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Z has a hot wife, he gets it. esteef

So... the person w/ a username and avatar honoring Datsyuk, thinks he should be the next captain. What a shocker. Z has been groomed for the role for many years now. Sorry. We don't even know if Lidstrom is retiring. Way to push the 2011 Norris candidate out the door.

I disagree, if you want to see the happiest captain ever give it to Eaves.

Lids will not be around forever. Yes, it sucks. It sucked with Stevie, but that is how life is. There is no reason that Pavel does not deserve to be the Captain once Lids retires. There is also no reason that Hank does not deserve it. However, unless we rotate the C, only one gets it. Bashing people for suggesting Pavel is entirely lame. He would do a great job. Hank will be the one getting it. He has more of a "captain" persona. It's no slight to Pavel. Coming in second to Hank is no insult.

Wouldnt attack avatars if I was you...Its a discussion not a Lidstrom bash, that doesnt even make sense.

Svetlana is very pretty too. Hank gets it because Pavel has a silly side that he'd have to keep deeply hidden should he become captain. Once Hank gets the C, the comedy will fly. Pavel will be pranking him six ways from Sunday. Hilarity will ensue. You heard it here first, folks. Pavel is just to impish for the C. It would be like giving it to Homer.

Lombardi is a whiny blowhard, bottom line. This is the same guy that blasted Red Berenson over the coaching of Jack Johnson last year and questioned the integrity of Mike Murphy and got slapped with a $50K fine earlier this year. There's clearly a disconnect somewhere between his brain and his mouth.

I can just imagine game 7 of the stanley cup final 2nd intermission down 2 to 1. "Ok team, we must win good. Play full acceleration. I trust my eyes to Dr. Ramani"

Zetterberg singlehandedly handed the most hated player of LGW his own ass. There should be no question who should get it here.

He'd make Kenny pay him 5 bucks which may put us in Cap Hell.

I didn't attack your avatar. But why shouldn't I attack avatars? Do you have L33t shop skills that you'll destroy me through the interwebz with? As to the "Lidstrom bash" (what is that, a new dance?), this is a discussion that doesn't matter until Lidstrom retires. Therefore, you are assuming he's got one foot out the door. I'm not.

This is the same guy that gave up a ton to get Dustin Penner. He's just pissed because he thought he built the Kings to contend for the Cup this year and that were getting killed by one of the best teams in the West and it showed just how far the Kings still have to go before being a serious contender. "Its Detroit". Whatever. How about, "why are the Kings losing?" "Well it's the Kings".

I found it hilarious that Stoll was going apes*** in the box after he saw the replay of himself clearly high-sticking Filppula in the face. Seriously Stoll, WTF were you looking at that made you think you weren't as guilty as they come. Now, the Greene high-sticking call I'll agree. That was BS, but atleast justice was served and we didn't score on it.

Hudler has hit his stride and is playing well within his limitations. The reason he plays so well with Datsyuk is that once in the zone they are both creative play-making type players that can shoot and see the ice well. The difference is that Jiri doesn't have the skating, physicality or creativity to create the time and space he needs that Datsyuk does - however if given space and time Hudler is very good. So, Dats creates time and space for Huds. Of course Dats will elevate anyones game, but I am glad Hudler recognizes the opportunity to play with one of the top 2 or 3 forwards in the game and is working hard - unlike Mule.

That's the most retarded thing I've read in a while. Crosby and Ovechkin represent the exception, not the norm. Of the first 30 guys selected each year maybe 2 or 3 will never play a game in the AHL, CHL or another minor league*. Add in all the other rounds and you can safely say more than 95% of the players drafted will play in the minors (both pro and amateur). It's not uncommon to see top 5 picks play in the AHL for a time... it all depends on what their team's status is (garbage or loaded with talent) and how physically ready they are for the NHL. So in summary-- the AHL is hardly a holder pen for fringe prospects. Most of the young NHL players who enter the league cut their teeth in the AHL. Edit: *Condsider that some guys who start on their team's NHL roster at 18 end up playing in the AHL for a time at some point (see: Edmonton this season)

Official Game Day Thread - - Tonight's Matchup - - VS. Start time: 10:30 EST Staples Center - Los Angeles, CA Available On: Tonight's Stream http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.php/user/15741-drumnj/ (Directions in profile) Official Game Preview: Red Wings take their act to Hollywood - - - *Opposition GDT* Forthcoming - - - News from around the NHL Thomas clear Vezina choice Finances don't concern Stan Bowman McCabe a happy Ranger Western Conference Standings RED WINGS 62 GP, 38-18-6, 82 pts Last Game: Defeated BUF 3-2 (SO) KINGS 60 GP, 35-23-4, 74 pts Last Game: Defeated COL 4-3 Last DET-LA Meeting: 12/13/10, LA 5 at DET 0 Recap - LGW GDT Highlights Goals DET Johan Franzen: 26 LA Four tied at 20 Assists DET Henrik Zetterberg: 49 LA Anze Kopitar: 40 Plus/Minus Pavel Datsyuk, Brian Rafalski: +14 LA Anze Kopitar: +21 ---- DET Mike Modano, Todd Bertuzzi: -3 LA Trevor Lewis: -11 PIM DET Jonathan Ericsson: 71 LA Kyle Clifford: 98 Forthcoming Projected LA Lines Simmonds-Kopitar-Richardson Smyth-Stoll-Brown Clifford-Handzus-Williams Ponikarovsky-Lewis-Westgarth Doughty-Mitchell Martinez-Greene Johnson-Scuderi Jimmy Howard Record: 30-12-3, 2.79 GAA, .908 SV%, 2 SO ---- versus. ---- Jonathan Quick Record: 28-15-2, 2.13 GAA, .920V%, 6 SO RED WINGS Johan Franzen (personal) will not play, Patrick Eaves (knee) out, Brian Rafalski (back spasms) doubtful, Chris Osgood (groin) out, ---- KINGS Scott Parse (hip) out On Deck 3/2, Red Wings at Ducks ; 10:00 EST

Oh come on. How often have we seen a rookie phenom fall off a cliff and disappear never to be heard from again. So Howard had one great year. Meanwhile, Niemi had a good regular season last year, a great playoffs, and despite a slip early in the year (Stanley Cup hangover or whatever you want to call it) has rebounded and is now supporting a .919 save percentage despite the weak start and he’s on a team with defensive depth problems. At $2.25MM you’d really rather take Howard who struggled in the playoffs over a guy who has been there, done that in the highest pressure situations and proven himself to be more consistent? Sounds like I’m bashing Howard, but I’m not. I just think its funny how people think $2.25MM for Howard is a great signing, but Niemi at $3.8MM is horrible. Not like Sharks have a bunch of options in goal either so they were kind of desperate but still in my eyes they got a fair price. I would’ve preferred a shorter term as I’ve mentioned in some other posts, but a shorter term probably means bigger cap hit.

Stuart should get an A. He gave a bunch of interviews earlier this season and really sounded like a captain. He was articulate, said the right things and seemed to have some sway over his teammates. I'd like to see (whenever Lidstrom does retire, probably another year or two in the future) Zetterberg with the C, Datsyuk and Stuart with the A. That is, assuming Draper is retired.

And one could also make the argument that the 'Hawks won despite Niemi's performance and for a team like the Wings, signing Howard at the cheaper price is a much better deal because it allows them to spend that $1.6m elsewhere.

Places I'd stay if coming in from out of town for a long awaited get-away to see Wings game with wife: MGM Grand Casino (Hands down best...IMO) - Pricey, but beautiful hotel, the best rooms downtown, great location, tons to do pre/post game, great restaraunts (Woflgang Pucks, Bourbon Steak, Saltwater, etc...). Book Cadillac - Again, a little pricey but great rooms, great location, great restaurant in lobby (Roast - Top Chef contributor and elite chef Michael Symon's restaurant). MotorCity Casino- Nice rooms, kind of pricey for overall package, but good location in Greektown. Holiday Inn Express - Adequate rooms, great location, great price. Where I wouldn't stay: Atheneum Greektown - Place used to be really nice and great location in Greektown. Stayed there for a party a few months ago....OMG...not good. They told me they are renovating the entire hotel within the year...I'd hold off until then. May I be the first to say prematurely.... Welcome to Detroit...we're really glad to have you visit!! Have fun, and if you can, forget about all the stereotyping that you hear about Detroit, and you'll have a great time, meet some great people, and experience a great city that was once (and will be again someday) the worlds most respected and envied cities. Hope this helps and the above is just my opinion.

I think people see that the Wings are consistently at the bottom of the pile in PIM and assume the league helps them, when in reality they just play a clean game. But the Wings constantly get screwed by bad calls at the worst possible times. I won't say there's a conspiracy against Detroit (except from O'Halloran) but to suggest there's a conspiracy in FAVOR of Detroit is even more ridiculous.

Exactly what they needed. A greasy cheap goal.

As long as he continues to put up points and plays at least some defense, i'm fine. Big question is whether he will show up come playoff time. Franzen needs to get his head out of his ass and crash the net, for crying out loud. It will be interesting who will sit in the press box come playoff time.

The kid scores the game winning goal with less than a minute left then he ices the cake in the shoot-out and you still s*** on him. If we're going to talk about missed shots pissing people off please review Franzen's tape from the last dozen games or so. I can't frigging wait for him to regain his scoring touch! The man refuses to cut inside and rush the net right now! Doesn't he remember how many goals he's scored that way?!?

Wait a minute, Commodore lifts weights? esteef