awingsincebirth

These guys are a f*ckin joke. When talking about the Wings, they made zero mention of the names Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Cleary, Franzen, Rafalski (except to say he had a sore neck) or Kronwall. I'm not sure whether they just want to see Detroit lose so bad that they ignore important players like that, or whether they just haven't really watched the Wings play enough. Also, its like they don't remember last years playoffs at all. They questioned the team's character because of all the Europeans. They said it was gonna be hard to play against big strong teams, same old s*** as always. Its getting reallly old.

WEST: (1) Detroit vs. (8) Nashville 4-1 (2) San Jose vs. (7) Calgary 4-2 (3) Minnesota vs. (6) Colorado 2-4 (4) Anaheim vs. (5) Dallas 4-1 EAST: (1) Montreal vs. (8) Boston 4-3 (2) Pittsburgh vs. (7) Ottawa 4-1 (3) Washington vs. (6) Philadelphia 4-2 (4) New Jersey vs. (5) New York Rangers 4-2

That'll do, my friend. That'll do.

What's to stop Chris Chelios from killing Hudler and seizing all "Jiri Yuppies" as his own?

Real good post man. I agree big time. As far as I see it, when the Wings and the Ducks play, it is more than a battle between two teams. It is a battle between the two clubs who best exemplify the styles which they employ (Style v. Crash'n Bang). A lot of people around the league are saying that the Duck's style is superior because, well, it won them the Cup last year. This year will give the Wings another chance to prove a skilled, puck possession style can win a Cup in the new NHL. I believe that it can, and I think a lot of us here do. We CANNOT beat the Ducks at their own game. We can't match hit for hit with them or we will be screwed. But, isn't the question "Are we physical enough?" for Wings fans kind of like hte question "Are we skilled enough?" for the Ducks? They CANNOT beat us at our game either. Thats why I want so much to get a crack at them.

I can only assume that this is a joke.

Ya, I'm getting the exact same thing. Really sucks ass because I was looking forward to wathing this one as I haven't caught a game in a while. O well, I should probably be working on an essay right now anways. Maybe this is a sign.

Is that commercial online anywhere, that you know of?? I've never seen it but I would kind of like to.

That may very well be true. Nonetheless, he was never able to get that team over the top. Did he have success in the sense of putting together playoff teams and Cup Contenders? Yes. But Holland and Lameriello have had similar success like that over the same length of time. Furthermore, both of those guys have gotten their teams over the top more times than Burke. You say that you think that Kenny is the best, and I agree. In my eyes, judging the "Best GM in the game" isn't like judging the "Best Player in the game". Players go out there everygame and provide hard facts as to why they may be the best. You can look at performance over the course of a game, a week, a month, or a season, and say who was the best player in the league over that course of time. For GMs, it is different. In order to measure the success of a GM, you have to look back, sometimes way back. Having success as a GM is a very slow, long term process. Thus, to look at the last guy to win a Cup and say, "he must be the best", is naive. After all, it is entirely impossible that a GM could entirely mortgage their future, trade away all their top picks and prospects, and win the Cup that year, only to turn into a horrible team a few years down the road. Just because that GM won the Cup doesn't make him a successful GM...anyone can do that (To qualify, I'm not saying that Burke did that). Basically what I'm saying, and what I'm sure you guys believe as well, is that you have to look at sustained, consistent success, along with Cups over a long period of time to decide who is the best. If you do that right now, there should be no question that it would be #1. Kenny #2. Lou #3. Burke(???). He hasn't proven himself to be number one, not yet anyways. I'd like to think that this has nothing to do with the fact that I hate his ass, it is just pure logic.

I'm sure that they've had a big slump over the course of the year, but I'm pretty sure that it wasn't nearly as bad as our's was. Its pretty just been consistent sub-par play ever since starting the season at 15-2. They cannot get consisten goaltending, their offense has been spotty, as has their defense, and as a result, they don't even look like a playoff team. Look up their record since the first 20 games or so....they've been one of the worst teams in the league, and that is a looong stretch of hockey. They lost Corvo and Eaves, and got back Commadore and Stillman. I'm not sure that deal has had much impact on the slump. They were having some trouble before the deal, and they've continued to have trouble since the deal. The problems much run deeper than missing a couple of depth role players.

This is all true. I think a lot of people are blinded by the fact that he is the GM of the defending Stanley Cup champ. Its more of a "what has he done lately" kind of deal. However, I hate how they seem to be entirely ignoring his ineffective tenure in Vancouver. While he was there, they really didn't experience any sort of significant success. Moreover, with the same core of players that he brought in still there today, they really still are not experiencing any success. So, ya, I guess if the "Best GM" is determined over the last year and a half (and even that, as the post quoted illustrates, is questionable), the maybe he should win. However, to put him above Holland and Lamoriello, two guys that have experienced similar success to what Burke has experienced recently numerous times in the past, and have maintained a very high, consistent level of success, is incredibly stupid and short sighted. In my eyes, we need to see another straight decade of this kind of success from Burkey before we can start mentioning his name along side the other two. Whatever.

Risebrough does have a reputation of being a real solid GM in this league and generally putting forth a good team. However, I've heard more than one person say that, although he always puts forth a good team, he never seems to make that one move that puts them over the top. I think that this year's trade deadline was a good illustration of that, but I guess we'll see if that is the case when all the smoke clears and one team is hoistin the Cup.

For Mats, I'm pretty sure it'll be Toronto or retirement.

As a Canadian, I really really hope that the whole Separatism thing works out eventually.

Nice. Ya, I'm getting mine for like $60, so thats not too bad either. Indeed, you never question cheap seats, because there is the off-chance that he may have killed a man for them and then you might feel morally obligated to decline the tickets. Nobody wants that.

Okay. But you HAVE to promise to keep posting around here if the Canadians get knocked out of the playoffs. We'll give you some props if they win, but you have to admit you were wrong when...sorry IF....you lose.

This just confirms what I've been secretly thinking for years. I say we just compile a team out of all the best Olympic speed skaters. I'm thinking we need some Europeans for skill, and of course some Canadian for toughness. We do that and we CAN'T LOSE.

I really get the impression that this guy hasn't watched any hockey game over the past like 5 years that wasn't a Candiens game. Watch a couple of the Western powerhouses squaring off, it'll make you wanna cry out of sheer hopelessness.

Normally I'm not a huge Pierre LeBrun fan, but..... I haven't read such a well thought out, reasonable, and common sense-like article about the Wings in a long time. Everything that he said is what most people around here have been saying all year. I like it.

You Frenchies crack me up

Well, I can tell I'm not gonna get a reasonable or rational post out of you, but I could use a good laugh, so what the hell?? There's one I haven't heard before. The Wings are fat asses. How did we not see it sooner? Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom are clearly all overweight. You know who else is way to overweight on our team?? Hasek. What is he pushing, 150? Two words...Lean. Cuisine. Dude, do you actually think that any Eastern Conference team has a prayer against the West Champion? The West is tougher, better defensively, and play a better team game. Hopefully its Detroit, but even if it is San Jose or Anaheim, even Calgary, the Eastern Champion is gonna get pummeled in the Finals, just like they did last year. Once again, I like the Canadiens. I really love how they are competing for the conference right now when, at the beginning of the year, many people thought that they would miss the playoffs. However, with all the parity in the East, a bunch of PRETTY good team without any REALLY good teams (ala Detroit, San Jose, Anaheim), I think anyone could really beat anyone. Looking at what you guys have going between the pipes (Is it gonna be Halak or Price??), I don't see you being a serious threat this year.

The 4th game?? None of this post makes any sense. If the Canadiens are able to have some playoff success, then I say good for them. But I don't suspect much from them in this year's second season. I think that a first round knock out for them is in the cards this year, whether it is against Boston or Philly. Especially now with the trouble surrounding Koivu that I just read about.

actually, I'm not certain at all. My buddy's dad got some cheap tickets from his work, so I actually haven't seen them myself yet. I just said the 12th because I assumed that if game one was on the 10th, game 2 would be on the 12th. Complete assumption though, you could definitely be right. Either way, I'm pumped.

I'll be in attendance for game 2 on the 12th . It's gonna be my first every playoff game, and I could NOT be more pumped about it. Just counting down the days.