union drone

Again, it's gotta be either Ozzie or Chevy. I don't think that goalie assists were all that common in Sawchuk's day. Here's a question for you: Name a Red Wings player who served two non-consecutive terms as the team's captain. There are two correct answers. Edit: clarification...not including seasons with rotating captaincy.

Ever see the movie The Cutting Edge? Toe-pick!

Active leader in penalty minutes? Probably either Draper or Maltby...Draper has been here longer, so it's probably him. Most consecutive games? Do you mean current streak or all time among active Red Wings? If it's the latter, I would say Lidstrom, if it's the former...no idea.

...or that he's a double agent!

I'm guessing that Sawchuk is #1. There were a whole lot of lean years with few wins, and probably a slew of goalies after Sawchuk. The winningest goalie of the Wings post 1990 is almost certainly Ozzie, with Chevy probably next. It's gotta be Ozzie.

Hmmm...Osgood?!

They should settle the dispute by having Bettman and Avery fight a deathmatch at center ice. edit: grammar

Um, new question please! Anyone?

I hate being at work. And, yes, Hudler does look like Peter Lorre.

I don't see how Shamu can beat either the winged wheel or the shark biting the stick. To me at least, the canucks logo is one of the weakest. The wings and sharks have two of the best logos in the league. Can't complain too much about the finals though, the habs and blues are both pretty solid choices.

Who else thinks that Hudler looks like Peter Lorre? Lorre Hudler You decide.

That being said, will Nick do better paired with Rafalski on the PP than he did with Schneider?

My prediction: Gretzky realizes that Phoenix is going to be a doormat. Either he decides to go to a front office position (more likely), or quit altogether. If he stays on as head coach (barring any major changes), he really is a gutton for punishment.

I am pretty comfortable with the Wings being considered in the #3 to #5 range. Not high enough to garner special attention, but considered a contender. It always seemed the the Wings did better when they weren't considered the top team to beat.

In my opinion there are a few possibilities of what might happen: A) Being pair with another offensive D means that Lidstrom will have to sit back more often to cover for Rafalski's occasional offensive rush. Therefore, Nick's point totals go down. B) Having another offensive weapon paired with him will lead to a mutually beneficial situation, leading to more opportunities all around. Nick's point totals go up. C) They end up with great chemistry. Nick finds openings for Rafalski's passes, or can be the late man on his rushes, or can be the ready for the open outlet pass to the blueline. Significant increase in points, especially goals. D) They work well together, but only just as well as any other defensive pairing with Nick. No real change. I am a bit optimistic. Some of Nick's best years were played with Murphy as a partner. Although Murphy was slow, his steadiness and passing ability complemented Nick well.

Point well taken about Vegas. It is certainly better than some of the other options put out on the table. I just think that more expansion, especially into non-traditional markets would be a colossal mistake. The league would actually benefit more from contraction. If Bettman wants to have an experiment in Vegas, take an existing floundering team and move them there.

Cheli might have been, if it hadn't been for somebody by the name of Steve Yzerman. Remember that name? He had at least a bit of leadership quality, if I remember correctly. I think that Lids right now is the best choice for "C", but Cheli would be the near the top of my list provided that he is able to continue putting up decent minutes per game. Maybe Cheli does deserve an "A", but does he really need it? He is instantly recognizable as a leader around the league, letter or not.

...And this is why Bettman thinks that expansion to non-traditional hockey markets (Las Vegas, anybody?) is such a great idea! *read with heavy sarcasm*

Yeah, history is repeating alright...it's exactly like the Sharks series, except the Wings are the Sharks and the Ducks are the Wings.

Who that TSN jackhole who sits on the far left? Man I hate that guy.

Aight....looks like a game that should have been a "W" will come down to a toss of the dice.

Unbelieveable!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

Cheapshots are for *******.

Does home ice matter? Simply put: yes and no. Yes: playing the majority of the games in a familiar environment, where you know the ice, the boards, the various quirks of the arena, and have the support of the fans behind you, can provide certain intangibles that can help the team. No: you still have to play the games and find a way to win. A strong team that brings its "A" game will be a challenge to beat regardless of where it is played.

Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by "stepped it up". Although, Pavel, Lids, and Dom have been strong all playoffs long, these are guys who are expected to deliver. Even if they are playing above the norm, it would take a lot for me to say that "they've really stepped it up". For me, when asked this question I think of a role player or secondary player who has gone far beyond what has been expected of him. I would say that the biggest surprises are Cleary and Lilja. For me major props also go to Franzen, Filppula, and Cheli.