kipwinger

I'm sure they'd want one of those guys, but it's part of KH's job to make taking Franzen a more palpable idea. Maybe keep the second and upgrade it to a first. Or throw in another middling prospect. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it HAS to happen. I don't hate Franzen or Helm. But I don't like Franzen on the third line, and I don't like Helm as a winger in the top six. So if I can get rid of those situations, AND pick up quality players, I'm happy to sacrifice a pick and a prospect (or two).

True. Ugh.

A couple of points I'd make in response. Despite the fact that Rafalski wasn't exactly loved around here, anybody who still doesn't see how valuable he was to the team is nuts. Yandle would be too. Secondly, Boedker is noted for his two way play, I'm not sure where you're getting that from? AND he's capable of putting up points. Finally, I think we get (marginally) more physical in the sense that A) Yandle is more fiesty than any of our d-men and fights (rarely, but on occasion), B) Boedker is physical in the same way that Helm is, plus he's quite a bit bigger and heavier, C) trading Andersson would get Callahan in the lineup, and he's more physical than anybody on our team. And really, what are we losing? Helm? Franzen? Neither of them are particularly strong this season, and I'd be happy to move them plus picks and prospects for two 50 pts. players in their twenties (not exactly mortgaging the future by trading a 22 year old Pulkkinen for a 24 year old Boedkker).

We'll eat those nancys in the playoffs. Steven Stamkos wants nothing to do with a steady diet of Luke Glendening. Nothing.

Rumor has it that Yandle and Boedker can be had. The asking price for Yandle is rumored to be a top line guy, prospect, and second round pick. We've got a top line forward on our third line. No rumored asking price on Boedker. So... Franzen, Helm, Kindl (or Andersson), Pulkkinen, 2nd for Yandle and Boedker Which would give us Nyquist-Z-Abby Tatar-Pav-Boedker Jurco-Sheahan-Weiss Miller-Glendening-Andersson (or Callahan if Andersson went the other way) Thoughts?

I'm not sure where else to pose this query so I'll do it here. Did Ouellet completely leapfrog Smith in the depth chart without anybody saying anything about it? I noticed he was out there late in the game when Babcock put Pav and Z back together, and he had more ice time than Smith. It's no secret that Babs likes the guy, but he's getting up around 20:00 a night in playing time as an injury replacement.

Yikes! Riley's brother just got served his lunch lol.

Anybody know what's going on with Babcock's shirt?

What do you mean, "play like fairies"?

Come off it fellas. The last I knew Detroit had the third most powerplays in the league. There is absolutely not referee bias against Detroit. It's simply not true.

I'm not sure, but is Petr Mrazek totally awesome or not?

I have no idea what that means, but I think I support it?

That's because your commie country has commie healthcare. I'd rather stand on a pile of mumps riddled children than sacrifice the sacred bond between my money and the multi-national insurance companies who provide ever more expensive, and barely adequate, insurance. But off that subject. Sidney Crosby's a chode, am I right?

Crosby rule 2.0? Any attempt to mump, or accidentally mumping, another player in the head is expressly forbidden by the NHL. Players attempted a clean check are responsible for their salivary glands, spittle, and all other oral residue. Any player found in violation of these rules will be assessed a game misconduct and will be required to forfeit one of their lymph nodes to Sidney Crosby.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly how this is Gary Bettman's fault. I mean, I know it is. I just can't figure out why.

I'm not sure what the argument here is. Damien Brunner didn't have a bad attitude in Detroit. On the contrary, many of the articles and interviews about him talked about his good attitude, constant smile, and generally jovial attitude. He left because he wanted more money than he was worth. Not because he was some kind of *******.

Like Tim Robbins in Mystic River?

I hope they didn't use the probe. They used the probe on me...errr...I mean...my cat?

It means, to sneak away in a hurry.

Atta boy. Priorities are priorities.

Don't wedding rehearsals only really matter for the bride, groom, maid of honor, and best man? The key is to be the third in line, and then just follow the guy in front of you, stand there, and look handsome. You really don't have to do anything else. EDIT: Ahh, he is the groom. I guess you sorta have to be there then. Be sure to take your smart phone though. I mean, don't wedding reherseals only really matter to the bride and her mom anyway?

Are you saying that you intentionally believe unlikely things, so that when they don't happen you're happy about the surprise? Because it sounds like you are. In which case I wonder, why stop there? You could believe a whole host of horrible (and unlikely) things and then celebrate your good luck when they don't happen. Here's a couple... 1. I'm going to get eaten by a shark tomorrow. 2. Next Thursday my house will be poisoned by radon. 3. Racoons will abscond with my cat. 4. This year, I really will get a lump of coal for Christmas. 5. I'm probably already possessed by Satan (or perhaps some lesser imp).

Ugh. I hate how cavalier Babs is about the shootout. Sure, there's no shootout in the playoffs. But there is a shootout in the regular season, and that determines your playoff position. If we'd won a few more of those shootouts last year we'd have played a Bishop-less Tampa Bay instead of getting mauled by the Bruins (who would have had to play the team that eventually beat them in the first round). So maybe take the shootout a little more seriously. Also, can we all agree to stop with the "skills competition" reference? It's dumb. Firstly because it's no more of a skills competition than the proposed 3 on 3 that's being bandied as a replacement. Think about it, throwing Dats-Tatar-Smith on the ice to finish overtime ISN'T all about skill? I'm sure Ovie and Stamkos (who will have a zillion goals if there's only three people on the ice) would agree. Secondly, I'd imagine that it's this exact same "skill competition" mentality that makes Babs so indifferent to it. He acts like it's some sideshow to be endured, rather than a part of the game that's costing us points. Part of the reason why, I suspect, is because he refuses to think of it as an integral part of a winning season because a "skills competition" can't be all that important can it? The whole narrative works to undermine the credibility of a shootout, and by not thinking of it credibly, our coaching staff doesn't prioritize it.

Thank god someone else feels this way. His whole hypochondria schtick is the thing I like about him least. Seems like every post has some vague reference to some chronic ailment. Depression? He's got it. Bad back? You betcha. Arthritic knees? Why not? None of that stops him from getting loaded with a bunch of coeds in Traverse City at training camp every year. Nada. Never a "chronic flair up" of any of his "conditions" when his readers are paying his way to hobnob with the Wings. I can't stand Malik.

My everlasting memory of Brunner is that one between the legs inside-outside drag that he always used, and which never once worked at the NHL level. But man did that not deter him from trying it over and over and over.