Chunkylover

I don't think you need to apoligize for that. I don't think it was an intentional head hit, but intentional head hits are dangerous and I don't think they are good for the game. However, an otherwise clean hit is nothing to be ashamed of. Ohlund's hit on Zetterberg was great, and this one was too, unfortunately both players were injured. Clean hits are always good for the game. What I like about this hit and the Ohlund hit, as opposed to Brown on Hudler this past spring or I think Mike Richards earlier this season is the hit from the blind side. Ohlund on Zetterberg, Stuart on Umberger, Adams on Alfredsson, were all head on collisions which at least gives the guy a chance to get ready.

Remember the other day when you asked me what was the definition of Pyrrhic Victory...?

Yeah, I don't think one has to say headshots are good for the game to defend clean hits. This was similar to Ohlund on Zetterberg in that Alfredsson was reaching for the puck and incredibly vulnerable. I think he had to have seen him coming as well, at least in his periphery. Clean, but with unfortunate consequences.

At least at the moment it's appropriate.

As long as the fight isn't preceded by a cheap shot causing an injury. Downie, I'm looking in your direction.

Yzerman's play was drrrrtier than McCarty's. Mac actually had his glove in Keczmer's face which, even if unintentionally, protected his head from the ice. I love Mac: "You're f***in' dead!" I wish the Wings could be up three nothing and start some crap like that. Stupid salary cap. Edit: make that up 5 to 1. And poor Keczmer. Other than this video, who is he?

That's what I was thinking.

Los Angeles, Nashville, and Columbus on the second half of back-to-backs. Could be good for their opponents. St. Louis and Minnesota are a way back of the pack, but the Oilers are only five back of the Wings so a win for them just tightens the race. I actually don't like that the Capitals are first in the league and wouldn't mind seeing them lose, but the Wings could actually overtake some of the top four teams, like Colorado, if things remain bunched up as they are.

Seconded.

It's a tough choice between Nashville and Columbus because a Jacket's win just closes the gap between all three teams. No three-pointers. That point the Wings gave Nashville the other night may come back to bite us.

That's all they can do with him? He's a champion, and has been wearing the 'A' for a while on a couple different teams, someone must be able to use that veteran leadership. He must have been exceptional bad this season.

I don't agree with it either, but since another poster (not you, but you know who I'm talking about) couldn't pass up the opportunity to bash Holland for not having an enforcer, this is the kind of stuff that's going to happen. I wasn't necessarily singling you out for labeling "anti-enforcers", you know my position on that term. However, in the "enforcer" threads that term was frequently and wrongfully applied in many cases where it was inaccurate. It's unfortunate that a thread about an injured Danny Cleary went on this tangent, which was my original point, and that was not directed toward you, but the person to whom you first responded. In the interest of re-aligning the thread: yes it hurts to keep having injuries, but how much are we losing with this injury to Cleary? As Mick likes to say, "What have you done for me lately?"

I hadn't heard that. Thanks for sharing.

That's why I didn't give those who kept bringing up the "need" for an enforcer and the "cowardice" of Holland a break. Their constant nagging of the team has earned them the type of response Micah originally decried. They wanted a fight and now they have it. I think it's annoying because just as Micah never really said enforcers prevent all injuries, you and I who are labeled "anti-enforcer" have never argued against having someone like May on the team. As you said, the enforcer debate was contrived, mostly by the poster you mentioned, and I would like to avoid it as much as you.

I agree, it's not the quantity, but the quality of the players injured. Certainly Detroit's not alone this season in that regard.

What's even more shocking is he's a late round draft pick out of Sweden and he wasn't picked by the Red Wings. What, was Hakan Andersson in the bathroom?

Yeah, it sucks having this repeatedly brought back up. But I guess this is what you (plural) get for constantly pointing out how necessary an enforcer was and the Holland bashing. Apparently, some people do just wait around to say "I gotcha!"

He wasn't drafted.

Cheap shot!

Good point. The Wings aren't an elite team at the moment. Focus has been a problem with this team for a few seasons now: falling behind early in game six against Anaheim in '07, losing game five against Dallas and Pittsburgh in '08. They tend to look toward their goal, which is generally good, but forget to pay attention to the ground directly in front of them. However I think in context with their effort in previous pre-dad's trip games the loss in Edmonton is consistent. Just a feeling I don't remember exactly when all their dad's trips have been, but I recall some poor efforts prior to the trip and then they usually do real well. I think it's just the distraction of the trip that causes them to lose focus. Seconded.

I think it is absolutely critical, but we'll have stretches of critical games like this all season. Four of the six teams are direct competitors for the same playoff spot. Actually, similar to last season those back-to-backs against Chicago could be a turning point. And then three games against top teams in the conference to close the month. Unlike previous seasons, every game really is important. Expect sales of heartburn medication in the metro-Detroit area to soar into the new year. Obviously getting injured guys back will help, but there's no way to anticipate just how much, and how soon, they'll contribute. Franzen did show in the '07-'08 playoffs however that serious injury couldn't slow him down, although this current injury will create a lot more rust.

The LGW version: Hart (most valuable player) — Derek Meech. Art Ross (most points) — Kirk Maltby. Calder (top rookie) — Ville Leino. James Norris (top defenceman) — Brett Lebda. Lady Byng (most gentlemanly player) — Jean Beliveau. Jack Adams (coach of the year) — Brad McCrimmon. Selke (defensive forward) — Tomas Holmstrom. Other than my recommendations, I think it's a bad idea. The number 99 is retired league-wide, isn't that enough? As for Orr, Lemieux, and Howe, are these guys really in danger of being forgotten if not immortalized? And my apologies to Monsieur Beliveau but other than what Mick says about him, he's not as well-known to me (and probably a few others) as the rest of the names on that list. If they really need to change the names, it should only be done posthumously. "And here is Scotty Bowman, winner of XXX number of the Scotty Bowman awards for top coach." Lame.

Unfortunately for the Hudlers, Talbot got the last laugh.

I wonder if he'll actually be a better player after possibly two years in the KHL. It's not on the same level as the NHL, which is evident by this: and:

This is the worst thing about a rivalry is that for it to work correctly, both teams would have to lose as much as they win. I wouldn't mind if the Wings never had a true rival, although that's improbable, especially with the proximity and potential of the Hawks. What I meant was that if Campbell will agree to it, he could end up being traded to Toronto because Burke is willing to take on bad contracts for picks. Chicago won't need first round picks for a while and if it takes two consecutive firsts to dump Campbell, you know they'll do it.