kipwinger

I was much more impressed by the Carolina game than the Columbus game for a couple of reasons. Obviously the come from behind was sweet, but mostly what I liked most was the style of game they played. Good hard working north/south hockey is what wins games in the playoffs and that's what they did. All that fancy pants, east/west, no look passing, stuff works against s*** teams, and looks really cool, but won't work in a tight checking, hard working type of game. Obviously I'm happy with any win, but if I did have to nit pick the Columbus game, I would have liked for them to keep it simple and fundamental, rather than Harlem Globetrotter esque (Datsyuk excluded as he's good enough to do what he wants). Either way, glad to see them coming around.

This is what I mean. You say that Burns isn't in the same class as Suter. Based on what? Burns plays comparable minutes, has comparable points, more goals, higher shooting percentage, and an equally respectable +/-, and managed to do it all without playing beside Shea Weber and Rinne standing on his head every night. You just assume Suter is that good because everyone talks about him as if he's the best defenseman in the league, instead of the best defenseman in his UFA class. They're a really good shutdown pair who play in front of one of the best two goalies in the league. Ryan Suter is good, but he's not two million dollars better than Burns, Yandle, Keith, or Letang, and yet he'll get that kind of money. Again, why pay out 7.5 or 8 million dollars to a guy when you can get someone as good, or almost as good for 6?

Well when you consider that Brent Burns agreed to a contract extension with the Sharks for 5.7 million and he's as good as Suter and not much worse than Weber, I don't see how someone can justify paying either of them 7.5 or 8. Nobody is going to be as good as Lidstrom, so what I want is someone who's first class, but who's not the current media darling. Weber and Suter will go high, just like Parise will go high, not because they're SO much better than everyone else, but mostly because they're good enough that people will get into bidding wars for them. Other top flight defensemen with good contracts include Yandle, D. Keith, Pietrangelo, Letang. I'm hoping that will be the model for Holland in terms of quality of player and contract size. I just don't want to see them give out some Drew Doughty sized contract to guys who aren't all that much, if any, better than the guys I've listed here.

God damn I hope Holland doesn't get into a bidding war for either one of those guys. I'd hate to end up with a 7.5 or 8 million dollar cap hit for those guys when we don't really need an 8 million dollar defenseman, when a 5.5 or 6 million dollar guy would do just as well.

Doesn't the NHL website allow you to customize sweaters? I think it costs an arm and a leg, but I recall seeing that at one point in time.

Yeah, the name of the place is Bugsy's and it's on the main drag in Alexandria, King Street. The place is totally awesome and right down where everybody in that area goes to party. And Bugsy himself is in there a couple times a week to drink and watch games. The bartenders are all really great and will put on any game you want and there are tons of flat screens. Plus the food is awesome. A buddy of mine met Mark Messier down there one night but it was a night I wasn't at the bar. I just moved back to michigan from there about a year ago.

Well obviously I wanted the guy before he signed that contract. Crossing my fingers to get him after he signed his contract would make me retarded, and fundamentally incapable of understanding the basic premises of contracts.

I was one of the people screaming all off season about signing Wiz, and it's pretty apparent why I'm not a GM for the Red Wings. While I still think he's a real good player, it just goes to show you don't need the best guy at any position, but rather the right one. What a good call the White signing was.

How is it possible for Homer's English to be so bad considering he's been in the U.S. for pretty close to half his life?

I agree.

I wonder if he'll go back on the top line when he gets back given how good Nyquist has looked on that line. I'm sure he will, but I can't imagine it will be the easiest decision in the world.

Relatively enjoyable game here on LGW tonight without all the naysaying and doomsday prophesies. It's almost like we all love the same team again.

If you guys are getting the FSD feed, the Bugsy Watson that Mickey was just talking about owns a hockey bar in Alexandria, VA that is totally badass. They play every Wings game and have all sorts of Wings history decorating the place. Plus, all sorts of players go in there after games in Washington. Had to plug the place because it's a Wings fan's home away from home when you're living in D.C.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8474679

Swap Cleary and Miller. Cleary's hurt and Miller has been extremely impressive for most of the season. No way do I diminish his ice time with how well he's played. When Helm get's back swap him with Abby and move Abby in for Emmerton and there you go.

The sixth versus fourth place debate essentially revolves around whether or not you think the team is better served facing an easier opponent or playing at home in the first round. It's pretty hard to calculate either way. But the lower seed could be problematic after the first round don't you think?

I played hockey my whole life, I know how to get up off the ice. It's also blatantly obvious that the guy can barely life himself. You're right, using your stick isn't uncommon. Using your stick and struggling like Cleary was last night is a different story. I'll quote your verbatim from last night, "This team is horrendous". Paint whatever picture you want, but last night you weren't making valid points about the team. You were being negative, repeatedly references the same old trade deadline s*** you refuse to let go, and repeatedly telling everyone how "right" you were. I think that you got negged less for having an opinion and more for being obnoxious about how you shared that opinion. YOUR EXACT WORDS WERE "THIS TEAM IS HORRENDOUS", and then you come on here acting like a crybaby saying "it wasn't like I said the team sucked" boohoo. But you did dude, you absolutely ******* did. Here's another couple of quotes from you last night. "*******", not sure if this was in reference to the team or to the other members here,but classy none the less. Here's one that was definitely aimed at the other members here "you @@@@@s are delusional". But you're right, you were using perfectly rational arguments to explain, calmly and reasonably, your frustration with the current play of the team. If you remember it like that I'd love to know what the rest of the fever dream you call a life looks like.

Yeah it's definitely bad, he had to use his stick to get up off the ice tonight.

Well they've already said that he's going to need surgery after the season's over.

Thank god for that.

Cleary's playing on one leg, watch how slow he gets up after he goes down to the ice. Lots of guts for him to be playing through injury when half the team was down. I expect he'll be out and Nyquist in after Franzen is back

No problem buddy, you definitely don't want to miss this one.

http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/115169/3/watch-detroit-red-wings-vs-carolina-hurricanes.html

Actually if you read some of the other threads you'll find that most people thought the bad play was the result of the injuries and that we'd improve when we got guys back. Obviously some disagree and predicted doom, but mostly the mantra was "stay the course".

Miller has really stepped his game up this season. Aside from Flip I'd say he's the most improved Wing