deker

From the Hockey News: “I keep hearing how old we are. But when I watch Fil (Valtteri Filppula) play, he doesn’t look like he’s that old. (Pavel) Datsyuk and (Henrik) Zetterberg are not that old and Mule (Johan Franzen) is not so old, so who is old? Cheli (Chris Chelios) is older than me, I give you that.†- Red Wings coach Mike Babcock after his team won Game 5 of the final 5-0. http://www.thehockeynews.com/listings/21-Say-What.html

The problem was overwhelming Detroit offense.

I definitely think Lids would give the Cup to Hossa first as he has never had the chance before. Add me as one who would love to see him do that in Pittsburgh! It would aslo give the Pittsburgh fans ample opportunity to reveal if they are truly classy fans or goons in front of an international TV audience.

If everything continues as it's been going, Drapes will have a good amount of time to fully heal before coming back to the lineup. Still, Darren Helm has made it awfully hard for Babs to sit him down. When Drapes gets back, it'll probably be at someone else's expense.

I loved...LOVED...hearing him say all those things to the media last night. I want Ozzie to show some arrogance. I really believe this is one of the reason people can be so quick to doubt him-because of his mild mannered politeness after games. A little bit of Patrick Roy syndrome wouldn't hurt. A lot of Roy's legendary status came from his arrogant attitude. He's considered one of the greatest in net...but we Red Wing fans know that he can be lit up for 7 or 9 goals more often than people realize. Yet no one ever doubted him the way Ozzie gets doubted. Now, I'm certainly not suggesting Ozzie turn into Roy at all. But I certainly wouldn't have an issue if he told a Columbus player during a game that he can't hear him because he's got his Stanley Cup rings in his ears! (Well...maybe something original! ) Because all that stuff builds up your "legend" and causes doubt and fear in the other team. You don't always have to let just your game do the talking!

I have to agree with eva's statement. Why are people acting like Latendresse is some kind of a star? He's not horrible, but it's not like he beat out a whole lot of talent to make Montreal's squad at the time. He had one really good preseason for the Habs and the fans loved him, so they kept him up. I don't think Roy's comments at the time were totally off base. He's been alright, and he's made strides in his game since, but he hasn't exactly lit up the Bell Centre.

I've been dreaming of a Detroit-Montreal final ever since Bob Gainey took over the Habs, and I really think it could happen this year. My scenario to get to win Cup 1st round: Colorado-Always fun to put their fans in their place, and an easy 1st round victory would kill those fans. 2nd round: St. Louis-Because it's just tradition to beat the Blues in the playoffs! 3rd round: Chicago-a rivalry in dire need of rekindling. It was so much fun to hate the Blackhawks. It will never be like '95 with players like Belfour and Roenick to hate, but I'm sure we'll find new ones to want Kronwall to plaster into the boards. SC-Montreal in a 7 game, OT laden fight to the finish in which Hank wins the Conn Smythe. Most importantly:No West Coast trips!

I am also in the anti-Sammy camp. Personally, I think he has compromising pictures of Babcock to get the playing time he does, but I also find that just when I'm bitching about him the most, he comes up with a good performance. We have to consider that Sammy's in a contract year, and history shows that is when many players put in their best performances (see Martin Lapointe). We're better off having him in the lineup will Leino gets so much needed adjustment time in GR. But next year, when Sammy deserves a raise, we'll need the younger, cheaper and 1 year better Leino and Helm to address cap issues so that Sammy's salary can be used for Zetterberg, Hossa and Franzen.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if that happened. Any GM worth his salt would be an idiot to give up an asset to Anaheim because they all know that the Ducks are over the cap. Schneider's good, but obviously he's not quite the in-demand D-man he used to be or else you would see a little more competition to take him off Burke's hands. Even Garth Snow knows to wait for a cap clearing move like waivers to happen instead of offering up a trade. And if you're waiting for waivers, why not hold your ground to see if you can get him for even less money. I do feel bad for Schneider. He hadn't even been a Duck for more than a few weeks last season when the imminent return of Niedermeyer had everyone touting him as trade bait. Clearly leaving Detroit and giving up playing along side Lidstrom wasn't the best career move.

I feel like I'm piling on here, but if a PM goes around, I'd certainly like to get it. I promise I won't get in anyone's way to get opener tickets. I just want Montreal!

No they haven't taken us in the playoffs in a while, but I was starting to dread the Hawks with the success they had against us in the regular season. And when they made their late run, I was also dreading the idea of drawing them in the first round. Chicago definitely has gotten back to respectability with their mix of youth and vets. And having Lang and Williams there tends to make me feel that much worse if we lose to them. And there's Original Six history behind these teams. I think it won't take a whole lot more for this rivalry to be rekindled next year.

You think he wants to win now? Just wait until he sees everyone else get their Cup rings and he has to just watch.

I didn't say it, but I did anyway.

Ooooh....I guarantee that before next season is over, we will have developed a true hate for this guy.

Good to see that Leaf management hasn't run out of boneheaded personnel moves yet. Though I'm sure any Toronto fan will try to convince you that this is the second coming of Tim Horton...

I actually forgot about that! As for Howard, keep in mind that he's only 3 years removed from Maine. We've been hearing about him so often that it feels like he's been around longer. He is not even close to being a bust. The reason we have such a successful team is because we let our talent develop. Howard has had the luxury of time to hone his game to be ready for the NHL, unlike others who get thrown into the fire learn on the job.

Huh. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, but I was never that impressed with Conklin. I kind of thought his performance stepping in for Fleury last year was a bit of an aberration.

The Caps love those ex-Canadien goalies, don't they? Thing is, I don't think this is an improvement over Huet at all, but whatever. Not my team!

Call me crazy, but if he comes cheap, I could live with Bert as a replacement for Dallas Drake when he retires. Clearly not much would be asked of him this time around. Now, mind you, I'm not campaigning for it, but if Kenny does it, I won't jump off a bridge because of it.

Someone has already said it, but when he was still playing, Yzerman was quoted as saying Lidstrom is the Wings' best player. And I know his belief hasn't changed based on recent comments. No question that Lidstrom is the better player. But Yzerman seemed to be able to will this team to win at times. And to play like he did in 2002 on basically one good leg pretty much defines what he means to the Wings. Lidstrom is the higher all timed ranked player and is the captain. But in terms of leading the team, he still has a long, long way to go before he could ever be thought of as The Captain.

You have to feel bad for Rafalski a bit though. If the Wings had held on in regulation, that would have easily been on of the top goals ever scored in JLA. Imagine, local boy comes home to play for the team he grew up cheering and scores the Cup winning goal in dramatic fashion.

I don't know...I subscribe to the thought that if you're still playing, you only get to touch the Cup in the year you win it. But so what? If O'Donnell has cursed himself and the Ducks, that's their problem!

Interesting to find a neutral observer wondering the same things we all have been. http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=573430

Thanks to Fireside and 10 Minute Misconduct for the sites. I don't have an HDTV, so looking at these downloads was absolutely outstanding!