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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4pvEeQDIUA

sad news. I really hope his head aches go away and hes able to continue his career. as per Josh Rimer of XM, @joshrimerhockey

Notice that the thread title says 'bold' predictions? That's what I did. And I guess I'm wrong about Franzen I'll change that to 40 pts. God, why do you need to s*** on everyone elses predictions so much?

That would be me . Thanks for starting the thread though, I was going to do it after the video was uploaded but I completely forgot. Also if any of you are interested in seeing similar videos for some other Wings, I'm in the process of making one for Shanny, Fedorov, Lidstrom and The Grind Line. Most of those should be out this week.

Crosby's not a lock. Neither is Lindros. But both IMHO are over the cusp based on what the selection committee has shown to be the standards. They were (if Crosby is done) one of if not the most dominant player in the world for much of their career, won a Hart trophy, and had excellent scoring numbers. Crosby doesn't have much in terms of the way of postseason All-Star achievements. Compare him on paper to Ovechkin and Ovechkin's career looks much more HHOF-worthy, aside from the Cup, despite the fact that the two have been more or less equals for their entire careers. The same can be said of Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Datsyuk has a bunch of Selkes, Zetterberg has a Conn Smythe. Dats has a bunch more points. But they've been more or less equal players for their entire careers; if one is worthy so is the other. Makarov should already be in; Nieuwendyk and Gilmour over Makarov this year was insane, Ciccarelli and Neely ridiculous. It's becoming the NHL hall of fame if they start ignoring guys like Makarov who were among the best players in the world when they didn't play in the NHL. However, and I know I will be lambasted for this, I think the comment about the Hall/potential can be traced to precedent not through Cam Neely, but to Bobby Orr. Orr would not be considered the best defenseman ever if he had not had his career cut short. It would be Doug Harvey or Red Kelly, or maybe Denis Potvin. What if Ray Bourque had a career-ending injury in the 1994 playoffs? He'd have 5 Norrises, 11 First-Team selections, and 4 Second-Team selections in 15 year career. At that point, his only obvious challengers were the same guys who he had been dominating (Chelios, MacInnis, Housley, Suter, Hatcher, Stevens, Leetch), suggesting he would continue to win Norrises and First-Team selections. Maybe Bourque would be considered the best ever? Or if Coffey wrecks his knee and retires in 1989? If Orr plays a long career where he loses his speed, and Bourque has an injury costing him much of a great career, Bourque is probably considered the better defenseman because of what he *could* have continued to do. It's subconscious, but it's true. Even if Bourque didn't win another two or three Norris trophies after 1994, if he had been injured people would have thought he *could* have won many more because of how dominant he was. Just as people say Orr could have gone on to win more, but realistically he might have won a couple more but would have started to lose out to guys like Savard, Potvin, etc. who were in their primes while Orr was at that point much older and slower. He could have finished with maybe 11, but I doubt more. And his years after that would not have been elite years the way Bourque's were. But of course we have to go based on reality. And Orr was, when he played, absof***ingamazing. So calling him the best ever is certainly justified. I still say Cam Neely in the Hall is borderline, but he did have a pretty good career. Three-time 50-goal scorer, just under 400 points, just under 700 points, all in just over 700 games. Four-time Second-Team All-Star at right wing. Twice behind Hull's ridiculous seasons. More deserving than Bure.

I have several issues with this: What has Crosby done to give indication that he is "bigger than the game?" He didn't get his concussions from getting stood up at the blueline. Lindros kept skating through the middle with his head down, probably from growing up playing against guys so much littler than him. This is no way the same thing as what happened to Crosby. Crosby isn't even in the top ten of divers in the league. He did it more early in his career, but he's nowhere near what half the Vancouver and Sharks teams were doing in the playoffs. Losing one of the best players to ever play the game is going to hurt the league for more than marketing reasons. I get sick of all the Crosby marketing and wish they'd spend more time promoting other players, but that's not Crosby's fault. Honestly I hate the little f***. I think he's still kind of immature and he has some little-***** like quality that's easy to hate. But he's 24 years old. There's still time to grow up. And he's an incredibly talented player who works his ass off. I just don't get how so many hockey fans would want one of the best players in the game not to be able to play. Even if just to hate him when the Wings play. I've hated a lot of great players over the year, in part for that reason, because they were great and they kept schooling my favorite players. But it makes it so satisfying when you defeat them. It makes for great rivalries.

I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Any injury that keeps someone from playing the game they obviously love to play. Besides if he never plays again. Who will we hate? We would have to find another scapegoat!

I feel so bad for Crosby right now I hope he get's back out there soon time, such a horrible way to go down for so long.

Top 10 finishes: 1, 2, 3, 6 - Crosby 2, 3, 5, 7 - Bure 1, 6, 7 - Lindros And unlike Bure and Lindros, Crosby won a Cup, as the youngest captain to do so ever. He is a shoe-in.

What he did in 2002 is something we'll be telling our grandchildren about. Obviously, he had a hall of fame career and was one of the most beloved figures in Detroit History before that season, but what he did that year separates him from all the other great leaders and athletes that have ever played professional sports in North America. When a normal, sane human being would've called it a very impressive career, one of the best careers of all-time, Steve Yzerman fought through all the pain and adversity and single-handedly lifted a team of future Hall-of-Famers out of a 2-0 series deficit and eventually hoisted the Stanley Cup when it was all said and done. Amazing stuff from the greatest captain in North American sports history (Mark Messier Leadership Award is such a load of crap. He couldn't hold a candle to Stevie Y as far as leadership is concerned). As you can probably tell, I still haven't gotten over my Yzerman obsession.

Don't like him much like pretty much everybody else on here, but don't want to see his future jeopardized in this manner (unlike others that might do it with stupidity for example, Matt Cooke for instance since he was specifically mentioned in this thread).

I am no fan, but Crosby is already a sure-fire Hall of Famer, even if he never plays another game.

While reading this thread I started to wonder about Crosby's legacy if the concussions do indeed derail his career. If Crosby ends up returning for a couple season but is never the same player does he make it into the HHOF? Neely made it in on potential and Crosby did captain a team to a cup in his early 20s so I do think it's possible. I do not think it would be warranted, but I can definitely see this happening if events were to play out like this.

That's sad news. I dislike Crosby (Hate the Pens) as much as the next guy, but he is undeniably one of the most gifted players in the game. I always really thought he would mature as he got older and become an Yzerman,Sakic, Lidstrom type of personality. People often forget just how young he is, 24 or 25. I'm sure we were all such gentleman at that age. Ryan

Karma for carrying Matt Cooke on their team. esteef

I agree. Also, victory is sweeter when you beat a worthy opponent.

yeah that is true, but is hardly the point...

It's not fair to use ESPN - it's a toss-up between them and the blogger. There's probably no wrong answer to your question.

Am I the only one who thinks that the reason he said Detroit has such an extremely low prospect depth and then went on to talk about Helm and Kronwall is because he simply doesn't know any of the players in Detroit's system and is too lazy to look them up? Also, even if the offer was straight up I think the Wings would be out of their minds to deal Helm for Hemsky. Personally I would rather have Helm battling hard and chipping in on the scoreboard for 82 games then Hemsky scoring a couple goals for 20 games.

He pretty much lost me right there.

Have I ever claimed Hudler achieved a full-season statistical mark (such as 40 goals) he never actually reached? Anyone? Thought so.

Guys, guys, guys...this is supposed to be a nice, friendly place. I'm going to say that we're going to be a lot healthier this season. Nick and Homer, if they do hang them up after this year, are going to go out in style. Pasha is finally going to hit the 100-point plateau.

If you don't want responses, don't post. I'd call you champ, but you have yet to earn it.

Calling that for White is not bold. It's logical analysis. Ericsson will steady his play and play more physical, but he'll still be on the third pairing. He might even get himself played out of the lineup if Kindl really breaks out. Awfully bold to predict Franzen to have *another* 40+ year, when his career high is 34. Or awfully stupid. Hudler having a 50+ season may be considered bold but is certainly not unreasonable. Mursak will likely take Miller's spot by December.