The NHL Cubs

[Norm 0]

I've never followed the NHL having a general aversion to professional sports. Except the Chicago Cubs. Now that I'm actually playing and the NHL looks to be coming back, alot of the locker room chatter is about the upcoming season. I hate to be left out. So having no reason to like one team or another, who are the "lovable losers" of the NHL?

[RadioGaGa 162]

Hard to say this year.....with the amount of player movement...the recent bottom feeders (ie: Pittsburgh, Florida, Columbus, Carolina) have a chance to be good this year.

You may have to wait until Nov to decide which "loveable loser" you'll want to follow/cheer for.

[Geeno_56 1]

I can't beleive im saying this but this year I have my doughts on detroit being a cup contender or maybe even a playoff contender but you never know until Nov. like Radio said.

[2048 0]

The rangers aren't loveable, but they certainly had the streak till 1994 and lose all the time. Otherwise, it's either the Hawks or the Leafs, neither team is winning a cup for a while.

[hockechamp14 0]

I'd go with the habs as the lovable loser because especially as of late, tehy can win games, but they just can't get all the way. Like the sox until last season...

[Chadd 916]

Chicago or Toronto, I don't believe that either original franchise has won a cup since expansion.

[Rustybender 0]

I'd agree with Toronto and Chicago, but the key word is Lovable. There's alot of hate directed at Toronto for whatever reason. Nobody really hates Chicago, they just pity them.

I'd say fittingly enough, the hawks are the NHL's cubs.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Chicago is my pick, but we can always use another Leaf fan. People hate us because our Media sucks and we have a ton of fans, with so many of them, some are bound to be idiots. People remember the media jumping to conclusions, idiot fans, and know they have the drought to swing infront of everyones face.

Plus the teams got some boarderline dirty players.

[DarkStar50 679]

Plus the teams got some boarderline dirty players.

Domi, Mushment, who else??

[Chadd 916]

Plus the teams got some boarderline dirty players.

Domi, Mushment, who else??

Prior to the lockout

Nolan, Roberts, McCabe, Belak

[RadioGaGa 162]

Plus the teams got some boarderline dirty players.

Domi, Mushment, who else??

Prior to the lockout

Nolan, Roberts, McCabe, Belak

Hey...the "can opener" is perfectly legal

[kosydar 0]

I'm surprised nobody said Tucker.

[Chadd 916]

I'm surprised nobody said Tucker.

Forgot him. The funny thing is I always liked Roberts but not Nolan.

[QandA 0]

McCabe plays his game, which at times is what some may define 'dirty.' Domi, well Domi's an enforcer, what else is their to say. Belak, well when you score 1 goal and 1 assist in 36 games, I am dumbfounded why he plays.

[RadioGaGa 162]

McCabe plays his game, which at times is what some may define 'dirty.' Domi, well Domi's an enforcer, what else is their to say. Belak, well when you score 1 goal and 1 assist in 36 games, I am dumbfounded why he plays.

I think it was just a big misunderstanding...the Leafs thought they were getting BLAKE and were shocked and dismayed when BELAK showed up *L*

[Eazy_b97 1]

Plus the teams got some boarderline dirty players.

Domi, Mushment, who else??

I disagree, but it's what I am told :(

I like Tucker, McCabe, Belak and don't really find Domi dirty. But I am biased like that :)

I still don't get how people saw Roberts as dirty, I never saw Nolan enough to comment on him.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

Plus the teams got some boarderline dirty players.

Domi, Mushment, who else??

I disagree, but it's what I am told :(

I like Tucker, McCabe, Belak and don't really find Domi dirty. But I am biased like that :)

I still don't get how people saw Roberts as dirty, I never saw Nolan enough to comment on him.

As a true Leafs fan, I like all those guys. I can't see anything dirty about them. The only stupid thing I've seen Domi do was his 8 game suspension for his hit on Neidermayer. Everyone hates the Leafs unless your a Leafs fan, and it's fun. :)

[DarkStar50 679]

The Domi elbow on Niedermayer was a true Domi cheap shot. I am glad a Leaf fan remembered that magic moment in NHL history.

[Norm 0]

After much consideration and taking into account the resonses from various MSH'ers (Thanks!) I've decided to throw my half hearted support behind:

The Toronto Maple Leafs

There were several items that made them the winning loser.

1. Eric Lindros: though never a fan of him (or his father) I can get a Lindros jersey. This may save me several beatings as I live Flyer country and they will most likely just pity me.

2. I'm liking this Tie Domi guy. He looks like a thug, but there's a certain "rascal" quality there. Plus he resigned with Toronto saying "I really thought with my heart, not with my wallet."

3. Their roster lists 4 players with number 0. Nearly 25% of their guys are zeros!

4. Better socks.

So count me among the Leafs Nation.

[DarkStar50 679]

Norm,

Don't you remember when Domi took on the Flyers fan from the penalty box? The fan got a little more than he wished for that night.

Back when Domi was on the Rangers we had him in our shop to sign autographs. He was first class all night long. His head is like a friggin' bowling ball! He took care of evryone that night. Another great guy off the ice, another knucklehead on the ice.

[Norm 0]

Don't you remember when Domi took on the Flyers fan from the penalty box? The fan got a little more than he wished for that night.

I'm liking this guy more and more. :P

[Chadd 916]

Norm,

Don't you remember when Domi took on the Flyers fan from the penalty box? The fan got a little more than he wished for that night.

Back when Domi was on the Rangers we had him in our shop to sign autographs. He was first class all night long. His head is like a friggin' bowling ball! He took care of evryone that night. Another great guy off the ice, another knucklehead on the ice.

Supposedly, those two have become friendly since the incident.

[Rustybender 0]

I've not a Leaf's fan, but I myself have never subscribed to the love the Leafs or hate the Leafs school. In fact, if it's a match between the Leafs and any team but mine, I'll typically cheer for the Leafs. Domi is probably the #1 reason for that.

[trucks 0]

Are you guys all plugs? How does anyone like Tie Domi? What the hell does he do for the Leafs besides scrap? You can pay Nathan Perrot $700, 000 to do Domis job plus you already have Wade Belak. Tie Domi is useless in Toronto and the only reason they signed him was because they missed out on other free agents in the beginnging and needed him to fill their roster. Domi doesn't want to play in Toronto because of his heart its because of his ego. He wouldn't play in Nashville because no one would talk about him but in Toronto he gets media coverage just like everyone on the Leafs and people know his name and his ego is fulfilled. Domi is not only a horrible hockey player hes also a bad person in general. I was working at a celebrity golf tournament two weeks ago and Domi was playing with Mario Lemiuex and 3 guys who forked over $10 000 to play with them. On the hole I was working at Domi shot first, all the guys said nice shot and he didnt even acknowledge them, he just walked to his cart and sat down and as soon as everyone shot he drove right away before anyone else was back. Pretty much every otehr Leaf like Roberts, Niewendyk(sp?), Stajan and Antropov were talking with the partners and having a good time but not Domi, he couldnt care less about the fans of Toronto and no one should care for him. The Leafs would be better without him if JFJ was smart enough to get some real free agents and not washed up big name players. Im a Leafs fan at heart and would love to see Lindros and Alison flourish in TO but I realistically dont see it happening. The Leafs will have a hard time making the playoffs but I can guarantee you they will not win another cup for at least 10 years. Theyre style of older players and large salaries will not work in the new NHL. They currently have the highest salary in the NHL at over $37 million with two salaries undiscolsed and not counted and yet their roster looks like trash compared to most other teams. The Leafs need to start drafting well and keeping their prospects and not trading a guy like Brad Boyes for Owen Nolan who is now useless with a $6 million salary.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Who did you want them to get? Big name UFAs cost big money. The Leafs don't have the big money to spend, not this year at least. I don't personally like Domi, but he is a leader in the locker room, helps bring players in (he's well connected) and DID take less money to play here. Their payroll is not $37 million, it is $31 million plus 2 undisclosed contracts which account for under $2 million. There payroll is realistically at $33 million, with 19 players. They also don't have Pilar up there. Sundin is getting Paid $6.8, but only $6.3 counts against the cap because the total money of the contract is averaged over the years remaining.

Brad Boyes? Where's he now? Been traded 2 time in 2 years? Is he better than Wellwood, Stajan and Steen? Only time will tell, but its not like there aren't any prospects at center. Seems to me, Wellwood is a year younger and outscored him this year. Stajan already has NHL experience and Steen has a greater potential, while being better in his own end.

That crap line-up looks awful, but who elses looks better? The good teams have gotten worse, the weaker teams have added stars, its a more balanced system. If they added a Palfy or Gonchar they were done, that was it, its all they had room for. Instead they added 3 top 6 forwards who all have the potential to put up good numbers and theres cap space to sign more talent. They've replaced everyone, but Leetch, from last years playoff run.