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Ok I was talking with some guys today(leafs fans...idiots) and got in a pretty big argument and wanted to see what ppl here think. I was talking about how it would be cool if Detroit Chicago and Habs Boston could be both confrence finals and was saying how the habs and bruins are probably one of the bigger rivals going right now and have a great rivalry all time. Of course the idiot leafs fans freaked out talking about how montreal toronto is by far the biggest rivalry of all time and currently as well. I brought up the fact that they've played numerous time the past 10 years in the playoffs with close series and the leafs haven't even been competitive. Anyways since they were all leafs fans they teamed up on me and I wanted to see what you guys thought. So over the last decade who do you guys think have been the bigger rivals? Thats what the poll is for but feel free to post what you think about all time.

Haha sorry man but I've never came across more irrational fans. They somehow think their team is great when they have been in the s***ter for half a decade. Not to mention the boner they have for Kessel and Bozak and how they think "the monster" is better then Howard.

Ok I think I've noticed something about ourw ings this year that I haven't said most years come playoff time. But where is the toughness? Last year by this time Kronwall had about 4 victims, Stuart had absolutely killed Umberger, Helm was a wrecking ball and even Datsyuk was throwing around the body. This year we have Abdelkader playing the body hard and thats it. I think this is a big reason why we're going to a game 7 in a series that should've taken 6 at the most. Thoughts? Oh and just to be clear I'm only talking about gritty, hard hitting hockey. I couldn't care less about fighting in the playoffs.

Anyone watching the montreal game? I haven't seen goaltending like this for a very, very long time. I'm amazed at how hes playing.

You don't think big hits like that have a huge effect on the way the other teams plays the game? Theres voice clips of scottie upshall saying note to self don't cut across the middle with Kronwall out there because he just got done hitting him. Big hits make guys get the puck off their stick a little faster and make a play with less thinking time. I guarantee Umberger almost getting his head taken off made his team think twice while Stuart was on the ice, and I doubt it would've happened if Stuart just separated him from the puck

No thats not how you wear a team down over the course of a 7 game series though. Kronwall and Stuart used to always have guys coughing up the puck at the blue line scared of them coming. They haven't done any of that this year. In the playoffs you hit (cleanly) to hurt and make ppl not wanna touch the puck again. Abdelkader is the only one doing it this year. Can anyone think of a big hit that was made this round besides by Abdelkader?

He might be but ahit for the NHL is using the body to seperate a guy from the puck. Last year he seemed like he had a big hit once a period, this year he's looked like he's trying to play a more skilled game almost.

Savard is back next round as well. Should help them out.

I tihnk Detroit has the perfect opportunity to rebuild the grind line right now. Helm, Abdelkader and throw in one tough guy that can play and you have it back. A line like that could be so effective against other teams defenseman.

I agree, the wings and philly have a common denominator and its tough d. Both teams have very strong defense which is probably what makes them most play off built. Detroit is built extremely skilled but if they had a balance they would be better. Philly seems to have a bit less skill but are far and away much grittier and play with more heart. If they had another skill guy in their top 6 they would probably win the cup this year.

I see your point of signing guys with offensive upside but there isn't alot of third line type players with offensive upseide that we might be able to get cheap. Asham played with giroux and Van reimsdyk all year, thats a pretty solid line and it shows he can keep up and everything. We were talking about how it was sweet that May could make a break out pass this year. Imagine if we had a tougher guy who could score 25 next year. I still think Asham is a perfect third line guy.

Yeah but why do you take a gamble on a guy with more upside when you know what you're going to get and its going to be a solid third liner. The offensive upside isn't huge for a third line player. If you take a risk on one of those guys they might score 10 points more then Asham but really whats 10 points? The toughness and the energy through huge hits Asham would provide would balance it out. You take a gamble on someone like that and they could end up invisible like Williams but you get Asham you know youre going to get a hard hitting, punishing player that can play the game. You don't have to sign risky players every off season if you can get the chance to fill a void with an already established player. The way I look at it you can maybe get an extra 10 points out of your third line if your risk pans out or you can end up with jason williams all over again if you take the types of guys you mentioned. If you sign Asham you get a consistent 20-25 point scorer that is a huge hitter and tough as nails. Although I wouldn't mind taking a risk on Pyatt

My image of europeans as a whole is generally correct though. Most european nations put more emphasis on skill and thats why there are very few tough europeans. Okay maybe finland is different but there are still how many european nations that for the most part put emphasis on skill and less on toughness. Its just a different development style. Do you really think Taylor Pyatt is going to provide more to this team then Asham would? Pyatt is supposed to be a power forward but Asham is much more efficient physically. Sean Bergenheim really? A small guy(from finland of course hes a better fit) who put up the same amount of points as Asham without the toughness but he's still somehow a better fit? Cal clutterbuck is a classless little s*** head that is no better then Steve Ott, Asham is a tougher version of Clutterbuck essentially and John Mitchell just no. I live near TO and watch him play all the time. Asham plays on the third line in Philly, he's not an enforcer, he can throw bombs with heavyweights but he's a lot like Chris Neil. Asham is tough and has as many points this year as most of the guys you mentioned. Really the only one that might be a better fit is Clutterbuck because he is so hard to play against and Abdelkader with him would drive other teams mad. A 3rd line isn't a scoring line, its a grind line. Detroit was lucky the last couple years they had underpaid scorers that could play third line but they aren't that fortunate anymore.

No its not racist at all its fact. The way europeans are brought up to play the game has no emphasis on hitting and body checking whereas a lot of focus is put on it in North American hockey. Say what you want about being a racist but its fact. I for one think that a guy with the same scoring ability but is tougher will win 10 times out of 10. When you have 2 skilled teams playing eachother the tougher one almost always comes out on top. So tell me why exactly Asham would be a 4th liner on the wings? He had more points then Patrick Eaves who everyone here loves on the third line and also put up over 100 pims. He put up the same amount of points as Helm who is also loved here. He also put up more points then Draper. So our third line this year, he put up more points then 2 of them and the same amount as another and for some reason he would be a 4th liner here? Let me guess its because he fights so he would be a useless goon on this team.

I looked into it a little bit and fonud some guys who I think could be great fits on the third line especially now that our third line seems to be moving towards a more physical approach to the game. In order of who I would want. Eric Nystrom Brad Winchester Aaron Asham Jim Slater Matt Hendricks - hes young at 27 and is really making a name for himself in Colly as a tough player but he can put the puck in the net as well. I picked guys who can play physical and still play the game to go along with our recent addition of a s*** disturbor in Abby. And of course Clarkson or Armsrong as well would be great fits.

Whats nonsense about it? Who would you plug into a 3rd line roll that is a free agent this year? I don't see any great suggestions from you, let me guess you would rather have Leino in there or something?

This would be a good spot for Colby Armstrong or if Jersey is going for a shake up and we can get him, David Clarkson.

I'm sure if Bertuzzi was playing in a far away country on a team that just folded, he would say he is coming back too. They haven't resigned Lidstrom so does that mean Hudler is higher priority then him just because he hasn't resiged yet? No it means they are actually on our team now so they'll have to wait for playoffs to be done just like every year. Oh and the wings have never had an identity as a soft team really. Oly the last like 4 years and they are shifting towards a less skilled, grittier game and tougher game on the bottom lines already so it shows that Kenny is already moving away from small europeans.

Kenny obviously also wants Bert back, how do you know what Kennys priorities are? Oh but wait he's a small euro something that you love on this team so you assume he's first priority.

Gotta love someone that can send a message. If we had two abdelakders on this team the face of this team would be so different. Abdelkader hits like a train, fights(starting this season, so he'll get better) and I tihnk has shown that he's gonna be a legit top 6 winger. If we had him and a guy like Drake or an enforcer in the bottom 6 this team would be alot harder to play against. I'm glad to see someone on this team doesn't take losing lying down.

The way Kenny treats his players and is always great to them and Hudler knew he was in a tough spot and could've signed for a bit cheaper without handcuffing Kenny was a bit of a dick move at the least. It wouldn't surprise me if Kenny was a bit less loyal then usual to Hudler in the future. Ditching for tax free money changes nothing, he was in the wings plans, they developed him and made a name for him on their team. Then Huds decides he's worth more and as soon as his team he went too gets in money trouble, he comes crying back. That doesn't exactly scream loyal.

He's never came close to that many points and Bert doesn't throw the body much but he's great down low and around the net, something caused by his size. Hudler doesn't have that so you should expect to see him back on the third line and PP next year.

Chara is a beast. Hits, fights, scores and plays shutdown D. He had an off season this year but last year he for sure deserved it.

Yeah it doesn't matter if the point of the rule was to stop Boogard from pounding someones head in or to stop datsyuk from pounding someones head in. It should either be enforced for everyone or not be a rule. Enforcers should be allowed to do the same stuff at the end of games as the stars. Why does it matter if its Malkin or Colton Orr sending the message?

He was at least 2 feet outta the crease. Nothing wrong with that goal,