ManLuv4Clears

Hopefully Eaves can go so the Finnish Fail can spend some more time in the press box thinking about what non-sense to say in the paper next. Go Wings, go Bert, and a safe and happy NYE to everyone here at LGW.

He must have a pretty mean shot to be able to score from the press box.

Good post, and let me preface with saying I wasn't advocating May as the MVP, I was just simply giving my opinion on the +/- stat. Both your's and Harold's posts are accurate in the way that there are many other factors that can skew this number (and thanks for the article Harold, that does slightly sway me). However, like in life, I would like to think the law of averages would eventually play out where in the end it can still give somewhat of an indication on whether or not the player is a liability on the ice.

I'm going to have to respectively disagree with this one. I think +/- is one of the more important stats as it shows the drive and defensive responsibility of a player as much it does their offensive ability. Whether you're a 1st line scorer or a 4th line checker you should never want to be scored on. It's all about skating hard and playing with motivation. Let's take Leino as an example, he's leading the team at -9 and he's bitching in the paper because his confidence is down and he's not scoring goals. The least he can do is skate his ass off, be physical, and be sound defensively. Babcock would then not bench his ass and then the goals would come. However in this "new" NHL a lot of these guys only care about scoring. Bowman came here and instituted a defensive responsibility first culture starting with Yzerman and it lead the team to much success.

Dats' took a pretty nasty and blatant elbow from Niedermayer last year in the playoffs. It put him in a situation where the had to defend himself and is probably lucky he didn't get hurt. name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object> &"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object> &" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" />

Couldn't agree with this post more.

Agreed. And yes, this does tend to drive people to the polar opposites, I try to position myself as best as possible in the middle.

May was on the team before most of the injuries started happening, he played in the first home game this year against Chicago. When you're a next day box score fan that simply looks at goals and assists to determine the important pieces to a team's success, there's really no tangent factor to judge May's contribution. If this is the case (which it seems to be for you), then of course he's not an asset. However for people that actually watch the sport, they know that there are other factors that can contribute to a team winning, like hitting, fore checking, solid defensive play, puck protection and sometimes fighting. May does have an assist btw if that makes you feel any better about him getting PT.

Wow May.

Ville thinks highly of himself: Someone should have reminded him you can't play in the NHL on talent alone, you have to have a little drive as well.

This team is showing no emotion or drive on the ice and it's feeding over and making the fans lackadaisical as well. I don't care if they goon it up or not, however I've watched the sport for 20 years and I understand the premise. I just want them to show a little heart and that's even asking too much.

Abbs' layed up on a hit too.

Welcome to the "new" NHL.

That first video was awesome. It was only a series win and they were celebrating like they won the cup. Players these days seem stale in comparison and the interviews weren't the orchestrated kind we've become accustomed to.

I'll take Eaves over Leino everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.

Unless we can convince May, Newbury, and Janik to goon it up and take out Kopy.

Ummmmmmmm, no.

Yeah and he didn't even do anything, just shoved him to the boards. Welcome to the new pussified NHL.

Hopefully Newbury does the NHL a favor and takes out Steve Downie tonight.

Do you find any irony in the bolded posts above? You shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house.

Way to blow his post completely out of proportion while being a D-bag at the same time by wishing a near fatal accident on him. How this could be interpreted as a shot at Grigs' accident is beyond me. I simply see it as what it is, a jab at his work ethic in relation to Axelsson's. If you do remember, Wings' management had the same impression and were quoted numerous times that Grig's had the skill but not the desire. I suppose they weren't giving him a fair shot either because of his accident?

Take Leino with you. Please.

That's not debatable. This probably is. As GS&T mentioned, there's nothing wrong with a face wash or shove to show that you don't appreciate the hacks and whacks on your goaltender. It's part of hockey and always has been. As he mentioned these will usually go un-penalized. The players on this team don't do so. Maybe it's choice or maybe it's the type of hockey they grew up playing; that being said, perhaps they don't know how to stand up for their goalie the way most teams do in the NHL. That's a matter of opinion on which way is most appropriate. Either way, the way this team is playing, a little emotion or fire wouldn't hurt.

Leino was quoted in saying this after last season: I questioned his attitude and people disagreed because he was going to be the next "Hudler." The only comparison I see is him getting knocked on his ass every game. If he wants to be assured a roster spot perhaps he should show a little more desire or maybe he should have stayed in GR because he's getting out played by a would be full-timer in Abs.

Trade Bert, he's a bum.