stevkrause

That means we're in the top 5 of teams to lose in OT - those other 3... Tampa, Toronto and Dallas... 2 of the worst teams in the NHL and another team out of playoff contention... Florida is the only other team with 9 or more even in the top 8 playoff spots right now... What this says? To me, it says that we need to settle down more and need more composure in crunch time *cough* 3rd period with 2 goal leads *cough* - and THIS is where leadership needs to step up... Maybe it's time to add another vet to this squad with winning in his past...

I don't believe it - the Palace is a HORRIBLE place for hockey (caught a couple Vipers games back in the day) and it just doesn't make sense... I see them extending the lease year by year until a new one can be built...

I am making a declaration, right here... I will sit through the Joe for 1 more year and then I am done! Following the '10-'11 campaign - I will not go to another Red Wings game until they are in a new arena... officially breaking my 25 year streak of going to at least 1 Wings game a year... It is way past its prime and needs to go...

last night is the epitome of the expression "sh*tting the bed"

no one is saying he is going to supplant any of the top 4, or that he belongs there, but he could easily be a top 4 on any other team when healthy and is a GREAT number 6 d-man... it's all about value for the position he is in(number 6 d-man) - and that is HUGE.

anyone who thinks he'll be "out of shape" is out of their mind and delusional... he's been in the weight room like a mad man and practicing at full speed with the team ALL YEAR - there will be a slight adjustment to game speed, as it is different than practice, but his conditioning stint in GR and 3, yes 3 NHL games is all it will take for him to be back to AT LEAST 90% speed and endurance in GAME ACTION...

that might not actually be the pairs, but with the way they've played all year and their strengths/weaknesses, that's what I'm predicting...

I definitely don't think you're out of line at all and I hope I'm wrong, but I think there is going to be an upset for Canada at home... that Russian team looks scary...

Really? Erik Johnson / Brian Rafalski Brooks Orpik / Mike Komisarek Paul Martin / Ryan Sutter Jack Johnson that doesn't look solid to you? I see a great balance of speed, offense, defense, physicality and hockey smarts... I do agree that on paper the US is not better than all those teams, but as Ryan Miller has proven all year in Buffalo, he can steal a game and I think he will do that on more than one occasion in the Olympics...

I agree... but I think Ryan Miller is the wild card along with the US defense in the whole formula...

pretty solid - I think Russia is the biggest threat this year, but Sweden should not be overlooked... If I had it my way G: USA S: Canada B: Sweden what I think is going to happen: G: Russia S: Canada B: USA

this. no one is saying he is going to supplant any of the top 4, or that he belongs there, but he could easily be a top 4 on any other team when healthy and is a GREAT number 6 d-man... it's all about value for the position he is in - and that is HUGE

as I've said all year - Come seasons end, one of, if not both, Meech and/or Lebda will not be Red Wings...

I think Holland basically took a flier on both Williams and Bertuzzi, hoping one of them would stick and it'd be a bargain... and it worked... It's the resurgence of Bert that makes me think Williams is gone either way... we really only needed one of them to stick, both sticking would have been too expensive past this year anyway...

Lilja is just the steadying force Ericsson needs to settle in too, he can join the rush more and go back to being an offensive d-man... look how much better he looked when paired with Janik... I cannot wait to see and Ericsson-Lilja pairing...

Call me jaded, but since I read the report yesterday, on day 13, I was worried all day about reading something about a setback... this is AMAZING news... I cannot wait to see number 3 out there again!!!!

This isn't even a question or option...

there's not a ton of rush for Eaves, Abs or Helm, as they're all RFA's and offer sheets have kinda gone away in the last few years... I think priority will go: Lidstrom (and if he's coming back or not) Holmstrom (and if he's coming back or not) Bertuzzi number 6 d-man (Lilja if he's healthy?) Miller then RFA's - Helm Abs Eaves Ritola Larsson Kolosov etc, etc, etc... Leino is already signed for next year one way or another... I don't think Williams will be back, unless he really lights it up this second half

I know we have a glut of forwards now, but he's defensively responsible and can still score a bit... plus he's great on the faceoff - last year of his deal, he'd be essentially a rental and there's rumor Dallas might deal him... http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/dal100124.html Would you want him here for a 3rd/4th line role to bring him home to finish his career (he's almost definitely done after this year) - it'd be a deadline deal, so essentially no cap would need to be shed... I don't think I'd rub anyone else out for him, but it's interesting to think of...

just a report that I read and it got me thinking: http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/dal100124.html I said it earlier in the thread and I agree 100% - I think they'd be crazy and it'd be a poor move as a franchise to trade the face of their organization for over 15 years, but if they're going to be stupid, I wouldn't be opposed to Detroit being the benefactor... I think it would be the most beneficial to Helm to play alongside and learn from him... even with that said, I don't know who I'd want out to add him and don't think I'd WANT it to happen, but I'd still smile if it did...

I think Meech has outplayed Lebda by leaps and bounds since the injuries(which doesn't say a whole lot) - Lebda needs to go and is our most glaring weakness...

well, we clearly don't see eye to eye on the quality of his play prior to his injury... as he had 2 solid years here before he went down with injury... I'm not saying he will be a Norris candidate upon return, but within 4 weeks of playing time, he will be far more valuable than Lebda and a DAMN solid number 6 d-man...

no, not "nuff" said... once again, hitting does not mean laying someone out on every play... it's about wearing them down... which he does. learn the game.

you need to go back, re-watch some games and re-check your stats - he led the team in hits in 07 and was damn close last year too... (I think Datsyuk, then Stuart may have actually led last year) and may have finished atop last year too if not for the injury... You don't have to be taking heads off and fighting every game to be a "physical force" - he clears guys out from in front of the net and ALWAYS takes the body - that wears people out and that IS being a "physical force"

I think he'd play with a spark coming home too... that's one of the most intriguing parts of the idea to me... if they'd take picks/mid to low level prospects for him, I'm sure we'd be one of the only places he'd waive the NTC for... then I'd be all for it... that depth would be serious... he could easily play 2nd or 4th line as well if needed...