dirac

Center Ice does carry the first two round of the play offs. They will not show games that are either a national feed (Vs., NBC) or local which being in Tampa, you should have no fears of. I have it and love it. I live and die by the Wings but it is great to watch all the other games and have double headers ever night. For a true hockey fan it is quite the blessing. Bonus if you have direct TV b/c if I am not mistaken, if the game is broadcast from the local affiliate in HD, you get it in HD unlike COMCAST!!!

Current Players Only : 1. Pronger <-- Cannot stress enough what a punk he is. 2. Avery <-- Just annoys me. 3. Jagr <-- So much talent, so little heart - Stevie played while crippled, Jagr is a waste. 4. Pronger <-- Seriously...on top of all the cheap shots he is stupid...read is interviews. 5. The Ducks <-- Any player that joins this team (or any other team) after 12/1 allowing them to get around the cap; "I am retired until you can afford me."

Boston has two in the past few years...Thornton to SJ and Boyes to St. Louis. Many have noted the Oates deal from Detroit but from what I understand of the deal, he had to go because of his attitude towards Yzerman and the managements treatment of Yzerman. I know, if you look at players simply as their numbers, true, god awful but this is one in which it was said they were removinga a cancer from the locker room. Another trade noted was Terrible Ted to Black Hawks...again, this trade was done to get him out of town. Yes on paper it was awful but the Detroit management was not looking for a 'deal'...they simply wanted a one-way ticket out of Olympia. As to the Recchi deal...how were the Pens losers? They basically loaned him out, got some free players and then resigned him.

The thing that I find amusing is that these commercials all air during HOCKEY. At this time, hockey has almost 0 casual fans. Either you are or you are not. I am already watching the game, why are you advertising the sport to me? Shouldn't this be on during the super bowl or olympics or during college football when there might be someone who you might actually sway to your side? Seriously, the fact that these commercials air on the NHL network shows you why the league is in trouble. I want to come up with some cute phrase like "They market the game like a bunch of ..... doing ....." but I cannot. Please feel free to help. The really sad thing is that we all see the problems they have but they get paid and cannot see.

Just the fact that this came from the empty cranium of Pierre McGuire makes me say that this would be wrong, even on Xbox.

I HATE the NBC games. Did anyone watch the B's vs. NYR this weekend? The intermission 'show' is terrible. Brett Hull was the man...he said what needed to be said and was correct most of the time. Now it is Pierre McGuire and Mike Milbury. Pierre is an ass-clown. His idea of making a point is talking louder. At least when Mr. Hull spoke, it was from a players perspective, Pierre is talking from a ECHL coaches perspective. The other curious thing is why does NBC feel that because an announcer works for the Rangers or Devils they are the best in the country? Mike Emmerick makes me want to puncture my own ear-drums and his broadcasts are always riddled with mistakes. If you want good broadcasters look to Detroit, the LA Kings or Boston's radio team. They are great, know the sport and provide insightful commentary.

I am not sure what the appeal of ESPN is...the NHL was never an ESPN product, it was relegated to ESPN2 most of the time. For VS, the NHL is their only real sport and the broadcasts are pretty good. I am not a fan of the announcers but I was not a fan on ESPN either. I think I just got sick of when ESPN2 did have hockey and then would mock the sport in ESPN Magazine. I guess I am lucky, we get VS and the NHL network. Between those 2, ESPN's offices could burn to the ground and I do not think I would notice. I think we get it because we have the HD package but how can one watch hockey in non-HD? I think I have gotten spoiled.

The real funny thing is that after this off season, the Wings have to be the Favs to win the President's Trophy. The only decent team in the central decided that it was not going to compete anymore and pretty much dismantled itself this off season. The other teams did not do much to improve their situations. Thanks to the unbalanced NHL schedule, home ice should be ours for the 08 Playoffs. I know the trophy means nothing without a cup but I just thought I would point this out. Go Wings.

So your argument is rationale w/r/t the Rangers. Your point being they are wrong. Then, the Wings should retire Federov's number because two wrongs make a right? Oh and full props to RedWings Gone Wild for their discussion. See, he actually discussed the Wings and why Federov's number should not be retired by the WINGS. Thank you for sticking to the point and not drawing upon tangents that do not relate to the discussion. As his ideas are superior to mine I will now go sit in the corner and continue reading not to rejoin this discussion unless improper analogies rear their ugly heads again.

Ok. I am waiting for your discussion about it having everything to do with Ty Cobb being a racist... Federov's actions were contrary to the team's benefit. He held out for most of one seaons for more money and then he left for more money. How does being a racist have anything to do with Cobb's desire to win and play hard for the Tigers? It cannot be argued that because of him no African American's were allowed on the team because that was league policy at the time. I have no problem if you can draw an example of a player leaving for money and holding and still getting his number retired by this whole Cobb thing still makes no sense.

NO! To have your number retired is not simply a reflection of statistics but it also a reflection of attitude and dedication. Sure Fedorova was a great player but he had attitud issues. Does no one remember him holding out for 70% of a season? He left of SoCa for more money only. People bash Shanny but his family is on the east coast. I was surprised he did not sign with Boston as that is where his wife is from...or course with that being one of the two worst run hockey franchises, I can see why he located close to Boston but not in it. Also, a comparison to Ty Cobb? Give me a break. Cobb was ultimate player...win at all costs. He gave his all for the Tigers. The racist issue does not relate to this argument. He gave his all as a Tiger. Something Federova never did. Currently, I think Lidstrom is the only current player who will have his number retired without question. The others, there is question. Plus, one must consider the de facto retirement of Number 16. I think that this is the next number that should go up, though from what I understand, it is an unwritten rule already that no one will wear this number again.