awingsincebirth

Kay, maybe calm down just a bit. My avatar isn't actually a Iggy-glorifying one, although I guess that I can see why it might appear as such, given that the angle tends to focus more on him than Lids. I just really liked that picture the first time I saw it because Nick obviously has a well earned reputation as being one of the most even-keeled, calm, and laid back players you'll ever see. I honestly can't really remember ever seeing him get as pissed off as he did in this circumstance (which, if I'm not mistaken, is from game 6 of last year's series when we took a commanding lead and all hell broke loose because the entire Flames team turned into a bunch of whiny *******). I really love seeing Nick getting right up in his face, and its even better because Iggy has a reputation of being one of the toughest elite players out there. So there, you don't have to be pissed off because now you know the true reason for the avatar. With all that said, I don't feel the same way that many people feel here about Iggy. Ever since his performance in the gold-medal game in hte 2002 Olympics, he's had a special place in my heart. He's immensely talented, and tough as nails, and 95% of the time, when he's not acting kind of *****-esque, he's a pretty classy guy. Finally, I'm actually a big fan of your avatar. It's actually been my MSN display picture for like a year. I was actually thinkin about making it my LGW avatar until I saw that someone else here had it, and I didn't want to seem like a copy-cat. The Office rocks my world, no doubt. New episode this week baby.

I hate all this comparison of who's better than who. We've got Hank or Dats, Dom or Ozzy, and now Mule or Homer. I try to avoid participation in these types of threats, because I tend to be of the mindset of, we've got ALL of these guys, we're blessed, we've got a great team, who cares who is better than who, as long as everyone has their role, I'm happy. Although, now that I've written this I can see how it might be construed as condescending, which it is certainly not intended to be. That's just the way that I personally feel.

Is anyone else curious as to how Buffalo opened at 7 to 1?? Get serious. Anaheim was first at 11 to 2, then Ottawa at 6 to1, then Buffalo at 7 to 1, then Detroit at 8 to 1. I mean, sure, they had a great team last year, but they lost their two top scorers. A little illogical to me, but no big deal.

Totally agree. I was just talking about that with my buddy yesterday. I suggested splitting up DZH, so that Homer could play with one of them, and Franzen with the other. We all know that Homer isn't gonna make a whole hell of lot happen out there on his own, like Hank, Dats, and like Flip does on occasion. Homer is just a perfect complementary player when put on a line with a star or two, because he causes fits for a goalie and makes it more likely for every shot to find the back of the net. Also, I agree with someone who posted yesterday that Homer is best played on a line with Lidstrom on the back end. Franzen has the hands and the legs to make things happen a bit better than Homer, but I would still like to maybe see him stay with Hank, or Dats actually, either way. To be honest, I'm pretty happy with our top 6 right now. Whether we go ZDH - Cleary Flip Franzen, or something like Cleary Dats Homer - Zetterberg Flip Franzen, anything like that, we've got options, and I'm gettin pumped for the playoffs.

There is no doubt in my mind. I said it last year, and I'll say it again this year, because things look pretty much the same. Barring some unforeseen miracle, or if Marty Brodeur absolutely stands on his head in the finals (which is not out of the realm of the possible) the West champion will win. We're a better conference over all, we're tougher, grittier, and our best teams play a better TEAM game, and have significantly better defense. In any given game, any team can beat any other team. However, in a 7 game series, I'd pick Detroit, San Jose, Anaheim, hell, maybe even Calgary, over anyone in the East. Maybe I'm biased, but look at the Finals last year. Wasn't even a competiton. Ottawa just got owned, and they looked like a second tier team up against Anaheim. THE WEST IS THE BEST!

Agreed. I don't think that any of the fans, the sane ones anyways, can question Luongo's desire to be with his wife at a time like this. I do think, however, that they may question why he has to fly all the way to Florida to do that. I'm not questioning it myself, because I really don't care, but for Canuck fans, many of whom are crazy die-hards, I can see this being a bit of an issue.

Ya, I absolutely agree that the Flames are a much more physical, stronger, perhaps even more talented opponent than the Stars would be for the Ducks. However, as it has been pointed out numerous times on this forum, the Stars have flat-out had the Ducks number this year, they just know how to beat them (during the regular season at least). On the other hand, I think of the Flames and Ducks to play very similar styles; lots of physical play, lots of grinding, etc.etc.etc. But, IMO, the Ducks are just better at it, and they will probably come out of that series, one way or another. So I guess its more of a matter of personal preference. If the Ducks play the Stars, I think they have a better chance of being beat, but if they do win the series, they are not going to be all that beaten up. If they play the Flames, they have a better chance of winning, but whether or not they win or lose, they are going to be pretty banged up. Again, this is just my personal opinion, and, as we all know, anything can happen in April. Either way, our Wings can take on anyone, anytime, anywhere.

How awesome would that be?? Just a bunch of Wings fans hangin around, eating every conceivable kind of meat that God placed on this green earth, talking the Wings, and hockey in general. That's the kind of world that I, someday, want to live in.

That's absolutely the case. I think we place all of our hate on Sammy, which isn't really fair because it has more to do with Bab's inexplicable man-crush on Sammy that has him generally in the top-6, and on the 2nd pp. Contrary to what you would think from reading many posts on this site (including some of my own posted in frustration), you'd think he is the worst player of all time. Realistically, he's just not good enough to play in the role in which Babs plays him.

GDT is the balls, as always. Are those the confirmed lines for the game?? Because if they are, I guess we'll get a chance to see just how s***ty Sammy really is. We already know that he is bad enough to drag down one of the leagues elite forwards (in Zetterberg), but tonite we'll actually get a chance to see if he sucks enough to drag down TWO of the league's elite forwards, who are quite possibly the best forward tandem in the league! I can see it now, "Datsyuk with the puck in the corner, OHH, what a no look pass to Zetterberg!! Legace is way out of position!! Hank drops it back to Sammy who has an open net!! Sammy shoots......what the hell!?!?!? Legace wasn't in the net, and still Sammuelson found a way to shoot a weak shot into his chest! Never before have I seen such greatness accompanied by such incompetence. We, indeed, are witnessing history." Then the St. Louis crowd starts chanting "SAMMY SUCKS!", he breaks down crying and makes for the dressing room, and announces his retirement from hockey after the game, as a tear of sadness gently falls down Babcock's cheek, and tears of joy pour down the cheeks of every Wings fan across the land. Yup, that's how I think it's gonna go down. Maybe just wishful thinking. Getchya popcorn ready

If this thread were a competition, this guy would win it HANDS DOWN! Although, come on, poetic failure??? The guy's playing semi-pro roller hockey man! He's livin' the dream!

There is a physical peak that players can reach at a certain point in their LIVES (not their CAREERS). Theoretically, at that peak, you should play the best hockey of your career. Ovechkin is closer to that peak, closer to physical maturity, and is thus at an advantage. Gretzky's peak season was in 85-86 when he scored 215. I realize that he had outstanding numbers before that as well, and that there are other factors that make a great player than just points, but it is no coincidence that he reached this peak when he was 24-25, and not when he was 20-21.

Call me a homer, call me whatever you will, but I disagree. If I have to start a franchise from scratch using a fantasy draft and I have the #1 pick, then I'd take Crosby, because he's pretty much got his whole career ahead of him, and he is already superb. However, if we're talking just one season, right here, right now, in the present, if it didn't matter that he only had a couple of years left, I'd take Nick Lidstrom every time baby. #1 for the Hart in my heart, I just wish the rest of the league felt the same way.

No offense, but I'm not buyin this. He hasn't been able to take his team out of the playoffs....in the one year that he had a chance. The guy's 20 years old! Once he gets into his late, hell, maybe even his mid 20s we can talk, but not yet. GIve him another shot. I don't think that you are particularly unjustified in saying that Ovechkin has been more impressive (baring in mind that he is also older). However, this observation may be simply relative to the hype, as Ovechkin received far less than The Croz because he was Russian, not Canadian. Has Ovechkin been great? Yes. Has Crosby been great? Yes. I think we just have to wait until their careers are both over before we can start to really critically debate who the better overall player was. One last thing. You seem to be docking marks from Crosby because he has a better team. However, look at the standings the past couple of years...it has shown. Crosby made the playoffs last year, Ovy didn't. Crosby's team (granted he's missed a lot of time) is fighting for top spot in the conference this year, Ovy is fighting for the playoffs. To measure Ovechkin as being more successful because he is on a worse team doesn't make any sense, because the two teams are still not on the same level. If they WERE closer to each other in the standings, then you may have a point. Then you could say "Crosby has a good team, and Ovechkin has a s*** team, yet they are close to each other in the standings, thus Ovechkin is better because he can elevate his team that much more." But this isn't the case. For the record, I'm not the huge Crosby fan, and I love Ovechkin because he is hilarious. I just dislike semi-irrational arguments.

That may not be the case though. It is almost certain that two Northwest teams are gonna fall in the 3&6 slots. As it stands, it would be a series between (3) Minny and (6) Calgary. But, whatever the case, it will pretty much be a crap shoot, and actually, in ^ series, I would quite confidently pick Calgary. Thus, even if the Sharks win, and then the Duck/Stars win, we would play the six. Bottom line is that, whoever is the 3 and whoever is the 6, are pretty much gonna have the same amount of points, and thus it is entirely likely the the 6 gets the "upset" and we play that team in Rd. 2.

Ya, they are a damn good team. Nonetheless, I'm gonna wanna see some proof that a few of their players can play in the playoffs (Marleau, Chechoo, etc.) before I start to get too worried. I kind of doubt they are going to catch us for the Presidents, as I think that we'll finish strong against the division, but that really doesn't matter to me at all anyways. I thought that they were GREATLY underachieving for much of the season. But they are really picking it up now, and it looks like Campbell was a tremendous pick up. However, if they end up drawing Vancouver in the first round (which is very likely), who honestly knows what could happen. I think that Vancouver can get any team, no matter how stacked, into the trap of those boring, 2-1 games. Luongo could easily steal a series against anyone. It's gonna be one hell of a run to the Cup in the West, that's for damn sure. PS. On a side note, do most people argree with me that the West is far superior to the east, both in depth, and individual teams?? In my mind, not only does the West have stronger teams deeper down the standings, but I'd also argue we have the Top 3 teams, and 4 of the Top 5.

Hard to say, man. I bet that there is little doubt in Babcock's mind about starting Hasek. I firmly believe that Hasek will raise his level of play in the playoffs and be the steady goaltender that we need him to be. However, our luxury is that, if he starts the first game, or first couple of games, and plays poorly, he can be swapped for a very capable "backup" who has the best GAA in the league. Goaltending still DOES NOT worry me. I also kind of like the thought of being able to throw different looks out there for different teams and different styles of play. It illustrates that we are a team whose depth goes right out of the starting lineup. It is kind of like in basketball where you might throw a bunch of bigs out on the floor for a half-court game, or a bunch of guards to pick up the pace. I think that it is another luxury we have.

LOL Ya, I guess it's kind of a - "If you build it, they will come" - type of thought. Except, it's a - "If you grow it, they will come" - with "it" referring to a dirty pube beard. I feel kind of bad for Nash, someone should probably tell him that he plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Hard to say. But personally, I think that he's pretty balls-ie

Is anyone else but me wondering why, seeing as the Blue Jackets and Rick Nash have never made the playoffs, he would ever allow himself to grow such a ridiculous, pubic hair-esque beard??? I mean, that things bad.

Could not agree more

Ya, but I kind of want to be the team to beat the Ducks, to be honest.

THe Yahoo Power Rankings really confuse me. Are those Overall Power Rankings, and then they just add a little blurb about the goaltending of ever team?? Or is it Power Ranking based on who has the best goaltending situation in the league?? Basically, is it saying that we are the fourth best team in the league, or we have the fourth best goaltending in the league?? It's not really specified.

I don't know man. I mean, most teams don't count on their 3 and 4 lines to do much scoring. THey are for checking, defense, and energy. I think we've got some solid players in the 3 and 4 line roles. That doesn't worry me at all. So yes, it goes downhill when you think of scoring prowess obviously, but I think we are really solid in the 7-12 spot with Drapes, Malts, Kopecky, maybe even Mac. With Cleary back, and if Franzen can keep up the solid play, I will be really excited to watch this team.

So, I was just thinking. With Franzen on the tear that he is, and playing really well, do you think that we might actually get what almost everyone on LGW so desperately wants - to have Samuelson finally bumbed out of the top 6?? I mean, with Cleary back, along with Flip, and now Franzen making a nice case, maybe - JUST MAYBE - Babs will ignore his mancrush on Sammy and do what is best for this team, take him off the top 2 lines. Man I hope so.