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If Thornton gets more than 5 games, it just once again proves what a complete joke the NHL is, and how hypocritcal they are. Lets be real here, Thornton didn't even drop the gloves, he just caught Orpik just right with a gloved hit and briefly KO'd him. The only reason everyone is making a big deal out of it is because the brought in the stretcher. Players throw punches to each others face with gloves on literally every single game at some point. Neal should have had the book thrown at him. That knee was such a digusting and dirty play. Thornton was out of line too, but Neals hit was WAY worse, IMO. The intent from Neal was nothing other than to seriously injure. Lets also not forget that the reason Thornton went after Orpik was because Neal immediately after kneeing Marchand in the head, ran to the bench like a gutless coward so he wouldn't have to go with any of the Bruins. If Neal stays on the ice to face the music, Thornton goes after him instead.

I think Tatar is officially Maverick at this point.

Recenty theres been alot of articles coming out in the wake of Nyquist and Tatar's offensive explosion. Figured there should be a place to post said articles and discuss them without clogging up other threads and getting off topic. Heres an article i just found claiming the kids could turn into the new "Euro twins". http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1881306-will-gustav-nyquist-and-tomas-tatar-become-franchise-cornerstones And heres another our good friend Ansar Khan over at Mlive just published today. http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2013/12/dynamic_duo_of_tomas_tatar_gus.html

The new CBA, specifically the cap recapture provision, specifically the part that states that the penalty applies to the team that originally signed the deal, not the team that owns the player when he retires. Plus, many other things related to the "business world that is called the NHL"...

What's the over/under we'll use this new cap room to resign our dead weight... ala Quincey, Cleary, Sammy, Bert, etc

I cant believe i am doing a line thread.....but.......Just for a game....ONE game, I wish Babs would give up the idea that he needs size or grit with scoring and go full throttle with: Pasha Tatar Alfie Gus Hank and Franzen I honestly think Tatar and Dats would be amazing together and already the Swedish meatball line really works. Gus has lit a fire under the Mules ass. A girl can dream, right?

Nah, I bet (and hope) he resigns for around 1.8-2m. I don't see Mrazek riding the bench for 50 games. Besides what's the rush with him??

I absolutely know its far fetched but in response to the article i posted i just figured itd give a little more insight as to why these claims may have been made. Hey it was my first time doing a stats post, i was proud of myself okay?! But yes, Im defintely one of the more optimistic around here in regards to the youngins. Im just excited about our team for the first time in a while, getting to see players that arent 40 years old and useless gets me all warm n fuzzy inside.

I love the optimism but I think you know this comparison is a little far fetched. lol Prorating a player's first 9 games over a full season is a little silly. Regardless I think it will be hugely beneficial for them to learn from Datsyuk/Zetterberg.

Still don't get Hudler/Tatar comparison.OK they are about same size and height,but Tatar is much closer to Brad Marchand's style(minus antics) than to happy Hudler in my opinion.

If Helm keeps playing the way he has been, he's got the job IMO. Kind of like him trying to break his mold of career 3rd line C Same with Andy. At many times now our 3rd line, with Andy at C, has been our best line out there. Of course if this doesn't continue, I'll deny this conversation ever happened and promptly edit these posts

Need to rename this thread: Boyz II Men

Blueadams line thread in 3...2...1...

I can "possibly" see Tatar and Nyquist being our next Z and Dats

This is good news, also getting Pav back tomorrow from the sound of it. All things considered and the last game against Florida aside, this team did pretty well during these injury woes.

Per khan: Helm to return in a week/week and a half.

In a way, I'm kind of glad that Thornton went after Orpik like that. The Penguins get away with far too many dirty plays that sometimes cause serious injuries. Thornton went too far with the repeated blows to the head after Orpik went down, but message sent. No one likes to see anyone get hurt like that, though. Neal should get the same suspension because his knee to the head was just flat out disgusting and targeting a player who was already down as well.

Nope team Bettman is my nickname for that team, after all the stuff they are getting away with. Doesn't matter to me, its just annoying reading the same headlines everytime something like this is happening. If people don't like the game fine, don't watch it but stop pushing an agenda. Neals hit could have been way worse the guy is skating with protectors on his knee through the head of a player, who happens to lay down on the ice that's disgusting and extremely dangerous. The department of player safety needs to look at the intent and then at the result, if Thornton is getting extensively more than Neal something in this league is really really wrong..if this happened to Crosby Mario and the whole Penguins organization would cry bloody murder.

Unbelievable that Thornton is going to get more than Neal. That knee by Neal is a classic example of what the league wants to get rid of. It was intentional, he made no effort to avoid it, and the principle point of contact was the head. If Marchand was taken off on a stretcher, Neal would've got a hell of a lot more time off than he will. This is the problem with making calls and handing out suspensions based on the end result. What Thornton did to Orpik was cheap. However, if Orpik gets up after that, Thornton might not even be suspended for it. Orpik throws big hits and plays on the edge, but he has his gloves superglued to his hands. He'll get into scrums and talk s*** but runs away when challenged to drop the gloves. He never answers the bell for anything.

I think Claud Julien nailed it, basically said: Thornton obviously crossed the line, but so did team Bettman known as the Penguins. If Shanahan wants to send a message: Thornton: 10 games - disgusting and he knows it Neal: 8 games - that wasn't kneeing this was an intent with the head as principal point of contact according to rule #48 ..didn't even show any remorse what an idiot Orpik: phone hearing = less than 5 games I am sure it's also just bad luck, that everytime a game goes out of hand the Penguins are involved...maybe thats the Mario L. & Sindy C. bonus... Personally, I still love the type of grit and caring McCarty has shown that's the type of team bounding I love to watch. Like Downey said, you can hit the players but if you cross the line someone will come out and make you pay for it. Sometimes I think people are forgetting, that this hockey not a sport for the soccer mums and dads of the world

While technically, yes, he got the loss, I would hardly say that Gus lost that game. He was about the only one on the team that seemed to be playing the game. Howard will get a start soon, but this absolutely won't derail any plans to not give Gus more starts. If Howard plays lights out hockey, that could change things, but I think we'll see a lot of back and forth for awhile until that actually happens.

Thornton can play hockey and on top of it is tough as nails a perfect fourth liner plus brings tons of leadership.

For the most part I agree. I think it's silly to write Howard off at this point. He's proven that he's a capable guy, and I'd say the odds are in his favor of bouncing back. The only thing I'm iffy on is the comparison to Conklin, though it's tentative. I'm not incredibly familiar with Gustavsson's overall career, but wasn't he in the running for a starting position in Toronto for awhile, though he was often troubled by heart issues or something? I thought I was reading early on when we signed him something about him potentially being more than just a backup, and that he was a guy with the kind of skills that could earn him a starting role. It's obvious who the Wings want the starter to be; just look at the contract he signed last year. But just going off my vague memories, it seems that it might not be as straightforward of a situation as looking at him as a career backup like Conklin or Legace were. But all that said, I don't think it'd be smart to go with him in the playoffs even if he's the better goalie down the stretch. We signed Howard for the stretch, and if Gustavsson keeps this play up, we won't be signing him again. It just seems a bit stupid to bench your starting goalie when you know he's going to be in the picture for the long run given that he's also proven that he is capable of being much better. Osgood had a lousy 2009 regular season and was outstanding in the playoffs, so you just never know. You've got to keep riding Gustavsson for now because he's winning, and if he keeps winning, he should start the Winter Classic. That's when you can reward the current backup and send a message to the starter, not in the playoffs.

I don't get concerned. I love the Wings, and watch every game. I root through the good times and the bad. But to get concerned because 1 player on my favourite hockey team is having trouble adjusting? Life is too short to stress over something I have no control over. We all know what he is capable of. All players go through droughts. His confidence is just not there right now, and when he finally does break through, I'm confident he will break out. He isn;t exactly the first player to go into a scoring drought. And it isn't like he is out there costing the team games night in ad night out. As long as he is playing responsible hockey, than what's to worry about? Be patient. The points will come.

I really feel for him but I'd endure what he went through for $1mill