T.Low

Mikael Samuelsson 60 20 19 39 Pavel Datsyuk 58 16 31 47 Henrik Zetterberg 52 16 31 47 Nicklas Lidstrom 60 6 28 34 Todd Bertuzzi 60 15 18 33 Brian Rafalski 56 4 24 28 Dan Cleary 48 12 15 27 Tomas Holmstrom 46 15 9 24 ...just sayin'. And there's currently six Canuckleheads with as many or more goals than our leading goal getter. Ouch.

Serious question: What do you want out of the 3rd line that makes you think Bertuzzi is a good fit there? He is a touch passer, a bit more of an offensive weapon, needed on one of the two top lines. I think he lacks the grit and grind for the 3rd and 4rth line. Your 3rd line does not scream chemistry when I look at it.

He too often goes brain dead. At those times, he then needs to rally to attain pylon status.

Is Babcock distracted by the Olympics and all the pressure that goes along with being the coach of the Candian team playing at home in Canada? Isn't this like the last thing he still hasn't accomplished is coaching to an Olympic Gold? Will it rejuvenate him and Dats, Zetterberg, and Lids to play at that intensity level with the best in the world again? I hope so, and hope that the WIngs get hot and play their best hockey of the year going into the playoffs and ride it all the way home with The Stanley Cup in hand.

Never liked Journey, but now that I live far from Detroit, it does bring goosebumps when i hear the entire Joe sing that line at the top of their lungs. When they do it at the games, I crank it up so the whole frikin neighborhood can hear it thru my stereo. That is one of only two things I like about Journey. The other is one of their ex girlfriends named Vivian that I dated. Vivian, if you are now a Wings fan and you read this, thanks for the memories..

Have you guys ever tried to get any custom design and paintwork done? You don't just order it off the internet and it shows up 2 days later. Even if you're a multi millioniare, these things take time. Also, I think it's kinda cool tha he's still wearing the Duck hat; it just a huge reminder to the Ducks, kinda saying, "Ha look at me now, 2 shutouts in a row!"

Ouch. Very ouch. From my 2nd hand observation, even time doesn't heal burying one's child. It never heals. Condolences to the Burkes.

Fit is too critical to buy skates online. Maybe if you are going to buy a second pair in a few years, you can stick with the same skate and brand and buy it online, but not the first time. And that is where you should put your money, into the skates. Or atleast make sure they are stiff enough. To begin with, a $30 Sherwood will be fine. Don't bother droppin a lot of dough on a composite stick when you don't know how to use yet anyway, and can barely stand up on skates. Cover your elbows if you haven't skated a lot already, you'll be falling on them. OF course a helmet too, but like someone already said, it doesnt need to be expensive.

My brother in law is actually a decent acquaintance of his back in Detroit. As far as pro athletes go, I think Cheli is ok.

I don't know about you guys, but all I ever heard about Dion Phanuef was how great he was. Nobody ever said anything negative...until they realized that Steve Yzerman left Dion off Team Canada. THIS IS NOT A THREAD ON WHETHER PHANUEF IS GREAT OR NOT, ITS ABOUT WHAT THE MEDIA HAS SAID ABOUT HIM. Then, and only then, did I hear any negative critiques about him at all. And it began right after Team Canada was announced, with a segment on HNIC where they were showing how slow he thinks the game. He didn't react properly to the play, or had put himself in the wrong position. Did anybody else notice this lack of criticism until Stevie Y didn't pick him? 2nd question: He is the same age as Jonathan Ericcson, but was drafted a year later, and rookied much earlier in 2005. If he were drafted by the Wings, because the Wings like to develop their prospects down on the farm more than other teams, especially the Dmen, would this (2010) be his rookie season? Personally, I just think the guy is a slow thinker. I've heard him in interviews on Vancouver's Team 1040, and it's downright painful to listen to that guy answer questions.

Yeah, no doubt mine too. I like to think this is what halted his rise to stardom.

It's your thread, supply some documentation regading the PK stats. Make a case, not just a comment. I think he's the perfect example for Helm. His mentorship, experience, professionalsim, and faceoff expertise will increase Helm's growth along the learning curve exponentially. Long live Drapes!

Olympic hockey WITH NHL players is very exciting. I could'nt care less about a Team Sweden or a Team Russia W/OUT NHL players. We've been catching the Canadian TV series "Hockey Powers"; each episode chronicles a different Olympic team and how they go about getting together and training, etc. Apparently Team Sweden doesn't do the summer training camp; instead they just get together and go golfing.

Thread Hijack Warning You lucky son-ova-gun. Thats amazingly beautiful country up there. I can see across Bellingham Bay and watch the setting sun silhouette the mountains of Vancouver Island from my house in the summer, probably just south of you. Last Sept we went for a four day weekend up The Sunshine Coast and into the mountains all the way to land's end at Sarah Point in my 4x4 van. Nothing quite like that ferry ride from Earl's Cove to Saltry Bay. Wow. I keep an eye on DualSportBC at the ride reports and keep thinking I should join them. Of coursse we've done Vistoria, Ucluelet, Bamfield, and Tofino, but there is so much to see. Your area is the main reason I built my 4x4 campervan. Chuckanut is indeed a twisty and scenic cliffside drive. Next time, stop at Boundary Bay Brewery for an IPA, in downtown. Cheers. Thread Hijack over.

Doh! And here I thought it was cool that he was documenting his points with reference links (while obviously not checking them).

I luv the Island, Dude. Where are you?

Just to show they are the same age, beccause it seems Phanuef has been around for a long time already, but heck, he's only 24, which for a defensemen is rather young. SO can you just rip on my use of Ericcson or can you offer up a year in which you think Detroit hypothetically may have brought him up from GR? In the long run, how would each path affect his overall career? Edit: I frequent a few discussion forums regarding 4wheeling, motorcycling, mountain biking, and white water paddling, but this one is by far the most disrespectful.

All I heard out west was that it was a given that he'd make the team. Hell, he's even on the Nike Team Canada- Team of Destiny commercial. Ooops.

I don't think they are misleading, though. Their defensive style is simply to get possession of the puck for much of their shft, and not let the other team have it , and they are pretty effective that way. Obviously. (Burrows +30, Sedins +27 and +26) That line is rolling.

While I don't notice them backchecking like monsters or lifting sticks and stealing pucks from behind like Pavs or anything, they are league leaders in plus/minus this year, and the Vancunucks are 2nd best in goals against in the West.

They are a lot stronger on the puck this year, much harder to knock off. Burrows is an excellent fit. The Twins do more give and go than anyone else I've ever seen. Seems they cycle less in the corners this year and more towards the net. The are steaky as in past years, but when they are on, they are Spot On. They could be very dangerous in the playoffs.

If I wasn't convinced before, I am now. Way to make your case.

Helm shudda knocked Crosby off the puck in the first so he wouldn't have scored.

The flip side of that is that as a running back, I caried the ball 15-25 times a game, where as my time with the puck on my stick in hockey was mere seconds. But I've played all positions in hockey and would still play any position. In football, there is no way I'd ever want to play lineman. Baseball, I'd rather shag flies and field grounders and take batting practice than play an actual game. Game is too slow. And the "get ready, get ready get ready...nothing happened" on every 2 outta 3 pitches kills me.