octopusonice

I used to really like ESPN until they became a lapdog for east coast teams. The Red Sox, Yankees and Patriots couldn't hire a better marketing firm. I have sarcastically called them the Eastern Seaboard Programming Network as a result. About the only time I watch them is if there is a game I want to watch. All their other shows I could not care less about.

I'm surprised this hasn't happened more often with all the abuse he has taken. Hopefully he can still walk when his career is over.

Yep. Here's the site of the team: http://hc-ska.ru If you can read Russian it will all make sense to you. Former Red Wing Maxim Kuznetsov is on the team. Edit: Actually Kuznetsov WAS on this team.

We just had a thread about whether or not Ozzie gets his number retired and there were many credible arguments casting doubt on THAT happening. If Ozzie's status is doubtful or questionable, then Hasek's by comparison has to be NO. Appreciate what the guy did for us, but he was not here that long and does not have that 'face of the franchise' quality that Lidstrom, Stevie and others in the rafters have.

I would take it sight seeing here in Southern California and take lots of pictures. Then I would have some friends over for a party and we would drink out of it.

Arthroscopic surgery is not that big of a deal compared to other knee surgeries. Football players do it all the time and it only costs them a few weeks. As far as Cheli and Mac playing in 08-09, I say you let them try out and if they make it, they make it. I'm as sentimental as the next guy, but not to the point that it hurts the team.

Was Vlady put on the cup after the 97-98 season as a player? I don't think he was. If he was, and if other teams had petitioned to include such players, then there would be a precedent/tradition for it and I would say go for it, but not 3 years later. I thought only coaches and players were on the cup. Lots of people work in the front office of the Wings who could be termed management who will not have their names put on the Cup. I don't think Fischer would get put on the cup for being in management. I can appreciate wanting to show camraderie towards Fischer, but he was not a coach or a player, and did not have a direct role in their success. Lots of people help the Wings in the roles that they perform in their jobs, but it is not practice to put their names on the cup. An interesting thing about Fischer. He was suspended for the fifth game of the 2001-02 Stanley Cup Finals against Carolina. Another Jiri from the Czech Republic, Jiri Slegr, took his place. Slegr would not have been on the Cup if it weren't for Fischer's suspension.

I've often thought that Wilson is to hockey what Schottenheimer is to football. He can get them back into the playoffs, but not past that.

I have a feeling it will become like the NFL. It's becoming more about marketing and money in the NHL. Peyton Manning makes more in one season than Joe Namath made his entire life. Since more money is at stake, the NFL has become overly protective of QBs and other offensive players. After watching the SCF, it's obvious that the NHL wants to showcase Crosby and you can expect more diving and ticky-tack calls. Just looking at an opposing player cross-eyed will result in a double-minor.

Bertuzzi is a shadow of what he used to be. Don't miss him.

Before I reply, one quick comment. This is my first post and I am glad to be in a forum with other Red Wings fans. I am in the San Diego, CA area where hockey coverage is sparse. We don't even have a minor league team anymore and what coverage you do get is mostly Kings/Ducks. About ESPN. They have to be at least thinking about returning to hockey coverage after what happened with the SCF. The problem is that the NHL still has a black eye from the lockout and that hockey does not sell as well in the Sun Belt, even when one of their teams wins, like the Ducks did in '07. If they feel that those are not issues, then they will try to return to hockey coverage. About 1 out of 9 people in the US lives in CA, so you cannot ignore them as a potential audience. I only live an hour south of Anaheim and did not notice much coverage or talk among the locals when the Ducks won the cup last year. Someone once stated that if Gretsky did not ever play for the LA Kings, there would not be a franchise in Anaheim or San Jose. I think there's a lot of truth to that. The NHL needs some high profile stars like the NBA had when there was Magic and Larry Bird.