will be the same.  I'd say that points matter to a degree.  Still, I think if Irbe just plays four amazing games, they can win the Cup, but I don't like the odds.  Still, I'll be cheering for the Canes.

[Grifter]

Well if Bondo is cheering for the Cains, you may as well pack it in right now... since Bo (ndo) don't know hockey.

I agree that points don't mean it all... but they were quite a bit far back there... even discounting the West. ?And one thing it does mean is Home Ice. ?Tell me that the Av's wouldn't have wanted home ice for that series with the Wings.... ?

Basically, watching the playoffs, I agree that the Cains deserve to be in the finals... I just wondered why they did so poorly in the regular season compared to now.

Oh, and loud, not being on skates is no sin here... as long as you are a swimmer.  Michigan produces more college swimmers then any other state (or did in the late 80's, which is the last time I looked)... and we produce more swimmers then hockey players (but not by much).  Now, cross the river, and it is completely a different matter.  Ontario produces hockey players like Iowa produces football linesmen (or Florida defensive backs or Chicago hoop stars).

[Bondo]

Does Minnesota produce more swimmers or hockey players than Michigan? ?They have more lakes and just as much cold. ?And I'm not cheering for the Cains because I think they will win so I don't know what my hockey knowledge has to do with it.

Did I mention I graduated from the High School with the most state titles, they won again this year. ?All I know is I'm in the state the produces the most skiers in the country and has the highest concentration of Olympic atheletes. ?My city is also home to the 2002 National Spelling Bee Champion so there.

[jn.loudnotes]

!

My high school has 6 All-American atheletes this year...

and since when does chicago produce great basketball players?  I only know of one...

Seems like suburban North Carolina is the true home...

[Grifter]

Sorry to burst your bubble Bondo, but Michigan has more water, more high school swimmers, and the largest amount of boats of any state in the US.... also, the most coastline of the 48.  

BTW, Michigan produced more college swimmers... that doesn't mean that many of them were the best.  Although my senior year in HS, our 4x100 free relay that won States was only 4 seconds off the time that won the NCAA that same year (which 1 second per person is nothing... ).  We had 8 swimmers from my high school alone get scholarships (including one diver).  Most of the schlorship offers were out of state no less.

As for Hockey, it's just much more of a tradition here... been around a bit longer.  

As for Chicago, They kept putting out many, many great guards from high school...  And you don't know names like Isiah Thomas, or Magic Johnson??  Remember, we weren't talking about colleges.  All the college scouts run to Chicago to scope out talent.  VS in states like Michigan, where they just look at the known schools and stats.

[Bondo]

Sorry to burst your bubble Bondo, but Michigan has more water, more high school swimmers, and the largest amount of boats of any state in the US.... also, the most coastline of the 48. ?

Grifter, you don't get to count the Great Lakes, just the water within the borders of the state.  To hell with your coastline as coastline itself says that it is the border of the land (you don't call just any edge of a lake a coastline).

[Brain]

Sorry to burst your bubble Bondo, but Michigan has more water, more high school swimmers, and the largest amount of boats of any state in the US.... also, the most coastline of the 48. ?

i would like to remind you grift, that Michigan steals alot of coastline from wisconsin using the up

by the way, wisconsin is a close second (or third) for water content, there are thousands of lakes in northern wisconsin, it is common to have 5 lakes with in a 2 mile radius
and with that many lakes (and very few ppl) nearby, it is fairly easy to find calm water for skiing or barefooting

[Ace]

GRIFT, I don't know what you are smoking, but when it comes to putting out swimmers, no one beats California. No doubt Michigan has a fine swimming program; they are always one of the best schools in the country. But compare that to California with USC, Berkeley, Stanford, and plenty more, and there just really is no comparison. Not to mention some of the best club swim teams like Santa Clara.

California also is THE home for water polo. If you made up a team of just players from California, it would basically look the same as the national team minus a couple players.

[Brain]

i hear thet texas(texas a and m, i think) has an excelent swimming program as well

[Bondo]

I think Grifter is talking about where good swimmers are born, not where they go to college.  Sort of how Colorado College doesn't use may Colorado hockey players (rather they get Minnesota players) so Texas probably recruits from out of state swimmers to some degree.

[Grifter]

Yes Ace, I'm talking about where they swin in High School... and just the number that get college scholarships, quantity, not quality...  After all, I know guys that left Michigan to go to Mission Viejo and Arizon to swim (while in high school).  As a matter of fact, our old high school coach went to Arizon to coach a team with Rowdey Gains back in the late 80's.

Bondo, the coast and waters of the great lakes do count... since the state line is drawn out in the middle of the lake.  And if coast of the great lakes doesn't count... then I guess California has no coast line what so ever in your opinion...  Bondo, you are the king at discounting facts that you don't like.  

And Brain.... the U.P. is still Michigan =P

[Bondo]

I wasn't saying that Michigan didn't have coastline, I just said the water in the Great Lakes doesn't count in how much the state has (just like I'm not counting Lake Superior for MN).  I'm talking landlocked (within the state) lakes and rivers.

[Ace]

GRIFT, I admit I don't know much about the talent coming out of Michigan, but I would be willing to wager large amounts of beer that California consistenly produces the top swimmers in the country and almost any age group you wish to compare. We simply kick ass at swimming and water polo out here.

[BTs_Mysterio]

plz ppl,  i started this thread so it wouldnt become a arguement!  

[Brain]

And Brain.... the U.P. is still Michigan =P

i know that,i'm saying that if the up didnt exist(or belonged to wisconsin, like it should)
then wisconsin would have aproximatly equal(or more)coastline than michigan, hence you are taking away our shorline

GIVE US OUR SHORE LINE BACK!!!
STOP, THEIF!!!

[jn.loudnotes]

Mysterio - what are you talking about?
This whole thread has been one long argument!

Speaking of which -

Go Canes!

[jn.loudnotes]

It's not over yet....