The Secret

I'd be happy keeping Datsyuk and trading Zetterberg for that right player.

Still don't see what makes him a dope but regardless the guy is a scrapper and still is a great goalie... I wouldn't mind at all if they did not resign The Monster and did sign Timmy the Tank on a one year. Thomas can still be a #1 goalie and he'd challenge Howard every step of the way. A Howard-Thomas tandem would be wicked! Like Fuhr-Moog or Hasek-Osgood

He say he would NOT trade Dekeyser or Smith and would trade Datsyuk right now for a top 6 power forward. I like his thinking for the right guy... Datsyuk is Datsyuk but he is getting closer to the end of his career and if his value could bring in that Shanahan type player we are missing I see it as a no brainer!

AT this point Tatar is just a boy and is learning the game, on and off the ice, from the the vets like Cleary and Bertuzzi who have been around and through the adversity that Tatar is facing. Tatar is paying his due's like most other have to. Sit back down in your arm chair and relax a bit, let the Pro's do their thing. Tatar brings way more to the table of what we need then Hudler did or ever would. We had too many player that provided what Hudler did and not enough players that provided what Hudler did not. Tatar has more grit under his nails then Hulder will ever have in his whole life. Hudler was given his chances to create a new role for himself and never could seize that opportunity... My bet is Tatar will.

Bertuzzi's next..... Those who aren't producing should be sitting (That includes Howard)

......and there was much rejoicing! YAAAAAY!

For those of you calling for Babcock's head.... Trust. Believe.... and give a healthy line up of Canadians http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=701094&navid=DL|NHL|home

Or maybe instead of riding Howard we have a more even split with Gus who isn't necessarily out playing Howard as much as he is coming out with the wins.... same team, completely different records

I started the thread to talk about Babock in general and to show that this guy is the best there is right now. I don't think people understand the weight of the drastic changes this team has gone through the past few years which includes losing staples, adding noobs and a million injuries to front line regulars. Its hard to get consistency on a team with a revolving door of players and had there been any other coach in the world behind the bench this team would have missed the play offs long ago and would not be even on the bubble of making it again this year... If Babcock says "I wouldn't bet against us" then I wouldn't bet against him! In all honesty, I scratch my head at times with some of his decisions... its normal and my right as a fan but I don't any Stanley Cup rings nor Gold medals as a professional coach either. I'm sure their job has a good measure of luck required to be successful as it also requires the vision and knowledge. I'd say his vision and knowledge are CARRYING us right now with all the horrible luck we have been experiencing. We just scrapped out a victory against one of the best, if not the best, team in the league... with a backup goalie, a s*** load of key injuries and Babcock driving the boat!

LOL... What team are you watching then? Didn't last years team - Lidstrom -Stuart +New assistant coach +a pile of rookies (this include Smith who, last year, was better off playing for the opponents) and + a million injuries manage to make the playoffs ,get to the second round and take the eventual Cup Champs to game 7? ...that could have very well been our Cup! I'd even go as far to say that in the end that we there the toughest challenge for the Blackhawks on their way to the Cup! Thanks Coach.... couldn't have gotten there without you!!

Maybe the question should be if Holland is the right GM for Babcock? I'm hoping Holland will take his head out of Sweden's ass for a while. Or... should Holland be thinking of going Jim Irsay's route and trading some still valued but aging bits for some more youthful (and hopefully Canadian) one's? I was not a fan of Irsay's move but has worked out like a charm for him, his organizations future and Peyton's as well (Manning leads Bronco's to the SuperBowl and shows his new ring to Irsay via twitter... you heard it here first)

I think the long sad face is part of the uniform by the look of things!

I went once to tailgate and game at a Michigan State game a few years back and the alumn's that were bringing us were upset that we were running late to get there at 8:30 AM.... when we got there just before 9:00 there were tents set up, BBQ's in full use, music going, TV's going, Booze going, Footballs being thrown..... the party was in full gear at 9:00AM... it was insane and soo much fun. Enjoy! Keep us posted in the festivities, you'll get some worthwhile pictures to share.... just ask kindly Let them know your an exotic Canadian friend and they will LOVE it (don't mention the Toronto thing though)

Sorry to my Yankee friends out there but this years version of Jimmy Howard shouldn't even be allowed to work the door on the bench. There are better playing goalies out there that should be in before him and it may do Jimmy alot more good to stay home and live with Jim Bedard for the next few weeks to put him back together.... I knew there would be rust last night but the first shot on goal from near the blueline? Really? Follow by 2 more just the same? Thats not rust... it's loss of vision maybe? Played without his contacts on possibly? No doubt Jimmy will bounce his way back but the way his is playing right now, I would not want him on the Olympic team if I were from 'Merca

Saw the 2nd and 3rd periods of the game today against the Slovaks... Drouin did look great but Mantha looked great on his own! Nice come back win for Canada too... GO CANADA! Also, I hope we dont have to wait for Mantha to be 27 before he gets his shot at scoring goals for us... I would rather see him learn the ropes from Pav and Z before they retire! God forbid Mule is his only mentor.....yikes! "Look kid, you could work hard to contribute all the time but why? Just get a couple of Ram commercials and take as many on ice vacations as your puny little heart desires"

Franzen is far from a breath of fresh air... he gets the flack because he has everything it takes to be a true power forward but lacks the cack n balls to use it half the time. He is on a roll now and playing great but for no rhyme or reason can vanish into thin air at any time. I think there would be less complaining about him if during his goalless droughts he was a great defensive player and making an impact in other ways but he doesn't... add to the fact that Holland stayed loyal and signed up Franzen first before Hossa, when we had Hossa in our grips, and then you see where all the s*** he tales comes from.... its always warranted and always will be while he plays the way he does

I agree Howie is paid a lot to stop pucks and he is not right now but how is he a bad sport? He is having a bad stretch like how many other players on this team have or are still? The thing that endeared me to Howard is his ability to continually learn, grow and bounce back and I have no doubt he will. I would still play the hot goalie more and right now that is Monster.

Helm caught a skate in the shoulder in the 3rd period. This must be from that?! Get better soon Helmer... and Datsyuker... and Zetterberger ....and Dekeyserer.... and Bertuzzier.... and Howarder

A time machine Hilarious! Golden, made me lol... how about some large Golden Balls?

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American LGW friends!

Flips towards the net don't count... I mean lean into the shot and put some mustard on it (Darren Helm's rifle of a backhander comes to mind). A shot that has a chance to go in and if it doesnt there is a good chance there will be a rebound! Thats what is mean I think.

Have to go for the Lafeyette Coney Island experience after a game.... Its a must! Its like going to Montreal and not going to Schwartz for smoked meat... You just got to do it "ONE UP!!!!"

I'm a Windsor boy, born and raised.... Don't waste your time crossing the border to visit Windsor.

I'm happy we signed Franzen instead of Hossa

He needs a system where the players listen to him and do whats asked of them. SHOOT THE PUCK! MAKE THE SIMPLE PLAY! A part from Babcock playing in the game and doing it for them there is only so much he can do. I could see it now, Babcock (in the stupidest managerial move in hockey history) gets let go by Detroit today at noon and at 12:01 the coach of Tampa Bay gets fired and at 12:01:30 Babcock has a coaching job in Tampa working for Yzerman! You can't have a Stanley Cup winning team every year and we are 22 straight years in the playoff, longest running streak in all of the major pro sports!! Let him do his job, things will straighten out OR invent the electronic remote control device that Babcock can use from the bench to electricute the desired player at the time he needs to shoot rather than pass. It can also be used to punish a player after he has given the puck to the wrong team (which we should also blame on Babcock I suppose), taken a stupid penalty, gotten hurt for an extended period of time, etc.