Remembering Pavol Demitra
by Yankee Canuck on Sep 7, 2011 10:02 AM PDT
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PrintThis summer sucks. Who would have thought losing the Cup and the riot afterward would be the end of it?
As you know, following on the heels of Rick Rypien's passing was the tragic news this morning that a plane crash near the city of Yaroslavl in Central Russia claimed the lives of 43 of the 45 people aboard. Former Canucks winger Pavol Demitra has been confirmed as one of those lost.
Demitra was far from a fan favorite, at least in this neck of the interwebs. Both Sean and I weren't fans of how much money the brittle winger cost. But regardless of how we felt that shouldn't detract from his on-ice product. Over the course of his career Demitra was a skilled threat who ranks as the 154th highest scorer in league history (just behind Sergei Zubov and ahead of guys like Mike Ridley, Russ Courtnall, Greg Adams, Scott Niedermayer, Ziggy Palffy, Petr Nedved and Cam Neely).
Roll the tape back to the 1993 draft (yes the Alexander Daigle knee slapper of a draft) when Demo was selected in the 9th round (227 overall) by the Senators. That alone is worth remembering since 9th rounders rarely pan out; in fact of the 25 players taken in that round only six would go on to play at the NHL level with only three playing above 100 games (Demitra, Mike Grier and Brad Norton). Norton and Grier didn't (or rather haven't) come close to matching Demo's 304 career goals and 768 career points.
Demitra would play sparingly for the Senators before he held out and was moved in November 1996 to St. Louis for Christer Olsson. It was then that Demitra went off, spending eight seasons with the Note, making three All Star Game appearances (1999, 2000 and 2002) and winning the Lady Byng in 2000. He lead the league in game winners in 2001-02 (10) and would finish 6th best in 2002-03 with 93 points. He currently sits as the fifth best scorer in St. Louis history.
Demitra would move on to one injury-plagued season with the Kings, one which he still scored 62 points before landing in Minnesota for two seasons and then finally to Vancouver where he'd finish his NHL career. Unfortunately for us it was one of Gillis' attempts at getting a former agent in house who was well past his prime. He was perceived, at a time when Vancouver let Markus Naslund walk, as replacing one "soft" winger with another.
He never played a full season for the Canucks and literally took himself out the majority of the 2009-10 season when he collided with Brian Campbell during the second round loss to Chicago the season before. As a Canuck Demitra played a total of 97 games and added 23 goals, 46 assists, 69 points, five PPGs and one GWG. His lasting legacy may be his time with the RPM line (Kesler/Sundin/Demitra) which was the first real time in this era that Vancouver had a legit second scoring line to relieve the pressure off the Sedins. The RPM days pretty much gave birth to the KesLORD that we know and love today. It also allowed Sean to warm up his PS skills from time to time.
When the end of his contract was up, some of us were happy (myself included) to see Demo and his $4 million dollar price tag skip on over to the KHL. And, for the record, Demitra was outscoring Jagr last season and didn't miss any games to boot. (*head slap*)
In the end his time here wasn't the best, but it wasn't his fault that (a) Gillis threw a ton of money at him and (b) he was asked to shoulder a heavy load as a sunsetting player. I'm sure you're quickly recollecting some of your favorite memories that Demo provided us over his two years, so I'll toss mine out there as well: his first goal as a Canuck. The quality of that video is pretty bad, but I remember at the time we had a slew of new players, the new GM, no Naslund and a lingering pang of "where precisely is this team going?" So when one of the new guys not only scores to beat a rival but showed some passion afterwards, it warmed my cold heart. His series opening goal against the Hawks in the 2008-09 post season was a thing of beauty as well which is tough for me to say considering Wellwood and Sundin factored in on the score.
RIP Pavol and to the others who lost their lives today in the crash.
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RIP Pavol
It’s not a Canucks memory, but I’ll always remember Demitra’s epic shootout winner against Russia in the 2010 Olympics.
RIP Pavol.
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The RPM Line. Yes yes that was good!
Feel a little guilty for slagging on the guy so often but then again, I never disliked Pavol the person. I met him very briefly in Van while he was with his son. His son who now lost his father.
This summer is fucked. It needs to go away. I’ve never seen so much hockey tragedy in one summer.
RIP Demo and all of the others in this terrible situation. I’m just shocked right now. Or maybe numb. Too many deaths.
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me too
I feel bad slagging on him, especiallly now he’s passed.
RIP Demo
This summer sucks donkey balls
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notafullcolon CS: Well obviously I meant we were snorting blow off hookers at the time of the goal
Funny how money works...
but if he had a cap-hit of 2 million, we’d probably all love him.
a ginger ball hockey player... no wonder I'm a Canucks fan
No, not me. He just wasn’t my fave style of player
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by Sean Zandberg on Sep 7, 2011 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Not your fave style of player...
You mean like a bald, aging, goal scorer?
He cost a lot less than Sundin ;)
a ginger ball hockey player... no wonder I'm a Canucks fan
ShhhHH!!!!!!
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by Sean Zandberg on Sep 7, 2011 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions
we’d probably all love him.
We’d probably appreciate him more for what he did bring to the ice as a Canuck.
Demo and Welly were deadly on the shootout.
a ginger ball hockey player... no wonder I'm a Canucks fan
Yeah that’s about the only thing we were missing last year (other than winning the cup). We didn’t really have a decent shootout scorer.
Bah! We were too busy kicking teams’ asses in regulation and OT
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by Sean Zandberg on Sep 8, 2011 1:28 AM PDT up reply actions
same here
he had so much talent though
"You don't have to be smart to laugh at farts but you have to be stupid not to" - Louis CK
Soon we must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy.
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by Chuckles Canuckles on Sep 7, 2011 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions
My favourite pic of him was one taken at Canuck Place hospice.
RIP, Demo.
by Daoust501 on Sep 7, 2011 10:14 AM PDT reply actions 14 recs
Ha, that's great
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by Yankee Canuck on Sep 7, 2011 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions
This is an awesome picture, by the way.
UP THE PUCKS!
"This is a good time to come together and raise our middle finger in the air." - Dan Boyle
by TheSoundOfHockey on Sep 7, 2011 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes,
this was supposed to be a time of celebration for the players involved, the opening of a new hockey season. We know how great that feels.
And just like that, it turns into the worst nightmare imaginable. Can’t even try to imagine how those families feel right now.
Los Angeles, CA
RIP Demo
This summer can end anytime, as far as I am concerned…
Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "For true believers, the bile you spew is our fuel, and when the Canucks raise the Cup next year, we shall drink it, mixed with your tears like the sweetest wine." WAACH' 6/26/11
I don’t feel that just because somebody died it’s necessary to praise them unduly. With that being said…
What gets lost in how bad Demo’s 2009-2010 was is how pretty good his 2008-2009 was. This blows.
Right, I wanted to be honest because I skewered more than praised Demo. Search the site, most of our stuff was negative in that it was injury/salary related. As I said, it’s not his fault.
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"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
by Yankee Canuck on Sep 7, 2011 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Sorry, I was just talking in general terms, kinda prefacing my own comment.
by Passive Voice on Sep 7, 2011 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
No worries.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
by Yankee Canuck on Sep 7, 2011 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
He's said himself that he was disappointed with his performance as a Canuck.
The injuries and defence-first system here didn’t help.
Just a few months ago he was talking about retiring after the ’11-12 season to spend more time with his kids and return to Slovakia to help with grassroots hockey there.
I still can’t believe it.
UP THE PUCKS!
"This is a good time to come together and raise our middle finger in the air." - Dan Boyle
by TheSoundOfHockey on Sep 7, 2011 11:35 AM PDT reply actions
I always loved Demo. I think it was because he was like Naslund, minus the baggage of me hating him. So I had no troubles looking past his shortcomings as a hockey player.
His performance in the Olympics will always stand out to me. He was just a beast on the ice out there, almost willing his team to win. If Luongo hadn’t gotten a tip of that Demitra shot, who knows what could have happened.
Also his goal celebrations were awesome. Every time he scored it was almost like “God damn, it’s about time, WOOOOOO”. Always made me laugh. Especially when he just spread his arms out wide and invited the man hugs.
by The Stanchion on Sep 7, 2011 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Amen
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by Sean Zandberg on Sep 8, 2011 1:29 AM PDT up reply actions
RIP Demo
and for the other players in the crash.
what a tragic summer.
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I also ramble on Twitter every so often.
"You know, I was once God." "Yes, I saw, you did well until everyone died."
This is the type of off-season for Canucks fans, the Canucks and Hockey as a whole I would want to wish on nobody
2 former players in 2 months, one very well known to most in the Hockey World before hand.
I cannot wait for the puck to drop, just to be able to get this horrific off-season over with and be able to move on forward. Hockey cannot take any more tragedy, especially after today.
Preemptive Palomino, lets talk political stuff elsewhere .
Second City Hockey, Is it October 7th yet?
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by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Sep 7, 2011 12:32 PM PDT reply actions
definitely heartbreaking.
Nucks Misconduct writer, queen of inter-blogging etiquette.
I also ramble on Twitter every so often.
"You know, I was once God." "Yes, I saw, you did well until everyone died."
Yes
Selai and Demitra I saw right off the bat through the teams Roster on its websirte. Than add Igor Koralev and Alexander Karpovtsev, (2 former Hawks) Brad McCrimmon and others and it just gets worse!
Preemptive Palomino, lets talk political stuff elsewhere .
Second City Hockey, Is it October 7th yet?
Recovering rec whore.
by Toews-makes-funny-faces on Sep 7, 2011 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions
i just found out about it by checking my FB between classes, seeing the link to this story from the NM feed, then scrolling down and seeing the statement from Canucks.com. i then went on twitter and saw he was trending, and that’s how i found out about the crash.
Nucks Misconduct writer, queen of inter-blogging etiquette.
I also ramble on Twitter every so often.
"You know, I was once God." "Yes, I saw, you did well until everyone died."
from Puck Worlds about one of the possible survivors:
UPDATE: Alexander Galimov, the player who survived the crash, has died in hospital according to Russia 24 TV. These reports were premature, but he’s in ‘beyond critical condition’ with burns over 90% of his body. He is26 years old, and a one time member of Russia’s U20 WJC team (2005, silver medallist).
There are now conflicting reports on the passenger list and Galimov’s condition. I will refrain from posting further as a result.
Nucks Misconduct writer, queen of inter-blogging etiquette.
I also ramble on Twitter every so often.
"You know, I was once God." "Yes, I saw, you did well until everyone died."
So only one survivor…ugh
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"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
by Yankee Canuck on Sep 7, 2011 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
apparently, this report was very premature. we’ll have to wait and hear.
Nucks Misconduct writer, queen of inter-blogging etiquette.
I also ramble on Twitter every so often.
"You know, I was once God." "Yes, I saw, you did well until everyone died."
on the backburner
our Youngstars tournament will have two games on Sportsnet, and all games streaming online.
Nucks Misconduct writer, queen of inter-blogging etiquette.
I also ramble on Twitter every so often.
"You know, I was once God." "Yes, I saw, you did well until everyone died."
I keep thinking about Jes Golbez who had a site called “”http://jesgolbez.blogspot.com/" target="new">Hockey Rants". He was a massive Demo fan. Wonder how he is holding up.
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Ugh, Hockey Rants.
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We chew and spit you out. We laugh, you scream and shout. All flee, with fear you run. You’ll know where we come from:
Damage incorporated.........GO!
by Sean Zandberg on Sep 7, 2011 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow...
Unfortunately, many Canucks fans and most of the media saw fit to crap on Demitra during his entire tenure here. Nevermind that he was a mid-range free agent that produced fairly well, or that he was obviously not going to be as good as he was 10 years ago, he was never good enough to be here. Slavic players have always been crapped on here.
Exhibit A: Sean Zandberg. Despite being married to a Russian, Zandberg is so blatently anti-Slavic that he might as well wear a white hood and burn Slovak double-crosses on his front yard. He was the most vocal blogger who would crap on Demitra every change he got. Is it any wonder why I thought, even before the riots, that most Canucks fans are absolute garbage? I’ve lived here most of my life, and still want nothing to do with most of the idiots who cheer for the club.
I can take that from him. I always gave Demo a hard time and I don’t take it back. But..scroll down this list. See a bunch or even some of those players you’d jump at? Not me. Hossa, Stastny bros, Chara, Makita (of course!) to name a few. But so many of them…NO FUCKING WAY. Does that make me anti Slovak? In the sense that I wouldn’t want the vast majority of them on my team? YES.
Being married to a Russian has nothing to do with it. I would take a buttload of Russian players. Just not Slovakians. Oh well. Shoot me.
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We chew and spit you out. We laugh, you scream and shout. All flee, with fear you run. You’ll know where we come from:
Damage incorporated.........GO!
by Sean Zandberg on Sep 8, 2011 1:38 AM PDT up reply actions
But even having said all that, Hockey Rants was one of the first hockey blogs I ever read to go along with Canucks And Beyond and Canucks Hockey Blog. The originators. The founding fathers and mother. So I’m not gonna sit here and get into a pissing match.
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We chew and spit you out. We laugh, you scream and shout. All flee, with fear you run. You’ll know where we come from:
Damage incorporated.........GO!
by Sean Zandberg on Sep 8, 2011 1:46 AM PDT up reply actions
I posted a comment reply
but he hasn’t authorized it yet. His comment seemed little over the top, but yeah, it;s not worth gettiing all crazy over.
Was thinking about Ruslan “one horse open” Salei, and the first time I ever heard that nickname. Was laughing my ass off
I’m a Jes fan from back in the day too, but that sounded over the top to me. Specifically the “those types of Canucks fans” just strikes me as “if you disagree with me, then you’re an idiot.” But whatever, he was a great blogger regardless and I feel bad for anyone who is hurting cause of anyone lost yesterday.
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by Yankee Canuck on Sep 8, 2011 7:56 AM PDT up reply actions
This guy is a little bit psycho.
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by ShiftySC on Sep 8, 2011 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
takes one to know one
neener neener
<3 Boobies!
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notafullcolon CS: Well obviously I meant we were snorting blow off hookers at the time of the goal
That’s pretty brutal. It seems pretty brutal to say that about Canucks fans because we didn’t like him while he was here. Who gives a shit, anyways? We never wanted to see this happen to him. We may not have liked him on our team but that doesn’t mean we didn’t like him as a person. That was the first time I visited that blog and it will definitely be my last.
Shocker to wake up to this morning
Saw the news about the plane crash on the morning news ticker and then saw Demitra’s name come up. Wasn’t a fan of his time in Vancouer, but when he was healthy and motivated (like during the last Olympics) he was a darn good player.
RIP Demo.
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by nucksandpucks on Sep 7, 2011 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Players remembering Demo
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=587803
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
"Pucks are awful little things" - Passive Voice.
RIP Demo
what a fucking horrible offseason.
"You don't have to be smart to laugh at farts but you have to be stupid not to" - Louis CK
Soon we must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy.
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by Chuckles Canuckles on Sep 7, 2011 4:26 PM PDT reply actions
The more I think of what happened the sadder I get… :( rest well pavol, you will be missed
by kiyotok on Sep 7, 2011 7:54 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
What a horrible summer for the hockey world. Nothing worse than losing someone that way, and for so many families to experience that at at once is just a tremendous loss. What Pavol did or didn’t do for this team just becomes irrelevant when you see the smile on the child’s face posted above; numbers and cap hits and Stanley Cups mean nothing at the end of the day. Well maybe Stanley Cups. But only a little.
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I for one one
have never wanted the NHL to start the regular season so badly until now. It’s just been a God awful end of the regular season and off season.
THE 8 WORDS I HOPE TO ONE DAY HEAR: "THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS HAVE WON THE STANLEY CUP"
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I am obsessed with the Canucks. I have envisioned the day they win the Stanley Cup several times in my head. I am also a diehard Britney Spears fan (don't judge).
What an awful, awful offseason this has been.
RIP Pavol. I’ll always remember your time here with us.
Rogers Arena - the Sugarbowl!
from AP
KHL chief Alexander Medvedev said Thursday that each team in the league should volunteer up to three players each toward building a new Lokomotiv squad. He says it will free up between 40 and 45 players for Lokomotiv to pick.
"The 18 KHL clubs whose representatives I have managed to speak with have supported this proposal," Medvedev said in remarks to Atlant Mytischi hockey club’s press service.
Medvedev said up to 35 players have already put their names forward to join Lokomotiv, but he didn’t specify any names.
He said one idea was for players’ salaries to be underwritten by the teams from which they had been transferred to Lokomotiv for the duration of one season.
"This is still an unofficial decision, but it has been supported by everbody, and many are putting this idea forward themselves," Medvedev said in televised remarks.
Nucks Misconduct writer, queen of inter-blogging etiquette.
I also ramble on Twitter every so often.
"You know, I was once God." "Yes, I saw, you did well until everyone died."
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