Joseph Franks

I wonder if his seat will cost extra money, when it is available? Would it be honoring, or cheesy/disrespectful if whoever buys season tickets to that seat wore an orange hat? I'm sure it will be a season ticket seat. Thoughts? I think they should do a documentary on the Detroit Legends. The knitting lady, orange hat guy, etc. Would probably be popular in Michigan.

Its been awesome that our top two lines are producing (That's what they're there for anyway), but I'm hoping against the ducks we get some 3rd/4th line scoring going. Hudler is sneaky. So far he's a bit below his point projection, as is the rest of our third "scoring line". And yes....unlike traditional 3rd lines, ours was designed to score. I think Modano, is, well....Modano. He'll put up points eventually. I'm hoping maybe it's tonight. I still have a lot of faith in that third line. But It has been off to a relatively slow start.

Salei had his pinching mistake. But otherwise I thought he looked pretty solid. He looked "motivated", which is something I've noticed has lacked in our defense the last few years. Our defense is generally very mechanical.....and rightfully so with guys like Lidstrom, Rafalski, Schneider, Murphy, Chelios....in charge over the years. So it's good to see guys like Salei who take some chances. Modano was above expectations. I hope his "born again" attitude lasts through the season. He's skating like he's five years younger out there. It's pretty cool Eaves-Helm-Miller: I agree on this line. I expected more from them. We have to be generous though and say that tonight we were comparing them to some amazing performances by the top three lines. All in all this line did not do poorly. They didn't get scored on. They didn't score, but they really pressured the ducks pool of talent. They did exactly what a 4th line is suppose to do. 1) Don't get scored on. 2) Buy rest time for your top guys 3) Apply pressure to the oppositions depth. It's not fair to judge them yet, IMO. Cleary did look amazing. Don't think he should have gotten that one goal, but eh...whatever, I'll take it. He really worked hard, and I think there's something about the fact that he's playing on a line with an ancient superstar, and a potential russian phenom.....well he better put a little pep in his step. Cleary is right now playing on possibly the best line he will ever play on full time. He better take advantage of that. I don't even need to say anything about Datsyuk and Zetterberg. All off-season, and in fact for the last several years, we have all known how powerful the eurotwins are together. They did not dissapoint. Every time they were out, something magical either happened, or almost happened. Anyone notice at one point the entire first line was in the box? Well I think Zetterberg had just got out, Dats was in it, and then Holmstrom joined him

Nights like tonight is what I watch hockey for Awesome game!!!!

Whoo hoooo!!!! Kalamari!!!

Officiating this game has been very lopsided in our favor. I mean...Anaheim is doing some dirty work out there......but I'm almost starting to feel bad for them heh. I'm not use to seeing Detroit have the edge in penalties period, let alone so largely. Is there no fine line? Officiating always seems lopsided one way or another.......it's never really even.

When Datsyuk starts the season with a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.....you know some s***s going down this year

WHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTT???????? Of all the goals we routinely have disallowed.....they let THAT one through? Don't worry they'll disallow some critical goals in another game to balance it out :-p

Yeah the adht stream got shut down. The veetle stream is very high quality though!

Now we just need a 4th line goal, then we can start working on the defensive lines scoring. Eaves, Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall. Final score......7-0, Howard with a shutout! (I can wish) Thankfully the online stream is working now. Missed most the first period

Jesus......it just happened like a few minutes ago.....and even http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ond%C5%99ej_Pavelec Is already updated..... (Link may not work, because his name is spelled with characters I don't think this forum recognizes)

Is he the best guy for the job? I don't know. Has he done well from a business standpoint? Yes. Has he helped bring popularity to the league? Yes. Has he helped balance the teams in the league? Yes. Has he ever been a fan favorite? No. His individual actions always raise some eyebrows, but considering how far the NHL has come in 18 years, his long term plan seems to be working. Strange that Detroit has made the playoffs every single year that Bettman has been in charge :-p

The only reason other teams winning a cup is good is so that more people jump on the bandwagon, and thus buy up a ton of merchandise, thus putting more money into hockey....... The more money in hockey in general, the better the sport will do, the more people will watch it overall......so when Detroit wins 4 more cups over the next several years.........The entire world will know Detroit reigns supreme! Let the bandwagon fans have their day. Only a clear idiot thinks the Hawks have a good shot at another cup.

Exactly. To rate someone like Toews above say....even Datsyuk is ridiculous. Datsyuk is by far a better defensive player, and outscores Toews with less ice time. They didn't make much of that list based on the skill of the players. They made it based on the popularity of the player...........

First TSN votes wings the winners, and now Dan Rosen from NHL.com adds to the pot. In like 20 years of making the playoffs, and 4 Stanley Cups.....nobody EVER predicts the Wings as the victor........ I'm not sure if this years rash of support is a jinx or not http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=539662 "Health appears to be the only thing that can deter the Wings from putting one more notch on their belt and keeping this dynasty alive another year."

I can't wait for the 97 Detroit Philly game. Man what a flash in a pan that will be. Had one of the best nights of my hockey loving life that night. I remember all around Detroit it ERUPTED into celebration, everywhere. Where I lived in Westland, there were hundreds of people who gathered at a bowling alley, and poured outside into the streets. People driving up and down Wayne road with giant Redwings flags, high-fiveing complete strangers deep into the wee hours of the morning. Had a hot girl riding on my shoulders all night long. The buzz of it all lasted for days.

Good. Gives them competition. The more competition among the bottom 6 the better, IMO. When you have potentially 9 or so guys playing for 6 slots, some of them have to up their game. Just another thing adding Modano does. I'm sure if Modano sucks it up this year Babcock will have no issue dropping his ice time, and increasing that of those who are doing well. In the days of old we always lacked depth on the bottom six. So when they were slumping, we were just screwed. I say....the more the merrier. Give them something to work for. Make every single player EARN his spot. Suddenly guys like Abby, Helm, Eaves and crew have a 40 year old legend playing for the same spots they want to have. If anything, I see it forcing everyone on the bottom six to up their game, when you've got 2-3 guys trying to edge back into the lineup all season long. Kenny is a genius.

Not to mention 1) Willa Ford told the View she would love to live in Detroit, to expand her modeling career. 2) Modano's parents want him to sign with Detroit, and they still reside in Michigan. 3) Modano is a class act, and he's sharp with words, but everything he has said has been entirely optimistic. 4) I intend to hijack his plane back home, and force him to sign at gunpoint. 5) Ignore #4, kthx.

What about those kids who's parents sued for cutting them from the team? We should sign them. Supposedly they're the next Yzerman and Sakic. No it's true. Ask their mom.

That was classic

It's like apples and oranges. Modano probably would play on the third line and 2nd PP unit. Miller is a 4th liner and a PK. If anything, adding Modano will likely just mean Draper won't play a lot of games, and Abbey and Draper will alternate on the fourth line. Draper is a PK as well.

Looks pretty good, and gives us a lot of room to move around as well. Datsyuk or Zetterberg can drop down a line if need be to mix things up. Everyone on our third line (Modano, Cleary, and Hudler) can get second line time if they step up their game and play well. Or in the event of injuries. Hell, I'd say that as a third line could become our second line from time to time, depending on how Bert plays, if Franzen is healthy, and if Flip is streaking or not. Having Abbey, Helm, Eaves, Draper rotate the fourth line is pretty solid for a grind line. With obviously a little talent in the pool at GR to sneak in for a few games here and there. IMO this roster has more depth than our roster has had in a few years. As noted by Draper being an alternate instead of being the main 4th line center I think we'd be better prepared to handle a few injuries (knock on wood), and our Power Play should improve. Our depth scoring has probably the highest potential in the league, if Modano can put up 30-40 points, Hudler is good for another 40+ Points (Kenny's talked about how he wants to see 60+ out of him). Cleary will chip in a few. And that's our THIRD line. This, is of course, assuming Modano signs. Heh.

w00t, I assume you're in the military. One thing I hate about the military is the severe shortage of hockey fans, versus being back home in say....Detroit. Usually when I do find hockey fans in the army, they're Pittsburgh or Washington "fans", and I end up always having to teach them what off sides and icing are when I challenge them to games of NHL 2010. Im headed to Afghanistan here shortly (Literally 2 days), but when I went to Iraq I brought my Wings jersey, and I'll be doing the same this time around. Can't really wear it downrange, but I can sport it all the way home when I go on leave

It's not stone, but when the media is covering it so closely, it's usually a done deal. Both the Wings organization and Modano seem excited. The wings have already suggested they want a 1-2 year contract and have even listed an amount they're willing to pay. Toss onto that it's completely common knowledge that Modano is coming to center a 3rd or 4th line..... Modano, knowing all of this in advance, and still coming up to Detroit.....is about as "Sure Thing" as you can get, without actually being a sure thing yet. I'll be really surprised if Modano ISN'T a Wing by the end of the week. Until then, I get the feeling this will be the most suspense we see all postseason.

And you just know Dallas will Boo him the second he steps on the ice with a Winged Wheel. It'll be worth it just to watch that. I was never much of a Dallas fan, and always thought their fan base was pretty annoying.