Opie

I love Helmer's quote: Linky

Strawman arguments? I told you I was being sarcastic??? Read much?

Dwarfism, in medicine, is the condition of being undersized, or less than 127 cm (50 inches) in height. The term midget is usually applied to physically well-proportioned dwarfs. Hudler is taller than 50 inches as 50 inches = 4'2 (50 /12 = 4 remainder 2 inches), therefore no he is not. (although I doubt he is the listed 5'9) But as I said haterz gonna hate. You are 6'2 yet have how many NHL, KHL, Czech Team goals do you have? mmmm is height really what makes great hockey players? Or is it the Bow Leggedness that was rumored long ago (not sure if you have ever heard the expression show me a bow legged french man and I will show you a hockey player.) Either way I am still having a hard time correlating height to NHL skill level, as Chara is the tallest guy in the league but has no Hart trophies, and even gets beaten out yearly in an award designed specifically for him to compete against only people of his position, well if he is the tallest in the league than with out a doubt he must be the tallest D-man, surely he must be the best. How much taller than Hudler is Crosby? Is that what makes the talent gap difference, the 2 inches (probably 3) is the reason why Crosby is so much greater than Hudler. And guys like Theo Fluery have proven sizes matters for little more than an attribute in Hockey. So I ask why does his size matter other than it gives you something to criticize. He takes a licking and keeps on ticking. How many times has he been lit up at center ice only to never miss a shift. AH that's it! The fact that he is a midget and has different bone structure than the rest of us and that explains it, so you weren't hating. I had it all wrong you trying to show us all that being a midget was a bonus! Silly me! PS most of this is me being sarcastic you are just hating for the sake of hating.

Beauty of a hit, probably states evidence #1 of reasons why pads should be softened, and definitely a great training tool. On how to hit, and how not to get hit. Sutton was text book, well right up until he went through the Sin Bin Door. (BTW what was up with the doors at that game, two or three times players went through them. ONe I think the Zamboni guys opened on the Sens player. Leopold, as much as you hate to blame a guy when he gets hurt, was at fault. Sure the back check was on, but from the minute he left his own zone until he went to sleep he was looking at the puck, hockey is not the game for you if you have to focus really hard on one object at a time. As there are usually 5 objects looking to take you away from the puck.

Everyone who has referred to Hudler as a midget please post your real height. As it is right now I envision a lot of 12 year olds calling him a midget and in fact are only about 4'8 themselves. As many players in much tougher eras have proven size does not matter in the NHL, it is heart and work ethic. Does Size help, sure so doesn't speed, quickness, and scrappyness. He made it clear from the start that he only wanted to play in the NHL for the Red Wings, when it looked like they could not afford him (which they couldn't) he and his agent decided on KHL, and Holland knew all about the whole plan. Those of you calling him a trader do realize that if he had not gone to arbitration before going to the KHL this situation would be a lot messier. Also the fact that he did it with Hollands blessing. But you know what, haterz gonna hate!

Again, Nabby should have had that one!

I would think Ritola would land a 3rd line gig in Pho, LA, Nas, Mon(probably 4th), Bos(4th again), Van (4th) probably a couple of others as well. I could see Janik as a#6 guy on most teams. There are a few guys I could see on other rosters. As mentioned above Kindl as well, maybe Tatar with the hot year he had on one of the bottom 2 or 3 of each conference. If he were in the Nas org and playing the way he did this year I bet they would have brought him up. Most teams not named Det would have given that kid a shot this year. Not saying all would be as successful as Abdelkader in those roles, but I could see them happening.

I would love to say that Abs spells the end of Williams in Detroit but this cat is like a boomerang, he always comes back to Detroit. I think Ken Holland has a twitch or tick or something that as soon as he sees Willy available he can not nay he must not refuse he has to sign him, and then get rid of him first chance he gets. Then the next time Willy is available, boom Holland's illness kicks in again and Willy is in the Winged Wheel, and just when I thought it was safe.

Abby provides the energy this team needs, his hitting, all around tenacious play in all zones, good to see him score, but that was the last thing I was looking for from him. Although based on his post season history I guess I should have expected it.

jollymania, my thoughts exactly, why white out your home arena when your team is Red? Wouldn't you wear red in support of them, seeing as every teams road jersey is a majority white! Funny s***! They should just focus on showing up!

Carman no offense as that post was spot on but when you said: I had to think what goal of his you were talking about, that to me says wrong answer my man. I still am not sure what goal you mean, but I assume you mean the Olympic gold medal goal, which is not even close to the Miracle goal. You need to let this anti-Crosby poster hate go man, if some one can not recognize the talent that he is, at age 22 (more impressive) than are they really worth it, to me that says they know jack s*** about hockey. Trying to make his goals greater than they are is really not helping your cause. Some people will never forgive him for the fact that the NHL made him the face of the league, yeah you read that right, they blame Sid for the LEAGUE putting his face all over the place, like if they were in his shoes they would have said "Oh Hell no, that would make me a sell out" or whatever other crap they call him.

Wings could face off against the 80's oilers for all I care if it is the SCF! 3 scf in a row, 4 wcf in a row. That would make a happy Opie, even in loss, that is f-ing unreal!

what do YOU mean YOU people! Sorry couldn't resist. I know it was a known joke but I had to.

seriously the only team that we won't hear the empty seat argument from all playoff series long. As I doubt the yote fan will show up to this forum.

1. Howard 1.A Zetterberg (He is money in the playoffs) 2. Datsyuk 2.A Mule (He is money in the playoffs) Sleeper: Cleary!

I actually think this will be a great primer for J-Ho and the Wings in general. The Yotes are tenacious this year, work hard as hell for everything they get. The problem a stated is top shelf talent to get the money goals, the clutch scoring is definitely missing and the Wings have it in spades. I think the Yotes will put a lot of pressure on Howard but with the lack of scoring punch I see the Wings handling it and Howard has an easier time with the first round than say if they faced Vancouver which has a potent offense, and natural goal scorers as well as clutch goals scorers. Plus Sammy always manages something in the post season! All in all I could not be happy with the way the Season worked out (given the place the Wings were in a month and a half ago) and the post season match up, for me is like last years first round match up. Hard working talented team riding a really hot netminder. The difference the BJ's had Nash, and the Wings were a different team last year. Good warm up round for the Wings, they are already playing post season style hockey.

They are all HOFers? Are you sure, Cam Ward is going to the Hall, Really? Or is it the fact that so few rookie netminders ever actually get a shot at the cup. A hot goalie is a hot goalie, until cooled off. Scoring may become much more difficult in the post season, but goaltending it self is pretty much the same beast (says some one who can not even imagine what playing in the NHL would be like). I know the last rook to win it before Ward was Roy, but my question would be how many rookies actually make it to the SCF? I have as much confidence in J-ho as I would in any of the following: Nabakov (2nd round and beyond, please.) Luongo (Last year's melt down has me nervous of him this year) Bryzgalov (Played behind a very very good ducks team that this Yotes team does not compare to.) -Quick (just as young, has never looked as good a Howard has) Huet/Neimi (One is a sieve one is untested) -Anderson (unproven) -Rinne (unproven) -Howard (unproven Calder candidate and potential Vezina talk.) To me the only real netminders more proven than him this year in the west are Nabby and Lou, who have had history of either the team of them falling apart in front of them, or themselves falling apart. - to me means these four are about as even as you can be going into the post season.

no offense to Carman and Mindfly, but their posts are nothing close to Sir Drake classics. The man was to Cheli posts what BlueAdams is to line posts! Pure hilarity!

Yeah if I were forced to bet on the games I would say Wings, Hawks, Kings, and Sharks would be the winners. I see both Detroit and LA upsetting their opponents. I just don't think Van is built for playoff hockey, and Nas just doesn't have the offense. LA is young and hungry, the Avs are just not good enough to beat the choke artists, that will happen in the second round. Thus Wings Kings in the WCF. From there I got Wings. But then again I would have them winning the cup, I am after all a Wing fan!

Final regular season stats for Jimmy Howard: GP 62 (12th) GS 60 (13th) W 36 (9th) L 15 OTL 10 EN 3 GA 139 (19th most) GAA 2.27 (5th) SA 1820 SV 1681 SV% .924 (4th) SO 3 (24th) Please correct any mistakes in my counting!

Stuart has been rock solid in Detroit, imho you could not ask for a better 3-4 pairing in the league. Stuart and Kronwall were fantastic this year, there was a time when Stuart was the best wing on the ice for games, well him and J-Ho.

Not sure if any of you saw this today but all the hockey news around here is about the B's scoring 3 shorthanders in 64 seconds.

Funny the B's and Caps are now on NBC? Yet that game has no playoff implications. The only spot in question is the 8th. The Wings and Kings games could affect 3-4 teams. I understand the Caps are hot and AO is a star of the league, but to pull the Wings Hawks (not to mention the history here) for B's Caps. Meh not super happy with that call. Maybe my local game was always the B's and I never looked before today? I am in NH.

Thanks for the post, great read. I still contest that Ozzie is the best possible back up for a youngster in the league, even with any current starter. He has a small enough ego to step aside, he has seen and heard everything a netminder in Detroit will ever hear, from the cheers to all the boos and slander. He has done it with Detroit, he knows exactly what J-ho is going to face, from fans to media to opposing players. Plus he is about the cheapest option out there that you wouldn't be scared if he had to start due to injury or fatigue (next season I am talking about.) The way he talks about taking Howard to dinner and the movies to help him stay mentally relaxed. That article to me was as much of a compliment to Ozzie as anything we have seen all year. I am a huge J-ho fan, but this article to me says a lot more about Osgood than J-Ho. Sure it was a good history lesson on Jimmy, but it speaks volumes about Ozzie.

Ok so you pointed out the 3 losses that you didn't like, but you post reads like every other game was 5-4 win. Barely able to pull it out when it counts. What should be more important is the 15, you know the number that got them into the playoffs. You act like just weeks ago the Wings weren't out of the playoffs. It is not like the were in first all year and the 3 losses you mentioned were what put the Wings in 5th. Weeks ago people were counting the Wings out and now very few teams want to face them. How even you can spin the 15-3-2 that put this team in the postseason, and has been played like post season hockey (close games tough to score in), yet here we are with you and your constant drivel of how bad things are. But in reality they are about 10 x's better than a month and a half ago. But in reality all I did was feed the troll, so I guess I am as bad as you.