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Screw Crosby. esteef

Good one! esteef

Forgive the OP, for he knows not what he types. esteef

Yeah, "running through the league" is real tough in that brutal Eastern Conference.

Only 4 topics: "Will we ever win that big goblet thingie?" "I wish we had Luongo back" "Why haven't we re-signed Lilja?" "How do you get ice to freeze on a floor? I've only seen it in cubes."

Your name is a joke right? Wings over Pens

Even though lines change about 300 times per season, I really like how Babs' projected line-up is looking. Problem is, I don't know which line I'm most excited about? Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Homer was the best line in the league a couple years ago, when they had the time to establish chemistry (and we had the depth to allow them to). I'm pretty pumped about their domination potential, and doing it through all those highlight-reel plays. Oh, and Homer is goofy as hell. Bertuzzi-Filp-Franzen is probably the line that I can comfortably say I'm the least excited about. Bert is a way-hot to way-cold kind of guy, Filp has shown flashes of brilliance but IMO has yet to prove himself as a legit second-line center. Hopefully this year is it. Honestly the only thing that hooks me into this line is Franzen but that's because of his individual efforts. By the way, I'm excited to hear that he's feeling as good as he ever has and he's looking forward to tearing it up out there. Cleary-Modano-Hudler is way sweet to see on the third line. Cleary feels revitalized and provides plenty of grit for a bottom six line. Hudler is definitely more than capable of stomping on the opponent, and Modano, despite being on the cusp of retirement is a story in itself. I expect these guys to get a lot of ice time, and a lot of points (at least for a third line). Abby-Helm-Eaves is crazy energy and crazy speed. It has been quite a while since I've looked forward to seeing the fourth line on the ice, especially considering there's no enforcer. Just pure energy. Oh, and Abby started boxing. Really its between the 1st 3rd and 4th lines for me, but I really can't narrow it down. How bout you guys?

He's not that good of a player, the value he did have was his size and the ability to stand in front of the net, this decision basically removes that value.

I'd like to see Modano have some time with Datsyuk at some point during the season. esteef

I want big Bert to start using his size but I'm not sure if that will ever happen. Also, I'd like to see him use two hands on the stick more often. He tries to make pretty plays/goals but he should just be concerned about getting goals at all. I never understood why so many Wings fans hate him. I'm excited to see him and Mule and Flip play together. Mule and Bert could make some magical things happen if they play like they did in game 4 against San Jose.

I'm just most excited about our depth really. But if I had to pick one it has to be the ZDH line. A full year with those guys playing with each other should be great.

I for one would love to see Babs just keep rolling with all four line. There is a lot of talent from top to bottom of our line up. The more the bottom two lines get at the beginning of the year the more rested the top two lines will be at the end of the year. Going two be lots of fun!

No not quite. I visit that forum every now and it pales in comparison to this one. I wanted to see their reaction to the whole Kovalchuk situation and there was hardly anything. LetsGoPens.com is pretty much all about the Pens. Its Pens talk and ONLY Pens talk. In addition to a lot of Wings news, there's tons of hockey news in general here. During the trade deadline and the start of the free agency period, I just come here for news. I know someone will have seen it on TV, a website or heard it on the radio and post on here.

Yeah, I know. I once thought about doing a 29 forums in 29 days thing, where I'd try to get banned from all 29 forums around the NHL. Then I found out about this rule on LGW about not trolling on other teams' forums, so I never did it. I wonder why we have a rule on LGW, which controls what members do on other forums? I mean is it really the mods business what I do on the rest of the internet?

Although I see the OP's point (in a way) about the Bertuzzi - Filppula - Franzen line I think there's the potential for big things from this line because Franzen will garner so much attention from the opposing team. This will create time and space for both Bertuzzi and Filppula. I honestly think we start to see the playoff type point production from Franzen burst into the regular season. Filppula is now surrounded by two big bodies that can crash and bang and create room for him to operate. This line really has the potential to score in bunches. Not to mention they'll be facing the opposing team's secondary defense tandems while Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom occupy their first pairing.

If we can stay healthy and run 4 lines for most of the reg season we are going to be scary come playoff time. The ability to not have to over play our top 6 will be huge come playoffs. I look at all 4 of those lines and have no problem putting any of them out at anytime in any situation.

Thrashers over Oilers 4-1

I realize I'm only dreaming, but what if Maltby could teach somebody like Abdelkader how to get under other players' skins. Maltby might still do good.

My Team: LW C RW Line 1: Howe, Yzerman, Datsyuk Line 2: Zetterberg, Lindsay, Shanahan Line 3: Probert, McCarty, Kocur Line 4: Mule, Modano, Hull Feds D: Lids, Konstantinov Cheli, Murphy Kelly, Fisher Raf Dominator Sawchuk Holland All in thier prime please!!

Lilja is like that friend who always wanted to hang around with you but you dont really want there. Sign in the KHL already!

Meech is a longshot to make the final roster, as his situation would basically be as follows: The top-six is set for now. Kindl is almost a guarantee to make the roster, pending his camp performance. Meech is not much different from the performance level of Ericsson, Salei, and would likely be the #8 defenseman given a normal 13-8-2 roster. The only problem is that the Wings have about two teams' worth of forwards they have to sort through and decide on, and there's a fairly decent chance of a 14-forward roster. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom, Franzen, Filppula, Bertuzzi, Hudler, Modano, Cleary. There's the top 9 and most of the team's forwards. For the fourth line, we have the following options signed who are not waiver-exempt: Patrick Eaves, Justin Abdelkader, Darren Helm, Drew Miller, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Mattias Ritola. Maltby will likely start the year in Grand Rapids. Draper, Helm, and Abdelkader are basically guaranteed roster spots. So that leaves Eaves, Miller, and Ritola at forward and Meech on defense competing for those final two roster spots. At least one will be a forward, to meet that "13" mark, and that will probably be Eaves. So Meech, assuming he goes unclaimed, has to prove he is more useful to the team than both Miller and Ritola, Ritola it should be pretty clear, although the fact Ritola is an untested prospect getting his first and possibly only shot with the team definitely gives him some extra votes. Miller is the more difficult task. Although with the addition of Modano, the presence of Cleary, Eaves, Helm, Abdelkader, and Draper on the roster... Miller provides quite a bit of redundancy, skilled or not. So that does work against him in proving he deserves to be on the big club and not to be waived for the third time in less than a year. Meech provides a skilled offensive defenseman with excellent speed and a decent defensive presence. While he's not nearly the same level, the Wings only have only had one defenseman who can be described that way; Brian Rafalski. There have only been a couple of Wings defensemen with Meech's speed or better who played for the Wings in the past 20 years; Paul Coffey, Jiri Fischer, Brian Rafalski, Brett Lebda. Perhaps there's one or two more in that group that I'm just not remembering, but it's still a pretty exclusive group. Meech also plays more physical than most defensemen of his size and style, and is capable of switching to forward without any difficulty in the transition. His versatility is remarkable and could definitely score points towards a spot on the Wings. As far as if he is claimed, there are many teams where Meech would be the #5 or #6, and some where he might even be in the top 4. So eiher those teams don't feel Meech's style fits their lineup (swift, puckhandling offensive defenseman with limited physical game) they have their rosters basically set and don't think a minor grab like Meech is important enough, they simply aren't paying attention, or they are one of the handful of teams that wouldn't be able to easily fit him into their everyday lineup. Think of Quincey, and the fact that Meech outplayed Quincey the entire time they were in the Wings system. Quincey has been playing top four since leaving and has done well. How will Meech do if claimed by a similar team?

The only thing I ever had against Meech is he isn't Quincy.

the 200s are generally pretty good seats, especially for the price. there is, however, a higher chance of being seated next to someone sporting a mullet or a jersey tucked into jeans. comes with the territory.

I don't think Philly needs a 9th defenceman.

it would be really sweet if stevie was a gm for the wings in the future.