titanium2

Or they're in denial of their own money issues. Thing is if a Wings player/fan did something like that I'd without a doubt blast them for it. In fact, I'd probably criticize them harder. But no, it's just a joke, stop being a woman, and get me a beer while you're at it will ya?

Yet, you don't mind being a carcass. Why not be a vulture on your own side? Not enough fun? Not enough people that respond to you? Not enough drama on lgp?

Storybook? I don't know about that. It's been a pretty weird year, but probably one of the best weird years ever.

I don't know if that's completely true. 97 - Lidstrom and McCarty 98 - Brown, Lapointe, Murphy, Brown 02 - Holmstrom, Shanahan, Shanahan 08 - Rafalski, Filppula, Zetterberg You got your big guns, some second liners and a few grinders. I hope we get the same kind of mix tonight.

I know. So... what now? Talbot and Orpik gonna go after his dangle tonight?

Nah. That was lame.

The Wings will win for the same reasons they have won in the past 15 years.

Apparently it's supposed to be someone unexpected.

I'm rather curious as to why we have so many internet Pens fans on this forum. I don't recall getting this many from CBJ, ANA or CHI. At this point it feels like Wings fans are trying to play a ball game in the street and the casual Pens fan is like that annoying kid that keeps hanging around wanting to play too even though there's another game a block over with kids of his age and we really don't want to include them but then their Mommy forces us to play with him.

You know the situation and the family. Ever consider that's the reason why you can't be objective? I know you care about them and I'm sure they're great people. That doesn't mean they don't do stupid things every now and again. I think it's great you have a good relationship with them but that doesn't mean you have to approve of everything they do. I have many friends from Pittsburgh and they seem to have a rather unique sense of loyalty and unconditional support about them. It's a beautiful thing. It's just that many of them also know that loyalty also includes taking someone to the side and communicating with them when something may not be very wise. Sure, Guerin would've been damned if he didn't take that picture but that's a hell of a lot better than the damning he's getting now. A casual fan hears the story and thinks, "Guerin refused to take a picture? What a jerk." But then sees the actual sign and hopefully realizes, "Oh, well it's understandable that he didn't want to put his name and face next to such a thing." Yes, it's also understandable as to why he took the picture. It's just not very smart and I expect better from Guerin and the people of Pittsburgh. I may not be right, but I'm not totally wrong.

Pun intended?

I've always respected the Penguins. They deserve it. Anybody who is dismissive of them is just plain ignorant.

They already have four kids. Though, they are all boys and may have wanted a girl. Trying to win really brings out the worst in people doesn't it? Yet when they do anything and everything to win we're supposed to look upon them and say, 'Oh, more power to you, I didn't need my testicles anyways.'

No... Guerin allowed a fan to take a picture of him next to a sign that is unsurprisingly insulting to not only those in MI but to those all over the country. It's not an international 'incident' but it is fundamentally insensitive and a person of Guerin's stature should've known better as well whoever's idea was it to put up the sign in the first place. In what twisted way was it in any sense a good idea to put such a thing out there? Cheap two dollar fun? Well, since it's been out there for the whole series and as long as you guys have your fun then I guess that makes it okay. I guess I've been wasting my time at the strip clubs. Insulting people who lost their homes and their jobs is really where the fun is at. I mean, am I right or am I right? You want something nice from him? Why not a picture of him with some of the other customers of the restaurant or maybe the owners themselves? The city of Pittsburgh has some great people. They deserve better than that.

LET'S GO RED WINGS!

Good for you. Takes a big person to declare such a thing. I'd probably do the same as many of us here. Turn it off, don't watch sports for a relatively loooong time and wait for the excitement of training camp as well as new hope and new players.

Hmm. I'll take it for what it's worth. It is a tad surprising though. He presents himself so well to the media. He grew up in Michigan; played for MSU; has a willingness to fight. He has "fan favorite" written all over him. It's just sad when we perceive images of individuals that turn out to be lies while we barely hear of others like Nick Lidstrom. I don't mean to come off as cynical but has this ever worked for anyone?

That's meaningless now and should be for the contract talks. Besides, was it really that great of a post-season? He was third in points for the playoffs but he was also in the east, which has a bunch of teams that unlike the Pens, don't invest that much into defense. His first playoffs in the West has exposed him and I have no doubt that he can improve the more he plays against a 'western conference style' if there is such a thing but is that "work in progress" 30-year old status really worth a contract of 6 million+? At this point that former "best player" status appears like a statistical outlier compared to his past post-season performances that earned him a "playoff choker" label. But the Wings are all about winning in the playoffs. Hossa will command a contract that implies he will produce in the regular season and playoffs; a class that includes Lidstrom, Rafalski, Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen. Based on his two-way play over these 100+ games, Hossa has shown that he is not worth more than any of those guys. Some might say he doesn't get injured as much as Franzen and that's why he deserves such and such a contract or whatever but it's really no secret as to how he stays so healthy. He doesn't go into the hard areas as much as the others and relies on his excellent perimeter talent to inflate his stats. He has one of the best shots in the league, but only when he has time and space. Too many of those 40 regular season goals he racked up left me thinking, "No way he gets a goal like that in the playoffs." And he hasn't. He's an all-star in the regular season but when the playoffs begin it seems like he turns into a third-line energy player who can give you great defense and barely even streaky goal scoring. It's has felt like night and day. How is that not supposed to factor into negotiation tactics? He's a great fit in the locker but only a decent fit on the ice, which is unfortunate because it's usually the other way around, which makes it difficult to think of him as not a Red Wing. For a cap hit above Franzen's contract, Hossa is simply fool's gold in a Red Wings jersey.

I do wonder about these kids that have so much success early on. The LeBrons and Kobes and Crosbys of the world. Do they really more success than the typical superstar or do they have the same amount but just peak at a younger age and then retire at a younger age?

I think Hossa and Kopy are gone. -Hossa... well, it's obvious. Perfect fit in the locker room but a rather average fit on the ice. -Kopy has a cheap contract but that's seemingly the only positive. The Wings thought they drafted a guy who could be a power forward, but that didn't work. Kopy then changed his game and tried to be a grinder, but that's not really working all that well either. But maybe they're pleased with progress, I don't know. I think there's also a strong possibility that Huds will be gone too mainly because the Wings like depth and Huds will command enough worth two 3rd/4th line players. I'm not ready for Holmstrom to leave yet. He's never been a good skater but around the net he still has the best positioning and nose for the puck. Well... That is, when he's healthy and on top of his game. I still think Cleary has a few things to learn from him. For better or for worse, Maltby is not going leave. He said it himself that he will play out his contract.

I can't believe this has reached 14 pages. People just love drama. And I'm about to add a little. Whoever said that they would rather have Hossa over Malkin is an idiot. His talent and upside is ridiculous. Generally I think comparisons are stupid but sometimes I see shades of Fedorov in Geno's play except he doesn't have an attitude problem.

If we're going to assume that the Wings have been bored, even with the playoffs, that whole "we've been there before" attitude, then this game should be interesting to them. Only Rafi has played a Game 7 for the Stanley Cup itself.

Yeah seriously, those stats are meaningless. The Wings had a bunch a stats working in their favor going into game 6 and look what happened.

I don't know what to feel about Friday. All I know is I was confused as hell after game 6. Friday will be THE last game of the season. Emotional engagement, getting started on time, whatever you want to call it should not be a problem... that is, theoretically. Right now I'm still kind of stunned. I mean... man, game 6, what the hell was that?