kook_10

That's too bad - he's a great competitor.

don't forget the 4 PIM last night too.

you dont see him look like a pylon like that so much.

Friday: Florida @ Boston NY Islanders @ New Jersey Phoenix @ Carolina Philadelphia @ Buffalo Nashville @ Tampa Bay Anaheim @ St Louis Saturday: Vancouver @ Pittsburgh NY Rangers @ Ottawa NY Islanders @ Buffalo Chicago @ Toronto Phoenix @ Philadelphia Columbus @ Atlanta Boston @ Montreal St Louis @ Minnesota Anaheim @ Dallas Detroit @ Calgary Colorado @ Los Angeles Washington @ San Jose Sunday: Nashville @ Carolina New Jersey @ Tampa Bay

Wings 5 Oilers 2 (Kronner, Homer, Hank 2, Dats)

I agree its kinda slim pickens. Outside of hitting and scoring, there is not a lot of sizzle on a defenseman's steak. Not so much of that these days.

It is definitely fair to say they were giving him competition, but the general changes in the style hockey played since the mid 90's has benefited Lidstrom greatly [thanks to Scotty et al!] because it suits him well. It would also be fair to say that Lidstrom might not do as well in that era. Many of the marquee 80's defensemen would also have a tougher time playing in todays style (and refereeing!), and mind you the Hall doesnt call until retirement. All that said - sportsman of the year? no thats Phelps

I am not trying to slam Bourque as he is one of the greatest of all time, but no one ever talked about naming it the Bourque Trophy nor did analysts, broadcasters and fans universally praise him as CLEARLY the best defenseman in the league year in and year out for years on end. I stand by head and shoulders. Its a term relative to your peers. It was you who pointed out Bourque's stiff competition and the lack thereof for Lidstrom! Are we really believe that even with more countries than ever feeding the league defensemen are worse than in the 80's? I didnt say you cant compare eras. I said that saying one decade is better than another is just overly sentimental. The talent pool is larger now and game is different, and the role of the defensive corps is different. If you look at the stats, the proportion of goals by defensemen was much higher. I dont think that made them better necessarily, just more involved in offensively play for one because you could score 50 footers then. This is also why it took Nik a while to get recognized for playing a conservative defensive game. As for lifetime +/- I think we all hope Nik will get there, as we are all fans right?

Lids has been the top scoring defenseman 5 times to Bourque's 2 and has had the best +/- of any defenseman 3x to Bourque's goose egg, and has never had a minus season. To say that any one decade is better than another is just overly sentimental. Bourque was also playing before Europeans made a true infiltration of the league- Lids is swimming in a much bigger pool. Within context Lidstrom is clearly the best defenseman of his generation. In any given year Ray Bourque was never head and shoulders above his competition whether it was Potvin, Coffey, Stevens, Leetch or Vladdy or Nik.

Around NYC here Chico Resch and Doc Emrick are pretty good. I liked John Davidson too before he went off to St. Louis. They have a good wrap up roundtable show for all three local teams with Ron Duguay, Dave Moloney, Butch Goring and Ken Daneyko. It seems to me that the analysis we get down here is more limited to on-ice stuff, whereas up north you guys get a lot more coverage of off-ice issues (or just a lot more of everything).

I agree. I watch with the Centre Ice package, and I think it was when the Wings were at Anaheim they were trying out an ice level camera for the neutral zone that drove me crazy. You couldn't see what was going on at all. It was high cameras at the ends, and then a view from the penalty box in between the blues. At least for other games Centre Ice this year sometimes has home and away coverage.

you know what I love about that guy? if he can't punch you in the face, he will will punch you in the gut! how many brawlers do you see delivering body shots?

i really like some of the young talent (plus one old) Phil Kessel Patrick Kane Brandon Dubinsky Alexander Ovechkin Teemu Selanne

[hey guys - noobie here!] just curious - what is it that you guys think the third man on the 2nd line should bring? with z and Mule I dont think its goals. i like Fil there because he puts in good work in the offensive corners and has good puck protection skills against the boards. he could possibly save Z some work so he can backcheck in the 3rd period. ...so long as his assists pick up.