Article about the handshake debacle
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/31344177/ns/sports-nhl/
BTW, there have been some other cheap shots along the way but he's a kid and he'll grow up.

Totally agree. Like the feelings of the Wings were Crosby's top priority. I have watched NHL hockey for over 40 years. I've never noticed anything other than snag the Cup and go through the line-up to shake hands. Geez, get over it guys. The Wings should be more concerned about why they lost to a team they should have been able to beat, not whining about sportsmanship. It reflects poorly on Draper and Lidstrom, I am disappointed in both of them. In the end I think they look like the poor sports.

“It was a young team celebrating its first Cup and some of the guys might have been a little late getting into the handshake line.” Duh. Do we really need to be told that. Yes, Crosby likely got wrapped up in celebrating. Who could blame him?

Protocol and tradition are EVERYTHING in hockey. Its like statistics and baseball. These guys know what is expected of them. I think Sid did it as a protest to the way he was played (and made ineffective). That doesn't take away from the win. Its their win. They just have no class. They need a few sessions with Tabs.

Living in Pittsburgh and having Sidney Crosby 24/7 in the media, where do you (or any of the countless bashers on the blogs) get there information about Crosby. He came in the league at 17. Lives at Lemieux's house with his kids. Has never been involved in anything negative outside hockey. Gives interviews like a 20 year veteran. So what, he whines too much? I guess he can't talk when he plays? I never understood what the negative press is, other then pure jealousy. I'd like to see how other multimillionaire 20 year olds handle the position he is in and then call him classless. As far as the handshake, give me a break. I guess when he wins a few more, he will follow the right protocol.:D

3 of the 4 major sports titles now reside in the state of Pennsylvania. :)

Nick Lidstrom did not get upset.... Chris Draper got upset for Nick Lidstrom. There is a huge difference in that.

Nick Lidstrom is a legend by any standard of the game. A top 3 defenseman all time. He doesnt get upset by punk chit like this.

Yes and your Pittsburgh team has more players from the former communist block than the Red Wings do...curiously enough. ;)

Geez, this is great. We have one of the best playoff seasons ever and it comes down to whining about handshakes. I really don't recall anyone complaining that the Wings didn't stick around long enough to shake hands. How long do you wait? How long do you celebrate? I remember last year watching the Wings celebrate, seemed like forever. No pissing and moaning then. Oh... maybe it's because the Pens hung around to let the Wings have their glory.
And as I recall it was the same Chris Draper whining about having to shake Claude Lemoiux's hand after Colorado kicked the Wings ass in the 90's.
Until next year boys...SmileWavy

Hail to the Victors!

You sure about that? Draper was the one who voiced his displeasure, but Lidstrom got tired of waiting and left the ice I believe. Not pissed off and decent/mature enough not to make it an issue are two different things.

Maybe it was the Wings that didn't know the right protocol. Losing a series that you where up 2 games to nil. Home ice advantage in the last of a best of seven series. Your home record in the playoffs coming in was 10-1. Nobody picking the Pens to win. Maybe in all that, they didn't practice their losing routine. Talk about whining!

No one has mentioned Mr. M. Hossa. A delicious bit of payback, no?

I think most here know that his decision was wrong, but don't feel like kicking a man when he's down. He was only here a year, was very quiet, and left with little fanfare. It really isn't fair to think also if he stays they would still be in the finals again. They most likely would of lost Orpik who they immediately signed after Hossa bolted. Judging by his series play, if he was on our side, he would of made little impact anyway.

Says the man who's home team won. I don't suppose you are a little biased in your feelings, eh?
1) Read the article. Apparently the news people thought it was enough of a snub to write about it.
2) Hockey has a very high percent of players that are very dedicated to the local area and charities. They are not stuck up like other pro sports celebrities. He's no patron saint of hockey.
3) Sid has been to the finals before and he knows how it goes. He has been rude in the way he handles other teams and players during the playoffs. Very un NHL-like. Sorry, its a fact. Does he play great? Yes. Ddi he disrespect NHL tradition? Yes. Hey, I wanted the Bruins to win so I didn't have a horse in this race.
4) I gave credit where credit is due. The Pens won through better play. Try not to let your home team bias blind you to an honest appraisal.

ESPN classics is replaying the 7th game at 11:00 EST tonight if anyones interested ;)

Hossa played 12 regular season games with Pitt, and then last years playoffs. He was a trade deadline acquisition from Atlanta, and it was well-known by everyone that he would be a free-agent, free to leave to go anywhere at the end of the year.

Pitt fans or anyone else who blame the guy for leaving, are stupid.....but apparently they needed a 'villain' to point to and show their disgust. However the fact is that you are pointing your finger at a guy who was a rent-a-cop...not some local legend that had played 10 years with the team, and then decided to leave.

The hiprocracy surrounding the venom thrown towards Hossa is amazing... Fans who prior to Crosby coming to town...nearly allowed their team to be folded up by the league with their lack of support for the team....., now point to a rent-a-cop as a villain for leaving after 2 months with the team.... that is crazy.

You can call me homer if you want, but again, your information is without merit and fact. Am I expected to believe you because you simply state such generalities such as being "stuck up" or "being rude" This sounds like high school gossip. How do you know he isn't affiliated with charities? As far as the article, the hockey season is over, what else are they going to write about? This crap will be over in a week, but the Pens names will be on it forever. Here is more a story http://www.detnews.com/article/20090613/OPINION03/906130412/1128/sports0103/Some-Red-Wings-fans-didn-t-act-like-champions But I guess being late shaking hands is much more offensive.

This time there were no cheers from Detroit hockey fans. Just boos for the NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, and perhaps some for Crosby, too. The only cheers -- and they were loud -- were emitted by Pittsburgh hockey fans who had journeyed across Ohio to watch this theatrical, decisive Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Friday night.

So the Detroit fans booed Bettman? All is forgiven now. :)

They don't dress like commies. That counts for a lot.

That's gotta sting. ;)

The Hossa issue came about because he was offered the same money from PIT to stay after last season, however he chose to go to Detroit becasue-- per Hossa--he wanted a chance to hoist the Cup. basically impied that the Pens wouldn't do it and Detroit would. Then in a later interview when asked to clarify, he stated he was misunderstood and went to Detroit because "they had better players" so I thought it was great that he had to watch others hoist the Cup...again.

The handshake deal is a tempest in a teapot...Crosby DID join the handshake line, but Lidstrom was already off the ice -- no intentional slight by either guy--they are both class acts.