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Ingredients and issues are two different things. We have the 'ingredients' to have good goaltending, they are just having issues right now. We have the ingredients for superior defense, they are also having some issues right now. We don't have an ingredient for toughness/fighting/enforcement unless Downey plays. just sayin' esteef

What do you mean? His hair is real. esteef

People hate the Wings cause their fans are assholes! esteef

The boys even mentioned how much of a better "player" he was due to more minutes in GR. Cheers to Downey! esteef

Parros just signed a three year extension with the Ducks reportedly worth 2.65 million. The Ducks probably want him for his career high 3 goals and 5 assists, cause we KNOW it's not JUST for fighting. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3870268 esteef

True, better chance of Barch going with Downey. esteef

I think it's clear that they were not going, regardless of the rule change. The late rule change just made them "look" worse because apparently a medically proven injury is not a good enough reason to not "attend". Crosby should've sat a game, and The Wings should've made sure SOMEONE went to the ASG. I'm good. esteef

To be honest, I think there are a couple s*** storms at play here. Should the rule exist, should it have been changed at the last minute, should Lids and Dats have been portrayed as they were, what constitutes proof of an injury, should it matter that a team wants to "rest" players, etc. esteef

You keep going back to the fact that Crosby showed up where Lids and Dats didn't. The rule being changed to allow "showing up" is where I have issue. The rule should've been enforced as it was agreed upon in February, if you don't PLAY, you sit a game. No last minute exceptions. Once again, Crosby not at fault, hence the "Crosby hating" claim is nonsense. esteef

What the hell does that prove? Nothing. Everyone knows the rule was in place last year. That's not being contested. Did you read the other threads on this at all? The rule is different now, at least the apparent interpretation of it is, since the Crosby phone call. That's the issue, it went from "play in" to "show up for" the ASG. That's the whole issue. The rule (from February) was changed right before the ASG to allow Crosby to attend, NOT play, AND play in his first game back. Of course that applies to everyone NOW, but that wasn't the agreement in February. That's it. esteef

The favoritism isn't that he was the only one to receive it, the favoritism is in the rule being changed for him, so he can play the next game back when the entire league knew the consequnces and were fine with it. Bettman should have said the rule is not being changed on the fly just so he doesn't have to miss a game. Showing up and being there for the fans is great but he still should've sat, according to the rule. Like I said before, switch out Avery for Crosby here, do you think the rule would've been ammended then? I think not. esteef

Bulls***. I've been through this for two long threads and am not about to start again. Crosby got a rule "ammended" to help him not miss a game. Was the deal offered to Nick and Pavel, yes. Was it offered in enough time for the Wings to reasonably respond, debatable. Should the rule have been changed at all, absolutely not. Ammend rules in a forum where all teams can be respresented, not when Crosby uses the Bat-phone directly to the commish. esteef

How no? If Bettman keeps the rule intact none of this s*** storm happens. By all means allow Crosby to attend, but he still sits the next game because of the rule. Everyone was fine with the consequences, until the exception/clarification happened. Once again (for Gordie), Crosby is not to blame here. esteef

Crosby still got the rule changed for his benefit didn't he? The responsibility is on Bettman in this and always has been. esteef

Here Here! esteef

Amen.

Haha! Same thing I was thinking. Heads up Ott!!!! Cheers to the call-ups! esteef

I stopped reading during the second paragraph. esteef

I think it would still be fine. We're not talking about THAT many players. Let everyone know who is selected before the regular season ends so players can make themselves available. It's one weekend for Christ sakes. This eliminates the whole save myself for the playoffs/Cup run mentality. After all, it is still their job as many have pointed out as well as an "honor" to be selected. I think the players would like it better, more of a festive atmosphere without interfering with their "real" job. esteef

Attendance issues resolved. Having it at the winning team's arena is great for teams that win the Cup on the road. Gives their fans an opportunity to cheer for them while the fire is still hot!!! esteef

Squeal Louder! :beerbuddy: esteef

Me and my bro, back when we played for Wisconsin.

I just fell out of my chair!