ogreslayer

There really is a limited number of teams that can host the WC and the numbers favor the East. Ignoring Canadian teams, you have to figure maybe 8 teams in the East (Flyers, Pens, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, Bruins, Buffalo, & an outside chance the Caps) and in the West you have 6 at most (Wings, Hawks, Jackets, Avs, Wild, & maybe the Blues). Granted there's no chance in hell that the Islanders or the Blue Jackets ever get to host one. I think that given the fact that the Pens were the visiting team at the first WC & are now hosting, it's time for the Wings to host as they were the visitors in the 2nd WC. From a TV ratings standpoint, it's got to be either that or the Rangers hosting. If they want to keep things in conference, why not Wings/Avs or Wings/Blues in Comerica? I would prefer Wings/Rangers myself but would consider that an outside shot.

Personally, I didn't mind it at all. In fact, I'm in favor of the NHL switching back to using the whites for home games.

I went through ticketmaster as soon as they went on sale for both Game 1 of the WCF & SCF. Was row 11 behind the goal on the visitor's side for the WCF & about a quarter of the way up the lower bowl just inside the blue line across from the Wing's bench for the SCF. Could have actually grabbed tix right on the ice for Game 1 of the SCFs but didn't want to drop that much money.

I went to Game 1 in 2009 after picking up tickets at face value as soon as they went on sale. Almost grabbed tix for Game 7 too but ultimately decided not to make the 4 hour drive from Indy again given that I would have done Game 1 of the WFC, SCF, & Winter Classic that year already. I didn't find it all that difficult to get them but yes, they are more expensive then regular season & earlier rounds of the playoffs.

I think it was LeBrun over on ESPN that said if Lidstrom isn't one of the captains, there will be something seriously wrong. Can't disagree with that. His full tweet on the subject... "If Nick Lidstrom (should he play) is not chosen as one of the all-star captains, I will cover the all-star game in my underwear." For everyone's sake, I hope nobody has to see that...

I'm crossing my fingers, toes, eyes...hell I've got my testicles crossed too hoping that Bettman's done soon. I don't think MLB would be dumb enough to bring him in as commish though. Just imagine the World Series being played on the Home & Garden Network.

I'm starting to think Homer in goal would never work. Just think of all the goalie interference calls he would get whistled for....on himself... How about Lids in goal? He's always been known for perfect positioning...

You, sir, just made me laugh out loud making everyone around me at work wonder what the hell was going on. Kudos to you!

No pics & trying to go from memory... 2 authentic CCM Yzermans (home & away) 1 replica CCM Yzerman (home) 1 authentic CCM Howe (away) 1 authentic CCM Lidstrom (home) 1 replica Koho Zetterberg (away) 1 replica Reebok Kronwall (home) 1 replica Winter Classic Datsyuk 1 replica Winter Classic Holstrom 1 replica 2009 Swedish Olympic Zetterberg 1 replica 2002 USA Olympic Chelios (away) 1 replica 2002 USA Olympic Hull (home) 1 replica 1998 USA Olympic unnumbered (away) 1 replica CCM Red Wings unnumbered (home) 1 replica Starter Red Wings unnumbered (away) 1 authentic CCM Maple Leafs Joseph (away) 2 authentic CCM Pens Lemieux (skating penguin home & away) 1 replica Starter NY Rangers 3rd (Liberty Head) unnumbered 1 replica Starter Penguins(90's logo-away)unnumbered 1 replica CCM 1998 All-Star World unnumbered 1 authentic Nike Notre Dame unnumbered (away) 1 replica Adidas Notre Dame #11 (home) 1 replica Adidas Notre Dame #22 (away) 2 replica Bauer Notre Dame (home & way) I think that's it but I might have missed 1 or 2... Almost forgot, I do have a replica gray Starter Wings jersey that a non-hockey fan family member got me for X-mas one year. Needless to say, that one never sees the light of day...ever...

The man's paid his penance & it's great to see him getting comfortable in the Winged Wheel. Plus you can't beat a name like the BFF line. Hope they can keep this up all year.

This... Lidstrom-Kronwall Stuart-Rafalski Salei-Kindl Ericsson Kindl has been looking very solid & I don't think he sits when Big E comes back. Not until he has a bad game or two or the Wings go on a losing streak & Babs wants to shake things up a bit.

Darren Dreger's predicting 8-10. Also seen comments in regards to the Tortorella 1 game suspension in the playoffs for tossing a water bottle at a fan saying that from a suspension standpoint 1 playoff game=5 regular season. Rypien gets at least 10 games IMO.

Wow, that thing is ugly. Why don't more teams just take a hint from the Original Six teams? You just can't get any better than those. Best jerseys in sports, period...led of course by the winged wheel.

I don't care if the Wings had the bastard child of Terry Sawchuk & Dominik Hasek in goal last night, they weren't going to win with the way the entire team played. Can't pin that loss on Ozzie alone at all.

Well I have a feeling the Mule's thoughts on a suspension won't come to anything. Just like the Orpik knee shot, Keith's elbow to Salei's face, & the hit to the head that Pavs got from behind in the 'Hawks game. I hate to be the one to cry conspiracy theory when hits like that happen to Wings players, but the evidence does seem to be mounting up.

Maltby's decision had no bearing on the Wings having to send Ritola down to GR & go through waivers at all. It was a decision on only being able to keep 2 out of the 3 from Eaves, Miller, & Ritola. One had to naturally assume that unless he set the world on fire, Maltby wasn't going to stay with the big club. If he had, we would have been talking about keeping only 1 out of the 3 above.

I'm going with 5-2 Wings. Huds x2, Mule, Z, & Rafi with one Lids PPG waived off because Homer is 6 inches from the crease.

Yeah, I don't see any way they keep Malts up with the big club. I can see someone making the argument that having both Drapes & Eaves injured to start the year might make Kenny lean towards keeping Malts up, but I would think they would be comfortable with Abby-Helm-Miller as the 4th line until those two are ready.

Not entirely familiar with the details of waivers. With Ritola out of options, would a team claiming him have to put him on their roster or can they assign him to the minors directly?

With a few scouts at yesterday's game supposedly there to look at him, I would think so. Hope if he is claimed, he winds up with Stevie in Tampa.

Did you hear he was a 50 goal scorer in juniors? Of course he'll be waived & make it through to go to GR. Since he only has to pass through once, I would expect he'll be the first one called up if the injury bug hits again this year.

Per the Freep this afternoon, Downey to stay with the organization & work in GR as a strength & conditioning coach. http://www.freep.com/article/20101003/SPORTS05/101003030/1053/Wings-to-keep-Downey-as-minor-league-coach Just another reason why the Wings have the rep as one of the greatest organizations in all of sports, not just hockey.

The ugly? Ericsson, Ericsson, Ericsson, & Ericsson. I think it's official that he will be the new whipping boy on LGW & he's all but lost his spot to Kindl, who looks a hell of a lot more comfortable out there. Also on the good side, give Smith a year or 2 in GR and he's going to be more than ready for the big club. Also very impressed with Mursak & Owens who has been flying around. The bad? The fact that Ritola got off to a slow start due to the ear issue & never really got going. Think it's inevitable that he's the odd man out for that last forward spot.

Little Bit of Soul-King's X

You've Got To Hide Your Love Away-The Beatles