Chunkylover

I think the Duckheads and the Canuckleheads have a lot more in common than you are giving them credit for. Vancouver has a great goalie, a big steady defense (probably underrated by most), and pesky grinders on every line. That Vancouver/St. Louis series was far more physical than the Ducks/Sharks series has been to this point. The Canucks, Sharks, and Ducks can all play aggressive hockey, but so can Detroit. When the Wings match the intensity it disrupts their opponent and makes them susceptible to the Wings puck-control game. Anaheim didn't beat Detroit in '07 because they beat them up: they won because the Wings didn't play a complete game five, and didn't show up on time for game six. They won't be beaten by anything but their own lack of determination.

The sports media live in their own little galaxy where once something is said it echoes around until everyone believes they thought of it first. Nick certainly deserves consideration, and possibly even to win it, but I think the writers are getting sick of putting a new spin on the same old story and instead of learning to be better writers they're going to try to affect the outcome of the story. It's not that I don't think Nick's good, it's just that right now, in spite of the reality you stated, Mike Green is the sexy pick 'cause he has that ******-bag hipster faux-hawk.

Oh you know, they're built for the playoffs and all that. No, I don't have problems with ants. Especially not on Earth day, where we celebrate our Mother Earth Goddess' birthday by reminding her how capable we are of destroying her. :hippie:

As average as Lidstrom's season was, and if he must be a runner-up, I really hope it's not to Green. I know the award is not based on the playoffs but he's not a good defenseman. If it must be someone else let it be Chara. He's the better, all-around defenseman. Edit: Since this is a Calder thread I should probably comment on the finalists. I think Versteeg and Mason flew under the radar since all the talk was about Stamkos and Turris. I like Versteeg, but it'll definitely be Mason. Ryan has prior experience even though he's still considered a rookie. Heck Helm is still eligible for the Calder next season right? That seems kind of silly, that a player could win the Cup two seasons before winning the Calder.

Good practice, although I'm quite certain that the Wings crashed the party last season, after all San Jose was the better team.

Canucks are definitely good. I think Detroit will see them in the WCF. Both teams have great depth, fast grinders who are capable of contributing, tight defense, and at the moment stingy goaltending. I think Detroit will have as tough a time with Vancouver's big defensemen as the Canucks will have with the Wings brilliant positional defensemen. I think I picked the Canucks to finish out of the playoffs at the beginning of the season and had the Oilers winning the division. Whoops.

Yes. Nasty. Me too. The Wings will lose or win based on their desire and effort, not because I pour a cup of sugar down my pants before every game. Well, this year is going to be a rematch with the Penguins, next year it'll be Boston, then in '10-'11 it'll be Washington. Next question.

I think the Wings will most likely face Anaheim next. That will be a tough series but I think the Wings can win that in no more than six game without ever trailing. The Wings didn't lose to the Ducks in '07 because they were more physical than us, they lost because they didn't put forth a full sixty minute effort in game five or six. Vancouver will be another tough series, although they are somewhat beat up. Luongo and the Canucks defense corps will be hard to score against. They have some very fast, talented depth players. Probably the most balanced teams beside the Wings.

They were hot down the stretch, they had a good goalie, some veteran leadership, lots of talented youth, and St. Louis has sucked for so long they were emotional favorites. To their credit they played a very good series. Much better than their little brother in Columbus.

That was a great series, even as one-sided as it was. St. Louis acquitted themselves quite well for a bunch of rookies and playoff neophytes. Lots of intensity and physicality. Either team would be a tough opponent: Vancouver will be a tough opponent. Either we'll see them in the second round or the third round. With that said they play that stupid brand of hockey the Don Cherry's of the world love. I'm not talking about physical hockey, but brainlessly reckless hockey and because of that they already have a few injuries. I don't think they will be as effective in the physical aspect of the game against Detroit as they were against St. Louis. At the moment Osgood compares well matched up against Luongo, but scoring won't come as easily against the Canucks as it has against Columbus. The Wings have shown they know where that switch is, and a capable of activating it. Now we'll see if they can sustain, and even increase the intensity.

As many potential holes as we will have next season, I don't think there'll be enough for him. First, Ken favors promoting his own draft picks, and second, we have a lot of those. Haydar has played at the NHL level with I believe the Thrashers so he's not exactly an unknown commodity. He's older and if he's only on a one year contract he may not be in GR next season. Not trying to completely shoot holes in your theory, but that's the opposition I see him having to overcome. If he just knocks peoples' socks off at training camp a la Dan Cleary then maybe, but it will taking nothing short of that to make the Wings.

My only gripe about Pierre is the way he always states his commentary in the form of a question directed at Ed Olczyk. Larry Murphy has terrible cadence as the lead analyst, but when the three FSD guys get going it's entertaining to listen to. Pierre should consider himself a second analyst not a foil for Edzo.

Everyone but Bob McKenzie. Maggie has never correctly picked the Stanley Cup Champion. Going back to 2003, she is .500 in the first round, 75% in the second, nearly 100% in the Conference final.

Bob McKenzie actually has a very good record. If you listen to his analysis you can see why he's right more than he's wrong. He knows hockey.

Nice piece. I appreciated the fair distribution of blame for this seasons struggles: Ozzie did have a bad year, but the team also played sloppy. Great quote from Holland at the end there, where is it from? I've believed all season that once the playoffs arrived the Wings would take it to the next level. We'll see starting tomorrow.

Pretty good article. I agree with Ken's perspective; we really need to ditch the cap. Also, nice to see hockey getting some press out there.

Well, he did pick against the Pittsburgh Crosbys so I think it's more a rejection of consensus rather than the Wings. I think both these teams will make it all the way so I guess you could say he's just trying to spite me.

I think being partnered with Don Cherry last season during the Final was what pushed Barry beyond his petty bias. Maybe that's the real reason the Wings are so popular across Canada, the US, and even Europe: everyone likes them to spite Grapes!

The parking garage across from Greektown (Brush St.) is no longer free. It's ten dollars to park there and there are no longer validation machines inside the casino. They have recently moved their official parking garage closer to Ford Field. I got burned by this at the early February game against St. Louis. After Kwame that was the best scam in town.

Last year they were fairly accurate in predicting the winners through the first two rounds only falsely picking Montreal over Philadelphia, and San Jose over Dallas in 12 match-ups. They had the Wings and Pens losing in the Conference Finals. I guess this year it'll be San Jose and Washington in the Final. Their picks this season are pretty similar to mine except for Detroit/Columbus. Seems unlikely Chicago will beat Vancouver or San Jose.

Boy, that really gives you that genuine 2009 Red Wings experience, eh? On the other hand, does this prove the switch exists?

I expect Nash to play better, but I also expect Hank and Pav to play better and I think they will be able to slow his production.

Voted Franzen, but that Jokinen goal was special.

Round 1: SJS/ANA 4-2 DET/CLB 4-2 VAN/STL 4-2 CHI/CAL 4-2 BOS/MTL 4-0 WSH/NYR 4-1 NJD/CAR 4-3 PIT/PHI 4-2 Prince of Wales: Pittsburgh Clarence Campbell: Detroit Stanley Cup: Detroit

I pick the Canadiens to be swept by the Bruins, the Rangers to win game three at MSG but lose all the rest.