Opie

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=rm-n...o&type=lgns 2. Detroit Red Wings (50-20-6, Previous: 4) – They don’t fool around in Hockeytown. Never mind the franchise has basically turned over from the Steve Yzerman-Brendan Shanahan era to the Pavel Datsyuk-Henrik Zetterberg-led group, the goal and feeling is the same – Stanley Cup Finals or bust.

NOW THAT WE CAN AGREE ON!!!!

I think the only guaranteed spots on D next year belong to Lids, Ralf, and Kronwall. Lebda, Lilja, Ericsson, Meech, Quincey will all depend on what happens with Cheli and Stuart, then the pieces will fall from there. But I really only see the top 3 as secure positions. I must admit I am starting to agree with Eva and others, Ericsson will in all likelihood be in the AHL next year, just because of Waivers.

This is one of those issues that has only two sides to it, there really isn't much gray area, but I wouldn't think you are in too much of a minority here. Earlier in the season there was a thread on this and I would say it was close to 50/50

First off, I agree the 1st unit is far superior to the 2nd, however I don't think replacing the point man would change too much of that. I think if the team wanted two great pp units they would do it this way (again I am not a coach nor would/could I ever be, so this is my opinion): Cleary Dats Homer(franzen) Lids Stuart (Babs would probably put Sammy there) Franzen(Homer) Z Flip Ralf Kronwall Secondly, you lose me with Feds, other than his defensive play which is far superior, he has been worse statistically than everyone's favorite whipping boy Sammy, averaging 2+ minutes more per game. So I see this as a lateral move that would have cost the wings quite a bit to get, especially when he was coming from within the division. However if we are talking about just the 2nd unit pp point I would take Feds over Sammy everyday of the week and 5x on Sunday, that isn't a question. The problem is that the game isn't played in a vacuum and Feds can't just play the point and nothing else.

I love this logic, trade a guy who sucks because no one else in the league knows he sucks it is just your little secret, oh crap you let the cat out of the bag now!! s*** they won't be able to trade him if they wanted to, now everyone knows he sucks.....OR You are exaggerating your point. You do realize that this is not Playstation or Xbox, when a team suggests a trade their isn't a computer that matches overall ratings and says "Yup, these totals are the same, you can trade Lebda, Sammy, Huds, Drake, Maltby, and Draper for Malkin and Crosby" Teams have a position with in their organizations called Scouting, these people are paid to travel around the country, some around the world, to report back the talent and potential a player has, and these people have been given specific sets of guidelines. I have a feeling "The play must not suck" is one of their criteria, and as you so eloquently Lebda Sucks, so therfore how do you propose the Red Wings trade their "Sucky" Player. BTW> I don't think Lebda sucks, I think he is a solid 5-6 d-man with speed, but then again I never expected him to be a #1!

I don't like it at all, winning a division regardless of how tough or easy that division is should be rewarded. This rewards some one for coming in second in their division because another Division winner had a worse record. Second place is first loser, you want to be a higher seed than the other teams that win their division, it is an easy fix, win your division. Keep the conferences separate as well, if the league wants a round robin tourney do it over Christmas break like the High Schools in/near my hometown used to do, or in the preseason.

To tell you the truth that is the only viable reason I can come up with for Sammy being there, he looks very uncomfortable, very unsure, and very nervous back there. What makes it look worse is that the other pp unit has people who are very comfortable, very sure, and not nervous at all back there!! EDIT: Eva- You and me both brother, you and me both!!!!

I would like to see the Ducks go to through CAL, SJS, and Det. Just to see how they fair facing the route the wings did last year. Then I want to see what people's reactions would be if the Ducks lost to either one of those teamsb efore the wings! Edit: clarity!

MMMM adding a lot to the discussion aren't you? Back to the topic at hand, does anyone know what Yzerman's contract with the Org is? How many Years? Is he a ufa(LOL) after the season? I am not worried about the leafs or anyone swooping him up, not that I would blame him for not wanting to wait behind a young (as GM's go) Holland, but just curious about the contract.

This I think should be the point of this thread (not to dog the op) I am just saying the 04/05 draft class would have been sick, most of the 05/06 class would have just finished their rookie season when they actually got drafted! That also would have been J-Ho's first year in the system as he was drafted, planned on leaving Umaine, the lockout happened and J-Ho went on to have his best season, only to lose in the Frozen Final after stopping 8 zillion shots!

egroen, I would have to say that Babs is trying to save him, I think when Cheli refers to not being out there in more offensive situations I think he specifically is referring to pp time. As much as I defend Sammy as a forward you will have noticed the only thing I say about him being on the point is that he does enough to be there and not totally botch it up. The only time I have ever been a fan of a forward on the point was when Det used to do it with Feds and others. But at that time the wings had multiple forwards who could play that spot very well, and yet they had enough forwards that a scorer like Feds could be off of the forward lines and it didn't affect the team. Think of it like as if Z played the point and Flip, Huds, Franzen, or some one was able to play forward with the same results (not skill) as Z. This team doesn't have that abundance of forwards. I personally would like to see Stuart, Cheli, or Lebda back their. Lebda being the last of my choices Stuart being my preference.

I would hesitate to put Michalek on that list, I mean after what Thornton did for Cheechoo, I mean I am pretty sure that if you put me with my tore up knee out there with Thornton I would be lucky enough to have one or two of his passes bounce of me and go in the net. Now I am not saying Michalek couldn't be a star, but I would like to see him do it on the second line, or with out Joe T spoon feeding him. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying Thornton could turn Drake into a 50 goal scorer, I am just saying it helps a lot to have one of the best forwards in the game feeding you the puck.

CERN, You and I are 100% on the same page with the nets. I think that is a horrible idea, but the changes the league is talking about is inches not feet. Your posts make it seem like you think the pads will shrink 8-10 inches a piece or that all of the sudden it will be a soccer net behind the goalie. I am not sure why some of you think that these changes are all of the sudden going to make the average hockey game 10-8. This will probably add 2 goals at most to the ave scoring of a game. We will start to notice inflated offensive stats, a little, but you are talking about shaving 2-4 inches off of the width of their padding, trimming the shoulder pads back down to some where below the ears, chest protectors pulled in somwhere near the ribcage, and pants that would fit some one smaller than Andre the Giant. Now I am not saying some goalies don't have these pads already, Broduer, Conklin (I mention his name simply because the other night I noticed he had really small pads for a young goalie), and others, I am not saying because Jiggy has big pads he will suck with smaller pads either. What I am saying is that their are certain spots (the slot comes to mind) that have disappeared from the game. Z's goal in St. Louis (I believe, the one timer he got from Dats recently) Z had to score on a one timer from a spot that used to be a place where a well aimed wrister was cash money! Now if it isn't a one timer or a rebound you are not scoring from the slot. The reasons for this, inflated goalie gear and MOST IMPACTFUL TEAM DEFENSIVE STYLE! However the league has tried to eliminate the trap, not succesful, the league realizes (I think, no proof) that no matter what rules they make a coach will find a way to stack his D so that the middle of the offensive zone is like rush hour traffic in LA, JAMMED!

It is like mentioning Hasek or Ozzie in a thread, as soon as it is mentioned it takes off, so I was a touch defensive, but I did apologize.

Sorry for not getting your obvious joke (cough) but there are a lot of people on here that post statements like that and believe in their head that it is true.

I am going to warn you, any time you see yourself typing the words expectations please realize that most people on here have unreal expectations of people. For instance Crosby being a bust, or a seventh rounder having any expectations at all. To me if a 7th rounder makes it to the NHL two things have happened (Pay attention Ericsson) the team sucks ass, OR he has exceeded expectations! Zetterberg an exception, not a reason to say that 7th rounders should be what he is, he is the exception that proves the rule.

Yeah especially considering he has played on the first line all year, right I mean it is not like he played on the 2nd or 3rd lines ever, never ever ever! But good point nonetheless!

I am curious if they meant Center Flip or if they meant VP Yzerman. Flip is an RFA after the season and it wouldn't be too far fetched if the wings and him could only agree on a year. I have no idea how long Stevie's contract was or is, though so.

I thought that too, but they don't usually report management jobs unless it is GM or Coach. Plus it said Center not vice president!!

The difference between Nabby and Broduer for me is Joe Thornton, who does Marty have in front of him that comes any where near Thornton's ability?

I think Cleary was a Babcock aided decision. I think Babs said to Holland I need a grinding type forward who can net me some goals, I know this kid can we give him a shot. Not that is how it went down, but Cleary is a rarity, most guys do not rebuild careers. How many guys in the disappointing player thread could have should have been great, including Cleary. Cleary happened to find a good place with a coach that has probably the perfect game approach for him. That my friend is a lot of luck. I mean I wish the best for Bell, I don't know him so I don't wish him to fail, but it is hard to resurrect a career.

I don't really need to see AO go down to know that if WAS lost his 77GP 61G 46A 107PTS +/- 24(On that team wow) 21 PPG 15 PPA 36PPP 23 ATOI They would be screwed!!! The fact he hasn't gotten hurt is a credit to him, and a blessing to WAS. WAS as a team has 225 g AO has over a 1/4 of those goals. I think that team has a ton of potential for the future, Semin, Backstrom, Green, Laich, Flieschman are all showing signs of decent skill to come. But AO has over a 1/4 of the teams goals. Comparatively the wings have 244 g on the season, Zetterberg has 41 of them, now before you go saying he has more talent around him and doesn't have to do as much scoring to make sure his team wins, that is the point. Z has Dats with 31, and 4 others with 19+ goals. AO Has Semin at 23 and then one player at 19. Detroit has almost as many guys with 20 goals as WAS has with double digit goals. Screw ppg this guy is almost a gpg player. NOW after saying that I have the same feeling about him as I did Arod, if his team doesn't make the playoffs it is all for not. I truly believe that in order to be an MVP you have to at least get your team an 8 seed. This guy could be the greatest scorer of all time, but if he doesn't ever make it to the playoffs (his fault of Leonsis' fault) his career will be a grave dissapointment. Edit: Clarity

That is the thing with this team it isn't really a one man show, WAS loses AO they are toast!!!!!!!!!!! Det, it has to be a multitude of injuries, a couple of forwards and the top 4 D will usually hurt any team though, I have to admit!

He is a UFA next Summer!