Casey

Room's not so bad at the moment. TPBM is wearing an analog watch.

I would seriously love to time Helm over 100 meters. His numbers would have to be insane- I'm thinking very low 10s or high 9s.

I don't believe so. Don't think I made either list. TPBM hates Windows Vista.

Okay, trying to figure out alliances... The Red Wings are allied with Grand Rapids of the AHL. This I know as fact. Grand Rapids is affiliated with Toledo of the ECHL, as well as Port Huron and Flint of the IHL Port Huron is affiliated with the Detroit Hitmen of the AAHL. What proportion of AAHL players ever see the inside of an NHL arena, except as fans? Seems like it would even be a step below NCAA.

Aside from a tree, we don't put lights up. TPBM can't wait for hockey!

No good for tonight, but useful.

Make sure he's okay. A vet check may be in order.

Appliance Direct. Because it's in the box.

13 points in 60 games, after 12 in 79 the year before, projecting for 17. That's a 30% increase in production, pretty nice. He was on pace for a 7% drop in PIM during that span, from 93 to 87. Also nice. 133rd in points, though his projected stats would have had him 108th, above the likes of Brad Stuart. 52nd in penalty minutes, 22nd if projected. Still some heavy names in front of him- Chara, Kubina, Phaneuf. Stupid decisions, sure. They all do on occasion. The advancement he made in reducing those means I'd welcome him with open arms.

I'd actually challenge the perpetual "old" debate. I ran the numbers, for who I think will be the most likely 13 forwards: Draper, Maltby, Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, Datsyuk, Cleary, Franzen, Williams, Zetterberg, Leino, Filppula, Eaves and Helm. Average age is just over 30. Defense, similar. 31 and 31. Yeah, that makes them the second-oldest team in the league, if nhlnumbers can be trusted, but what does that really mean? Not much. League average is 28.2, Detroit is at 30.4. The only real contender below the average age is Washington, with Boston, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Carolina and Detroit all above it.

Should have been in the 5 Things thread.

The Nightmare on Helm Street.

Let me sleep. I'd be perfectly content with a daily schedule of 10am-2am. My practice someday will have hours something like 10-7. Heads or tails?

Lasagna, unless we're talking Spaghetti Bolognese. Pen or pencil?

Ericsson and Lilja sharing a line.... could be epic.

Hmmm... Pizza from Uno's, pasta from Mancy's Italian in Toledo. Chicken wings or nachos as your appetizer?

Bellyache. A true migraine I can't function. Thank God for Goody's powder- 2 of those kills it dead. Will you be having the steak, or the baked chicken this evening?

Which would be? It's not loading, but if "The Dominator" and "The Wizard of Oz" aren't there, I call BS.

"With a name like the Detroit Red Wings, it has to be good!" Just thought you should know you made me think of Smucker's jam.

Exactly. Lids, despite his greatness, isn't the kind of defenseman you need in a fantasy league. Kind of like Holmstrom- can't build a top line without him (if he's healthy), but the guy's way down the list if you're talking fantasy.

For the last freaking time... I'll even put it in your font. Stuart has a NTC. As for your lines, offense, you're fine. Your D would be weak at best with a 3rd pairing of Lebda and Meech. Do not want. I'll even rekey the locks for free!

Assuming each guy as he played for Detroit (and I'll even give the years) Goal: '51 Terry Sawchuk '02 Dominik Hasek '98 Chris Osgood Defense: '06 Nicklas Lidstrom/'96 Slava Fetisov '96 Paul Coffey/'96 Vladimir Konstantinov '98 Larry Murphy/'02 Chris Chelios '93 Steve Chiasson Forwards: '54 Ted Lindsay/'94 Sergei Fedorov/'54 Gordie Howe '97 Brendan Shanahan/'89 Steve Yzerman/'02 Brett Hull '08 Henrik Zetterberg/'09 Pavel Datsyuk/'73 Mickey Redmond '69 Frank Mahlovich/'96 Igor Larionov/'93 Dino Ciccarelli '96 Slava Koslov (love to see him with Hull and Howe),

The Walleye, Miami Redhawks (NCAA title game, 2009), Bowling Green Falcons (NCAA champions 1980something), Ohio State Buckeyes, Toledo Cherokee, Lake Erie Monsters, Dayton Gems, Cincinnati Cyclones and Columbus Blue Jackets would debate that.

It's true. Fil is a proto-Datsyuk. He was showing some real progress in the playoffs, and I think if he's hooked to Franzen, they're both going to have phenomenal seasons. My bold predictions... Zetterberg- 41/40/81 Datsyuk- 35/68/103 (finally!) Franzen- 40/31/71 Filppula- 22/38/60 Z heats up, I can see 50. First since Fedorov in '94, I think?

Ja. Williams and Je. Williams should be how the jerseys would read.