wingsownnhl43

Firehawk, it's funny you say that because i have been thinking that for a long time. I think the salary cup may actually be an advantage to us. We have been able to develop our own players, we havent been able to trade away our prospects at the deadline. Now we have a great core, we dont need to deal at the deadline, and we get to keep our top picks. Our scouting is our #1 strength and alwasy has been, not our ability to spend money.

I apologize in advance, this is going to sound ridiculous. Overrated - Johan Franzen - The media and LGW made a huge fuss when he was out, some saying we couldnt win without him. That's just absurd. He isnt that huge of a loss, our team is so deep and talented. Underrated - Johan Franzen - Most people still dont view him as a stud but the guy has 28 goals in 29 games. Average players dont do that, he is legit.

I would have to say that all of you are extremely biased. Basically what you guys are saying is that Zetterberg and Datsyuk are the better than Crosby, which would also mean that if you were ranking the best players in the game Detroit would have numbers 1,2, and 3, if you include Lidstrom, which is not the case. Crosby IS the best player in the world. He is being smother right now by an amazing TEAM. Great teams beat great players, and that is on display in this series. One of you guys said if Datsyuk and Zetterberg were on the pens they would put up big numbers which might be true. But dont forget to put the dress on both ways. If Crosby played for Detroit he would probably be seen as a better all around player because thats how we play. Dont get ahead of yourselves guys, Crosby, although a whinny annoying biatch, is the best player in the game.

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Filpulla - Sundin - Franzen Cleary - Draper - Samuelsson Kopecky - Helm - Maltby Hudler - McCarty Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart Ericcson - Lebda Meech Osgood Howard I think everyone is hyping Hudler to much recently. He's had a good playoffs, but he isnt a top 6 forward. For his size he only has average speed. I can see us signing a veteran to a one year contract because we have the cap room for this upcoming season only and not future seasons as we have to lock up Filp, Franzen, and Z

Not often do fans compliment referees on how well a game was officiated, but i really appreciated how the refs called the end of game 2. As we have seen many times as Red Wing fans, opposing teams tend to get bitter and start to act in a classless manner by taking cheap shots at our players.: (Jamie Maclennan, Mike Ribiero, Steve Ott, and many more). I thought the refs did a great job of controlling this by calling a penalty every time the Penguins took a cheap shot. There's no place for that garbage in sports. You got outplayed, be a professional. Don't take cheap shots on our best players because you are jealous. I thought the refs sent a great message, if you want to play that way, fine, do it shorthanded.

If we win the cup will he get another ring?

I mean, the question isnt that ridiculous as Bowman still works for the team as a senior adviser. I'm just not sure if scouts and advisers get rings.

It seems like everyone has been really understanding about him not playing, and rightfully so, he was arguably our best player down the stretch. But, literally no one on this board has taken the antagonistic opinion. I, however, am somewhat upset that he is out for game 1 against Pittsburgh. I understood that we didnt want to take any risks with him against Dallas, as we clearly outmatched them and that doctors wouldnt even let him practice, but my god, this is the Stanley Cup Finals. I thought hockey was the sport where players gutted it out and played without the OK from the doctors? He says he feels fine, he is practicing, why can't you play in game one of a CHAMPIONSHIP round? Isn't this why you play the game? What every hockey player dreams of? Don't get me wrong, I love Franzen, I think he is an awesome player, but i kind of want him to be that player that refuses to be taken off the ice. Who knows, maybe it's just the European mind set. Does anyone else echo my thoughts, or am i totally off base?

I think we've established that a head injury is different from an ankle injury. I was merely responded to Reilly's post saying you can never go against doctors orders when in all actuality, you can.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:IClXY...lient=firefox-a Some people risk their careers with injuries. You CAN play without medical clearance.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:IClXY...lient=firefox-a Some people risk their careers with injuries. You CAN play without medical clearance.

The reason I started the thread is because Franzen has said he's ready and also Babs said he is ready to play him, yet the doctors won't clear him. He has practiced, worked out, and said it has went fine. Part of me thought if he's ready and practicing with no side affects, then play, screw the doctors it's the SCFs. The other part thought, as most of you thought, that head injuries are nothing to mess with. The fact that I wavered back and forth, I thought merited a discussion. As for the second part of your post, I don't think that all Europeans are soft. I will say, as a whole, I think Euros are softer than North American players though.

Also a very good post, put some things in perspective for me, unlike this fukin idiot.. "i'm with the OP, franzen's a wuss ... brain damage, shmain shmamage, if rocky can tough it out, why can't franzen? and that was boxing, and he's still fine ... speaking of lame excuses for injuries, why aren't fischer and konstantinov playing? what's with all these soft euros? this is the stanley cup finals, suck it up and shake it off boys! blink.gif"

very good post. Babs summed up the thread.

I appreciate the responses of most of the posters in this thread who decided to respond in a respectful manner, without name calling or smart a$$ comments. I'm not into that, I don't think it adds to any discussion. I post on here to feel out other peoples thoughts. I know I'm not always right and that sometimes my thoughts are off base. I just can't understand why Franzen gets a free pass without anyone questioning the injury at all. I know I'm not a doctor and that I don't know what's going on behind the scenes. I also know that a concussion is a serious injury and is nothing to mess around with, but like Maltbymaniac said, all thats been reported are headaches and concussion like symptoms, not a full blown concussion. I've had mild concussions before and none of them lingered 13-15 days. I don't think it's ignorant to simply call him out. The people on here that are getting so defensive are only doing so because they cant fathom that their newly beloved star could possibly be a china doll.

Not true, I've heard many stories of athletes refusing to listen to their doctors. However, i do understand Seeinred's response. I can totally understand that.

Alright, what is the official rule on this? I've played competitive hockey for 15 years so it's not like I'm new to the game. I'm generally pretty good with rules, but after watching this game, I have no idea what to think. After the Datsyuk goal getting disallowed i figured the rule was if your skates in the crease, then no goal. The very next Dallas goal there was a player that had his full body in the crease and it wasnt disallowed. What's the rule?

This is what I have a problem with. I agree, the goal earlier in the series should have been waved off. It was the wrong call but you move on. There shouldnt be any make up call a couple games later. Complete and utter bullsh!t

The most likely line up Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Filppula - Franzen - Samuelsson Cleary - Draper - Hudler Helm - Kopecky - Maltby McCarty - Meech Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart Ericsson - Lebda Quincey Osgood Howard * I don't even see that Leino character even making the team * Make room for all of Ericsson, Meech, and Quincey by making Meech a forward NOTE - This team is about 7-8 mil under the cap. We can afford to go after a UFA for this year, but we CAN NOT afford a multi year contract being that Zetterberg and Franzen will probably get 8 mil in raises. I could see us signing a UFA veteran forward to a one year contract. Itll be interesting to see if we try and do this.

All the wings have to do to steam roll the pens is shut down Malkin and Crosby. That being said the hardest part of the series will be shutting down Malkin and Crosby. As for a series breakdown. Offense - EVEN - I take Zetterberg and Datsyuk over Malkin and Crosby all day. As of right now, Zetterberg and Datsyuk are better all around players. An advantage for the pens is that Malkin and Crosby are separated and have two dominant lines. I think the wings can shut down one of the lines, but it will be extremely difficult to shut down both. Detroit has alot more depth and will need secondary scoring if they want to win. Defense - Detroit - Pens fans would like to think this is a slight edge, wings fans would like to think it's a huge edge. The reality is somewhere in between. I dont think any Pens defender would be in the wings top 4, this includes Stuart. The pens, however, have played well collectively. They havent seen an offense like Detroit's yet, but the wings havent seen an offense like the pens either. Goaltending - EVEN - Osgood has played well, but Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Sykora will get to him. Wings fans have put Ozzy on a pedestal, however in reality he hasnt faced too many difficult shots. The pens offense will generate opportunities and beat him. Same goes for Fleury. He has never felt the pressure of a SCF and is very young, the wings will get to him. Both defenses will need to play extremely well to get an edge here. Powerplay - EVEN- Pens powerplay is probably better, but the Wings powerplay is nothing to laugh at. Bottom line, any team that takes excessive penalties will get burnt. Edge - There will be games when the wings simply wont have a remedy for Crosby, Malkin, and Hossa. In the end, experience, depth, and defense will provail. Wings in 7.

Did anyone else hear Mike Babcocks post game press conference when he referenced Ericcson a stud? To me, Babs made it sound like theres no way he wont be here next season, and if he's that good, there isnt any reason he shouldnt be. re-sign Stuart, re-sign Chelios While I think Lilja has improved greatly over the years, there's just no room for him now. Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart Chelios - Ericcson Lebda If we lose Meech and Quincey by letting Ericcson play, so be it. They are absolutely replaceable. Sign some journeymen to be a minor league contract or something.

I don't have the exact link to the video, but you can find Babcocks post game press conference on tsn.ca if you search well enough.

Sorry, but if Babs is raving over Ericsson right now and cant believe we arent dressing him, why would we waste his talent in GR? If Ericcson is as NHL ready as Babs made him out to be, he will be here next season, as he has top 2 pairing potential. Guys like Lebda, Quincy, Meech are nothing more than depth defenseman. They can be replaced very easily.

I agree, Franzen has been playing out of this world, but if we win games 3 and 4 without him, would he really be our most valuable player of the playoffs?

oops