Opie

The Ducks didn't get lucky but what helped them beat the wings is the key injuries, 2 of the top 3 Dmen, 2 pp point players. With a full roster I think the series comes out differently, would it no one knows that is just my opinion. I think this team is tougher than last years, has better team chemistry, and is much more experienced than last years team. All around I would say this team is better, and I fully believe this team that only struggled within its division will continue to play great hockey and hopefully win it all. Can they, sure all 16 teams can win it, will they I sure as hell hope so!

Good read!

Yahoo Rankings: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Avat...o&type=lgns This week's theme go to guy:

Did you know that the team had no different results with Zetterberg out of the lineup? I am not saying the two are any where near close in skill range, just bringing up other interesting facts.

Did any of you catch the April fools joke on there. That would have pissed me off if I heard that only to find out it was an april fools joke!

GS&T, You will notice I am with you on the respecting Burke's ability as I only listed 3 GM's I would put above him. Gainey has done a lot, Lou has done the most with what looks like the least, well except for good ole Marty, and Holland all have done it longer than Burke and that is the only reason I see him being out of the top 3. Had he done this for 7-10 years and a couple of cups than yeah sure he belongs towards the top. I think the Penner deal (right now looks like Burke won) was a good deal for him as I don't think he would have been able to keep Penner, Getzlaf, and Perry. I think he may have overpaid Schneids, but I look like the one who is wrong there, so far. Other than that I think the Bert move was bad but that is the only bad move I can say he made, oh well that and letting Bryz go, but I think that was more of a we can't trade you and don't want to start you we will let you walk.

Am I the only one that thinks Patrick Kane's parents have a fake Birth Certificate saying he is older than he is, like the Anti- Danny Almonte! Edit: Long Day!!!!

After he passes Orr for most all time or even most in a row, then maybe people will start to talk about changing the name, but I seriously doubt the name will change and I realize you were being a little facetious, but I thought I would just let it be known to those that may not know you were taking a little poetic liberty! Edit: Tori Spelling!

I saw that too.

I forgot Malone on my list as well, he would be great to have around here, PK, PP, solid in his own zone, has some offensive upside but I am more impressed with the defensive player he is. Thus making my list Stuart, Rolston, Cheli, Malone

Do any of you remember in the beginning of the season when both the Wings and Sens were tearing the league apart I think it was Keith Jones, maybe Engblom, but one of them said during an intermission that the Sens had a better chance of playing the whole season at that level of play than the wings did because the Wings didn't have the depth and scoring prowess that the Sens had. HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE what a fool!!

Not only do I think they are physical enough, I truly think that this team has the best shot at the cup since 02, if all, especially Drapes and Homer, are healthy by that time. Flip has another year of experience and last years deep playoff run should have given him, Mule, Cleary, Lilja, Meech (If needed), and all of the other youngsters more experience in the playoffs than Crosby will probably have after this, his second, post season. (Please don't take that as a knock on Crosby) Mule is hot right now, Z and D are Z and D, Lids is all world, Ralf is looking really good, the pp is starting to look better, this team is not physical in the sense of fighting, but they play a much grittier style of hockey than we as wings fans have seen in a long while. I think it was this thread where I read that The 02 team was more physical than this team and I beg to differ drastically. Hull, Luc, Igor, Stevie, Homer, Dandy, Duschesne, Olausson, Slegr, Dats, Boyd, Lids, J-Willy, Kuznetsov, Those are not exactly names that will forever be remembered as hitters first.

I truly think that the wings have the ability to put three threatening lines out on the ice and one very good checking(Read as grind) line. Z-D-H Cleary Flip Mule Grind line (Mac/Drake whomever on the other wing with Malts Draper) Kopecky Huds Sammy Giving this line 10 or so minutes would be enough for them, but superman54 brings up an interesting point about confidence, it is no coincidence that Huds confidence follows the flow of his minutes, he is a young kid and to him minutes is a direct correlation with what his coach thinks of him. I still think his best linemate on this current roster would be dats, but I don't think we will see a: Huds Dats Cleary/Franzen/Homer line anytime soon. And I truly think size has nothing to do with his abilities on the ice, that is just another reason for people to dog on a red wing player that doesn't have 100pims and 10 fights. EDIT: Downey would be in the Drake/Mac mix but in my haste I forgot to put him in the grouping, but unless a team really starts taking liberties with the forwards and Mac/Drake don't step up, that is the only way Downey sees post season Ice time! But back to the topic: THE MULE, THE MULE, THE MULE IS ON FIRE, WE DON'T WANT NO WATER LET THE FOTHER MUCKER BURN!!!!!!

ummm how is Brett Hull number 8. Holland's winning % .670, I will give THN Big Lou, the man has more cups and a 22-14 playoff record. But Burke with 1 cup, .543 W% is the best, while Wilson sits at 9 behind Hullie, Poile. As a whole this article is crap (IMO)! And that has nothing to do with being a homer and saying Holland should be the bestest OMGASASDFASHDJKHASJKLDH or whatever else. I can agree that Holland belongs in the top 3 but Burke as #1 over Lamoreillo and Gainey and Holland doesn't make sense to me.

Rolston, Stuart, Cheli,

T. Prince skating now that would make for a great Youtube video!!!

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=233227&hubname=nhl Looks like the kid will see some ice this season! So after reading the article it looks like the Yotes will have all 3 first round picks from 05-06-07 (Hanzel-Mueller-Turris) on the roster!

I am reading the book by Kevin Allen, What it means to be a Red Wing. I couldn't help but notice there is no Gordie Howe, I got through the Sixties, didn't see his name, thought well that is odd, so I took a peek at the ToC and couldn't find his name anywhere. Does anyone know why Gordie didn't participate in the book? Was it because of his book? BTW, so far the book is a good read, I love reading what some of the old timers had to say about Adams breaking up the team the year after the cup, 9 players were traded away!! For those of you who appreciate what we are witnessing now, it is a good read because it talks about winning all the cups and then the break up of the team, and how all of the chemistry was gone. Makes you hope Holland and Co. are history buffs and try not to repeat that disaster!

Sportsmanship is one of the biggest problems in the game right now, very few players have any respect for each other any more. I started a thread about "What it means to be a Red Wing" and I will reference it here again because I am reading it and it is fresh in my mind. A lot of the players in that book talk about hating a guy off the ice but on the ice was different, I can't remember who it was from the 50's that was saying he used to go up against Richard and if Richard had a chance to nail a guy, but the puck was gone he used to just say something as he skated by or would tap them on the top of the head with their stick just to let guys know he could have really hurt them. But he would also do it with a smile or while laughing because he had respect for the guys. Now had the guy had the puck still in his possession he probably would have got creamed. The other thing that they mention in the book is that back then there was no such thing as an enforcer, if you couldn't stick up for yourself, you were in the minors, if you couldn't play defense, you were in the minors. The wings were one of the few teams associated with minor/junior league clubs, so they had a lot more depth than other teams, and if you didn't fit Adams style you were gone! What makes that worse is he was the GM not the coach!

Never gonna give you up!! OH sorry, I guess that was supposed to be an April fools joke not a wings warm up song suggestion!

Word of advice if I can, I stopped telling people (well it became yelling at people) about Z's contract date (I originally thought they could talk to him 1/1 of the year before his deal was up, so I too was once misguided) Miller's UFA status and other contract issues, because people just don't get it or care. You can send them links to rules and NHLnumbers all you want, some people don't get it. Not saying the person in this case is like them, but I see you trying to help others and spread a little knowledge, but some times it spreads like cement not Butter!

[sarcasm] Because you know nothing, all Holland has to do is call another teams GM, tell them who he wants and what he is willing to give them and they just hand over the player![/sarcasm]

I would like to see Franzen on the second line when Homer is back. Z-D-H Cleary Flip Franzen Maltby- Draper-Drake/Mac/Sammy Kopecky-Huds- Sammy/Mac/Downey

I am not sure how many remember this but Bryz won the first three games of the Min series last year. Sure they won 4-1, but not on Jiggy's watch.

GREAT LINE!!! I think what makes them great is that they have very similar skill sets. Z is a very good stickhandler, Dats is an unreal stickhandler, Dats is a very good defensive player, Z is a great defensive player, both have great wristshots, and pretty quick releases (I would give Dats the slight upper hand here). Yet they have slight differences that make it great to put them on the same line, Dats is an unbelievable passer, Z has a fantastic one timer, Great combo. Both are very good on the PK, I think the reason Z gets more time is that Dats is a better playmaker/setup man. So on the shift after the PK Babcock can send Dats out with almost anyone and as long as they don't have hands of stone they stand a chance to get a decent shot off. I don't think the move is based on one being that much greater than the other on the PK, I just think it is a way to possibly steal some momentum after a PK, then have Dats create some offense. I have never really compared them before I think they are great compliments for each other and are both great players. I hope that as they go through their prime they could be the next Stevie and Shanny. Only they will have played together longer and will hopefully have better chemistry!!