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OMFG!! NO DOWNEY?!!! WHAT A BUNCH OF WASTED ROSTER SPOTS!!!!!%$$#^&* esteef

I wish I could have seen it, and I wish that there was video from last nights tilt, but the report on TSN and other things I've read, state that Bert took exception to the kneeing on Franzen from Orpik and got a 5 for fighting and a 10 minute misconduct for instantly jumping on him... If this is the Bert we will see this year, I am ECSTATIC - I don't want him dropping the gloves just to fight, I just want him to play with that snarl that he is capable of when he chooses to, finishing checks, standing up for teammates and just being physical on the opposition... if that ends up being the Bert we see this year, his re-signing will be HUGE

The "Howe Approach": Remember numbers and be patient.

Bert speaks the truth.

We should end Crosby's season in response and start a proper rivalry. No I'm not kidding.

wings over bruins in 6 in SCF. write that down haters!

bert and mule = BFF

It's said to be in a similar style to HBOs "Hard Knocks" Series. I'm sure some of you will be annoyed with the teams involved (or atleast one of them) but I'm really looking forward to it . Would be awesome if they made this a yearly thing featuring different teams. Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10266/1089756-61.stm http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/HBO-tabs-Capitals-Penguins-Classic-for-Hard-Kno?urn=nhl-271741

Why does the NHL not make a serious effort to market anyone but Crosby and Ovechkin? This HBO thing is just more proof of that. I know they're the two best players in the league and are the only household names in hockey amongst the general public. However, in other sports, it's more than just 2 players who are household names, and it's because those leagues try to make a real effort towards marketing those players. The NHL refuses to do so and I don't understand why. Isn't it better for the league if more players are marketed to the general public, instead of just showing Crosby and Ovechkin commercials all the time? I remember last year after the Caps and Pens were eliminated, I heard many sportswriters complaining that they stopped caring about the playoffs because the two best players were gone, and I was infuriated by their stupidity and lack of knowledge about hockey. At the same time, I realized the league was responsible for this indifference, because it wasn't trying hard enough to market any other players. I'm not saying the league should lay off these two superstars, but they need to acknowledge that there's other great stars in the game. That's what all the other sports leagues are doing and I think it will be better for hockey in the long run.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=334712 Since it's from almighty Bob I thought it was a good idea to post it here.

I don't see what the big deal is. Chris Benoit used to do throat jestures all the time when he was wrestling.

Just cancelled HBO when ordering Center Ice. I believe I made the correct decision.

HAH!!!! So this guy gets a suspension within one day for this little act but nothing has been mentioned from the NHL about Orpik's knee-to-knee hit. Nice priorities NHL.

PI is important because it is part of PIE:

The NHL needs to take the "Hockey is for everyone" approach in their marketing. You've got all sorts of players out there. Market Duncan Keith to the "old-time, smashmouth, lose some teeth and keep fighting" crowd. Market Chris Pronger as a villain to the "watch to hope to see a dirty bastard get a beatdown" crowd. Market Pavel Datsyuk to the "watch for amazing skill and slick moves" crowd. Market Ovie to the "want an approachable, easily recognizable hero with an outgoing personality" crowd. Market Sid to the "teenage girls and NAMBLA members" crowd. In all seriousness, this isn't anything new. During the Era of the Great One, it was rare to hear Yzerman's name outside of Detroit, and the only time we heard about Super Mario was when he got cancer. That's a slight exaggeration, but to the average non-hockey fan, that's how it was. They knew Wayne. That's it.

Excited to see how Smith and Mursak do!

Crosby not the second best? Do you watch hockey at all? I'd love to see these people defend that stance. I agree the NHL needs to start marketing Toews, Miller, Datsyuk, Stamkos etc. But fact is the average person will look at the stats and see Crosby and Ovechkin leading the league for the past 5 years. Until their are players consistently up there with the numbers, people will want to see the best players in the game, and learn more about them. It's just the way it is.

The NHL has a Marketing department? News to me.

I say take Orpik out, because I'm a die hard Red Wings fan, and the mule has always been one of my favorites. That being said I didn't get a good look at the hit, and as far as I've searched have not found a replay. I can say, though, that I wished that "hip injury" Cindy sustained, which I'm sure was a minor bruise, would have took him out for the season.

That is the most annoying song ever. I remember the first time I heard it and thought "Wow! That's a dumb song", then the Hawks scored again and I'm like "Seriously?? After every goal?" If I was a Hawks fan, I'd have to watch every home game with the sound off.

I've never been more happy NOT to have HBO than I am right now.

Bert needs to show that kind of toughness this year.

I bet you cried the day that they took the negative option away from the ratings. Such posts as yours cry for that sort of attention, and now we find ourselves with little recourse other than to either ignore you or actually waste bandwidth in responding. I'll throw the bone today because I'm bored. Lilja will be missed. I'm not saying Salei won't do a good job; I'm sure he will. But rest assured, Lilja will be missed by many. Thanks for reminding us that you're still with us.

Real fans don't hang players on their team out to dry. These are your Red Wings, take em or leave em. Mistakes happen in the game. Players have bad seasons and a bad stretch of luck. Its hockey. This is why its a team sport. Win as a team. Lose as a team.

I saw someone mention before that the Wings have some sort of agreement with the league to move east before Columbus, even though CBJ is further east than Detroit. I'm not sure I really want them to move to the Eastern Conference though. I think they'd be more likely to sink down to the level of the Eastern teams rather than maintain the high level they have from being constantly challenged in the West.