Opie

You say Tomato, I say racist! He has been known for saying things to say things. He is an elderly version of Avery's mouth. The only way this guy gets any notice is to run his mouth. As he becomes a worse and worse announcer he becomes more and more of a loud mouth. I believe he sits down before the games/shows and thinks, hey what can I say to get me more notice, then maybe I can keep my job. I have never liked the guy, I think he is mouthy and arrogant! But I also hate Avery and have stated even if he wins Conn Smythe I don't want him in the Winged Wheel and there are those of you that would cream your shorts if he became a wing (similar to the way I would if Lucic were a wing), so we obviously have different opinions, but to me this guy is worse than Imus! Because Imus did it once got punished and came back with an apology. And yes while Europeans and Canadians have similar ancestry to say that Canadians are just Europeans who have moved(paraphrase, my words not El Capitan's) is insulting to hundreds of years of Culture and Pride. And seriously did you just say that: So you are telling me that Hockey players from Europe and Canada are basically the same people. Hey, I have an idea, ask Dats if he would mind people saying he is basically a Canadian, or Zetterberg. Lots of people have something called national pride, and for some of these guys winning a gold medal for their country would mean more than the cup. National pride is not just something Americans have, look at what used to be Czechoslovakia, ask a Czech if he minds if you call him a Slovak because they are basically the same. If you like the guy you like the guy, but don't come up with big words to hide the fact he is a racist, just in case you need to defend yourself to people calling you a racist because you like him, because any one that makes that correlation is someone you shouldn't care about. Because I think Chris Rock is funny and I love when he makes fun of white people that doesn't mean I hate whitey! For the record I am a red headed white dude, not sure I could get any whiter without being see through!!! EDIT: After re-reading my post it seems like I am arguing with you, I am not, I am just trying to say that I view it differently than you do, and if you and I disagree, it is possible that the Euro's of the league disagree with you as well. Remember racism is not viewed by the way the person said it intended it, but by how the person that is being talked about views it, or feels it.

I don't really have a problem with what Forsberg did, he wasn't sure he could play, so he worked his ass off to get in shape and then when he was in shape he was there for everyone to have. He had the luxury of being able to name his destination. Selanne as well I have no problem with. He took his time to decide what he wanted to do, and all teams had a chance at him, again he had the luxury to name his team. Neids on the other hand I have a distinct issue with, he was under contract. And even though most athletes don't see that as a commitment I do. I hate these prima dona athletes (Chad Johnson the latest of this breed) that don't live up to their contract. Neids should have had his contract voided, and lost the year. And if he wanted to come back next year fine, but all teams have a shot at him and the league should make a rule that he cannot make anything more than 3/4 of his last contract. But that is my opinion and my opinion and that of highly paid pro athletes usually don't coincide, well unless their last name is Lidstrom or Yzerman! If you sign a contract for fair market value, then you are stuck at that, I don't care if the next year you could have got twice the money. Not that, that applies to Neids just venting!

Did you seriously just compare the Det Col rivalry to an O6 rivalry! Failure!!! Hey how did your dream of Feds destroying the wings in the finals work out for you! It looks like it worked out exactly the opposite of how you predicted, because I believe when you turned in your Red Wing card you claimed the Holland Detroit Red Wings would be eliminated in the first and the Fedorov Washington Capitals would go all the way! Or am I misremembering!! MR. Clemens is that you!

Good I was so pissed at the TV when all of these so called "Experts" were trashing AO and basically blaming the loss on him, when he already had 1g and 1a. Melrose went as far as to say AO would be regretting that decision all summer. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one who thought he made the perfect play, what Melrose and others fail to see is that the Philly team played that incredibly well, considering it was off of a turnover, which AO busted his ass to make. That pass, had Feds stick not been lifted, would have been a tape to tape slap pass within 20 feet of the net!!

See, I was very worried about this exact thing with the C's, both Garnett and Pierce had baby girls just before the playoffs started. I know Stuart isn't to the wings what KG or P-squared but he is an important cog in their wheel. But, I wish him nothing but the best and in his spot I would do the same thing and anyone who thinks he should be with the team is cold and heartless, but that is my opinion!

Not only that but they also had a vehicle called the Colorado!!!!!! Colorado, Avalanche, what in the hell is wrong with Chevy, are they trying to motivate fans!

I think it is Backstrom, but he will be penalized for playing with AO! Toews and Kane had great years but I think Backstrom was the most impactful (is that a word) rookie. But the only one of these awards I am every right at is the norris, but that is because I always say Lids!!!!

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=35968...mp;service=page No kidding, good for him!! I looked for this already on the board didn't see it, delete this if it exists already!!!!

You may say, this isn't the Avs org and they won't do it. But Cheli is not Ray Bourque. He didn't come to Det just to finally win a cup, he came to Det because he wanted to be a winner. And he stayed here longer than 1.5 seasons. I LOVED RAY BOURQUE so don't take this the wrong way, but Cheli's situation does not compare with Ray's. Having said that he won't get it retired, just wanted to point out that the situations are not really comparable. NOW, if they win a cup this and next year with him on the roster, and he continues to embody the red wing philosophy of putting the team ahead of himself, he has a chance. He has accepted play on the PK without complaining about not being on the PP. He accepts being the 5th dman when he could be a 2-3 on a bad team. He sacrifices his minutes and stats(potential minutes and stats) to play a defensive role on a winning team. And even though sitting out back to back eats him up inside, he does what is best for the team. Hell he may have played in other cities, but he has almost played a career in Detroit! I would love to see #24 in the rafters but I am not sure I see it happening.

My problem with Chara is that he had a bunch of games where he was a no show. Not just offensively, there were times where his slapper seemed to be aimed at the side boards, and he has got to be the easiest d-man to undress. I think I saw too much of Chara to say that he is the #2 d-man in the league. Yes he had a great season, but Lids never seems to take a game off or have an off game. I didn't see enough of Dion to comment on him!

First off, I thought this was the thread I brought back up, so my bad for reacting to you. But no, this has nothing to do with validating me, this has to do with people calling me out, claiming I had no credibility because I stated the reasons why I thought they weren't the favorite for the cup. But again, this is all out of context because I thought we were in another thread, I apologize for the confusion!

Actually I remember those events very very well, however I also remember that Lemeiux is no longer on that team. What you are talking about is hating the org, like I hate the Yankees. I mean I think Jeter is a great player and plays the game right, BUT HE BLOWS, because he is a yankee. I was more into the players aspect, I always thought of it as a player v. player rivalry. Mac/Turtle Feds/Floppa Yzerman/Sakic so on and so forth. I am not saying you can't hold your opinion of the rivalry, but you and I view it differently.

Great point, but the same reason the rivalry is dead is the same reason that probably won't hold true, different players for both teams. You can count the number of players from those days for both teams on one hand (maybe 1.5). This more recent group has had a lot more success against Dallas, and I think Turco looked shakey at the end of that series, especially compared to how solid Ozzie looked. I know I would rather face Kipper who has showed weaknesses, than Jose who looks to be the hotter goalie right now. But then again I fear the forward group of Calgary a little more, as they are more physical. I really don't care because I think this Wings team has all the right pieces, that doesn't mean they will win, and I am more confident in this team than at any point last year in the post season.

In my mind Dion is in a small list of people waiting to collect the Norris once Lids retires. Unless age hits him hard and falls completely of the shelf, he will be superior for at least 2 more years. OR........ Phanuef, Chara, Pronger, or others will have to have not only a tremendous year defensively but would also absolutely have to go off offensively. Hell Lids put up 70 points, that is nuts!!!!

Wrong it is to point out the people who type things here like they are some sort of hockey god and that they know everything. All I simply stated was that I thought SJS was the favorite not ANA, then I said why, read the thread and see what people wrote. This isn't that I was right it is that people who were calling me a homer, and blind and other things can remember their posts.

Lets see the Wings owned the Avs this year, 4-2 Hasek 1-0 Hasek 2-0 Hasek 4-0 Osgood That would be a sweep my friends, why on earth besides a dead rivalry would they want to face the Wings? When they have had a good amount of success against the Stars? I shouldn't be so harsh on the rivalry and maybe the additions of McCarty, Foote, and Floppa will engage some energy into the rivalry but for the most part the rivalry is dead and the Wings new rival is the Ducks.

Esteef, I try to call them as I see them!!!

No I was reffering to the thread started last week in which some said Euro Twins, is one retarded?

True, I mean it is not like you called him retarded!!!!!

OH PLEASE, like you haven't seen every player in the league drop an F-bomb on the way to the box, or at some fans in celebration, that was a weak point. Crosby has had a fight, has AO!!! You can't, in Bettman's NHL, be a fighter and possibly be the face of the league can you!!!!!!

Yeah I noticed that right after he blasted that one timer past Ellis!!!! Sometimes one guy shines a little brighter than another. The problem with Z and D is that if one is firing on all cylinders or scoring a ton and the other isn't, people on here think that the one is great and the other is injured or in a slump. If Dats keeps tearing it up, they will focus on him and he will start giving the puck to Z who will dominate. I noticed Nashville spent a lot of time and energy d-ing up Z (at least that is how it looked to me) and let Dats have a little more space. There were a couple of times he had the puck going to the zone during a line change and there were 4 preds closing in on him (Z) then a couple of shifts later, it would be Dats with the puck and 2 defenders would keep an eye on them, he would then usually dump the puck and go get it himself. And if you look at the season stats, you would think, well we will see what dats can do, but we know Z can score. Stop one and hope the other can't pick it up! Too bad it back fired!!

The article didn't mention the other candidates but I have to assume Blake wins it!

I am not sure who made the thread, but some one on here said that the post season was when Dallas would show his worth. I didn't post it in the thread, but I thought you are on crack this dude is done!!! I am an ASSHAT!!!

To piggy back on your thought: LOOK AT ALL THE STATS!!!!! Could it be anymore obvious!!!! But if you read the article you will notice that Lids is a little bit longer section than the rest of them!!

As stated by others a more professional or at least formal email would have worked. Remember you are trying to make an impact not just look like a internet message board poster and this in not an email to a friend. If I were to do it I would tell him something along the lines that I think he is barking up the wrong tree and needs to focus more on hits to the head, a fair and equal treatment of players regardless of stature in the league, and an overall lack of respect that players show towards each other instead of a 40+ year old tradition that happens once a game (if the wings are lucky), where as the things I have mentioned happen multiple times a game!! But that is just me!