Opie

Really can you show me an example my small brain is having a hard time wrapping around that, so if you could show me a story where anyone talks about any player and mentions the number of Hart trophies as THE Reason they are great, not it being one of the secondary reasons. I apparently need to see these facts you guys speak of, I have never seen the widely accepted fact that great players are made great by having Hart trophy caliber regular seasons, yet that player has done nothing in the playoffs. Show me one great player who never made the post season, and prove he is great by all of his Hart trophies! Let's say hypothetic we are comparing players one has 3 Conn Smythes and one has 3 Hart trophies, whom would you hold in higher regard. Personally I would have to hold the 3 Smythes higher.

You don't think maybe Babcock and Co knew about this, there has been talk since about March that he would be coaching some where else next season. I am almost certain Ken Holland and Mike Babcock and even the players knew this was coming, it is not like it was never discussed and he was keeping it a secret. You are bitter that a coach who had a large role in winning the Wings' a Stanley cup is moving on to realize his dreams that is your opinion fine, but I disagree wish him all the success in the world, I will however root against him every time the play the wings. seriously what should he have done, waited a day or two while vacancies fill up and then he is relegated to be an assistant again. These jobs (the chance to coach an already successful team) come a long very very rarely, if he doesn't jump at it, he would be remissed. IF the wings' had lost and the PP cost the series, then he announces it the day after the finals, yes then I would be pissed, because then he wasn't putting his best effort towards the team.

You are telling me that if Z had won both the Hart and Conn Smythe that the Hart would mean more or be more prestigious, NO!! The Hart maybe more prestigious for someone who doesn't or can't win the Smythe, but if you have them both or are in contention for both I would have to assume that winning the Conn Smythe would be a much more heralded award. Really by whom, because if that is the case this OPINION Based thread would have no barring because you would post a link to a site or a quote where all NHL players, or a majority would have said that, however you can't so please don't go around posting you opinion as widely accepted facts! Probie for 5, When did I say anything about the cup being an individual honor? I don't see it, I reread my posts and nope I can not find it. If the Hart means so much more than why don't kids growing up everywhere dream of winning it. BECAUSE IT IS A REGULAR SEASON AWARD!!! Why if a player never wins a championship are they not considered as great as players who have? If the Cup has nothing to with individuals, why does it resonate so soundly over their career achievements? Because players are made and broken in the post season, therefore if you receive and honor like Best player in the NHL's post season, wouldn't that mean just a little more than in the regular season. Is the Post season not the league's biggest stage, so wouldn't the awards given out for post season play carry more weight. Plus you say winning the Hart makes you an all-world player, really because I am pretty sure that is not what Jose Three or four is, Lindros, All world? Really, maybe in the Special Olympics (exaggeration be careful).

Wouldn't you be eager to achieve a lifetime goal!! You are put off by the fact that the guy was eager to be a head coach instead of an assistant coach, not only that but for a team that is already successful. He doesn't have to build the team, any of that crap they are a playoff bound team. It would be like riding home in a Ferrari that your friend owns and is driving only to know that your very own is sitting in the drive way waiting for you! Of course you would be eager to jump at the opportunity!!

How many players have ever said, I am sure glad I won the Hart trophy instead of the Cup. Post season is what matters and post season awards are a on a grander scale than regular season awards. The Year Lemieux won the Conn Smythe he deserved it, regardless of what he did as an Avalanche, in 95 he had 13 gaols and 3 assists in the 20 playoff games he played, he deserved it and his team won the cup.

I highly doubt he "Spilled Secrets"!!! That last comment he made seemed to me to be a lot more about complimenting the way Babs does things as opposed to him spilling the beans. But then again what secrets are there to spill anyways! The wings play puck possession, ok, they are soft Euros who can't win the cup, ok,. With todays advanced scouting and technology there are very few secrets! What is he going to tell them, ok don't get on a 5-3 power play because when the wings successfully defend it, they will get momentum!!

If you view the incident in a vacuum yes it appears insignificant, but it just adds to the litany of things that continues to make the league look sloppy. I am not saying it is a huge ordeal and the league should release a public apology, but it in the eyes of some (obviously) it looks bad and reflects bad on the league.

Conn Smythe, ask the Patroits, a great regular season means nothing unless you take care of business in the post season!

Because Carson Daly isn't a struggling league trying to build a fan base to save itself, he is a washed up has been MTV VJ!!!

See this is why I don't really like the NHL's voting system, technically Z should have finished second, he had the second most first place votes and he had the most second place votes, yet Madden who had meh number of votes at best finishes second. Technically Madden could have had all of the second place votes and Dats and Z split the first votes and Madden could have won, how does that make sense, it should be first place votes and in result of a tie second place votes or each voter has one vote to assign to one player!

Listen the league may not have been in charge of printing out the Jersey but mistakes like this reflect upon the league. It is an award show, the award was being won by a man who has won it 6 times now, like some one else said there are thousands of his jersey made every year, how does the NHL award show get the one misspelled one (I know there are probably more than 1), and how does the production company allow the misspelling to air. It does reflect negatively. Electrophile you don't think it does, good you stated that, others do they have stated that. This is the award show, you are supposed to be showing off now, highlights, best players, beautiful people in the audience, and a misspelled name. If this award was given to Phanuef there would be an epic amount of epic fail posts on this board and we would all laugh at it for weeks. It would be almost as used here as is lazy and sucks ©!

It is like Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr not being unanimous selection into the HOF, reporters feel the need to let people know that not everything is a certainty or to make it known that there vote counts or some crap like that. It happens every year in every sport when reporters vote. They feel the need to make a statement!

You know what, the best representatives usually do that, like Cheli, he pissed everyone off, until they realized he was right and got a better representative in there! I could see him pulling an Yzerman being a front office guy and then eventually being the head of the players union!

Vicki Helmholz, that was the I hate my computer, then the computer calling her a cow or sea manatee right I forget, but that was by far one of my favorite articles. My buddy who has worked IT for years before I started (I started in 04) sent me that as a hint into what his typical day was. I do believe that may have been my first onion article, or at least one of my first. I think it was when I was working at Bates College (as a summer intern) and I had just told him about hacking into Bates' email and creating my own account, hmm wonder if it still exists or not? The other one doesn't ring a bell! D'Oh you meant writer by the second link!! Those were funny as hell thanks for the links!!!!

I can't believe I had to think in order to figure out your Valtteri Orr joke! damn this fever!

Not trying to say anything about who is better or higher ranked, but to counter prove your argument, Lids has won more cups without Yzerman than the reverse!

QFT

Just have to say: I LOVED DOUG BROWN!!!! DOUGIE DOUGIE DOUGIE!!!

If Tor or Mon brought the cup back to Canada I am pretty sure most of that half of the country would be closed and at the parade. You could easily see 2-3 million if the Leafs or Habs brought the cup back, especially since it has been a little while!!!

And do you know what is even ******* crazier: The Wings have 2 guys ready to take over, much like Lids was ready as Yzerman was still the man, until Lids steps away. I am hoping the Red Sox are watching and build an Org like Detroit, bring the youth up, give them great role models and then eventually they become role models!!! This org has started to become everything we think of when we think Stevie Y. His fingerprint will be on this team for years to come. Who knows maybe that is the Illitch's finger print not his, or Devellano's or whoever elses. The point is still the same, this team has become the picture of class, hard work, and dedication to the team. Look at guys like Draper, could he be a 2nd liner elsewhere sure, does he want to go anywhere else, HELL NO!!!!

My question would be does Mule do the wings a favor and sign July 1, or does he do the smart thing by him and play this year with impending UFA status and potentially make himself some serious loot. I mean does he strike while the Iron is hot, or does he think the iron gets hotter next year?

Odds are with the knee in the shape it is, I have a hard time seeing him beat anyone out for a position, you are right though. I see Downey and Mac splitting one of those positions, unless that UFA (BTW I have said random UFA for a couple of days because I have no idea who will fill the spot Drake took) is a guy who can throw down and skate with this team regularly. And Maltby probably takes one of those spots. You are right Kopecky is probably 13th forward if not in GR after clearing Waivers, I just disagreed with what I THOUGHT was your assessment of his talent. Sorry if this was what you were referring to as that was not what I read the first couple of times.

I have a really hard time seeing the wings land Hossa, of course you take a shot at him, I mean what is to lose, but I just don't see them spending that much for what would be (on this team) a secondary scoring option. Who knows maybe he takes the wing on the first line and they split up ZDH, wouldn't be bad at all. But I see teams, Pit Mon, with much bigger needs for a front line scoring option and therefore they will throw mad $$ at him.

If that was a response to me: I wholeheartedly agree, the last thing I pretend to know is what Holland and Co will do! I'd have better luck guessing Power ball numbers! That is just how I see it shaking out. Bare with me here I know Z's contract isn't up this year, but if they sign Campbell he is just entering his prime, they better sign him to a 5 year deal or more. Which would definitely impact the Cap going forward with Z and Mule.

If they can't sign Stuart I see them leaning more towards a John Micheal Liles type of player as opposed to a big name like Campbell. The wings don't need a top 2 defenceman they need a 3-4. Marek Malik is another name that wouldn't surprise me, not that I think he fits, but he wouldn't surprise me. Paul Mara (eh not really top 4 material) and Micheal Rozsival are also available. Maybe Commodore, maybe even Orpik if they can get him away from Pit. Dennis Wideman is an RFA with Boston, maybe throw an offer sheet his way, I don't think that is Holland's game but Wideman would be a great addition to the second PP unit. I guess my point here is I don't see them taking on a big name more of a decent player and if they need to make a move at the deadline they will, like this year.