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Yawn...can we get back to talking about things we ACTUALLY think now? This entire discussion is being conducted in bad faith. It's like watching Skip Bayless debate Shannon Sharpe about something neither of them care about. #phony

Anybody ever hear that story about Larry Bird and Michael Jordan? As the story goes, Bird and a bunch of NBA stars are practicing for a international game (this is pre-Dream Team so must have been a friendly or something). On the other end of the court a bunch of recently drafted college players, including Jordan, are warming up. They are intended to be the practice squad for the NBA guys. As the story goes, a ball gets away from Jordan and rolls down to the other end of the court. Bird picks it up, recognizes Jordan as a future adversary, and in an attempt to gain a psychological edge fires the ball down to the other end of the court rather than hand it to Jordan (who had come to get the ball back). The goal was to imprint in Jordan's mind that Bird was the man. Total alpha move. I say all that to say this... I hope Mo Seider absolutely demolishes Conor McDavid's tonight. Just set the tone that for the rest of his career Seider is going to be eating McDavid for lunch. Alpha that b*tch.

#1+2 in NHL scoring against #1+2 in rookie scoring. Will be a fun game to watch. Go Wings!!

I think fan expectations were appropriate considering Zadina had consistently been ranked 3rd in pretty much all pre-draft rankings for the full year. I think there's a case to be made that he should have stayed in the minors longer, and a case to be made that he should only be playing 3rd line minutes in Detroit now. Both may have improved his NHL ppg when he finally WAS ready. But I don't think fans were expecting unreasonable things from a guy who was billed as a top three, offensive dynamo, before he was drafted.

Nevermind "elite sniper", thus far in his career he hasn't even been a mediocre scorer. Last season Zadina was in a three-way tie for 9th on the team in goal scoring. Tied with Filppula and Glendening. I suppose you can never call a guy a total bust until he washes all the way out of the league, but in Jimmy D's words Zadina is "very, very, disappointing". You expect WAY more out of a 6th overall pick who was billed as a high end offensive threat.

glad we never won the lottery

I wish Svech had been given the same opportunity and "benefit of the doubt" that Zadina seems to get. Poor Svech didn't even have many/any slappies on LGW. Poor guy got the shaft.

I'm fine with these. I see the rationale and it's not like Zadina is playing so good that Namestnikov can't move up. Same goes with Stephens dumping Ras. This just shows our lack of depth though. Add Vrana and a halfway decent 2nd line center and suddenly the roster starts to make sense. The truth is that at least two of Ras, Erne, Smith, Stephens, and (maybe) Gagner shouldn't even be in the lineup right now.

Counterpoint Skip, Ohio is an artificial construct of the mind much like proper names. To famed Buddhist monk Thich Naht Han none of hockey, Ohio, Jeff Blashill, or his players are distinct from one another. They're all just one thing, and that thing is a big ball of annoying garbage that insincere people faux debate on the internet when they're bored (or lonely).

All youre doing here is proving 2 wrongs (Holland + Blashill) dont make a right.

Glad to be wrong about this game. Team played the whole 60 minutes. Special teams played well. Raymond continues to exceed my expectations. Good game boys.

Blashill gets so much out of Abby and DeKeyser that they get long term contracts as a top 6 F and top 4 D. Abby gets bought out and can't get a job in the NHL. DD is in his way out the door after this season. 9: Blashill is a horrible coach for putting Abby on the top line and giving DD top pair assignments. Svech has trouble getting playing time and ends up being let go as a free agent. Finds a job in Winnipeg and puts up weak numbers despite getting the minutes and linemates to succeed. 9: Blashill is an awful coach for not getting a top 6 F out of Svech and giving him more minutes. Um. Ok. Seems legit.