Opie

Yeah I knew Homer was out, but the way it sounded was that Franzen has been playing really well in that role, and that his play has picked up. Thanks for the info guys.

I agree check the stick like they do pads. If a guy has an illegal stick it doesn't make it to the bench!

Do a nooner and a 6:00??? (Edit: Probably not would want to start the 2nd game by 4 huh?) Maybe?

And Bowman is smiling and Melrose is freaking out!!

For the price Tag Dallas Drake was doing a bang up job, however, IF Mac continues to play with the energy and style he was playing with in GR he should and by all rights probably will take over for Drake. But please don't confuse that with me saying I hate Drake or he deserves to be benched.

That was all I needed to hear!

Ok so I came from Rural Maine, things that we do in rural Maine don't exactly fly in NY city, but because of where I am from and what I have gone through in my life I don't have to live by the rules of where I now live. Because he came from a tough environment does not mean that he can disobey the rules!

No actually it won't, because if a player is squared with him and ready to go, he cross checks them in the face. If the player expects the crap from Tootoo and tries to get an early advantage as soon as he touches Tootoo he goes down like a European soccer player. He is a POS and that is all there is to be said about that. He wouldn't have lasted a day in the late 80's early 90's. His teammates would have beat the s*** out of him, let alone the other team!

You mean he wasn't cheaper, huh no way, that would mean that maybe it wasn't Holland's fault that Markov is in Russia not on the first d Pairing? Surely you jest!

Your avatar is probably what Ralf looked like in the looker room after the game, running around screaming YEAH B1TCH3S!!!!!!!!!!

No seriously, that is a great idea! I am 100% behind that idea, that has to be the best All star game idea since the Slam Dunk was invented. Now the slam dunk contest sucks but that is ok. Screw the World vs NA, or Champs vs League ideas. Make the whole weekend an outdoor event, and you know where I do it... That's right... LAKE PLACID!!!!! At least the first year.

Yeah I know Meech is better now, I don't think it blasphemy, and I have also been a supporter of Lilja on this board. What makes me think that Ericsson will be fine is the comfort level he has displayed out there. I don't usually jump onto the hot new commodity train, but if you look at the pairings I put out there, when Kronwall first came to the wings he spent a lot of time at even strength next to lids. Now with that D I proposed you can swap everyone around, however you would probably want to leave Cheli where he is. But you give Lids a big body to bang, like Markov or Kronwal (when they played with him) and I am very happy. I am not saying that if they do this it wouldn't blow up in their face, I was saying that is how I would like to see it. Odds are it will probably go something along the lines of Lids Ralf (The wings really like this) Kron Stuart Cheli Ericsson Meech, Lebda, Quincey I have no problem letting Lilja go as he is a #4 dman at best and Ericsson has the makings of a 2 or 3, could he be a #1, maybe but that is a stretch. Same with Meech, Lebda and Quincey(#4's at best), Don't get me wrong I appreciate what they are doing, but Ericsson looks to have more upside. And you can ask people here I am not a physical play junkie, but even I have to admit that this team needs to get bigger and stronger. Ericsson does that. He may end up a bust and I may regret typing this, but then again he could turn out to be an all star. I just think he brings more to the table than the other three. Edit: Clarity!!

Zetterberg deserves some sort of extra assist on that play. Legace was looking at Z waiting for Ralf to pass. Then bang puck in the back of the net and Legace has no clue!!

If the wings had some one better I would be all for benching him. Right now, for the role he plays the Wings don't have a better player. Is he great, no, is he horrible, no. He just isn't living up to some people's expectations. The one thing I think hurts him in the court of public opinion is that for some one who shoots that much, he doesn't have a ton of tallies. But he does have 26 assists. I would prefer him not on the point for the 2nd pp unit but until the team is healthy that won't happen. Stuart will eventually be the other point on pp 2. But all in all he does not hinder the team, nor does he cost them a game.

ME, no!!! never, not me!!!!

Hey I would take a leave of absence from the panthers! Hell everyone except Anderson already has!!

[sarcasm] Yeah but when is going to stop playing physical?! Obviously Holland and Babcock's message are definitely not getting through to him! [/sarcasm]

I love the announcer in that highlight, he points out that Legace obviously has no clue where the puck is on Ralf's goal. But when Ralf drops his glove, and he says, what is Rafalski doing, I almost peed, then when Ralf dropped the guy I almost spit red bull all over my screen!!

As far as next year's roster (this years as well but this relates more to free agents) I would like to see the following starting pairs Lids Ericsson Ralf Kron Stuart Cheli I would let Lilja go, try to trade either Meech, Quincey, and/or Lebda (as long as it is 2 not 3 of them). That is a damn fine Defense and you could move any of Ericsson, Kron, Stuart around and still have 3 nice pairs. The wings will probably keep lids and Ralf together though.

Part of me wonders if being so big of a fan of Maradona that he waited for a moment to break this out, sort of an in respect of Diego. That would be cool, the cooler part would be that he got away with it.

Den great idea, outdoor all-star game!!!!!!!!! I for one second this idea and think it should be brought to the attention of the league! One Outdoor regular season game, and the all star game!! Get it done kenny 1-800-hansons

As a balding 31 yo male, I say represent Ralf, REPRESENT!!!!!!!! btw anyone know a good place to get my head face shaved!!!

I say do it once every year, people will love it. Once a year in my book is not overkill, I think twice a year would still keep it exciting. It is when it starts to happen every month or 10 times a year that I think it would become overkill.

You are right I just looked it up, for some reason I always thought it was the world cup finals. My B!! Did you see (if you don't follow soccer ignore me) that Messi did the same thing in 07, but he was much sneakier about it!

Yeah that ******* Lebda, last night he had the balls to lay down in front of an open net and block what would have been a rebound goal with Hasek out of position. ******* kid sucks [/sarcasm]