overHandright1

Abby: meet us on the same balcony during the first intermission if we don't see you before.

Not too bad in the Old No 7 Club .... about $7 for a single JacknCoke. Up in the Platnium level we were getting double vodkas with Red Bull which were $17 apiece and threw in a 25% tip for our awesome tableside waitress. All told, both up and down stairs tabs set us back 3 bills ( binge drink, much?). The entertainment was invaluable however .

I heard that. Too bad the realignment didn't go thru since as we would get one more additional game down here ... playoffs notwithstanding of course. We dropped quite a bit of cash on our collective bar tab during the Jan 3rd game so we will be finding a way to "save" on the marked up drink prices this time around. I'll be on the lookout for ya ... and yes, we will be sure to rebut the "Stars" quip during the National Anthem. I haven't seen any posts by "NotTooAbby" yet. He said he was going to be at tonight's game as well. We ran into him and his entourage during the second intermission last game and unfortunately didn't get to hook up with him for the post-game celebration. GO WINGS!!!!

Heading up 35 from SA for tonight's game. Hopefully the Wings won't take their foot off the pedal for this game cuz I'm sure the Stars will be looking for payback. That and I don't feel like putting up with over exuberant Stasr fans. Section 203 Row E ... Probert Reebok Jersey.

We're in the Old No. 7 Club right now getting "refreshments"!!

@ LeftWinger ... Third wheels are fine as long as the wheel in question is Winged

My bro, his lady friend, and I have tiks in Sec 223 (platinum level, Bitchez). I will wearing my Home Probert jersey (not genuine but Reebok reproduction ... boo) and my bro will be his Datsyuk black practice jersey. Looking forward to a good game and "killin it" at the Old Number 7 Club pregame and postgame. Will try to stop Hooter's to hook up with our LGW brethren. What time will you guys be there?

I heard the same stipulation from Ken Daniels awhile ago (I think it was Ken anyway). It was in return for the Wings playing in the Western Conference instead of the Eastern Conference. I know it sounds unlikely, but Kenny Holland probably had some leverage because the NHL needs the Wings in the West to draw larger crowds in western cities.

Not sure if this is the same one, but I found this on YouTube....

Babcock would never allow something like that to happen .

Chelios with a hooking call ... we should just get used to this happening thoughout the season now as opposed to later.

I don't mind the logo or the color scheme, but that gray/black square pattern that runs around the bottom of the jersey is awkward looking.

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The Blackhawks have cap issues of their own. They are something like $4 million over the cap at the present moment. I guess that is what happens when you have $13 million wrapped up in goaltender salary. Oh well, it would be nice for Chris to have an early homecoming but it's not going to happen this year. I wonder what kind of reception he will get from the fans when and if he returns to the hawks?

It's about F'in time! I especially liked the quote from Jim Nill about Downey: Glad to hear that coming from the top brass of the Wings Organization who obviously appreciate the job that Downey did last season. This signing restores my faith in humanity after reading all the anti-Downey garbage thrown down on this site. Congratulations, Aaron!

Here we go again . I'm pretty much done going through the hypotheticals of who will be enforcing for the Wings this coming season. We know that either Mac or Downey will be taking up the duty if they sign the two-way contract that Holland has offered them. Hopefully both with be with the Wings at the beginning of the season. Everyday, when I get home from work, I check all the insider sources to see if Mac or Downey have agreed to the terms and everyday I am disappointed that there isn't anything reported. Training camp can't start soon enough as far as I'm concerned. If both Mac and Downey pass on signing, I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Teams can go over the cap by 10% going into training camp as long as they are at or below at the start of the regular season. Holland should go ahead and sign everyone and see how everything shakes out during camp. I remember Holland saying that signing Lilja was an "insurance policy" deal so if he is able to outperform the younger dmen he should get the nod. Downey and McCarty's two way deals will have a minimal impact on the cap so Holland should be able to sign and keep both if they agree to the terms. Chelios ... hang'em up already.

I wonder if Niedermayer would of got his money back if the Ducks had won the Cup instead of losing in the first round of the playoffs.

The main issue with us "pro-enforcers" is not that Downey has more skill than Kopecky, it's that the Wings need a player like Downey and his role as an enforcer more than another skilled player who has been known to fight occasonally. Downey is a better fighter than Kopecky so the nod should go to him. As far as Downey being a liability, it has already been pointed out that Aaron was a +/- 0 in 56 games in the regular season. Drake, who got to play during the entire post-season, was a -12 in 65 games in the regular season. I like Drake, but I'm just pointing out that Babcock chose to play a player such as Drake eventhough his overall performance during the regular season was less than stellar. Certainly not. Scotty aquired one of the best enforcers of all time in Joey Kocur shortly before the start of the '97 playoffs. Scotty knew that his presence might make the difference and it paid off. Joey even threw in a goal and a few assists for good measure.

Just when there seems to be common ground as far as the amount of toughness the Wings need, someone says something inflamatory one way or the other and the whole arguement starts up again.

The end result of this past season was very satisfying considering most people I encountered thought that the Wings wouldn't make it passed the second round. I watched pretty much every regular season game and every playoff game. Some games were fun to watch ... some weren't. I realize that every game will not be playoff intensity, but some games were real snoozefests. When you watch your favorite team getting pushed around, cheapshoted, and abused and they don't rise to the occasion, it gets tiresome that's all. When Downey was dressed during those games, at least there was the anticipation that something could happen. I don't expect 71 fighting majors out of the Wings, but 40 or so would be appropriate for as much cr*p that gets handed to them by envious teams. Maybe the Joe would sell out more often (notwithstanding economic reasons) if the Wings were to drop'em more. I find it strange that the arena is named after a world famous boxer when fighting is pretty much absent from the residing team's resume'. I wish the roster was filled out already. Holland needs to just sign both Downey and McCarty or at least one of them and I will be happy for the time being. Then I will move on to being pissed off that they don't dress them often enough.

Nope. He made a few contributions in his limited ice time.

I was referring to regular season games not the playoffs in the quote that you used. I didn't fall asleep once during the playoff run I'm happy to report.

The Filppula signing is holding everything up.. With a little over a week left before August 1st, Holland sure seems to be taking his time thinking this one through.

I know ... I know. The collective "Voice of Reason" here on LGW will surely disagree wholeheartedly.