VM1138

Many players have credited Chelios with being a good and steady influence on their play over the years. He was Captain of the Chicago Blackhawks and widely respected as an excellent leader. Just last year some of the guys (including Ericcson I think) were praising him for helping them out. Chelios is a born leader and I don't know if he'd be a good head coach (there's no way of telling until a person actually coaches) but he'd be an excellent defensive coach.

Wouldn't it be great if this kid keeps up his level (and improves) and becomes the next franchise player? It'd be great to have a kid starting with the Wings young and playing a long career with the team.

"Like you, I reveled in the way the Hawks conquered western Canada and nearly closed the black hole of eastern Michigan last spring, but I have a bad feeling about this season. The start of it, anyway." Sorry Tribune writer...the Hawks didn't nearly close out Detroit. Not even close.

Helm, Abdelkader, and from what I hear, Eaves, all like to bang people around. With a full season of them knocking everything that moves to get to the net, plus Bertuzzi, I'm not so sure having a physical forward is what we're missing right now. There's a difference between a fighter and a physical player. We have physical players, just not a fighter.

I really like it, I was just going to post something on this myself. Very good read. My only problem is that Ovechkin and Crosby were included on 2nd All Decade Team. I won't get into my Crosby issues, but I really don't think, in fairness, that either one of them has been around long enough to be considered in an evaluation of the entire decade.

Bucci....you didn't think that out very well. I believe there are already tons of college and minor league hockey teams and leagues out there already...what's the point in making the NHL another one of those? I don't think the league needs to be shrunk necessarily, but FORTY teams with small arenas? Absurd. Especially when you realize that such a setup would make the league extraordinarily vulnerable to economic fluctuations. They just need smarter placement of teams (i.e. moving Phoenix).

I forsee Kolzig unretiring to back up Osgood when Howard fails.

Good article, except for the things already mentioned, plus the conclusion where he says the Wings usually find a way to win, at least in the regular season. Last time I checked they find ways to win in the playoffs too...two consecutive Finals appearances, one Cup win, and three straight Western Conference appearances...

Let's be fair, they are Stanley Cup champions are should be on all the sports covers. But, we all know that even had they lost they'd still be on all the sporst covers. As for them being undeserving, I don't know. They outplayed the Wings a lot during the series. That being said, they could only barely scrape up a slim Game 7 win against a Wings team that was tired, seriously injured, and not playing with a lot of heart. Because of that I think it's clear the Wings were the better team, and if they were to meet up and both be healthy the Wings would take that series. I don't want to say they didn't deserve to win, but they certainly weren't considerably better than the Wings even when the Wings were injured.

He won't ever come to the Wings, he already publicly stated that he would feel as if he was betraying the historic rivalry. He said this last summer or the year before, I can't recall which. I think it's time for him to hang them up. Sure, he has skill, but he's not durable enought o play anymore. He's asking a team to take a chance on him and he will, 100% become injured for much of his stay and leave the team out to dry.

Guys, didn't the all-star, '02 team lose every game in the preseason? It means and indicates nothing.

Crosby at 1? Why are we still discussing this guy as one of the elites? He's talented, sure. One of the best right now, but I really don't even see how it's debatable that he's always ranked number 1 when Ovechkin outdoes him, Zetterberg shut him down two years in a row, he's not the best player on his team, and other players have better leadership qualities. EDIT: And Fleury over Brodeur? Wow....just...wow. I wouldn't take Fleury over Osgood, let alone Brodeur. The kids has had a couple of good games and streaks and a lot of bad games. EDIT 2: I'm surprised they put Franzen on the list. It doesn't seem to me that anyone outside the Wings would really appreciate him.

Leino and Flip = mini Datsyuk and Zetterberg.

Me, too. It is only one half of a game, thuogh. I'm sure he'll get another chance to suck it up. But if he plays lights out like he has been, and can be another reclamation project, I'm all for it.

Piss poor start, pretty good finish, I thought.

I can't wait for the Sweden games.

Me, too. Now if he can stop some pucks I'll like him even more!

Cloutier mixing it up already. Wow.

ANOTHER Rangers PP?

Yeah, I'm just getting random hockeyc lips from Atdhe/JustinTV right now. That sucks.

Do they bring up minor league refs for pre-season games, like the players? Haha.

I'm glad to see one of our newer guys has found his spot on this team. Flip and Leino should really complement each other well this season. Imagine if they stay hot, we recombine Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Two lines of dynamite chemistry? Awesome.

I am not amused.

They just look discombobulated. You can tell there's no chemistry going on. This remind anyone of Mystery, Alaska?

Me, too. The whole team....not off to a great start. Flip looks good, though.