kliq

Why are you so pessimistic when it comes to up and coming Detroit players? You completely change your tune whenever its a Wing. You call the Sabres the Buffalo Eichel's all the time and talk about Jack Eichel as if he is a superstar, but the second someone says something good about Larkin you try to bring him down a peg. I've even heard you say more positive things about Chychrun then Larkin. I just dont get how you can take two players who have pretty much have accomplished the exact same things, and with one you talk about him like he is the next coming, but the other you you refuse to say anything too positive. Its just two extreme's. Compare their stats yourself: Larkin - Age - 19, 23 Goals, 22 assists, +11, Game Winners - 5, Shots - 221, Shooting % - 10.4% Eichel - Age - 19, 24 Goals, 32 assists, -16, Game Winners - 5, Shots - 238, Shooting % - 10.1% Other then 10 assists, there is really nothing statistically speaking between these two in Eichel's favor.

I completely agree with the part I put in bold.

So if Blashill wont play Mantha, how is it "managements" fault? Wouldnt you rather the kid be playing in the AHL then sitting in the press box?

My gut tells me that is why he was sent down. Blash probably didn't plan on playing him, and Holland figured its better to have him play in GR then sit in a press box, which I do agree with.

Cant say I like this, but i'd rather send him down to play then leave him up as a healthy scratch.

I would be shocked if this was a Holland decision. The guy has the green light, but when it comes to handi capping a team with 7.5 million, I just dont see the him having the ultimate say. Unless we all just dont understand the exact rules and trading him would do nothing.

Yes, but it doesn't effect us the fans a single bit.

Didn't you go on this same rant yesterday? We get it, you dont like Abby's contract.

My point is that Clarkson had arguably the worst contract in the NHL and he was moved. Howard's contract IMO is not even close to the level of ridiculousness that is/was the Clarkson's contract. I know some like to crap all over Howard and act like he is garbage, but at the end of the day I feel he is a good goalie and that someone out there will trade for him if Holland makes him available, especially if he goes on a run in the playoffs. I didn't mean he would be traded under identical circumstances as Clarkson.

Exactly. If Toronto can move David Clarkson's contract, then anything is possible.

At the end of the day, the playoffs are based on a record though 82 games. In 82 games, we won enough to earn a playoff spot. Am I happy about the last two games...no. But, the season is not a 3 game season. I just hope the Wings that come out in the playoffs are the same team I watched shutout Philly earlier in the week.

My comment had nothing to do with anything in bold. Me saying Bettman should not be vilified was purely in relation to the NHL's effort to protect the players. The other stuff....some I like, some I dont like, some I dont care about. Yes the NHL has reduced physicality, but when you have to compare player safety vs fan enjoyment, I'm sorry but the players safety is more important then if you enjoy the game or not.

Being scratched for a handful of games and demanding a trade??? He would look like a giant diva (see Jonathan Drouin). JD's comments were a bit uncalled for, but who cares, use it as motivation to prove him wrong.

A finger poke of doom lol. I could just see it, the game starts and every Ranger just takes a back bump.

I understand if people don't like this. but I don't see how anyone can vilify Bettman or the NHL. When you have former players suing the NHL, and all the research about head trauma/CTE, the NHL doesn't have a choice but to head in this direction. Its not as if Bettman is sitting there with the rest of the brass in a room thinking "How can we make hockey less enjoyable for the fans" while pressing his fingers on each other Mr. Burns style.

From the replay I saw, his foot appeared to be over the line as the puck was still on the line. I was thinking maybe his foot was in the air.

Watching at a sports bar with no volume......anyone know why the first goal wasn't offside?

When he got "600 assists" presentation.....ya I was lol.

That may have been the best game I have ever seen Jimmy play, he absolutely came through in the clutch.

What a game! The fans were just nuts tonight! Felt like playoff hockey in the Joe.

We're 100% on the same page! I cant wait for the game tonight!

We were totally spoiled back then. I can remember pretty much just waiting for the playoffs every year as the regular season just felt like they didn't matter. It was never a question of will we get in, but rather will we be #1 or #2 seed. I'm definitely more invested in the regular season in 2016.

The issue with Toronto is that while they are doing a complete rebuild, many teams have shown us over the years that this doesn't necessarily mean you will become an elite team. If this were the case, teams like Columbus, Atlanta/Winnipeg, etc would all be legit contenders now. LA and Chicago are just two teams of many that have gone down this road over the last 10 years. With Babs it was a bit different in that he won his cup, and in coaching you know you have x amount of years left baring personal tragedy (ie. cancer diagnosis etc.) With Stamkos, he has never won a cup and being a hockey player you are always one bad hit away from having your career end (maybe this blood clot scared the kid, and showed him that things can happen at any moment). Does he want to spend his prime years playing for a team that may never even become a playoff team in the next 5 years. Secondly, many players have gone on record in saying Toronto is a horrible city to play it. The media scrutiny is unlike any other city. On the flip side, to win a cup and be the center piece of a team you grew up watching rooting for as a kid would probably be the ultimate dream for any hockey player. (Assuming TO was his fav). It will be a very interesting summer, and this injury definitely adds an element.

The thing that sucks about wanting to go to the last game is that if the Wings make the playoffs the last regular season game isn't as big of a deal. The true last game wont be known as being the last game until it is over (unless we get to gm.7 of the finals lol). I'm still getting tickets though.

This is good to see! I didn't read anything about this so my apologies if he isn't even close to coming back, but if we get in, it would be nice to have a guy like Miller available.