The Secret

Wearing Red Wing glasses sometimes distorts the view of what is actually happening. The team is still winning with Osgood in net but they are having to score a minimum of 4 goals every game he is in net to cover for him. That is not going to work come play off time, which is about a month off. Holland himself has said that he has faith in Osgood but his current play will not amount to anything good come play offs. Stating the truth is not bashing. The truth hurts sometimes I know but it is what it is. You make it sound like I want him to jump off the bridge... I'll be happy of he just stays on the bench and charts face-offs if he can't earn his way into playing in games. I'm not advocating trading him, nor shooting him, or anything. Just that having blind faith in a guy that played well last year is stupid when this entire season he sucked and continually has gotten worse... to the point of being benched. If your a fan of the team then you should want whats best for the team right? Right not Osgood is clearly not whats best for the team.

I do not like Sammy and I have been in many conversations speaking my mind against him. But I have also been involved in conversations stating that despite his past play and how I think of him he is currently playing well and I commend him... I still don't like him but I will admit when he is playing well and also I will say when he, or every other player, is not playing well. What is terribly wrong with that? I'm comfortable talking about the good with the bad unlike many others here that cannot see anything without their nice Red Wing glasses on. Btw, I am born and raised in Windsor, Ontario.. I am nothing like Montreal people or Habs fans.

No, I did not agree with the teams decision to play Osgood as long as they had. That doesn't mean I am against the team or not a fan, it means I did not like their decision. Just because it the Red Wings doesn't mean everything they do is right and not to be doubted or questioned. I agreed with them benching Osgood for 10 days, I believe they should have done it much sooner... like while he was injured, given him extra him to heal his injury, clear his head, see a shrink.. whatever and also to give some extra NHL games to the guys in GR. Now we are weeks away and still unsure of where Osgood is at. Thank God that Conklin is playing well and the team is tuning up. Hopefully Osgood catches up but I'm not comfortable throwing him in for the playoffs because of last season when this entire season he has been junk.

I cheer for the Red Wings. I feel no loyalty to root for Osgood just because he is a Red Wing when all season he has terrible and just plain not good enough to get the job done come play off time. Would be nice if he would snap out of it but how does that work? Right now he does not have the teams confidence nor does he have mine. Its his fault not mine, I am just stating the obvious... and if anyone does not see the obvious they are the ones being dubbed Osgood Worshipers.

You should go back and re-read my posts. If Osgood was deserving then I would say he is deserving. I'm a Red Wing fan, not an Osgood fan. Saying the obvious, that this year Osgood sucks ass, does not make me any less of a Red Wing fan then anyone else. I am just stating that fact as it is. It would be great if Osgood came out and played is usual adequate game but we are weeks away from the real season and he is benched to clear his head.... If Osgood continues to play as terribly as he has I can guarantee you will not see Osgood in net but back on the bench. I'm just being realistic, I don't need to pretend everyone on this team is the greatest and saying anything to the contrary is wrong. So far Osgood sucks! I would be great if he stopped sucking but currently he is in the dog house for good reason. I'm pretty sure that myself and Lazerbeam are not the odd men out, it was Babcock's decision to call out Osgood for poor play and it was also his decision to sit him for 10 games. I hope he gets out of his depression or what ever is going on, it would be better to roll with 2 goalie's but I feel Conklin is playing well enough to do the job and I am fine with that. So go back to worshiping if you choose to... I choose not to.

Would you swap Rafalski for Pronger? I would be very tempted.

He is a pain in the ass to play against but I would gladly welcome him to our blue line.

Take off eh! You sound like such a Hoser making statements like that. Although having Leino on a line with 2 of our struggling Canadians really brought the best out of them. Might have been the best game from both Malts and Drapes playing with Leino at their side. I really like what I see from Leino and I can't wait to see him in the lineup full time. I really prefer Leino already over Filpula.

It really shows you who all the Osgood Worshipers are because they are the ones who take offense. Its undeniable by how the games are played with Conks in net vs Osgood this year. Its the same D in front of either goalie but one of making the much needed saves and the other is not.

They need to keep Kopecky off the ice and keep Leino or Helm in... not sure how they can keep either of those 2 off the ice come play off time? Shows to me how useless and unnecessary Kopecky is.

I thought the ref's were off on calls for both teams so despite poor officiating it evened out.

Nice to see a strong game from the 4th line for a change. They really had a great game and it makes such a big difference to have them working hard, getting chances and better yet when they chip in with some points. With all the trade deadline talk I think if we can get this kind of play more from the 3rd and 4th lines we will not need to make any changes at the deadline. Now if Osgood can at least get back into playing like a good backup I think we will be all set. I wonder if they need Hudler to do that gross clucking thing to him more often to get him motivated again? Very strange but good game by all... Congrats to the 4th line for doing something.

I don't believe there will be any move for a goalie. I think Conklin will continue to gain confidence and continue to play better. I don't believe Osgood's funk can last for ever, I think he will get into some sort of a positive groove and between Conks and Osgood we will be fine. Just to be safe I am hoping we see Howard or Larsson in a few more games, you never know. The whole team will pick it up come play off time and goalie's will respond as well.

Stephane Robidas Michael Sammuelsson - My hatred for him has become irrational I suppose since he is not playing too bad for us and yet I still think he's a complete speed bag.... he sort of bothers me around the face area especially.

You got it. Celebrate, be excited but don't turn into a cocky a-hole and go over board. I have not problem with most of what AO does, he's acted a tad much on a few occassions. I also agree that I like the way our players are and wouldn't want them to start a side shows after scoring.

I'm all for that but he would cost to much.

Dirty Hal Gill? I hated Gill from last years SCF, but Lilja-Gill combo does sound interesting. I'm still not a Lilja fan but its hard not to see the improvement in him this season.

The only major thing we need is to fix the issue's with the players with already have. Tighten the D, Help Osgood find a way to play good enough to share the duties with Conklin, Get the PK working, Get our current players to finish some of their checks and add some dirt to their game (some, not alot). If we add anything I'd say Chris Neil that would be about it... Unless Osgood can't find a cure for his mental breakdown, then I don't know.

Who is Sidney Crosby? I think we should have a 25 page discussion about him?! Any takers?

I would gladly provide you with your quotes to back up my arguements but the Osgood..? thread was removed by the mods so I cannot. It's water under the bridge.... until next time.

Bah, it's not a celebration on my part. I am hoping Osgood gets clear and gets back on track. I want us to win, thats the goal. I just don't think it was handled as it should have been. I'm just an armchair GM here, I'm not trying to say I know-all at all. I would have done things differently and thats that. There is nothing saying that any of this will work but it was quite obvious at least a month ago that playing him more wasn't doing any good... he's gotten worse as the season has progressed. The D not playing like last year is still better then 90% of the Defenses units out there and they are not playing that bad IMO. PK, needs work but the Offense is the reason why we are in the position we are in.

Yes, I totally agree with this. Right now I think Conklin could hold his own in a play off situation. Remember he doesn't need to be a super star on this team and he has shown he is capable of doing whats needed and if he is playing it will be very helpful to have Osgoods experience behind him. Osgood as it sounds I don't see Osgood being traded.

I have no need to make things up. You were adamant in the Osgood thread that was canned by the mods that Osgoods mechanics were fine, that he needed to play in more games to finally get things working and that the D was sub-par and that was another reason. They should have done this in December as was suggested. Getting either Howard and/or Larsson at least a few games during the season to see how they respond and how they have progressed. Very beneficial in the case that either Osgood or Conklin go down for the count and they need to come up in support. PLUS, it would have given Osgood the time he needed to find out what his problem is.... doing this in December rather then February would have been a much better idea.

You are talking to the person that supported Osgood being put into as many games a possible until the end of the season to play out his s***ty showing that has been going on from the beginning of the season. The same guy that apparently watches the same games as everyone else and still thinks that Osgood has no problems mechanically. Still the same guy that feels the Defense is as much to blame for all of the bad bounces and s***ty goals let in as Osgood.

Yup, Thank God for the #1 Power Play in the league!