VM1138

They're only so passionate because most of them are criminally insane.

Well....the Hawks can enjoy this one. The Wings can take beating them in Round 2 or 3.

I'm glad we don't have an enforcer now. Looks like the only way to win a game is not to invade the personal space of an opposing player.

Well. That was bulls*** if I ever saw it.

Everyone is complaining about the length and saying that Franzen won't be any good later in the contract. Well, later in the contract he'll probably be making 1 million dollars, which seems perfectly reasonably to me. Franzen is clutch. He's a scorer, is a physical forward. We don't have anyone like him at his skill level. I like this signing a lot. It's not too bloated and is no doubt insurance if Hossa won't resign. People think we'll be losing all these players but don't seem to realize that we will also be finding other players. As someone mentinoed, next year is the only real cap issue year, and no doubt if a problem arises we can always find a cheap alternative to whoever we lose. I have faith in Kenny.

Don't understand the fear of Anaheim. Anaheim and St. Louis are both hot right now. Both play dirty. The only difference is travel, but it's only for one round and 2-3 games. After Round 1 we're unlikely to have to travel outside of the Central, unless we play San Jose. Me, I don't pick my poison, the Wings, if they paly like we know they can, can beat any team in the league.

Surprised at the length, but if it helps keep the cap hit down, I'm all for it. Not to mention that it takes away the drama of an experiing contract anytime soon. Makes long-term team building easier, and Franzen is clutch in every sense of the word.

Dallas, for sure. All the other teams are perennial bottom dwellers. To see Dallas, the year after going to the West Finals, fall apart was disappointing.

I just wandered over and took a peek at NHL.com's potential playoff matchup. The page also has the records vs. their prospective opponents and I noticed that all but one series is very lopsided. I know the playoffs are a different animal than the regular season, but I thought it was odd that every series except the NJD-PIT one boasts a season series of 3-1, 3-0, 4-0 or similar. Could this mean a quick playoffs?

Howard is a bust in my eyes. THe others are promising. Considering how we've had to float from goalie to goalie over the years, I don't see a problem in continuing to stack the goalie deck in GR.

If we are ever subjected to NHL teams with ads on their jerseys, I will stop watching. And that's hard for me to say.

This is the best attitude this board has had after a loss all year. They played really well and I'm feeling confident going into the playoffs with this team now.

Sucks to lose, but I feel like this is a "normal" loss. They didn't play bad. Ozzie was stellar for us. Just wasn't in the cards this time. Even with the loss it really seems like the Wings have finally shaken off whatever was messing with them all year.

Wow, so how about that Ward giving Ozzie a lapdance?

Trotz's eyebrow was just twitching out of control. I laughed out loud. It looked like he was suggesting something naughty to one of his players.

Wow, I really like what I'm seeing guys. It looks like they've finally gotten their act together. Look out whoever we play in the playoffs!

I hope Phoenix has one of those games where they play like an NHL team and completely demolish the Sharks.

I know some people fear Anaheim for playing good hockey as of late, but ALL of the teams in the West are going to be tough to beat. I'm not going to prefer any outright, but I do want to get a shot at doing some duck hunting. Then, maybe a Central matchup for the Conference Final? I think I'm more excited for that now than a SJS-DET matchup. A Chicago-Detroit conference final would do a lot to recreate epic hockey. You can tell it's playoff time, I have to stop myself from lookign too far in the future now. The season isn't even done yet! Hope the Wings stomp on Nashville. A winning streak going into the postseason, especially against the Central, will do a lot for us.

Aren't tickets in Columbus really cheap, too? Personally, I've always kind of liked Columbus, btu they've always been off my radar. Maybe if their success continues (until they run into the Wings buzzsaw that is) we can see a real rivalry develop. That'd be great to have a Chicago-Detroit-Columbus rivalry causing all sorts of great hockey.

Illitch is really making a case for the new Wings arena to be named after him. The Illitch Arena is currently tops on my lists of names. The things he's done for the Tigers, Wings, and the city of Detroit, he deserves it.

Money being tight and all, I think I still have to pick one of these up. Very cool design.

Wow, this sucks. Hope you get better, Lilja, you've really become a solid defenseman. On the bright side, the last time an important Wings player had a head injury, we won the cup.

The travel thing isn't as important this year. The West this year is stacked with close teams. It's entirely possible that we go to the West coast for Anaheim in Round 1 and then hang out in the Central and East for the rest of the playoffs. In that case, I don't think travel is a big deal this year.

He can do it. 3 points in 3 games? For Datsyuk? I bet he gets them in one game.

Exactly. I wish them all the success in the world, until they run into the Detroit buzzsaw. I think right now Columbus is the better team out of the two, though, but I look forward to re-igniting the Detroit-Chicago rivalry this year.