hooon

Also pushes the guys in camp who thought they were already a lock for a spot.

Umm.... Aren't you forgetting a special someone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pQZP3l-0Vg

They should test having no Matt Cooke in the league.

http://detnews.com/article/20110817/SPORTS0103/108170411/1128/rss16 Looks like Sept 1st. Not too sure about preseason.

Yeah the trickle down effect is pretty interesting to think of all the "what-ifs". But like you and others have said or implied, I am pretty pleased with how it all turned out in the end.

Yeah this is the only one I can really think of in regards to Mule. I think Ozzie had a nice little swan move in the same game.

Don't forget that one game where the Mule scored 5 goals. Using that game as a sample size, he is projected to get about 410 goals a season, which seems pretty reasonable to me. He wasn't even on a line with Datsyuk that game! Imagine if he was, I think he could easily have a 1000 goal season. Edit: Finishing second in points behind Hudler, naturally.

Terrible news. He had a new opportunity coming up with the Jets, tragic he can't see it through. 27 is too young.

I've never liked the hybrid idea either. The problem with having a longer OT is the issue of intermissions. The way it is now, the OT period starts immediately following the end of the third. If the OT were to be extended, (or played as an endless sudden death OT as the OP is suggesting), it would be unfair/unsafe for the players to play without a break before hand, and adding an extra intermission would slow down the game considerably (at the most exciting time). I'm not a huge fan of the shootout, but I think the way the OT is now is the way it should say. I haven't really heard any suggestions yet that don't just complicate things further. And yeah, the trapezoid needs to go.

Milbury will be tending the bar.

Didn't see article posted yet. http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2011/08/red_wings_sign_forward_fabian.html

Is the party going to be in Kansas City?

You say that as though Eva's standard of excellence is grounded in anything that even approaches rational thought.

But that won't stop you, will it?

Interesting. Anyone have any reports on him? All i really remember is the hype a few years back. Looking at his numbers, it seems like he had a pretty good rookie season with the Stars but nothing after that. I'm all for a try out, though, hopefully he realizes some of that potential.

Awesome. Such good memories. Thanks for posting.

Come on now.

This is bold? He's already done it twice now. Helm for the Richard!

I agree with a lot of that list, but can think of a certain Red Wing who should probably included. But we already have enough threads on him. Kinda surprised Kovalchuk isn't on there.

Totally hear what your saying, but I don't ever see Pavel getting that kind of 'arrogance' or confidence or whatever you want to call it. From everything I've read about him, Pavs seems like the most humble guy ever. I just feel like Z will be the better team leader. Pavs will always lead by example, and will always inspire the best in others simply based on his play and work ethic, whereas Z fits the roll of Captain a little better, will be more vocal and outspoken. I don't think we can go wrong with either, however. As far as the OP question, this team is still very much Lidstrom's team as evidenced by his incredible season last year. There is so much more to leadership than playmaking and points. Like others have noted, we have an unbelievable team-first mentality that doesn't put any single player on a pedestal, and rather celebrates the unity of the team as a whole. Guys like Draper, Maltby, Osgood, McCarty, Chelios, Murphy, etc. all brought leadership to the team without being named captain. While the C on the chest is important and special (particularly following the likes of Yzerman and Lidstrom), there will always be leadership support in the locker room.

He pretty much lost me right there.

-Nick adds another Norris and another Cup to his mantle. -Helm gets 20 goals. -Datsyuk does things that cannot even be predicted by humans.

My goodness, that was awesome. Maltby at his best. The Maltby chant is epic.

Wait, what? When did Franzen enter this convo? Its kind of telling that you have to resort to bashing a completely unrelated player in order to try to make a point about a guy like Tomas friggin Kopecky or Jason friggin Williams. Btw, Franzen DID begin his career on the 4th line. And within several seasons he advanced his game significantly from a 4th line shutdown guy to a legit power foward. Surely you remember that magical February-March stretch in 08. Using your patented Hudler formula, what do his numbers project to if you only count the scoring of those two months? Like 90 goals a season?