BringHomeTheCup!

Before you play that card you must realize this. Any established NHL player is going to have a pension. And that pension is pretty sweet. I skate with a few ex-NHLers, no big names. These guys never made the big bucks. They are still sitting pretty. Any player who has played any length of time in the NHL is going to be set for the rest of his life. It's just a matter of managing your money after hockey. In the grand scheme of things, that extra $200k for a few years doesn't really make much of a difference. But back to the topic..... I was hoping Sopel would sign here. Mostly because I don't want to see Kronwall on the second PP unit, and the Wings are in need of an additional 3/4 d man. I don't see anyone on the roster who can logistically fill that role. That include the Pain Train, Meech, Quincey, Lebda, and Cheli. Of that group, Cheli has the best chance. However, I think the Wings would be better served keeping him on the 3rd pairing with Lebda. It'll keep him fresh for the playoffs which is where the Wings will really need him. Now the question is who will fill that 3/4 spot?

I see your intention to use sarcasism here, but I fail to see why. I never said he didn't leave his feet. I never said he couldn't have let up. So what's your point? The NHL get tougher on this? Maybe, just maybe you should stop and think. Everyone knows the NHL isn't going to get tougher on this. It's just like Bettman saying games will be called the same in playoffs as in the regular season. Just isn't going to happen. The NHL, as long as Bettman and Campbell are in charge, will be forever doomed to only be consistent in it's inconsistency. Regardless, let's just assume you are right. Looking at the suspension arbitrarily (btw, if Downie appeals the suspension, an arbitrator will review it), the NHL gave no warning about toughening up on these hits. And yes, we do have to look back at the past, it's the only measuring stick we have to use.

I was at the game last night, it was mind boggling to see over half the crowd leave with about 3 minutes left in regulation. I will never understand that!! Grigs didn't do anything special in the game. He was solid, but I think he'd do better with Hank and Pav in the lineup. The SO move he pulled off was very nice. It was pretty much the same move Kopy used, just to the opposite side.

Here is my last response in this thread. I don't really have the time or drive to respond to everything everyone has countered with, but this has been on my mind. For those of you who say this hit was more vicious because Downie didn't let up. Or that it somehow shows lack of concern or respect from Downie because he didn't let up. Look at the facts. In the NHL you can't let up. If you let up, you will be the one that ends up looking at the ceiling. Did this hit end up badly? Sure did. But you can't blame Downie for doing what is commonplace, and that's going balls out.

Watch the clip again. There is no way that Downie could have put his shoulder in the McAmmond's chest "if he wanted to" as you suggest. McAmmond got hit in the head for two reasons. 1. He had his head down. Any player at the NHL level knows better. 2. He was crouched down. When he went behind the net, he bent down to make a sharp turn, and never really stood up. Also, the reason you see Downie fly so far in the air after the hit is simply because hit did hit McAmmond so hard, and McAmmond was crouched. McAmmond was somewhat of a ramp for Downie.

This is one of the biggest problems that NHL has: inconsistency. The NHL is a joke when it comes enforcing it's "rules". Whether it be not calling games the same way during the regular season and playoffs, or on a suspension such as this. Giving Dowie 20 games puts that hit into the same category as Dale Hunter, Todd Bertuzzi, Marty McSorley, Chris Simon, and Brad May. Yet still, they say this hit was worse than what Dave Brown, and Tie Domi did. (Click HERE to see what I'm talking about.) Regardless of your standpoint on the hit, this suspension has to seem over the top. Anyone else remember the hit Jordin Tootoo placed on Mike Modano last season, and the ensuing sucker punch? That was a 5 game suspension. This suspension is far too harsh, especially when you look at the NHL's past record of suspensions.

Franzen, IMO should be ahead of Sammy on the depth chart. I know, I know, Sammy is a winger, Franzen is a center. But I think the Wings have enough centers, and should move Franzen to wing. He could be a nice fit on the second line.

That's a ridiculous standpoint. The nature of the hits were exactly the same. Both guys are fine. How does McAmmond laying on the ice change anything? Read the previous posts before you comment them. But since you won't, and I have extra time, I'll explain. Someone tried to use the Markov hit on Stoll as a comparison and said it was the way a hit should be thrown, that the Downie hit was completely different. When in fact if you watch the clip of the Markov hit, you will see that it is more similar than not. Five feet off the ice when he hit McAmmond?! Have you watched the clip? You probably should. Downie was, at most, 6 inches off the ice at impact. Hmmm..... It wasn't a late hit. At most it was one stride after McAmmond passed the puck, which Downie couldn't have seen. Again, please watch the clip, Downie did not throw an elbow, didn't aim for the head. And if anything, leaving his feet saved McAmmond a more serious head injury. If that hit was a 5 of 5, so was Kronwalls. No doubt. You can't argue that. Take off the homerlenses.

It was I who brought up the point about a Wing being praised for a great hit. That second video is a perfect example, I remember so many people praising Kronwall for that hit. The Downie hit was no worse than that hit. The only thing different is that McAmmond didn't get up.

I'm not defending Downie. I've seen him play, I don't particularly like his style. However, you have to judge the hit for what it was. Past transgressions shouldn't matter in a case like this. It wasn't as if McAmmond had passed the puck, took 3 strides, and then got hammered. Just for reference, yes, I have seen some hits thrown by Cam that looked dirty. Watch Neely about 1:01 into clip.

Just so we are clear, is the Markov hit you are talking about, right? If so, you might want to rethink your stance on the Markov hit being so different from the Downie hit. You keep saying Markov hit Stoll in the chest, but in the clip you can clearly see this isn't the case. In fact, if you watch the replay in that clip, it actually shows Markov's shoulder hitting Stoll much closer to the head that chest, and there was some elbow used by Markov. I'm not sure how what JR said about players respecting each other more in the 80's has anything to do with you being naive. You lost me there. Maybe you didn't understand what I was trying to say with the naive comment, so I'll explain. What I meant was this. If you think for one second that when a player lines another player up like Markov did to Stoll, or Stevens did to (fill in the blank), or Downie did to McAmmond, that these guys weren't trying to make the biggest impact possible while stretching the rules a bit, you are being naive. The JR comment just doesn't fit here. What JR was speaking about was the increase in dirty play shows the lack of respect. The issue of respect has nothing to do with the legality of the hit.

There is a difference. But Downie didn't leave his feet to make the hit, like Drake did. Downie left his feet while making the hit. He did leave his feet, I won't argue that is worthy of a penalty. However, to imply that in some way that because Downie didn't let up when he could have makes the hit worthy of a penalty is just silly. You have to take it for what it is. The ONLY thing not legal about the hit was that Downie left his feet. Had McAmmond popped up at started a shoving match with Downie, there probably wouldn't have even been a penalty. The only reason we are even talking about this is because McAmmond got knocked out. To argue that this hit was an intent to injure is foolish. Yes, Downie wanted to make a point, but in no way did he want to injure McAmmond. P.S. Remind me to never play soccer with you!

How many times did Stevens actually have a huge hit that wasn't in open ice? Stevens was great, possibly the best ever, at timing the open ice hits. Just ask Pauly. Facts are facts. It's too bad you've got yours wrong. Watch the clip again, please. Downie did not use his elbow. If this were done to Hank, yes this board would be fill of posts about how player x should be suspended. However, had Kronwall delivered the hit, theses boards would be full of praise for the hit. Don't try to play the hometown card, it goes both ways. Take off the homerlenses, and try to be unbias.

Watch the clip again, his last stride was about at the hash. Let me ask this. Do you think when Markov hit Stoll, he was thinking, "Gee, I could put everything I have into this hit, and make sure Stoll goes down. But I don't want to hurt him. So instead, I'll just take the chance of not making the play and only hit him with 75% of what I've got." No, he wasn't. And if for one second you believe that every big hit dished out isn't intended to do as much damage as possible, then you are just naive my friend. Players in today's NHL are more talented than ever before. This means a few things, on being this. As a player, you cannot afford to let your gaurd down and do anything any less than 110%. What to say if Markov does let up a little that Stoll doesn't sit Markov down, and pass the puck to one of his mates for a goal?

First off, o0ps for the misspelling of McAmmond, my bad. However, I think everyone who claims that Downie got his elbows up needs to watch the clip a few more times. His elbows were down. He did leave his feet, barely. That is penalty worthy. Again, when the clip is actually watched, you can see the puck never got out in front, and from the Downie's position McAmmond still had the puck. McAmmond had his head down, he should have known better. And yes, this does make a difference. Why? Because had he saw the hit coming, it would not have been nearly as bad. This hit was nowhere near as brutal as the Drake on Lebda hit. Lebda saw it coming and couldn't get out of the way. Even if Downie had seen McAmmond pass the puck, it still would be questionable to label it a late hit. It's sad to see McAmmond get hurt, Downie even felt bad. There is no place in hockey for head shots. But until a rule is in place that states something about it, the NHL cannot rightfully suspend players for contact to the head during a hit. It was Downie's shoulder that hit McAmmond's head, just like Armstrong in the playoffs. Watch the clip closely, the only reason Downie gets his elbows up? It's the natural course of motion after a hit. As far as the hit being premeditated, well, that's just silly. McAmmond wasn't even the guy who hit Downie. Was Downie looking to equal the score? Yes, but that happens over the course of every shift, every game. Lastly, after watching the clip a few times, I realized something. The original hit on Downie is a boarder line noncall for boarding or even a hit from behind. If that call is made, this thread doesn't exist.

While there is no doubt that McCammond was hit in the head, and Downie did leave his feet, I still don't think he should have been suspended. Here is why. First, McCammond is a bit of a tough guy. Downie is a bit of a tough guy. Earlier in the shift, Downie got sat down, so he was out to even the score. McCammond, more than anyone else on the Sens should have been aware of what could, and eventually did, happen. Second, it wasn't a late hit. McCammond had just passed the puck. Even though McCammond did just pass the puck, there was no way that Downie could have seen that. Watch the replay, just as McCammond is passing the puck. From where Downie was, there is no way he could have seen that. Finally, McCammond, again a bit of a tough guy in his own right, should have known better than to skate with his head down. That is a rookie mistake. If Colby Armstrong didn't get suspended for the hit he threw in the playoffs, how is Downie going to get suspended for this hit? A 5 minute major, maybe a game misconduct. But not a suspension.

Sopel, here is why. Regardless of who anyone thinks should be paired with Lidstrom, the Wings still have a lot of wholes to fill on the blueline. If the brass had confidence is the group of dman currently under contract (with the Wings or GR) they wouldn't have invited Sopel and Cullimore to camp. So what's this mean? Take a serious look at the Wings d corp. All indications are that Babcock doesn't want to pair up Lidstrom and Rafalski. If this is the case, the Wings are still in search for two guys to step into the 2 and 4 slot on d. Sopel would fit nicely in the 4 slot. He isn't anything special, but he does possess a cannon of a shot and he moves the puck well. Cullimore would fit in the number 2 slot. He would be a nice substitute for Markov. The fact that the brass is so high on Kronwall, I believe that he will fill the number 4 slot. With Cheli and Lebda filling out the final pairing, there isn't room for both Sopel and Cullimore on the roster. Especially when you look at Lilja, and potentiall Quincey. I feel that Cullimore will get the pink slip as Sopel is a better fit to play Detroit's puck control style of play.

Sounds like something that would happen to Kronwall. Only he'd be out 26 weeks because he'd get some nasty never-heard-of-before infection that required emergency surgery.

Even though he doesn't get much respect for his rumors, which he doesn't really deserve. Read what Eklund had to say about the sellout. He made some good points. I am torn on the 30 minute sellout time. Tickets went on sale at 10:00, I was working. At 10:38 I got a chance to get online and buy the 4 tickets I needed. I couldn't believe there were none left. On one hand I'm pissed that I am going to have to get my tickets by some other means, but I am thrilled that there is this much interest in hockey.

Here is a thought. RBK should have the same people do it's hockey commercials that ESPN has do their commercials. Has ESPN ever had a commercial that wasn't hilarious?

you gotta click the square that enlarges the game, not the maximize button. it's located in the upper right hand corner of the individual squares.

Aflac.....isn't that the health insurance company that Kronwall is in negotiations with? Rumor has it they want him to replace that duck....

It could be just the angle, but it looks like the puck and glove are in the net. Look where his knees are.

I highly doubt Dom got a half season out of any one glove. I've seen several interviews in which Dom stated he went through 5-6 sets of gloves and blockers.

I tired that, it didn't work at first. I think something was wrong with my connection. I rebooted, and it is now working. Thanks for all the help!