Zeowingsfan

Congrats to Jimmy on getting his first playoff shutout, he played much better tonight and so did the whole team. Jimmy showed that he can handle the pressure of the playoffs it just took a few games for him to get used to it and he bounced back from last game. Also something else that I found out, it has been 16 years to this day since the last time a Wings rookie goalie got a shutout in the playoffs which was a 4-0 win over the sharks in the second Wings home game of that series. I'm going to guess that most people will know who that goalie is.

It's a blueadams line combo thread, you never know what lines he will make up. He wanted to replace Miller with Abdelkader in a previous thread.

the 5.75 is over the 2 years.

Another Blueadams line thread so drink up. To be serious Hudler can only make what arbitration gave him which is 2 years at 5.75 millon. All RFAs get a raise in their next contract (I'm not sure what the minimum amount is) so Eaves will be making more that 500k, and Abdelkader is a RFA.

If you ever took time to read posts you would have realized that Doc was never against Howard.

We would still have be on the hook for Drapers cap hit next season if he retires or not.

SJS/COL: 4-1 CHI/NSH: 4-2 VAN/LAK: 4-3 PHX/DET: 4-2 WAS/MTL: 4-1 NJD/PHI: 4-3 BUF/BOS: 4-2 PIT/OTT: 4-1 WC Champion: Detroit EC Champion: Washington SCF Champion: Detroit

Excellent post, this is what was needed to be said.

This has nothing to do with having a determined starter and backup, this is to make sure BOTH goalies are warm in case of something happening like Howard getting hurt or him pulling a Legace.

He has been a bright spot this season and is right up there with top veteran goalies in his stats. He changed a lot of peoples thoughts from the start of the season with his strong consistent play. To me he is the one who should win the Calder and should get into the top 3 in Vezina voting.

As wing1110 has stated, he congratulates him after everyone else does.

The goal of this game was to rest Howard and to give Osgood a start. Obviously the first goal was really soft, but he showed improvement as the game went on when he started getting into a groove. I would like him to get another start to give Howard a little bit more rest, and hopefully next game the whole team will play for the entire game. If they play like they did today in the playoffs then we could see an early exit.

While thinking on this topic I realized that there is in fact a way for Osgood to take the starting job. All he needs to do is input iddqd and the job will be his.

Except the years he played with the Islanders and Blues, they were not powerhouse teams and he still helped them to the playoffs. Osgood got the job done in those years and he helped us to the playoffs in 97 by playing most of the games, and won as a starter in 98. He's never going to be remembered outside of Detroit, but he played great during the 2008 cup run and in last years playoffs he would have been right up there to get the Conn Smythe had we won. Which would have been amazing to see after a bad regular season. Also if there is only one reason why I believe Howard will not falter mentally in the playoffs and why he will not have a horrible sophomore season like many second year players do is because Osgood is mentoring him. Do I think Osgood will take the starting job back from him, no I don't and I am an Osgood fan. Really I just want him to hit 400+ wins and retire as a Wing with his name on the cup again. Next season I hope Osgood can get more games and play like he is truly able to and force Jimmy to be even better then he is this year to keep the starting job. Like I said in my last post it's good to see him play again and I hope he has a good game and gets the win to help the team get farther up in the standings, and removing the rust from him is more to have both goalies warm as insurance. All things aside, the playoffs are a different beast and I wouldn't be surprised if the team we play in the first round starts taking runs at Howard so it's best for Babcock to be prepared if something happens to him. Osgood getting games now is more about letting Howard have a few nights off for well deserved rest before the playoffs and getting Osgood ready if he has to be called upon.

I don`t remember him being here during the playoffs, obviously his internet must of stopped working. Also it`s good to see Osgood get the start, he needs to play a few games to at least have the rust gone if something happens that forces him to be our number one goalie again. Besides you would have to be crazy to think that Howard is not our starter for the playoffs and I hope his level of play keeps improving, but we need to have both goalies warm for the start of the playoffs to be as insurance. It's better to be safe in this case.

All I want to add is 1961.

Where is Jake, haven't seen him in awhile.

Thornton

Not going to be long until the first anti-Osgood thread. Also, why is our defence so sloppy?

Parise

I have to go with Kovalchuck

Edit: Found out myself

I'm laughing at those people that think Cleary shouldn't be at the camp.