Datsyerberger

OMG officiating conspiracy the refs are paid off by the Red Wings!!!111one

You're one to talk, you failed grammar nazi! Oh.. oh, wait, you mean the power play..

Lol, Homer just got called Nicklas Holmstrom.

Pardon me if I make some controversial picks. Anaheim - Getzlaf Atlanta - Kovalchuk Boston - Chara Buffalo - Vanek Calgary - Regehr (their record without him in the lineup is horrid) Carolina - Ward Chicago - Toews Colorado - Smyth Columbus - Nash Dallas - Ribiero (He's been a model of consistency for them) Detroit - Datsyuk Edmonton - Roloson Florida - Bouwmeester Los Angelas - Kopitarr Minnesota - Backstrom Montreal - Markov Nashville - Rinne New Jersey - Parise NY Islanders - Streit NY Rangers - Avery (as much as I hate to say it. He just.. does something for that team, and whatever it is, it works.) Ottawa - Alfredsson Philadelphia - Richards Phoenix - Doan Pittsburgh - Gonchar (flame away; his presence has been the difference maker for this team) San Jose - Thornton St. Louis - Berglund/Oshie Tampa Bay - St. Louis Toronto - CBC Vancouver - Mitchell (and all 80" of his stick XD) Washington - Ovechkin

I'd rather have Nashville or CBJ. Not only are the Ducks physical, but I'm not going to be quick to count out the wealth of experience on their team.

XD Well played, DG. Oh, Duckies score again. .... Go Ducks

Why does everything on here have to turn into an enforcer argument?!

This thread started off as a reply in the Women HoF thread; however, it has massive de-rail potential, so I decided it was worthy of its own thread. Furthermore, a recent Bettman talk indicated hockey is striving for diversity, and you have to wonder if they have these sorts of conversations at the managerial level. "Women can't play hockey at the NHL level/it would suck/etc" I'd like to hear a good explanation as to why. Grant you'd, I'd concede a few points off the bat: 1. Men have a general size/strength advantage on women. 2. Male bodies are generally more configured for violent abuse. 3. The unknown variable on how women would affect a predominantly male locker room environment. Now, having covered those points: I think, if this ever were to happen, men and women's hockey should be separated in all but the uppermost level (read: AHL & NHL). A dedicated women's hockey league allows for more diversity in women at those levels, where they don't have to compete with the size of men (so, say, a 5'2" woman doesn't have to go up against Zdeno Chara). However, it should be noted that some of the strongest people in the world, as far as size to weight ratio goes, are women. Furthermore, there are women 5'8" and taller, and there are NHL players 5'8" and taller. I don't see any reason why a woman can't be as mentally as gifted or skilled as a man. In fact, since women on average tend to have higher reflexes than men, you could see some exceptional women goaltenders, for example. Also, why women are less prone to aggression than men, you're kidding yourself if you think there aren't any aggressive women out there. Hell, look at Alex Semin. The only x-factor I can see is point 3, and the ever present sexual tension and interactivity between genders. But honestly, I think a mature society can overcome that (as has been shown in some other sports with mixed gender leagues, or the military, for that matter). Anyhow, I see no reason why physically well-developed and exceptionally talented women, with the proper size for the NHL, could not compete at the upper echelon of the sport (and frankly, I don't think I'm the only one who gets a good grin out of the thought of some 6'2" woman delivering a brutal open ice check on -insert hated player here-).

Hide the toilet seats.

I'm pretty sure that everyone here agrees that the physically average woman doesn't have much of a chance in the NHL. I'm pretty sure we can also agree that it's possible for women to have the same amount of mental talent as men. So, if in rare instances, we get some of the exceptionally statured women (say, 6'1" and larger.. maybe 6'4" for purposes of example) that also have an impressive (but natural) amount of muscular development for a woman.. and they also have the same amount and quality of training and play time as men receive (which they don't right now, not anywhere near on either account) .. is it possible that we could eventually see, if nothing else, a very small handful of women in the NHL? Or are you dead set that not even some 6'6" goliath of a woman with the natural talent of, say, Pavel Datsyuk, and the training to bring out that talent to its fullest, could never make it in the NHL?

Wtf are there, a bunch of bandwagoners around here? Everyone knows that goaltenders are the source of all evil in the D.

So uh... Islanders Predators Blues ....yea....

LETS GO WINGS!

Why is Mikael buttf*** Samuelsson out there?

So how many goals is it gonna take for the Wings D to figure out to keep Backes covered? *insert generic vampire voice* One! One red light! Two! Two red lights! Three! Three red lights! Four! Four red lights! Four red lights, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah!

Okay Mickey, that one is all on you.

Damned straight.

Yea, he missed the net by so much it hit him.

Lebda taking skating lessons from Lilja? I wouldn't want to see that player. Ever. Oh wait, I just did.

Man, Mule dekes to the side so powerfully it's just ridiculous.

So do we get Arbys, or...? You know what? Next year, Arby's should make it where when the OTHER TEAM gets a hatty, Wings fans get Arby's.

Someone blew their coverage there.

Rare "good penalty" by Lebda there.

Frankly, we should have a high chance of beating any of those teams.. I'd rather not play the one with the longest travel times and some of the league's biggest ****** canoes. Let someone else have the easy win vs the Ducks, and in the process lose a first liner, a 2nd liner, and a d-man or two.

Christ on a cracker, even not counting the travel, who the hell wants to face the Ducks in the 1st round and have half your players cheapshotted/skatestomped to injury land?