Doc Holliday

Yes, that's exactly what I said. I didn't miss it at all. You made the assertion that Datsyuk and Zetterberg were not injured by cheapshots because they are able to avoid attempted ones. That is just plain ridiculous.

I'm sorry, at least I don't assume that because a certain player was not affected by a cheap-shot they were able to "avoid" getting affected by one. You are the one creating nonexistent cheap shot attempts to prove a point.

Shut up, pot.

Yeah, amazing how Dats and Zetterberg magically avoid these cheapshots that never happen.

I'm not saying this is a Quincey situation (OMG WE LOST QUINCEY NUUU). I'm just saying the fact that Lilja was considered useless by this board and that Ericsson's higher ceiling would mean he would have to improve this season makes me want to see him thrive in San Jose (assuming he gets a contraact). It would be great to see Lilja say "See? I was worth SOMETHING good" with his performance this season.

Cool story, bro.

Most teams have more than one select guy to do the "dirty" work for them. Argument from majority is meaningless, anyway.

If we have players on the roster that will stick up for teammates, then why is there so much fanfare about having a token enforcer in the lineup? Bertuzzi went after Orpik. Eaves has gotten in a scrap. Abdelkader seems to have no problem with fighting even though he isn't any good at it. It's not like Datsyuk and Zetterberg are softies either when it comes to confrontation. Hell even Cleary got into a scrap with Pronger at one point. The need for one select guy to play 4 minutes a night and keep the flies off is grossly overstated.

One run makes a team, amirite?

Looks like a million bucks.

I would laugh my friggin' ass off if Lils got a contract with the Sharks and had a better year than Ericsson.

I'm not worried.

Well whaddaya know. Point still stands.

Why don't you ask them? Perhaps many GMs still would like to keep the flies off, but does it honestly show in this day and age? The instigator keeps players from being forced to fight. Guys like Cooke honestly have nothing to worry about. Enforcers who do nothing BUT fight have very little value in the league. What happened to Laraque? Why does Brad May have to try out for teams? Give me a guy who plays a physical game (Stevens or Konstantinov) over some guy who is going to fight another player AFTER THE FACT. From what I have seen the enforcers rarely make a difference in the danger to the star players of a team. Didn't they both get roughing majors?

And they prevent cheapshots? It's not like Detroit magically has more cheapshots against them than other teams in the league. Most players tend to concentrate on playing hockey instead of worrying about sitting in the box for five minutes. I don't think Orpik is afraid of anyone, considering he can simply decline to fight anyone who comes at him.

Last time I checked the issues the Wings had last year were with the amount of injuries they had (non-cheapshot related) which hurt their performance on the ice, not the amount of liberties teams were taking with the Wings. Talk about an overstated issue.

Detroit 4th?

OH NO!!!!

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/35315-The-Boylen-Point-Datsyuk-provides-unique-camp-for-kids-in-Russia.html The guy gives back and does it with that same goofy smile. Gotta love Pavs.

NBC doesn't get money from Canadian viewers.

Sure they do. The only problem is his recent track record has been much less than stellar. Ovechkin was suspended twice for questionable hits last season. Ovechkin's Russians got trashed in the olympics by Canada. Ovechkin lost out on the Rocket Richard last season. Ovechkin lost out on the Hart last season. Ovechkin has not won a cup, or even gotten to the conference finals with his Capitals team. When his team absolutely destroyed the competition in the regular season, they fell flat on their faces to a Montreal team and their goaltender after being up in the series 3-1. (I'm not placing the blame on Ovechkin, just that winners are marketable and he has not been part of a winning franchise) Also considering he is playing in the winter classic this year and has an HBO special focusing on his team, I wouldn't say no one seems to talk about him.

I'm sorry I don't agree with this boards rationale that Bettman sux and the NHL does nothing right because they pay more attention to big baby Crosby than our stars. The whining about him has gotten borderline ridiculous.

Yeah, I guess as a Wings fan you are going to have to settle with the oodles and oodles of Wings games broadcast nationally every year, NHL.com, sports blogs, and other message boards to get your fix. (I don't understand how you expect VS and NBC to reach out their games to a smaller branch of viewers when they are in the business of making money, and Wings/Hawks/Pens/Caps are the prime tickets to get lots and lots of fans to watch the game) Poor you. The NHL is getting a lot more marketing done now than they had when ESPN was calling the shots and relegating them to a fringe sport such as beach volleyball and tournament poker. They have a channel dedicated to the sport that gives a product that all fans want. They have an XM radio network devoted to the sport that gives a product that all fans want. They have VS and NBC, both programs that highlight the most popular teams and do so often (though I am not sure why they wait until the new year). They have an outdoor game that is big news every year. They are now doing an outdoor game for Canadian fans as well. I remember all of the buzz surrounding the World Juniors (which I watched), and the Olympics (also watched and punched my desk repeatedly from). They are doing a s*** ton to get the sport media attention, and no it isn't focused just on Crosby (yeah and how dare the arguably best player in the league get a teensy bit more attention than other players).

You're missing out. It's a real shame how the hatred towards Crosby on this board causes people like you to miss out on great programming. I honestly can't remember the last time I have heard any specials or discussions about Crosby in the past month or so.

Basically. The font used in the normals are curved to where each name has their own unique letters, so it is pretty expensive to get all of those in to patch on the jerseys. This is cheap and gets the job done.