Kings Gameday: They Must Really Like Lou Ferrigno
by RudyKelly on Jan 31, 2010 9:46 AM PST
Email
PrintLos Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils, Jan 31, 2010 2:00 PM PST
In my darkest moments, I think about what it'd be like to be a Devils fan. It must be nice; they have the greatest goaltender of all time, a bunch of good young American players, they live in New Jersey... well, I guess it's not all great. Anyway, the good people at In Lou We Trust were kind enough to answer a few questions about their crappy Eastern Conference team for our edification. They should have a few answers about my team on their site if you need a primer on the Kings. Read them both, dickhead.
1) Zach Parise: great American, or greatest American?
He's a great American player, winning gold at the WJC for the United States and he has been a constant producer at the NHL and international levels. He's still fairly young at 25 and he has plenty of times to build up his resume. He hasn't done as much as, say, Mike Modano; but he has the potential to be one of the greatest American players in our time.
His game is something I don't really recall any other great American players have. Parise is just in constant motion and his work ethic is off the charts. He'll doggedly pressure a defenseman on a forecheck or to retain the puck on a cycle. If he ever goes cross-ice to the other wing, he's almost always back at his position in short order. He loves to roam around the net and pounce on a loose puck or try to fire a shot up close for a goal, or make a feed to an open player. Despite his size (5'11", 190 lbs.), he has no fear of physical play, and so far no one has really figured out how he can be stopped.
2) How tired are you of the "It's a trap!" joke?
It just causes Devils fans to roll their eyes because it usually comes up from a fan of the opposition who isn't happy that their team isn't as good as the Devils. No, the Devils aren't playing the neutral zone trap for 60 minutes. No, the Devils aren't sitting back and clogging the neutral zone all game. To say the Devils are a trapping team is essentially to tell someone you don't understand what you're watching and so you rely on out-of-date assumptions.
3) Who the hell is Andy Greene?
Greene was an undrafted player, signed out of college after his senior with Miami (of Ohio) University. In college, he was well regarded as a two-way defender - someone who has good puck control along with good awareness in his own zone. He looked real good when starting out in Lowell in the AHL. He was called up for 23 games in 06-07 and showed some flashes of his potential. While he didn't start the next three seasons (including this season) on the active roster, he eventually tied up the #6 spot on the defense until this season. This season, Greene literally taken his game to the next level. Since Paul Martin's injury, Lemaire liked how he was looking in practice and in games and so he gave him a shot at a top 4 spot. Greene literally has ran with the opportunity and hasn't looked back since. He has improved by leaps and bounds over last season in terms of positioning, his decision making, and even his shooting. Granted, the production from Greene has slowed down a bit; but he's been the only Devils defenseman with a notable amount of points. However, that's not nearly as impressive as the fact that he's gone from the third pairing to playing in all situations and averaging 24:18 a night. Greene's not getting these minutes just because Martin's out, he's been earning this time on defense. I question whether or not he's just playing out of his mind or whether he has truly broken out in his fourth season of pro hockey.
4) Aren't you guys tired of making the playoffs all the time? It's like, unfair and stuff.
No. Admittedly, many Devils fans are so used to the team making the postseason that playing in mid-April in of itself isn't enough. They want the Cup every season. Since the lockout, the Devils haven't seen past the second round and many aren't happy with that. They like to blame - wrongly, in my opinion, and stupidly promoted by some in the media - Brodeur for playing too many games or a lack of a "big name" on defense/offense as to why they haven't gotten that far. I think the reasons go much deeper than that for not going deep. However, I like think that I have some perspective and I truly do appreciate the importance of making the playoffs. Sometimes, the matchups burn a team and there's little that can be done, as difficult as that it is to admit sometimes. Making the postseason consistently even without a "deep run" every few years is, I think, far superior to the alternative of missing the post season.
43 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Thanks for keeping my answers in glorious red.
You know, you could just become a NHL bigamist and support two teams, Rudy. There’s no shame at all in supporting an organization like New Jersey’s.
Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The Devils SBN Blog
sports bigamists can never give themselves over fully to the ecstatic experience of victory
and as a result, their existence is a tawdry simulacrum.
Wait till this year.
I like the Devils
Hockey is the only sport where I have another team I like. Can’t figure out why.
I wouldn’t go as far to call it bigomy though, not that committed, but once the Kings are out, I’ll pull for them, which I guess could make me sound like a much bigger fan, but its not really like that, there’s still the period of mourning between the Kings getting eliminated and then pulling for New Jersey.
Good to see us finally start kicking their ass though.
Be warned — I once liked the Devils as an eastern surrogate.
Then spring of 2003 happened, and now? Fuck the Devs.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
by Earl Sleek on Jan 31, 2010 6:23 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
The key to happy sports bigamy, I’ve found, is to have your father guide you to two teams who will never, ever, ever, ever make the goddamn finals ever again. Then, instead of worrying about a clash of allegiances, you spend all your time wondering what’s the point. It’s joyous.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
Where’s Earl? I’m ready to read his “Bye-bye Giggy” tribute…
2009-10 Kings Hockey: Delivering Milk Steaks from the Meat Train at an arena near you!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Jan 31, 2010 10:26 AM PST reply actions
RK – Dropping a couple of “Meat Train” referrences at In Lou We Trust was well played, sir. The legend is growing!
2009-10 Kings Hockey: Delivering Milk Steaks from the Meat Train at an arena near you!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Jan 31, 2010 11:38 AM PST reply actions
as annoying as he is, its nice to finally get respect from east coast media… although he has continuously called Johnson "Doughty’’
I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours
by BoulderDodger on Jan 31, 2010 2:32 PM PST up reply actions
These Jersey announcers are hilarious. Are they always like this? PS, Matt Greene and Jack Johnson are not the same person, just because both delivered hits.
I prefer my Kool-Aid spiked
Usually Mike “Doc” Emrick calls the Devils games, I think — this is their spare guy whenever Doc’s on assignment.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Ahh, that’s right. I miss him. Remember hockey on ESPN? Good ol’ days.
Somebody fetch me my walker.
I prefer my Kool-Aid spiked
I remember it, and finally I can say that I don’t miss it.
Now that there’s NHL on the Fly, all my hockey needs get met without whatever giant network is ignoring us. Shrug!
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I still think it’s sad that ESPN decided ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ tourneys are more ratings-worthy. But that’s me.
I prefer my Kool-Aid spiked
Well, their asking price might have been more reasonable, too.
That last stop by Quick was ridiculous.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
haha yeah they kept mixing up all the defenseman
I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours
by BoulderDodger on Jan 31, 2010 6:31 PM PST up reply actions
So in that G7 against the ’Canes, Brodeur turned a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 loss in the final 1:20.
Tonight he turns a 2-1 lead into a 3-2 loss in the final 1:46. Man I love watching his era end.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Holy fuck, I almost fast forwarded through this game (DVR’d due to going to a bridal bazaar (I’m gay)) when the Devils got the 2-0 lead and playing all boringly (ok it’s not the trap per se, but it’s still boring as fuck) but am glad I stopped. That was an amazing finish. Doughty’s funny when he’s happy.
P.S. How does a hockey player “literally run with opportunity”?
P.P.S I’m not really gay
Okay, now all we need is for this Phoenix-Dallas game to just be a two-pointer. No whammies, no whammies. (Oh, who am I kidding. We’ve had all the luck we’re gonna get today.)
I’m gonna go take a nap and snuggle my orange-and-purple (ahem, Forum blue) 80s pajama jersey and tell it not to listen to what the bad Chico man said. It might be freakish, but so was the Christmas outfit the stupid Devils had all those years. So neener neener.
I prefer my Kool-Aid spiked
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
* Thanks, Kevin Lowe!
Related FanPosts on Battle of California
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Pacific Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Jose
|
54 | 31 | 17 | 6 | 68 |
|
Los Angeles
|
57 | 27 | 19 | 11 | 65 |
|
Phoenix
|
57 | 27 | 21 | 9 | 63 |
|
Dallas
|
56 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 59 |
|
Anaheim
|
56 | 23 | 24 | 9 | 55 |
(updated 2.15.2012 at 5:59 AM PST)
5 years old and counting!
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Wednesday’s Three Stars: Lupul, Connolly, give Leafs OT win; Anderson stops 42
- Did Brad Marchand get down with his bad self again on clipping penalty? (VIDEO)
- Puck Previews: Ducks’ road trip continues; Sens, Panthers in battle of most surprising teams
- Watch the weirdest goal of the year, courtesy of ECHL ref’s rulebook gaffe (VIDEO)
- Jeremy Roenick’s OK with Blackhawks trading Patrick Kane for goalie upgrade
Latest stories and headlines from NHL.com
- WHL Roundup: A look at Wednesday's games
- Bruins, Habs restore bitter rivalry in Boston's hard-fought 4-3 shootout win
- Morrison makes 32 saves, Giants beat Chiefs to move into 4th in conference
- Drew Owsley makes 38 saves, leads Cougars to 3-1 victory over Rebels
- Canadiens send right-wing Aaron Palushaj to AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
