Casey

Of course I do! For some reason, I was getting an old image from the '08 Photoshop Wars as a background on here. TPBM didn't sleep last night. Zzzzzzzzzzzz...

Detroit has 37 points, not 27. All the same, 4-1 Wings.

I can get behind this, particularly in my college days before games. Mind if I flip to some Led? TPBM wonders what the old logo from the Dallas series in '08 is doing as a pervasive board background.

Their depth is horrifying. One uninjured right wing, Kopecky as top-line center, less than a million for any callups. Considering how many AHLers they already have up, this could be backbreaking.

Paperclips! They're superb multitaskers. Wristwatch or a cell phone for the time?

The Bat Cave at Joe Louis Arena?

Love what I'm doing. If I hate what I'm doing, who's there won't matter. Sore throat or clogged sinuses?

Simple enough in my book for the 2000s. Detroit. Let's say the decade would be 1999-2000 to 2008-09. For New Jersey: 1999-2000 Won the Stanley Cup 2000-01 Lost in Cup Finals 2001-02 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals 2002-03 Won the Stanley Cup 2003-04 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals 2005-06 Lost in Conference Semifinals 2006-07 Lost in Conference Semifinals 2007-08 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals 2008-09 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals 2 Cups, 1 Finals loss, 2 losses in the Conference Semifinals, 4 in the Quarterfinals. For Detroit: 1999-2000 Lost in Conference Semifinals 2000-01 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals 2001-02 Won the Stanley Cup 2002-03 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals 2003-04 Lost in Conference Semifinals 2005-06 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals 2006-07 Lost in Conference Finals 2007-08 Won the Stanley Cup 2008-09 Lost in Cup Finals. 2 Cups, 1 Finals loss, 1 loss in the Conference Finals, 2 in the Conference Semifinals, 3 in the Quarterfinals. Edge goes to Detroit for 2 reasons. One, their success spans the decade- cups in 02 and 08, while New Jersey's last was 2003. Second is a straight head-to-head. Equal number of Cups and Finals appearances, but Detroit has one more Conference Finals appearance.

Rarely. My big problem is DOuble CAps at the beginning of words. TPBM has ever wanted to put a rock through the windshield of someone who takes up two parking spaces, especially in a parking garage.

Using the standard A-F notation, no A+. Forwards Abdelkader: A. Hitting well, improved on defense, just might take off with more playing time. Exceeding expectations for a grinder type. Bertuzzi: A. Impressive re-imagining of his playing style, vastly improved defensively and better puck possession. Cleary: A. With the numbers he's putting up, and his consistency so far, he deserves every bit of it. Datsyuk: A-. Probably pulled down due to constantly shifting lines. He's still a magician with the puck, but is having trouble settling into a rhythm with changing linemates. Eaves: B. Solid grinder, ability to chip in offensively, very effective. Filppula: B+. Improved defensive skills, improving offense. Not far from an A. Franzen: B-. He's not been the dominant forward we've come to expect for some reason. Still productive enough for good marks, not quite A caliber. Helm: B. Seems to be focusing more on his defensive game, reinforcing his mantle as Draper 2.0. Needs to work on shot placement to improve his score. Holmstrom: B-. Still working well at screening and getting tips, probably also hampered by lack of consistent linemates. Hudler: D. Even when I know he's playing, I don't see him. Playing softer than before, without his usual touch. He's not finessing well enough to get points as a scorer, and can't play physical enough for points as a grinder. Miller: C. Solid play, but nothing special as of late. Modano: B-. Solid defensive play, but just a hair off offensively. It will improve, if and when he returns. Zetterberg: A-. Same score as Datsyuk for most of the same reasons. Shifting lines has been an issue. Defensemen Ericsson: B-. Improved from his scores last year as a C player, needs to be more physical. Janik: I. Incomplete due to small sample size. Kindl: I. Incomplete due to small sample size. Kronwall: B+. Improving offensively, and retaining defensive skill. May well be an A player by the end of the season. Lidstrom: A. No complaints at all. Playing like he's 10 years younger, hopefully he can keep it up. Rafalski: A-. Still a perfect complement to Lidstrom, moving well. Salei: C+. A solid lower-pairing defenseman, responsible without being reckless. Stuart: B+. Improved in his own end, underrated overall. Goaltenders Howard: A-. Consistency is a slight problem, though his most recent troubles can be laid on poor play by the defense. Still very solid. Osgood: B-. I would score more harshly, but his small number of spaced-out starts gives some leeway.

Eavesface! Clean shaven or scruff?

It's true. Small size can be made up for with speed or agility. He has average speed, above-average agility, but his will to use them seems nearly nil. If he would actually play like he wants to be there, he'd be a 50 point guy. I just don't see it this season.

In many cases, the video. Skin by Rascal Flatts makes me cry, the original cut of It's My Life by Bon Jovi is just incredible. Ice level or back row at the Joe?

I'd be happy with his 08-09 form, to be honest. His playing style seems to have changed since he left, in that he's playing much softer.

He's had his chance, though. He's been tried with everyone on the top 2 lines at some point, and simply doesn't fit.

By our powers combined...

Hudler getting traded, perhaps? He's simply not the kind of player he was last go-round in Detroit. What they wanted was the 08-09 version, a guy who could be depended on to put up 40-60 points and play at least responsibly as a defensive forward. What they got is sitting at 3 points in 10 games, -6 overall. He's on pace for about 24 points, and the worst +/- showing of his career. He's lost the edge, and can be replaced. As it sits, he has the worst +/- on the team, tied with Modano. With him in, the line he's on seems lifeless. Sit him and play Abdelkader, and that line wakes up. I'll wager we see the last of Hudler come the trade deadline.

Seriously, dude? Yeah, last year sucked. Find me any goalie who's going to be in good form when sitting a month at a time. 396 wins, 50 playoff wins, Jennings Trophy, 3 Cups. He's not dead yet. :goalie1:

A comparison... Anybody else see it, or just me?

You still remember them, right? Friend of mine has a habit of opening a bottle of wine to have a glass, then waking up the next day with the bottle gone.

I've a Holmstrom jersey from here- http://www.ecseller.com/productlist.asp?nid=178&Page=2 It's not perfect- uses a nameplate- but it is quite good for the price. All sewn, nice and straight, colors correct.

Yeah, I'm thinking having Janik, Eaves and so on playing heavy PP time needs some adjustment.

I loved that thing. Easy to just park in a corner of the screen, so I could watch the scoreboard and work.

Helm played a game in the Finals in 08, so his name is on the Cup. E, Abdelkader and Howard did not and don't meet the regular season requirements, so they're not there.