VM1138

I don't understand why everyone wants to get rid of Stuart so bad. Two playoff runs in a row he's been one of out best defensemen. I think he's been even better than Kronwall. I'd rather keep him and just pay him millions to play on the third pairing (if necessary) than get rid of him. The anti-Stuart attitude aroudn here boggles my mind. It's as if he's the worst player ever, based on how frequently people include trading him in their roster ideas.

I get what you're saying, but I really think the reality is that the Wings don't plan on Howard being the future. All signs to them switching to Larsson in future years. They "haven't bailed on him yet" because they can't afford to. Conklin left. Howard can't be sent down without losing him for nothing, so he has to have the backup spot. THey're hoping that because it's Detroit, he won't have to be great, and so it's not a high level risk (they hope). But if Osgood has to carry more starts and runs the risk of injury, the team will be in serious trouble. They are merely waiting to see what their options are, I think, not planning on letting Howard pan out, beacuse they know he's shown absolutely no improvement over the last few seasons.

That's a lame-ass goalie fight. Phaneuf is really stepping up his ******-baggery, isn't he? The Wings are going to have to watch out for him this year.

He can't. That's the only reason they finally gave him a shot, not because they felt confidence in him. Cloutier isn't any better than Howard. What we're going to have to do is hope Howard gets his act together til be builds up some trade value, then trade him and either bring up Larsson early or grab someone else.

Holmstrom has said that this will likely be his last year (I seem to recall this somewhere...), so we wouldn't be able to trade him. I'd like Frolov here, and it's a possibility, but we'll see how this year turns out.

It's good to hear that Howard is really the only dud in our system. I was really excited to see how Eaves would do and it sounds like he was really good out there.

I'm not a fan. I know they're classic, but they are simply too cartoonish for me.

Wow, everyone is really excited about this kid. He definately seems to be the most hyped prospect since I've been following the Wings. Maybe even higher than Datsyuk and Zetterberg?

They have a hockey culture, sure, but they're all ****** bags. Worst sports fans in the nation. At least Caps fans won't make my brain bleed.

And Datsyuk was still making things happen, even without the goals coming. He was all over the ice, and he got the first half of his pretty stuff going but then fizzled out (largely due to the injuries). I have no qualms with Datsyuk's performance. More goals would have been nice, naturally, but I don't particularly blame him, knowing the circumstances.

Philadelphia sucks. My career someday may take me in that general direction. God I hope I end up in DC instead, as far as hockey towns go.

What are they saying? What exactly did Delmore to do these guys?

As frustrated as I was during the summer, I now feel pretty good about this team and I think the WIngs can dominate to the Finals again this year. The Sporting News has the Pens and Wings in the Finals again, interestingly, but they have the Pens winning. Sorry, but no way does a Pens team beat the Wings in 7 games without the Wings being seriously injured. Despite playing with 0 passion and through massive injuries, the Wings still nearly won the Cup. I think the Wings have added hunger and motivation along with a little more energy and speed along with a dose of physicality (possibly a big dose, but we'll see how it turns out). I have a good feeling about this year. The only worry I have is about Howard, but hopefully Larsson can step in if Howard slips.

Wow, does the Wings PP suck that badly that they get SEVEN chances and can't score on it? What is the PP unit?

I stopped listenign because the announcers weren't even talking about the play by play. Had no idea what was going on for the longest time. Good to see they tied it up.

Why bother posting the game if you're not going to stream it? Crap.

Most of them don't actually work until game time, I think. That's mye xperience anyways. I hope one of them works tonight.

They're legal now?

Filpulla will only be playing center, and he's not a first line player, either. He'll center the second line, unless Zetterberg is split from Datsyuk, in which case he'll be 3rd line until someone gets hurt again. He's better than 3rd line but there's only so much room.

In my NHL 09 dynasty, Kindl in his first season is one of my best defenseman. So naturally that means he will be awesome in real life, too. Seriously, it seems mroe and more that the "inconsistency' people worried about was simply him adjusting to the game. I think he's going to be everything the Wings hope he will be.

Yes, but just like other stats, playoff performance is better than regular season in my mind, even with hits. Not many players have their name turned into a verb for destruction, after all.

I don't see a reason for Cloutier, really. Even if Howard isn't great, he doesn't have to be. In order to save cap space and test out just how good he is, we need to go with Howard. He just has to be decent enough to not get blown out each night, and the team will do the rst. Ozzie will be carrying the load.

I honestly can't think of too many players who are better hitters than Kronwall during the playoff months each year.

Biebe beats out Reggie Dunlop, for the reasons already mentioned. Dunlop wasn't that great of a leader. Biebe was a much better leader.

No, he's just dodging out of the way so fast that the camera can't pick him up clearly.