Opie

Draper who was, you know, there, and is a you know 14 year veteran and assistant captain, seemed to think it was Downey's fault and avoidable, but he was only able to see it seeing as Fil's back was you know, turned at the time he couldn't see anything. So because last year he took no penalties of that nature he automatically couldn't do it? Weird logic. Did he do it on purpose, NO, should he have done it, NO!

Competency is proven, what has McClellan proven, he has proven to be a competent Assistant coach, and shown he has hockey intellect. Wilson as crappy as he was in the playoffs was/is way more competent and way more proven than McClellan. So before we go giving San Jose credit for having a competent coach, lets have him prove it!

The above quote from Tool is quite to the point here. Let me tell you why this board is so hypocritical. 1. As stated by many others, if Sammy had done this, this thread would be 10 pages long by now with how useless he is, much like after he accidentally broke Cleary's jaw, but got s*** on for months about it, like he did it on purpose. Also included in the list of players that could have done this and sent the board into complete and utter upheaval: Lebda Lilja Kopecky Hudler 2. And this is where the quote comes in, if Flip had a busted nose, jaw, wrist, arm, hand, neck would you all say, meh Downey was just playing hard, trying to earn a spot. I hope not, Draper's reaction was perfect, he bitched Downey out, there is no reason, I repeat no reason to hit a guy from behind in a scrimmage, let alone a teammate. There is even less reason to do it in the regular season. What was Downey trying to show, that he could board some one. Yeah Randy Jones thought his hit on Bergeron was bad timing too. Why exactly would you practice that hit. OH he wasn't he just had a brain fart, problem is he is on the Red Wings and brain farts are usually met with a teammates criticism unless you have earned the right to let one slide. Lets play a fun little game, you can do it on your side of the keyboard and no one needs to know your answers. Hypothetically lets say he hit Z, Hossa, Dats, Mule, Ralf, Kronner, or Lids, think to yourself is everything still ok. Now do I think Downey did it on purpose, NO, I think he is worried he has no spot on this team if D-mac shows he can throw and show any sign of offensive ability. Downey is working extra hard to make the team, because he knows he very well could be in GR for most of the season. Draper, Downey, Flip all handled this correctly, Draper as an 'A' should have spoke up, should have bitched Downey out. Downey appologized, I didn't hear it but I am sure it was sincere, Fil accepted the apology and they are all moving on. This is an inter-squad scrimmage, injuries happening from guys getting skates tangled up or other unavoidables is one thing, but losing Fil* because Downey was overzealous and delivered a bad hit, even if it is another team not a teammate, is avoidable and Downey should have known to let up. * I know he is not lost, but that type of hit is bad news and can lead to seasons being lost. Those are the exact hits Downey is out there to exact punishment for, not deliver to his own teammates. To me a hit into the numbers against the boards is worse than Lappy's hit on Lids!

Well at least they are not pink and they are not popped!

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ahsp...p&type=lgns Selanne signs try out contract.

I doubt it, according to NHLnumbers.com they are already at $61 mil.

I love that the team is saying the same thing most of this board is, Enough of this stuff, let's get playing!!!!!!!!

Sorry bad symantics, I bought 5 different Jerseys: Zetterberg Jersey $22.13 Ronaldo Jersey $9.03 Garnett Jersey $13.11 Dice K Jersey $14.12 Maroney Jersey $15.23 But I bet if you could find two others on here interested in the Z jersey you could do a bulk order of 3 with free shipping and then do a drop shipping or if you really trust the people in on it with you send it to one place and then ship it within the country which would be cheaper than from China.

How is this any different from last season, other than the fact it is two part time enforcers/fighters. Last year it was Downey in and out based on injuries, what did he do from the press box on the games he didn't play? Babs seem to fit Downey in fine last year and I assume it will be the same situation he will have 1 enforcer/fighter up at all times and use it when he needs to, the difference is that once in a while the name will change.

You're right HE can't say that, but again that is what makes him Stevie Y, other players (not even assholes or arrogant players) would have said, "you know maybe it is me, but I think it is out of respect!" But not Stevie, he must have some ego problems or something, this guy is way too humble!! But that is just part of his greatness and legend.

That would be because I ordered 5 jerseys and had them shipped for about as much as one Jersey through NHL.com would have cost me to have shipped. I am about $160 deep with 5 jerseys shipped, insured shipping, granted I took the standard shipping, but the point remains the same!

Typical Stevie Y: NO Stevie it is you, you are a legend, you are what they hope to one day be, it is you!

I would love to see Schneids in LA or Phx for that matter. Maybe he finishes his career in LA, not his first team but a team he spend a decent chunk of time with.

To me the funniest part is that wasn't Ana one of those orgs with a "Self-imposed" cap? Now Burke has them strung up against the real cap which I would have to guess is no where near the "Self Imposed" number the org drew up. The way he is handling the Ducks I hope his wife handles the checkbook otherwise this dude will be broke as soon as he leaves Toronto, in worse shape than they are now, in 4 years!

I have said it a bunch this offseason, but it bares repeating, Downey is the perfect fighter for this organization. He has the Red Wing team first philosophy, he doesn't fight unnecessary battles, when was the last time he dropped the gloves at the dot for no reason whatsoever!

WOW, No one took him off of waivers. The few takers there are at this point must realize it is only them and they are all holding out for the best offer, which would mean taking him on re-entry waivers. OR... Burke's mouth has pissed off enough people that they are really going to stick it to him. But in a cap world if you have the option of waiting for re-entry waivers, and you are relatively certain he will be there why not wait. Especially this late in the offseason where most rosters are full. I just feel bad for Schnieds, great offensive defenseman, cheap compared to say Finger or others.

That is good to hear. You always fear athletes will risk their own health or their family strength for sports, it is good to see his head is on right!

I ordered the Z one 3 days ago!!!!

OK got a little carried away, I just order: Ronaldo Jersey $9.03 Garnett Jersey $13.11 Dice K Jersey $14.12 Maroney Jersey $15.23 The shipping was more than the total cost of my Jerseys, shipping was like $55.00. Thank god for Paypal or I would not have bought jack s*** from these guys.

I agree I think the best case scenario would be Leino taking minutes on the 4th line due to injuries or resting others. If anything bumps Sammy it will be a salary dump. Leino, Abdelkader, Helm, Kopecky will all be fighting in camp for 4th line minutes which will be centered by Draper, so at this point it would have to be a player who can play wing that would be on the 4th line. They would have to be as sound defensively as Maltby to take minutes away form him, yet have some offensive upside, I don't see Babs benching Malts because he and some one else are a tie for what they bring to the 4th line. The other wing will be Downey, D-mac, then the 4 youngsters competing. The signing of Hossa created a log jam at forward. Just like the D, there are many prospects who can and have played with the club. IF (not saying it will happen) Holland can trade both Lilja and Sammy together for a good prospect or picks that could move one of the youngsters in sooner, but I doubt it will happen. WOW it is great being a fan of a team where there are talented players waiting to sign with your team and then you add to the fact that they have youth throughout the org that appears NHL caliber. Sorry Duck guy, I feel for you still!

Yeah what he said!!!

OK so we all know what Lids is, he is an ice time eater, a plus/minus destroyer, he is the ultimate D-man. However, look at what happened to Ralf's stats. Sure his minutes dropped a little, yet he managed to score the same amount of points (by product of the system change) and his plus minus is through the roof, a +23 change, WOW! He was on one of the most defense first systems in the game, granted no scoring makes it hard to get many pluses. I was stoked when the Wings sign Ralf, I thought he would be a comparable replacement for Schneids, he was that and more. I love the reason the author gives for Ralf's +/- :

The one and only reason I am getting a Jersey this year, is that theman19 posted those pics. At first I was laughing at the people buying these, thinking you are going to get screwed. After seeing those pics I had to get one, sent the link to my buddy, now I may even get other jerserys from them $17 for an NBA Jersey, I think it was $11 for a Ronaldo Man U jersey. Thanks for taking the chance and showing us the glory of this website theman19! And to the original link poster thank you as well, without you guys I wouldn't be sitting here waiting for my new Z jersey complete with Fight strap. When I ordered it there was no SC patch on it, was that the picture on the site when you ordered theman19, or was the patch on the site when you ordered it?

Linky So it appears that according to Detnews Leino wants to stay in Detroit. Some same quotes from the above link but new stuff here. Here is an interesting tidbit that I didn't know, unrelated:

You as a fan care, rightfully so, Burke as a GM who appears headed to Toronto (based purely on rumor) he could give two s***s as long as you keep buying tix, jerseys, beers, etc. DUCKGUY< I for one feel for you my man, you are too loyal. But you can't give up on your team, so I respect you for that, but if Detroit starting doing this after the cup run (instead they do the exact opposite, which would be get better) I would very very very very pissed off!