Carolina fans courtesy of my friend Brian
The NHL 2005-06 Season concluded last night and the Carolina Hurricanes are the Stanley Cup winners. RATS! Well, I guess I should change the colors on the site but I won’t be in any hurry. Their victory is going to sting much more than others for many reasons, but here are some factoids.
- Their owner was one of the eight jerks who drove the lockout. Now he and Bettman probably think they’re vindicated for the damage they did to the NHL: namely the poor TV arrangements hockey has in the US.
- Justin Williams was the player who broke through the Oilers to score that empty netter and cinch the Cup. GM Bobby Clarke of the Flyers (my team) traded him away during their defenseman shortage for Danny Markov. Since Markov left for the Nashville Predators after the lockout and Williams went on to thrive as a key forward for the ‘Canes, it’s pretty obvious who won out on that trade.
- I lived in Raleigh-Durham for a year. Despite all the Canadian transplants brought in and laid off courtesty of NorTel, college basketball is the region’s obsession. Their devotion to hockey is lukewarm at best when the team is having a weak season. Don’t be surprised if the franchise is moved to another city in a decade because the NHL won’t survive in NASCAR territory.
- Now I have to dread seeing pictures of the Cup paraded through a Waffle House and covered in 3, 43 and 8 stickers.
- Last fall, the Venetian gave Carolina the hardest odds to win it all in the futures category. Harder than teams everyone knew wouldn’t make the playoffs (St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus). Yet there’s a chance someone put down $10 on them with 90:1 odds (against) which means that same someone will be collecting $900.
Oh well, I’m already over it anyway. It’s just a game. Edmonton still gets a banner for being the Western Conference champs and they’re not punished by having their city burned down. Now we can see how the Draft goes, see how the free agency will shake out and find out how the new lineups are taking shape. The Flyers brought back Marty Murray since the rules changes make him a more valuable penalty killer, something my team needs in spades. I wonder what the Venetian’s odds for my Flyers will be this Summer.