To touch or not to touch: The Conference Trophies

[Shoofyou10]

touching or not touching a trophy has zero to do with who wins it all. i find it silly our guys didn't touch it. it's senseless.

Yep. Winning the conference is an accomplishment regardless of what happens in the SC finals and you should celebrate that accomplishment. Touching the trophy and celebrating that accomplishment doesn't mean that you also don't want to win the Cup.

I was hoping that they would pick it and celebrating it for a little bit like the Pens did last season.

 

[DeYarmond Edison]

I think it's largely just a gesture. It's more or less a public display of your intent and your focus on the real prize rather than an actual earnest belief that touching it would have some negative consequence.

Best post in the thread.

Not sure why this is worth complaining about. I don't think any player actually thinks not touching the trophy will increase their chances of winning the next series.

 

[JoVel]

There are some traditions in the game of hockey and usually you don't mess with them. I wouldn't touch it.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

There are some traditions in the game of hockey and usually you don't mess with them. I wouldn't touch it.

But it's not really a tradition.

I've taken the time to go back further in the list I posted earlier. Here's nearly 20 years worth

Prince of Wales
1997 Flyers - Touched - Lost
1998 Capitals - Touched - Lost
1999 Sabres - Didn't Touch - Lost
2000 Devils - Touched - Won
2001 Devils - Touched - Lost
2002 Hurricanes - Touched - Lost
2003 Devils - Touched - Won
2004 Lightning - Didn't touch - Won
2006 Hurricanes - Didn't touch - Won
2007 Senators - Touched - Lost
2008 Penguins - Didn't touch - Lost
2009 Penguins - Touched - Won
2010 Flyers - Touched - Lost
2011 Bruins - Didn't touch - Won
2012 Devils - Didn't touch - Lost
2013 Bruins - Didn't touch - Lost
2014 Rangers - Didn't touch - Lost
2015 Lightning - Didn't touch - Lost
2016 Penguins - Touched - Won
2017 ??? - ??? - ???

Campbell
1997 Red Wings - Touched - Won
1998 Red Wings - Touched - Won
1999 Stars - Touched - Won
2000 Stars - Didn't touch - Lost
2001 Avalanche - Touched - Won
2002 Red Wings - Touched - Won
2003 Ducks - Didn't touch - Lost
2004 Flames - Touched - Lost
2006 Oilers - Didn't touch - Lost
2007 Ducks - Didn't touch - Won
2008 Red Wings - Didn't touch - Won
2009 Red Wings - Didn't touch - Lost
2010 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2011 Canucks - Didn't touch - Lost
2012 Kings - Didn't touch - Won
2013 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2014 Kings - Didn't touch - Won
2015 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2016 Sharks - Didn't touch - Lost
2017 Predators - Didn't touch - ???

So of the 39 winners, 16 touched, 23 didn't. Teams who touched went 9-7. Teams who didn't went 10-12.

 

[Shakey Rustie]

But it's not really a tradition.

I've taken the time to go back further in the list I posted earlier. Here's nearly 20 years worth

Prince of Wales
1997 Flyers - Touched - Lost
1998 Capitals - Touched - Lost
1999 Sabres - Didn't Touch - Lost
2000 Devils - Touched - Won
2001 Devils - Touched - Lost
2002 Hurricanes - Touched - Lost
2003 Devils - Touched - Won
2004 Lightning - Didn't touch - Won
2006 Hurricanes - Didn't touch - Won
2007 Senators - Touched - Lost
2008 Penguins - Didn't touch - Lost
2009 Penguins - Touched - Won
2010 Flyers - Touched - Lost
2011 Bruins - Didn't touch - Won
2012 Devils - Didn't touch - Lost
2013 Bruins - Didn't touch - Lost
2014 Rangers - Didn't touch - Lost
2015 Lightning - Didn't touch - Lost
2016 Penguins - Touched - Won
2017 ??? - ??? - ???

Campbell
1997 Red Wings - Touched - Won
1998 Red Wings - Touched - Won
1999 Stars - Touched - Won
2000 Stars - Didn't touch - Lost
2001 Avalanche - Touched - Won
2002 Red Wings - Touched - Won
2003 Ducks - Didn't touch - Lost
2004 Flames - Touched - Lost
2006 Oilers - Didn't touch - Lost
2007 Ducks - Didn't touch - Won
2008 Red Wings - Didn't touch - Won
2009 Red Wings - Didn't touch - Lost
2010 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2011 Canucks - Didn't touch - Lost
2012 Kings - Didn't touch - Won
2013 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2014 Kings - Didn't touch - Won
2015 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2016 Sharks - Didn't touch - Lost
2017 Predators - Didn't touch - ???

So of the 39 winners, 16 touched, 23 didn't. Teams who touched went 9-7. Teams who didn't went 10-12.

But how many of those teams touched Bill Daly during the ceremony, and what were those results?

 

[Extra Texture]

Lindros, Peca, and Kariya were all Canadian.

It is kind of ridiculous to not touch the trophy. I mean the captain does not ahve to skate around the ice with it, but its nice to have the team pose with the trophy for a photo.

And yet they can still pose for a fine photo, looking very happy to be there, without laying a finger on it. Nobody is suggesting they kick it into the ground and refuse to look at it or some other act of wanton disrespect. Just let them do what they want.

 

[madinsomniac]

Whatever floats your boat I guess... Id treat it with all the respect guys treated the cup... namely id throw it into the deep end of Lemieux's swimming pool and leave it there all night...

 

[Kane One]

Touch it. For plenty of players it will be their first time there and for plenty of players it will be their last time there. Pretty stupid not to touch the trophy which could end up being the highest achievement of some of their careers.

 

[TheSituation]

My perspective is to not touch it. I'm not superstitious at all about that, but I couldn't possibly say that that's the case for my entire team or that it wouldn't be a minor nagging thought in the back of someone's head. Why potentially mess with even a 4th liner's mojo just for a trophy that nobody will remember?

Or, in other words, even if you're not superstitious why risk someone else's superstitions messing with their head?

That being said, I don't care one way or the other if a captain does that or not.

This IMO, is why this is a stupid tradition. If your 4th liner gets spooked because the C picks up the trophy, your team isn't winning the cup.

 

[TorstenFrings]

But it's not really a tradition.

I've taken the time to go back further in the list I posted earlier. Here's nearly 20 years worth

Prince of Wales
1997 Flyers - Touched - Lost
1998 Capitals - Touched - Lost
1999 Sabres - Didn't Touch - Lost
2000 Devils - Touched - Won
2001 Devils - Touched - Lost
2002 Hurricanes - Touched - Lost
2003 Devils - Touched - Won
2004 Lightning - Didn't touch - Won
2006 Hurricanes - Didn't touch - Won
2007 Senators - Touched - Lost
2008 Penguins - Didn't touch - Lost
2009 Penguins - Touched - Won
2010 Flyers - Touched - Lost
2011 Bruins - Didn't touch - Won
2012 Devils - Didn't touch - Lost
2013 Bruins - Didn't touch - Lost
2014 Rangers - Didn't touch - Lost
2015 Lightning - Didn't touch - Lost
2016 Penguins - Touched - Won
2017 ??? - ??? - ???

Campbell
1997 Red Wings - Touched - Won
1998 Red Wings - Touched - Won
1999 Stars - Touched - Won
2000 Stars - Didn't touch - Lost
2001 Avalanche - Touched - Won
2002 Red Wings - Touched - Won
2003 Ducks - Didn't touch - Lost
2004 Flames - Touched - Lost
2006 Oilers - Didn't touch - Lost
2007 Ducks - Didn't touch - Won
2008 Red Wings - Didn't touch - Won
2009 Red Wings - Didn't touch - Lost
2010 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2011 Canucks - Didn't touch - Lost
2012 Kings - Didn't touch - Won
2013 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2014 Kings - Didn't touch - Won
2015 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2016 Sharks - Didn't touch - Lost
2017 Predators - Didn't touch - ???

So of the 39 winners, 16 touched, 23 didn't. Teams who touched went 9-7. Teams who didn't went 10-12.

Seems like the West did a lot better with the touching (5 out of 6) than the East did (4 out of 10), and yet they haven't gone for it since 2004.

 

[The Shovel Penguin]

As far as the Penguins were concerned, the Wales Trophy just wanted to be touched, loved and included! VIP travel on a private jet in 2009.

 

[RedMenace]

Fish did not touch it. I approve.

Loved hearing one of the mics pick up a Preds players saying, "Don't touch it, Fish!"

 

[yoss]

I think it adds an element of charm to the playoffs that it's a thing. As others have said it's mainly symbolic of not being satisfied with that trophy to emphasize the main goal of the Stanley Cup imo.

In fact I think a team should take it to the next level sometime and decline the trophy altogether then tell Bill Daly to have it taken it off the ice and put it back in the tunnel.

 

[DEVILS130]

But it's not really a tradition.

I've taken the time to go back further in the list I posted earlier. Here's nearly 20 years worth

Prince of Wales
1997 Flyers - Touched - Lost
1998 Capitals - Touched - Lost
1999 Sabres - Didn't Touch - Lost
2000 Devils - Touched - Won
2001 Devils - Touched - Lost
2002 Hurricanes - Touched - Lost
2003 Devils - Touched - Won
2004 Lightning - Didn't touch - Won
2006 Hurricanes - Didn't touch - Won
2007 Senators - Touched - Lost
2008 Penguins - Didn't touch - Lost
2009 Penguins - Touched - Won
2010 Flyers - Touched - Lost
2011 Bruins - Didn't touch - Won
2012 Devils - Didn't touch - Lost
2013 Bruins - Didn't touch - Lost
2014 Rangers - Didn't touch - Lost
2015 Lightning - Didn't touch - Lost
2016 Penguins - Touched - Won
2017 ??? - ??? - ???

Campbell
1997 Red Wings - Touched - Won
1998 Red Wings - Touched - Won
1999 Stars - Touched - Won
2000 Stars - Didn't touch - Lost
2001 Avalanche - Touched - Won
2002 Red Wings - Touched - Won
2003 Ducks - Didn't touch - Lost
2004 Flames - Touched - Lost
2006 Oilers - Didn't touch - Lost
2007 Ducks - Didn't touch - Won
2008 Red Wings - Didn't touch - Won
2009 Red Wings - Didn't touch - Lost
2010 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2011 Canucks - Didn't touch - Lost
2012 Kings - Didn't touch - Won
2013 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2014 Kings - Didn't touch - Won
2015 Blackhawks - Didn't touch - Won
2016 Sharks - Didn't touch - Lost
2017 Predators - Didn't touch - ???

So of the 39 winners, 16 touched, 23 didn't. Teams who touched went 9-7. Teams who didn't went 10-12.

Absurd that no WCF team has touched since 2004

 

[Epsilon]

it's the dumbest thing about every post-season.

Agreed, and even dumber is when people think it's a "tradition" when it's nothing but an on-off random routine that started in 1997 and completely backfired. It should have died permanently as a "thing" when Lindros made a big show and dance about not touching it, Yzerman didn't and accepted it in the standard way that had been done in the past, and the Red Wings trounced the Flyers in the finals. But instead here we are.

 

[The Macho King]

Agreed, and even dumber is when people think it's a "tradition" when it's nothing but an on-off random routine that started in 1997 and completely backfired. It should have died permanently as a "thing" when Lindros made a big show and dance about not touching it, Yzerman didn't and accepted it in the standard way that had been done in the past, and the Red Wings trounced the Flyers in the finals. But instead here we are.

It's not old, but I honestly really like it as a tradition, based on the idea that the only trophy they're playing for they haven't won yet. But yeah the whole curse stuff is nonsense.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

But how many of those teams touched Bill Daly during the ceremony, and what were those results?

Or considering Daly is often touching the Trophy and Bowl, couldn't we say that Daly's the conduit for everybody actually touching the Trophy and Bowl

I think it adds an element of charm to the playoffs that it's a thing. As others have said it's mainly symbolic of not being satisfied with that trophy to emphasize the main goal of the Stanley Cup imo.

In fact I think a team should take it to the next level sometime and decline the trophy altogether then tell Bill Daly to have it taken it off the ice and put it back in the tunnel.

The 2012 Kings actually did something close to that - they left the Campbell Bowl in Phoenix and AEG's president drove it back to LA in the trunk of his car.

 

[tampa pred]

As a Preds fan, I wanted them to touch it last night. Let's face it- this was a historic moment for the organization, especially in front of the home crowd. Winning the conference for the first time means something. "Stanley Cup or nothing" doesn't really apply in this case.

 

[Cletus Marley]

I don't think about it too much. I'm not superstitious so it doesn't matter much to me. I figure a team that just won 3 playoff series and are headed to the SCF can do whatever they want. They earned the choice.

 

[SirKillalot]

I'd say celebrate your accomplishments. It's not like there are a lot in the NHL. So, I wouldn't hesitate to touch it one bit. As one see at the statistics about this. It doesn't matter. Don't need to go overboard with the celebration, but winning the conference I think should mean a little in a sense that they shouldn't be afraid to show it.

 

[yoss]

The 2012 Kings actually did something close to that - they left the Campbell Bowl in Phoenix and AEG's president drove it back to LA in the trunk of his car.

Interesting little fact i was unaware of.

 

[Riptide]

The Pens didn't touch it in 2008 and went on to lose to the Red Wings, then they did touch it in 2009 and beat the Red Wings. They stuck with that and touched it last year and beat the Sharks, so I would assume if they win that they will touch it again this year.

Scintillating stuff

Yeah there was audio on the CBC broadcast where you could hear Crosby "yeah we're touching it".

 

[end]

A ridiculous modern tradition with a laughable origin.

Was Lindros ever in a better position in his life than the moment immediately before he declined to perform his duties as captain and accept his team's trophy? Was there anything good in his career after this moment? The curse of the conference trophies doesn't apply to their annual winners, the curse applies directly to Eric Lindros.

 

[GordieHowsUrBreath]

some people are just flat out crazy with their superstitions

i know people that won't watch the game on tv because they actually believe them not watching helps their team win

[MOD]

 

[Tomas W]

The trophy: Ah touch me, I wanna feel your body! Touch me, touch me now!