#19forPresident!

ROFL

Ah yes, we ARE getting the pitbull. Thanks for clearing that up, now I can sleep a little easier, well maybe the sleeping will start once he gets his visa squared away.

We have definitely toughened up without changing much but attitude and approach as evident by our success in our physical series' in the 07' playoffs, but we don't have many guys that focus on the physical game or that genuinely enjoy it and intimidate. This guy has that attitude, if he can deliver as well as he jaws we're set, the way he talks makes me smile knowing he's coming to our locker room. I'm Hopeful he can help re-prioritize the strategy of the goons that eye up Z and Dats year in and year out by getting them fitted for some nice porcelin veneers next season. There is only one thing that worries me a bit. The one thing that concerns me is his playing weight, these links will show you what I mean. At Red Wings Central he is listed at 209lbs, but at Russian Hockey Prospects he is listed only at 180lbs. Now for an athlete like himself a 30lb weight cut at that size is fairly easily made, I'm just wondering if he's trimmed down and plans to stay that way. Because as we all well know, a 5'10 180lb forward is on the average side, but a 5'10 210lb'er is built like a pitbull. Like yourself and many others, I was under the impression that we were getting the pitbull, but after reading this I'm worried they stopped feeding the pitbull and its turned into an angry collie. Frankly I'm more interested in his ability than his size, but a difference that big is kind of an eye popper when he talks about being physical. I just don't want to see us with a potentially great player that injures himself trying to break people in half every time I turn around. Just think where Kronwall would be if his first few years had been injury free, I love his style but at his size he guarantees himself a shortened career and time off from injury doesn't make anyone better. Don't get me wrong a big guy can hurt himself too throwing hits out with wreckless abandon, but the smaller guy is alot more likely to end up on the short end of things. Having aired that concern our scouting is solid, if they've got confidence in the kid then he's got my support. Here's hoping we get the pitbull :beerbuddy:

Ah, the joys of spam

Really I couldn't care less Obviously as a local Detroit fan I have no vested interest in where the Predators are playing. It sucks for the hardcore hockey fans down there, and fans of other teams who use Predators games to catch them visiting. I don't think it will have any effect on division or league setups so I could give a hoot. I'll start getting excited and caring about teams moving places when the talk involves Detroit moving to the Eastern Conference, and we all know that the chances of that happening in our lifetime are about as good as a government official telling the truth.

Ditto. Not to knock the experience for you Roberto, if thats your thing then good for you, you're not a bad fan. But I have to agree, its a code with most players that I would personally follow, if you don't win it then you don't touch it. That might be just me, but whatever floats your boat, anyways congrats on the championship. Well deserved.

Here's the options I've listed, its a short list so if you have your own just post it. This is just for fun so have at it. Doh I screwed up the poll "Start Ozzie & call up Howard to backup and get more experience so he can take over in the future" Should be the first option just post it if you like that one And options 4 & 6 are pretty much the same, too early for brain to function, but you get the idea

You're right, and you're wrong. You're right that we miss the Shanahan of past that had amazing chemistry with the team, and who we couldn't picture playing anywhere else. The guy that would score clutch goals, and who wasn't afraid to stand up for his teammates and punch anyone getting too friendly with the rough stuff. But he left on his own steam, which means the magic for him was gone, and if the player doesn't have the desire to wear the uniform he's not going to play well in it anyway. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink, he was offered a deal and for his own reasons opted to close that chapter of his career. So I agree with you completely that the Shanahan who helped us win 3 cups is missed, I'd take him back in a heartbeat, but the problem is he doesn't exist anymore. He still has the same skills, and heart, but he's lost his motivation to play in Detroit, and without motivation he's just collecting a check. More power to him for getting out when he felt it was time. He could have stuck around unmotivated, and played poorly knowing his heart wasn't in it, only to get picked apart by us die-hards and the media. Instead he's doing alright for himself, he's a huge part of the Rangers success right now. I guess my point is that while I'll always hold out hope that he finds that drive to be a Wing again, I think the guy has moved on and so should we. He's a great player, always was, and I'm sure he'll finish his already complete career that way. But it will be somewhere else, he'll always be one of my favorite players but his heart isn't in Hockeytown anymore.

You bring up a great point about recognizing history of the teams. They should build the arenas with expansion in mind as well as making state of the art when its constructed. It would be a lot cooler walking into a 100 year old building, hell The Joe is only 30 and it still has that historic feeling when you walk inside.

Acquit! Acquit! Acquit! O.J. Simpson, and Ray Lewis are just a couple pieces of living proof that if you have enough fans, you CAN get away with murder and they will still love you! People are blinded by loyalty, he could do whatever he wants. As long as he's in that jersey some people won't have a bad thing to say about him.

Feel free to correct this if its wrong, but I'm pretty sure there's also a clause in that agreement that states he can exit the lease early for an $18 Million fee, which is what I'm guessing he will do.

I hope sure as hell hope so, the refs missing that call is so rediculous. Hopefully Campbell doesn't screw this one up as bad as they did, McAmmond's had concussion problems in the past so for all we know this one might be his career ender. Big man Pronger, big man way to be a consummate professional! If you can't beat em, then beat em up!

:caution: Yeah Detroit fans started to hate Pronger because of the hit on Holmstrom. I'm sure it had nothing to do with all those years we beat St.Louis in the playoffs and he would run at our captain and stars with his cheapshots. Unlike you nobody else here started watching hockey this March so we all knew about Pronger's career as a cheapshot artist. Most people here were fans before your team entered the league, and judging by your immature approach probably since before you were in diapers. So show some respect, don't come in here talking down to people starting a flame-fest. You just embarass yourself and all of the decent Ducks fans who post here with your ignorance. Seriously how does this kid still have privlidges? Every post he makes is a flame that has no valid point. If this one doesn't proove he has no clue of what he's talking about then I don't know what will

Yeah, he's pretty much the joke of the league as far as I'm concerned. But because of his ability to play the game his disreguard for sportsmanship and fellow players gets ignored. I don't care how good he is as a defenceman he's still a little 10 year old sore loser on the inside. Seriously get Brian Burke to be his manager and he could have an even better career in the WWE with all this pro wrestling cheap shot crap he pulls. Well if there is any karma in this world, then one day Pronger will die in a fire. And I will be at that fire as soon as I hear about it, with a pack of ballparks, and some smores. edited for PS: Just watch I bet hordes of people will still defend him because of who he is, and one day when he ends someone's career that won't be his fault either.

BBBBBOOOOOOYAAAAAHHHHH BOOM shock-a-locka!

I can 't wait to hear Brian Burke's excusefest after the game about that Pronger elbow. "Well from the endzone view it was a clean hit" Yeah Burke, and from every view you're a hopeless tool.

That piece of s*** doesn't deserve to play the game. Typical Pronger, starts to lose and goes head hunting. What a low brow hack. Just let him go until he ends someone's career, great approach.

Heh, you're right not all girls from SoCal act like valley girls. I'll tell you what SoCal stereotype is not only annoying but very true out there though.....The psychotic drivers! I swear driving in / around the LA area is like a freaking warzone. As far as the goofs in these interviews, I can understand getting a little defensive for you guys (and gals) that are actual hockey fans out there, and play the game yourselves and follow the sport. I'm sure the fake bandwagoners are probably more annoying to you than us since its your name they ruin. I believe every fan of football is a fan of hockey that doesn't know it yet, and there's alot of football fans in SoCal, so they'll catch on its just a matter of time. I don't think anybody is trying to offend you by finding it funny, I know I wasn't it just comes across that way to us. I guess its because hockey has been instilled for generations around here, if you ask anybody in Michigan, or even the tri-state area from grandma to child, chances are 9 times out of 10 they know whats going on with the Wings. Some more than others, but the people who don't know are a the minority. As you know from our member's avatars there's our friends from Europe and all around the world on here that are hardcore fans. Just as an example of the local hockey fans around here, this link is a Dearborn cop's 911call who thinks he and his wife are OD'ing on pot (funny I know). Anyways, this guy BELIEVES they are dying, and in the middle of the call he asks the score in the Red Wings game If that doesn't say it all, I don't know what does. "The score is tied 3-3 I just wanted to make sure I wasn't hallucinating" <--- that is priceless edit: I suck at spelling

NHL numbers In depth lists of all active roster players salaries and contract status

Well that sucks, but seriously you have to laugh at that idiot they show everytime Anaheim scores a goal, whats with the spastic finger pointing, and why the hell does he listen to an MP3 player during the game? Probably tailgates with Snoop Dogg before every game and smokes some of California's fine agriculture to give him these "unique" celebration techniques. What a riot.

I think Burke is wrong when he says Getzlaf is "as good as he wants to be". I think Getzlaf is as good as Anaheim's style allows him to be. He certainly has his moments where I could see calling his style "cheap" but so does the whole team, they play rough and when you do that its easy to take it too far. Having said that he is still young, and because of his size in conjunction with the style Carlyle plays he's more agressive than some. He is definitely going to use someone as big as Getzlaf to play rough thats how he coaches. But I think his offensive ability gets a bit forgotten in the Carlyle scheme of things. As far as the cheap stuff goes, I say blame the refs for not calling him, or Anaheim players in general. Game 1 of the finals when he X-checked 4 times in a row before the call was made is a good example. He's going to do what he's allowed to without getting called. Thats the way overly physcial teams have always played, and its the way the Ducks have since Carlyle took over. If the refs let it happen its their fault for sucking, unfortunately fans and opposing teams pay the price. Its stupid but it works, if you want goals, momentum, and to win the corner battles and you're allowed to steal it without getting in trouble.....Then logic says keep stealing. That approach doesn't always work, it didn't pay off for the Flames, but the refs have had their blinders on for the mostpart during Anaheim's games. They got caught with their hand in the cookie jar in game 3 of the WCF, but other than that they've done well with their strategy. When you play that physical you're going to take penalties, but they haven't taken enough yet to stop them from accomplishing their goal. So more power to them. Anyway I digress, back to the topic of Getzlaf. Is he good at playing Anaheim's style? Yeah, sure he is. But someone with his talent will be good at whatever he works at. Personally I think he could be a 35+ a year goal scorer consistantly with a little more experience playing on a posession / speed team. Carlyle is using his size to play their game, but in another locker room someone might have him using his offensive skills alot better and more often. The guy has all makings of an elite power forward, it all depends what role he's given. Thats not a knock on Anaheim, they're doing what works for them, I'm just saying if he were in a different situation he could be way more productive on the front end of the ice. Make no mistake the kid is good, he'll become an elite player for sure, but the question is what type. He could be a goal scorer, or he could be a mule that goes and hauls the puck from people with his size and sets up plays. I dislike certain teams for certain reasons, but as a fan of the game itself you've got to acknowledge talent when you see it, and Getzlaf has it. No matter if he ends up a physical battler, or a crafty scorer, either way you'll probably hear about him for a long time. GO SENS!!!!

:violin:

If I was going down I-75 and Barnaby walked out from the median I would struggle to find my brakes.

Seriously, after reading that I'm embarassed as an American that a fellow citizen said that. Screw what team you're a fan of, one of those questions involves a serious dismemberment of basic elementary geography. That person should wiggle towards the little ray of light in front of them, and one day their head might find it's way out of their butt. Minnesota in Canada? God save us all.

Yeah, I agree nice to see hockey garner some attention in the US media, especially on a channel everyone with basic cable can see *flips the bird to VS*. (sidenote: seriously I will love FOX forever if they buy NHL broadcast rights down the road, I hate cheering the boys on with Mickey and Ken all year, then when the season really matters they get taken away!) Best Damn is a good show, they really do talk about ALL sports and have tons of different athletes and sports figures as guests. I really hate it when a show is called a "sports talkshow" and they only want to yap about baseball, football, and basketball 90% of the time. Usually whichever one they personally enjoy the most. For instance I don't know if anybody else does, but I listen to Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN radio from 6-10 every weekday. While I like it alot and listen regularly, and think they have an entertaining show that covers alot of sports....... not once does hockey get mentioned.......ever. So its good to see that someone is showing it some attention, because Bettman's PR sucks and the game should be getting eaten up in this country. I mean come on what American doesn't like a good old fashioned contact sport? Everyone that enjoys football is a hockey fan that doesn't know it yet.