VM1138

Hardware isn't a great unit of comparison.

I'm pretty sure Datsyuk kind of shook his head and shrugged like "well, let's get this over with" when he started with the puck in the shootout.

The fact that this is even a discussion is downright insane. Are there people who really think that the greats never had a bad two game stretch in their careers?

It's funny how the Pens and Wings have paralleled each other over the years. For a couple of years they were the best teams in the league, and ten they dropped off the face of the earth in relevancy for years.

It just doesn't make sense to trade Howard right now. He's not great but if we trade him and Mrazek gets hurt, do we really feel comfortable with McCollum or Coreau?

The issue with Howard is always the same. It's not that he's just hot garbage every game. It's that he's basically GUARANTEED to give up one or two bad goals per game. He can stop 39 of 40 shots and play out of his mind, but he WILL give up one or two bad ones. So the Wings essentially start off playing from behind when the game starts. Not to mention he's very weak mentally when it comes to game psychology.

Meh. Outdoor games are cool, no matter how many they have, but the magic is definitely gone. It's a very minor novelty for me at this point.

Yeah, Gustavsson could be a starter if he could play more than three games without a three week injury happening. That's barely an exaggeration.

I think we should try to re-sign him, but don't throw the bank at him. He is a solid top four guy who will be somewhat in demand. But we can't just make no effort to bring him back when we need a stronger defense core.

Seriously, enjoy it. You are living the work life everyone should be living. I don't know why people disparage that. But that's anther issue. Go Wings!

I honestly forgot about the Classic this year. I don't remember who played in it. And I forgot about our outdoor game, too, until about a week ago.

Is Jensen the really small guy, or is that Hicketts?

Howard always was a goner, regardless of his performance this year. Mrazek is simply too good, and you don't trade a bright young goaltender who promises to be the best goalie in decades for your team for a 30 year old goalie who has his good times and his bad times. And for that reason, I think Howard waives his NTC. He knows he's finished here, no matter how well he plays, so I'm sure he's willing to go to almost any team that will let him start, or at least play 50/50.

You might be falling prey to a syndrome that goes on around here quite a bit: win a game or two, they're the best team in the world, lose a game or two, the worst. They're still an average time (unfortunately) who hit a mild hot streak. I hope they keep it up but the problems that existed before haven't gone away so quickly. Also, games against Florida. They may be good this year, but to most people they're still a team you don't rush out to watch.

Teams have been doing this against us for a while now. We're not the team they circle on the calendar anymore. We're the team they rest their big dogs against.

On his own net? I could see that.

Mrazek is in, so we don't get blown out. But we don't score enough again. 3-1 loss.

I like the inclusion of Athanasiou but that lineup still isn't good. Like kip said, we have too many guys who can't actually play strong hockey. It doesn't matter how much they try or how close they are to tearing it up if they never do. What exactly do they expect that fourth line to do? Bigger bodies I guess but none of those guys are energy guys. I've never seen the team take things up a notch because of them. The third line has potential as an energy line and a scoring threat. Maybe. The second line isn't going to work and we've seen that Datsyuk and Z aren't guaranteed magic together anymore. We've got to cut a lot of guys who can look good but at the end of the day always *just* miss, screw up passes, and try but never actually do anything possession related.

Exactly. It's not like these guys are the best in the league in their skill category, either. I'm sure there's a fast player out there who could break that record who wasn't an all star this year. Same goes for every other category. Larkin was the fastest guy to perform in this years all star game, or anyone else in All Star games, not in hockey history.

Is that a Canadian thing? Why would anyone pronounce Talbot as Talbert?

I don't think it would make much f a difference. We've had tough guys before. One guy doesn't make a difference beyond his line.

I think this is the case where the coach needs to be the coach. Datsyuk may be the wily veteran and I get that you need to give them some control, but when it's not best for the team or the line the coach needs to step in.

I think Tarasenko has a much higher ceiling than Nyquist. Tarasenko is basically Datsyuk 2.0.

I don't think there's anything to mesh. Green hasn't been all that good three years and Smith and Kindl are the same as they've always been. We don't need them to mesh we need Marchenko and Oullett. I'm willing to give Kindl a fresh start but Smith is just a dumb hockey mind, and you can't teach someone to be smarter like we need him to be.I forgot about DD, he obviously helps them.

I know it's just pre-season, but it's got to count for something that we're scoring so much and other teams aren't. Right?