awingsincebirth

Is anyone else thinking that by mentally comparing what Jokinen has done for them tonight and what Lombardi has done for them against us before in the past, that Lombardi feels a hell of a lot more dangerous.... I can never think of watching the Wings play an Olli Jokinen team (granted is hasn't happened all that often) and though, "O s***! Jokinen's on the ice!" At least Lombardi had speed. (I didn't see the first goal. If Jokinen was a part of it, I guess that changes things a bit)

Thanks for all of the assuring, but unfortunately your logic is flat out incorrect. By your logic: Detroit is the 2nd least penalized team in the league THUS Detroit gets the benefit of the doubt in terms of penalties the 2nd most in the league....okay Then also: Detroit has the most goals in the league THUS Detroit plays opponents goaltenders on their bad nights the most often in the league or even Detroit is tied for the most points in the league THUS Detroit plays other teams on their bad nights the most often in the league Although it is nice that you chose to compliment the Wing's skill, you fail to recognize that it is this skill that makes them better than other teams in almost every aspect. Teams being dominated by better teams are inclined to take more penalties. Further, just as the Wings are more skilled than other teams at, you know, the generally skills of hockey, it is also possible that they could be more "skilled" at being discipline. All this, of course, despite your strong assurance

As a lifelong hockey player I would agree that hockey players are, for the most part, superior athletes compared to baseball players.... But other than that, it was just a joke centred around the well-known FACT that most Americans don't care too much about hockey. I'm not offended.

Ya. Mack, tell me if I'm wrong, but I heard that Burke already stated that he wants one serviceable, NHL ready player, a prospect, and a first rounder for Kaberle. Sounds kind of like he wants more than Boston offered.

The Rangers have to be one of the poorest run organizations since the Lockout. It seems like every single off season they are one of the teams making a "big" splash, signing "big" name free agents to lucrative contracts, and it seems like every year they underachieve. I realize that they tend to be perennial playoff contenders, but they are never really considered legitimate Cup contenders (save for a few panel "experts" on TSN who almost unanimously picked them as their pre-season favourites for last season I believe). I feel like their lack of success has to do with the absence of any real system. Successful teams like the Wings and Devils tend to be more choosy when acquiring players, only taking those who they feel would fit into the Red Wing style of play. s*** teams like the Rangers have a tendency of just looking at names, "Oh! Drury/Gomez/Naslund/Redden! Those guys are pretty good! Here, take more money then you deserve."

"I'm also thinking about buying a gun and dealing crack...being a crack dealer. Not, like, a mean crack dealer, but a nice one. Like, 'Hey guys, what's up? Wanna buy some crack?'."

Put it all together. Hossa turning down a massive, long-term deal to play on a team with two of the league's premiere forwards. Couple that with the baffling lack of success that the defending Eastern conference champions are having. If I had to guess, I would say that there is something seriously wrong in the Pen's dressing room, something that Hossa saw during his tenure there that made him walk out the door. If this is the case, I would say that, at worse, Michelle was part of the problem, or at best, just a less then competent coach who could find no way to rally his uber-talented club. Either way, he deserves to have been fired....and he's a prick. As for the locker room problem, and this is pure speculation for the fun of it, how many of you think it has to do with the fact that the team's two super stars are a pair of the most flavourless, boring individuals that the game has seen in recent memory (this may be a bit harsh towards Malkin as he really knows no English). Perhaps it is a general lack of chemistry, even just a lack of fun. Then reverse situations and look at the Wings, an organization that puts a high premium on chemistry and building a very family-like atmosphere (from the front office down), and you've got Hossa telling that press that he will take a discount to stay here. Seems pretty simple to me.

Why is this even an argument? Everyone here knows that as soon as you put Dats and Z together - BOOM! - best line in hockey. No joke. They have an inexplicable chemistry that no duo in the league right now can even begin to try to match. Hossa had a lot of success with Dats, of course, because that is what happens when two of the best players in the world play together. Honestly, I don't think that there is any player in the league that you would want to be on a line with more than Pav...no one. With all that said, in my eyes, Pav and Hossa look mortal out there when they're together...while Pav and Z are mystical. They have a chemistry that defies logic and physical limitations. Hossa is a goal scorer, and he is one of the best no doubt. I feel like if you give him time to develope chemistry with anyone, the guy will produce. Play him with Franzen and either one of Huds or Val, then I think that you are set. Play it like that and I think you have a line 1A that is hands down the best line in the game, and a 1B that is as good as most other team's first lines. Bottom line, and I think everyone here agrees, Pav and Z have to play the bulk of their minutes together (preferable along with Homer of course). I wouldn't mind seeing Babs mix it up every once and a while, throw out some different looks, but we all know this team and its players well enough to know how to maximize our offense.

I bet the rest of the league felt the same way when they saw the score too. "Oh s***, its waking up!"

Doesn't anyone remember all of the "I wanna be with a team straight from training camp" and the "I don't wanna be a rental player" crap he was spewing last year. Don't get me wrong, up until the end of last year I had the utmost of respect for Sundin and his abilities, especially considering the deeply-sown hatred I have for the Leafs. But at this point it has become pretty hard to respect a guy who is, at best, just morbidly indecisive, or at worst, a loser and a bulls***ter. Sundin isn't going to get the Cup that I believe he wants, but he likely will get a few nice paycheques before his tainted star starts to fade from everyone's memory.

Man, there is no player in the league better than Pav for assembling a highlights montage, not even close.

Lebda Jonathon Toews or Patrick Kane??

Meh, I wouldn't say that it is likely, but you gotta take risks to make money, so I kind of like the deal you made. I've actually suggested to a few of my buddies that the Wings could seriously win upwards of 70 games this season. I'm not trying to be a cocky homer, I just know that this team performs great during the regular season, and skillwise has a lot going for it. As for the Jackets, I haven't made up my mind. They'll be knocking on the door come April, I'm sure of that. A bounce here and a bounce there, they could very well be our first round opponent.

I'm definitely loving all this Leaf hate, but, I think Vesa Toskala alone will keep this team from being one of the 5 worst teams in the league, and if Sundin comes back, they'll fare even better (and by better, I mean worse, given what they are/should be trying to do)

Damn do I wish I was a professional athlete!

To further that, I heard on the FAN590 radio station yesterday that Burke had, at some point during this feud made reference to "those Edmonton bastards". Now I'm not fluent in JackAss, but that does not sound particularly complementary to me either.

Damn, I was hoping this topic would be: Cup Goes Hollywood: Holland and cup sit on the driveway of Burke's summer home for a day as dejected GM occasionally peers through the curtains in fear of the glorious trophy and the smirking man who accompanies it. Then he cries. That may have exceeded the characters limit though, I guess.

For all us Burke haters over here, that Lowe rant was absolutely CLASSIC! Some highlights, off the top of my head: "First of all, he's a moron." "He left Dave Nonis with absolutely nothing in Vancouver." "He's a media junkey." "He's won a Stanley Cup, that's great, I've won 6. You wanna count rings?" Basically, its a lot of what people around here have been saying all year. I've got a lot of respect for Kevin Lowe as a person (don't think he is a very good GM though), and for him to hold off as long as he did while Burke just kept running his mouth showed a lot of restraint. Every man has got his limit though, and I for one have no problem that Lowe shot back. Now, Bettman is gonna step in (Burke: "Gary, make him stop saying mean things to me!), and rightfully so, as this feud really isn't good for the brand. But, its hard to say, given who is involved, whether or not it will really end there.

that would be damn crafty

THis one is for you, my man :beerbuddy:

Ya, that's my bad. Ya, you gotta think he'll be gone eh. It'll be interesting to see if there will be any suitors for McCabe and his behemoth of a contract (then again, he'd have to be compliant too, I guess, thanks to Fergie's NTC). Personally, I think he's the kind of guy that would play better anywhere other than the limelight of Toronto, but to what degree, I'm really not all that sure.

Ya, sources tell me that a trade is in the works for picking up Smith. But what do "sources" know, they are generally full of s***. Mack, as a Leaf fan, would you be willing to get rid of Kubina? I've got a lot of Leaf fan friends, and alot of them want to keep him around because of the way that he finished last season. But, his NTC is null right now, until August or something, correct? You've gotta think that Fletch is trying to dump him, because it doesn't seem all that likely that he will be able to play all season up to his $5 mill (or whatever it is) contract.

That makes sense, I guess. I don't really know a tonne about previous NHL eras. I guess I just assumed that Orr was the first defenseman to really add the heavy offensive aspect to the game. Realistically though, he was just the very best at it. I think its fairly safe to say that we will never see another defenseman win the scoring title like he did, that is flat out ridiculous.

This should help them with that whole "no defense" thing