PavelValerievichDatsyuk

Chiarelli to Toronto? I think that would be good for them. Hey, if Julien's fired too they should take him as well.

Ding! Ding! Round 1!!

No, I actually don't mind. Datsyuk's a star to me and hardly ever has scored 30. Each team still has stars to their own fanbase that latch onto. It's not dependant on them being 30 goal scorers. Price and Subban here in Montreal, Karlsson and - this year - Hammond in Ottawa. They're all stars to the general public. The game is probably as popular as ever (I do live in Montreal, mind you). It also makes the feat by Ovechkin all the more impressive when there aren't a lot of guys able to do it. A star is brighter when in contrast to it's surroundings. A side note: It will also be better for the Wings moving forward. If scoring has been spread throughout the lineups instead of dependant on 1 or 2 stars then we'll be better off with our future lineup of balanced scoring. As for fighting, I can't enjoy it now knowing all that it has caused former fighters. I know a lot of people that feel the same way.

That's laying it on a bit thick. He really didn't have that bad of a year. And showing his stats shows very little. 4 goals was 3rd for our Defence behind Kronwall and Kindl. As for his +/- (-2) : half our team ended up as minus players and 9 players had larger minuses. Yes, he made a really stupid mistake and hasn't been great, but people are just piling on now. If the thread keeps going he'll end up at Lebda levels of distain.

There's a flaw in your reasoning. Just because there's less 30 and 40 goal scorers doesn't necessarily mean there's less scoring. To me, it means the defensive side of the has improved so that teams have learned to neutralize stars so that they can't rack up the goals. You'd have to look total league-wide goals scored to see if scoring is up or down. I found this chart for average goals per game: http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/stats.html It actually shows that scoring has been pretty steady. Especially for the past 5 years. This current period is actually up from 97-03. 05-09 was a bit higher. After 1996 is the point where scoring dropped off significantly. Since then, it's been down, up then settled between the two levels. It doesn't fit so well into your "league is becoming less and less exciting" argument.

After the Wild game we played the Caps. It was a back-to-back game and we pretty much always change goalies in that situation.

I want to know more about Abby's status. I've seen in some places that he broke his hand, but now they're saying that he's day-to-day and might play the first game. What's the truth?

Way overdue means that it hasn't been the case in past years (i.e. Cleary, Sammuelsson). So he is basically saying the same thing as you. This year there has been more accountability. Ask Brendan Smith and Kindl.

We started Legace and then switched and we still won the series - I see very little regret or consequence to that decision. I'd be fine if we switch goalies mid series if it doesn't start out well. I wouldn't view that as making the wrong decision. Neither goalie has inspired confidence recently, but Mrazek played a statement game with his shutout when all eye were on him. That's as close as either has come to stating that they deserve to play.

We have a starter's net?

Without a top pick like RNH, I think all you can ask for is to have picks that might get there. We have at least two with Larkin and AA. Larkin has done about as well as possible for prospect at his stage of development and plays the perfect style of game to be a high end center. Our need for a top center is probably at least 4 years away. We'll also add more prospects in that time. I feel pretty optimistic. It seems likely that Sheahan will develop into a #2 center. We have Larkin and AA who will vie for the other top 3 center spots. Helm can also go back to being a center on the 3rd line. Glendening will lock up that 4th line spot for years to come. As for D - DD has a great potential to develop into a top pairing player. He already looks like our #2 and this was his first 82 game season.

A bit of both. A Sucksess, if you will. It's only dissapointing because of how good the team played at the beginning of the year. It was a tale of 2 seasons and we want to be the team of the first 2 3rds. I think our recipe to get there is clear: get better goaltending from Jimmy and Mrazek, Improve the D, and one or 2 more steady contributers on the front end. For the last point, think of how different it might have gone if Mule played the whole season and Jurco had played the way he did last year. Definitely a step forward though on the whole, though. Perceptions will change if the Wings get it together for the playoffs so LGW!

The one finger salut?

So 4th place to 8th is a 3 point difference. That's crazy!

100 POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean, Yeah Andersson!

Damn, wanted Tatar with the EN.

Just realized something: Is this Cleary's last NHL game? If so, hope he scores one.

I hope DD Helm I'm guessing Ericsson and helm

Without Z and Datsyuk and Weiss is still not center. I think Weiss has a long term mortgage on that doghouse. I'm going to keep an eye on how that DD-Marchenko pairing does. I'm not against Smith (there seems to be a wave of hate since last game's incident), but for the future that could turn out to be a solid shut down duo going forward. Quincey-Zidlicky also seems a more solid 3rd pairing.

Yes, they're "resting" smith.

Of course you mean the remaining 17+ games. I get what you're saying on Babcock, though. I'm on the fence about him. There have been a lot of things recently that have reflected poorly on the coach. Even beyond play - The number of too many men penalties, for instance. Then again, people were saying this was Babcock's Jack Adams year at the halfway mark. I think a better assessment is somewhere in the middle. There's no guaranteed better option so it would be a big decision.

If everyone (mostly Mule) is healthy, there really isn't room for Cole. Bringing him back, to me, would make Pulkkinen and Jurco the extra forwards, which I wouldn't want. Helm-D-Tatar Abby-Z-Nyquist Mule-Sheahan-Pulkkinen Miller-Glen-Weiss Jurco, Then again, if Mule's health is questionable or we trade Weiss, I'm all for bringing back Cole if he's cheap and healthy. Edit: just reread your post and realized you basically said the same thing with your "only potential downside is it keeps a roster spot away from one of the kids..." Guess we just disagree if that a good or bad thing. I think it's fine if we switch Jurco and Pulks in and out of the line-up, but if they both have to wait for injuries to get in, then that's too much of a roadblock for their success in my opinion.

When you can't tank it, you must spank it.

You didn't watch the Pens game.