blues_demitra38

The Blues' ability to choke in the first round can only be rivaled by the Sharks. I'm not sure many realize how big this Game 5 is tonight.
As for the suspension, I personally feel that he should've been suspended for is antics (throwing a tantrum at the refs, jumping Steen at the final buzzer, etc.) but suspending someone is pretty weak considering the connotation of that word has changed over the years (see: South Park episode "The F Word"). I think the league would've been better off giving a different reason for his suspension (unsportsmanlike treatment of the officials) than to just blame it on one word.
Regardless, the series has been very even thus far and a Chicago victory tonight, on the road in a what will be a raucous building, without their most productive forward thus far, will allow doubt to creep into the heads of the Blues and lead to what could be the most devastating chapter in the long story of Blues early round collapses.
Get it done tonight and please win by two goals or more, my heart can't handle many more of these one goal games.

He created scoring opportunities on a consistent basis. He got burned one time at the end of a power play shift and couldn't catch up to Dan Boyle on the breakaway but apart from that his mistakes were minimal and his offensive game showed enough to keep him in the lineup.

He brings more to the table than any of Abdelkader/Eaves/Miller. Speed, a booming shot and a force on the power play. Why he is being benched, I have no idea. Get him back out there and let him fly.

In all seriousness, is there an explanation why Mike isn't in the lineup? His appearance in the Phoenix series was very promising as he showed speed, skill and playmaking ability. Down 2-0 in a must win game and in need of a shakeup, why NOT put him in for an under-performing player? Forget that he is a future Hall of Famer and deserves better than this, can anybody explain his benching from a hockey decision standpoint?

Won't say "I told you so"....Won't say it...

He brings more to the table than any of Abdelkader/Eaves/Miller. Speed, a booming shot and a force on the power play. Why he is being benched, I have no idea. Get him back out there and let him fly.

And yet I still come back at you with this: Although outplayed in both games, the Red Wings were in each of them until the very end and very easily could have won both. How different would this forum look had the Wings both games in San Jose, all the while playing the same uncharacteristic style of play?

And why is that?

Can someone convince me why the Wings shouldn't sign this guy? Watching the Blues closely I can tell you that he might have lost a step in the past few years but that still puts him two steps ahead of everyone else. He skates like the wind and has a ton of skill. This team is chalk full of centers that would benefit from a legit producer like him.
Imagine Filppula's production with Kariya on his wing. Can you say breakout year?

Can someone convince me why the Wings shouldn't sign this guy? Watching the Blues closely I can tell you that he might have lost a step in the past few years but that still puts him two steps ahead of everyone else. He skates like the wind and has a ton of skill. This team is chalk full of centers that would benefit from a legit producer like him.
Imagine Filppula's production with Kariya on his wing. Can you say breakout year?

Almost 4 million/yr? Is this for real?
Frolov, Whitney or Kariya could have been signed for that amount or close to it. Uncharacteristically bad signing by Holland.

Almost 4 million/yr? Is this for real?
Frolov, Whitney or Kariya could have been signed for that amount or close to it. Uncharacteristically bad signing by Holland.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

Niemi actually stole Game 2 for the Blackhawks. Toews did nothing in the series whatsoever. Niemi>Toews.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

The guy piles up secondary assists on his way to the finals, mails it in on the biggest stage and is awarded the Conn Smythe? I think, more than anything, this speaks to Chicago's depth. Personally, I think Niemi was more valuable to his team throughout the playoffs but it could have also gone to Duncan Keith or Patrick Kane as well. Yzerman look out, Johnny Toews is about to steal your legacy.

Niemi actually stole Game 2 for the Blackhawks. Toews did nothing in the series whatsoever. Niemi>Toews.