Wingsallwin

I agree that the league overestimates him, not by himself. But he seems to complain a lot on the referee and people hate him because he is kind of a player who always whimpers. But the bottom line is that the fan base of NHL is not big, even small. If we compare Canada and America, Canada's hockey popularity dominates the American's hockey popularity. That's why the league continues to bring up the commercial of Crosby, whom the league thinks the player can bring some positive effect on American hockey. Why do we have to raise the popularity in America? Reason is simple. Except for the Leafs, American Hockey market is far bigger than Canadian Hockey market and the league NHL itself is admistered followed by core of America, not Canada, if we consider the revenue deeply. NHL is still a money sports and Gary Bettman knows it. Regardless of what fans are mentioning, Gary Bettman has to proceed any policy that can earn more money for the NHL and Bettman may think Crosby is the answer. When he was young, Gretzky said Crosby will break his record up. Even though that looks almost impossible, that can motivate more Americans to watch hockey and by Bettman's thinking, it will cause the rising of hockey popularity in Amercia on TV. But by those reasons, I still do not like the Kid and the way NHL overstates him and relies on him too much. I do not care because he is in the Eastern Conference team but maybe the sadness of the NHL; has to rely on one superstar for its popularity.

Hopefully Conks starts this game. It is not back to back game so our guys must be recharged. Time to own Avs first time this season. Wings win this game 3-1

Well it is a not a panic thread. It is just a discussion about our future defenses and other parts. Nick will be able to face injuries more often because he is getting older and that is what people are worrying about. Besides, so far this season, even though Nick is not playing best hockey, I never thought he is not great. He made some mistakes but he is still one of the best in the league. Yeah Mike Green is having more points than Nick right now but I don't why people rely on points too much when they distinguish which defense is better. Of course points are very important but that is not all. The league surely knows it is harder to produce more points in the West than the East. I don't know why people only talk about points when they compare different players. If Nick was in the Eastern team, he would make a lot of point but the Wings are in the West, which is way harder than the East. Besides, if Nick wins another Norris this year. yeah that is good. But if Nick does not win Norris this year, but if he can bring this team well into the playoff and defend the cup, who cares. Nick is still the best defense in the league by my personal thinking.

I think Stuart was a big piece for us. It does not matter how many points he produced but he brought up some physical play in Wings D, which was not there before he came. I am not gonna be surprised if Kenny makes moves on goalies. Trade Dead line is March 4th and tons of time is still left. If Kenny still thinks neither goalie will play well in the playoff, we have to trade for goalie.

D is not a huge problem if we consider our goalie situation. We let the fewest shots against in the league right now. Nick is not in his prime but he is still really good. And Lilja is good. Raff and Kronwall are concerned but you cannot call them totally bad. Bold part again and again. No guarantee Osgood will well step up in the playoffs. Playoff is a defensive game. Who cares if we can score 5 or 6 goals in the regular season. While other teams' goalies will step up in the playoff, we cannot expect that from Osgood right now. If Osgood starts the playoff, which is likely to happen, I will feel same way when Hasek was in the net last season. I thought Osgood would be better because he had better stats and more solid. This season is different than that because at least both Hasek and Osgood were good in the regular season. I don't see Osgood will go far in the playoff. If playoff is tomorrow, no surprise even though Osgood is pulled out in 3 or 4 games in round number 1.

True, but Osgood is bad this season. According to the statistics, the Wings allowed almost the fewest shots against. And if Osgood's stats is one of the worst in the league, we should take Osgood seriously. Technically, our defenses are not solid but we cannot just say our defenses should play better than now. I watched the game between the Stars and the Canucks yesterday and Stars defenses were brutal and also do Canucks defenses. But total goals were only 3. Each team shots around 30 shots and that is a lot. Jason Labarbera made 31 saves out of 33 saves on that game Osgood made 22 saves out of 25. It is pretty big difference. I am not directly comparing two goalies' performances for only one game and not even also comparing both goalies each other. What I am saying is have you ever felt solid when Osgood is in the net this season? Can you really deny this fact?

First, Filp is not going anywhere. He has been bad this season compared to his salary but he is not getting like 3 million this season, it will be next season for 3 million for Filp. Besides, Holland might know Filp would not be terrific of the first year of new contract; Filp is still young and I don't particularly see Filp is playing that super bad. And for Leino, I hope Kenny can resign him soon. He is not making tons of points but he has a lot of potential to be a skilled player in the NHL. I now think we cannot sign both Franzen and Hossa. Well we can but we do not have to. If Hossa gets a discount, he will sign for 6-6.5 million. For Franzen, we drafted him and will may ask 4 million but I think that is an overpayment. If we sign with Hossa for 6 million, we will have around 4 million cap left. And for 4 million, we can bring up Eriksson for Chellios place and sign with Huds and Sammy. I love Franzen but if I have to choose between Franzen and Hossa, I would go with Hossa. Don't forget this point, Hossa is one year older than Franzen but that is not a big deal. By sigining only Franzen, we have to lose Huds, Sammy, and Leino. That will not be good for our team's depth.

Oh, ok I agree with you. But I disagree with you the bold part. He has some problems this season and no doubt about that. I never mentioned we lost all because of Osgood; we lose as a team and I agree with that. What I want to say is defenses seem that they cannot play comfortable when Osgood is in the net and that is the case of this season. We know our defenses are not not much as good as last season but we cannot blame only defenses when Osgood allows a goal. I also agree Conklin is not magically good but our defenses look to play more solid when Conks in the net than Osgood is in the net

In this point, I don't know why people are riding on the number of cups Osgood has won. Yeah, he has won 2 cups as starting goalie and Conklin had only few minutes during the playoff in his career. However, you have to know the number of cup the player wins does not mean how good that player is in everything. I know we will start Osgood during the playoff like we did last season to start Hasek. Last year, Hasek's save percentage was .902 but he struggled in the playoff. That's how tough the playoff is. What did happen last season? Hasek was not as good as Osgood last season but Hasek started because of more experience. And he was alternated by Osgood in game 4 of the series against the Preds. There is no answer for this sure but we have to know the truth. You said Turco has more games than Osgood and yeah, that is the truth. But if Osgood started half of our games, that number of games are enough. he has to stop letting those soft goals but he still does that's the problem. We know Osgood cannot be back to his last season game but he should be enough to win but like last night game, who cares if he makes tons of crazy saves and allowing bad game winning goal? And according to your logic, Huet and Khabibulin should be also terrible because they pretty much started same amount of games. Then you will say they are not in slump and Osgood is in slump that's the difference. What I am pointing out is which is the exception for Osgood this season? If you watch many games Osgood started, you will not only talk about stats. He was out of position too many games and he did not look angry when he allowed goals. I am sick of hearing who is Osgood hater or who others are Osgood lovers. That's not truth. Many people here may do not like Osgood as much as other Osgood fans do but if you say like that, you are dead wrong. Truth is flat. You cannot call Osgood good this season. Besides, we are not the only guys who watch Osgood's games. If you read some reports from professional hockey journalists, they also worry about Osgood too. It is not only us. If Osgood' sv percentage and GAA are the worst in the league, he is COMPARABLE to goalies like Toskala. How is that possible to win with those goalies in the playoff? Yeah, I am wrong about trading Osgood or sending Osgood but he should play better but what I am saying is he does not look to be better this season.

Osgood started 29 games so it will not be many games but Osgood had enough games to show his improvement. Like I mean, the number of games for goalie when they need to improve is important but you cannot say this in this time right now. We are into 56games of the season and according to your statement, Conklin is not really good either if we consider deeply about the playoff. What I am pointing out here is not just choosing which goalie the starter of the Wings. If both goalies do not improve, we have to think about the changes. Believe you saw some Red Wings press conferences and tv. Babcock seems like he is losing a credit and criticized Osgood's performance this season. If Babcock really wants to make Osgood furious himself to motivate him, I don't mind we send down Osgood and replace Osgood's role by one of our young goalies for a short period.

Ok, then answer to my point about Osgood's performance this season. I am saying negative about Osgood, but not all him. I never mentioned we lost tonight's game all because of Osgood.

I think Ozzie was good but let me say something: I am sick of hearing it is not Osgood's fault. Goalies should be responsible for all goals they allow every game. If goalies do not make big saves, why are there goalies in the net? We did not play bad defensively and offensively. Some turnovers occur and our pp was bad but you cannot blame that everyday because we have played well lately. Mason stole the game, but Ozzie did not. Has Osgood stolen any game? I meant, throughtly whole game. Like the 3rd goal, what is that I mean? That was not even a good shot but that happens pretty much a lot of days on Osgood. People here jeer about Turco because he was in slump. How is his recent record? He has been IMPRVOED and makes big saves and boost up the Stars. Osgood has never done that this season. If you guys think Osgood will get hot immediately in the playoff because of experience and number of games, that is deadly wrong thinking. How can we expect one of the worst goalie in the league will be terrific during the playoff?

Regardless of the performance of Ozzie tonight, why did Babcock start Osgood consecutive nights?

I did not expect anything from Buffalo. That is their defense level.

BJ pretty much look that they will make the playoff this season. They beat the WINGS so.. well don't need to say more. Whatever, I hate BJ to make the playoff. I hate Mason so much...

Bad performace but we have to know it was a back to back game. Hank looked out tonight, could not win any faceoff. All our lines were not very good and bad PP. I hope Homer will be back soon. Cleary cannot do the job what Homer can do.. Besides, I think Osgood was not bad but he was not great. 3rd goal, he had to get that one even though some people make excuses for some nice saves. Loss is a loss, no excuse for this game. Let's expect a good game on Sunday.

Hank seems he cannot win any faceoff tonight

I hate Mason so much...

We seem even cannot win the face off tonight...

I think Ozzie has to work on that 5-hole... he has too many goals through 5 hole and again...

Wow.. Lilja is terrible tonight...

Jesus.. that was scary 30 seconds...

That was a plain penalty Kron!! OMG ...TT

Another PP. Let's conver this time Wings!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sammy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!