VM1138

Ericsson has looked REALLY good. It's like night and day from last season and the start of this season. He's starting to remind me a bit of a younger Kronwall. Ericsson might be the real deal after all.

The only "playoff experience" Iginla would bring is teaching them how to melt down when things don't go your way.

I can't believe St. Louis has given up at least 6 goals in each of their last 4 games. That's nuts!

If you would have told me when it was tied 3-3 that this would end up 7-3 in the span of 3 and a half minutes I never would have believed you. Once again, Cleary proves he is the heart of this team.

At the risk of sounding cliche, we live in an overly commercialized society. There is, quite simply, no reason to put ads on jerseys. Sports are the most lucrative marketing business around. Ads on the boards, ads during commercials, ads every time there is a powerplay or a penalty shot or an overtime. There is simply no need to have advertising on the jerseys other than a pure money grab. I know it's a business, but the revenue generated from those jersey ads will not prevent a team from folding, will not make it possible to sign new players or improve the team in any way. It's just crass, greedy exploitation and it's distasteful. EDIT: I wonder when we'll start selling adspace on newborn babies? Everyone is drawn to a baby, what better way to draw new clients?

You are going to need more than just a pickup or two to save your offense. Unless you land someone like Ovechkin (unlikely) any middle-road offense power is going to shrivel up without quality forwards to improve.

I knew we drafted him but beyond that he's gotten no coverage. So with that I doubt he's looking like he'll play for the Wings someday.

Honestly, just like in politics, I think journalism is dead in sports. These people are too friendly and close (if not directly employed) by the people they're covering. Gag order or not, they're unlikely to cover anything that could tarnish the image of the league they're working so hard to improve. This will only really take off if the NHLPA gets involved.

Are you sure? Most commercials are allowed to be played at the highest volume of the last 30 seconds or two minutes of the show (I forget). So if there was a crazy play and Ken Daniels got excited, those commercials are going to be consistently as loud as his call. I hear Congress is passing a law to reduce it, but that's how it stands right now.

If I were a GM, and I was assigned to fix a faulty organization, I would merely try to mimic Ken Holland. In fact, I'm surprised most don't. The ones that do generally tend to be successful.

I don't understand why the Isles struggle so much. True, they're not a team of superstars, but they have some talent and they should at least be competing for playoffs every year.

They're appalled at his lack of professionalism (which includes spelling and grammar) and his willingness to abuse power to target players and influence reffing. It's no doubt grounds for dismissal and if I was the NHLPA I'd be raising hell over this as it's not fair for the players to have to be punished by this thug. EDIT: And of course his targeting of refs which could explain the bizarre reffing we've had the past few years.

I was referring to fillin in with injuries, not that Lilja could be a 3rd or 4th D-man every game of the year.

Even so, how many goals are scored off rebounds off the boards? If Ericsson can get it down there and through people let the forwards do the rest as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not sure who we can harp on anymore. Modano, Hudler and Ericsson all look light years better than they did earlier. Since they were our whipping boys, who is left? How about Draper for being invisible each game?

If memory serves the defense was terrible in '09, which would result in worse goaltending numbers.

Me, too. I used to get really amped for Colorado games, they were must-see games. Of course I try to see every Wings game I can, but Colorado is just another average team in the league to me. Too bad, that rivalry was beyond legendary.

Nyquist and Tatar probably stand the best chance of being the next Datsyuk/Zetterberg. EDIT: I forgot about Mursak, I think he's doing well and might be able to make the transition okay. But honestly, there's no telling who in the system will be a success. It'll probably end up being someone we never talk about.

It was a confidence thing, it seems. Hudler had a good game and this is Babs' way of saying "look, see how good you are? Now do it again."

This is what I hate about society now. Advertising is so ingrained that people can't even tell when something is a commercial. The blurring of lines between reality and fake is just ridiculous.

Just want to drop in and comment on how Bertuzzi is a beast on the third line. I'm really impressed with him this year and his defensive game has jumped lightyears ahead of where it used to be. Everyone loves a redemption story. Everyone looked good. Modano was trying to make things happen and Hudler was hauling ass to pressure Edmonton. I think they're on the verge of breaking through. And Salei had a really good game, I thought. Everyone is improving as the season goes on, I think.

It's the fact that Hudler has NOT been playing s***ty. He's not racking up the points and that's why he was "promoted." We know he has the talent and Babcock felt that maybe this could give him a spark. He played well tonight, I say give it another game or two to see if it starts anything consistent. Nobody will be happy on these boards this season. We have way too many forwards who play well, and a few have to sit. It's a good problem to have, and I think juggling the lines for Hudler really worked. It just shows our team can switch lines and still be effective.

It's funny watching Drake and Draper fight in that video of the '03 game. Only in hockey will you fight someone and then have no problem playing on a team with them, haha.

It'd be cool to see Smith up here, but Holland is right. Better for him to get used to being the go-to guy down there than being a 3rd defenseman who gets into bad habits because he doesn't have to be good every night.

None of those are said nearly as much as the gimmicks other announcers use. I feel more like I'm in a conversation with Mick and Ken, whereas other announcers I feel like they're trying to give me a pep talk and it gets annoying.