Jersey Wing

GODDAMMIIT! ONLY one trip out here next year, Feb 21 at the Prudential Center. No trips to MSG or the Island. I might have to stoop to going to Philly to see them.

Great signing. A great price for a valuable player.

Devils at 30-1? Did Parise already leave? I mean didn't they JUST play deep into the Final? I Can see certainly not making them the favorite but 30-1? I'd sooner say in the 17-1 range

Well see I'll play Jersey Devil's advocate and say as a Cleveland Browns fan you CAN keep your franchise records and colors intact. I know it's a different sport but not that different of the gripes of pro sports that cause teams to come and go. I think the Ravens (apart from being disgusting but I digress) could be called a true bastard franchise. The players but none of the records or history...

Awesome! #62!! I only had to break 70th to continue to be able to post up to an e4 on Eklund's site. Yessssssssss

Here's an interview with Parise himself in today's Star-Ledger. He ONLY rules out signing with the Rangers... http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2012/06/devils_zach_parise_no_way_ill.html

Whatever happens happens. Just keep Parise alive and unharmed in the last 40 minutes.

My favorite as a young Wings fan, Reed Larson

I'd think on that offer sans Helm. He's just way too important a player right now. There's got to be somebody else of similar 'value' the Wings could include.

The Star-Ledger's top Devils beat writer Steve Politi wrote about Parise being in high demand in the offseason. He discusses Parise's options and lists four teams (five if you count 'the field') and their odds of signing him. Devils 5-2 Rangers 5-1 Pens 10-1 Field 25-1 Wanna see what he lists the Red Wings chances as? Go read: http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2012/06/politi_after_the_stanley_cup_f.html I of course will do anything I can to panic Devils fans, and have commented on him coming here in comments (JohnnyActionSpacePunk).

Kevin Weekes on NHL Network on why picking the right captain in Detroit matters so much. "The Red Wings are a proud franchise, an Original Six team, I consider the Red Wings the Harvard of the NHL."

Yep, gonna have to!

As much as we fans want one more year, the sportswriters want one more year it is time for Nick to retire. We've all seen the little cracks in his game that were never ever there. Everyone who has watched Lidstrom play mentions what an incredibly intelligent player he is. They are right. Nick's intelligence is what told him now was the right time physically as an athlete. We must trust that intelligence once more. He knows what's what. No hanging around for him, no third pairing minutes or simply special teams, he knows it is time as a proud player as well. We've all seen guys in every sport hang around too long and you know how sad that makes you feel. Thankfully nobody will ever ever remember Nick Lidstrom just trying to get through one more year. We will have a grand night for him when his number hangs up next to Stevie's. Both quality captains who knew when it was time to pass the torch to a franchise well equipped to move forward. If I were ken Holland I would call Brian Burke late tonight and offer Lidstrom for Kessel. Maybe the Blue Jays game ran late and Burke hasn't heard yet.

I should also imagine if St. Nick retires (And then quite possibly Homer after him) the Wings will be ferocious shoppers and that includes kicking the tires again on Nash whom Columbus is still trying to move

A tip of the cap the to the greatest Red Wing ever (IMHO) which now reminds me, I have to go get a Zetterberg sweater with a 'C' on it

It struck me in reading a long-time Rangers fan board after their loss to New Jersey the other night. Like LGW I was reading the board of a high profile team, an Original Six team, and a team that had a lot expected of it board on elimination night just as I have done on those nights it happens to the Wings. I think you'll find it interesting to compare certain types of posters to people here, the overall tone and tenor of things and I did get a chuckle out of several of the more Dr. Smith on Lost in Space doomsday comments as I recall similar ones here. I'm not trying to denigrate anyone or crap on the Rangers but reading that evening sure sounded familiar. Our story begins with post #125 at the bottom of this page referencing Henrique taking a puck to the nard area and feeling man pain earlier in the game but returning for glory: http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1196487&page=5

Well nothing is as good as this board of course, I was enjoying the process of the acceptance/meltdown and how it pertains to what happens here

Again, who cares about ratings and who cares about a sexy NY vs LA final. I think the key point made above that this series sets us up with two string teams playing EXCELLENT hockey and affords us the best series possible now. Let's face facts, the Rangers end the playoffs at 10-10, they weren't exactly worldbeaters. I think two teams who forecheck HARD, two teams that are FAST and one young gun netminder vs the legend makes for great storylines. The glamour and gitz of LA vs the tough as nails Tony Soprano Jersey attitude.

The Devils aren't going to win the FInal, not in my opinion.

A couple years now and YES it's tacky

If the Wings CAN pull this off I'll be the naked guy at the top of the Empire State Building jumping up and down. Til' then......

The Rangers greatest strength, those big strong crease clearing defensemen is now becoming a weakness. Even the best netminders can look average if their defense is slowing. Those guys are worn down. I don't know what Del Zotto is doing or if he's playing a game in his head different from the one on the ice. I have tickets to a play on Friday night with my wife or I'd be hitting Stub Hub right now. I guarantee somewhere Steve Smith was cheering for Richards to score an own goal on Lundqvist and get him off the hook for his goal on Fuhr.

The Rangers are TIRED, it happens. I will say if the Devils go up 3-0 they'll start closing bridges around NYC

Big one tonight at MSG. The entire hockey loving city of NYC is in a little bit of a panic. They're finally having to confront the fact after 4 games the Devils might just ACTUALLY be quicker and more tenacious than they gave them credit for (The fans not the players).

Look at all this Rangers love here lol The John "Circus is in Town" Tortorella act continued tonight in Newark as a guy watching his team get beat to loose pucks and outskated and outplayed for most of a fourth straight game decided even though HE sent out Rupp and Eminger had to complain to DeBoer about it. What was tonight, Tortorella's fifth or sixth chickensh*t act out? Thus far the Devils have been better and I grow very very tired of people pearl clutching about possible Final ratings for the NHL and how New Jersey would simply ruin everything. Who gives a frog's fat a** about ratings? When did Wings fans start worrying about what is good for Gary Bettman and the NHL offices? The NHL I'm sure will survive a Devils vs Kings final should it come to that. So, the Rangers looked tired tonight for stretches. The Devils speed and willingness to engage physically I'd say is starting to take a toll. The Rangers won game 3 but were outplayed for long stretches and this was after an extra day's rest. Tortorella we know has lost faith (if he ever had any) in one of his best offensive players Gaborik. Tonight he benched Del Zotto for two periods, it looks like another player has gotten the no faith vote. Unless Torts has better backups for these two he needs to ride them as the Rangers are looking at possibly playing a third straight seven game series. If the Devils score first at MSG Wednesday I think you'll really start to see the Rangers tighten up on those sticks and possibly get a little nervous. Let's just hope they got that penalty box door fixed in the World's Most Famous Arena