Some Playoff Humour

Well, thanks to Chris Pronger for adding a little levity to the post-season. At this point, with another three weeks left in the post-season, we probably needed it.

Being a California dude now, Pronger must have unlimited access to all kinds of material for various L.A. comedy shops, and he used all of it in an L.A. radio interview when he was discussing his one-game suspension for his cheapshot hit on Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom.

His monologue included:

--suggesting a Canadian media conspiracy forced the NHL to suspend him.

Now, some might wonder why the Canadian media would be so inclined to make sure a multiple-time Canadian Olympian would be suspended, but no matter. Pronger couldn't have been serious, so it was a good giggle.

--his hit on Holmstrom was something that happens "a thousand times" during the season. (And, when it does, usually results in much more than a one-game suspension). Inconsistent officiating - an "absolute joke" according to the Ducks blueliner - is at the root of it all.

Sounds a little like he's double-dog-daring league sheriff Colin Campbell to fine or suspend him again, don't you think? But surely nobody would misconstrue Pronger's silliness as a serious commment, right?

--Basic "laws of physics" dictated that the only way he could possibly make contact with Holmstrom on that play was to charge at him from behind and drive his elbow into the back of the Red Wing forwards helmet. Why? Well, because Pronger is 6-foot-6, and can never be expected to follow the same rules as other players because of his height (insert loud guffaw from laugh track here). How he ever lands a legal check, by that argument, is a mystery.

It was an interesting time for Pronger to do his comedy act, given that you'd think he'd be too busy apologizing to his teammates for selfishly putting them in a bad spot in Game 4, and then of course showering them with thanks for bailing his sorry butt out.

But laughs are good too. When you work for Brian Burke, of course, you never, ever say you're sorry. And there's always a conspiracy out there trying to get you.

(Ed. Note: Some respondents to "The Wild West" last weekend expressed outrage that I suggested HNIC would condone Pronger's actions re Holmstrom, particularly the fact the hit was from behind. Well, just to follow up, that's exactly what happened on Coach's Corner on the weekend.)

Comments

[Dan]

Well Mr. Cox, as far as the Canadian media conspiracy... Although I disagree with Chris Pronger about this, it's easy to see where he could get this idea.

Every single major Canadian news source was all over the Pronger hit on Holmstrom. Take a look at the reviews Alfredsson's cheap shot on Tallinder received. All Alfy got was praise for stepping up his game. In fact, I was shocked that anyone, especially yourself (although I do appreciate it), pointed out that Alfredsson deserved to be suspended.

It's not so much a Canadian media conspiracy though, more an out and out attack on the players who take the body, deliver the big hits, and aren't afraid to stand up for their teammates with something other than a stick and snide remarks to reporters before they hide on the bench.

[Marvin Rotman]

Why not do the classy thing and trade mat sundin to a stanley cup contender similar to what the bruins did with ray bourque. Obviously the timing of the trade is important in terms of returns but I don't think we have any choice but to rebuild the leafs from the ground up. Secondly, I would sit brian mcabe down until he he requests a trade and also some of the other long in the tooth players. . We have to find out what young defenceman we have ready for nhl duty and now is the time to try them at the nhl level. We have some good young prospects on the leaf bench now but they need to play a lot more. If we are going to lose lets look into the future with the young guys so we can assess their performance.