frankgrimes

After seeing both in action I fully agree. Right now there isn't even one game I'm interested in, I don't care about the online thing because console for me a purely party consoles, playing Mario Kart with 4 friends in the same room is just tremendous fun (especially drunken *lol*). Waiting gives me the option to look out for better bundles, or at least consoles with fixed problems, but whenever I make my decision it will clearly be the PS 4.

Steve Ott would be a nice addition but why give up anything for him? The guy is an upcoming UFA so if Kenny wants him, he can just make him an offer in the off-season. Girardi will for sure be looking for a raise, so if he settles for something around 4,5 - 5 million I'd definately take a chance at him, same goes with Callahan. Let Alfie, Bertuzzi, Sam, Clearly ...walk no more on this sign a one year contract and see were it goes, this team needs to build for the future (= obviously longer than 1 year). Other signings I would love are Deryk Engelland as a 6/7th defenseman, Westgarth (no brainer)

Agreed and I'm starting to think the Anaheim Ducks would be capable of doing the same, but man Pietrangelo - Bouwmeester (spelling?) versus Keith - Seabrook are two pairing I'd kill to see them in a winged wheel.

I'm in the same boat, watching the first show the players are clearly distracted by that, same goes for the Toronto Maple Leafs and I don't blame them. Having to do interviews and all that pre-post game stuff is tough enough, but having 24/7 cameras following you is a different beast, especially for introverted guys. If I were the GM I would say sorry but our players don't like this, so no 24/7 here, period.

This team almost iced an AHL roster against a top 2 or 3 western team, what did people expect? I'm not shocked they've lost also blaming the monster for this game makes me laugh do people honestly believe Howard would have won that game? With all the injuries (not usingthem as an excuse mind you), there was no way to win it, at least at the positive side nobody got hurt.

Ranking these two is very hard but after seeing their unreal fight some years ago, theres a case for either one to be the #1. MacIntyre doesn't need to be a good player, just knowing he is there should be enough to make other teams twinking twice about what's coming, if they want to play that style.What's really impressive about Mac is, even other enforcers like Engelland admitted that they would fight him, but they FEAR this guy and rightfully so, he is such a beast. I've said it before the season and I'll say it again, the East IS a different beast, as prove nby the injury list (I know, a full season has to do something with it tooo). Also I'm starting to question the fitness trainers, if a team has so many injuries in a short period of time, maybe the training needs to change during a tough schedule? Anyway, concussions for the Mule, Abdelkader and Pasha aren't and shouldn't be acceptable in any way shape or form, Kenny has said he is waiting to answers well I guess here are 3 answers, he as a GM must hate.

with all the injuries I would be happy with one point.

unreal just unreal.

Yeah Vanek is easily going to be the most thought after UFA this year, he is going to get paid the only question remaining is on which team. The guy is a clutch scorer, sometimes streaky but other than that I think he would be a real nice addition on a line with Pasha or Z. Phaneuf could be the QB on the PP something really really needed but like you said I doubt, he will leave his current team. Agreed, a highend defenseman is needed and kenny could have offersheeted one of them, with an ever rising cap paying Pietrangelo 8x8 wouldh ave been a nice offersheet there is no way the St. Louis Blues who are hurting for money would have matched that. I think, Girardi would be a solid choicce nothing impressive but...solid. I like the idea of playing Westgarth on Pashas line, the guy would create a lot of space and keep other teams honest.Personally, I wouldn't be against taking a chance at Tyler Myers if he gets bought out this summer.

I know I might be in the minority but I think if a guy is a natrual goal scorer (forward), defense should be an after thought at best. Does anyone really care if Stammer sucks at defense or not? The guy is a scoring roboter and does his job extremely well.

McGrattan is definately up in the running for the #1 guy but don't forget Steve MacIntyre this guy fought a whole team and even 2 refs couldn't stop him, strong as a mammoth and almost endless stamina, he is that scary! This team is getting injured, because other teams are finishing their hits, taking liberties and even accepting penalties because they know, the PP sucks. Over the lenght of a full season all the hitting, checking and other stuff is going to wear every team down and injuries are going to increas instead of decrease. Also to the whole Laperierre thing, the guy was more of an agitator sure he could fight but if the other team had someone like Downey on them, he brought a clean game wonder why that was...

Why should he do that? The guy is getting paid and I'm sure is already flirting with retirement at the end of the year, so even if he doesn't play it changes nothing for him. Hate to say it, but Kennys hands are tied here if he doesn't waive nobody can force him to.

Look I'm not disagreeing with you I'm just trying to avoid another "Suter/Parise" situation. Players that really could help this team just aren't available I know it sucks and we are not used to it, but that is the sad reality. The point I'm trying to make is, why not have some "fun" during the rebuild/tool years and add tough guys? Most people will agree that this team isn't a Stanley Cup Roster (even if healthy). Believe me I sure hope you are right and maybe he is going to come here all I'm saying is don't your hopes up too high, because of the Suter situation. I really hope! Kenny has a plan B this time, if he doesn't get the UFA players he wants. The thing about Neil is, he is a very underrated heavyweight fighter, the guy can throw and hang in with the best of them hell he even won against Orr, it just happens that he is a pretty decent fourth liner too so people think of him more like an agitator. I'm still impressed with the amount of balls Smith showed in accepting his challenge but the point is, he shouldn't have to be the one who is fighting Neil. After the Ottawa game a guy like Dmac or Kocur would have gone absolutely bonkers hitting and punching everything that moves, this is the kind of fire and teambuilding a team needs. Is it really fair to ask a 38 old Bertuzzi to do it all? I don't think so and it's not like the current fourth line does provide anything, they aren't scoring goals aren't physical nor are they fighting so if I) could Kenny one thing this would be it. What does this fourth line bring? I've never been a fan of the Tootoo signing and probably never will be, but the guy has been used in the worst possible way either Kenny really believes in this PP is our enforcer crap (*cough* without the perfect human and Homer *cough*)relaly? Or Babcock has been missusing him. In an ideal situation this off-season would see Kenny signing Phaneuf and Vanek, add Westgarth + Mcgratton/Orr but the chance of that to happen is very slim, so I'm trying not to dream big. Personally I really don't know which task is the more difficult one, improving the top 6 or adding a #1 defender...but improving the overall grit/toughness/muscle is for sure doable.

A famous Ed O Neil a k a Al Bundy quote: Why should I know where the water is going don't even know where it's coming from! , I just wish I could go with it" Real manuals are beating out PDF files 10/10 per day and 52/52 weeks a year. Owning an NHL franchise should be a privilege not a moneyprinting machine for the super super rich. Homer Simpsons teaching Bart how to not take part in jury duties: "Best way to avoid your jury duties is to say you are biased against all races" OV is oveerrated

Not only that, but the guy can really throw if he needs to the wannabe tough kid was really lucky here, anyway Lucic will sue him and get a good junk money out of it.

Good on Lucic for not destroying this idiot. Some fans really should know their limits hating a team is fine and everything but looking for your few minutes of room is laughable. Wish, Lucic would have gone barbarian and absolutely nailed him, but going the law route is for sure the better option. The guy looked really small and also drunk so he better be happy that Looch didn't respond. Vancouver is so overpopulated with all kind of persons, so I'm not surprised that there are so much idiots.

There are enough teams that can and should stop them. Especially the St. Louis Blues they are big, strong and their top pairing is playing amazing. I do not care enough who wins the west but hopefully its not them, I really do not want to see them repeating as cup champions and equalize the impressive accomplishment of winning back to back stanley cups but oh boy the west is unreal this year, we would be behind the pack right now

Look at the coming UFA class even experts are saying that Vanek will go to Minne or sign with a Stanley Cup Contender (= NOT this team), Phaneuf is close to re-signing so the class is extremely thin. it is easier to adress the need for toughness/grit than to adress the top 6 and defense problems.

The Midget can't, but if he goes to the arbitrator it can be reduced or increased. Having to go through Bettman is just so stupid unreal, the guy doesn't know anything about the sport or the code so why bother? For sure he is not going to overrule Shanahan, as of today Thornton will have 11 games left.

Are three enforcers needed? Hardly would I love a fourth line like the one mentioned? You bet ! I'm a big believer in sending a clear and loud message out to this division, conference and league wide! Yes, this team used to get away with skill and why was that? Well a bunch of Hockey Hall of Famers and some rough diamonds were found (Pasha + Z), allowing younger players to learn from the best. Having the PP as an enforcer when your offense is loaded with talent and gets support from a top 3 alltime defender + Holmer blocking the sun infront of the net is easy, but the reality IS The 2013 edition is a different one, the PP sucks, the overall skill has dimished greatly and other teams don't fear the PP anymore, so why not rough them up? There won't b e a retailation, deadly PP - like I used to be - or anything like that. Crying for Shanahan to help out and ban that ******* Cowen, is not going to do anything...Having someone to take care of business and either going after Cowen or one of their star players is going to sent out a big clear message. The former mentioned players would raise this team from a pushover without a deadly PP into one of the toughest. Would they prevent cheapshots? No, but sure as hell these guys would fight eveeryone and also go after their skilled guys and every team has some sort of non fighting skilled top players. Ellbow? Pasha fine Orr is coming to you Cowen, Neal wants to help? Too bad he has to deal with Westgarth that leaves Peluso to either fight Kassasian OR take advantages with one of their star players. Mind you, I like and respect Spezza, Karlson and Ryan but fair game is fair game. Players have been quoted over and over again, stating how they are all playing taller and bigger, with guys like Boogard, McGrattan in the lineup it is nice to know that someone has your back. if Kenny doesn't want someone to protect the skilled players, maybe the best owner in all of sports should bring in someone that will. Look at Toronto Boston, Rangers and Flyers took advantage of them, they then went out signed Orr, Mclaren, Frazer are now one of the toughest teams in the league. Even the big bad Bruins are thinking twice before going after Kessel. Even Alain Vigenault who is known for his offense over everything approach has called Dylan McIlrath because the Rangers were pushovers and he wanted to bring in more grit.

I think Westgarth and especially Peluso are decent 4 liners, Orr's skating has improved temendously would they score a lot of goals? Doubtful, but that's not something I'd be expecting from my fourth line Peluso is a very good skater given his size, the kid can skate and hits everything that moves + can back it up against everyone. McGrattan would be awesome but with their new GM there is no way, this guy will become available, sadly indeed.

Personally my ideal fourth line would contain Westgarth, Peluso and Orr (that's less than 4 million for a whole line!) - that's not a lot of cap spent (= more money for the other 3 lines) and boy oh boy this line could easily go toe to toe with the toughest ones in the NHL. Sure Neil would fight Orr or Westgarth, kassasian too but then ...well fair game against Spezza, Karlsson and Cowen I bet a lot of money, the guy would bring his cleanest game and not even looking at Pasha. Enough with this soft eurostyled hockey, if I wanted to watch that I'd be watching some local games which are boring as hell. tl;dr yup more muscle and a change of attitude is really needed

The thing is, rebuilding/tooling teams can and should be expected to be bad but if the front office is still believing that they are not rebulding, then well this DetroitRedWings edition is supbar. I'm not going to let the standings fool me, they can change quickly. Also it's not like this team has only played against juggernauts and they've still failed to score more than 2 goals. Sadly, this edition just isn't exciting to watch and I'm starting to get the feeling also not a "real" team. Pasha isn't only playing bad he looks well uninterested outthere and no, I don't blame him I would have hard time too playing for a team that doesn't stick up for each other. This patchwork fix year after year isn't going to work forever, I really think next season (no matter the outcome of this one), has to be the one were the rebuild will be officially started. Personally, I'm far from happy with the front office like Richd mentioned, this roster is built on how some guys wished the NHL was not like it is. Not having size in the top 6 is ok, but then you need to have size and grit in your bottom 6 the DetroitRedWings have neither and yet some people are wondering, why this team can't grind it out or respond when challenged, well the truth is they aren't build for that style of hockey but on the other hand, by far not skilled enough for the puck possession style = result: see at the current games... Now the important part, how to get superstars/stars these days? Thanks to the stupid CBA and money from the best owner in all of sports other teams can now offer better deals and pay their stars with money, they usually wouldn't and shouldn't!!!! have. That's why I'm still pissed about thel ast lockout, how come no one stood up for the players and agreed to share more of their own revenue, with teams that should have long been moved to Canada?! Get 5 of the Original 6 owners in the same boat, add Aquilani, Snyder and there are 7 owners that should and could tell Mr. "grow the game" to fornicate himself and fix his questionable franchises with his own overpaid money, but no one did they've all agreed to a CBA that doesn't allow creative contracts. Really wished the NHLPA would have shown more balls and decertified, would have been in the best interest of the game. Guess what, if tanking is the only way to get great players at the moment, then this whole system is flawed beyond everything. At least there are some silverl inings on the horizon, the young guns are playing well and still getting better a change at the front office might finally bring a different philosophy on how to build thie DetroitRedWings and with the rising cap maybe a real star in his prime will want to come here.. tl;dr the team is not build to succeed in the current nhl, patchwork fixes aren't going to work when your stars are aging and the upcoming UFA class has only two stars.... = rebuild time 2014/2015

To my surprise I really liked it, HBO didn't go into too much private stuff. Man, Phaneuf has outstanding "dressing room" and a damn nice house/wife. The best part to me was showing Danny K., Helm, Howard? at the bar discussing what they are going to order and when Pasha would be back. Man, if Carlyle and Babcock are really doing their intermission and pre speeches in such a tempo, I'd find it hard to really remember everything. It's like do this and that ok? Let's go how can new players/young ones perform to the expectations if these speeches are done sooooo fast?

Well the league doesn't want to anger mighty Mario L. maybe just maybe the best owner in all of sports should hire Gretzky. I would have been fine with 15 IF the ratio would have been there, but it's not. Neal is a repeat offender, did something really disgusting and got away with 5?! What Thornton did was way worse sure but NOT 10 games worse add to that how leaguewide known thug got nothing for assaulting someone, there just is no rational thinking behind these suspensions. If I'm Chiarelli I'd be waiting for the next meeting and go Islandersstyle against the Penguins then the league will have something to look at ...*g*