VM1138

Um...do you really think that works? It's not working for Turco, it's not working for Ozzie, it didnt' work for Hasek...see a pattern? You need to let them rest, get their s*** together, and come back. But look, there's no sense debating this. Ozzie will start the playoffs. It'll be just like last year. We're hoping the whole team will suddenly turn on a switch come playoff time and that applies to Ozzie, too. Think of last year. If Ozzie drops the first game or two due to bad play, we go to Conklin. We're not trading for a goalie so I don't know why we're still discussing this. Conks has been solid for us when Ozzie wasn't. All these arguments are CARBON COPIES of last season. So people need to relax and know that we're going to be fine goaltending wise. It's defense that concerns me.

I don't think Franzen is leagues ahead of Hudler. They're very different players of equal skill in what they do. Different roles.

That was McCarty? I only caught a few minutes on the radio and noticed Ken Kal wasn't there and Paul Woods was doing play by play. I liked McCarty without even knowing it was him. Very cool.

We've got more developed and better talent in the system than last year. We've been kicking ass and taking names, I'm pretty pleased. It says a lot that some teams lose one or two players and struggle, and we're down quite a few and we've actually been playing BETTER.

Let's not forget that many players keep playing at a high level well into their late 30s. Having Hossa past 35 doesn't necessarily mean he's going to start sucking. Looking at his track record, I seriously doubt he's going to be one of those guys relegated to the fourth line when he's 36 or 37. He's still giong to be tearing up the league.

Loved having Aaron Ward on the team. Miss Fischer, too. Picture those two still playing for the Wings? Boston won't be good past this year (it's just not in the cards for Eastern teams to be consistent) so in a few years Ward might find himself looking for a new home.

Not if history is any indication. Maybe if he would learn to let himself heal, but so long as he keeps playing hockey before he is fully healed, he's going to keep re-injuring himself and delaying a full-time comeback.

In case no one saw the other thread: Hossa basically confirmed he will take less money to stay. Not a guarantee that he's staying, but if you read his full quotes, it seems like he fully expects to be here next year, and long-term. Also, I know he's not an expert on it, but Hossa feels that Holland can keep both him and Franzen for next season. When all the teams were competing for Hossa last year, I worried he was a bit of a prima donna, but everything we've seen this year has shown and proven that Hossa is an excellent team player with a strong sense of being a part of a team.

Didn't like Roberts last season, but yes, I would like to see him. He's one of the few 4th liners out there who doesn't seem to be simply washed up and pushed down on the roster. I also really liked Lapointe. I know he hasn't done much since, but the very few times I've seen games he was in, the commentators always mentioned how he was still a solid player. I'd love to see him come back for a league minimum and add some grit. Downey had some grit, but nothing else. We need a player who can do a little more than hit, and a little more than just score.

Didn't see this posted anywhere else, but Hossa was talking about how awesome Datsyuk is and said this which I found amusing: "Most times he is like the Terminator when he goes through the glass," Hossa said. "He just moves through people." Datsyuk = Terminator? EDIT: Saw the article was already posted, but the quote wasn't.

You know, I actually think Maltby might be a better agitator by not fighting. Think about it: He shoots off at the mouth so much it irritates people and then he won't give them the satisfaction of fighting. That'd piss me off if I were an opponent moreso than if I got to beat him down. Thus he does his job.

I know that if Nick Lidstrom told me to do something, who am I, a mere mortal, to resist?

Wow, Smith makes a classy move and then gets punished for it? This league sends so many mixed signals...

Straight out of Hossa's mouth: "Everyone knows that to play in Detroit you have to take less money...I'll take less money." Not bad hearing Hossa say that Holland will probably be able to keep him AND Mule. Now if only Mule feels the same way... No worries in my mind. I think it's all a matter of when and how much. I feel so much better about this now. What's interesting is that the article quotes that Hossa is looking to make between Zetterberg and Datsyuk's money. But in another article that seemed just as reliable, it says Hossa knows he won't make more than Datsyuk. Considering how the media was slightly off on Z's new contract before it was signed, anyone else have a feeling he'll match Zetterberg's contract? I wonder how many years we're offering Hossa?

The Hasek! Man I miss him.

This took me all of three seconds to come up with my names: Claude Lemeiux, Chris Pronger and the Lord Ass-hat, Patty Roy. Horrible human beings.

Amazing. Lady Byng, Selke, Stanley Cup, the list goes on and on... 2009 will be a very good year for Mr. Datsyuk.

Why is one of the players holding a dog? EDIT" Does anyone remember who won the game that Montreal wore the vintage jersey? Because I'd be willing to bet they did, I'm sure Boston players were having freaking seizures seeing those whipping around the ice.

Hossa has more career potential than Flip, and he's there right now and will be for years. If we lose Flip, too bad. The "depth" is upgraded, not lost. I really don't want to lose Hudler, but if we can keep Franzen AND Hossa, I guess I could learn to live with it. Actually, now that I think about it, as much as I like Franzen, Cleary does play a similar role. If we HAD to lose Hudler or Franzen, I might be inclined to say keep Hudler, but I seem to change my mind day to day. They're both just so good!

For being in the Central Division and for playing generally good games against us, I just can't get excited for a Nashville game. Probably the Western team I care the least about. Meh. Hope the Wings crush them, I'll be at work.

On a normal team you are absolutely right. But the situation changes when we're trying to keep Hossa, Franzen, and Hudler. If there is any way, any way at all to keep all three of those guys, Flip has to be the one to be let go, you know? I kind of have a feeling that Hudler will walk, just because Babcock wouldn't give him ice time for so long, and in that case keep Flip, but I think Hossa, Franzen and Hudler is better than Hossa, Franzen and Flip or Hossa, Flip and Hudler.

Agreed. I think a ranking would look something like thsi, regarding modern defenseman: Superhuman: Lidstrom Great: Nobody Good: Chara, etc. Just seems to me that, like goalies, there is a serious drought in truly excellent defensemen. But then again, maybe we've just been spoiled having Chelios when he was still excellent, and Lidstrom hsi entire career? I'm so used to Nick being perfect (except for the very beginning of this year) that if I see a defenseman make even an innocent mistake, it takes him out of the "Great" category. Am I being too tough on today's defensemen?

Hopefully they keep it up. Babcock mentioned blocking shots, and then the Pens game was FULL of blocked shots, I don't know which one came first, but it's an indication that they know how to fix this now.

Exactly. None of us "hate" Flip, I don't think. I'd love for him to stay on this roster. But push come to shove, when you have to make the best team out of limited roster space and cap space, keeping Flip while letting Franzen and Hudler go is a mistake. Especially if we lose Franzen first, there's no excuse for not keeping Hudler over Flip. Flip will never develop here. He could be great somewhere else, but he won't be here. He's a good player, but that's all he'll ever be here, and we need to keep players who could potentially be great, like Hudler. I would imagine that with a year under his belt, Leino would be filling Flips role pretty well.

Well, we would have Hossa to shut down those top forwards. Hossa is basically a massive upgrade on Flip, so keeping Hudler would serve the team better than keeping Flip.