vangvace

I never said that they had to have playoff intensity throughout an entire season. However, I did say that if they return to the ice-capades toughness that they showed for almost all of last season, then yes I consider their toughness shown this past playoffs to have been a fluke and not the norm. Once again, last playoffs was a start to what could be a gradual increase in toughness because of the youth and potential this team holds or it could go back to the status quo and tempt fate with liberties taken on them. It's a long grueling season and, to be clear, until they loose a player due to the issues we have discussed here I highly doubt that it'll be addressed by the Wings organization by something other than a half-hearted effort. And why is it every time the subject of toughness or enforcers comes up people automatically go to extremes and assume that people want the Ducks, Broad Street Bullies, and the like instead of the Detroit Red Wings most of us have grown up watching. You know, when scrums and not shrugs were common on plays where folks here are cursing about for multiple thread pages. The puck possession / dump and chase style of play has been in use for a long time now so that cannot be used as an excuse for the continually shrinking team currently being iced. Correct me if I'm wrong but puck-possession came in with Bowman (just used for date nothing else).

As discussed in other threads here... 1) He wanted the BOG to vote on the sale/move of the Preds at the same meeting. And before he moved past the letter of intent to purchase the Preds. 2) He put lawyers to work towards that purpose so he could sue his way into what he wants. 3) He dropped the offer for the Penguins only after he was told that that team could not be moved.

Yup only a one season hiatus for 3rd jerseys. I'm guessing it's only to give RBK a chance to stock up a bit on the main jerseys before adding the third.

Interesting enough the Oil put money into the revenue sharing pot last season... but back on topic, Balsillie had lawyers looking into fighting the BoG ruling on the sale and move. He also assumed that because he has money that he didn't have to follow NHL bylaws on team sales/moves. Too be quite honest I think he's going to sue the league before long because he hasn't put a team in his back yard yet.

One playoff year doesn't prove they're tough enough yet, but it can be a start in a better direction. If they return to playing soft during the season then this past playoffs "tough" showing was a fluke or overachieving toughness. One thing that does bother me about this team though is the apathy shown towards their teammates. They just don't seem to care what happens as long as they're in position. Talent wise they reminded me of the 1995 team minus the toughness. It seems to me that Holland and Co. aren't fond of drafting naturally tougher players (with or without size. Domi was only 5'10" after all) and don't/can't sign them via free agency until 1) they've had a career changing injury, 2) are well past their prime, or 3) are AHL talent. From the beginning through the 1999 season Detroit was known for tough, if not always good, hockey.

All teams have to switch over to the new style jerseys... nobody knows how it's going to change the Wings jersey yet. Thanks to seeing Boston's new one (particularly the sleeves) it may not change much if at all. Something scary though is that teams are going to have alt. jerseys again for the 08-09 season and it appears that that may include Detroit. Hopefully they just go with the vintage style like they did in '92 if they have to do it.

I figured USA network might pick up a single game a week since they're owned by NBC too.

That's because most of our prospects haven't hit puberty yet Seriously though, that's what it looks like to me when I look at the NHL's draftees compared to other sports. Enforcers in Motown = yes. Nothing charges up fans like a good fight. (Hockey is a sport, and us as fans are to be entertained right?) good goal = cheering dies down once the puck gets dropped. good fight = cheering lasts through the 2-5-10 and doesn't return to pre-fight levels OT: I hope Laraque's schoulder heals well since he's showing to be less of a Worrell and more of an 80s style enforce now that he's left the Oilers.

Don't forget about bowling, bass fishing, hunting, darts, auto racing, MMA, boxing... If more than 3 people on the planet think it's a sport chances are that there's a Detroiter follows it to die hard levels. Well except for cricket.

Like the whites, hate the sleeves on the darks,,, but at least it doesn't have numbers on the damn front

Just saying it again... Howard will not be the next Osgood (The last goalie to come up through the Wings system and play full time for them.) As for the rest of the article... kinda worried about 3 of the players mentioned had more than minor health issues, but things look good for the future.

thank you... I now have a new work wallpaper

The NHL used to stoneway much worse. That's why there wasn't expansion until the '60s. oh and Basille refused to play nice so he won't become a member. Kinda like Cuban trying to buy the Cubs. The more you'll rock the boat, the less you can play.

I'm also adding... no more during period interviews no tv monitors on the bench.

32 teams remove the instigator rule return to divisional playoff system and original conference names change schedule to play everyone twice reduce the goalies chestpads goalies can roam free no otl or shootout no hard plastic above the waist and below the neck no more per diem for players making over $3mil a season add fan union, with represantation at the BOG meeting

Wouldn't surprise me if there was a collective of him, Holland, Nill, Devellano, Yzerman, Bowman, head scouts, and Babcock deciding who to go after. Oh and I wonder what contracts Nill handles?

nope that'll be a great coach. Very Disneylike at that. his supporting cast is a knock in the sense that it makes his job easier, but it's also praise for the org overall. It's still too new to be able to say which GMs are doing well yet. We haven't even really seen major cap issues yet which is a great test of a GMs worth. ...but I still don't like him

yeah, I couldn't find any figures to do fuzzy math on the concessions. I mean how do you balance beer and a hotdog to jerseys and game worn stuff? Plus I purposely left off the pre and post seasons since those are IMO gravy. Something I found during my searching. Personally I think that once the ownership changes many of the other off ice negatives will disappear. But you'll still be stuck with Tootoo Real reason for Preds problems IMO

that doesn't make any sense to me though unless I did my math wrong. $40.78 average ticket price * 41 reg season home games * attendance * .54 capped revenue figuring for 14k and 16k there's less than $2mil difference for the year for players. Either they're figuring on alot more foam claws being sold or I'm missing something

A GM really is only as good as the scouting system for the organization and his team of negotiators. Holland really has had the benefit of one of the best scouting systems in the league, which he was apart of once, that has vastly improved since the Iiliches bought the team. Howeveer, as far as his being the end all, be all in the salary cap era. Are you really going to crown him after just two cap seasons? Shouldn't Burke and Lamoriello then get the same crown then? I really haven't liked all of the moves he's made so far, but I can't truely pass judgement on him for a few more seasons on to if he's truely a cap genius or not. Well... unless the cap continues to go up oh and also not a Holland fan

car giveaways... wait that's been done oh and it worked

Speaking of baseball... doesn't March seem more like it should be the Tiger's schedule and not the Red Wings

Third jerseys will be coming back next offseason...

First question answer... don't stick to just the NHL. The minor/local leagues have things to offer as well and help expand you hockey understanding. Second questions answer... any game I can as long as I can stand the teams. Most games involving teams from Philly to Boston tend to be entertaining.

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