T.Low

As much as I liked that game, we need to actually show up for the first period for Chicago, and then if we have that many penaltys they'll shred our PK.

Fact: You'd rather be playing your best hockey at the end of the season, rather than at the beginning of the season (even in a short 48 gm season). We're struggling at the beginning with signs of of better things to come. The only way to over come these things is thru hard work, and that is what we've lacked in the playoffs the last couple of years. So, that could be a good thing. Observation: St Louis, Chicago, San Jose, are the elite teams of the West this year. Vancouver is right behind, and certainly has the capability to get hot, especially with Zach Kassian showing signs of becoming a top level power forward. If Schneider can step into the #1 role and stay comfortable, and they actually get something in return for Luongo, it could put them right back into the elite level in the West. The next nine teams is a mosh pit of parity. At this early point in the season, when you look at Nashville, Detroit, Minnesota, Edmonton, Colorado, Dallas, Pheonix, L.A., and Anaheim, it's anybody's guess as to what order they'll all finish in, but I gotta think we can make it into the top half of those nine teams. I still believe in our top 6, and still believe that our bottom 6 can do whats asked of it. The Obvious: The Wings will need to stay healthy; to get the most out of everyone; will need the no name defense to make a name for itself; will need Howard at his best; and will need a helluva lot of puck luck to make the playoffs. It really depends on which teams come together and get hot, and which teams don't. Ya just gotta play the games and see.

I haven't noticed any Diva type play or attitude. Actually, he's holding up better than I thought he would. I saw all those Swiss highlights with he and Zetterberg and realized he's coming from a no-checking league, so I naturally worried how he'd adapt to the NHL contact, and I must say, he's doing ok.

What kind of guy are you?

Hmm, I must have been getting an NHL Network feed; the announcers praised that pass over and and over again. i thought it was the Minny feed and was impressed by how non-homer-esque they were. Guess that explains it. As a Cleary fan, he struggled a bit, and looked frustrated. I think his knee did not heal correctly; looks half step slower. Hockey is funny; A guy misses on a breakaway and your first thought is he's lacking confidence. I think he's lacking confidence.

And so far, he's been the only one with a nose for the net, so why are they not keeping him down below the circles?

I disagree about Bertuzzi. He's certainly not known for having wheels, but he has great positional instincts, great vision, and awesome hands, all equating to him being a great play maker. Yeah, I wish he were faster, but he is still usually right where you'd want him to be.

I hope you are able to spend some quality time with your old man, cause you never know. But mainly, It's nice to hear that you care and are concerned about his well being. I'm in my late 40's, in all appearences still healthy and strong (still mountain bike and skate, etc)) but was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease recently, so statistically speaking, I've got about 1 yr of being physically able (albeit in decline), then about 3 more years of...whatever, I'm not exactly sure, I just know it's going to suck (and it's gonna suck a lot more if i gotta lie in bed and watch the Wings stink up the joint!). And I waited a long time before getting married and having kids, so unfortunately my kids are both under 2 1/2 years old. I hesistate to post this, cause I certainly don't want to make this thread about me, but thouht maybe it could be a good reminder to everyone to hug your loved ones whenever you can, because life throws a lot of devasting blindside hits and it doesn't discriminate. Condolences to Juri, his family, and friends.

DIdn't NJ also fire their coach that year?

I beg to differ. The Defense can't get the puck out to the Offense in customary Red Wing style. Those guys just can't pass like we're used to. I'm calm, I'm just not content. Yes, I am concerned.

Too true. Ya gotta believe that if it were possible, it would have been done by now. Calgary has been in purgatory for a long time, neither rebuilding or improving, staying just good enough to watch Edmonton get all the top picks. If they decide to rebuild and dump salary...it would be awesome to somehow pick up both Iginla and Bouwmeester...but I can't pretend to know how to get it done. We need youth, too.

I knew he had died, (watched the Calgary openning games to see Juri play), but hadn't realized his young age. Curious that they don't go into what he died from.

Reading down the schedule a couple weeks, we could easily be at 4 wins, 8 losses...then I got discouraged and stopped reading. EVERYONE has gotten better, we have gotten substantially worse. This is going to be the longest short season ever.

FWIW; Doug McLean was on Vancouver Team 1040 today and said he was talking to the Detroit Organization and they told him it was frightenning how much better St Louis was than them, and how good they are this season.

Keeping Franzen was partially a byproduct of treating players as family instead of as assets. The sad fact is, in a the sal cap world, treating plyaers like family is a luxury we cannot afford anymore. (whereas before, we simply would have kept both Franzen and Hossa) I really like Danny Cleary, but he's going to have to dig deep and work his ass off to be effective again. He can do it, but he's goiing to have to work harder than most to get it done.

GM Ken Holland says Red Wings might not make playoffs this year At this point, I'm just hopiing we score a goal this year...

How much is Jagr making this season? 4 points in the openning game...crap.

ZDB are suffering from the same symptoms Hudler had after returning from Europe: They forgot what it's lke to get hit every few strides, not used to no time and no space, not used to the pace of the NHL game. In everyone of those highlight clips of Z and B in the frikin silly little league (for God's sake), there is absolutely zero contact, and tons of ice to play in, and lame ass DMan spectating and hoping for an autograph along the way. Their legs may be in shape, but that league was like semi retirement for those guys, they got away with things they'd never be able to do in the NHL. It hurt their on ice work ethic, and hopefully they'll recover faster than Hudler did.

My understanding of that was implied in the phrase "As much as I like Sammy...". I think Nyquist can do better. Sammy makes some clutch plays, but we all know he also too often does a bit of a deer in the headlights glaze just before he passes the puck to the wrong sweater. My hope is that Sammy plays with a bit more of an edge than Nyquist, and that may be needed vs the Blues.

Yeah, as much as I like Sammy and wish him well, Sammy in/Nyquist out is wrong on too many levels, but even at the most basic level: Does Sammy really give us a better chance to win than Nyquist? I'd have to give an emphatic f*** no! It's time to tell Nyquist what is expected of him, that he's got to carry some mail, and insert in the line up. Being 60 minutes south of Vancouver, I watch Edler a lot. I'm glad they took him and we ended up with Franzen. He'd do OK for the Wings, but...he's kinda vanilla. He's even more inconsistent than Mule, and more costly when he does screw up. Often looks even more lazy than Mule ever looks. I'm ok not getting Edler.

Dman points come from getting the puck to forwards and watching them finish, and that finish part doesn't seem to happen all that much in Calgary. I'm just saying... No way I'd send Fil for him, but I could include Quince and Nyquist, plus picks and prospects that would equal a 5 for 2 trade that brought Bouwmeester and Iginla...somehow, someway. We'd be a serious contender for a few more years.

I was going to say that I hope they don't rush him back from a groin injury...awh, crap.

So you're the reason I couldn't get the GOWINGS license plate!

Luv the jerseys on the GDT! Thanks. The entire D for St Louis costs $10 million. Not a bad value. Super anxious to see the ZDB line. I still can't believe I'm not going to see Nick walk the line on the PP. This is going to be a battle. Go Wings.

My wife just orderred it for $9.95 a month...?. (Comcast Center Ice) She said she was suprised we could get it at all because we have the absolute most basic Comcast Package offerred, with no sports stations. Maybe that's why it's monthly instead of $49.95 (?). Whatever. I just want to see how tis team is going to work out. Is there any Center Ice programming on during non game times? Like NHL documentaries or whatever?