titanium2

Of course they are. They always treat the older guys different.

He also said he wasn't going to be a fan anymore after the SJ series. I thought, "Well at least that's one less person who just hates Hudler".

Abby needs a new number. That 8 just looks weird on him.

Perhaps it's not as simple as just benching Hudler. He pretty much runs the 2nd PP unit right?

You'd think/hope that this is one of the games that the Wings get up for since Nashville is doing so well.

Seems like watching Turco makes you feel really thankful for Ozzie.

http://www.mlive.com/griffins/index.ssf/2010/10/griffins_jan_mursak_picks_up_h.html GRAND RAPIDS -- Jan Mursak doesn't particularly enjoy speaking to the media after practice or games. He prefers to let his play do the talking. "I'm normally a pretty shy person, especially when I have to talk," Mursak said. "English is not my first language. I got better at it, I'm a little more comfortable talking." Truth be told, the 22-year-old Slovenian's English is just fine. But it's his output on the ice that might get people talking. Mursak leads the Grand Rapids Griffins with four goals and is tied for first with seven points through the season's first seven games. The forward also owns a four-game point streak that is one shy of his career high. Mursak, who was drafted 182nd overall in the 2006 NHL draft by the parent club Detroit Red Wings, is looking to take another step in his development after last season's drastic improvement. After recording only two goals and seven assists in 51 games during his rookie year, Mursak's production jumped to 24 goals (second on the team), 18 assists and a plus-12 rating in 79 games last season. "I've had a pretty good start. The years before, I had a slow start, nothing went my way really," he said. "But this year, it looks like pucks are going in. Mursak, who was a point-per-game player for two years in the Ontario Hockey League, said he wasn't as prepared as he should have been when he made the leap to the American Hockey League in 2008. "I didn't know about the 80 games, bad road trips. I don't think I was mentally and physically ready for all that," he said. "But I was working extra hard in the summer and got way stronger in the gym, and I think it's paying off so far." Griffins coach Curt Fraser wasn't surprised Mursak jumped out to a strong start. "That's what we expect out of him. Remember, the first year with this kid, he had chances every night he played, but he couldn't find the back of the net," Fraser said. "But he didn't stop working, off the ice and in the gym. He didn't let things bother him, he just kept moving forward." Mursak's biggest asset always has been speed, which helps him create scoring chances even on the penalty kill. His two short-handed goals are tied for the league lead this season. The biggest knock has been his size and strength, but Mursak (5-foot-11, 192 pounds) worked with a trainer this summer to ensure that area no longer is a concern. If he continues to flash a deft scoring touch, Mursak might even earn his first NHL call-up later this season. "I think I'm making smarter plays, I'm hanging onto the puck a little longer. I used to get rid of it pretty quick my first year, even last year," he said. "This year, I'm trying to perfect it better and kind of thinking before I do stuff, 'What am I going to do?' It's a good thing. "During the season, we learn new stuff. You see what plays you can make, what's good, what's not good. I think I still have a lot to learn." As long as Mursak continues to work hard, Fraser will reward him with ice time. "I don't bench anybody," Fraser said. "I just go with the guys that are going." E-mail Michael Zuidema: mzuidema@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/michaelzuidema

Looks like the year is starting off as a challenging one for Ozzie. Hopefully he'll find a way to get back into 1B form instead of backup.

So what is a CORE when you consider injuries?

Wow... I get back from work and see that the Wings were down by 3 by the end of the 1st I thought, "Oh crap... The Ozzie haters will be out in full force".

Is he right or no?

I just hope Doan or anyone else on the Coyotes doesn't injure any of the Wings players.

I wanted to root for the Lightning because of Stevie but now I'm thinking something along the lines of 'Be careful what you wish for'.

Haha... A lot of my older aunts and uncles still talk about the days when gas was a quarter a gallon. If only.

I do feel bad for Cleary though. A lot of people including himself thought he was going to have a breakout year and it hasn't started that way.

Why isn't switching Hudler with Eaves much of an option? I'm sure that's come across Babs' mind.

Hehehehe...

Twas a good one, in all seriousness.

Is there any way that the coaches and higher ups can use this to their advantage? Like what if they just kept throwing this event in Bettman's face. Would that do any good? Probably not, just thinking out loud here.

I don't think it's gotten that bad...

ZOMG! RITOLA WILL WIN THE CONN SMYTHE!!!

I see you've met Eva. He typically likes to make up his own definitions of hockey terms and impose them on other people. I remember one argument where he tried to say something along the lines of "Zetterberg is a power forward". Haha... I mean... Yeah... So, it's best to just disregard most if not all of what he says.

And in his free time he invented something that we know of today as the game of hockey. That's right.

Jiri Hudler invented Connect Four.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1uq1HcGRA4