kliq

Meh, its only a matter of time before you turn on Yzerman and call him an idiot, or make up a name like Yzertard or Yzermmoron or something.

Agreed. I think it was a few years ago, but I can remember @krsmith17 (please correct me if I'm wrong) posting about how Carolina was going to have a very good back end in a few years. I think it was back when we were all thinking of young D-men we could acquire, and names like Slavin, Hanifin, etc. were names that were being thrown around. Its nice to see a team do things the right way and have things pay off for them. Hopefully like you said we follow in their footsteps.

Ya, Carolina didnt get in just because Mrazek played great, they got in because their entire team played great (including Mrazek). I've said this since round 1, and I've said this many times, but this team is for real. They are a good team that is very underrated because they are "Carolina".

Sad to see the reaction of some Wings fans. I grew up a fan of 4 teams, the Wings, Blue Jays, Raptors, and Lions. With the exception of my first two years as a Jays fan, between those 3 teams I never saw a single championship. Lions can't win playoff game, Raptors have not been relevant until now *fingers crossed*, and outside of a couple good years in 2015 and 2016, the Jays have not been contenders since the '93 team broke up. In that same time frame, the Wings brought me as a fan 4 Cups, 6 finals appearances, 8 conference finals, and they were contenders every single year from when Holland took over until 2013. In that time frame they even successfully went through a re-build on the fly to win a cup. There is no question that between 2013 and 2017 we were in a holding pattern of mediocrity, and we made bad moves, likely done to preserve the streak, but regardless of the reason, it happened. During that time we signed some bad contracts, and bad decisions were made, that is for sure, no argument. With that said, since the 2017 TDL the majority of the decisions that have been made have been good and placing us in the right direction I understand people wanting to move in a different direction, especially with Yzerman, I myself am happy we moved in that direction. But now that Holland is gone, I would think that people would show appreciation for what he accomplished here opposed to having a "dont let the door hit you on the ass" mentality. Its just sad, the Holland chapter is over, rather then judging him for the 4 bad years, or minor mistakes during the good years, lets focus on the 17 good years, and all the championships. I just hope the same people don't turn on Yzerman when the team eventually becomes bad under him, because it happens to everyone eventually.

Anyone know what he makes in Detroit?

From what I have heard it was more then that, there are stories of Mrazek being absolutely awful towards his coaches. Obviously this can't be proven as its all rumors, but considering Detroit is considered one of the most loyal franchises in the world, for them of all teams to essentially tell a player to GTFO you have to think there is some truth to it. Its too bad though, I think everyone wanted him to work out in Detroit. I think the last 2 years humbled Petr, and now he's a better goalie for it. Had he stayed, I dont think he takes his game to the next level. Win-Win.

Sure, I never said Mrazek didnt deserve credit for game 1, it was giving him credit for the entire series I had an issue with. To the second bold, 100% agree. I literally said this earlier in the thread:

I agree, if we had to sign one for 3 years then I would choose Mrazek due to the age, but if we are talking just a 1 year deal, I choose Howard.

I’m not sure why you are interpreting my comments the way you are, I will be crystal clear, I give Mrazek credit for his play this year, when did I ever imply what he did before his injury should be written off? Also, nowhere did I criticize his injury. Of course he was forced said out, never did I imply that was his fault. My point was that I just can’t give credit to him for his his team winning a round that he essentially played 1 game in. That’s not taking away from anything he did prior, it’s just stating facts. With that said, if Mrazek plays well next round (if he plays) and they win, I will give him credit. If Mac plays the entire third round and they win, I will not give Mrazek for getting to the finals.

I’m not downplaying Mrazek, he was huge in the first round, I will give him all the credit in the world for that series. Your comments specifically were making referencing to the second round which was all Mac, guy was 3-0. To make it sound as if carolina getting to the 3rd round was an accomplishment of Mrazek is just inaccurate. Not saying he couldn’t have done it, or that he didn’t play well in his 4 periods, but he didn’t win that series. As far as numbers go, I’m comparing total numbers in the playoffs, and as of today Mac has better numbers. Let me ask you this, are you asking who I would rather have in a 1 year deal? Or are you asking me who I would rather have moving forward?

IF his attitude issues were behind him, I would choose Mrazek.

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Yes lol, when two guys are fighting then its broken up and the ref strokes the hair of one of them, I will notice that. And for the record, I would say the same thing if it was two women fighting and a ref did that, it just looked weird.

lol, he did! It just seemed so out of place

Anyone else notice the ref stroke Bertuzzi's hair at 1:07?

Come on Chaps, I know you love Mrazek but you're really trying hard to force the Mrazek narrative here. This round had nothing to do with Mrazek. McElhinney won 3 of the 4 games this series and did it with better numbers then Mrazek. This Canes team is good, I said in in the first round but they are an underrated team that can do some damage.

Show just got a 4 year, 1 Billion deal from FOX.

Agreed, I dont think many thought the caphit was an issue, it was always the term.

Dollar for dollar, it really is the most bang for your buck tandem in the NHL by a mile.

You're making it sound as if you were the voice of reason, and everyone else was saying how great the contracts were. That is just not true, 99.9 % of the posters here didnt like the contracts. I can remember some people saying that Abby was worth the caphit if it was a much much shorter contract, I remember some people saying that Helm's caphit was market value, and I remember some people telling you that you that you were obsessing over it, but I dont think many were saying they were good contracts as a whole, there are always outliers, but that's revisionist history.

Deep down I dont want him coming back, but with that said. if I am Yzerman and Datsyuk asks to return, I probably bring him back as long as its not stupid money. He can help with the kids, and I'd like to see him have a proper send off. Maybe we can trade Nielen to Arizona and give Datsyuk his spot lol.

Ill give Mrazek a ton of credit for his play on Carolina, but I still dont think we made the wrong decision for a couple of reasons. The first being that I think he is a product of the Carolina system. Look at how well Curtis McElhinney is playing who is also having a career year. In previous years McElhinney would be a low end backup maybe even a 3rd stinger (he was literally placed on waivers in September and claimed by Carolina), and Mrazek was a low end starter at best. Both go to Carolina and skyrocket their play, that is a tell and an indicator that they are products of the system. Same thing that is going on in New York right now with Griess and Lehner. Bring Mrazek back here with our D, you dont get this Mrazek. Secondly, Mrazek always had talent, I dont think anyone (or at least many) said he didn't. His problem was his inconsistency. Now maybe he will prove me wrong in a year from now, but I just can't see him playing like a high end start for the long haul, he's too streaky and he's up and down which is usually a result of an emotional player which is pretty much the word on him. Even this year in the 1st round, the games he won he let in (0, 1, 2, 3) goals, games he lost he let in (3, 4, 6). Now it is playoffs, and its against Washington so I'll give benefit of the doubt, but I dont think he'll be a high end starter for the long haul. I hope I'm wrong, I always liked him, but I don't think I am.

This is a topic that I have heard opposing views on, and I am very curious to see what this board thinks. Are you happy to see fresh faces in the second round? With the second round consisting of the Columbus, NYI, Carolina, Coloado, St. Louis, Dallas, Boston and San Jose, with the exception of maybe a couple teams we have a very fresh group of teams playing. At the same time, by having fresh faces, we are missing almost all of the big market teams, and a TON of the big name players around the league. Now, obviously 99.9 % of us would love the Wings to be contenders, so lets not factor the Wings into this at all. But here is my question, are you happy to see fresh faces? Or do you feel like we are missing the stars, and have little desire to see small market teams?

I'm kind of indifferent to the routines. Some I find amusing, some I find annoying. At least Carolina's routine is after the game, so if a person doesn't want to watch they can just change the channel. Vegas is more annoying because you're kind of forced to watch. That would have been a cool story line, especially with Trotz now coaching the NYI.

Don Cherry is a major reason for that, he bashed their post game routines. I like them, I think they are a young, underrated, exciting team.