GMRwings1983

That's a pipe dream. You have a very unrealistic vision of what an enforcer is, especially since several of the men you named are Hall of Famers. An enforcer does not have to be talented whatsoever, even in today's league. Just look to the other enforcers in the league. And yes I know we're the best team in the league, but it's not because we dress a Euro as the 12th forward instead of an enforcer. There are bigger reasons for the Wings greatness. The fact that an enforcer can't skate and chew gum does not matter for any team's long-term success. They're on the team for a different job. What other Wing is going to do that job? Or do you still believe in duck and cover as you once stated?

I can't wait until I hear similar rumors about the Wings someday.

Since when did Maltby prevent this team from winning anything? I can't think of any example. He doesn't hurt this team in any way, and he's a good guy to have in the lockerroom. You guys are barking up the wrong tree here.

Not everyone can be as smart as you Opie. I'm just trying to keep up with the master when it comes to logic.

The 4th line is only needed in the playoffs. Right now we're talking about the regular season. Our regular season won't hinge on the production of the 4th line. We'll still finish in 1st place. Also, I've never stated that I want Downey playing every game in the playoffs, however, I do want him in for the regular season as a regular starter. The skilled players will just have to beat out other skilled players if they want the other spots on the 4th line.

I'm not the only Wings fan who wants to see an enforcer on the roster and gets angry when there isn't one. I think every poster here gets pissed if one of their favorite 3rd or 4th liners is left off the roster. What can Leino or Kopecky possibly do on the 4th line that has any meaning? Their job is just to give the other guys more rest so that all 4 lines can be rotated. It's not like they're going to put up any monster numbers either. Nobody is saying that Downey should be on the top 2 lines. I'm just saying he should be in the lineup since he can bring something that no one else brings to the table. Neither Kopecky nor Leino nor Sammy can do anything that we don't already have. Oh and by the way, I did answer your guestion, which by the way was a silly question in the first place. How did you expect me to reply to it?

So you guys don't acknowledge Downey or McCarty's presence on the team, yet you all think Kopecky is somehow important. Good thing the members of the team don't think the same way you do, or else Downey and Mac would become bellboys for the rest of the players rather than being teammates.

We had 2 enforcers on the roster last year for our championship. Did you forget?

I've thought about joining them for a while, but I'm a Wings fan first and a fight fan second. Most people here might not believe that, but it's absolutely true. I don't have time to join more than one forum.

Here comes another season where we rack up less than 10 fighting majors. Oh well, the whole enforcer thing was fun while we still had one.

I haven't been impressed by him so far. Clearly a bad signing by Holland. Just look at the guy's preseason stats and you'll know that he hasn't been producing. If we trade him now, we might still get a useful player like Todd Bertuzzi in return.

I'd rather have Lebda gone than him, but I guess Quincey is one too many tough players for the Wings to have on the roster. Typical and unsurprising move here.

Peters is a washed up enforcer, while Downey went undefeated last year. You don't know what you're talking about on this topic.

Are you saying that Cleary and Stuart's ability to fight for loose pucks along the boards with grit in their faces isn't going to deter opposition from running at our players? No way, dude. Good luck convincing that to the choir though.

Territorial rights? Don't the Rangers infringe upon the territorial rights of the Devils. How about the Pens and the Flyers? They're not that far apart from each other geographically either. If there are better cities where teams can be moved to, than I'm all for it, no matter where they're located. Anything is better than trying to sell the game to some jackasses who think NASCAR is a more entertaining sport, or for that think that it's a sport at all.

I love the discussions about the World Cup, although it is secondary in importance to the Olympics. Still, it should happen every 4 years like it used to. It's basically more hockey in the offseason. The European expansion is laughable. I've yet to hear anyone give a valid proposal of how the league would get around the travel and jet lag problems. The Ottawa owner has lost his mind.

Wow! Barry Melrose getting rid of toughness for Euros. Never thought I'd see that.

I've never seen your sig before. I must have been utterly wasted the night I posted that. Just like Charles Barkley in his own book, I was clearly misquoted.

Dude, he went undefeated as a fighter last year. What did you want him to do, knock people's heads off with one punch? It's not his fault his opponents just want to hug and hang on for dear life. Only in Detroit can an undefeated enforcer still be maligned by fans.

Your team should have never let Aki Berg leave. That was your death knell.

Franzen has been so hot lately that he can play both wing positions. What's the point of even having 3 forwards on every line when you can have Hank and Mule?

Zetterberg was invisible out there last night. It's time we let him go for better prospects in the future.

Downey is lucky that Peters didn't run at any of our guys or challenge one of our other players after he turned him down for a fight. Peters is a clown who's capable of anything, which is why Downey should have shut him up. That's his job.

That's why he needs to be on this team. Who else is going to do it? Yeah he backed down tonight, but I doubt he'd act that way all season. First you guys act like you don't think we need fighters, and now you're getting on Downey for not fighting. It was a bad move by him but it's just a stupid preseason game. Well, you finally got your wish didn't you? Downey took some stupid penalties in a preseason game so now you can be on his case about how enforcers always take stupid penalties and stuff like that. Last year everyone was worried about all the dumb penalties he'd supposedly take and nothing of the sort happened.

Downey. However, if he backs down from any more fights for no reason, then I'd take Helm.