Jacksoni

Some of you really need to watch some hallmark games from the 60's onward. The 72' summit series between Canada and the Soviet union would be a great start. I dare to say it makes you see the past in a new light. The greats back then would still be supreme today if born, trained today - as they would have been. You simply cannot deny talent, which would have been noticed 50 years ago just as it is today. Why? Money. Seats filled. Still holds true, which makes elite talent found hold true.

Hmpff.. It is Semi-blasphemy I suppose but ok. It's Duncan Keith. He is their general. Irreplaceable. It is easy to see, pay attention to their power play in particular. He is also matched heavily against top lines and defends them with honor. Great player. Kane could have held the title but he has been cold this season. Which I don't mind at all.

Well I did create this thread and have not made any posts about what I think about this matter, I thought I'd give it some time and in my opinion it paid off, some really great posts and discussions about these two giants in hockey. A great thanks for all involved, I really couldn't find one non-constructive post until Shocky sneaked in right at the end. Here are my thoughts: Neither one is a bad choice. With different skillsets, eras, they are the pinnacle of what talent, skill and determination will get you. On top of that I believe they are so gifted that it would translate to any era. Lidström would defend Rocket Richard with honors (don't get me started on him by the way). Orr would command the puck against Edmonton 1986. Unknowingly of his future knee injury I would pick Bobby Orr every time, all the time. I love Lidström, I have studied him extensively, he doesn't need any justification for going up against Orr. But even he himself has said Orr is number one. Tarasov, the creator of the russian hockey before it was militarized said Orr, Babcock said Orr and Scotty Bowman said Orr. I have watched over 30 games studying him and I probably would pick him even if I knew his knee would blow before 30. He packed the house and made many Boston kids stars after his retirement. Orr is the only player I would consider if I had to pick 5 clones to play every position on the ice. He is the penultimate top 3 of all time together with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. With that said I don't have to give an account to what Lidström has given us for so long. I still miss him while watching games. His skill and longevity places him right behind Orr in my mind but ahead of Red Kelly, Ray Borque and Doug Harvey. On top of that he's really smart (not a surprise, considering his game) - he has coauthored academic publications from reputable universities in Sweden after his retirement. A perfect human.

For me it feels like Social Justice Warriors have entered the NHL when every team contributes to the all-star game. Clearly Nielsen has no business being picked, it's ridiculous. If anyone it should be Mantha or Athanasiou. Being fair in my mind, no one should have been picked, and not all teams should send a player. For that reason I'm not watching this so called event. For reference, I did watch anything Larkin-related in the all-star event last year, with good reason, he did very much belong and I was intrigued to see what his excitement would translate to.

The most valuable Blackhawk is the one that coughs up, mispasses or is straight up bribed to give the puck to the Detroit Red Wings in the slot. Blasphemy.

Too many sold out games for this question to be answered properly. However if you add the variable 'wildest', making it 'sold out' + 'wildest', just pick any regular home game against the Colorado Avalanche between 1997-2002, should do the trick.

There actually (still) is unsubstantiated rumors floating around about Trouba landing in Detroit still. Something about this signing being a placeholder until next season. Just ramblings, however one can hope. Talk about changing the outlook of a team if that came true.

Nyquist should play in stead of Tatar in my opinon, with Mantha and Z. Tatar should be medically examined & treated if necessary. If he is hurt, with his stature he simply does not belong in the lineup. Any lineup. On any NHL team. If he's healthy, fine, slot him right in around Z and Mantha. Or somewhere else. Eye test say he's injured though, perhaps chronically. Trade it. Harsh but that's my thoughts.

He would probably slap me on my jaw if he'd get away with it. I wouldn't even argue about it. But Bobby's knees did cripple him, too early. It is worth a debate on those grounds. All else considered, I bow to "grapes". Perhaps to further detail this, who in the Long run meant most to his team? I won't reveal what I think ultimately until later in this thread, but just to add that perspective for any potential writer.

I certainly agree with this. I would dare to write almost all NHL teams agree - very few would trade Trouba for a top 5 pick. Certainly not in this draft. Those prime defenders are worth more than their weight in gold (right now) and once picked will most likely never leave the organization as long as the org. is profitable. As said situation with Trouba just displayed a few months ago.

And cooked royally we got. At least we scored some. Last game up 3-0 nothing after the first, this game down 3-1 after the first. Then just controlled and commanded to leave town. I hope owners and management sits down and starts planning for the trade deadline when this team returns home. If they have a statistics guy which they were looking for previously, that person could explain with good mandate that we aren't making the playoffs and that the team should pursue it's strategy accordingly. It will be interesting to see what path this team pursues very soon as it is a crossroad that will dictate the future for years to come.

Thanks for the game day thread, always a nice pastime. Yesterday night we won somewhat convincingly against LA, 4-nothing. AA looked mighty fine, Mantha was sharp. Vanek deadly around the crease. Y'all know what that means, following the trend. Tonight I think we will be cooked, and cooked royally. I'm at a spot that I don't mind losing, since we are closing in on a top 5 pick but sure look forward to the game and hope that we burn them sharks. Let's go Wings! Gustav, score one damnit.

What the hell just happened? Who are these guys, I'm very confused. My girlfriend asked me what I was mumbling about, going around here in the morning after having watched the first period repeating "Wings are leading 3 - nothing after the first..". Great game but this schizophrenic stuff is getting to me.

6.3, huh? I'm all doom and gloom and have been raving about us going down but I wouldn't say it would be that low. Without any calculations I'd have guessed 15-25%, that with a decent bag of statistics courses in my luggage. Take that stat with a grain of salt or two. Edit: I may go on a rant about statistics and (not)sports, complete with sources of dry book reading if this thread tickles me.

Watched that goal over a few times. It's a really grey area, hard to determine, I am guessing it could have gone either way. Ducks are at home, a fifty-fifty call, look at that, it goes their way. Not surprising. My 2 cents.

I can see it now.. This is where it all ends. And ultimately we are reborn through pain and misery.

Unlike most Nostradamus seer's in here, I have no idea how the next 8 games will go for us. Probably not well. The stats and the good old eye test tells me we are cooked. I do agree that this game stretch decides the outcome of the year. So either win 8 in a row or loose them all, in my opinion. You know which one I think is most likely. But the other option is possible, albeit.. Highly unlikely.

Bring him in, by all means. Grab Lidström while you're at it and we might look decent. At least in my dreams. Guess I'm getting old..

Completely the wrong man retiring in this picture. He would still be productive. Gordie returned. Why can't he?

Less IS more exciting. Be happy with what you have and don't be spoiled. Joke aside, Holland should have retired when Lidström did. What he's saying now is that the rules force his team to suck and that we as fans should rejoice that other teams come forward, or at the least try to enjoy our smaller cake. What we need is someone that doesn't see it that way, someone who disregard the cap and parity. So we need a stubborn and somewhat stupid GM or if lucky, a genius who see things we ordinary folks cannot.

Enough of this. It's time to move Smith to the AHL by waiver or a trade.

We don't do slots, ma'm.

That's what Elite talent will do for ya! Great shot by big Mantha!

Hey at least we got 1 unobscurred shot on goal on our power play..

Xavier Oullette looking stable at least. Looks like he had his share of pond hockey.