Z and D for the C

I don't think anyone is worrying about them losing the next 71 games, but if they don't turn it around in the next few games, it might be too late to get back into a playoff spot.

lol @ Cleary "getting it going" because a puck bounced off his chest.

Thank you for making me smile. I don't think it's all his fault, but Datsyuk is definitely just not cutting it right now. Not butter with a hot knife.

No, there isn't. If you're not furious with this team right now, then I question whether or not you're a "real fan". Just because you think it's hip to call yourself a fan and watch wings games doesn't make you a fan. Saying "Bummer, oh well, on to the next one!" when they're 5-5-1 is the mark of someone who doesn't give a s***. Real fans give a s***.

Yeah, because god forbid someone actually care about the team enough that they show some emotion when they're playing beyond horribly. That just means you're not really a fan at all. Apathy is the mark of a true fan.

This team is f***ed. If they don't turn it around now, they're not making the playoffs. Because after that it will be too late.

I'd say he's more of not a player at all.

Seriously, why the f*** would Babcock put ******* Bertuzzi and Cleary out over Abdelkader. Unbelievable.

Put Abby on the ******* PP.

Babcock has to have it stupid cookie cutter lines for the top 6. Shooter Passer "Net Presence" Shooter Passer "Net Presence"

"Old Woman!" "Man!"

This. This has nothing to do with the refs or penalties. The fact is the wings came out flat after the first period and only scored one goal. Our defense and goaltending is legit, but we can't put any offense together and something is wrong with Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Datsyuk whiffed on a shot today, when has that ever happened?

Obviously the season isn't over, but if you're not worried about the team you're blind.

Hopefully he tears in up in the AHL and they have no choice but to bring him up and give him a scoring role in the roster. Or, at the worst, shed some weight next season and he comes up anyway.

How does Kenny sign Kronner for so cheap yet Ericsson gets so overpaid. I don't understand.

Awesome. Anyone know how the rules govern this contract off hand? I don't feel like looking them up.

I would, but I guess you can't say he doesn't deserve it given the salary of other players around the league. I'm guessing around 5.25m.

Ew, what a boring division if we would be in the west. Money if we're in the east though.

We won't know if he clears until tomorrow, right?

Sick around the hands = penalty, 100% of the time, even if the stick doesn't even tough the hands. Why would Datsyuk even try that.

omg Zetterberg. Who are you and what did you do with our superstar.

Shenanigans.

Great team. In that, I'd do her.

I wonder what the chances are of Z retiring before Lidstrom. Hear me out. We all know Lidstrom could play another 5 years if he wanted to, and I certainly don't think this year will be his last. Z is making 6 million a year for the next few decades, how long will he be worth that much? Say a couple years from now he simply isn't pulling his weight in the top 6 and he is demoted to third line center or something. I'm sure he'd be an incredible one, but for $6 million a season? Obviously when he signed his contract he wasn't remotely planning on playing it out. So if he isn't playing in the top 6, would he simply retire? I think the chance that Z retired before Lidstrom is pretty low (maybe around 20%), but I definitely think we could see Z retiring in the next 3 years, unfortunately.

He agrees with you. I don't. I don't think we're favorites, but this team is more than capable of winning a Stanley Cup. We have great depth, our top 6 all has the potential to do well in the playoffs and hopefully our defense will be well improved. Obviously on paper it's worse this year but hopefully with a new defensive coach we will be able to shut teams down. The thing I'm most worried about, frankly, is how effective Datsyuk and Zetterberg will be. Strange as it is.