VM1138

Agreed. This whole "tarnishing" crap is stupid. They're playing different roles. If Chelios were demanding massive contracts and playing time and was playing out of his league, then yes, that might be a different story. But as of right now, Chelios comes back and the defense finally wakes up. Coincidence? Sometimes I wonder. EDIT: Also, Shanny didn't pull a Niedermayer or Selanne. I've gotta defend Shanny here. He was loyal and waiting for the Rangers to make a move on him. They made him wait for nothing, and then Shanny was left stranded in the middle of nowhere. With the cap situation most teams didn't know what to do, but he was still scooped up once the Rangers stopped messing around with him. Unlike Niedermayer or Selanne, Shanahn wasn't tryign to pull anything. He just wanted to play but was giving his team the benefit of the doubt.

Hudler is underrated, yes. The guy is a work-horse that never gives up and always supplies this team with energy. And yes, he has been quietly become a damned scary player. I'm reluctant to say he'll be as good as Dats or Z....but then again I had doubts about Z in his early seasons. Actually, I felt about Z what I feel about Hudler, so that's a connection I've never made before. Hudler isn't quite the two-way player Z is. I think Huds will be a legit scoring threat, and in a year or two could be a legit 1st liner, but I don't know if he'll ever be like those two. He could easily become a superior Franzen, though, and having those two back up Datsyuk and Zettberberg isn't shabby at all. In the early days, I thought Huds and Flip were going to be junior versions of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, but then Flip had to go and stop developing while Hudler kept rolling...

I still can't believe that. That's gotta be one of the great sports stories, that whole playoff run was magic. What's funny, is that when Yzerman retired, I felt that no one could replace him and that Lidstrom was just a great player. I had doubts about him being Captain, but damn, has he ever proved his leadership quality and brought his play to another level. #5 has to be retired upon retirement as well, Lidstrom has devoted his entire career to the Wings and being the best defenseman in the world....man. I can't see another player with #19 or #5 without thinking of Y zerman or Lidstrom.

That's what's so funny about this whole thing. Lidstrom had a terrible first half, by Lidstrom's standards. But even during his worst game, he was still probably the best defenseman in the league. All these up and comers, I'm not jealous or anything, because I'm looking forward to finally having a great crop fo defenseman, something the league hasn't had since MacInnis retired, but they're all just regular good players, not best in the world.

Shanny was one of my favorites, but I'm not so sure he has the heart to win anymore, and when he left, though it disappointed me, I now think that he might not have fit very well into this Lidstrom-Babcock era Red Wings squad. Wish him the best of luck, he's still an effective player and will help out any team who signs him.

That whole article doesn't even make any sense. He wrote it 3 weeks into the 2006-2007 season, when the standings haven't even begun to sort themselves out in any predictable pattern. It is funny, though, considering how well the Wings did during the regular season. And lines like "The Tigers can't be a smokescreen for Red Wings failure any more" are classic hilarity.

Missed the game due to work, but I'm glad the roll keeps going. Did the WIngs play consistently like they have been since end of December? If so, I think it's safe to say the team is fully back.

I just hope that we don't lose a bunch of players in order to make room for Hossa, and then not make a deal with Hossa. I don't think Kenny would make a mistake like that, but man that'd be awful.

I love how whenever they talk about Hakaan ANdersson, it's always "superscout Hakaan Andersson" like it's part of his name.

I guess they have to protect officials, but a gentle shove to get him out of the way doesn't seem like worthy of real punishment.

I don't really care to see any Eastern teams except for a select few. The West is where the best hockey is played, and let the rivalries develop there. Basically, I'd only really want to see the Wings play Original Six teams, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Philadelphia, the Islanders (always had a soft spot for them, even though they're terrible), and Washington. I think instead of "each team plays such and such x number of times" we should go to a system where whoever picks the schedule aims for holding the best games. For example, Chicago-Detroit games are starting to awaken the old rivalry. So let's play 8 games versus them. Nashville, on the other hand, sucks: 1 or 2 games. Sadly, I guess that can't happen because everything has to be fair and balanced.

Clearly the GAA is dropping like a rock. I'm not too worried. Our goalies and defense have waken up and we're back to normal. First half of the season is irrelevant if they play well from here on out.

He also was trying out different equipment that handled the puck differently. I think Mick or Ken mentioned that part of the new pads actually had the puck roll off his shoulder and behind him (into the net) instead of stopping the puck.

The Stanley Cup Winning team last year demolished many depleted teams by scores less than tonight? They played very well, and were firing on all cylinders. That WAS the Cup-winning Wings.

What is it about Turco and the Joe? It's freaking supernatural how he can be an elite goalie game in, game out, but as soon as he comes into the Joe he's a helpless fawn.

Not a fan of Albom, but that was damn good. I've also been a critic of Detroit, but who doesn't love an underdog story?

Not from those areas, but if you're just looking for some basic Red Wings merchanise, you'll find them anywhere. Hats, shirts, etc are sold at virtually any mall, even box stores like Wal-Mart or Meijer. Around Detroit there is Hockeytown Authentics, but like I said, I'm not from the southern part of the state and can't be of much help.

Turco probably couldn't sleep last night after watching Datsyuk's moves the last two games. If Datsyuk embarassed him before, imagine what Super-Datsyuk is going to do.

That's the only fair and reasonable way to go. Conks has been on fire, and you go with the hot goalie. Ozzie, I think, is back to his 2007-2008 form, but he still should have to fight for his spot. It'll only make him better, and I've never heard of any issues between Conk and Ozzy, they're both familiar with rotation. I'm getting excited again, now that the Wings are playing like they should have been all along. With two great goalies back in form, it should be a hell of a run.

It does throw your game off, even if you are elite. That, and the fact that he's always been a slow starter, and the whole team was in a funk. It seems they've got that monkey off their back, though, and are back in form. Same goes for Ozzie, he's only played the one game since the Winter Classic, but he was great, and he cited equipment changes and injuries as well for throwing his game off before. Come to think of it, Datsyuk was using a different stick when he was struggling in the first part of the season. Guess that'll teach the WIngs never to change equipment again.

No, absolutely not. If the Wings go to the FInals, but didn't have any reps at the ASG, and the West loses, Detroit is screwed? That doesn't make any sense.

I agree with you. From day one it was clear this guy was going to be a marquee player for us, and I'm surprised so many people were against his contract. They expected him in his first three seasons to become a dominant playoff performer? It was clear that eventually he would be. I'll never understand people dogging him. He's been the most consistently awesome player on the Wings team since....well....Federov?

Always glad to see someone return to hockey after going through some sort of adversity. Except Claude Lemieux. But seriously, more power to him and I'm glad he's back for another round.

Washington will be the "young upstart team" that we beat in the Finals this year. Mark my words. Isn't it amazing, though, that Washington is finally turning itself around? If I told you a few years ago that Washington would be 2 points behind the Red Wings the year after the Wings won the Cup, you wouldn't believe me.

The team is really looking like they could repeat now. If they do, I want everyone to remember Conklin and Datsyuk in recent games, I really think they jumpstarted this team (as well as Ozzie's stellar play the other night)