derblaueClaus

Not offended at all, the DEL is probably one of he worst in Europe. But you mentioned Dratsaitl. He didn't go to play in the SEL,NLA or KHL even though those leagues are all better than the DEL. He wanted to play in the NHL which proves my point : The NHL is still the Top Hockey League despite fewer fights.

At some point in his career he has to learn how to handle the pressure and the starts in the NHL. Looks like that time has come a little earlier than expected but I think he will be fine. He made the playoff with the Griffins several times and won a Calder. Thats as good as it gets before you play in the big league. And if he doesn't we still have the Monster. While we probably won't be as great as with Howard we're good on the goaltender position.

Frank, I can not add anything to what kliq said. He and I are both on the same page. I don't have anything against fighting per se, but I'm against fighting just for the sake of it for the reasons kliq already stated. And I'm therefore against guys whose sole purpose is doing exactly that. I watch enough European hockey here (DEL) and don't worry the NHL is still harder and far more enjoyable to watch. Even without staged fights and guys like McGrattan.

No .The point is if the city provides you with roads it is their obligation to salt them ( as it is yours to salt your own ones btw.). Regardless of how reckless or save you drive. I didn't say it's all the leagues fault and not the player. But to say the other way around, it's all the players fault and rest of the league has nothing to do with it doesn't do justice to the subject matter.

In case of the enforcer yes and no, in case of the "enforced" certainly no. It's a little bit more complicated. Enforcers are on the team only because they fight. Guys like Boogard or McGrattan don't have what it takes to play in the NHL. The only way to do that is by fighting night in and night out. If you're dreaming you're whole life to play in the best hockey league in the world and you get the chance : Would it be easy for you to say no ? I mean technically you're right, they have the choice. But the whole matter is a little bit more complicated than just saying "well, it's their choice". In any case the league has the obligation to protect their players. Following your argument we can, for example, put rules that forbid hits to the head into the bin, because it is part of playing hockey and the players have the freedom of choice to play. They can say no, right ?

12 yr. It's a little smoother than the 10 yr old and the few € more are well invested in my opinion.

And his GA ( = groin against) is just pathetic compared to other goalies.

This is the main reason for me why enforcers don't belong to the game. How can you enjoy a staged fight if you know the storys of Boogard and our very own Probert ? If a fight sparks from the heat of the moment, fine, let them go. But those barenuckle fights are just to dangerous to do them night in and night out. And I don't want players on the ice forced to do them.

.....and get's hurt only hours after the announcement. That would have never happened to an elite goalie. Pretty average if you ask me. In all seriousness : The nomination is well deserved, Jimmy kept us in many games and is one of the main reasons this team is in a playoff-spot. I hope that is injury looked more scary than it is and he recovers till the end of the month.

The loss of Jimmy hurts and we weren't playing good enough tonight. But we're still 2-2 on this roadtrip. Not too bad, I can live with that. Good point. But he won't reduce our turnovers, at least not on two pairs. Wings really need to work on these.

It's all Ozzies very fault.

Yep. I'm full of Glenmorangie now. Very, very full that is.

Big Rig ! Alive !

WTF is wrong with our defensive play tonight ? We make Ovechkin look like a Norris candidate.

Oh well.....

Had to make this :

PP. Time to feed BoS Bunghole.

Definitely not. It's a good thing we have Mraz but Jimmy is not replaceable at the moment. Hope he's recovering quickly.

Dat shot.

Oh f***.

To be more precise : That McGruffin can come back to hurt Lucic to make Lucic not hurt people any more. Apart from that you nailed it.

I'll make it three in a row ( like the Wings today I hope) : Awesome GDT ! LGW !

I doubt it. Only problem could be age, but he's only 26 and the contract ends when he's 30, that is not that risky. But I still think it's overpayment. Bobrovsky is good, but not as good as Lundquist, Quick and Rinne. And if the Blue Jackets really hope that he improves thats not likely to happen. http://hockey-graphs.com/2014/03/21/how-well-do-goalies-age-a-look-at-a-goalie-aging-curve/ It's not Fleury bad, it's only for four years and it won't break their neck. But it also will hamper their improvement, so not a good deal imho.

Neither. He's scaring a rat away.

McGrattan will come back three days after he cleared waivers to take his place next to YFMB to protect us against the rats. Do you believe ?