SouthernWingsFan

Until Lidstrom retires, he will be the most recognizable Wing in the overall sense I think. Could Zetterberg be more recognizable? Sure, but it's not like there's a need for him to get respect or that he's being disrespected in any way in my opinion.

And I had to f**king work today and I have to come home to find out this s**t? /end extreme overreaction That's all right, I like my job and had a good day today despite it being a holiday for many. Excellent pics all!

Relax people, resist the temptation to push the JOLLY SHINY CANDY LIKE PANIC BUTTON! Even though I know people are going to do so and this post will go over people's head (I can already here the *whooshing* breeze). Oh well, I’ll still try. Seriously, we should try to get a grip on the situation. I know I know what some might say, "BUT SOUTHERNWINGSFAN THIS IS ZETTERBERG OMG THE WINGS CAN'T PLAY WITHOUT HIM HE IS THE SLAMMO OF BAMMOS THE ZORRO OF Z'S JUST A GIGANTIC MUTANT OF A MAN HE’S ZETTERBERG!" Or something a little less descriptive and less goofy than that (hey it's the best I could come up with off-hand in 30 seconds ). He knows his body better than any one of us, and I think it's a safe bet that if it were playoffs, he'd be playing. It's not like the Wings are sweating bullets for a playoff spot right now though. While I'd definitely like for him to be on the ice obviously, the team can afford him to miss a few games if absolutely need be. He doesn't seem all that concerned, I'm not all that concerned, we shouldn't be all that concerned. Now let's all play Twister! I tried.

Otis Redding - Love Man

Cleary deserves a significant raise. And I'm actually pretty open on Lilja coming back, and Wings management is smart enough not to pony up too much for him. His first year here, I think it's safe to say he was not really that good overall. Say what you want about his terrible gaffe against Anaheim in the playoffs in game 5, but overall in the postseason he was extremely solid and for the most part physical, when again he seemed to start bad last season. For worse you still see some of his brainfart passes/turnovers but they are much fewer now it seems then when he started out with the Wings. He's a solid PKer, blocks shots, and has decent size which people in here yell about constantly that we don't have enough of it.

I would think and hope Lebda would have enough offensive skill as a d-man to consistently flirt with around 5 - 10 goals and 30 - 35 points a season, but honestly I think it's still too early to accurately predict how he'll perform in the NHL long-term and if my guesses are unrealistic or not. So, I think the verdict is still out on him to a degree on that mode of thinking, but without question his speed is his #1 asset in terms of backchecking and preventing odd-man rushes and such. I think he commits some brainfart turnovers a bit more to my liking, but again his speed makes up for it and it's not like he's doing much to cost the Wings games. Overall I'm indifferent on him. I see, or at least I think I do, his value to the Wings asa a 4th - 6th d-man right now, but it wouldn't crush me if the two parted ways at some point in the future as I don't know if he'll be any more than that on the Wings. EDIT: Nevertheless, he basically came out of nowhere to make the Wings a few seasons ago when it was expected he'd just be another tryout/preseason player and nothing more, so take that into consideration with your expectations on him.

I really do not understand why some people on hear dislike Crosby. It's one thing to be a little tired of hearing about him all the time, but cheering that he got injured (or if anybody gets injured, I don't care who it is or if it is a rival player or somebody we collectively hate) is low. It's not funny or amusing, and yes I have a sense of humor and am as big of a smart allec as can be at times. And you cannot tell me that some of you don't want hockey and the NHL to be more popular overall and pick up a larger fan base. Sidney Crosby, for better or worse, is THE MAIN FACE of the NHL and is the one of the NHL's best marketing ploy's. Guess what? Him getting injured puts a temporary dent in those plans. You can't have it both ways with not hearing/seeing Crosby play for a while and wanting the NHL to grow (without him).

A goal is a goal is a goal. An assist is an assist is an assist. A point is a point is a point. It doesn't really matter how it's done to me or how ugly it might be, but contributing has got to give any play confidence. What do you expect Matthias or Bertuzzi to do? Blow snot rockets and not tip the puck in or contribute offensively? Just take a nap while their on the ice? Sing the Happy Happy Joy Joy song?

I don't get my hair in a rut, I don't pull my hair out, same difference. *shrugs*

All annoucers are homers to a certain degree for the teams they broadcast for. I didn't find anything wrong with the Sharks annoucers last night at all, and I don't really find anything wrong with the Wings annoucers. I rarely pay that much attention or get my hair in a rut in what broadcasters have to say during games, I just watch games for the action on the ice or playing surface. If annnoucers got on my nerves that much, I'd just hit the mute button on my remote.

Of course Wilson is going to try to promote a player under his coaching to start. Why wouldn't he? This shouldn't be a surprise to anybody in either a positive or negative fashion. It really doesn't matter who starts in the All-Star game though, whether you are a goalie or one of the 5 skaters on the ice. The 3 goalies selected play 1 full period pretty much, and it's not like the guys who take the 1st shift on the ice just hog all the ice time.

When other defensemen seem to do well and make very little mistakes or no glaring mistakes, and not "as good" as Nicklas Lidstrom, it really says either we are spoiled by Lidstrom being so good, or Lidstrom can never, ever do any wrong. I'm not trying to discredit Lidstrom at all in his importance to Detroit, but we often treat the man like he can never make a mistake. I've seen him turn the puck over on rare occassion as well. And no goals so far at home. I know as a defenseman your first job is to play DEFENSE (and he's probably had a few at home defelected in by others, I can specially recall a Holmstrom goal like it), but for a d-man who is more than capable of putting offensive points/stats up more than others, you'd think he'd have one or two at least. AGAIN, so people don't throw at me, Lidstrom is the most important player for the Wings right now, but it's not like he's immune all the time. I honestly don't know what much else some fans can ask of Rafalski. He's putting up career numbers and he's not making any huge gigantic mistakes that costs Detroit games. Sure, being paired with Lidstrom helps I bet, but those points just didn't come out of thin air. I'm sure Rafalski wasn't picking his nose or clipping his toenails getting his points (although he'd be pretty damn talented if that's how it was done ). We're so spoiled seeing Lidstrom play close to flawless hockey nearly every night that anything less from his other d-man is considered around unacceptable. And that's just unfair and undeserved more often than not, in my opinion.

Could care less about the Ducks, or any other teams doing so well (or terrible right now). I don't dispise or hate any of the teams at all by not caring about them, that's not what I'm saying. All teams have stretches where they just can't seem to lose, or they just flat out struggle losing 5 or 6 straight games. It happens to everybody. There's no point in worrying about it because it changes nothing.

Pretty much stole most of my thunder as I am thinking along the same mode and had a detailed post, but I will post anyways... I can bet at least 60, maybe 70 percent of the people in this forum were doing tumblesets for the entire evening when the Wings traded for Todd Bertuzzi, because people in here have moaned and complained since they were toddlers that the team didn't have enough size or a power forward. Probably higher than 70 percent. Bertuzzi still fit that mold to a certain extent even when he wasn't quite 100 percent. I was excited when the Wings got him. And yes, I am aware of the whole "drama" of the Colorado-Vancouver incident or that Bertuzzi is a questionable hitter or whatever the junk may be that fans draw up (which I really do not want to talk about or debate as it's done and over with). I didn't care, I thought his good qualities far were better and trumpeted the "incident" and I thought overall he could help the Red Wings, hence me being happy to attain him. Where was the moaning and complaining about this trade right after the trade deadline concluded? Didn't hear too many people whine about it then. You take chances to improve your team. Sometimes they don't work out. Sometimes they do (i.e. see Chelios trade). It's not like Holland gave up 15 minor leaguers or draft picks to get Bertuzzi. It's not like he signed an unproven player to a 12-year contract. Just 1 draft pick. ONE. Good for Shawn Matthias for developing so well so far. What do you guys want him to do? Just stink up the joint to balance out the scales of this trade? Are you serious? And for the love of god nobody better tell me a soapbox waterworks rant about Holland having a personal vendetta being completely against power forwards or tough guys. There will be plenty more chances to find and/or develop big guys in the future. Holland got us size at the trading deadline LIKE PEOPLE WERE CLAMORING FOR, and people still moan and complain. Unbelievable. Given the same scenario(s) like last season around the trading deadline (BEFORE Bertuzzi underperformed overall in the playoffs), I would still have done this trade in a heartbeat, and I'm sorry again for assuming, but a lot of others in here probably would have as well. If you predicted that this trade would end up in failure for the Red Wings around the time that it occurred and that Matthias would have "developed" this well this fast, I sure hope you can predict that I go on a date with Jessica Biel or win the lottery next month and become rich.

Yikes. If we are trying to get the real Slim Shady to please stand up still, I don't think Rafalski is him. Anyways, Rafalski is fine. He plays next to Lidstrom who plays close to flawless hockey nearly every night. Got to lower our expectations just a little bit. They aren't always going to be perfect out there. Rafalski's fine.

I think I might have weird funky dreams about Cleary and Hasek this evening.

Was personal stupid s**t in my head that made me shy away from Hasek some, I always knew he was (or is/still is) damned good, but the reasons for not liking him were pretty retarded I think and had nothing to do with his play. That was then though and I hope to think I am a little wiser now. It was just that the ripping on Joseph was just so obnoxious sometimes when he often didn't deserve it, but I am starting to digress... At least one of fthe two has definitely been laying very well all year long, and both are still extremely capable #1's with their play. I wish some could be content with that and not find stupid and bitter personal reasons to not like either of them.

Wonderful perspective gcom.

I don't care how much or how loudly I get yelled at for this post, but if there was ever a realistic trade where every team benefits or a chance to pick up Chris Pronger to help out the Red Wings, I'd be pretty happy in getting him. I am not saying to make it a priority to go after this guy, speaking pretty much in the hypothetical sense. I apologize ahead of time for the long post length, necessary to justify my reasoning to hopefully reduce the number of yells or reduce the decibel level of yells. And no I am not on any medications or take any drugs and am perfectly sober with this post. DISCLAIMER I: This, in no way/shape/form, does not imply that I excuse the hits he put on Detroit and Ottawa in the playoffs that yielded suspensions or some of his questionable hits, or his attempted hit on Yzerman's knee in the 2002 playoffs that completely backfired, so do not reply back to me "BUT HE IS A CHEAP SHOT ARTIST DIRTY PLAYER WHY WOULD YOU WANT SOMEBODY LIKE THAT YOU STUPID SOUTHERNWINGSFAN!" I get it, and I perfectly understand that he is not liked in here. I'm sorry though, the attitude towards him in here is so over the top ridiculous at times. DISCLAIMER II: No, I am not implying either that by being open to getting Pronger I want the Red Wings to turn to the Broadstreet Bullies. Nor would they just magically turn into them if they ever got Pronger. He has good qualities that people in here have whined about night and day in the past that the Wings often lack (or have lacked depending on how you want to look at it)…size and aggressive hitting. You take the good along with the bad with him, and I think his good would far outweigh his bad. Is he my favorite player? No, far from it. Do I just absolutely dispise him? I'm sorry to not go with the popular trend here, but no. Again, I don't encourage some of the things he has done in the past, but they happened, he and the Ducks won last year despite us not liking it. It's over and done with. I've moved on from what he did in 2002 and these past playoffs. As fun as it might be for many, I just don't or can't completely hate a player or team, it's just something I don't like to involve myself with. I'm not trying to say I'm better than other fans due to thinking or "behaving" differently and I understand why people might hate certain athletes, I just don't do that kinda stuff. It's just too over the top sometimes. Only person that comes kinda close is Claude Lemieux. Is he one of the better defensemen in the league today? I think so, it's kind of difficult to argue against it. As much as I don't like what he did and as much as he is a top-5 public enemy in here, I would welcome him to the Red Wings as I think he would help the team and I'd put any personal bad vibes toward him aside. The team is more important than any one player that we might absolutely utterly adore, or utterly hate in this case. Chelios was a hated enemy back in the day, now we enjoy his presence on the Red Wings. Not saying that would be the case if Pronger was ever actually here, but it's normal to hate the enemy obviously until he plays for your team.

His flopping about won him 6 Vezina trophies in his career. Yes that was then and he is much older now, but his flopping about is HIS method that best suits HIM and gives HIM the best chance to make saves. It might not work for any other goaltender in the league, but it works for HIM. And he's not going to change the way he plays anytime soon just for you or any other fans that might hate Hasek or his style. And he has looked for from washed up these last few games.

Is this 100% fact, or a strong opinion? To suggest that one goalie has zero capability to win a Cup for Detroit, when both are very solid #1 guys and both are capable in my mind, is pretty silly. How do you know what goes on in Osgood's head?

3 points for a regular-time win 2 points for an overtime win 1 point for a win in a shootout 0 points for a loss at any point in the game, no if's/and's/but's And while I definitely like shootouts and the entertainment aspect of them, do not change overtime-style playoff hockey whatsoever. While I definitely like 4-on-4 open ice as well, nothing comes close to a sudden death OT playoff game 5-on-5.

A rotation between him and Hasek was already well underway and he was winning pretty much all of his games during the rotation until this recent Wings snag. The rotation has done absolutely nothing to cool off any hot streaks since Osgood was playing so well when a rotation was declared a long time ago. It's just a bad stretch of games that pretty much every Wing is going through right now.

The main question now from this excellent post is this... Which is the better pair? Hasek and Osgood, or Karen Newman's "Assets"?

2'fer from the Godfather of Soul James Brown - Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud James Brown - Super Bad