RedBengals

I thought the point of the two way deal was he could play in GR without being waived?

Nyquist lit it up each game. It seemed like Brunnstorm didn't know how to handle not being the biggest, most physical guy out there and those hits in the second Toronto game threw him off his game. I don't know, he's got lots of talent for sure, just don't know if he doesn't need some AHL time to polish him up. We'll see, it's a 2-way for a reason.

Okay, bad example. I meant it that I hate certain players no matter what and that's just the way it is. Crosby is a very love/hate kind of guy. I would never say "He needs to be injured and never play again", I simply don't like him. In Ben's case it's because he's a scumbag, for Crosby he's just not my sort of guy. The fact that Crosby is a good player isn't argueable, he is. Just, there's something about him that makes me dislike him. Basically, a player is always gonna be love/hate on some level, so really there's no point in arguing it. You can argue if he's as good as someone else or if he's really that much of an asset to his team, but you can't argue that he doesn't deserve to play in the NHL when he can. If he could mature some and stop the diving (Which he admittedly has receny) I may one day be able to tolerate him. It's just so hard to. Especially for Wings fans, it's never going to feel like we weren't cheated out of that Cup. So of course the player that ESPN and all the media said basically singlehandedly beat us is gonna make Wings fans sore. Crosby gets way too much credit sometimes, I get that "Please just stop talking already" when he gets brought up, which leads to my dislike. Crosby is on the list with NFL quarterbacks and Lebron and a few others who people will hate "Just because"

He makes a good villian. I hate him, won't lie about that. I think its false to say he's not a great hockey player. Doesn't mean I have to like him. He has blatantly dived in the past and will instigate without being willing to drop gloves. He simply isn't the type of hockey player I can cheer for. Honestly, a part of me believes that he is playing up the concussion, because on the ice I have seen him play up a minor pump or tap into a hard hit or slash. Skill and how much I like someone is completely seperate. Crosby could hold ever record and I would still dislike him. Just like how I hate Big Ben.

Fighting is a good way for a team to show that they are unhappy with the other. Alot of fights are spontanious, most fighters have hair triggers. A slash, crosscheck, hard knock at a whistle is enough to make them go. Other times its just two guys who don't like each other. Hockey fights serve two real purposes(besides entertainment) and are a traditional part of hockey. 1. Fighting cuts down on cheap shots. Not just "If I run the goalie i'm gonna get my ass kicked" but in a highly passionate, rough, intense game like hockey it let's players mutually take out anger on one another. This means instead of taking a guys number and cracking him across the ankle later you can drop your gloves and have at it. 2. Fighting can serve your team. An enforcer doesn't always just protect a goalie or star player. In most nonspontanious fights, the enforcer is fighting the other teams enforcer. They can both serve a mutual five and not affect the team's performance. However, winning a fight can be a huge morale boost. If you're down by one goal in the third and looking tired, a good fight can get the blood flowing (metaphorically as well as on the ice) and pump up. Hockey is one of the most moment to moment passionate games, and dropping the gloves has long been a way of showing that passion. Hockey condones fighting because simply put it's going to happen. In a rough game tension is going to run high. However, in hockey this tension can be let out in very ritualistic fights instead of sucker punches and brawls. So fans get entertainment and the players can defend their honor in a way that is traditional and relatively harmless.

Why the NHL won't adopt Olympic size ice like other leagues is beyond me. With improvements in conditioning and equipment players need more room. Back on topic though, its hard to argue diving hasn't become more common. But at the same time, hockey has evolved past grinding to the current more skillful (passing, shooting, stick handling, etc) game. Diving happens in all sports, you try to draw a foul because you gain an advantage. And since hockey is less of a grinder sport now, it's possible to dive because we don't view chippy play as "part of the game" anymore. I think the issue is overblown mostly, I very rarely see flagrant diving. Sure, sometimes a guy gets his ankle hooked and goes down when he may have been able to stay up, but its hardly like soccer. Its part of the game just like fighting, it has its time and place. No, i'm not saying players should go slide for home every time a player is within five feet. Blatant dives deserve penalties, a player should at least be sly about it. None of that Crosby face-grab, lay there s***.

He's got lots of talent and he seems to be able to use it, but it was preseason and while I know people will say that doesn't matter in truth he doesn't have enough experience yet at the top level. If it was less deep team he may have gotten called up but he'll benefit more getting playing time in the AHL then seeing little ice time in the NHL.

If the Wings weren't as deep as they are this year he would have made it. With retirements coming up after this season it next there will be slots for him. No need to rush, he can develop better in GR.

I don't think they're trying to get rid of it completely. But there hasn't really been more information on it except he's going to LOOK INTO fighting. Shanny played hockey, I think if anyone he's not going to say it needs to be suspension worthy. Let's just see what happens.

English isn't our national language... do a google search before your instigate. Anyways, is Nyquist on GR for the year or is he able to be called up? I still think it's weird Brunnstorm went up before him, though I can see why.

I think that just about sums up everyone's opnion of him. Can he play hockey? Yes. But he's not so amazing that I can look past the diving and whining and drama. When he matures I'll rescind my dislike of him. This isn't soccer, I don't like seeing players try to draw penalties. I know Crosby isn't the only one to ever do it, but he makes a habit of it and it's frustrating to watch. Give him a few more years and I think he'll mature enough it won't be an issue anymore. Not to mention that just like Tim Tebow he has a bit too much media frenzy attention for my tastes. If any other player had a concussion we wouldn't get daily updates.

That's a point that really hasn't been addressed. If the penalty is not head contact or illegal hitting, should the player be suspended for that? I don't think so unless it's flagrant.

He has shown he can play like Bertuzzi does, bully your way to rebounds and goals. However, he got rocked during the last Toronto game and sort of vanished from relevancy. That wasn't good to see. It was a hard hit but he really slowed down afterwards. I will feel much better about him if he shows better focus and passion on the ice next time. Strength training is cool and all but he needs to use it now.

The Wings don't lose anything by putting Nyquist on GR, it just means he'll develop more and come back even sicker next year! Preseason was fun, but I really think its about time the season got underway. Hopefully some of the sloppiness these last three games was just preseason rust removal.

I don't think Nyquist not making the team means Brunnstorm will for sure. Both showed lots of promise. Nyquist I thought would have edged out Brunnstorm, but Brunnstorm's got that size advantage and can plant himself in front of the net for some physical offensive play. Nyquist is more talented offensively I feel, but the Wings need a bigger forward this year so I would understand Brumnstorm making the team. Still, nothing happens til it happens, there's a decent chance either way.

That's rather disrespectful. Nyquist has shown he is a young, passionate, talented player. He deserves the same respect as a player that anyone else gets. You don't pronounce The Rocket's name wrong so you shouldn't pronounce Nyquist any different. Announcers and fans should always attempt to say the name right. Casual fans can be forgiven, but if you know the right way you should always use it. That being said, the point was originally brought up as a joke, so let's focus our aruement on how good he actually is.

No Touch is widely enough incorporated that there must be somehing about it people like. It's safer, that should be enough for the NHL to adopt it. I wouldn't be surprised to see it within the next five years.

Nyquist showed very solid fundementals and a great understanding of the game. on top of that he really showed he can produce at the NHL level, even if it was preseason. The Wings have enough depth they don't NEED him, and it is better for him to stay down in the AHL and develop another year instead of being brought up to the big time and having his development stifled. I would have loved to see him play and I think he'll be part of a solid, young core in a year or so along with Emmerton and Brunnstorm.

So what about Emmerton and Brunnstorm? I never understood what waivers actually means and how they work. I figure this is a good of a place as any to ask.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hlg=20112012,1,94 Abdelkader's was a good rebound, but those should always go in. He got in position good, but while the swim move looked cool the D should have had better focus. Helm's was a nice wraparound and he really worked for it, but the goalie got clipped by his own D and it delayed him just enough to not be able to get into position. Eave's had a great rebound on the backhand, it was smart not to try and force that to forehand and he got it right up and high where it needed to be. Tatar was set up beautifully from Eaves, it was a great selfless pass to hit a player who was more open even when Eaves may have been able to pick that goal up himself. I'll give it to Tatar, the goal itself wasn't as nice as Eaves but it was great teamwork and it's the sort of goal I'd like to see more of.

I wonder how the players feel about No Touch rules? With so many leagues using it I don't see why the NHL doesn't use them

I agree the Joe is an amazing rink. Just it's starting to get so old renovating it won't really help anything. I'll hate to lose such a classic rink, but the Wings deserve a better one, like you said. Hopefully they will go for an old school feel and not try to super modernize it. I completely agree with this.

Brunnstorm did seem sort of out of it near the end, but admittedly he only looked slow relatively. He didn't make any huge mistakes, but he didn't produce. With three of those goals pretty nice (wraparound should not have been a goal, the goalie got bumped by his D) Brunnstorm's performance wasn't stellar.

I don't want all O6 teams in one division, it significantly lowers the chance of those teams making the playoffs. Plus with six of the stronger teams in one division, less stronger teams will be in the playoffs. As long as Toronto/Wings are together for a good rivalry I could care less where we are. The NHL trying to set up Wings/Pens as a new rivalry was bull. Look how good the preseason famed were, both teams step it up against each other and its such a classic matchup. it's even easily marketable to casual/new fans bc blue/red is pretty easy to say "they're rivals". Yes, that's simplistic but its actually pretty standard for offset color teams to be more hyped rivals for casual fans. I would like the Bruins in a different division than the Wings to up chances of them playing in the playoffs against each other, it would be some exciting games. The map someone posted does look extremely reasonable though. It minimizes travel while retaining good rivalries and matchups without stacking one division.

Nyquist is gonna make it before Brunnstorm who will make it before Emmerton. But we'll see all three soon enough.