OT: Red Wings Nostalgia
Darren McCarty was co-hosting the morning sports talk radio station I listen to on the way to work, and I started daydreaming about rivalries long gone between the Wings and Avalanche. Once i swerved back into my lane, I decided to google videos of those games, fights, wars, etc once I got to work. While doing so, I came across this ESPN special on Vladimir Konstantinov that aired last year during the NHL Playoffs. Really well done. I may or may not have teared up a bit....no judging.
may have been one of the toughest defensemen ever, and quite possibly an NHL Hall Of Famer had he not been hurt in that accident.....
Geez. Don't get me started on this stuff. The Red Wings got me through the mid to late 90's when all oour other pro teams sucked. Every year I would mark my calendar for Wings-Aves games and anxiously await their arrival. With Thorne and Clement broadcasting, you just felt the drama. Even though I like Thorne way better than Clement.
Anyway, back to Konstantinov. Think of what the team could have done if he was on the team for a handful of more years. He and Lidstrom, the perfect blend of Technique, Skill, and Brute force. I think we coud be talking 1 or 2 more championships. He was damn good. That 97' cup was a short celebration.
Vlad had one of the most devasting open ice hits I have ever seen
Can't remember who the poor bastard was that he hit, but I can still see the play in my head. Konstantinov lit him up, towered over him for a second with a blank look on his face, then just skated on.
What a fucking badass that guy was.
I think it may have been Lindros, who was a magnet for those types of hits. (See Scott Stevens)
Vlady hit Dale Hawerchuck right a center ice... I am pretty sure he never played another NHL game. Vlad was truly badass.
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Modano if he takes a pay cut. Nice to see him back in the D if comes, finish your career in your hometown.
"Just read Wings might sign "
I had to read that 5 times til I could make sense of it...dang homophones
Where did you see that? I'd be surprised if he laced them up for someone else but that would be fun to see. I knew there was something special about him when I saw his work in Mighty Ducks.
dont plan on resigning him
i lived in Oak Park for 13 years and in my earlier years him and the russians would play soccer on this giant field i had behind my house. i was just a toddler back then but whenever my dad tells the story he says Vladdy was much nicer than he would appear to be on the ice. i had met him again a few years after his injury in the Oak Park library and ran into him and said hi. it was good to see him using a walker tho. he next to the 97 ship were my first Red Wings memories