Joe's Last Draw

[DarkStar50 679]

This is the story from the man who dropped the puck: Pat Dapuzzo. Bruins/Devils 2-2 3rd period, 32 seconds remaining. Pat knows that in a tie game this face-off has to be perfect. The draw is in the Bruins end. The Devils John Madden steps in, stick down ready to go. Travis Green is taking his time and "Dap" tells him, "Lets go Greenie, stick down." "C'mon Dap." "Greenie, your stick should already be down. Lets go!" Green leans in with his stick resting on his knee, not down, getting ready to go helmet on helmet with Madden. "Greenie, make it clean!" "Oh c'mon Dap, you know me." The stick still isn't down and Dap knows the Bruins have a second center on the ice, Joe Thornton. "Greenie, you're out!" In steps Joe and Dap wants a perfect drop. The centers line up, sticks down, Pat drops the puck square on the dot. He pulls his left leg back for his first C-cut and sees the puck perfectly. Quickly and in a milli-second, he makes his inside cross-over and he sees Madden win the draw so cleanly, he tells me it was like he took the draw by himself. In the instant he has taken those two strides backwards, he hears the roar of the crowd. The Devils have scored on Mogilny's wicked wrist shot. Joe never had a chance.

As fate would have it, Pat Dapuzzo worked the next game in Boston, the first one after the trade. More later.

[Vapor 0]

yeah but what does it all mean, who cares? It wasnt losing a faceoff that got him traded, it was his big bucks and poor attitude

[DarkStar50 679]

yeah but what does it all mean, who cares? It wasnt losing a faceoff that got him traded, it was his big bucks and poor attitude

Never said it was a faceoff that cost him his career in Boston, Vapor. Its just a story about life on the ice, if you care to get that close to the game.

[Vapor 0]

it is making a big deal about nothing. Pat didn't think that much into it, its glorifying something that wouldn't have meant anything if mogo had not scored

[DarkStar50 679]

it is making a big deal about nothing.  Pat didn't think that much into it, its glorifying something that wouldn't have meant anything if mogo had not scored

Vapor,

If you were next to me tonight when Pat told me the story then you might have a different idea about what IS happening in 3 seconds on an NHL face off with 32 seconds remaining. The linesman will be aware of exactly who is on the ice, he is committed to a fair draw in every situation, and he will get it done. I'm not glorifying an NHL faceoff. I'm just sharing a story that may interest some, but definitely not you.

[Jason Harris 31]

Travis Green had a different take, obviously. :lol:

He claimed that he was complaining about Madden's stick being down first, since the visitor's stick is supposed to be down first. He said he was chased for expressing that opinion.

I watched the replay a couple of times on Tivo. Joe's actually beat Madden and drew first, but the puck bounced and Madden won it cleanly off the bounce.

Thornton did NOT have a piss poor attitude. He was the B's best player this year and he's being turned into a scapegoat to justify the trade. It's possible this could turn into a win-win for both teams but, even somewhat hurt, Thornton was among the top ten players in the league. The word is Thornton wasn't showing leadership and wasn't going to the net, that he liked to park out behind the net. Well, he owned that area as well as any player in the league, and I guarantee you that in previous years, when love taps were allowed, that Thornton took as many crosschecks behind the net as others did in front of it.

Last, one of the papers said Thornton was seen outside a restaurant in his car the night of the trade and it looked like he was in tears.

Some bad attitude.

[warrior37 0]

i think thats a pretty good story

kind of reminds me of last game i went like one for twelve, lost them all clean and im usually a good face off man

[Vapor 0]

Thornton did NOT have a piss poor attitude. He was the B's best player this year and he's being turned into a scapegoat to justify the trade. It's possible this could turn into a win-win for both teams but, even somewhat hurt, Thornton was among the top ten players in the league. The word is Thornton wasn't showing leadership and wasn't going to the net, that he liked to park out behind the net. Well, he owned that area as well as any player in the league, and I guarantee you that in previous years, when love taps were allowed, that Thornton took as many crosschecks behind the net as others did in front of it.

Last, one of the papers said Thornton was seen outside a restaurant in his car the night of the trade and it looked like he was in tears.

Some bad attitude.

What does being good have to do with attitude? Now I was not in the locker room, but with all the hockey ive been watching on NESN, TSN, etc., some of them said that it seems he didn't want to play there and that his attitude twords the team has been negative. Just because the fans love him, and hes a great player doesn't mean this wasn't true.

[Gongshow11 1]

sick story darkstar, vapor your a meathead if you don't get goosebumps from that

[Jason Harris 31]

Thornton did NOT have a piss poor attitude. He was the B's best player this year and he's being turned into a scapegoat to justify the trade. It's possible this could turn into a win-win for both teams but, even somewhat hurt, Thornton was among the top ten players in the league. The word is Thornton wasn't showing leadership and wasn't going to the net, that he liked to park out behind the net. Well, he owned that area as well as any player in the league, and I guarantee you that in previous years, when love taps were allowed, that Thornton took as many crosschecks behind the net as others did in front of it.

Last, one of the papers said Thornton was seen outside a restaurant in his car the night of the trade and it looked like he was in tears.

Some bad attitude.

What does being good have to do with attitude? Now I was not in the locker room, but with all the hockey ive been watching on NESN, TSN, etc., some of them said that it seems he didn't want to play there and that his attitude twords the team has been negative. Just because the fans love him, and hes a great player doesn't mean this wasn't true.

The connection of being good versus attitude has to do with word getting out after the trade that his poor attitude was affecting his play.

The implication seemed to be he should have been a Top 3 or Top 5 player, but his disenchantment caused his play to slip. However, he missed three games to back injury, and when he returned they said he wasn't fully healed -- just feeling better. Yet even at less than 100% he still was a Top 10 player.

Outside of Torontonians who posted here in the summer that Joe was sick of Boston and wasn't going to re-sign there, there was no talk about him being unhappy in Boston until after the trade. Then, all of the sudden, it's all over the news that he was unhappy, had a poor attitude, and wasn't playing hard or effectively. Yet, as I said, one of the articles said it looked like he was alone in his car in tears after he heard he was traded.

[Fletch 219]

Travis Green had a different take, obviously. :lol:

He claimed that he was complaining about Madden's stick being down first, since the visitor's stick is supposed to be down first. He said he was chased for expressing that opinion.

I watched the replay a couple of times on Tivo. Joe's actually beat Madden and drew first, but the puck bounced and Madden won it cleanly off the bounce.

Thornton did NOT have a piss poor attitude. He was the B's best player this year and he's being turned into a scapegoat to justify the trade. It's possible this could turn into a win-win for both teams but, even somewhat hurt, Thornton was among the top ten players in the league. The word is Thornton wasn't showing leadership and wasn't going to the net, that he liked to park out behind the net. Well, he owned that area as well as any player in the league, and I guarantee you that in previous years, when love taps were allowed, that Thornton took as many crosschecks behind the net as others did in front of it.

Last, one of the papers said Thornton was seen outside a restaurant in his car the night of the trade and it looked like he was in tears.

Some bad attitude.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that during Joe's second season in the NHL, O'Connell supposedly said to Joe's face "You're the worst thing to ever happen to the Boston Bruins.

What a damn fool O'Connell is...

[DarkStar50 679]

Travis Green had a different take, obviously. :lol:

He claimed that he was complaining about Madden's stick being down first, since the visitor's stick is supposed to be down first. He said he was chased for expressing that opinion.

Pat told me Madden was ready to go with the stick down but Travis was taking too much time(ah yes, the old "fast faceoff!"). When Travis tried to lean in against Madden by going helmet to helmet to push Madden back(Green is much bigger than Madden), he still was delaying by keeping his stick on his knee. That is what did him in. There is a funny ending to this story. Later....

HNIC had Mike O'Connell interviewed before the Oilers game. He had trouble answering simple questions. I know he didn't want to say much and couldn't but I thought he looked pretty weak during the interview.

[pdchockey 0]

Even though Joe's last draw wasn't the cause of the trade, it certainly was a symbol a relationship going sour. Joe may not have been able to perform to the best of his abilities due to the deteriorating relationship with the Bruins. Unfortunately, other folks (like Pat the ref) see things before those involved see the situation for what it is. Most bruins fans could see the Joe was the the "old Joe."

As for Green, I am not surprised at his face off attitude....what a scrapper he is.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Outside of Torontonians who posted here in the summer that Joe was sick of Boston and wasn't going to re-sign there, there was no talk about him being unhappy in Boston until after the trade. Then, all of the sudden, it's all over the news that he was unhappy, had a poor attitude, and wasn't playing hard or effectively. Yet, as I said, one of the articles said it looked like he was alone in his car in tears after he heard he was traded.

We heard tons of Thornton wants out rumours over the summer and it was huge that he'd be a UFA very soon. It was a big surprise to hear of a 3 year deal. Not a "Foppa" or "Naslund" suprise either. I heard Thorntons agent that night and from what I saw of Joe the next day, he seemed EXTREMELY happy. Smiling ear to ear, discussing how nobody backed him up about the ribs, and he still put the blame on his shoulders, said he never had a good relationship in Boston, even as an 18 year old, etc.. I don't doubt he was upset at first, but he didn't seem upset when I saw him. He also didn't hear he was traded from the GM apperantly, he saw it on TV on his way out to dinner or something like that. I'm not saying he quit and stopped playing, but he didn't seem like a man who was enjoying himself out there.

[chippa13 1844]

Green complained to the linesman because the way Madden was set up, Green couldn't help but put his helmet against Madden's in order to get his stick down. My take, Madden was trying to get the better Boston face off man tossed from the draw and succeeded. I found it funny when Green was on the bench afterward and you could clearly read his lips as he told the ref to "shut the f--- up" when the ref kept talking to him. The downside, Green got the 10 minute gate because the referee initiated the interaction. Sometimes refs should know to stay out of the way.

Side note: Am I the only one who can't stand that it seems to be the rule among linesman to toss a center from every faceoff before dropping the puck?

[DarkStar50 679]

Green's responsibility as visiting team player is to have HIS stick down first. Madden was ready to go. Green was not.

[chippa13 1844]

Outside of Torontonians who posted here in the summer that Joe was sick of Boston and wasn't going to re-sign there, there was no talk about him being unhappy in Boston until after the trade. Then, all of the sudden, it's all over the news that he was unhappy, had a poor attitude, and wasn't playing hard or effectively. Yet, as I said, one of the articles said it looked like he was alone in his car in tears after he heard he was traded.

We heard tons of Thornton wants out rumours over the summer and it was huge that he'd be a UFA very soon. It was a big surprise to hear of a 3 year deal. Not a "Foppa" or "Naslund" suprise either. I heard Thorntons agent that night and from what I saw of Joe the next day, he seemed EXTREMELY happy. Smiling ear to ear, discussing how nobody backed him up about the ribs, and he still put the blame on his shoulders, said he never had a good relationship in Boston, even as an 18 year old, etc.. I don't doubt he was upset at first, but he didn't seem upset when I saw him. He also didn't hear he was traded from the GM apperantly, he saw it on TV on his way out to dinner or something like that. I'm not saying he quit and stopped playing, but he didn't seem like a man who was enjoying himself out there.

Thornton was out to dinner in Boston with his parents, who were visiting from St. Thomas, Ontario, and were hoping to catch tonight's game against the Senators when O'Connell called Thornton to tell him of the deal.

Copied from the Boston Globe. Guess he didn't catch it on tv afterall.

As for the negative stuff about Joe that's come out since, that is all just part and parcel of being dealt from the Bruins. The Bruins management and media love to kick guys on their way out the door. Dupont especially had an axe to grind with Thornton.

[chippa13 1844]

Green's responsibility as visiting team player is to have HIS stick down first. Madden was ready to go. Green was not.

Madden is supposed to allow the visiting player down first. Madden took the position away and caused the contact which got Green tossed.

[Fletch 219]

As for the negative stuff about Joe that's come out since, that is all just part and parcel of being dealt from the Bruins.  The Bruins management and media love to kick guys on their way out the door.

Yep....B's management is classless. From Jeremy Jacobs, to Harry Sinden, to Mike O' Connell.....what a bunch of douchebags. I like the Bruins as a team (always have) but with those guys behind the helm, it will be a long time before they accomplish anything great.

[DarkStar50 679]

Green's responsibility as visiting team player is to have HIS stick down first. Madden was ready to go. Green was not.

Madden is supposed to allow the visiting player down first. Madden took the position away and caused the contact which got Green tossed.

I'll double check with Pat.

[Jason Harris 31]

But while JD has become an MSG shill, when he does say anything negative about any player you really have to believe it. He says Joe just lost his passion and wasn't leading. And as a non-bruin observer, injuries or not, I believe that.

JD seems like a good guy, Theo, but one thing I've noticed over the years is the "homework" that analysts do is reading the opposition's newspapers.

So many times I've watched a telecast with different announcers, and they say something that obviously came straight from the Boston Globe or Boston Herald. What I mean by that is it wasn't something they picked up by talking to a coach in the corner of the dressing room; rather, the topic and wording came straight from the papers. That doesn't mean they don't talk to coaches or players. I'm just saying they are susceptible to the local media's spin -- something I believe has happened to an extent in Boston regarding this trade.

Let's face it, if I'm an announcer in Phoenix, I'm going to have to cram to learn about the team the Coyotes are facing tonight.

[Chadd 916]

But while JD has become an MSG shill, when he does say anything negative about any player you really have to believe it.  He says Joe just lost his passion and wasn't leading.  And as a non-bruin observer, injuries or not, I believe that.

JD seems like a good guy, Theo, but one thing I've noticed over the years is the "homework" that analysts do is reading the opposition's newspapers.

So many times I've watched a telecast with different announcers, and they say something that obviously came straight from the Boston Globe or Boston Herald. What I mean by that is it wasn't something they picked up by talking to a coach in the corner of the dressing room; rather, the topic and wording came straight from the papers. That doesn't mean they don't talk to coaches or players. I'm just saying they are susceptible to the local media's spin -- something I believe has happened to an extent in Boston regarding this trade.

Let's face it, if I'm an announcer in Phoenix, I'm going to have to cram to learn about the team the Coyotes are facing tonight.

And facing teams once a year, two out of every three years doesn't help.

[Jason Harris 31]

As for the negative stuff about Joe that's come out since, that is all just part and parcel of being dealt from the Bruins.  The Bruins management and media love to kick guys on their way out the door.  Dupont especially had an axe to grind with Thornton.

You're right about that, Chippa.

I get NESN on DirecTV, so I Tivo SportsDesk -- man, am I commercialized or what? :P -- and Dupont was on that night. I figured he'd be like most of us, expressing shock at the trade and saying the Bruins didn't get full value. Instead, he told good ol' Hazel that it was a "great trade for the Bruins." The thing that got me is he said the fans might really like Thornton, but the "trained hockey observer" could see Thornton was blah, blah, blah.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that he appeared to have a beef with Joe directly, although that's possible, but it was definitely at least an "I told you so about Joe."

[Chadd 916]

As for the negative stuff about Joe that's come out since, that is all just part and parcel of being dealt from the Bruins.  The Bruins management and media love to kick guys on their way out the door.  Dupont especially had an axe to grind with Thornton.

You're right about that, Chippa.

I get NESN on DirecTV, so I Tivo SportsDesk -- man, am I commercialized or what? :P -- and Dupont was on that night. I figured he'd be like most of us, expressing shock at the trade and saying the Bruins didn't get full value. Instead, he told good ol' Hazel that it was a "great trade for the Bruins." The thing that got me is he said the fans might really like Thornton, but the "trained hockey observer" could see Thornton was blah, blah, blah.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that he appeared to have a beef with Joe directly, although that's possible, but it was definitely at least an "I told you so about Joe."

Every time I see Duponts name associated with something lately he sounds like a jackass. During the lockout he ran some nasty columns that were pretty unprofessional.

[Jason Harris 31]

As for the negative stuff about Joe that's come out since, that is all just part and parcel of being dealt from the Bruins.  The Bruins management and media love to kick guys on their way out the door.  Dupont especially had an axe to grind with Thornton.

You're right about that, Chippa.

I get NESN on DirecTV, so I Tivo SportsDesk -- man, am I commercialized or what? :P -- and Dupont was on that night. I figured he'd be like most of us, expressing shock at the trade and saying the Bruins didn't get full value. Instead, he told good ol' Hazel that it was a "great trade for the Bruins." The thing that got me is he said the fans might really like Thornton, but the "trained hockey observer" could see Thornton was blah, blah, blah.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that he appeared to have a beef with Joe directly, although that's possible, but it was definitely at least an "I told you so about Joe."

Every time I see Duponts name associated with something lately he sounds like a jackass. During the lockout he ran some nasty columns that were pretty unprofessional.

I assume he totally sided with the owners?

Absolutely, Theo.

I agree, Chadd. I really despise his writing style. He's constantly trying to write in a glib fashion, but he's just not funny. And, hey, I know humor... :P