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Wouldn't mind having this guy on our team someday. And no, I'm not kidding.

I think everyone is just to scared to just say it: We are gonna f*** some s*** up this playoffs and win the cup

Not seeing Franzen in the line-up, but now that I think about it I haven't seen him in about 17 games or so...

If I had to put into words the way I feel about the Wings chances this season, I'd say I feel half caution and half excitement with fairly high expectations. Everybody may feel differently from one person to the next. I got to reflecting on how I felt about years past as far as I could remember in my years as a competently enough fan of the game. Feel free to share any memories you guys have from past regular seasons going into the playoffs. 93: More or less, "I'm going to watch one game at a time and just see how this goes." 94: I actually had really high hopes this year because of the 1st seed and everything. So sad. 95: Very much a feeling of, "This seems to be going really, really well... Hmm..." and then the Wings landed in hell. 96: Definitely thought they would win it all. Had very little, if any, doubts. And then it happened. 97: 20% cautious, 80% not expecting much. And then they won it all. 98: The same as 97, actually. Even though they were defending champs and the theme of that year was, "Believe." 99: I really felt they would three-peat. The 99 post season definitely pissed me off more than any other run for any of my sports teams. I got greedy big time. 00: Had a decent level of excitement but not much. Nothing exceptional. God I hate Colorado. 01: A little less excitement than what I had for '00. Ugh... Late night first round against the Kings definitely ruined some grades. 02: Haha. I actually felt like, "They better ******* win it all, dammit... Or else... (shakes fist)." So very sad after Game 5 against the Avs. But it all ended very well. 03: Wasn't excited at all for this playoff run. I remember how they didn't get the 1st seed and thinking something just didn't seem right. I was more excited about the birth of the Euro Twins. From what I remember, Fedorov was on fire that year and then he ran into Steve Rucchin. 04: I actually felt really good about this year. I really liked the team from that year on paper. But it wasn't to be. 05: Lockout. 06: I was fairly excited but also a tad cautious because I started to see how the Wings would get one of the highers seeds and then lose. 07: Cautious with low expectations. I was very impressed after this playoff run. The foundation of the team was starting to really emerge. 08: A very slow building feeling of shocking amazement as they year went on. "Wow... They could really do this and I can't think of a better team in the league," is how I felt. 09: Definitely believed they would win it all. 10: Very much a "One game at a time, let's see where this goes" kind of feeling.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/sports/hockey/03fighter.html?ref=sports March 2, 2011 Hockey Brawler Paid Price, With Brain Trauma By ALAN SCHWARZ TECUMSEH, Ontario — For 16 seasons, Bob Probert’s fists were two of hockey’s most notorious weapons, winning most of his 246 fights and feeding the N.H.L.’s fondness for bare-knuckle brawling. But the legacy of Probert, who died last July of heart failure at 45, could soon be rooted as much in his head as his hands. After examining Probert’s brain tissue, researchers at Boston University said this week that they found the same degenerative disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, whose presence in more than 20 deceased professional football players has prompted the National Football League to change some rules and policies in an effort to limit dangerous head impacts. Although the National Hockey League has taken steps recently to reduce brain trauma — banning blindside hits to the head, for example — it has nonetheless continued to allow the fighting that some say is part of the sport’s tradition and appeal. Teams continue to employ and reward players like Probert, who are known as enforcers because of how they intimidate opponents. Hockey’s enduring tolerance for and celebration of fighting will almost certainly be tested anew now that Probert, more pugilist than playmaker, has become the first contemporary hockey player to show C.T.E. after death. Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy had previously diagnosed the disease in a long-retired player, Reggie Fleming, a 1960s-era enforcer who played before the full adoption of helmets. “How much is the hockey and how much is the fighting, we don’t really know,” said Dr. Robert Cantu, co-director of the Boston University center and a prominent neurosurgeon in the area of head trauma in sports. “We haven’t definitely established that the skills of hockey as a sport lead to a certain percentage of participants developing C.T.E. But it can happen to hockey players, and while they’re still relatively young.” Donald Fehr, the executive director of the players union, said the findings on Probert could not be taken lightly. “Obviously, when you have a finding like this, it raises concerns and it bears serious examination,” Fehr said. “My impression is that the players want the best medical and scientific evidence that they can find so they make their decisions. They’re not looking to hide from the data. I don’t think anyone in hockey is looking to hide from the data.” When informed of the Probert finding, Bill Daly, deputy commissioner of N.H.L., said he could not comment beyond his immediate reaction: “We’re aware of what B.U. is doing, and we’ve met with them before,” Daly said. “It’s interesting science. We have interest in it. To the extent that the science itself starts to suggest certain conclusions, obviously we’re open to accepting that and addressing that moving forward. But we can’t take steps tomorrow based on what we’re finding out today.” Some of the league’s top players, including the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, have missed significant time this season after sustaining concussions in the course of play. Commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier this year that concussions resulting from fights had increased. Probert was not the average player — he reveled in extremes both on and off the ice, primarily in fighting, drinking heavily and embracing other physical risks. Probert’s posthumous autobiography, “Tough Guy,” gleefully offers details of his 3,300 career penalty minutes — fifth in N.H.L. history — and recounts so many brawls with enforcers like Tie Domi and Marty McSorley that it requires 11 pages to list them all. He scored 163 goals in his career from 1985 through 2002, for the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks, but was so known for his fighting that a 2007 Hockey News poll rated him the greatest enforcer in hockey history. Probert drank heavily beginning in his youth in Windsor, Ontario, and he used cocaine to the point that he served 90 days in a Minnesota prison and was suspended by the N.H.L. multiple times, including for the entire 1994-95 season. His police record included driving citations, bar fights and assaults on police officers. While boating last July 5 on Lake St. Clair, near his home in Tecumseh, Probert collapsed and died of heart failure, including an 80 percent blockage of the left coronary artery. Many athletes later found with C.T.E. — whose test for abnormal protein deposits in brain tissue can be administered only after death — presented symptoms like drug abuse, impulse control and impaired memory only in the years before they died, suggesting that the disease contributed to it. Probert’s case is considerably more difficult to interpret, Cantu said, because of his history. Cantu and other Boston University researchers declined to discuss any further specifics regarding Probert before publication in an academic journal. Probert’s widow, Dani, said in an interview at their home on Tuesday that the B.U. group had said that her husband’s C.T.E. was less developed than that found in most football players of similar age. She added that in his final few years, Probert exhibited some behavior uncharacteristic to him, especially memory loss and a tendency to lose his temper while driving. Cantu, while not speaking about Probert’s substance abuse specifically, also emphasized that “as of now, the medical community is not aware that any drug abuse, including alcohol, leads to” chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Dani Probert said that her husband was aware of growing concern about C.T.E. among athletes in contact sports, and that they had discussed it soon before he died after a “60 Minutes” feature on the subject. “I remember joking with him, ‘Wouldn’t your brain make a nice specimen?’ ” she said. “He started questioning whether he would have it himself. He told me that he wanted to donate his brain to the research when he died. Who would have thought that six months later it would be happening?” Chris Nowinski, a co-director of the Boston University research group, said that 10 other professional hockey players, almost all of whom played in the N.H.L., had pledged to donate their brains upon death. More than 100 professional football players have done the same, including Dave Duerson, the former Chicago Bears star and players union official who committed suicide two weeks ago. Keith Primeau, who played with Probert in Detroit for several seasons in the early 1990s, arranged to donate his brain several months ago. Primeau sustained four documented concussions during his career but said in a telephone interview that he might have incurred others in fights that he did not recognize at the time. “I was buckled a couple of times from a blow to the chin,” said Primeau, who had 98 fights in 15 N.H.L. seasons. “I don’t think it contributed to my overall concussion situation, but I wouldn’t discount it, either.” Dani Probert said she learned of her husband’s having C.T.E. in early January but only recently became comfortable acknowledging it publicly. She said she would begin encouraging other hockey players to donate their brains, and raising awareness about the possible health risks of sports-related head trauma. “In my heart of hearts, I don’t believe fighting is what did this to Bob,” she said. “It was hockey — all the checking and hits, things like that.” She said those words just feet from a huge painting of Bob Probert that hangs in tribute to his hockey career. He is shown punching an opponent. On the canvas is scrawled a message from the artist: “Gladiator as depicted by the Romans is a professional combatant or captive who entertains the public by engaging in combat. When it’s done for your team and your city, you’re known as a hero.” Jeff Z. Klein contributed reporting.

I honestly don't see us getting out of the 2nd round...and even that depends on who we draw in the 1st round. Everyone else is going to tighten up their D, but we'll still be giving up at least 3 goals a game. Just a feeling.

I hope not. I think fighting is exciting and one of the things that makes hockey at the pro level so unique. These guys get paid tons of money to put their bodies at risk and are by no means forced to fight. It's a dangerous profession - just like the military or being a fire fighter or police officer, except hockey players probably have a lot more fun and get paid 100 times more. Fighting actually reached it's height in the 80s, saw it's low immediately after the lockout and has actually been steadily increasing since then.

Leino just tripped Schenn on an icing, sending him in to the boards. I thought the league was trying to come down on this dangerous play a few years ago. There will be no suspension or anything (shouldn't be IMO) but the play is easily as dangerous as Gillies. The difference is no one here would call for a suspension because Leino is a "skill player". The Gillies hit was dirty, there is no arguing that. My problem is that he will get a big suspension from it while similar hits will happen with no league intervention. This is targeting the name on the sweater and not the offense. This is evidenced by Cal getting the benefit of the doubt for his hit from behind. If anyone sees any homerism in my posts, please point it out. This situation is similar to Malkin having his instigator recinded in the playoffs a couple years ago. People complained because they thought the league recinded the penalty because Malkin is a star player. To me this falls under the same argument but posters here are less likely to support a lesser suspension because Gillies is an enforcer.

Most concussions happen from hits not punches. Let's get hitting out of hockey. esteef

Tell me about it! esteef

1966-present: Wings will win the Cup! Lions will win the Superbowl! Seriously, 2008 was the only time that I felt that it was destiny. Something about Mac coming back felt Kharmic.

just like last year when the wings GA/G went up from 2.50 to 2.75, right? ...oh wait.

Lets go Red Wings!!! It's time to end the losing streak against the sharks, or should i say, guppies!

Not good. Defense is horrible compared to Red Wings standard. Way too much time is spent in our end, and Howard is not exactly playing great either. Barring a complete defensive turnaround, Wings have very little chance, if any, of winning the Cup. Also, it does not help that Modano MUST be on the roster. He is not a very good player anymore and the younger guys at least provide more energy.

I want to vomit looking at that 3rd line of Filppula-Modano-Holmstrom. Poor Flip.

Swedes.

Hudler is actually starting to grow on me I must be ill.

That's a big negative ghost rider. So you're telling me Emmerton could go over to Finaland and win Player of the year? False.

I don't think you can blame the owners or gm, blame the agents for demanding so much money . Or blame the players union for jacking up salaries. Though I really don't think its anybody's fault other than the damn CBA, get rid of the salary cap now, what a shame to see quality players wasted like this

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)

Hi, First post here. Basically posting to say I agree with you. If anyone is going to get the spot (if there is only one) I have a feeling its going to be Mursak. He's got everything they need, not to mention the kid has some speed on him. In the few games he did play, I thought he showed great potential when he was brought up. I'm excited to see more out of him.

Wait a minute, Commodore lifts weights? esteef

Okay dude.

Yet somehow they're not. Weird how it defeats an argument for reducing to the ridiculous when you look at what I've actually done. Ah, superlatives and hyperbole, how strong they remain when used so often... Janik got a minus rating for the fight exactly because it was ill-timed. There was no good reason for it, and it broke up an odd-man rush at a time the Wings had an opportunity to build momentum when they were only down 0-1. There's no way to say that it would have made any difference in the way that game turned out, but lots of players got minuses on that game. The pass was worth -2.5. Turning the puck over across the middle while your team is trying to transition up ice is a cardinal sin. Even worse, it was an unforced error. It makes a lot more sense to give Janik extra minuses on the play than it does to allow both Helm and Miller to have kept their minuses when they did absolutely nothing wrong. I mean, as long as we're talking about ridiculous things... Funny you should mention that because Salei DID get an extra minus for failing to cover Carter in front of the net, leading to a goal. http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2010/10/24/1770212/cssi-analysis-red-wings-5-ducks-4 2nd period - 6:34 Salei got an extra minus. Cleary and Hudler both did their jobs on that play and did not receive any minuses. So you're either a big fan of Janik or just love taking the contrarian approach. Have fun with that. Janik has consistently been outplayed by both Kindl and Salei. As far as Babcock commending Janik, but not Salei or Kindl, I would let the fact that both of them averaged more ice time than Janik speak for itself. The guy's an AHLer; I appreciate that he's a serviceable NHL defenseman when he's up with the big club, but when it comes to organizational depth, he's the #8 guy. I'm sure he appreciates having a white knight out there, but if you're looking at the official stats to tell you that Janik has not been the worst defenseman the Red Wings have dressed in more than five games this season, you're wrong. I don't know what more I can tell you.