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Leave it to Carman to interject Crosby into something that is TOTALLY NOT ABOUT HIM AT ALL.

Filppula was an important part of a Stanley Cup win, plays hard every game, and is a good two-way player. Leino played himself off the team. That's the way the cookie crumbled.

Congrats to Laviolette and his pro-Leino system. I'll take Babcock's pro-Cup winning system. Thanks.

You'd rather a player with zero NHL experience play than Flip right now? Seriously? He's in a slump, not mortally wounded.

Based on watching him. I wasn't even using +/-, I was using how he "plays" defense. Lazy. I will grant he is doing better defensively in Philly than in Detroit, but being better than horrible doesn't mean you are doing well. As for playoffs, as I said, he has had 1 outstanding playoffs. other than that, you are going to try and use SM-liiga playoffs as evidence… irrelevant. You are also forgetting the 2 assists in 7 games with the Wings. I have no ill will towards the guy and wish him well. I'm from Philly and have an affinity for the Flyers. But I'm not going to overvalue a player because he was born in the same country as me.

Oooh an empty guarantee from someone who has no true impact or sense of the control on the situation, sure sounds promising. Flippula has never even scored at over a 55 point pace proated for an entire season, and he has gotten top 6 minutes for more than a season now. The fact that you are calling Franzen an incompetent forward but not Filppula is laughable. Face it, Filppula is simply not as good as you think he is. He is a decent (and I say decent, not exemplerary) two way player with MAYBE 55 point potential over a full season. There is a reason why he rarely plays PK or a shutdown role, and he rarely shows this top tier offesnive skill you claim. I can vividly remember at least 4 goals this season where FIlppula got awarded a goal purley by accident (including two in one game where Franzen bounched it off him on purpose/Filppula lost the puck and accidentally slid it in between the goalies legs). Get off this dude's nuts and realize hes a good 2nd-3rd line tweener, and nothing more. Because ZDC said he wasn't man and everything he says is true. Just look at how many 70 point seasons Filppula has had recently. Come on man, get with it.

That's a 90% fail rate. You *may* want to re-evaluate.

He looks so much taller than when he was in the press box.

this guy will never be more than a 40 pt player. the days of waiting for his 'potential' are over.

And leave it be, you as a Leino slappy, to be one of the first in here being the exact opposite of the extreme preparing to call people out. Just because you are on the 100% opposite side of the haters doesn't make your response any more right. He stunk here, bottom line. Your defending of him is not going to change anybody's opinions regarding that. He's doing better in Philadelphia and in a better state of mind there mentally. More power to him and I'm glad he's finding success. Leave it at that.

I remember him saying a couple days ago that he was still sore and that it would be a couple more weeks before he was back to 100%. I agree that the constant line juggling doesn't help, but at the same time he has played enough with all of those guys that I don't want to use lines as an excuse to why some guys are struggling. He needs to get going, but I'm pretty confident he will.

Because it is an investment company. They are in the business of making investments and then selling them for more than the initial investment. They need to seel at some point in time to monetize their investment.

You make it sound like he is the first hockey play ever to be miscast in his role and that somehow absolves him of his lack of effort and bad attitude.

He was on a pretty long slump before the hat-trick if that makes it any better.

Continual record profits, climbing TV ratings, and a salary cap that keeps on rising. Easy extension decision. I love how people put the versus deal on Bettman, you do know they offered the most money right? You also know the suspensions given to Lidstrom and Dastyuk were a unanimous decision agreed upon by every GM, including our own? Every sport also has teams who lose money, even the great NFL. All this blind Bettman hate is ridiculous. Take some management or economic classes and you'll see why Bettman is doing a good job.

I wish it were true, but I don't see any chance of the NHL gaining market share because of an NFL lockout. Unless the NFL loses an entire season, which I don't think will happen. October and November NHL is not interesting enough to attract mainstream attention. If the NHL playoffs were during the lockout, maybe they get some increase in ratings. But not for early season games. If anyone is going to see an increase it is MLB playoffs and College Football.

Isn't the TV contract set to expire after this season? Or did they re-up with Versus/NBC/Comcast/etc? I would love to see the NHL return to ESPN, which would likely mean a return of NHL 2Night program as well. Wouldn't mind hearing this again (see attached).

They sorta have this thing called a contract.

One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Five more years! Ah, hahahaha.

doesnt matter how much pressure hes under, or how he feels, it matters what the doctors say. the league wont let someone play unless their 100%, and the doctors say hes clear, when it comes to returning from head injuries. if he retires bettman would put him right under him in the NHL front office. (not that he isn't under him in other ways already )

They like having a yes-man that is just a figurehead for them and never challenges them to improve the league and make the hard decisions... pathetic...

+1 I'd much rather play against the best and hopefully kick their butts than to have guys retire early from injury just because they pose a threat to my team. Much more rewarding to beat the best than to get the easy road. My dream playoffs would have us playing the Ducks, Hawks, Canucks and Penguins with all their players healthy and hoisting the Cup at the end.

Go watch figure skating...it's not a charge, he didnt lead with his elbow and the guy was bent over how was he supposed to not hit him somewhere around head? Get your f***in head up. I don't defend goons who cant skate like Lessard and I want the blatant head shots out of the game but if anything that meathead read the play pretty well and threw a good solid hit.

I think in Abdelkader's case it may be due to being overcoached. To get into the NHL Abs played his style of game which endeared him to what Babs wanted. An element that was sorely needed. A player who can come in and be tough to play against and provide the odd goal. But now that Abs is an NHL regular, he could have his coaches telling DO THIS AND DON'T DO THAT. DON'T TAKE BAD PENALTIES, PICK YOUR SPOTS, ETC. I've seen is alot over the years with various players on other teams. While some guys are cereberal assassins (like Lidstrom) and can think the game miles ahead of everyone else, most players need to just play. Maybe I am off base here but when I watch Abs I don't think it's a lack of effort, I think he is playing hesitant because his coaches have him scared s***less. It's like he is afraid to make a mistake which is the worst thing a coach can do. It's like they've cut his balls off and now he has lost his drive.

Did you copy & paste the contents from the October 2009 thread and the October 2008 thread to make the "is Zetterberg slowing down" October 2010 thread? I swear these threads roll around every October. In April, May and June threads pop up that say "Zetterberg is a BEAST", "Zetterberg is a MONSTER", "Congrats to Zetterberg for his Conn Smythe trophy!!!". This thread sucks.