Hockey Convert

Fighting in hockey causes tooth decay, male pattern baldness, global warming, and communism. True story. Oh, also, on LGW correlation always equals causation. Where there's smoke, there's fire, and certainly not a couple anti-fire posters holding a smoke machine!

And by the same token: "Hey, this guy's never proven anything at the NHL level; Wings should sign him and sit someone who has!" As for beating San Jose, some people seem to like to harp on how close they thought the series was, but when I was watching it, I saw a team afraid to go in the corners after pucks aggressively because the Sharks were beating them in the physical game. So icing a more physical team would have helped. Yes, Holland doesn't like physical players who can fight; there's really no argument there. But we don't get to just ignore the fact that there are other GMs out there who DO sign those players, and they're winning cups. So please, dislike fighting all you want, but just stop stating your opinions as immutable facts and pretending like there's no possible other point of view.

Exactly what I was thinking. That really sucks, he was looking great out there tonight.

WHAT? So now you can turn your back to a guy skating next to you and get an automatic 5-minute major? Jesus. Edit: Glad I'm not the only one that thinks that is absolutely f***ed...

Seriously. Does being in Pitt just infect people with *******-itis? I notice they downplayed it when Datsyuk absolutely embarrassed "Geno" behind the Pens net. And that's another thing, they need to quit ******* calling him "Geno" like they're BFFs and have tea parties together.

I'm watching it on a stream too, and it is nigh unbearable. Do they even know ANY of the Wings' names other than Datsyuk? They sure as s*** aren't mentioning any of them even when they're playing the puck...

That makes me more disappointed about the prospect of having Commodore on the team than reassured about Ericsson. Someone on HF said that the Wings coaches/management told Ericsson not to fight when he was brought up to the Wings. I'm dubious about that, but he really doesn't seem to do it often nor to be very good at it when he does. I mean, I'd love to be proven wrong, but I'm not holding my breath.

Not to worry! If they do it more than once, Holland will promptly and decisively trade them away or outright release them. In other news, I'm going to try to get tickets to opening week of the Providence Bruins, with new acquisition Jamie Tardif...

I saw that reported somewhere, and was sad. Now that it seems not to be true, I rejoice slightly in the tiny possibility that, maybe it COULD be Detroit... Oh, don't get my hopes up.

Yeah, I feel pretty much the same. I don't like that we're filled up with forwards already. I'd like to see Mursak get a full-time shot, and still think it would be to the betterment of the team to ditch Hudler (actually, I would probably have let Miller walk too) and get one of the guys on your list. As to the list itself: Am I recalling correctly that Winnipeg just signed Hordichuk? Do you think they'll keep Boulton also? I don't see Holland going for many of these guys, but I guess you never know. I'd like a McGrattan, Godard or maybe Koci, but those I see happening the least. I've never thought much of Ruutu, but I could more see the front office going for that. I'd forgotten about Winchester, but that would be more than OK in my book!

Konopka still available. Big Mac still available. Just an update.

The guy was sent down last year for not getting along with his coaches, and has in the past publicly stated that Mike Babcock was a detriment to his career. Babcock, for those who don't seem to remember, is our head coach. In what way do we need to "give this a chance" to see that it just MIGHT be a bad idea?

I would actually crap my pants. I don't care, I have a washing machine.

I don't have any problem with Stamkos as a person, but if he want's to play the cash register game I would think he needs to learn not to disappear in the playoffs first. When the chips are down, it's been everyone else getting it done, and the commentators wondering what happened to Stamkos' game.

"Obv" I have not, and nowhere did I refute that he has skills. What I was indicating was that the report of inconsistency is a concern, because I feel we need more consistent players. That being said, neither of us have seen him play in the NHL, hence the wait-and-see comment.

I'm not sure another Franzen is what we need. Inconsistency kills, because when all your streaky players fail to show up... say, during the playoffs... Well, it will be interesting to see how this guy develops; these reports aren't necessarily representative of what the player will grow into.

The thing is, this team is going to be essentially "blown up" by players retiring in the next couple years. Losing Rafalski now and Lidstrom soon is a HUGE change, and as much as people want to believe drop-in replacements will come along and the Wings can continue on in exactly the same way, I don't think that's realistic. I really think they need to be looking to the future with an eye toward building a more balanced team, but that's a subject for 10 other threads. I'm not going to lose my sanity over not acquiring Burns/Richards/Carter/whoever, but at the same time I don't agree with the almost hostile response of some posters on here to the mere suggestion that Holland could have made a trade of anyone except the one or two current whipping boys that are arbitrarily considered tradeable while no other players should be.

Or possibly, the fact that all we have going on in the draft thread is a silly argument on religion is a symptom of the fact that the Sharks got a legitimate defenseman out of their first round pick, and the Wings got absolutely nothing. Not that I think it was anything less than a sharp move full of strategery.

Yeah, this is sort of the rub. I thought Mursak showed some promise, especially using his speed with Helm's. I didn't see enough of Emmerton to make a judgement but regardless, it's hard to keep seeing prospects shipped away to other teams because of lack of roster space. At some point, I think the Wings need to keep some room to start working on some of the younger guys even in the playoffs, like they did with Helm and Abdelkader. Especially for any potential top-six skill type players e.g. Tatar. Even if he or others don't develop to that level in the end, they've got to take the shot because Datsyuk, Zetts and Franzen won't be around forever no matter what their contracts say. All that being said, I still really think the roster as a whole needs more grit and toughness. If that means clearing some of our borderline, "depth" pieces, I think the tradeoff is worth it even if it means seeing players I like shipped out. I'd rather have some big, physical grinders to protect our skill kids as they develop.

Fair, but I think there's also a general cultural point to support your first sentence. The sports culture in the Southeast is very focused on college (and lower) football. This applies to a lesser extent to college baseball and basketball, depending on area, but college football is HUGE. Even the pro football etc. teams in this region have trouble drawing attendance. To speak to your racial point, it's been my observation that at least in the Carolinas (I'm not sure whether this holds true in the Atlanta area also) that there seems to be somewhat more interest in pro football (i.e. the Panthers) in the black community, but even so college is far more popular. My point is that trying to work hockey into this equation is an uphill battle on many fronts. People around here are deathly afraid of snowfall, let alone cold enough temperatures to freeze a pond for any length of time. Regardless of the size of the metro area, I agree with the point above that you just aren't going to be able to attract enough interest any time soon.

I would take that in a second, but I don't really see why Boston would. Campbell has become a solid player for them after they essentially got him as a sidenote, and one of their best penalty killers. Why would they trade him for Hudler who had a questionable year? Boston needs top-six wingers, but I don't think the need is deep enough yet to take a gamble on Hudler AND trade down in the draft.

There's also the consideration that the coach is not the GM. The old saying goes that only a poor carpenter blames his tools, and there's some wisdom in that. However, I'm fairly sure that if you put the greatest carpenter in the world in a bare room with some boards and a rock only, he's not going to get very ******* far either. Babcock has the tools he has, and can't change it. And I'm starting to get the sense more and more that he might want to. McClellan has the tools he has. I think both coaches are legit, and working out which is "better" is difficult at best given the variables involved. The Wings have a lot of skill, I won't deny that; and I like most to all of our players. My point though: on the surface, in terms of a Cup fight, I might be forced to admit I'd rather have San Jose's toolkit on hand.

This brings up a point that I've wondered ever since the Modano signing. Look, I don't mean to disparage anything that Modano has done; he's had a great career, and is one of the greats overall. I don't deny that. What I don't understand is what Detroit owes to him. OK, he's from Michigan. I get that. But what has he done for the Wings, really? One season, where he produced almost nothing, and wasn't even really with the team half of it? Why should these guys play "for him", and why should the fans get behind him? I'm sorry, but half the time he did play this season he floated around on cruise-control. Miller, Eaves, Abdelkader and Hudler have all done far more for the Wings than Modano ever has. All that being said, he does have the experience; though the Wings aren't exactly lacking in playoff experience. And at this point, I don't think a change could hurt. I'm just bothered by the implication that seems to come up that Modano is owed something a priori by the Wings or Wings fans.

OK, I like Abby, but this is both hilarious and possibly workable.

Our guys are getting beat on, and now look afraid to touch the puck. But size and grit are things the Wings "don't need"...