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Plus we need a former Wolverine to balance out the former Spartans we have on the team

Great save!

"Sometimes you get anxious to jump to the hole." I'm sorry, I thought I was watching a hockey game...

"The powerplay is our enforcer" crap was annoying to listen to even when we had a good powerplay. The powerplay won't be lights out every night. Also, what about games where you're blowing someone out and they're trying to start fights? Will the powerplay matter then? Of course not, since the game is already decided. Excuse me if I don't like seeing our team get bullied and picked on, and not try to fight back. Of course I don't agree with this mindset. Now I like Ericsson fighting back, but I can't envision guys like Franzen or Kronwall wanting to mix it up when challenged. I don't blame them. That shouldn't be their job. Most teams have a guy on the roster who handles the fighting for skilled players. In most cases, that guy is taller than 5'9.

I was there, I saw it.

I picked Cleary. Seriously

If I had to pick just one, it would be Yzerman. If I had a second, it would be Probert.

Disagreed. The key will be putting on some muscle. He's playing well defensively, reading plays, keeping it simple, but he should be playing with more talented offensive players. Give him atleast this year in Grand Rapids before giving up on him.

Although he was playing with Sammy (the anchor) Jarnkrok looks very far away from the NHL. I hate to say it because I had such high expectations, but he has a long way to go. He hasn't even shown any flashes of anything really. He isn't being boneheaded or anything but just not looking like a future top 6 centre.

When does "real" hockey begin.....

I know these games don't matter, but I would really like to see a little bit of coaching here. Järnkrok being put together with Tatar and Nyquist for example.

There is something to be said for consistency.

Great exchange between Ken Kal and Aaron Ward on twitter: @KenKalDRW: Commercial Break: Flashback, I remember @aaronward_nhl picking up a few sacks of Harvey's burgers for the team after a game at the Gardens. @aaronward_nhl: @KenKalDRW and getting in trouble with Scotty Bowman because I made the bus late..VETERANS made me go! #doghousebeginnings @KenKalDRW: @aaronward_nhl lol...remember that like it was yesterday I <3 this team.

I'm late. BottleofSmoke, go pee, please.

Yup. Subjective stats are probably not a good idea. Bit hits themselves are subjective, so what the hey.

We are teeeeeeeeerrible. Except for Mrazek.

No. Ironically, teams without a fighter are likely to see less challenges; fighters generally challenge other fighters.

Mrazek having a good game so far.

When exactly are we "getting bullied"? When was the last time an important Red Wing missed time because someone took a run at them? Every team in the league knows the Wings don't fight, and they leave their enforcers in the press box when they play us because of it. This whole, "we need to get tougher because we get bullied" argument is bologna, it's just a post hoc justification used by people who want to see more fights. I'll take a good powerplay because, ya know, we do that whole powerplay thing a few times a game. You take your enforcers, and keep waiting for teams to "bully" us so that you can say "I told you so". As bad as we've traditionally been 4 on 4, I don't know if there's anybody (who will actually fight) who's worth taking that penalty on.

And as much as I like seeing Ericsson play with more of an edge, him fighting takes our #2 D man off the ice for 5 minutes. If he drops the gloves in the regular season he needs to make sure he's taking someone important off the ice with him.

The Wings had plenty of teams trying to bait them into fighting in the West, particularly the Ducks. Sometimes someone answers the bell, but for the most part, our guys are pretty disciplined in that regard, and the younger players will probably get a stern talking to should they decide to get baited, from veteran players or coaching staff. In short: I'm sure we'll see some fights this year, but mostly from guys like Tootoo, or Abdelkader. I wouldn't be shocked to see Ericsson or Smith get into a fight either, but aside from that I wouldn't expect anyone else to drop the gloves. All in all I don't think it will be much different than previous years.

Let's start a sticky for next year's preseason!

How the Fudge is there this thread and not a Samuelsson one?

Beats duct tape and magic marker, which would be really easy.

IMO that is way too much to give up for just a decent Dman.