55fan

Never did a lampshade on my head, but considering I look funny in hats, I would probably look downright stupid in a lampshade. The person below me thinks at least one person (besides themselves) who has participated in this thread is cool enough to have dinner and/or drinks with (platonicaly).

Technically they would be ineligible players, and could cost us the game if we were forced to forfeit. Although we could have Datsyuk there and just have him play after the first tv time out in the third period (which is when he stopped playing in the last game, IIRC) and we could argue that he has sat out a full game. I wouldn't try it though.

Not a song I'd choose, but not a song I'd turn off if it happened to be on the radio. The person below me has/has had a pickup truck.

I Found a Million Dollar Baby- Bing Crosby

That would not be a good idea. It would be dangerous. Therefore, although I have no memory of doing so, I would think it is highly likely that I did. The person below me calls all tissues Kleenex, regardless of the brand.

You're the One in a Million - Oak Ridge Boys

Theoretically, they could force the Wings to forfeit for playing ineligible players. I doubt it will come to that since they weren't planning to play them when they decided to bow out of the ASG due to injuries. With Datsyuk's injury, who even knows if he'll be ready to play then? Has anyone heard how serious it is? Those hip flexors can be a pain in the butt. Too bad it was a gentlemen's agreement (same conclusion I've reached, BTW). If it was in writing, they could force Bettman to suspend Crosby, per the original statement. I like Crosby, but I'm miffed at his suggestion that Nick and Pav just wanted rest. Maybe he didn't mean it that way, but the implication was pretty strong.

To those still convinced that Dats and Lids are in the wrong, please ponder the following questions: Why didn't Bettman inform the guys of this option on Wednesday when he got replacements for them for the ASG? Why didn't Holland hear of this option until Friday, when Crosby was on a plane to Montreal? Has anyone ever been required to attend an ASG when they were injured? The last one is the most important in my mind. There was never a rule until Friday, nor has there been a precedent set for attendance despite injury. There is no reason that Nick and Pav would have had any reason to expect that their presence would be requested, much less demanded. That's a big sticking point for me.

Actually, with Mac and Cheli having been on LTIR this season, Kenny has squirrled away some space. He was saving it for emergencies. His original statement (back when the rule was if you can't play, you have to miss the next game) was that the Wings would just have to deal with that. He said then that Mule wouldn't be ready, but that he'd deal with it.

The laws of physics tell me that it is too large to fit. I have heard that it is impossible to lick your elbow. Who knows if that's true or not. The person below me took Flintstones Chewable Vitamins as a child and never wondered why there was no Betty.

True. And then the other employee tells everyone that whilst the intern was doing your job, you should have been there with your barf bucket in case advertisers came along so they could see how great your company is. Ok, maybe that one's pushing the analogy BTW, I liked your explanation in the other thread. Much better than my full-length novel.

Duck Guy. I like you. Really. Let's see if I can make you see why I feel the way I do. Lids and Dats talked to Kenny on Tuesday or Wednesday (I'm sure Pavel talked to him on Tuesday after the game in which he was injured. I don't know if Lids talked to him before the game or if he had the MRI the next day.) Either way, the rule was that if they couldn't play, they would have to miss a game before or after. They knew that and decided that since they were injured and couldn't play, that they needn't go. They were going to receive the suspension anyway because they couldn't play. They may not have known for sure if Bettman would enforce it, since it was a new rule, and not even set in stone- more of an agreement than a rule, not that there's much difference, although an agreement would allow for circumstantial evidence, such as MRI's or having sat out part of the game. We don't know if Bettman would have allowed it or not, and it is now a moot point. Let's just assume they knew that they could be suspended for a game. So they are told by their GM to go ahead and relax and recouperate. They do that. Then on Friday, 2-3 days later, Crosby and Bettman chat on the phone, and Bettman tells Sydney that he can avoid the suspension if he just goes and does the media thing. This option had not been given to Lids and Dats at the time they pulled out of the game. It was play or get suspended; not show up or get suspended. Crosby hops on a plane, the other guys don't. They were given that out only at the last minute, after Crosby got the loophole. Imagine you have the stomach flu and can't make it to work. You and another co-worker miss 2 days of work, and have your pay docked, as per company policy. Then a couple of days later another employee misses 2 days, but the boss says that he can just come in on the weekend. If you had known of that option, you might have used it. But that option wasn't there at the time you put in your notice. Now do you see why we're upset? We've been discussing how there are no Wings represented at the ASG for days now, but only at the end does Bettman come up with the loophole; not when Lids and Dats let the league know they wouldn't be able to play, which was the original stipulation. Then he calls up Kenny and makes it sound like Lids and Dats have broken the rule by not attending the media functions to avoid the suspension, which was only put into effect that day. Originally, the players had to play. That's the main gripe. I don't expect you to agree. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but do you at least see where I'm coming from?

I have to disagree with that. If Bettman were anti-Detroit, he would have done something about Lids and Pav on Tuesday, when they announced they would not be going. Sidney decided that he wouldn't go, and Bettman pulled out the heretofore insignificant clause of an agreement to make him attend. If Sid has to go, so does everyone else, so the Wings players had to be singled out as well. Until Sidney Crosby mulled not attending, there was no discussion. Bettman is not being anti-Wings. He was actually ignoring the Wings until Crosby came along and had to be dealt with. Then he had no choice, by his own making, to follow through or it would look like he was focused only on Crosby. The rest, as they say, is history, and has made my day quite eventful.

Just the fact that I'm agreeing with Pierre makes me rethink my stance... ...nope. Bettman's still an ass. Pierre must have been given a script.

It's too cold in Fargo. Trust me. It's like Edmonton. The Winter Classic was held in a city where there was a "home team". The Wings playing surely boosted the ratings.

I do hope you're right. One of the many links posted today (sorry, can't remember which one) indicated that Holland was not sure about Franzen. He said that Mule wasn't skating and may not be back, but he did say that we have some money to use if that's the case.

I like this one.

As long as you understand the reasons you're offensive, we can start this on a positive note. The players get their money to go out and play games. They thrill the fans in the stands and on TV, where available. They are payed to play. Lids and Dats can't play right now because they're injured. The ASG is in Montreal. They have enough Habs in the starting lineup to appease the local fans, and enough other players to keep the media happy. Bettman does need to market the game better. He needs to make the game a game where the best players are chosen; not a popularity contest where the Rory-for-Allstar campaign nets an average (charitable here) player more votes than many talented ones. The Red Wings have ample chance to promote the game, and do so. We do it at the awards show, and last year we did it in the SCF. As for the IQ of LGW, I will not argue that the average may be low, as I contribute to this forum frequently.

While I certainly agree that a Wings game without Pavel is missing a great entertainment factor, maybe the other guys will see this as a chance to step up and support their teammates' decisions. Kind of a finger to Bettman if we win and he can't stop it. At least I hope that happens.

I did a quick check and the cheapest GR guys are: F- Randall Gelech $2,607/day F-Darren Haydar, Jamie Tardif $2,807/day F-Ryan Ouhalen $2,809/day D- Siarhei Kolasau $2,836/day. I have no idea what these guys' waiver status is. If needed, can we afford 2 of them? If Mule and Stuart both aren't back, we may need to. Needless to say, I'd rather have Ericcson, Leino, Helm and Downey as prime consideration. It's a question of money. I also don't know if any of these guys are injured (I heard Helm is, but I don't know for sure), so that may blow it as well. I'm sure Kenny has it all figured out, or he'd be on the phone with Lids and Dats.

Red Wings vs Blue Jackets The most All-stars anyone has seen in almost a week.

Forget the allstars. Just get Hudler drunk!

According to rule 5.1, "not more that 18 skaters and 2 goalkeepers shall be permitted". This leads me to believe that if Mule or Stuart can't come back that we could go with a short bench with no penalties. In any case, if we were forced to have 18 skaters, we could dress one of the guys and just not play him and the result would be the same as a short bench. My concern is winning the game without Dats and Nick, although I support their decision for R&R to recover. ETA: Thanks Konnan511. I see we posted together. Could you tell me where you found that rule? I had looked for it and couldn't find it. It is, of course, a much bigger book than I usually read Thanks in advance.

Not sure if you could cover all that in 5 minutes. It is original. I'm sorry, but I don't know where you're from. Are you in an area where people would actually understand hockey? If so, this could be a good choice. Reasonable people don't like Bettman, and you wouldn't want to work for unreasonable people, now, would you? Almost like you're interviewing them too. Best wishes, whatever you choose to do.

2010. But it may be the last time NHL players get to play. Personally, I like having NHL players in it. It gives me someone to root for besides my home countries (US, Canada), but that's for a different thread. I'd like to have a break in the winter for the players without the ASG joke. Or at least make it not a joke.