PavelValerievichDatsyuk

I agree with this. I was more responding to the goalies don't have value unless their top 10 part of you're previous post. Varlamov and Schneider were mostly potential (though Schneider was somewhat proven at trade time since he had done some playoff in place of Lou), but certainly not top 10. The only other little point that I'll quibble with is that Howard is on the descent. I feel that this year and the beginning of last year are the some of the best hockey he's played. Think that Pekka Rinne is 33, Lundquist is 33, Craig Andersson is 34. I don't think a goalie's prime is over at 31. He has a couple years left before the drop off is really felt. But, yeah, no big player coming back for him.

I'd say that Varlamov and Schneider trades were pretty good return. 9th or 11th pick would almost guarantee a young impact player. We could even possibly trade up using our other 1st rounder. Varly was especially good return - 9th pick plus a 2nd rounder (Schneider should have demanded another pick or player as well). I would take that for Howie if we could find a solid backup. I just don't think it's time yet. Mrazek's being eased into the starting position and we won't have to worry about managing them under the cap for a few years. We are gambling a bit with the fact that Howie might decline and lose value. I don't think it's an essential trade anyway, though. I think he could play out the contract as our backup in the final years and we wouldn't have to worry about goaltending for a long time. Howie's salary is a bit of an issue with the idea of trading. Howard's 5.2 is 17th for goalies - anyone trading for him would be taking him as a starter ,though, and that's low amongst starters (since half the league has a more expensive goalie).

Yeah, Jagr's comment was a joke. Older guys can handle 3-on-3.

He's played 1 NHL game and, according to hockey-reference.com, has a total of 9:01 NHL ice time. I don't think that's enough to judge how he plays against NHL players. Most players are probably scared their first NHL game.

The loosest of Gooses!!!!

And that's why he didn't hit back.

Yeah, I was just a joke. There's a running thing about how they look the alike. Will Ferrell posted on twitter that it was actually him that played on the Chili Peppers' records. Then they challenged each other to a drum off, went on Jimmy Fallon together and Will Ferrell did his 'more cowbell' thing - it was pretty funny. Chad is a Wing fan, though.

I think this singer (Darren McCarty) is pretty into the wings: Someone already mentioned Kid Rock, but i wanted to post this picture because it's pretty funny: And Will Ferrrell, drumming with The Chili Peppers:

You think Kroeger is bad, Justin Beiber is apparently a RWs fan. There are photos of him with many Red Wings hats, but I won't mess up the board with that. Here's Patti Smith: She was married to Sonic Smith from the MC5 and I think she lived in Detroit for a while.

It seems a little more intense than that. He's having metal plates inserted surgically to support his jaw. Maybe he come back a little earlier with the full cage, but I'd imagine he's in way too much pain right now. Jurco on the 4th is fine with me. Helm played there, impressed, was moved up when Pulkkinen struggled - same could be for Jurco. He can take Helm or Richards spot if he shows his energy and forechecking pressure. Also, Jurco is good defensively and can play that role so it's good for the team. My view on him is just that he needs to be playing and should have been scratched post conditioning stint. People are comparing Jurco's experience to AA - both were on the 3rd line when they first came up but the difference is that Jurco had an extended period of struggling. You can only say that they've been treated differently if AA stayed for 50+ more games, struggled offensively and is kept on the 3rd line. I like the thread title: who is this player Bummer? and why is he also out a while?

I was just teasing since I know you've been bagging on Helm. With Miller likely out, that's obviously a 4th liner gone so I see Andersson getting the call. Long shot, but I noticed Callahan has the second most goals in GR - Since we need a grinder, I've wanted to see him get another game here. As for Pulkkinen's replacement, it has to be Jurco. He should be playing anyway and it would be a bad sign/big diss to not put him in now.

Catch the Helm goal Lefty? did ya, did ya?

I think it was mostly Tat-Shea-Jurco 2 years ago.

The Tatar-Sheahan-Nyquist line is starting to win me over.

We've got our mojo working

Smith definitely got the first punch in but it look like CHirpchunga dropped the gloves first.

wish i could see a non-coyote feed. hint hint. (nudge nudge, wink wink... know what I mean?)

penalty kill? why?

thanks

saw miller go down. who's the 2nd?

Am I missing something? both the GDT and the link say Pulkkinen on the 4th line and Richards on Pav's wing. Maybe Richard's was on the 4th line last game? I don't like the current lines either. I do like Helm with Dats since he wants a piano puller, but they need a finisher and Richards has the snakebite on him. Those 2 with Tatar were great last year. I like that line reunited. Or more broad changes: N-Z-A (long lost member of Wu Tang) Lark-Dats-Helm Jurco/Rich-Shea-Tat I get that Blashill wants Goose and Tatar to carry a line by themselves, but I think that's a bad plan. Spread them out and let them carry (or at least contribute to) 2 lines. They're broadly the same ingredient and I have never seen much chemistry between the 2. Edit: predictions: Wings win 4 to less than 4 (Green, Helm, Tatar, Z)

Agreed. I actually never watched the all-star game, but I did watch the skills competition. Fastest skater, hardest shot, accuracy (4 corner shots) - that stuff is interesting. It gives the players bragging rights and they'd pushed to break records. There's been some good 'rivalries' between some players for certain skills. I tried to watch it a couple of years ago, but they turned the skills part into games from your family picnic with the team obstacle course and stuff like that. Maybe kids like that, though, so I shouldn't complain since the All-star game is aimed at kids I think.

I agree with kip - the D have been good. And they look that way without Q, who will be an upgrade over anyone on the 3rd pair at least. E is fine. He's not an ideal fit in our top 4, but I think he's been playing better since being taken off the top pair and has DK with him. He had that one 'head in the clouds' moment for the one goal last night, but that hasn't been the norm for him.

I thought so too. I was thinking a goal for him or Sheahan. It would be nice to those 2 going, but we got Miller and Abby off the snide tonight so I shouldn't ask for too much.

Is this some Jedi s*** you're trying?