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f*** pronger

Hurdler's favorite move is to leap over the goalie.

We allowed 65 3rd period goals last year (6th best in the league, NJ was best with 58). Record when leading after the 2nd period was 28-2-4. Not a stellar win%, but our poor OT/SO record (11-14) probably contributed a bit to that. Our team defense was very good last year. Maybe didn't seem like it without the offense we're used to having, but this year should help with that. Also, the possession game is a big key to our defense, and that should improve this year as well. I wouldn't say anything is missing. Of course, you never pass up a chance to improve, and Pronger would be an improvement over Rafi, but he also has 6 more years (after this one) on his stupid contract. We do not want to be saddled with that.

I would say its more the fact that they thought there was no way they would give up the lead so they stoped playing the last 10 minutes of the game.

Z is going to have an awesome year simply and primarily because he is genuinely awesome himself.

Give the people what they want! Datsyuk Datsyuk Datsyuk esteef

It makes sense. The reverse of 9 or 09 is 90. Boom! 3 imaginary points!

Aside from being a motivated newly wed.... Z should have a "rebound" year based solely on these numbers! I think Hank could finally hit the 50 goal mark. Pavel could get 100 pts. Please keep this line together, Mike!

Yep. All about playing a full 60 minutes. More mental than anything.

s*** just got real.

Franzen - 41 Zetterberg - 35 Datsyuk - 30 Hudler - 25 Holmstrom - 24 Filppula - 23 Bertuzzi - 21 Modano - 17 Cleary - 17 Those are just my predictions. If those hold true, that would mean the following for our forward lines: First Line - 84 goals Second Line - 85 goals Third Line - 59 goals Not bad at all. That isn't even counting our defensemen. Gretzky's records aren't safe!!!

KRONWALL HASNT PLAYED IN 2010-2011 BABY!!

So pumped for this season.

900k to watch Helm skate circles around everybody? Deal.

My predictions: Zetterberg 46 Franzen 42 Dats 38 Hudler 30 Homer 25 Flip 23 Bertuzzi 23 Cleary 21

I think he should for sure hit the 20 mark. Adding Modano and Hudler (who also has playmaking skill) to the line is really going to be a boost. Couple that with all the hard work Dano has put in this summer and I expect big things out of him. I think it's awesome that our top 3 lines are all going to mirror each other. Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi Hudler-Modano-Cleary Each has a sniper, playmaker and net presence. Looks really good on paper. I'm pretty pumped about this season.

I smell a "what if Modano had retired" at the end of the stanley cup next year.

Modano is a nice option because he actually shoots it a bury it most of the times

oh and btw, hopefully this team won't go into 15 shootouts or something like last year

Kronwall sure looked like a forward in his attempt last year.

who??

Looks good.

Isn't hudler alot like cleary with the fake and then goes backhand?

its kinda funny that our 3rd line at the start of last season was Leino, Filppula, Williams... and this year it is Hudler, Modano, Cleary... so weve basically replaced Leino and Williams with Modano and Hudler! thats an INCREDIBLE improvement... yes I know Leino was good for Philly after he left here but he was absolutely HORRIBLE when he was here so this is a drastic improvement be about it...

As stated before it's all about the $$$$. Pittsburgh and Washington have the two fastest growing "New" fan bases out there right now. Their merchandise sales are sky rocketing, and when you're looking at Revenue the long term numbers involve getting new fair weather fans....and making them stay fans for the long haul. A team like Detroit has an already established fanbase, so it's not going to fluctuate up or down too much regardless. No point in catering to Detroit when there's hotter markets out there. Teams like say....the Wild....well nobody cares less....so you end up with three types of teams. 1) Those who have fan bases that won't change too much (Detroit, Toronto, etc) 2) Those who have little fan base...and simply aren't worth making a big ticket out of (Minn, Atlanta, etc) 3) Those with fresh new up and coming fan bases, willing to spend a ton of money to support their newfound passion. (pittsburgh, Washington) I Remember in 97-98....every single car in Detroit had a redwings flag (or 4) out the window. If you went to the mall 1/3rd of the shirts people were wearing were red and white, or a full out jersey. Hell, even I Had Detroit bumper stickers on my car, owned 3-4 Jersey's, and even a Redwings coffee mug. Back then 99% of us were just becoming Redwings fans because our team was doing well. Three finals appearances in a row, a record breaking 96 season....most of us were the lame fans that we now see springing up all over Pittsburgh and Washington. But we made the league a lot of money ;-p And while the fan craze surged during those years.....many of us remained fans over the long haul....and the 'Hockey' atmosphere that has been created in Michigan attracts new hockey fans with every generation. That's the NHL's goal with these up and coming teams right now.....to build a fanbase that will be self sufficient ten years from now, because god knows if they don't nurse the hell out of Washington and Pittsburgh.....most of their fans won't last through a bad year. Remember....the Caps became ultra popular in 98 as well, right up until Detroit swept them out of the finals. Suddenly....a bad year for them the following year...and poof, Caps fell off the planet for fan base. To get fans, you have to win. To keep a fan base....you have to take those fair weather fans, and make them into real hockey fans...and that takes years to accomplish. In Detroit we lucked out with a good team for about 20 years straight now, but I doubt we'll see Pittsburgh and Washington making the playoffs for the next 20 years, so from a marketing standpoint pitting Ovechkin against Crosby in a highly publicized game is kinda genius.....even if it is a little bit ***. Side thought: How funny would it be if both of them were injured for the Winter Classic, lol. What a kick in the balls that would be to Bettman.