It's here! The NHL 2003-04 playoff thread

[klayman]

Even with Pronger you guys would have difficulty getting out of the first round

[MikeVic]

Do you know what's awesome? The Boston fans cheering for the Canadian Anthem. I hope the Montreal fans learn something.

[Hurst2112]

What the heck is this thing I see about Danton from the Blues?!?! Something about a murder for hire?

I guess not everybody on the team is going to make the first tee time of the off season.

What a numbnuts.

[klayman]

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

What the heck is this thing I see about Danton from the Blues?!?! Something about a murder for hire?

I guess not everybody on the team is going to make the first tee time of the off season.

What a numbnuts.

Just heard about it on the radio.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1784155

FBI arrests Danton in San Jose
The day after the St. Louis Blues were eliminated from the playoffs in San Jose by the Sharks, center Mike Danton was arrested by FBI agents on charges of trying to hire someone to murder a man, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch.







Danton, 23, and Katie Wolfmeyer, 19, are accused of trying to hire a man to kill an acquaintance in a criminal complaint filed in federal court in East St. Louis, the paper reported.



The complaint says that Danton quarreled with the intended victim about Danton's "promiscuity and use of alcohol," and that Danton "begged the acquaintance not to go to the general manager of the St. Louis Blues hockey organization and ruin his career," the post reported.



Wolfmeyer was arrested Thursday night, the paper reported. Nobody was injured.



According to the complaint, the intended victim called Danton on Friday and the FBI recorded the call. During the call, "Danton broke down and sobbed. Danton explained that he felt backed into a corner and also felt that the acquaintance was going to leave him," the Post reported.



Danton played in all six playoff games and scored one goal.

[Maple Leafs]

I think that may just have been the worst playoff game I've seen the Leafs play, ever.

[sterlingice]

I'm thinking attempted murder will ruin one's career more than Danton's "promiscuity and use of alcohol".

SI

[Johnny93g]

EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE

Joey N said he didnt feel great tonight, well, he sure played great, and that goal by Tie...HUGE

[MizzouRah]

Get rid of Pronger? Primelord you are as crazy as the goofballs who call KFNS all day.

Keep the defense, let Osgood tutor Divas and get rid of Demitra, Weight (I love ya Weight but you take too many days off), and anyone else who is making big $$$ and doesn't do sheet. Although I like Tkachuck.


Todd

[klayman]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Get rid of Pronger? Primelord you are as crazy as the goofballs who call KFNS all day.

Keep the defense, let Osgood tutor Divas and get rid of Demitra, Weight (I love ya Weight but you take too many days off), and anyone else who is making big $$$ and doesn't do sheet. Although I like Tkachuck.


Todd

Keep Danton though. That guy has got spunk.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Johnny93g

Joey N said he didnt feel great tonight, well, he sure played great, and that goal by Tie...HUGE

Funny thing, I thought Smolinksi didn't have the balls to go to the net and bag a rebound.

[Draft Dodger]

". According to the complaint, Danton broke down and sobbed, and explained that he ordered the killing because he "felt the acquaintance was going to leave him."

so, did Danton just out himself?
reading between the lines on this, doesn't this "acquaintance" sound like a pissed-off ex-lover who's threatening to spill the beans?

[Draft Dodger]

oh, and I finally get to watch an entire Leafs/Sens playoff game...and I get a snoozefest.

[Tekneek]

Mike Danton has a ton of problems in his life, stemming from an abusive relationship with his father. Nevermind if he has a sexual preference choice, as an adult, that would result in him losing his job and millions of people wishing he would burn in hell.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

Mike Danton has a ton of problems in his life, stemming from an abusive relationship with his father. Nevermind if he has a sexual preference choice, as an adult, that would result in him losing his job and millions of people wishing he would burn in hell.

doesn't justify contracting a hitman, of course, but yes, I do feel bad for him.

OTOH (and this should start a nice debate)
are we really sure Danton would have been raked over the coals if he was outed? hockey is a pretty rough, gladiatorish sport, but it also may be the most "gentlemanly" if that makes sense (goons who wont fight another guy if he's hurt, etc). I mean, if teammates can play with dive artists like Barnaby, Tucker, and Kovalev, would they think it would be as much of a big deal to play with a gay player?

do Kariya and Selanne have wives?

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

doesn't justify contracting a hitman, of course, but yes, I do feel bad for him.

Of course it doesn't. It's unfortunate that society in general is more forgiving of abusive parents than it is sexual preference. At least it seems that way in mainstream society. Ho hum. The guy is finished now, for sure. It wouldn't surprise me if he is dead before the end of this year.

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

do Kariya and Selanne have wives?

Hahah. I don't know for sure about Kariya, but I know Selanne has a wife and kids.

I think Danton would have been finished off if he was outed in the public. I don't think society is to the point where they are willing to tolerate gay players in mainstream professional sports. With all the fire and brimstone thrown around this year so far, it is obvious that society still hates the idea of a 'homosexual' being entitled to full and equal rights.

[Johnny93g]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Funny thing, I thought Smolinksi didn't have the balls to go to the net and bag a rebound.

lol,

[Tekneek]

That has been one crazy series. I'm glad I missed most of that game last night!

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

are we really sure Danton would have been raked over the coals if he was outed?

I've always assumed that the first "out" athelete would be in the NHL. Like you, I think it would be accepted in the NHL, although I'm not sure I can put my finger on why.

Let's face it, we already know there have been several big name gay NHLers, they just weren't out publicly. But it was reasonably common knowledge, and nobody ever seemed to really go after them.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I've always assumed that the first "out" athelete would be in the NHL. Like you, I think it would be accepted in the NHL, although I'm not sure I can put my finger on why.

and I'm the same way, and I don't think I explained very well my reasoning - I can't really explain why.

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Let's face it, we already know there have been several big name gay NHLers, they just weren't out publicly. But it was reasonably common knowledge, and nobody ever seemed to really go after them.

like who? I must have missed the memo, although I saw Bob Sweeny on TV the other night, and little red flags were going off in my mind...

[Hurst2112]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I've always assumed that the first "out" athelete would be in the NHL. Like you, I think it would be accepted in the NHL, although I'm not sure I can put my finger on why.

Let's face it, we already know there have been several big name gay NHLers, they just weren't out publicly. But it was reasonably common knowledge, and nobody ever seemed to really go after them.

That would be every person with a french accent right?

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

like who? I must have missed the memo, although I saw Bob Sweeny on TV the other night, and little red flags were going off in my mind...

Rumors about Claude Lemieux have been going around for years. There was a minor leaguer that was here with the Atlanta Knights back in the early 90s that my wife had been friends with. She's pretty certain he was gay, because they would both talk about cute hockey players together. It was Martin Tanguay, for anyone that might care.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

That would be every person with a french accent right?

Nah, everyone knows there wouldn't be a gay french player. (Mike Reibeiro: "What? Why is everyone looking at me?")

You have to take all the "this player is gay" rumors with a grain of salt, since a lot of them were thrown at popular players from other teams as a generic insult. Wendel Clark was rumored for years, despite being married with kid. Stephane Richer was another one that you always heard about. Mike Peca rumors are pretty common these days.

Glenn Anderson is one I've heard so often that I think it's gone from "rumor" to "generally accepted fact", although that coudl of course be news to him.

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Stephane Richer was another one that you always heard about. Mike Peca rumors are pretty common these days.

Stephane Richer...hahah. There was something a little unusual about that guy, but that doesn't mean he was anything other than a little funny/strange/eccentric. We saw him after a game, and he was trying to hitch a ride rather than going to the team bus. My wife and I were the only people that knew who he was, so he was talking to us (mostly wisecracks about how nobody would pick him up). After about 15 minutes of this, he said something like, "Well, that's it, I'm just going to walk" and off he went into the distance. It was funny, but strange.

It seems like I've heard the Peca rumors as well. I'm sort of surprised that they don't whirl around for Ziggy Palffy. Everyone knows he kissed Travis Green on the lips after a goal several seasons ago, and never talked about it in the press/public as far as I ever saw. He always seemed like a pretty nice guy, though, and smart, so it would serve no purpose to try and use that to ridicule/hurt him.

[bbor]

has everyone forgotten Stephanie Richer? and Wendy Clark.

Anderson was at LEAST bi...if not gay.Dude used to prance around in a full length mink coat.Not that that makes him gay...but.......

[bbor]

Damn..beaten to the punch

[Draft Dodger]

time to retreat from this thread for the day (at least, until I get home from work, fire up the Tivo and the projector to watch the Avs tonight)

[Honolulu_Blue]

2 minutes in. 2-0 Wings. Nice way to start Game 6.

[Hurst2112]

20 more minutes.

[j51]

Stars are done in 5.. looks like rebuilding time.

[Hurst2112]

Davidson said it best: The Red Wings have put on a clinic the last 2 games.

Congrats to the Wings.

Here come the Flames. Yikes. I don't know about those guys....scary.

[Tekneek]

Devils out. Stars out.

Now we need Detroit and Colorado to take a dive.

[Hurst2112]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

Devils out. Stars out.

Now we need Detroit and Colorado to take a dive.

Yeah nothing like a couple of 7 seeds competeing for the cup. the favorites are winning...nothing more you could ask for.

Wings don't swim.

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

Wings don't swim.

Then a dive will suit them just fine. I don't expect them to swim.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Kiprusoff is terrifying. Either way, Colorado or Calgary, it will be tough.

[Hurst2112]

Originally Posted by Tekneek

Then a dive will suit them just fine. I don't expect them to swim.

I will wait a coulpe more weeks before continuing a pissing match here. I am too busy strutting around...as proud as I am.

[klayman]

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

I will wait a coulpe more weeks before continuing a pissing match here. I am too busy strutting around...as proud as I am.

Yeah, beating Nashville...what an accomplishment!

[primelord]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Get rid of Pronger? Primelord you are as crazy as the goofballs who call KFNS all day.

Keep the defense, let Osgood tutor Divas and get rid of Demitra, Weight (I love ya Weight but you take too many days off), and anyone else who is making big $$$ and doesn't do sheet. Although I like Tkachuck.


Todd

Hey now!

Here is the difference between what I am suggesting and what the guys who call KFNS like to suggest. They want to ship guys like Pronger off whern they go into 2 game slumps and they are in the middle of their contracts.

I am saying that since Pronger is a free agent we can't afford to pay him what we are paying him and field a competitive team. 10 million doolars a year is just too much money to be tied up in one player when you have a very strong defense even without him. They showed they can play just fine without him the year he was out.

I think Pronger is a great player and I love having on the team, bot not at the expense of doing ANYTHING in the playoffs. We need scoring and we need goal tending. And we can;t get that with all that money tied up in Pronger. Divis is an interesting option, but he struggled badly several times this year. He may develop into a good goalie, but I would rather they took the money and got a proven guy now.

[Hurst2112]

Originally Posted by klayman

Yeah, beating Nashville...what an accomplishment!

Yeah I know, that's what happens when you are the number 1 seed in the league, you have to get excited about beating lesser teams.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by klayman

Yeah, beating Nashville...what an accomplishment!

Well, it's a bigger accomplishment than, say, ending up with fewer points than Nashville in the regular season and, therefore, missing the post-season entirely.

[klayman]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Well, it's a bigger accomplishment than, say, ending up with fewer points than Nashville in the regular season and, therefore, missing the post-season entirely.

Ouch! Why you gotta make it hurt so much.

[klayman]

dola

Besides...I've been a Flames fan my whole life...uh...all that talk about the Oilers...that was...uh...just to throw everybody off the trail...Yeah, Flames...go Flames, that's it. They're going to...uh...kick the Wings Asses!

/quietly sobs

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by klayman

dola

Besides...I've been a Flames fan my whole life...uh...all that talk about the Oilers...that was...uh...just to throw everybody off the trail...Yeah, Flames...go Flames, that's it. They're going to...uh...kick the Wings Asses!

/quietly sobs

There, there, old friend. We welcome you with open arms into our fold. It's nice here. Warm and comforting. If the Flames win, we have a common enemy. It'll be all right.

[klayman]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

There, there, old friend. We welcome you with open arms into our fold. It's nice here. Warm and comforting. If the Flames win, we have a common enemy. It'll be all right.

Never! It won't be alright until next year. Then you'll see...you'll all see!!!

Damn...I sound like a Leaf fan

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by klayman

Never! It won't be alright until next year. Then you'll see...you'll all see!!!

Damn...I sound like a Leaf fan

Yeah, and from us Hawks fans, just wait until next year. Or maybe after the lockout. Or maybe once we get new management in there. And maybe if the young guys keep developing and maybe... aw, crap. Well, at least you'll be in cap hell.

SI

[Draft Dodger]

life is GOOD. Marek Svatos for President.

Avs finally play 3 good periods. Not really sure what to say about the Stars - they really didn't look anything like the team they are capable of being.

I kind of have a feeling the Nucks are going to pull their series out and we'll have Avs/Wings - that will be a lot of fun, except for me being outnumbered 50-1 by Wings fan on this board.

[bbor]

Originally Posted by klayman

Damn...I sound like a Leaf fan

Hater

[Tekneek]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

I kind of have a feeling the Nucks are going to pull their series out and we'll have Avs/Wings

This would actually be a good thing. I'd rather not see them go against each other in the Conference Finals. It would make it possible that neither one of them plays for the Cup, which is what I'm hoping for. A Cup Final that does not have Colorado, Detroit, Dallas (check), or New Jersey (check), would be a good Cup Final.

[bbor]

Holy Shit

WHat a game in Calgary.....Nucks were up 4-0 after 2 periods and way ahead in game play...BUT...The Flames storm back in the 3rd with 4 unaswered goals.

Best series by far.

I hope for triple OT.

[Johnny93g]

GO CALGARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!