sureWhyNot

Ha ha, I was one of the people hoping we picked up Neil -- looks like I'm s*** out of luck. Oh well -- great game tonight, can't ask for and wouldn't want much more then that.

THAT A WAY BOYS!!! Way to bounce back -- Ozzie with a great game, hopefully this is the turnaround we have been expecting. Kopecky with a shortie, a couple assists and some beastly hits, Flip with a nice goal and hopefully the slumpbuster he's been looking for, Erikson with a great showing, Draps with another, Downey with an epic fight, Lebda making a nice defensive play, Datsyuk being Datsyuk, etc, etc, etc. What a game -- much needed after Nashville and I think it will bring these guys closer together heading into the home stretch. Weird, last game was beyond depressing, and this game is in my opinion one of the better and important (due to so many diff. factors) games of the season. Good stuff - tomorrow is trade deadline day. Probably nothing big, but fun to follow none the less. s*** -- I forgot to include Kronner's goal.

YAAAAAAA! Ha Ha I love 5 on 3's -- it's literally a shooting gallery. Your big guns just tee it up until something goes in. Ha ha LOVE IT

Damn, I was hoping Kopecky dropped the gloves and hit the deck -- he would have had the Gordie Howe Hat Trick which would have made me look like a genious.

I am kinda hoping Kopecky decides to do whatever he can to get a FM -- which would give him the Gordie Howe hat trick. I don't care if he drops one glove and jumps on someone's back and holds on until the ref gets their -- I want the GH hat trick prediction to come true.

GREAT NEWS -- Hossa CAT scan negative, along with all other tests. I am sure everyone just heard Ken say it, but it is good enough to toss on here any who. In celebration of the news I offer you this piece of video magic:

Wow Flip is something else with the puck.

Just in case you haven't gotten enough of this bad boy -- Here is my choice for the "April in the D" theme song: and as a bonus tid bit:

It may be a little premature and/or wishful thinking but I am feeling a possible Gordie Howe hat trick for Kopecky. Chances of happening -- very, very low. If it did -- epic. Downey = LOVE when this guy is in the lineup. Apparently so do 80% if the Red Wing fans.

Wow, good to hear. Thanks, I was still out to lunch about his status. Breathing a little easier.

He is alright? I am not in front of the TV and haven't been since the horn went at the end of the first. What have they said about it during the intermission.

Good lord what a game -- The Hossa incident had me panicking at first sight, I mean he went head first, and he went in hard. I actually called my mom and dad - demanded they turn on the game, and was still on the phone when the fight ensued. The fight mind you was a HW battle -- what a great tilt. Red Wings seemed to respond somewhat, seeing as though they hit the post twice immediately following when it was 4 on 4 -- I just wished they buried one. That brings me to Kopecky, and his goal -- all I have to say is wow. I admit I have criticized Kopecky quite a bit, however I have no problem eating a little crow and saying good god that was sick. And if that is a glimpse of what he could evolve into on a more full time basis then I will happily admit I was an idiot. I love Downey, I love this style of hockey, the only thing that is kinda a cloud over it all is Hossa. Hopefully we keep getting more feedback regarding his status, and more importantly, I am praying it isn't anything serious -- which thankfully, is beginning to better then worse given the circumstances. MotorCityKid were you joking when you made that post regarding Downey and his inability to prevent the Hossa incident? I think you're kidding but I wasn't sure -- you do realize there was nothing "dirty" or "cheap shot" about it don't you? Rather it was one of those fluke plays that happen every once in a long while in contact sports. Whether they are "intimidated" of Downey or not, who knows -- I can guarantee they respect the showing he put up against their #1 and that respect does cut down on cheap shots - it doesn't eliminate them, or set precedent forever, but make no doubt about it -- it gains respect of teamates and opponents alike.

Wow, kind of unfair of ya seeing as though Neil has proven himself in this league, and in the playoffs with Ottawa. The guy is better then I think you may give him credit for, and is definitely good enough to play on our 4th line. Question though for everyone. This is way off subject, but I was just watching some youtube videos and what not and got to thinking: What Red Wings would you want on the ice for a line brawl? They did this a while back over at HF forums and I meant to bring it up then but never got around to it. Anyways here are my 5: Cleary (I know he doesn't really fight but the times he has, against Newbury & Pronger, he did alright given the circumstances.) Downey (Obviously.) Kopecky (Confused as too why he never fights. He had a couple tilts with the Griffins, and I remember thinking that he wasn't half bad when it came to the knucles. He also did alright against Burrish last year against Chicago or was it Sharp?) Lilja (poor Andreas. While Webber smacked him around he has shown he can hold his own against legitimate fighters in the league like Boll and Sheldon "I'll cut you with my wrist guard" Souray. Again, he ain't an ass kicker but look who were picking from) Erickson & if he's not in the lineup -- then Stuart (Erickson is willing to throw when absolutely neccessary, and he does so pretty well. Stuart has been around the block in the NHL, and at least with him I wouldn't be afraid for his health as I would if say Lebda, Meech or Kronwall were out there when things erupted.) I don't know, what do you guys think? This is completely off topic, pointless & hypothetical-- but what the hell, let the hair down and have some fun!

I honestly have no desire to see Voros in a Wings uniform. He started awesome, with something like 6 goals in 7 games but it all went down hill from there. It is also interesting to see just how much Ranger fans detest the guy -- I mean night in and night out they would boo the hell out of him (doing the same to Redden, but for what he is making and in turn producing for the Blueshirts I don't blame them). Voros to me is a glorified Kopecky -- and I am not even so sure he is really a "glorified" version at that. I do kind of hope Roberts gets picked up though, not by us -- for some reason I have no desire to get him either -- but by someone. Can you imagine if this is how he ends his storied career. Man, that would be a first, a likely hall of famer (depending on who you ask) forced into retirement because no one picked him up off the waiver wire. Think Gary would dig the AHL? I think not -- man talk about a slap in the face if it came to that. I do think we should try to get Neil. I honestly could care less if he fights once when on the Wings -- I just really don't want him added to the Sharks lineup. And to give him credit, he has shown that he can play in the past, putting up a couple 30 + point seasons. I don't know though -- this is a great couple days though if you are a hockey fan regardless of who ends up where.

Yup, this is pretty much what I expected from you. --> Write a paragraph yet manage to really say anything -- other then the disection of "comically flawed analysis". Please stop inserting "straw men/man" in every other post you make. I am beginning to think you have no clue what a straw man argument really is (quick, look it up and respond by copying and pasting). I would love for you to make a clear argument. A one sentence statement in regards your feelings about the thread topic. Really, I mean I have no clue where you stand on the matter. I have a good idea, but each and every one of your responses include so much speculation, rhetoric and assumption I am kinda in the dark as too what it is you are saying.

Couldn't have said it better myself. What I would love for you and the other guy giving long, opinion laced rants is to provide any statistical backing for what you are claiming/arguing. Please -- anything that backs up what you are trying to say. I am sorry but you're comically flawed analysis on this subject is getting tired. Numbers, records, instances, etc., etc. Unleash them -- and no "how many games did Downey dress in the playoffs" is not a statistic. It is an obnoxious, and arbitrary statement.

I don't know if he will make the team or not? I guess we'll have to wait and see. As to the management wanting him around, I think you are right on in regards to both his character and "skills" coming in useful from time to time -- especially in GR where you have guys like Erickson (sp?), Adbekater, Kindl, etc who will likely be full timers sooner then later. Downey would be a great mentor in the sense of teaching them a couple tricks of the trade, and just to give them a veteran to try to emulate. I say this because literally every interview I have seen or read with anyone from any of Downey's former teams has nothing but great things to say about him and his character.

I love Lilja, he is actually one of my top three favorite Wings -- and has been since he got here in Detroit. I don't really know why, it's just something about him I like alot -- it's nice to finally see him getting some love from the fans. That said, I can't imagine he will be out that long -- I mean I have gotten worse concussions by playing mini-sticks in hotel hallways -- heads into walls are inevatable. He was far from knocked out -- he might of been knocked silly, but not a KO. Here are some hockey tilt KO's -- you will see a big difference between them, and the Webber/Lilja tilt: Now those are Knock Outs baby!!! My man with a plan Andreas Lilja is too smart to ever find himself in a situation similar to the guys above. Did he get smacked around? Without a doubt -- Will he be back soon? Yup, and he will return with a vengeance.

Awesome article. Thanks for the link.

It's important to note that the majority of NHL teams number one goalie, no matter who he is only start 55-65 games a year. It is quite normal the "the backup" sees 20-30 starts in a full season regardless of how the number one is playing. For example, this past year, when signing Conklin, Kenny Holland promised him 30 starts. This was months before the reg. season and Ozzies problems began. Or last year, 2007-08, some examples: Backstrom only started 57 for Minnesota, Cam Ward started 67 in Carolina, Toskala 64 in Toronto, Turco 60 in Dallas, and so on. Of course there are your exceptions to this rule, like Brodeur (started 77 games last year), Miller (75 starts last year), and Luongo (73 starts last year). However more often then not you see something of a 55/27 ish split between the started and number 2 guy throughout the regular season. In 1996-97 Ozzie had the better GAA (2.30) and more wins (23) in the regular season and started 47 of the 82 regular season games. But in the playoffs Vernon was our go to guy. The eventual Conn Cmythe winner went 16-4 and a 1.76 GAA in the playoffs. In 1997-98 Osgood played in 64 regular season games and all 22 playoff games. (Hodson was the backup this year and started 21 games in the regular season.) In 2001-02 Hasek started 65 regular season games and 23 playoff games.

What is your point? I don't recall anyone claiming the Downey was and/or is the end all, be all key to winning. If we were to use your rationale then wouldn't I be able to say was Downey in the lineup for the game in which the 27th best offense in the league beat us 8-0? If I were to say this not only would I sound like a complete jackass, but worse it proves nothing and makes absolutely nothing of a relative statement surrounding the debate for or against Downey being in the lineup. Common sense my friend -- try to use it. PS - The game Downey played in, you know the game against Dallas where the Wings lost, was however the loudest and most energetic I have seen the Joe since the playoffs last summer. On top of that Downey was voted Player of the Game for the Wings by the fans with close to 50% of the vote. I know you didn't inquire about any of that but I figured I would inform you just in case you were "mistaken" in the future. Don't worry though I am not a complete moron hater or anything, just simply take pleasure in enlightening them into the reality of the situations they have no worthwhile insight on, yet still offer up meaningless comments about.

There is not a single person who believes that -- you know that, and yet you still ask it. You are not witty my friend, and in fact you come across more like an idiot then anything else. But on the topic of questions -- I have one. When is the last time we won a cup without dressing a guy with at least 5 fighting majors? Can you answer me that one since assinine questions seem to be your thing and all.

First you are upset, this is clear by your emotional rant which I cited in my first reply. His nationalistic delusions? What are you talking about -- while he has criticized European players often, he has done the same to guys like Steve Downie and Shawn Avery time and time again. Is it nationalistic to say that Europeans play a different style of hockey -- one with less grit and fighting, and more finesse, and puck movement? No, not at all -- in fact it's the truth. Nearly every interview I have read and/or seen conducted with a European born player includes a Q and A that goes something like this? Q- What was the hardest thing about the North American game you had adjusting too? A- The difference in the size of the ice surface and the level of physical play. Chill out man, no one, including Cherry claimed that European's aren't good hockey players, just that they more often then not play a far less physical game. And your hypothetical question about Joe Sakic and "what if he got into a fight and threw punches like that" -- Well, unfortunately that is a moot point merely because it would never happen. Sakic has gotten into a few (and by few I mean very few -- 2 career FM total) and he didn't nor would he ever conceivably throw punches like Semin did. Same goes with Yzerman (13 FM total)-- simply put, he would never throw punches like that -- ever. There lies your answer in the difference b/t European's and North American players -- well an example of the differences to say the least. Anyways I decided to include this video, just to ya know, provide a little entertainment:

Ya -- How about the Quebec Nordique fanbase! They are, err, I mean were perfect!

The section you highlighted was from a post which was made by an individual that I has managed to show what little he knows about the Red Wings -- period. This guy is posting GARBAGE that deserves no recognition what so ever. He claimed that he wanted a guy like McCarty who in 97-00 would get into scraps and score 40 points a season. First of all McCarty had one year with with over 40 points total (96-97 he had 49) and one season with exactly 40 points (98-99). 1993-94: 26 points 1994-95: 13 points 1995-96: 29 points 1996-97: 49 points 1997-98: 37 points 1998-99: 40 points 1999-00: 12 points 2000-01: 22 points 2001-02: 12 points 2002-03: 22 points 2003-04: 11 points Now, with this established (his point totals in his first stint as a Red Wing) I think it is also very important to look at the years where McCarty was most productive (that being 96-97, 97-98 and 98-99) and the general makeup of the Red Wings roster. You will find that during these years, the Red Wings dressed a handful of guys that chipped in on the enforcing/grit front -- more or less, McCarty wasn't the only one there to do it, thus allowing him to focus also on his overall play and not just policing for his teammates. Here are the FM totals, and the names of the grinders Detroit employed in the lineup during the years McCarty was at his offensive best: In 1996-97 the Red Wings had a total of 62 fighting majors total. Pushor had 13, McCarty 10, Lapointe 10, Shanny 9, Konstantinov 5, Kocur 4, Ward with 3, Maltby with 2 and then a handful of guys with one.) In 1997-98 the Red Wings had a total of 34 fighting majors. McCarty had 11, Pushor with 5, Kocur with 5, Shanahan with 4, Maltby with 3, Lapointe with 2 and then a handful of guys with 1 FM. In 1998-99 the Red Wings had a total of 27 fighting majors. McCarty had 9, Kocur had 6, Lapoint/Shanny had 4 a piece, then a handful of guys had one. So while McCarty without a doubt was the guy fighting most, he wasn't the only guy willing to do so. In fact you have to believe that the fact we had Kocur in the lineup did some enforcing on it's own. All I am saying is that you can not expect a guy to be the sole tough guy and expect 40 point seasons from him -- that simply isn't going to happen. There are plenty of guys out there who can put up points and who are willing the drop them when needed -- look no further then Chicago. Ben Eager finally got the chance to play some minutes and he is putting up pretty good numbers (10 goals & 4 assists with 9 FM). Then there are guys like Aaron Asham (5 goals, 7 assists & 15 FM this year) who has had a couple years with numbers comparable to McCarty in his prime (34 pts in 02-03, 24 in 03-04, 24 in 05-06 and 23 in 06-07. All with the league worst Islanders mind you), then there's BJ Crombeen (10 goals, 6 assists & 18 FM), David Clarkson (14 goals, 13 assists & 16 FM), Steve Montador (4 goals, 17 assists & 11 FM), etc, etc, etc. The list really goes on and on and on -- all guys who have the snarl we would like and put up numbers. The best thing about them is that they are all making close to league minimum. Another guy that fits the bill in terms of reflecting McCarty is Chris Neil. He is struggling this year, but the same can be said with the team he is playing on overall. He could be had cheap -- will we get him? Probably not. I am fine with people who are honest and come out and say they don't think there is room for an enforcer in this lineup. That is completely fine, and that is there opinion. But I am sick of people saying that they want guys who will fight and put up points like McCarty did -- Those guys are available every frigging year and could be had for dirt cheap yet people never seem to realize it. I remember two off seasons ago I mentioned wanting to pick up Asham, it was during the off season and we could had him fir 500k a year -- I was absolutely panned by the other posters, ripped per say for such an "idiotic" idea. The argument of wanting guys like McCarty in their prime are made by those who simply need to clutch onto something in their decent of dressing guys like Downey. But truth be told, these same guys never seem to chirp about wanting guys who play a hard nosed, fighting is always an option type of game when it matters. They simply toss it out there when it's convenient to their narrow and naive argument -- like in this case, in an argument against dressing Downey (even when you have Hossa fighting and Lilja getting knocked out.) After the Nashville game I really don't think there is a worse possible outcome in regards to getting beat -- Meech was a -5, Stuart a -4, and Helm as well as a whole bunch of others a -2. With that said, I do not think having Downey would have changed the outcome, I want to make that clear. But I definitely do not think the addition of him could possibly have a worse effect then what we saw with a lineup of guys who play a rather soft style of hockey. Welcome to the club of being pissed off. I have been pissed off that Kopecky is in the lineup nearly every night, I am not happy with Flip's contract size and then his complete inability to put the puck in the net, I am pissed that guys like Hossa are forced to fight, I am pissed that Lilja is forced to drop the gloves only to get knocked out in an 8-0 rout to the 27th best offense in the league. Everyone who posts on this board could list a plethora of things or instances that piss them off -- so what. Leino will be gone for a couple of games max, deal with it. The same goes with Helm and his 0 goals, 1 assist and -1 -- he will be back soon. If you are this pissed over Downey's call up I can only imagine what you would go through if the team tried this again (see video below). God knows the horrid consequences that decision made on the overall success of the team: