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got bored... enjoy

If you watch hockey.... watch the red wings..

I just wanted to start a topic for us to say Thanks to the Red Wings for providing us with a great regular season despite all the adversities and drama and odds against us! (Thank God, we didn't hear the "Too Old" card this year.) So, despite all of this: Nick Lidstrom retiring Tomas Holmstrom retiring Brad Stuart trade New Asst. Coach Losing out on Parise, Suter, Schultz, Doan and every other "Top" UFA Countless injuries to our Defense creating our youngest average D since Nick and Vladdy were Rookies Gustavsson hurting himself and never really turning into a reliable backup Losing Helm for the season (again) Losing Bertuzzi's experience and Sammy to injury (I am sure that I am leaving something out) But anyway, despite all of this and despite the experts having us out of the playoffs for the first time since I turned 20, THE Detroit Red Wings proved once again, that when it comes to being a perennial winning team in the NHL, nobody does it better! Eat that Olsen Twins! SO, Despite all the above mentioned scenarios that were supposed to have us dwelling at the bottom of the NHL, you guys did it. No matter where you go in the playoffs, this is a winning season and every other team in the league is just shaking their heads right now! Watch out NHL, don't look now, because the Red Wings just rebuilt on the fly and will be back on top sooner than you can say 22 straight years! THANK YOU DETROIT RED WINGS for a regular season to remember! (now lets spoil some parties!)

Great ps war so far love it

No Lidstrom, no Stuart, tons of injuries, a year in transition---no problem! What a job by the team and the coaching staff.

Words cannot describe how thrilled I am this will be the last year our playoff games start at 10:30 before we make it to the Finals.

Nice pics PredsFan! Oh, and GEAUX GATORS! So proud of our boys. This past week of hockey was nerve-wracking, stressful, and exhilarating all rolled into one. Next week will be all those emotions magnified x 10. Can't wait! LGRW!!!

I found a few on my computer. I didn't do these and I don't know who did, so I can't credit them.

You know, it's really a blast to make the critics look like a bunch of idiots, and it seems that's what we've done this year. We've been beset by injuries, and the chemistry might have taken a while to kick in, but look at what we did the last week of the season. I was at the game last Monday night, and it was as loud and rowdy as I've ever been a part of. We have really overcome a lot of obstacles, and the new kids have been amazing. I like Joakim Andersson, he has really impressed me. For being a rookie, he has shown a lot of poise and confidence. I think Dan DeKeyser (if I spelled it wrong, Dan, I profusely apologize) has a lot of potential, and he's learning from one of the best in Nik Kronwall (who has also shown a lot this season - he's deserves the mantle of top d-man). Now if there was a way we could get Helm and Bert in (I seriously doubt it. You may have seen the last of Bert.), we'd be in the driver's seat. As for Mike Babcock winning the Jack Adams, I'm all for it. But he probably won't even get a mention. Sad. It's Duck hunting season, boys. Bring it on home!

That my friend...Is fantastic.

Tootoo was the best signing we made. Is he a great puck handler?? No but the guy plays every shift like its his last. I am just amazed at this team this year. From Pav and Hank dominating to a Abby finally living up to his potential. To new stars like Andersson and Nyquist. New Dmen that will be patrolling the blue line off years Dekeyser, Smith, and Kindl. Finally our team MVP we would be no where without Jimmy Howard... Proving himself as one if the elite goalies in this league.

Lest we forget all the "Stupid" penalties that Jordin Tootoo took this year that killed us too, eh? A lot of us called that signing great when it happened and a lot of us called it stupid...turns out that of the three guys they signed, he turned into a bonafide important cog to our team this season and I reallt don't recall many if any of those "stupid" penalties....Tootoo needs to end his career in Detroit. Period. ( and I do not mean retire after this contract is up...)

So by my reckoning, we've done it with 5 rookies as regulars on the roster (DelKaiser, Smith, Nqquist, Brunner, Andersson), another 2 rookies contributing significantly (Lashoff, Tatar) and 2 borderline NHLers who most of us had given up on who turned into bona fide NHLers (Kindl, Emmerton)

Top 10 in every stat.

Final average stats: W: 23 SV%: .923 GAA: 2.13

Wings will only be getting better from here on. I don't think that consecutive playoff appearance streak will be in jeopardy for a long time

see: Alan Trammell

I'll go with us in 4. I'm so confident we'll win this series that I'm already looking forward to Chicago in the 2nd round.

Switch to decaf & take off the tin foil hat. From Craig Custance: "Red Wings GM Ken Holland likes to joke that Lidstrom's retirement press conference will be followed shortly by his own" From Bob McKenzie: “DET GM Kenny Holland always used to joke, at least I think he was joking, that he would retire five minutes after Nick Lidstrom retired.” From Kevin Allen @ US Today: "GM Ken Holland used to joke that he was going to retire when Lidstrom retired" And strung along? The same man who was at the top of pretty much every team's wish list that had an opening the past couple of years, was given opportunities to interview for them, & turned them all down due to the fact he wanted to stay in Michigan as his wife was battling cancer? The same man that was paid as much as GM's throughout the league & was on record saying that he loved the autonomy that Kenny gave him to do his job? That's being strung along? In the immortal words of Sgt. Hulka, "Lighten up, Francis". Good for Nill. He's ready to move on to the next step of his career & run his own team and good for the Wings to recognize it's time too, just like they did with Stevie.

If anyone took what Ken Holland said seriously about retiring when Lidstrom did, you have some serious issues. Best of luck to Jim Nill.