VM1138

I saw that puck in the net....but the replay showed it was on the OUTSIDE of the net. THank God.

Face. *******. Palm.

I'm calling it. Bertuzzi scores on his next shift.

I don't know what the hell is going on in this game. Do the refs have no concept of exaggeration?

Well that's dumb, they should loosen up control of the league a bit and let the guys play. Just call what' s a penalty and don't worry about "shaping the game" by telling the refs what to call and not call.

Can anyone tell me the last time a dive was called as a penalty? I don't think I've seen one since before the lockout, in all honesty. Is it still a penalty? EDIT: What the hell, every three seconds a Ranger is flat on the ice, looking like they were shot. This is another embarassment for the NHL.

Welcome to the club.

Keating you smarmy bastard! Why do sports casters have to be so awkward?

I don't get this. 1-0 isn't that bad, especially considering they've been plaing well. I just don't get why the team can't ever be rewarded for shooting and playing well.

Damn, I didn't get to see Kindl in what will probably be his only stint up here this year.

No idea about the validity, but it wouldn't surprise me. The KHL is pretty smarmy like that. Man, wouldn't that just be fitting the trend this season if Flip bolted overseas?

Crosby is certainly talented but I still don't get why people think he is the greatest. He won't be a Gretzky. He's not even the best player on his team, let alone the league.

That's because Schneider, while overall solid, was not that great, either. Aside from his powerplay shot he was easily replaceable. Hudler, on the other hand, was only a third liner because he had to be. The kid played like a 2nd liner. Sometimes like a 1st liner. He was destined to make it there, and when he comes back in a couple of years he'll be at that place.

I laughed at virtually all of those except for a couple. And yes, I didn't even think there was a debate over whether or not Holland was the best. He is far and away the best GM of the decade. It seemed the standards for the others were simply not having their team be dead last every year.

I have faith they will win tonight beacuse of all the anger. I do not, however have faith they will keep it up for more than maybe two or three games.

I'm pretty sure Eaves or Miller will be back. At least one of them.

I honestly think Stuart and Kronwall would make an excellent first pairing. I know neither is Lidstrom level, but they've developed really well over the years and I think they'd respond well to being in the top pairing. Kronwall especially. I think Kronwall will be our rock, unless he stars declining rapidly. Unless we can land someone like Chara, a huge name, huge talent, I think we only look for 2nd pairing D to replace Kronwall and Stuart as they go up the ladder. Like others have said, after thinking about it a bit, a pure scoring top 6 player is who they will sign. We don't have a lot of depth there. Lots of solid (even excellent) bottom 6 guys. Abdelkader could go either way (I think he'll be top 6 someday), so they'll probably pursue someone for the 1st line to replace Homer if he retires.

Aside from the financial argument that the Michigan economy can't support what's here already, let's ask the sentimental reason. Why would we want another NHL team? Like others have already said, the Wings are special to Michiganders. It's a storied franchise that has the following of the entire state, even in the UP where they have virtually no connection to anything Detroit. The state (whether attendance shows it) lives and dies with the Wings. You see shows of support in every hole in the wall bar every year, even in places where there are no Pistons or Tigers memorabilia. I wouldn't want to dilute that fan base.

Since much of the moves over the past few years (excluding Hossa and Stuart) have been depth moves, I expect them to go for someone with pure offensive talent. The defensive system works and all, but they've focused so much on that that players seem to have forgotten how to score. They need someone who is a pure scorer to remind them. Likewise, I expect defense to be a priority the year after. There really isn't room for any defense additions on the roster, except for depth moves to replace Lebda and Meech. I fully expect our D corps to look like: Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Ericcsson-New Guy/Kindl On offense though there will be quite a few openings I would imagine: Williams Bertuzzi (unless he kicks it into high gear, of course) And the likes of Miller, Eaves, May, Draper, Holmstrom might be opening up. Obviously some of those guys will resign, but those are potential openings.

I think so, too. I think this abortino of a season is a fluke and that next year and the year after (when Hudler could come back) is going to be back to that glorious run we had from 2007-09. Freed up cap space, players coming into their own, the return of Hudler, maybe a few big names.

I think the WIngs can back into the playoffs. In reality, we're not that far out of 2nd place in the West. It's just that it doesn't seem like they're capable of putting a good run together. The question should be: Will the Wings get healthy IN TIME to make a run for the playoffs? I still have a gut feeling we'll make it, but a lower seed and it will come down to the wire.

Yeah, I really wish I could have seen Kindl play. I'm assuming he'll stay up since Ericsson is injured?

Someone summarize for me: Aside from the total suckfest, Kindl looked good and Bertuzzi is a beast again? Once again, I smell a trade coming the way injuries are decimating this team.

Wow, I logged on here to see the score. On the main forums page, all I could see was the most recent topic: "Lebda and Meech." Right then and there I knew we lost, and sure enough...

I don't see why everyone thinks the Hawks are in such bad shape next year. Aside from Hammer, all their decent players are signed. The rest are chaff that are easily and cheaply replacable.