kipwinger

Osteoporosis? Is someone spiking their Gatorade with osteoporosis?

I don't disagree with anything you say. You'd have to reread the post I was referencing. Someone had suggested that based on his AHL point totals, Emmerton would have been considered "the next big thing" while in the AHL, which is untrue. Neither he, nor Callahan, would (or should) be considered such. I don't mind Emmerton and I don't mind Callahan, but I don't think it's fair to say of Callahan, "until he proves it at the NHL level he's just like Emmerton, because Emmerton was the next big thing too". Emmerton wasn't, and thankfully neither is Callahan.

They're loaded with front end, top six, talent and have nothing for depth, goaltending, or defense. Nail's got no value anymore because he's a prick, Gagner has moderate value, while Hall, Eberle, and Nugent-Hopkins still have a lot of value. They realistically need to trade one or two of these in order to fill out a real team. I'd probably trade Nugent-Hopkins and Nail. Keep Hall, Gagner, and Eberle as the starting point for your forward ranks and go from there.

Hey thanks for the info, good post. Yeah, I can see that the defense is definitely quite a lot better than it was a few years ago. I assumed most of those guys had played in 2010, but it looks like I've credited some of these guys with having more time in the league than they actually do. Anyway, they're definitely a really skilled hockey club. No team is perfect, and while for my taste I'd like a team a little grittier, I don't think there's a perfect recipe for winning the Olympics and Sweden probably has as good as shot as Canada and the USA and better than everyone else.

I mean, I definitely agree...different skill sets. Perhaps it's because of their different skills, but even when he doesn't score I always notice Tatar. I rarely remember Nyquist is on the ice at all unless he's involved in a scoring play.

Am I the only one who likes Tatar WAY more than Nyquist? Kid's the real deal and steadily proving it in spite of fewer minutes and s***tier linemates.

I honestly don't know, and I'm too lazy to look, but is Sweden's roster noticeably different than it was in 2010? How is it better (if it is)?

Yeah, I agree that he's likely just having a freakishly good year by his standards. But, it's not unheard of for a guy with good skating and a willingness to go to the net to bag a decent amount (for the fourth line) of goals at the NHL level. If we could get solid agitating, defense, and energy out of him I'd be thrilled. If he could chip in 8-10 goals on top of that, I'd keep him on the fourth line for indefinitely. We'll have to wait and see, but I am really looking forward to him getting some time on the big club. In the future, if our fourth line were Callahan-Ferraro-Abby I'd be pleased as punch.

Emmerton never had more than 12 goals in a season and really only ever put up modest production. He was by no means considered "the next big thing" based on his AHL totals (because they weren't that impressive). While Callahan is definitely out performing expectations, I don't think that comparing him to a center that never produced much is fair. It's not unreasonable to think that Mitch could put up 20-25 goals this season, which is impressive for anyone at the AHL level. If most of those come from crashing the net, all the better. I don't think he'll be a force in the NHL or anything, but his knack for the net shouldn't be marginalized either.

I was under the impression that this was indeed a nickname given to him my his GR teammates and fans. Am I wrong in that? Edit: Looks like some people need to brush up on their Griffins news. Brendan Savage sorts out all the drama here...http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2012/07/mitch_dirty_harry_callahan_cou.html

Exactly. We're viewing this like it's a matter of family loyalty or something. I'm sure, when they were talking about JJ they went over the pros and cons. I imagine (like all professionals) that Richards spoke about each. He's the guy in the best position to do so. Followed by Lombardi (who likely did the same). Does Johnson seriously believe that Richards is supposed to laud his (mediocre) play and put him on a team that he doesn't deserve to be on just because he's his coach? I don't hear Johnson claiming that Richards should have done his all to ensure Dubinsky was on the team. Is that his job too?

I guess I missed the part where Johnson was entitled to be on the Olympic team because he meets the only two qualifications necessary A) be American, and B) be Jack Johnson. Is it his birthright? He's an offensive d-man who isn't scoring, and who's never been good EVER defensively. Johnson isn't even a competent defenseman in the NHL and in the Olympics he'd be up against All-Star teams. No Dan Cleary's or Patrick Eaves' in Sochi. Finally, it's not like he's the only offensive d-man that didn't make the cut. Yandle, Bfuglien, and Erik Johnson are all having better seasons than JJ, and none of them made it. But you don't see them complaining in the news, Jack's the only that didn't make it and made a big deal about it.

I don't have a problem with Mitch getting a call-up but your post is a little bit off base. Glendening, Emmerton, Sheahan, and Ferraro are all centers, which is why they've all been called up (minus Ferraro), and their presence has no effect on Callahan who is a winger. Callahan has been behind Nyquist (at the beginning of the season) and Jurco as far as winger depth, and he's clearly not as well established as either one of them at the AHL level, let alone the NHL level. You do have a point about Eaves getting the call up over Callahan. I assume that Eaves is probably the better player overall, but why not give Mitch a try for a game or two.

You guys (and Johnson too) are basing all of this off an article that was specifically written to drum up controversy. There are a million things about the selection process that Burnside could have focused on, he chose to include quote after quote about player evals...and almost exclusively negative evals I might add. Narry a mention in there about why a particular player is a stud and exceeding expectations, but lots about why guys aren't. Point is, Richards almost certainly had a lot of good things to say about Johnson. Who wouldn't? Johnson is a good player. But at the end of the day, my guess is that anything good was glossed over because the "Johnson snubbed by Team USA" story was too good to pass up. Same with Burke and Ryan, Burnside conveniently leaves out the part where Burke picks him but definitely leaves in the part where Burke criticizes him.

Dude, Jones and Josi are both really good defensemen, I'd love either of them on our team haha. I know what you're saying, their team is bad, and they never score, and Rhinne is out. All of that is true, and I'm certainly not saying that Weber is junk or anything. I'm just saying that for his contract (7.8 million cap hit, and over 25 million dollars in salary and bonuses for the next three years regardless of his play) you better be Ray Bourque. Weber hasn't ever been the best all around defenseman in the NHL, but he sure gets paid for like it. I'd rather have someone who puts up a little less offense, plays a lot more defense, and gets paid like a human.

Don't get me wrong, Weber is a good defenseman. But not for his money. The guy is an abysmal -13. I realize that it's an imperfect stat, but Weber's got ten goals by himself and he's still a -13. That's horrible for a #1 defenseman making the money that he is. Lots of guys I'd rather have than Weber with that contract.

I agree with you, I have no idea why Hedman isn't on the roster. I can only assume that it's because he was injured up until recently. As for Tallinder, I'd be really surprised if he ever hit the ice. He's got to be the depth d-man. If he actually plays I'll be amazed.

Has he really played all that much with Datsyuk lately though? I mean, I know he did earlier but it seems like that's sort of a dated complaint lately.

Wait, what part is true again? I'm getting confused.

Yeah after you posted that, I spent a good amount of time at work watching Backes dropping the hammer on pretty much everybody ever. He's an o.k. fighter, but he bodychecks like a fricken freight train.

I mean, they can't be taking post season collapses too seriously if they chose Luongo as their starter right?

I think in that scenario Jimmy stands tall. There's no way he lets down the Stars and Bars like that.

Franzen leads our team in regular season goals almost every year. Kinda hard to say he "doesn't do anything until the playoffs".

Dude, Sidney Crosby "sh*t-barking" is nowhere near as intimidating as an orc.

Awwww shiiiiiit man. You shouldn't have done that. You even know who you're messing with? Do you have any idea what they'll do to you? Can you even imagine the kind of hell they will bring you? Prepare to meet your maker! Prepare to face fear itself! There is only terror! Fear it! Fear them! DOOOOOOM!