TheOwl

Rafalski needs to play like this all the time.

Check out the possible groupings. On the top half the Czecks, USA, Finland, could make the semi's. On the bottom half Canada, Slovakia, Sweden and Russia. I guess all of us who picked Russia, Canada and Sweden to medal have to re-adjust. USA looking pretty strong to get to the Gold medal game. Bottom half is stacked.

The Olympic shoot-out format sucks. No touch icing is an excellent idea, think about how much time is wasted chasing down the puck during an icing in a game? Maybe up to a minute of wasted hockey over a 60 minute game? Point format should be: Regulation/4v4 OT win- 3 points OT/Reg loss - 0 points Shootout loss - 1 points Shootout win - 2 points

Are you kidding? I would honestly say that Jagr is about as good as Zetterberg RIGHT now. Anyone who doesn't want Jagr is crazy, he's one of the top 5 forwards of the last 2 decades. He's a force. For 3-4 million a season, he would be a STEAL.

I could see the Czech's pull an upset again one of the 3 favorites.

Anyone got a stream that's not vexcast?

The majority of the Wings chances would never go in the net. The wrong person does too much shooting.

He shouldn't be traded. If we did trade him, we would have 2 of the worst 3rd and 4th lines in the league. I'm not so crazy about Cleary anymore, or Bertuzzi (although his salary is very fair). The Wings really need to clear house, and how they do that depends on whether Lidstrom sticks around. Rafalski really would be a dream to get rid of, if he would waive his NTC. Stuart is pretty expendable, I'd rather have Lilja take his spot. The entire 3rd and 4th lines need re-tooling. Hopefully Draper, Maltby retire (I love them, but their not useful anymore). Helm and Aby need a better 3rd guy, Flipulla? That'd be a good line. Eaves is pretty good, he should stay. Next season we for sure need another top 6 forward. Cleary isn't a top 6 forward, neither is Flipulla really.

Expect a loss. Remember, Nashville's next two games are against Pittsburgh and Devils. Pretty tough for them. We need to get as many points as in our ONE game, as they get in their two. If they lose two, we lose ours, that's fine. But if they win both games and we lose, we are screwed. DALLAS IS TIED in points, ANAHEIM IS RIGHT BEHIND. We only have 22 games left. We need to go like, 15-7 at LEAST. Is that possible? Most of our remaining games are against Central opponents, including Nashvi

Wings need D, or do the Wings need their D to play better? Anyone who thinks the Wings need to spend a cent more on defenseman is insane.

It's a great conditioning stint, exactly what he needs. I doubt it. It's international hockey, and should be played on an international sized rink.

Nashville realistically is the only team we can pass. Calgary will step up eventually. This game is a must win.

No matter how he plays, I won't blame him for this season. But you got to imagine Llija and Franzen are hungry, having to watch all these games this season, not being able to help.

Last post-season was a brutal for Datysuk and Hossa. Their the reasons we lost the Cup. Franzen, Cleary and Zetterberg carried the Wings offensively. Datysuk needs to step it up. The rest of the forwards have been relatively OK (except Leino). The problem with Detroit is the D right now, huge melt downs at crucial times. They should completely over hall the D pairings.

I would think Washington would be the favorite. BUT the Penguins have a better defense and goaltending. Marc-Andre could steal a series, even though he sucks.

The Wings players are playing bad. It has nothing to do with management (could be coaching). They need to play better. We don't need to tank like those other teams did. The Wings have everything they need to win a Cup THIS YEAR. Maybe the Wings did blow a lot of their draft picks in the last 5 years through trades. But the simple fact is, a team with Datysuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom should not be fighting for a play-off spot, I don't care who's injured. These guys are supposed to be super-stars. Datysuk was nominated for the damn Hart last year.

Prediction: Red Wings keep playing like they are, we all give up. They win their last 10 of 12 games, giving us hope, then miss the play-offs by a single point.

I agree. He's not even the most exciting player to watch. The problem I have is, Crosby is not Gretzky, yet their promoting him as if he is. The second "Great One". And guess what, the promotion isn't working. If Crosby was so great, then how come the NHL isn't becoming more popular and growing? The NHL is still a "niche" sport. People love it, or know nothing about it in the US. Crosby isn't helping build the league. He might be helping sell Penguins tickets, but other then that, he's not the savor of the NHL Bettman thinks he will. Where's the ESPN deal? Why's the salary cap decrease every year? This Crosby fever isn't helping the league. Promote more then one damn player. No one is going to see Crosby highlights and think "Wow hockey is amazing, I should go to more Nashville Predator games." Crosby helps promote the Penguins. Promote some other damn people for once. Not everyone are Washington and Pittsburgh fans.

The NHL would be better without Crosby. I would feel joy if he got injured for a long long period of time. He is what's wrong with the NHL. Get Crosby and his stroking partner Bettman out of here.

Franzen should be at the Olympics. I remember multiple news articles around November that Franzen COULD POSSIBLY be back right after Christmas. They should of named him as an alternate. Can't they? Didn't they? Why wouldn't they? Because I guarantee he would play. Think about it. 2 weeks of hockey to warm up for down the stretch. After those 2 weeks he would be easily ready for full-time duty. Maybe he should wait until after the Olympics? Rushing him back then giving him a 2 week break isn't going to be the best way to get ready, if he doesn't play in the Olympics anyways. And check out the standings. At this point, Detroit is basically a 3 game losing streak away from almost PROBABLE elimination. Detroit is on thin thin ice right now standings wise. Calgary WILL make the play-offs, that should never of been doubted. We need to catch LA or Nashville. And the way their playing, we need to be lights out. Will Franzen help? If he's ready. And I don't think he'll be ready if we play him a few games then give him a 2 week break. The Olympics would be a perfect conditioning stint.

It's kind of ironic isn't it? Anaheim, built by Burke, wins Cup. Burke moves to Toronto, sends his crap to Anaheim, get's his starting goalie back. He's basically re-building Anaheim in Toronto.

He could be great. But his salary is way over his head, and it's obviously negatively affecting his play. Calgary may have done the right thing by trading him, but when you really think about it he does have the potential to be a Norris winner. Calgary should of never given him such a huge contract, and they were basically forced to trade him. If I were a Calgary fan I'd be pissed. They drafted a potential elite guy, threw him a huge contract, and got screwed. Believe me, if he was making a reasonable salary, like 4 million, he wouldn't of been traded. Calgary's management screwed up big time.

I don't understand why the Bertuzzi-Datsyuk-Homer line isn't coming back. It had a lot of chemistry, especially between Dats-Bert. I really don't see why Bab's keeps changing the lines. Do what most teams do. Keep two guys who play well together, and rotate a third guy in need be. Datsyuk and Bertuzzi should be on the same line, I don't care who's coming back. I like the idea of Flipulla becoming a set up man for Datysuk. Datysuk has one of the best shots on the team, let him do the scoring, and give him a set up man!

Flipulla gets paid just fine. He's a 3 million dollar player on any team. If were going to talk about people getting overpaid, start with Rafalski.

Mule scores a lot of dirty goals, he's like Homer with a good shoot and a nicer feel, doesn't take a lot of physical skating. He should get the powerplay going again.