NGKEIB

Living in Europe, I have never been able to watch as much NHL hockey as some of the rest of you have, so I have relied to a heavy extent on the highlights on NHL.com. I'm certainly in accordance with Micah that (was it last season, or the season before last?) when fights suddenly started appearing on those highlights. I don't think that it was because there were fewer of them, I think that it reflects a conscious change of attitude in the NHL's marketing/media office. I can only assumed that they recognized fighting as part of the game, and also as a very marketable one. One way (actually the only way) in which it really annoys me is in the commentary - I'm so tired of hearing some blowhard announcer discuss what a great fight it was (when it was dull), how hard the punches were (when hardly any connected or had serious force behind them) and how it's a great example of the 'honour of the players'.

In 2002 we had a really strong end to the season too!

Jimmy 'Rebound' Howard (Don't get me wrong, I like him.)

Holmström was number 15 when he first got to Detroit, but wanted 96 for the year he got to the NHL - Bowman's suggestion was that he take 97, for the year he would leave the NHL.

I'm not sure why he was traded away - wasn't there friction between him and Bowman? I also think that the Wings wanted some old faces out and new in. Bummer he couldn't have been there for the Cup wins (same goes for Bob).

I don't think that Tardif will ever get more than sporadic (if any) time with Detroit. Almqvist will hopefully make the transition from HV71's junior team to the main team (where he has been doing well in the playoffs, I think that he has a goal and an assist so far in three playoff games).

Don't forget the return of the Lily.

How many 'drives' and 'waffleboards' has he let slip during those 3.000 games?

Howard's importance to the team is irrelevant - the Calder is awarded to 'the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.'

I hadn't really thought about the Masterton - can anyone think of any plausible candidates (apart from the Lily and the Cheli)? Had Phoenix played terribly this year, Shane Doan might have been a good choice

He's playing with the big club in the playoffs. HV71 are leading Timrå two games to none in the opening round. Almqvist took a rough elbow to the head in the game, and went down. Not sure what his status is.

Sandström for the win! What a player - just such a shame he was robbed of the Conn Smythe... I would probably say Holmström.

The only solution to this that I can see is to break up the top line. If Bertuzzi can get back his scoring touch, it is going to be with Datsyuk. Franzén was great in the playoffs last year with Zetterberg and Cleary, so hopefully that line could get going again. That would leave Filppula centering Miller and Williams, which would be an okay third line. Miller and Filppula are both defensively sound, Miller could do the dirty work, Filppula could pass the puck, and Slick Willy could shoot.

Brendan Shanahan - I was really excited to get a player like him, but he never really worked out that well for the Wings.

Yes, Mats is a common name. Zuccarello Aasen (or rather the first element of it) is not a common last name, however. He must be at least partially of Italian descent.

They are both better in their own ways. Filppula is a better skater, a good solid two-way forward, and has even shown that he can surprise people with hits (e.g. MacArthur, Ovechkin) - all in all, a more complete player. However, in terms of pure offensive prowess and lifestyle, you have to give it to Jiri.

I think that he is worth a shot - if he can fit in with the Wings, great, and if he plays in GR, they need all the help that they can get, esp. if Abdelkader will be moving up. On the other hand, does anyone think that the failure of the Leino experiment (i.e. spend a year in the minors and then be a bust with the big club) might dissuade others of his type (European free agents who have options with multiple teams? Obviously, if someone refuses to do their time in the minors, they have an attitude problem, but it may tip the balance if they're choosing between multiple teams.

It's not a question of Howard playing badly, it is a question of him having had lots of starts recently, and there is certainly sense in keeping Howard fresh for what will be a tough game against Vancouver. That said, Ozzie will be rusty, and we mustn't take Edmonton lightly. I guess if we have a large lead, we could always throw Osgood in, but I'm not convinced that that is particularly fair to either goaltender.

He played okay at the start of the year (better than last season), except for a few rough games, and his poor play recently isn't surprising due to how rusty he must be. He's been the best post-season goalie two years in a row, and I certainly think he deserves another season. Leighton will get a raise in any event, and we've never seen him play in the playoffs... Don't know about Danis.

His skill can't be measured in mere points - for instance, take Datsyuk's goal against Calgary. It was on the PP, so it won't affect his plus-minus, and he didn't get an assist on it, but without him would there have been a goal? I'll be glad to have him back. Even if he gets a bit slow(er) and old(er) next year (though he may have a longer than usual summer rest...), he has certainly proved that he is an important cog in this team.

While it is great to get goals out of Eaves, what I like the most is that in Helm-Eaves and Miller-Maltby/Filppula we have two great dedicated penalty killing tandems that let us save our more offensively gifted players (Zetterberg and Datsyuk obviously, but also Cleary and Franzén) for even strength and PP time.

What about Bjugstad? Hard-working, physical etc. Also, with a name like that, and coming from Minnesota, he's basically Swedish.

What about Belgium? Their programme is quite funny. The national team's coach and former star player was the guy who ran the weights room in our school... Exalted status.

While it would be a shame to break up Datsyuk's line as they are on a roll, would another way of getting Z back to his usual self be to reunite the Franzén-Zetterberg-Cleary line that was so good in the playoffs? Bertuzzi did have some success with Datsyuk and Holmström. I guess that would leave Filppula centering Williams and Miller.

Another interesting way of going about this might be to do it by best lines/units, such as Lindsay-Abel-Howe, Russian Five, Probert-Yzerman-Gallant, May-Williams-Maltby etc. That said, Howe's long career makes this idea tricky, as you could also have Lindsay-Delvecchio-Howe and so forth.