king_malice

Officials are random usually or sometimes decided between the 2 teams. Usually if its Canada v. USA or something they will have refs and linesman from both countries

I think Canada is going to be amped up for this game just a little more then the Russians will be. I think Canada is going to start with lots of fast skating and hard hits from the drop of the puck, expect alot of dump and chase and punishment of Russian D. I believe its going to be Canada's 3rd and 4th line that wins this game. my prediction is 5-3 Canada

if you watch it in slow motion you can see the elbow right to the head looks like it might be intentional, in my opinion looks like OKT is about to miss the hit and lifts his elbow a bit, could just be natrual reaction could be intentional only OKT knows. either way one of the worst hits ive ever seen. makes kronners hit on havlat looks like a love tap

February 18, 2010 // 10:46pm ET Lidstrom isn't thinking retirement TheFourthPeriod.com Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, may be turning 40 in April, but that isn't stopping him from performing well on the ice. Lidstrom, who is competing for a gold medal for Sweden at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, is in the final year of his contract with the Wings and can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. While it's almost a foregone conclusion that Lidstrom would re-sign with the Wings if he chooses to return to the NHL next season, retirement is the last thing on his mind. "I haven't thought much about it," Lidstrom told the Detroit Free Press. "It's something I'll think about after the season is over." Lidstrom, a six-time Norris Trophy winner, is making $7.45 million this season and will undoubtedly take a significant pay cut -- around $3 million -- if he is locked up to a new contract. In 61 games with the Wings this season, Lidstrom has posted six goals and 29 assists for 35 points. [ From the Editor ] Lidstrom's definitely playing like he has more hockey left in him. I'd be very surprised to see him hang up his skates after this season. A two-year extension could definitely be in the cards. -- David Pagnotta Visit David Pagnotta's TWITTER page for frequent comments and updates.

Anybody kind of want to see the Hawks make it to the finals just to lose and see if Hossa trys getting out of his contract or something to jump to another team.

Pretty sure the Hawks would have to lose to see Hossa lose no ?

I never said i wanted to see the Hawks win the cup once and obviously i want the Wings to make it to the finals again. It was simply a question about getting to see Hossa LOSE the cup again.

Thornton is still a great player,sure he has choked in the past and ya for his size he should be killing anyone who is near him with the puck. just think though if he changed those little things in his game how much better he would be

helm and abby probably get a mill each eaves might get 750,000, they probably wont sign maltby and fill his spot with abby and holmstrom probably gets a 1 or 2 yr 1.5mill a season. the wings know they cant be giving everyone big raises and im sure holmstrom will take whatever they offer i doubt he will want to leave.

Lidstrom if he comes back will be in the 2-5 mill a year range no lower no higher ! I agree Lidstrom could get top dollar still somewhere else, but then again he probably could have left years ago and got more then the 7.5 he got from the wings. Lidstrom seems like a loyal ungreedy guy and if he knows by taking the big pay cut could help out the team, get some more players and potentially get the team and Lidstrom another cup i have a feeling he would do it. RF/UFA cap hits Maltby (883,000) Lebda (650,000) Holmstrom (2,250,000) Lilja (1,250,000) Bertuzzi (1,500,000) Eaves (500,000) Williams(1,500,000) Helm (600,000) Abdelkader (850,000) Meech (480,000) $10,463,000 with Lidstrom $17,913,000

Lidstrom excited for son’s outdoor game EmailWritten by hockeynut on Jan-15-10 3:22pm From: 1hockeytownnation.info DETROIT – After this weekend, Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom won’t be the only member of his family to play in a highly-publicized outdoor hockey game. Lidstrom’s son Kevin, a sophomore defenseman on the junior varsity team at Novi Detroit Catholic Central High School, will play in the Outdoor Classic on Sunday, a four-game series at Clark Park in southwest Detroit. He will play in the first game of the day that pits Catholic Central against instate rival from Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood. The JV game will be followed by two alumni games, then the marquee varsity match-up at 2 p.m. EST. Lidstrom said his son is excited to participate in the event, and that Kevin can draw on the experience of watching his dad in the 2009 Winter Classic at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. “He went to Chicago when we played there last year,†Lidstrom said, “so he knows the atmosphere and feeling. They had practice over at the rink at Clark Park the other day, and I took him over to it. He’s looking forward to it.†The proud father said that his son is still learning how to play defense, after deciding to follow in his footsteps, instead of in Chris Osgood’s. “People say he’s similar to me,†Lidstrom said. “Kevin was a goalie for four years, so he’s still catching up with his footwork, but I think he’s getting better and better. He’s having a blast, and really enjoying it.†Lidstrom will be unable to attend the outdoor contest, since the Red Wings host the Chicago Blackhawks at 12:30 p.m. the same day. Lidstrom said he would have liked to watch his son play, and to see the set-up at Clark Park. “It would have been fun, just to see the game,†he said.

agreed his son is in high school over here so i don't see them moving anywhere yet.

Just put a new team in Hamilton, Bettman says it isn't personal that's bulls*** he just doesn't want to be proven wrong. Copps Coliseum holds 17,383 for a hockey game and when the rumors of Hamilton possibly getting a NHL team this past season, they were almost sold out of season ticket buyers people put down payments just incase they got it to show the NHL the intrest in Hamilton. I believe it is personal whether its with Balsille,Canada or Hamilton there is a reason Bettman Won't let it happen because the support is defintly there. There are a ton of Leaf fans in Hamilton and thats one of the reasons because the Leafs would end up losing fans and money but everyone knows the Leafs are a corperate team its 85% business men at there games so i don't see the problem. Hamilton can do no worse then teams like Tampa,Florida,Atlanta

I think the only reason he comes back is to take another run at the cup, knowing how tight the wings are to the cap this year and knowing he can help them out next season, at the chance to come back and make the run at another cup i can defintly see him taking a big pay cut in order to get back to the top.

please tell me this is a joke ?. Lebda is a terrible d-man he should just play forward saying thats all he wants to do when he is out there.

I never said Lidstrom isn't better then Stuart i just said speed wise you can see Lidstrom is starting to lose it. With younger guys coming up on top lines around the league you can see it already he is losing the foot races to the puck. I don't think he cares if he makes less then Rafalski he could have easly went to another team over the years and made 8mill or more, I see him signing 2yrs 3.5 mill per season if he decides to return. When he does decide to leave hopefully they hire him on as a defensive coach for the younger guys.

I defintly think he could play another 3 years but not on the top line. You can see it this season he has lost a step, but just think if he takes a cut to 3 mill thats 4.5 mill to spend just from his contract maybe on another D. But anyways i think next season he could still be on the top line but the 2nd moved to 2nd line which seems bad but its really not could you imagine having him on the 2nd line i think that would be even better. Rafalski-Stuart/Kronwall Lidstrom-Stuart/Kronwall Lilja-Kindl/Janik or sub in a D if we signed one

Is anyone else excited about this guy being in the wings orginization ?. I actually had the chance to see him play this week and he had a 2 point night 1G 1A at 6'0 171LBS and only 18 he is already a pretty good size. This season he has 13G 24A in 39GP and his numbers are getting better. 06-07 4GP 0PTS 07-08 54GP 24 PTS 08-09 68 GP 55PTS 09-10 39 GP 37 PTS This guy reminded me of a Helm type of player he has speed takes the body when he has the chance and will drop the mits if he has to. This is the kind of player the wings can use, he has hands,a shot and speed. This kid has a deadly shot and can put the puck in the net. I thought he would have been gone by the time the wings got to there pick and i remember McKenzie saying the same thing that this was a steal for the wings. He was ranked to go 1st round 18th overall and we picked him 2nd round 32nd overall. If you haven't seen much of him here is a little clip of highlights.

ZING!!!! LOL

if there was a fantasy draft in the NHL tomorrow every player available starting teams over i would never take crosby first. I would take ovie,datsyuk,thornton all guys that are better both ways and don't ***** as soon as someone looks at them. Ya he has skill but he has no heart and a bad attitude. Now im Canadian and as much i want Canada to win gold at the olympics i want them to lose so i can see his face. Seeing show after show about how this is his first time at the olympics and theres no player who wants it more then him it makes me sick to see his face to hear his voice. I havent hated someone this much since Claude Lemiuex. I still have nightmares over last years finals seeing the NHL hand them the cup and watching this coward sit out the last part of the 3rd with the cup on the line, 0 heart, i remember shanahan playing when the wings won the cup with a broken foot and after every period he was getting a needle to numb the pain. I am actually embarassed to have this guy as a Canadian he is the complete opposite of the Canadian stereotype tough, hard working, doesn't whine hockey player and is almost exactly how north americans described the russians crys about everytime there touched and has no heart. Canada v. Norway tonight about 4 mins in there was a icing on Canada and after the whistle Crosby ( god i even hate typing his name ) got bumped and instantly started bitching to the refs, i then found myself along with some friends yelling at my TV stoping your ******* crying and play the game.

I think he would spend 1 full year in Grand Rapids then the 2nd might get some pre season time with the occasional call-upp depending on how he adapts and 3rd yr i can see him up full time. I think the wings are learning fast they have to get the younger guys up faster then they would like, but i think eventually he will be a top 3 line player depending on if he stays C or gets moved to the wings

wings speculated to be 1 of 4 teams intersted. hope they aren't really looking at him. Last thing we need is a guy who is 37 yrs old who only has 8G 16A in 52GP and is making 3.6 million http://www.thefourthperiod.com/trade_deadline/top25.html

I can't see kronwall asking for that much of a raise maybe to 5 max, ive noticed that guys that are drafted and brought up in the orginization usually aren't greedy its the ones we trade/sign that are the ones that typically ask for way more then they should get. But the guys that have been in the system darfted and what not like the system and want to stay.

i don't think we should trade kroner big nick and rafalski are coming to the end of there roads and lil nick is going to be our guy. It's hard to find a guy that can put up points like he did last season 51PTS in 80GP and that was on the second pairing. Also a guy that can put the fear into the other teams with his big hits. I would much rather move stuart over kronwall just my opinion.

I to am a die hard fan! when the wings lose i don't even wanna speak or be spoken to. as much as i would love to see the wings make the playoffs with the way they are playing now I don't see them going far anyways. So maybe it is a good thing if we don't make, sure we are going to have to put up with the s*** talking but maybe the wings will wake up next season and realize its not like the years before we actually have to work hard for the 60 min to get a win not just the first 10 and last 10. I don't know its depressing to see the wings dominate for so long and make it to the cup back to back seasons and then this.