GoWings1905

I believe you might be looking for the Blackhawks fan forum. Established in 2010.

Besides the Kings two cups, watching the champion since 2009 has been brutal. Crosby on the Wings home ice, the Blackhawks three times and the d-bag Bruins. Basically what I'm saying is, I like it a lot more when the Red Wings are doing the winning.

Chicago apparently hasn't committed any infractions in 40 minutes of hockey. It's nuts how many games they flirt with no penalties. Keith is going to run away with the Conn Smythe.

I don't know what you are referring to where I called someone else out, but I don't disagree with you entirely. Still, Q has done a nice job balancing his four lines and getting his best players on the ice. That may sound too simplistic, but sometimes coaches get too caught up in matching lines and overthink situations. I think Babcock was very guilty of that in Detroit at times. Q has a ton of talent to work with, no question. So did Scotty Bowman in Detroit. You still have to execute and game plan. Three cups in six seasons isn't easy to pull off even with a stacked roster.

The Hawks also won three series prior to the Final each year. It's not like this whole backup goalie theory is the reason they are winning it all. They are really good and well-coached.

I don't think the Wings are completely in "win now" mode any longer. Doing something for the hell of it jeopardizes the movement of getting younger and building from within. If Pavel Datysuk and Henrik Zetterberg are in their prime still, then I get maybe sacrificing the future for a run at another cup or two. I just don't believe that is in the Wings best interest. They have built up their prospect pool and now it's time to see if they can transition into another era of winning under Blashill.

I know, but Dan Cleary isn't stopping the Red Wings from contending. Not having a defense for years is more of a reason to get worked up, IMO. I don't care if people are pissed about Cleary and I definitely get that argument, but there are bigger fish to fry.

For an organization rapidly embracing a full youth movement, there doesn't seem to be much logic behind giving up Mantha and/or a first round pick. I personally don't buy it and hope Holland stays the course at this point. If drafting and developing is your thing, then you don't sacrifice that for Dion Phaneuf. Maybe three years ago with a younger Pav and Z, but not anymore.

Exactly. As much as I hate the Hawks, they are really frickin good. Gotta give them credit because winning it all in the NHL nowadays is tough with teams being so evenly matched and to do it three times in six years is quite impressive. I still think their fans are the scum of the earth, though.

Well, this blows. I'll pass on watching the Hawks win the cup again in Game 6. Been a closer series overall than I expected, but the Blackhawks have been here before and just find a way to win.

I'm well aware of Cleary's impact or lack thereof as a hockey player. Once again, he would probably be the 14th forward at best. Ken Holland hasn't fixed the defense in five years now -- I will save my angst for that, rather than Dan Cleary.

You missed the point entirely. It isn't about Pav being a great player -- he clearly is, but the standard for having your number retired by the Red Wings organization. This isn't like the Avalanche putting up Bourque's or the Pistons retiring practically everyone from the Bad Boys Era. You have to be really special to get the ultimate honor from the Red Wings and I like it that way. I actually agree with Buppy. No to Fedorov, Osgood, Z or Pav. I love all those guys, but they aren't Yzerman or Lidstrom.

So did Mike Babcock at one time. Every coaching hire is a gamble really. What veteran coach available would have been a sure thing and made more sense than Blashill?

Pulkkinen is so far ahead of Cleary on the depth chart, that's largely irrelevant. Pulkkinen is going to play regardless. I would assume Ferraro would get every shot to play on the 4th line again and Callahan is a fringe NHL player, just like Nestrasil. Callahan could probably clear waivers if they wanted. Besides, there will be injuries and moves this summer that could open up spots for guys.

Agreed. Another expendable player, just like Nestrasil was. The whole point is that Cleary on the team isn't going to prevent better players from actually getting into the games. Somebody has to be your 14th forward -- better someone like Cleary than a prospect who could be playing every night in Grand Rapids.

Who is really at stake, though? Nestrasil was never going to have a permanent spot for the Red Wings and Cleary as the 14th forward isn't blocking a prospect from playing time. I don't like it either, but it's the very last spot on the roster. Cleary as a healthy scratch is better than wasting someone else there.

Exactly. People are going to lose their s*** over a guy that played 17 games last season and probably would play even less under Blashill. He's a veteran presence in the locker room that the Red Wings feel they need to take care of, for better or worse. His impact as a hockey player will not have any affect on the team going forward.

If there's a debate on whether a player's number should get retired, then there's a pretty good chance it isn't happening using the Red Wings standard. I'm perfectly with that, by the way. It's the greatest honor an organization can use to recognize legends. The Pistons retired practically everyone from the Bad Boys era, which is just stupid. I like the Wings approach of reserving it for the absolute best of the best. I tend to agree, except for maybe the 2002 team. That group was going to win it all no matter what.

Classic example of a team that knows how to win and one learning how to win. You can't sit on a 1-0 lead against Chicago. This is gonna be a quick series. The Hawks are too good.

Fil did learn from the masters of subtle interference themselves. I can't believe they let this biased doofus call the final when the team he is employed by is involved.

I'm not a huge Babs fan, but I don't think there is a huge gap between the two -- if any. Q has had the best roster in hockey basically every year since the Wings in 2009. How hard is it to mess up four really solid lines and putting Keith/Seabrook out there for half of the game? I'm not saying Q is a bad coach, but there are plenty of coaches that would kill for his situation.

I can think of plenty of reasons to hate the Hawks that goes beyond the guys playing the games. In fact, for me personally, I actually don't mind most of the players for Chicago (besides that tool Shaw). In reality, they are a carbon copy of how the Red Wings used to win. This was the last scenario I wanted to see in the final. Will be rooting for the Lightning, but Hawks in five.

That's not a goal, but man Hossa is still going strong at 36. EDIT: Wow, that should not have counted. Imagine what Eddie would be saying if it didn't benefit his beloved team.

He's not getting one because his team is going to get crushed.

Gotta kill the Hawks when you have a chance because their playoff experience and skill really comes through in big moments usually. The Ducks are perpetual chokers, so once this got to seven, you had to know Chicago would have the advantage tonight.