Sergeiwasmyfav

Many of those seats are owned by corporations. They use the tickets to give to big-time customers, or to their best employees as incentives for good performance, etc. Therefore, there is no one person to actually sit in those seats, because they belong to a huge company that has to give the tickets to someone for anyone to have them. If they don't do this, no one will be in the seats. Also, just because people have jobs doesn't mean they pay well enough to afford tickets, or perhaps they need to spend their money on other things. Just because you have a job does not mean you have money for luxeries. I think it is very judgmental for you to be saying how people should spend their hard-earned money. Might they have a mortgage to pay, medical bills to pay, children in college with tuition to pay, or maybe their kid needs braces so their teeth aren't messed up for the rest of their life. Believe it or not, there are many things that people need to spend money on that are more important than hockey tickets, or any other sports tickets for that matter. And if the situation in other cities is the same as here, as you seem to have implied, and people are spending money they cannot afford on hockey tickets, I don't know that I think that makes them "better" fans. I think it shows they are foolish with their money, and I will not feel bad if they then cannot affor their mortgage payment because the went to the Pens' game. That's what I feel about the whole situation.

How are some people still not understanding that this was sarcasm, as someone else pointed out. The point was that yeah, everyone here in Detroit says he is so self-centered, but then look at this, he was the only player to think about someone other than himself after being congratulated by the GM. The GM of the Caps said that he thought this really showed Feds' character and class. The sarcasm really loses its effect when it has to be spelled out, but I enjoyed it.

Huh? Your thoughts in this thread are all over the place. We've been from Downey shouldn't play, to he should play sparingly, to he should only play if McCarty does, to he is undisciplined, to he is not that undisciplined but does not have the playoff experience. What the hell dude? Make up your mind!

I want Downey and McCarty to both play in the playoffs, but I don't know that I would play Downey instead of Hudler. I realize that he isn't that big (as your hobit reference in a previous post makes clear) but I think he could do alright. I would play Downey instead of Sammy. I'm pretty sure that to you when it comes to Sammy and Hudler it's basically six of one, half dozen of the other (not to put words in your mouth, but I'm assuming this because you always classify them together as "useless hacks", with the occasional inclusion of Kopecky) but I think Hudler is better than Sammy. I would play Downey for Sammy, and also McCarty. So I guess to answer the original question of the thread, yes, I think Downey should play.

You know, I really shouldn't think like this, but I wish he wouldn't be ready. I don't wish injuries on anyone because I'm afraid it could jinx the rest of the team, but I was really hoping someone else could get in there for Sammy, at least for a few games. Alas, he has recovered more quickly than anticipated.

Cool, maybe I will come and visit you guys if you don't mind! We are up in section 202B, row 6. I am so excited and cannot wait! I feel like a little kid again every time the playoffs start.

Okay, thanks for the heads up. I'm going with my dad on Thursday, and he knows all kinds of places to park, so it shouldn't be an issue with him. But with my friends or something, I wouldn't know what to do!

My friend and I parked in the huge Greektown structure that they just built for the last game on Sunday against the Blackhawks, and they didn't ask us for any Club card or anything, we just drove right in. Is this a new development, because it would really suck if it is.

Can I co-sign this letter with you? He is the only ref I think is capable of doing a decent job out there. Also, I know that Fraser hates the Wings because he is actually a pretty good ref when he is doing other games, but not with us! He really does not like the Wings. Also, I remember VanMassenhoven being called Vancouverhoven or whatever it was because he was so biased against us in that series. It was out of control! I also don't think Devorski is that bad, not as good as McCreary, but not awful. I could live with him.

I was actually wondering the same thing. I'm sure many households only have one computer, and may have more than one Wings fan on this site with different usernames.

This is good news! However, I'm a little confused because Scotty said on the CBC preview show tonight that Stuart will not start Game 1. I hope the Freep article is right, but I'm not sure...

I think the problem with the post was that the person said they posted it to intentionally mislead people. The poster said something to the effect that he wanted to get everyone riled up a little bit before they actually read the post. So, the post itself wasn't completely false, I think it was just the whole nature of it that was the problem. I don't want to speak for Matt or the other moderators in any way, but I'm pretty sure if the post had just said something like, "Babcock said after the game that Rafalski and Chelios didn't play because they have minor injuries" it would have been fine because that is the truth.

I don't know why, but that made me laugh so hard, and I'm in class! I had to hold it in! Thanks for the amusement.

Somebody posted that Rafalski and Chelios were injured. They clarified in the same post that it was just a joke, but you had to read the post to know that, as the title did not indicate it was a joke.

Wow, way to pull the most unimportant few words out of a post to create an argument. That comment was merely an aside thought, and totally not the point of the post.

I think some of what you say here is true, in that he did tend to float at times, and he could be somewhat moody. However, what about all that he contributed during the Stanley Cup runs? I don't think the times that they didn't win are his fault only. The team didn't play well enough to win; one player cannot win the Cup (exception may be Roy with the '86 Candiens), so I don't think years that the Wings did not do well in the playoffs should be used to support the idea that Feds couldn't lead the team. No one lead the team well enough those years to win the Cup, including Yzerman. It was a nice article about him, showing how he is doing well with another team, helping out the young players. His teammates there seem to like him and appreciate him. Why can't we just be happy for him having some success in the twilight of his career, instead of rehashing every non-perfect thing he ever did here?

Just wanted to add that I hope if Lilja does get to play, which he should, he makes the most of it and does well. This could be a chance for him to really step up.

I had heard that this is what happened as well. One of the reporters from either the Freep or the Detroit News (I can't remember which) wrote an article soon after Feds signed with Anaheim that pointed out how the situation was the fault of both sides to some extent. Most people just choose to forget that.

I think you have to go with Lilja in the playoffs. Lilja's game is more suited for playoff hockey than is Lebda's. Lebda has better speed, but other than that, I don't know, he just doesn't do that much. The playoffs are more physical, and Lilja will handle that better than Lebda IMO. I also think Lilja is far more likely to dish some of that physical play out to the other team than is Lebda. Also, Lilja's blocked shot, as others have mentioned, will become even more important in the playoffs. I think you have to go with Lilja.

Thank you very much for posting that article! I hadn't seen it, and really enjoyed reading it. I am so happy to see Feds having success with the Caps and enjoying the game again. He has always been a great playoff performer, and while he might not be able to put the points up he used to, I'm sure he will do everything he can to help the Caps in the playoffs. I only wish would could have gotten him here, but alas, it was not to be. Perhaps it was better for him to go to the Caps though, because the impact he is having there isn't really needed here as far as veteran leadership. We have plenty of that. So perhaps everything worked out for the best for everyone involved.

Yes. Carolina had a chance to clinch their division (and therefore a playoff spot) with a win yesterday against Florida. They lost, which meant the Caps could get the spot today with a win, and they did win. Carolina has no more games left to play, so they cannot get anymore points, and the Caps now have two more points than them. Therefore, the Caps are in, Carolina is out.

Congrats to the Caps!! I'm so excited that they made it. I was also very happy to see that Feds got a goal (the GWG) in this very important game.

I am definitely rooting for the Caps to win this one. I like them much better than Carolina in the first place, but now that they have Feds on their team, I would like to see them make the playoffs even more. It didn't look like he was going to have a chance at the playoffs again with the Bluejackets, and now he might, and I just want that for him. Also, I absolutely love watching AO anytime I get the chance, so more games to watch him is just great. Just a thought too about the comment that most Russian players disappear in the playoffs. I think the Russian 5 from '97 totally disproves this, as does the play of several other Russians that a previous poster named. Also, most Wings fan would agree, even if they don't care for Feds, that he played his best hockey in the playoffs, which is far from disappearing. He may have floated at times in the regular season (even I can admit that) but never in the playoffs.

As others have said, if the Wings come to play, they will be fine, and should win. If they don't, Nashville could definitely take advantage of that and get the upset. I feel that the Wings totally control their own destiny in this series, unlike in some others (say against the Ducks) where even the Wings at their best could still possibly lose (not saying they would, just saying it's possible). This is a series where, if the Wings play their best, they will not lose because the Preds cannot compare talent-wise. But, we all know they will be looking to prove something, looking to move past the first round after making the playoffs the last three seasons but losing in the first round each time. The Wings will have to be sharp, but I will predict Wings in 6.

I don't know, I thought the thread was just a chance to joke around a little bit and have some fun. That is why I posted in it. Like others have said, there are extremes at both ends, with the people who panic after one loss, and those that think the team is invincible. I didn't take this thread to be for those that think the team can do no wrong, I just thought it was a chance to poke a little fun at all of the dooms day predictions. I apologize if anyone was offended, and I am not being sarcastic in this post.