titanium2

Niedermayer has victimized the Wings twice now for two cups. We need to get one back.

I actually agree. I'm starting to think that Pav's defensive game is starting to become a little overrated. He admitted that one of the main reasons as to why he loves Z as his linemate is because Z is quicker to backcheck for him than anybody he's ever played with. I'm not so sure he's the right choice for the award. You could say that he has the most points among the other candidates, but if you advocate for that reasoning, then don't get mad when Lidstrom loses the Norris to Mike Green. I think I'd rather look at it as "Among the three, who sets the best example for their team in regards to how hard you have to work on the defensive end?"

From plain stupidity to the biggest choke so far in these playoffs. 4. Flyers are up 3-0 from forcing a game 7 and then take the bait on a ill-advised fight that swung the momentum into the Pens favor. 3. Rangers are up 3-1 in the series but continue to take stupid penalties and then chuck water bottles into the stands. 2. Devils have the lead with a little less than two minutes to play in Game 7 and then give up two goals within 40 seconds or something like that. 1. Sharks win the presidents trophy and then embrace the act of no show Joe in the playoffs.

Nucks in 7 Pens in 6 Bruins in 5 I'm too emotionally involved to make a prediction for the Wings though.

Ok seriously, rank these chokes... Flyers, Rangers, Sharks, Devils... Am I missing any?

Oh my................ Okay, who had the biggest collapse, seriously? If that happened to the Wings I would probably have to strap myself down of some sort. And Sid versus Ovy. Bettman gets his wish.

I'm going to assume that Zetterberg's line and the Zetterberg-Lidstrom unit will go up against Getzlaf's line. But I wonder if Babs has a trick up his sleeve for those three. Kind of like how many thought Bowman was crazy at first for sending out Lidstrom-Murphy against the Legion of Doom line, but those two just ended up baffling them with their puck-moving skills. I don't know, maybe Pav and Z back together again? Maybe Filppula's line will play against their 2nd scoring line. ANA will probably want their 3rd line out every time Datsyuk's line is out there. Hopefully Helm will lay out mustache.

(enters into state of denial) ...Oh thanks for getting that for me, but really, you should get one for yourself too. Nope. Mine. MIIIINE.

I disagree. I don't think CB rolled over at all. I think they provided a real challenge and on the other side the Wings prepared hard and responded to that challenge. The final scores are a tad misleading, especially Game 3.

All this talk about playoff intensity, especially with Joe Thornton's ghost act so far in the first round, made me think about who the Wings rely on to set the example of determination and effort. The whole team bumps up their play - Nick and Pav more or less flatline at a really high level while guys like Z provide the needed playoff intensity. It's interesting how both forces work well together. I'm a little concerned about Pav's point production. I'd like to see his line as a whole, not just Homer, go to the net more often like they did in Game 4. The team doesn't necessarily need a point explosion from Pav, but I can't help but think that he's got to start racking up some sooner or later.

Red Wings European prospects 2008-09 review Written by: Brandon Peleshok on 04/26/2009 Subscribe to HF's RSS Feed The Red Wings had five prospects playing in Europe during the 2008-09 season. Dick Axelsson, LW – Farjestads BK Karlstad Acquired: 2nd round, 62nd overall, 2006 6’2, 176 lbs. Axelsson’s 2008-09 campaign was a roller coaster ride of sorts. In just his second game of the season, he suffered a collarbone injury, sidelining him for several games. Additionally, Axelsson was sent to Farjestads early in the season. Djurgardens cited his poor work ethic as the reason for the move. While he possesses a great deal of offensive potential, he will have to overcome his issues if he hopes to be successful at higher levels of competition. Amid his hectic season, Axelsson was still able to tally 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points in 39 games. There is a good chance that he will make the transition to North America next season, joining the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL. Joakim Andersson, C – Vastra Frolunda HC Goteborg/Grand Rapids Griffins Acquired: 3rd round, 88th overall, 2007 6’2, 198 lbs. Andersson’s most notable strengths are his defensive and physical play. He plays an aggressive, up-tempo game that allows him to fit into the grinder mold. Playing on the bottom two lines of his Frolunda team, he put up just 12 points in 66 games. His most impressive moment of the season occurred while playing Sweden’s second line during the World Junior tournament. In six games he put up six points, while maintaining the defensive and physical aspects of his game. Andersson is currently playing for the Griffins in their series against the Hamilton Bulldogs, a move that indicates that he will receive a contract with the Red Wings before the June 1 deadline. Jesper Samuelsson, C – Timra IK Acquired: 7th round, 211th overall, 2008 5’11, 178 lbs. After an impressive season with the third-tier Hasten team in Sweden, Samuelsson fell flat in his 2008-09 season. He potted just three points in 40 games with Timra. Perhaps Samuelsson’s biggest concern lies in his inability to put on weight. If his numbers this season are any indication, then he will struggle to play against higher levels of competition. Still, the Red Wings will still wait and see if they have another late-round gem on their hands. Johan Ryno, C – Djurgardens IF Stockholm Acquired: 5th round, 137th overall, 2005 6’4, 215 lbs. Ryno has taken a drastic drop down the Red Wings depth chart. After seeing success at the AHL level in 2007-08, he decided to spend the rest of the season in Sweden. He put up a disappointing nine points in 30 games with Djurgardens, going from a scoring line with Grand Rapids to a role player in Sweden. He lost his entire 2008-09 season when he broke his leg early in the year. Ryno’s choice to go back to Sweden has proven costly, to say the least. Anton Axelsson, LW – Timra IK Acquired: 6th round, 192nd overall, 2004 6’0, 183 lbs. One of Detroit’s older prospects, Axelsson had hoped to built on his 20-point season last year. Instead, Axelsson regressed a bit, scoring 15 points in 52 games with Timra. While he possesses strong defensive skills, he lacks the size to play an effective physical game. With no signs of improving, Axlesson’s future as a Red Wing looks bleak. Top Prospects 1. Jakub Kindl, D 2. Brendan Smith, D 3. Daniel Larsson, G 4. Thomas McCollum, G 5. Jan Mursak, LW 6. Justin Abdelkader, LW 7. Jimmy Howard, G 8. Ville Leino, C 9. Dick Axelsson, LW 10. Jonathan Ericsson, D 11. Darren Helm, C 12. Mattias Ritola, C 13. Cory Emmerton, C 14. Evan McGrath, C 15. Max Nicastro, D 16. Joakim Andersson, C 17. Johan Ryno, RW 18. Gustav Nyquist, C 19. Logan Pyett, D 20. Stephen Johnston, LW Other Notables 1. Anton Axelsson, LW 2. Randy Cameron, C 3. Julien Cayer, C 4. Brian Lashoff, LW 5. Nick Oslund, RW 6. Ryan Oulahen, C 7. Francis Pare, C 8. Brent Raedeke, C 9. Bryan Rufenach, D 10. Jesper Samuelsson, C 11. Zach Torquato, C

It also looks as if Leino is having fun there, which is good.

God I hope that's a euphemism. That's what babysitting a kid of your friend's is for. When it's time to end your life, that's when you know to have kids.

Hey SupaFly, how's it hanging on your end? I didn't see the goal but I can't wait to see the replays. Did Hiller really put it into his own net? How's that confidence going?

You better tell him.

Nice goal by gooch. Man I wish the Wings had a player who was half-Asian. Half-Swedish - Half-Asian. Perfect.

Actually I was just about to mention that Ansar Khan or some Detroit writer said that Anaheim had the best top-4 dmen in the league. Agree? Anyone?

I know that we all know this, but I must say, Perry is annoying.

How did you find that? From a site like atdhe?

That'll last for maybe a game. But as long as no show Joe continues his act then you can pretty much say bye bye to the Sharks.

He should've gotten 2 then.

Will Chicago commit a Philly tonight? Look for Iggy to pull a Talbot.

I can't watch the Pens are a regular basis but from what I've seen I think Kunitz is a long-term keeper on Crosby's wing.

Would I like Crosby as a Red Wing? Generally speaking, yes. More specifically, probably if the Red Wings were still the Dead Things. Would I trade anything we've witness in this era for a Crosby in a Red Wing jersey era? Hell no. I absolutely love this era we're in right now and I wouldn't trade them for any other present-day era just because they appear to have "more excitement." Youth movements are exciting if you have names like Crosby and Malkin or Toews and Kane, but with youth comes A LOT of losing and learning and a lot of "paying dues" that this Wings era has done already to become a championship contender on a yearly basis. It's incredibly hard to get a franchise to that special level, and if you have it, you should grab onto it and not take it for granted. Are Wings fans jealous that the Pens have such a uber-star in Crosby? Sure. But are Pens fans and Hawks fans jealous of 4 cups in 11 years? Well, what do you think?

In all fairness, Zetterberg was already a great defensive player before he came over here. As a centerman growing up in Sweden, that's something that you learn very early. Also, I think Z had a great influence on the growth of Pav's defensive game. So, no, Yzerman didn't exactly pass it on to them, but it was his commitment to defense that inspired Kenny and Co to look for players like Zetterberg.