RWK23

I'm going to look at it like I do with every MVP-type award. Where is that team if you removed that player from the team? Do they make the playoffs, do they lose a lot more games, do they make it to the championship? Basically, who is the most important player on the team? This becomes a lot more difficult with a team like the Red Wings, because they are so deep and such a good team. Basically, it comes down to Chris Osgood, Nick Lidstrom, and Henrik Zetterberg, IMHO. Now, the player that is universally accepted as the most important Red Wings player is Nick Lidstrom. However, we all know he isn't going to win it, despite similar numbers to his 2002 Conn Smythe performance. No matter how I look at it, it's an unbelievably hard decision. Ozzie's performance has been one for the ages. Hank's two-way play has been breathtaking. But, when you look at where the Wings were before Ozzie (tied 2-2 with #8 seed Preds with a goalie giving up goals from the blue line with frequency) and since Ozzie (13-3 with three shutouts), I think you have to give it to Ozzie. It's such a hard call and I honestly believe it is going to come down to who plays better in the clinching game(s).

I agree with a lot of your points, but Sidney Crosby is not the best player in the world. He's a very good player and his age makes him all the more attractive, but he's probably #3 as far as the best player in the world is concerned. I'd take Ovechkin and Lidstrom ahead of him.

It would be pretty hard to keep a guy who has played as well as he has throughout the playoffs off the team next season. He's 20 and he's playing like a seasoned veteran. It's extremely impressive. I agree with Dabura that I think Helm and Abdelkader would work well together. We have to remember Kopecky as well who was playing extremely well at the time of his injury.

Outside of Chelios, I have been pleased with the play of all our defensemen. Lidstrom has been, well, Lidstrom. Never beaten, constantly poised, strong offensively, and one of the best leaders around. Undoubtedly, our best defensemen throughout our playoff run. Rafalski started off kind of slow. Against Nashville, he had some horrible turnovers. But, he quickly reverted back to form and has been terrific since. Kronwall has been effective defensively, has generated a number of scoring chances with strong passing (see: Game 5 against Nashville, Game 3 against Dallas), and has garnered a lot of attention with his open-ice hits. Stuart has been the strong, physical defensemen that the Wings have been searching for for years. Lebda has been surprisingly good. His speed has been a major factor and he's played well offensively. I was particularly impressed with his assist to Drake in Game 6 against Dallas. Lilja, outside of a couple awful games against Nashville, has been a strong, stay-at-home guy.

It must be pretty rare for a player who leads all playoff scorers in points, goals, and +/- whose team won the Cup to not win the Conn Smythe. But, if things continue like this, it's going to happen. There's absolutely no way you could give it to anyone but Ozzie. 1. Ozzie 2. Hank 3. Lidstrom

Yeah, I know. I worded it wierdly. I meant that I would go with Drake-Draper-Maltby on the third line with Sammy-Helm-Cleary on the fourth, but I had a feeling that Babcock would stick with Sammy on the third because of his success tonight.

I'm sure he'll be on the second. Here's what I'd do: Holmstrom - Zetterberg - Datsyuk Franzen - Filppula - Hudler Drake - Draper - Maltby Cleary - Helm - Samuelsson I have a feeling that Samuelsson and Maltby will be flip flopped though after tonight's results. We'll see.

That really isn't a big question. It's going to be McCarty and Babcock won't even think twice.

Pitt has three number one overall picks (Crosby, Malkin, Fleury) and a number two overall (Staal). Like Doggy pointed out, they have several other first rounders on their team as well. The Wings' first rounders are Cleary (13th overall), Stuart (3rd overall), and Kronwall (29th overall). That's it, unless I'm mistaken. I'll research a little bit more.

One of the best Stevie Y videos I've ever seen. All the other ones are exactly the same with a different song. This one is outstanding. Good work!

Gotta love Dats. I'd be pretty excited if I had just scored the goal to complete the first hat trick of my career, too. Hell, when I used to play, I would be going nuts if I scored one goal. Needless to say, it didn't happen very often. :classic:

TUR-CO TUR-CO TUR-CO TUR-CO 16/21, 5 GA, 76.19 SV% Maybe he'll shut his mouth now.

UGH. Another powerplay for the Stars to start a period.

Oh, my God...I haven't laughed that hard in forever. Thanks for posting that. "And Johan mother f'in Franzen? Where the f did he come from?" Classic.

Haha, I know...I was being sarcastic.

Tomas Vokoun?

Can't disagree with anyone here. MVP: Franzen 1st Runner Up: Hank 2nd Runner Up: Datsyuk

I was at the game and I can definately attest to the fact that Kronner's hit PUMPED the crowd up and seemed to light a spark under the team for the remaining 7 minutes or whatever it was. I thought it probably deserved a penalty, but I think that was the loudest the crowd was all game outside of Hank's game-winner.

I'll give it a shot. It's going to be tough, because I never saw guys like Howe, Lindsay, etc. play, so some of this will be based on reputation. It'll probably be a little slanted towards the last fifteen or so years as thats when I've really started watching hockey. Skating: Sergei Fedorov Wrist Shot: Brett Hull Slap Shot: Brendan Shanahan Puckhandling: Pavel Datsyuk Passing: Alex Delvecchio Defense: Kris Draper Hitting: Vladimir Konstantinov Leadership: Steve Yzerman Vision: Ted Lindsay Fighting: Bob Probert Strength: Gordie Howe

Size: Vince Lecavalier (6'5", 225) Speed: Pavel Bure Strength: Zdeno Chara Vision: Wayne Gretzky Skating Ability: Bobby Orr Passing Ability: Wayne Gretzky Fighting Ability: Bob Probert/Joe Kocur Hitting Ability: Vladimir Konstantinov Leadership Ability: Steve Yzerman (who else?) Slapshot: Al MacInnis Wrister: Joe Sakic Snapshot: Ilya Kovalchuk I feel like I'm stealing everything from joshy207 from a few posts above, but I can't really argue with any of his picks and I agree with almost all of them.

Anyone else think that Babcock will reunite the Grind Line? It would be interesting, at the very least.

That is such a well done video. One of my personal favorites.

How can someone be your favorite player if you've never seen them play? Trust me, I have all the respect in the world for the Production Line and all the great players that have come through the city of Detroit, but I can't say that they're my favorite players of all time without actually watching them. This isn't the five best Red Wings of all time. I grew up watching guys like Stevie, Vladdy, Nick, and Shanny.

Five Wings... 1. Yzerman 2. Lidstrom 3. Konstantinov 4. Probert 5. Shanahan And five non-Wings 1. Iginla 2. Lecavalier 3. Luongo 4. Brodeur 5. Phaneuf