jerm8352

and how has that theory worked? With playoff disappointment every year. Would Downey have gotten us into the Finals last year. No way, but having someone like Downey that will fight will help this team. Is it gonna win them the Cup, no, but it will help.

You hit it on the head there. If anything, they should contract two teams. In fact, I wouldn't be crushed if we went back to 21 teams like in the late 80's early 90's.

Echolalia, I'm sorry. You didn't say I went into panic mode but others did. However, I do not believe that anybody on this team right now with the exception of maybe Drake is capable of intimidating anyone physically. I see that as a huge problem in the game of hockey. Opie, I agree that Kronwall and Grigorenko's injuries are completely different. But I'm being cautious with a guy who is not the same player that he was before the accident and that has never played NHL or even North American hockey before. I just don't think that he is going to have a huge physical impact this year like a lot of people are banking on.

That really wasn't much of a fight but at least he ain't afraid to drop the gloves.

I agree that Schneider is not that physical of a player but in relation to the rest of defense the last few seasons, he is a brute. Grigorenko has potential but has never played the North American game, is less than six feet tall, and with his injury history is a huge question mark. Franzen can be agressive and hit people but he is not consistent with it at all. He goes through three or four games hitting everything that moves and then disappears from the rough stuff for a week or two. If he could become more consistent I could agree with your argument. The same with Cleary. If he played all year like he did in the playoffs physically, I would be more apt to agree with you.

Thank you for pointing out that this is a discussion board! I will agree that our power play did disappear at crucial times and that was a factor in our loss to the Ducks. I totally agree with your statement about Zetterberg. People here are all excited because he hit someone. But we don't want him or Datsyuk hitting people. That only takes them away from there game and gets them hurt. We need other people to hit them. I am not saying we bring in the Charlestown Chiefs and goon it up, but a physical, hulking defenceman and someone to throw around the other teams physical defenceman would greatly help this team.

Yet again, please show me where I ever said anything about panic or not to be excited!!!! In other words: why are you spending effort talking about things that I never even said or brought up!

Opie, thank you. You stated your opinion and made points. It seems that everyone else just wants to say that everyone who disagrees with them is "in a panic", or not a fan of the team. That has been going on all summer. You disagree with someone, "you're not a fan. You are in panic mode. Let's not even play the season." That's how the boards have been lately. I never said that they lost because we weren't physical enough. I simply said that we are not as physical this year as we were last year. We lost a bunch of physical players, that can not be argued. I appreciate this post a lot more. You actually atated reasons instead of saying I was in a panic and that I didn't watch the games. But, whether we outhit Anaheim or not on the stat sheet I think is irrelevant. Anaheim was a much more physical team than we were. A tap in the corner by Lebda might count on the stat sheet, but I don't think that three of them even equal to one hit by Pronger or whoever. We might have "outhit" them, but they were bigger, stronger, and more physical than we were.

But we didn't hold our own, hence we didn't win the Cup. Other people playing mean and nasty makes the rest of the team play that way. Just watch the little guys Perry and Kunitz running around the rink like they own the place on Anaheim. They know that if they hit somebody, they got Neidermayer, Getzlaf, Pronger, etc. to stick up for them. Who do the Wings have? They did have Markov, they did have Bertuzzi and even to some extent Schneider. Those players are gone. Yes, Dan Cleary killed Phaneuf. Yes, Zetterberg and Datsyuk played more physical. But I don't see anybody that scared of being hit by Datsyuk, Zetterberg, or Lebda. Physical play is contagious. I believe I said that in my post. This team will not be as physical as last years team. Did I say Panic? No! And quite frankly, I watch every minute of every Wings game all year and have for the last 15+ years. Don't tell me I didn't see the playoffs.

Did I say we should panic? NO! But getting all excited that this is somehow a better, more physical team than last year is delusional. Where did I ever even come close to saying anything about panic?

All you people who say look to last years playoffs as evidence of our grit need to wake up. We lost our two most physical defenseman in Schneider and Markov. We replaced them with nobody and a smallish playmaking defenceman (Rafalski). We lost two of our biggest bodies in Lang and Bertuzzi. While Lang was by no means a physical player, he was hard for opposing teams to move. We replaced them with an injury prone player in the twilight of his career (Drake) and nobody. We are hurting in the grit department and this team will not be the same one as in last year's playoffs. Don't think that it was just coincidence that once Bertuzzi started playing regularly that the team started to play more physical.

No one will ever wear the 16 again.

It was before the accident. Don't get too excited about a player who has never played in North America and from reports isn't the same player he was before a life threatening injury.

The problem with that is, while we sign more 5' 10" 180lb defenseman, anaheim signs another 6'3" 240lb forward. We get weaker and they get stronger. Plus, we let go of 3 of our bigger forwards and our most physical defenseman. We are gonna get killed in the corners come playoff time and both and Anaheim and San Jose will laugh at our mini defenseman as they mandhandle them in front of the net and in the corners.

Anyone know if you can find a feed anywhere on the internet? My entire cable just went black!

How does she even have a job? She is a terrible writer and beyond that has no respect for the game and little knowledge of it. The Sporting News must have gotten in trouble for not having enough female employees so they hired her to cover their butts.

I don't think so. Neither of them ever seem to care much about hockey!

No, this draft is considered pretty weak. That is why so many first round picks are being thrown around.

There was talk before the season of Zetterberg being a Hart candidate. If he would have started the season playing like he is now, he would definitely be a candidate.

The Red Wings will get beaten up by one of Calgary, Anaheim, or San Jose, or Nashville. I believe we can beat any teams except for those 4 barring a complete playoff meltdown (which happens all too often in Detroit.) Once we play one of the more physical teams listed above, we will never last an entire 7 game series.

Michigan absolutely owned Ferris on saturday. The Friday game was close though. Jack Johnson was amazing on Friday but didn't really stand out at all on Saturday.

Anyone have video of his fight?

Habs. You can't mess with 23 Stanley Cups