Nevermind

I agree with most all of what you say. Now, I'm not declaring this series as over...but I think a change-up is needed regardless. Step 1 is to not re-sign Hudler. You're right--a lot of players could put up his numbers playing with Z and Fil. We need to replace him with someone grittier. I would have preferred to not re-sign Bertuzzi, but we're sort of stuck with him for 2 more years now. For his salary though, you're not going to get anyone better on the FA market. And Franzen is tricky. I doubt we'd get fair value for him in a trade. But, maybe he can be reminded that he still has to work hard and can be the playoff player we've known again. Filppula usually plays well in the playoffs though (which makes these last 4 games surprising); and after his breakout season, we can't let him go. Emmerton can go for a true 4th liner. Or he can battle for a spot with the big club. Holmstrom earned the right to decide. I think he's still serviceable if he had skilled linemates--just not as much as before. He still makes smart plays out there despite his total lack of speed and skill. Again, I don't like the idea of looking ahead, but I was curious about this summer's free agents... Zach Parise--Every team's wish list. His favorite player to watch though: Pavel Datsyuk. That gives me some hope. Ryan Suter--I have a feeling he's going to re-sign with Nashville after all. If the unthinkable happens with Lidstrom, we need to do everything to try and get him. Like all of us, hope to God that Lidstrom comes back. I'm optimistically assuming that his uncharacteristically unspectacular play this series is due to his ankle injury. I don't see how he'd fall off so much in one year. Justin Schultz--Anaheim isn't able to sign him so he's going to be a 21 year old UFA. Might as well make our pitch like most of the league. Ryan Smyth/Shane Doan--Two really gritty players that haven't won a Cup. Perfect players for a Cup-seeking team with underrated skill as well. If they don't re-sign with their respective teams (I think they will), I would definitely make hard pitches for them. Steve Sullivan--He's had a solid year with Pittsburgh, so they might re-sign him. If he tests the market though, I would pursue him. I think he could be a Drake type signing. Not in terms of playing style, of course. But, Sullivan plays with as much heart as anyone. Barett Jackman/Cory Sarich/Pavel Kubina/Bryan Allen/Bryce Salvador/Jason Garrison--I don't like any of these defenseman very much, but we may need to replace Stuart. They're all probably going to be overpaid. Johnny Oduya's a possibility too--but I don't think he's physical enough. Again, if the unthinkable happens with Nick, we need all the D help-by-committee that we can get. Hal Gill and Shaone Morrisonn could be depth options as well. There are a few more depth defenseman on the market. None that stand out though. Ian Laperriere--Gritty, older guy for the 4th line who plays through anything. He's concussed though and may not leave Philly after missing the whole season. Key attributes: Warrior, 38 years old, hasn't won a Cup Brandon Prust--Perfect for the 4th line. Probably going to be overpaid for a role player though. Might be worth it since he can play too and is solid in his own zone. Zenon Konopka/David Jones/Jamal Mayers, etc.--True 4th line type of players. Except Jones, who has some upside. Lineup in place already (Helm and Abdelkader are RFAs who'll re-sign for sure; Quincey is probably back as well)... Franzen-Datsyuk-Bertuzzi Filppula-Zetterberg-? Miller-Helm-Cleary Abdelkader-?-Eaves Emmerton-Mursak Ideally, I'd insert Parise on the first line and bump Bertuzzi down. Nyquist should be ready--but is he going to be in GR again? Sheahan will stay in GR because this is Ken Holland running the team. Tatar isn't ready, most likely. One of Konopka or Prust would be nice for the 4th line. Another 4th liner if Eaves doesn't recover. Emmerton and Mursak can fight for fringe spots. ?-White Kronwall-? Quincey-Ericsson Kindl Smith should be ready full time. Replace California-bound Stuart. And I don't even want to think of what happens with Nick. Everything hinges too much on him. Wow. Our team looks really similar if we don't make any trades. Probably worse if we don't get Parise. Definitely worse if Nick hangs 'em up.

I agree. We need to trim the fat and get some new hungry faces that play with grit. And can our fourth line actually be an energy line, please? For reference, my memory of the summer of '07 through '08: Lost: Lang, Calder, Bertuzzi, Schneider, Markov, Williams Added: Rafalski, Drake, McCarty (mid-season), Stuart (deadline) The difference is, I think our players were younger and hungrier than as well--they hadn't won a Cup, after all. So it's going to be tough to inject some new blood.

Energy...maybe if they're really that worn out. Emotion...not a chance in hell.

Everyone kept saying we dominated after 2 periods. Sure, we had a lot more shots and territorial play. And Nashville didn't do anything. But, where the f*** was the desperation? If you didn't know any better, you would think it's a regular season game. Our guys weren't playing physical or gritty enough. They weren't driving the net well enough. How come no one was throwing their weight around? Finishing their checks? Just not desperate enough. You have to work harder for good scoring chances. This perimeter play reminds me of 2006 against Edmonton. Of course you get a lot more shots, but not many good chances. Combine that with defensive breakdowns against a team that sits back waiting--and you're not going to win in the playoffs. Game 3 was much better intensity-wise, actually (I get Nashville didn't sit back that game...but still, you need to play with more emotion out there regardless of how the other team plays) And after all that, we ended up losing it in the 3rd. Even after we got an enormously lucky break on Legwand's no-goal there. This team is either dead tired or isn't hungry enough. In 2008, we looked like we were on a mission. I haven't seen that attitude on the ice in a while.

Thanks a lot!

Anyone have a stream with Ken and Mick (FSD)? Thanks.

As the game went on and the entire team played better, I thought he manned the blueline well. His passing and vision was still at an elite level. But, he was definitely sluggish today--especially when getting back for that icing call at the end of the game. I think the lingering image of that play is the reason for this thread, really. IMO, that has everything to do with his ankle.

I highly doubt anything happens to Babcock for the remainder of his contract. After this season, he's got two years left to prove he hasn't grown stale with the team. Unfortunately, when the unthinkable happens with Lidstrom, our team's going to change in a big way anyways.

And of all people, I bet Crosby would complain about it the most. We all remember the effort he put into making sure he shook Lidstrom's hands 3 years ago.

Article from mlive... At the bolded parts...all I can say is, really? Sure, Zetterberg technically gave him a little cross-check from behind. But, he rolled off Weber anyways. And Z made the pass on the play too. If Weber did that every time a player checks him like that, then he'd be head-slamming guys at least 5-6 times a game.

If Cleary and Helm were healthy, I actually like the 3rd line. They were playing great mid-season, along with Miller. It's the 4th line that's the problem. That's what has no identity with guys just thrown together.

VAN/LAK: 4-2 STL/SJS: 4-3 PHX/CHI: 4-3 NSH/DET: 4-2 NYR/OTT: 4-2 BOS/WSH: 4-3 FLA/NJD: 4-1 PIT/PHI: 4-3 WC Champion: Detroit Red Wings EC Champion: New York Rangers SCF Champion: Detroit Red Wings

Well done. Doesn't look fan-made at all.

Please

He's probably reckless with his hi-sticks because of playing in college where everyone wears the cages.

20 grand off now. Link Doesn't this prove Tortorella's point? I bet there wouldn't be a fine if he said the exact same thing about another team (even though nobody beats Pittsburgh in whining and arrogance level).

Yeah. Link

Parise calls Datsyuk "my most favorite player to watch".

Sorry if this should be in another section... My friends are trying to get me to join their street hockey league over the summer. But, I hate rollerblades. So I was wondering if any of you guys have tried inline skates from some company called Newron (link). The skates are supposed to simulate skating on ice (by mimicking the strides and crossovers and stuff), but I'm skeptical. I don't know if it will feel anywhere near as natural as ice skating or not. If you haven't heard of these, have you guys used any hockey rollerblades that come somewhat close to replicating ice skating? Any from CCM, Mission, Bauer, etc? Thanks.

And goodbye Kindl, I suppose.

Thanks. Even if that limitation is not knowing how to stop...haha. That's probably the best advice though, thanks.

I wouldn't have traded a first for either of those players either. I just prefer Quincey a little over Downie because I think depth on D is more important. But, we could really use a gritty forward though. The draft order is now determined by how you do in the playoffs. So if we lose in the first round, TB probably gets our pick somewhere in the early 20s (maybe even the late teens if a lot of lower seeds advance in the playoffs). We'll have to wait and see how it goes.

He definitely isn't the reason for our recent struggles. But, he hasn't looked very good at all though. I'm guessing he gets 2 games. Here's a question...I hate the guy, but would any of you rather have traded the first for Steve Downie directly? I'd still take Quincey, but not by much.

In 2004, EA apparently chose Joe Thornton, but then switched to Dany Heatley because Thornton was accused of assaulting two police officers at the time. Then we all know about Heatley's car crash, so newer versions of the game had Sakic on it. For NHL 08, Eric Staal had that partying arrest thing. And for NHL 10, dick Kane had the infamous taxi-cab incident. So it's not like a trend or anything, but there have been some unusual things happening to NHL cover athletes in the year they've been chosen. But, obviously we need not worry about such a thing happening to a guy like Datsyuk.

Could you post the link? Thanks. I use GameCenter too...they really rip us off.