SouthernWingsFan

Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You

In 1999 the Wings would've won the Cup with 2 rounds even left to be determined after they were eliminated? You know this how? Very strong hypothetcial and "what if" scenarios there. I think you need to take a step back from your statistical charts for a few minutes as well as your pro-Osgood kool aid. DISCLAIMER: To all the Osgood fans, no I don't hate Osgood so don't insinutate that as a result of this post. *Awaits response of over-analyzed statistics that nobody here truly will understand or realy care that badly about if A, B, and C happened and 1, 2, and 3 happened with shots from center ice, the blue line, the faceoff circles, and saves in the early part of the 1st period and middle part of the 3rd period*

Happy birthday!

Personally, I could really care less how it's decided now. The overall talk of a playoff or BCS stuff has just gone so over the top that I just don't care anymore how it's decided. Also contributing to this is the LSU/USC rivalry and debate crap from 2003 when LSU won the BCS Sugar Bowl, but USC won the Rose Bowl with a similar record and no consensus #1 rankings from all the polls and stuff. I still hear it today from LSU fans and how they just constantly ***** and moan about USC. Who the hell cares, you won something, be happy about it for crying about loud. Also, even though I didn't go to LSU, this was a pretty hard loss to digest that I can remember. Arkansas was/is very capable even though they have underperformed this year and I wasn't going to be surprised if it happened, also with LSU living dangerously almost all year, but the way it happened was pretty stunning. Kudos to Arkansas though, they deserved every bit of that win. Just glad that I don't take this stuff too seriously anymore or I'd still be suffering from depression. Just surprised they dropped so much in the BCS to #7, I thought they'd be no worse than #5. Anyways, got to mention kudos to my alma mater TCU as well. Underperformed this year as well, but they finished strong winning 3 of their last 4 to finish the season 7-5 and (in all likelihood) go to a bowl game for the 9th time in 10 season. Not a bad track record for a team that doesn't play in the big conferences.

No disrespect to the original poster, and no disrespect to Yzerman, but why? He has nothing more to prove, he's put his body through hell and back for the Red Wings franchise on the ice, there's nothing more that he needs to do on the ice. That would really hurt...

1 - No. Downey was put on waivers twice, and nobody really made any push to pick him up either time (or so I am assuming). Unless he just magically turns into a consistent scoring threat, I see no reason why anybody would pick him up assuming he goes on waivers again. 2 - Not entirely sure about how waivers work, but Ellis is younger and has more potential than Downey at 33 (?). Not to diminish the role that Downey has played so far this season, but Ellis is still a rookie, hence giving him necessary time to try to make an impact on the Wings over the net few seasons. 3 - Not much would change from what we would currently see. A mix of Kopecky/Drake/Ellis assuming everybody is healthy. With all that being said, I have enjoyed watching Downey in his opportunities here. I like his game, and I liked the 'extended' scrap in last nights game where the two continuously went at it then pretty much shook each other's hand/called a truce as it finally ended. That's a good fight. However, he has performed his role exactly as it is defined, nothing more/less that's why I'm not going too ga-ga over him when a 4th line role/fighting/agitating is just a few of many parts of hockey (although generally speaking I don't get too hyped up over anything anymore). He's playing 4th-line minutes, getting his hands dirty every now and then, and providing energy and spirit like he's supposed to. When everything is going fairly well for the Wings despite this recent snag, no need to change things much, so keep Downey's role the same.

I haven't worn any kind of jersey in any sport in forever but here's what I got hockey-wise. Detroit Red Wings - White Sergei Fedorov #91 Philadelphia Flyers - White Eric Lindros #88 "C" Vancouver Canucks - Black Pavel Bure #96 Washington Capitals - White Joe Juneau #90 I wasn't requesting one for Christmas, but my parents asked if I wanted any new jersey wear so I was like, "Why the hell not?" So, I might be getting a new Red Wings jersey of Holmstrom #96 in red. Who knows...

Good. Makes the games much more competitive/intense, more fun, gets the team more battle-ready for the most important games. Despite the division being stronger this year so far, I still see no reason why the Wings will have to seriously fret about making the playoffs this year, much like in recent years past. So, the increased quality of competition will be good for them then, assuming that what happens in my last sentence comes true.

Basically going to just re-iterate what I said in a previous thread... This team has never had to sweat bullets to make the playoffs in recent memory. Even though the Central divsion looks to be stronger this year, doesn't look like the Wings will have too much trouble making the playoffs this season (knock on wood). What does this mean with 'tending? Not to diminish what Hasek or Osgood or any of the goalies in the Wings have done in the past, but since they have made the playoffs without a whole lot of trouble, you can't really say that the goaltending was a significant dominating factor, or THE MAIN REASON in getting the Wings to the playoffs. That being said, the Wings are still sitting fairly pretty despite this recent snag and despite Hasek not playing his best right now (though placing last night's loss all on him is idiotic at best, didn't watch the latest debacle against the Blackhawks where they lost and Hasek played so I cannot accurately comment on that even though it looks like on paper that he didn't do well). The playoffs start in April. APRIL (emphasized in caps for a reason). That is a long, LONG time aways. I don't see the Wings just completely going downhill this season, so that is PLENTY OF TIME for Osgood to continue to keep playing well and getting deserved ice time, and for Hasek to ramp his game up. We're not even close to being halfway through the season yet so there's absolutely no reason to make any rash/knee-jerk decisions on goaltending when the Wings are going to make the playoffs. Come late February if Hasek just keeps staying grounded, then I think you play Osgood a lot more. Babcock is handling them just fine right now. Osgood's getting more PT as it is deserved, and Hasek has/will be getting his chances to get back into a better groove. Playoffs and worrying about goaltending when it counts most is a long time away. I know my final words here will probably fall on death ears, but all of us need to be PATIENT concerning this.

Because people in here are ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUSLY OVER-OBSESSIVE about goaltenders here unfortuntely.

Has Drake performed to 100% REALISTIC expectations? I don't think so. Has Downey performed to 100% REALISTIC expectations? I'd say yes. And to satisfy all the overhype that Downey has gotten in here, yes I have liked what I have seen in him in the chances he has received this season. That being said though, I think in the OVERALL sense, Drake looks to have a little more to offer. He's shown he's capable of killing penalties and, if he gets it going a little better soon, possibly go up to a 3rd line role. We all know what Downey's role is, unless a light just completely goes on in his head and he starts finding a consistent scoring touch somehow. 4th line role, about 5-7 minutes a game, energy, agitate. We'll never see him on special teams. Now I know special teams shouldn't be the only determining factor that I laid out in this post, but we are all aware of the roles these 2 guys have. Drake has a slightly larger role than Downey. I think Babcock has handled both of them well. Unless Drake just completely struggles (hasn't neither been utterly good or utterly bad in my opinion), he'll still get decent playing time, but they are smart enough to rest him every now and then to keep him as fresh as possible. Downey is still going to get his opportunities every few games.

I absolutely shattered my goal in running the 5-mile race of 9:00/mile or 45:00 total. I finished it in 42:57, about 8:35/mile. Thankfully I didn't become bloated after Thanksgiving lunch/dinner yesterday, now I can resume focus on plenty of running/cardio work and some weightlifting here/there.

Timbaland - The Way I Are

Didn't really read the article in-depth, but here is the non-scientific grades of one not-so-smart man (me). Lilja - C+ Lidstrom - A Ellis - B+ Cleary - B+ Datsyuk - A Meech - B Drake - C Maltby - B Downey - B Lebda - B Chelios - B+ Hudler - B Rafalski - A- Osgood - A+ Draper - B+ Samuesson - B Hasek - C- Zetterberg - A+ Filppula - B Kronwall - B Kopecky - B- Franzen - C Holmstrom - A

Every Thanksgiving where I'm from there is a 5-mile run that takes place that I usually get involved in. I can easily run 5-miles in my sleep, but you wouldn't mistake me for a sprinter or somebody who runs cross country. Last year I took part in the race and ran it in about 45:15 total, and that I wasn't in the greatest of shape and wasn't really working out on a consistent basis around Thanksgiving last year. I've basically been kicking myself in the rear and getting myself motivated to do the race this year at or under a 9:00/mile pace and get under 45:00 total. The past few weeks I've ramped up my efforts running pretty hard on the treadmill. I hate the treadmill, but if I can have the patience of running on it for extended lenghts of time, I can beat this goal. Last week I finally beat the 9:00/mile pace a few times while being able to last running 5 miles on the treadmill, and I passed it the past two days with flying colors. Yesterday I really felt damned good and did it in 44:12, or about an 8:50/minute pace. Today I did it slightly slower, closer to 44:30, but I considered today more impressive because my iPod died on me not even halfway through my run, and I had to run about 2 3/4 miles just hearing treadmill thuds over and over again without motivating music. So, I know I can do it, just hopefully will be able to do it when it counts. Overall it's been good though because I've lost some weight doing this, got down to about 143 late week (slightly up from bad weekend eating), and I'm pretty re-committed right now to accomplishing this goal Thursday as well as increasing my stamina/getting in shape. I have little doubt I'll stay motivated to exercise throughout the holiday season, but hopefully the Thanksgiving/Christmas food won't take it's toll too much.

Nah, not really will power. I've just heard (and did it a few times myself when I was younger and stupider) people rant away at announcers and other stuff like that which they can't control and just think it's kinda silly now. Just seeing and also taking part in such things in the past that I think don't really are all that constructive anymore. Simple things, that's what I'm about. While I can definitely appreciate stuff like good commentary, HD TV, 60 inch screens and such, I don't need the latest/greatest stuff as long as it shows halfway decent. It's definitely better than nothing.

Got Cox Digital Cable down here in New Orleans, no problems here as I just skimmed and it's showing up as a game option. Also got NHL Network on the availability and it showed the Wings-Jackets game yesterday evening without difficulty, FSN Ohio feed (which personally I could give two s**ts about, commentary and stuff like that is secondary to me, as long as the game is on somewhere, I am happy).

Destiny's Child - Jumpin' Jumpin'

LOL nice pic of the goof up. I thought the Sharks jerseys from the past few season were among the best in the league, but I actually don't mind the current Sharks jerseys that much, even with the laser eyes. There are definitely a lot of worse jersey concepts this season (i.e. Panthers and Flames re-makes with the stripes up/down the jerseys, etc.).

I definitely like the presence Downey brings, but he's doing his job as a 4th-liner with limited minutes like he is supposed to do. Nothing more, nothing less, which is why I'm not going to get overly ga-ga over him because OMG HE FIGHTS AND HE'S TOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Again, he's doing what is asked of him. Do you give him a little more PT based on what he's done so far to a possible 3rd line role? Perhaps at most, but everybody here knows that he's probably just going to be reserved to the role that he is playing, so I'm not going to throw a hissy fit if he doesn't get more than 6-7 minutes a game or whenever he gets scratched again, because it is to be expected.

I haven't read the previous posts in this thread so I apologize if I'm repeating previous posters, and I refuse to get in a prolonged debate about goalies or a pro-Hasek or pro-Osgood or anti-Hasek and anti-Osgood debate as excessive talk (or almost any talk for that matter) about goaltending drives me nuts and makes me want to shove a pencil in my ear and run head first into a wall, among other painful acts. I don't have a huge pro or negative bias/opinion towards either goalie, generally speaking, so if anybody labels me having any kind of bias towards either goalie from this post, I will jump through my laptop and strangle you. With that said, this is my point and that'll probably be it for me and any detailed posts in this thread. I don't see why this team won't make the playoffs. I know the division is harder this season, but still, they should make it in spite of how well or bad either Hasek or Osgood might play this season. This has always been the case in recent history with the Red Wings. I'm certainly not trying to diminish the roles that Hasek or Osgood or other goaltenders have played in the past for Detroit, but let,s get real here. The Wings have never had to sweat bullets to make the playoffs lately, and regular season goaltending has not been a major advantage or crutch for Detroit in the playoff picture. With that said, I don,t care how unpopular it may be, but Hasek still needs to play more of the games. Not a whole lot more of the majority, but Hasek will never get going if he is just relegated to full-time backup duty. Osgood has certainly deserved more playing time so far due to his play alone, and HE WILL CONTINUE TO GET IT I think (and hope as it is deserved), but Hasek still needs to play, and it will be less than last year probably but that is a good thing due to his age and Osgood playing well. Assuming both goalies are healthy, I'd play Hasek about 60% of the games this season. That's not a huge difference of playing time between the two goalies in the grand scheme of things. Contrary to popular belief right now (I am assuming), THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF TIME for Hasek to improve his numbers. Again, this team is going to make the playoffs in spite of how good or bad the regular season goaltending might be from either tender. There is no reason to make any rash decisions on goaltending when this team is doing fairly well right now, despite the recent snag, and will make the playoffs. The playoffs begin in April? That is STILL A LONG TIME AWAY. If Hasek for whatever reason doesn't get it going by mid/late February, then you play Osgood a lot more. That's 3 months to get in a groove. 3 months is a long time as well. Sorry, I know some will probably ask me how the hell I can be so patient and I know a lot of people want results NOW, but again I'm trying to think big picture/long term for this season right now, especially again with the Wings being able to comfortably make the playoffs year-in and year-out without goaltending being a huge advantage/disadvantage in overall regular season playa. There is still time for Hasek to get better and for Osgood to continue to play well. And you know this how? He didn't play, so we'll never know. That's a strong assumption my boy...

While Rafalski has had some brainfarts lately, he's more than made up for it in point production, which greatly makes up for it. The original topic at hand is not to be taken seriously...

Because they don't have any on-ice/in-stands cheerleaders! DISCLAIMER: Yes this was a smart-ass joke. (Sorry if I repeated somebody, didn't read the first page)

Wyclef and Carlos Santana - Maria Maria

I'm just glad Holland and Babcock and company don't constantly listen and make constant decisions off us armchair fans. Hell, tthey'd probably be laughing their butts off if they read some of the knee-jerk reactionary stuff in this thread.