RedWings Gone Wild

Boy, that's just about the most bitter post I've ever read. Were one of those 6 bombos in the limo an ex-girlfriend? I'm not sure how Dom got the locker room cancer label. Other than being at odds with Ted Nolan (lots of people in Buffalo, including the GM John Muckler, were also fueding with Nolan), i've really never heard of anything abnormally negative. In fact, when he contemplated retirement in his Buffalo days his teammates were practically s***ting themselves. It's not Dom's fault we signed him when we already had Cujo and Legacy... the management created the only controversy we had with Dom, he didn't create it (we didn't have to sign him). Anyways, i liked Darko Milicic's excuse for a swearing spree he had on tv thihs summer, saying that it's his personality that fuels him as an athlete. Like it or not, the same things these people are reveered for on the ice (or court in Darko's case), make them tough to be around in real life. The competative spirit and passion doesn't leave after they unlace their skates. I'm sure you can dig up dirt (or simply make it up as you probably have) on anyone who's ever worn a winged wheel. Hell, i've heard all kinds of Howe stories. It's ironic that you say he's screwed up team chemistry here and all that. As i've said before, the worst we've ever done with Hasek in net is a loss in the Western Confrence finals... we've always played to or exceeded expectations with him in net during the playoffs. If Dom screwed up chemistry, what can you say for all the goalies we've severely underachieved with (like Osgood, Legacy, Cujo)? I take this as just another post I wouldn't have seen if Hasek was canadian.

2 things. 1. I'm sure the people shooting on you in Junior hockey are comparable to the ones shooting on Dom, and likewise I'm sure your same tactic would work in the NHL. Hah. 2. He doesn't really blow at breakaways, just look at some of his work in past shootouts (like the olympics where he stopped some of the all time greats). However, breakaways aren't exactly easy to stop for any goalie. Look at Osgood last night, he was 0 for 3 in the shootout.

Yea, i can almost guarantee nobody with my last name has ever been in Michigan (other than people directly related to me). So, I'm a tad bit out of luck on that one.

Honestly, I've never been a fan of how a hockey Jersey looks on a person sans the ice, but that hasn't stopped me from buying some (tho it's been around 8-9 years since I've bought one). I have: 1. A tacky one with my own name on the back. I'm not sure how I avoided getting beaten up with that one. 2. A signed Ciccarelli jersey that I haven't worn since he signed it 3. A signed McCarty jersey I got for free from a friend who had a box of them. 4. I also have a Fetisov jersey somewhere. 5. and a plain no name Jersey. 6. and a plain Bruins jersey too (my default #2 team...tho in hind sight a poor choice).

Yes, but my point was that Brett is a player born in Canada to parents of Candian origin. That circumstance is nearly similar to the non-Russian born Russian citizen who choose to represent Russia. Anyways, I'm indifferent to the argument of +2 or -2 Russians.

Then you wouldn't mind me saying Brett Hull, technically, isn't American.

Why wouldn't he be pushing Gordie merchandise? In fact, I bet the team has as much to do with it as Gordie. You know, get that old nostalgia and history pumped into the fans to build a connection with them. In 5-10 years you'll have just as much Yzerman garbage on the market.

That makes no sense... Russians have been in the NHL for less than 20 years.. The names engraved on the Cup are mostly canadian because Europeans haven't been playing in the NHL for a long time. The first wave of Russians coming to the NHL (late 80s early 90s) was the sole reason we've won a cup since the Gordie days.. Without taking a risk on guys like Fetisov, Larionov, Konstantinov, Federov, and Kozlov we would not have won the back to back cups (factor in your other Europeans i.e. Lidstrom and Holmstrom and it's even more obvious). Those europeans made up the majority of our offence. We simply never would have had the pieces to win the cup without Europeans... and without the back to back cups we wouldn't have had the $ and notoriety to put together the 2002 squad. Also, if Canadians are so superior why have they won 1 olympic gold since the mid 50s? Actually, since the Russian's began playing hockey at the Olympics in 1954 North American teams have only won gold 3 times... I fail to see how a Canadian dominated team is assumed to be better than any other, when it has never been proven the case. I really don't see how you can possibly make the case for Russians not be able to win you a cup... what evidence do you have to the contrary?

I'm not implying anything to the contrary. I just enjoy the irony in these kinds of things.

We're an influential bunch, what can i say

Personally, I think I've answered this question in about 5 other threads started for this topic. I'm tired of it.

Buffalo wasn't a contender prior to the CBA. They hadn't made the playoffs for 3 straight seasons at that point. Prior to the CBA Carolina missed the playoffs 2 times in a row. They won the cup in 05-06 and again missed the playoffs. What are you talking about all three were legitimate contenders? How the hell can you contend from the golf course? Yes, Tampa won before the CBA, but they haven't been a legitimate contender since then. So, uh, wth are you talking about? All three legitimate contenders before the cap era? uh, no, only one of the two was a contender, and hasn't been a real legitimate one since (maybe this season). With the cap you're going to see less consistency in lineups and therefore more parity come playoffs. That's what I meant by my post.. You're going to see more teams go from zero to hero (and back to zero again) in a short amount of time. So there is no excuse for a team to be consistently bad other than through missmanagement. The wings are an origional 6, number 3 all time in cups, and blessed with recent success, and have a pretty good fan base.. so we are a desirable location, which gives us a leg up on a number of teams. I doubt we'll miss the playoffs a number of seasons in a row for a long time. You must begin training an heir!!

They do have something above the Norris Trophy. It's called the Hart trophy, and it's high time Lidstrom started getting consideration for one.

I was half tempted to make a joke about staff members murdering one another, but that might be in bad taste even for me.

By this I'm sure you mean Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, and Holmstrom right? For the record, they are currently our top 4 scorers. But I'm sure you can find a ton of recent cup winning teams without any european players on the roster.... yea... you kinda suck.

What a good point you make. After all, the Russian's we've had thus far haven't done us any good! Why get more? Datsyuk, Federov, Konstantinov, Fetisov, Kozlov, Larionov, Markov.... all bums! I'd hate to have "more" of them!

The worst we've done with Dom in net is a loss in the 3rd round of the playoffs. Well said, Hasek has indeed underperformed in net for us. Sure, Dom's best year were in Buffalo (by a long shot), but he has played well for us. We've never performed below expectations with Hasek (without injuries being the difference maker). The same can't be said for Osgood (your silly choice for #2 all time in a wings outfit). I remember last season we were essentially the underdogs in every series we played (Experts were predicting losses to Calgary and San Jose). No, Hasek didn't "win" either series for us, but he played his role as well as can be expected. Osgood has underachieved in the playoffs many times in a Detroit uniform. I hardly see how people can imply that when Hasek came to Detroit that he still wasn't the 2nd best goalie to wear the winged wheel.

I like both Drake and Downey, but I think I'd rather see Downey playing over Drake. Downey is young, so we can snuff him on minuites and he won't hurt the team's rhythm. However, Drake doesn't fit in with the team motif (the -6 that leads us by a long shot is enough to prove this). I was worried that when we signed Drake that he would be coming into a system that doesn't play his style of hockey. So why Downey over Drake? Simply because Downey is younger and more apt to adapt.

What can I say, one of many many reasons that I don't bother with pre or post game shows.

Honestly, the term greedy is unecessary. I mean, honestly, can you blame him for going back to Russia? Or any of these guys? I think the lack of Russian's in the NHL is greatly due to the salary cap. Some guys, like your Malkins, Semins, and Ovechkins can make big time bucks in the NHL because they are some of the top players in the world. However, the players that aren't elite can make more money at home, while being AT HOME. Why go to a country where you don't know the language, don't have friends or family, have to earn your spot, adjust to a different style of hockey, and still wind up making less money? Why bother? We can still entice some guys over here who are top tallents (like Grigs was), because it has long-term incentive for these guys if they can prove themselves. However, it's not worth it for players who are just going to be 3rd of 4th liners with an average sallary. So you won't see tons of Russians in the league. EDIT: I know Yashin was alrdy established in the NHL, but if u can make more $ while being close to friends and family.. why not?

I'd rather save the cap money and fill in some of the holes in our offence at trade deadline time.

This is Detroit, we have patience and dedication for almost everything in sports... but we always use two different Detroiters as the scapegoat every single year. Whoever is QB for the Lions, and whoever is in net for the Wings. It always happens, regardless of who we have. Also, I'm the exact opposite on the Dom v Ozz issue. I've always been a Dom fan, throughout his career. I vividly remember him in a Buffalo jersey, and when, with the Czechs, he shut out everyone for Olympic gold (he used to stop breakaways). I have never ever had confidence in Osgood. I like the guy, respect him, and all that, but I just don't expect him to come up big in the playoffs. I've seen all of his memorable moments, like his game 7 shutout against St Louis where Stevie scored the goal. I root for Osgood when he's on the ice, but I'd never feel confident going into the postseason with Osgood in the pipes, regardless of regular season statistics. I know my opinion isn't popular, but as Osgod said "just the way I feel. Always have always will."

I haven't been on this forum long enough, but i'd almost guarantee Fischer was a LGW wipping boy at some point. Ah well, I wish the guy all the best. I really hope he can play hockey again someday.

Sometimes I wish Babs would just so I'd have the thrill of the I-told-ya-so ... Though I doubt i'd remember this conversation a few months from now... so f it.

I'm going to pretend I didn't read that because otherwise I'm going to have to beat up someone significantly smaller than me. (and before anyone goes there... yes... sarcasm) No no, the only thing in me is liquidy and entoxicating. And in my defence, It's not afternoon where I'm living (it's almost midnight). Thought I don't see anything particularly aggressive about my last post. If you're the top in the west, then yes. I'm not denying that Hasek hasn't been playing well, I'm merely saying that we're in a position where we can afford to let him work out his kinks in game without having to worry about risking our season. It's better to continue splitting time with Osgood so we can see whether or not he can still play now, rather than still having him as an uncertainty as we near the playoffs. Our staff and players have spent the bulk of their time since 2002 talking about how to avoid hitting their peak mid-season. Since, when measuring our performance, this hasn't been achieved, I'd much rather not sweat it now. I could go through this thread (and a few of the other ones that have essentially housed the same discussion) and pull out plenty of "dom is done" style posts, and while I used your one-liner as the groundworks for my posts, I didn't intend it for your eyes only.