Wings_Dynasty

Pleasant surprise that he seems to have gotten more aggressive in his older age. I like that he takes runs at guys and hacks at shin pads whenever he can and doesn't get called. Also like that he shoots and occasionally hits the goalie/net (looking at you Sammy).

If it were allowed, this would be my avatar AND signature.

Wasn't able to watch the 3rd. Really hope to see some highlights with the Tootoo incident/death stare.

It would be fun to see him on a line with Datsuk. Or see him take Samulesonn's spot. I think he could fill a simmilar role as a Powar Play speciallisttt. He still haz gass inn tha tanc.

Haha! DeGraa, that was funny.

I think instead of checking an older player at practice it would be better to just take the puck from him and not let him have it back. If you can do that you will probably get a spot. On the other hand, players like Tatar and Nyquist have earned their spots. Nyquist's play last season and post showed he is Datsyuk's heir at this point. Cleary took his spot and so far hasn't shown me anything worthy or keeping it. I'm all for Tatar leaving for the KHL if he feels under appreciated. I want him to stay. But maybe him leaving and thriving would have woken management up to their flaws.

One player from each team? Seems like something they would do.

http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2013/9/23/4762654/29-teams-we-hate-detroit-red-wings Obviously biased and delusional, but still a funny/infuriating read.

Always thought of him as a GR player for life. I think some teams will need his kind of depth and will give him more of a shot in the nhl than the wings will

Death. Taxes. And this thread every season.

As always, these games don't count. So all I can hope for is no injuries and for our kids to show that they are better than Cleary and Sammy. So... GO JURCO!!! Also, don't get blown out by the Leafs. Their fans are insufferable... present company excluded.

10 years ago Bertuzzi was the premiere power forward in the world. Size, speed, hands, and grit. He still has 3 of those qualities. You need people on the 3rd and 4th lines that can pass, score, and take the body. We aren't expecting 30 goals from him, but we are expecting him to play gritty hockey. Right now, from what I have seen, he is bringing snarl to the ice every shift. If he hustles instead of coasting around waiting for a pass I think he is an upgrade over both Sammy and Cleary, and at times is an upgrade over Franzen. Also, he doesn't take sh*t from the other team on the ice when they chirp at skill guys. When Weber threw Z's head against the boards, we all weren't saying, "Oh boy! Wait until Z gets back up and kicks his a** on the powerplay." No, all of a sudden, Bertuzzi was an enforcer to fans on the board. And guess what happened the next game less than 2 minutes in, even in a small scale, Weber had to answer. Against a bigger, stronger, and younger guy Bertuzzi did the job of a non-existant enforcer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqjn_AAO5A0 Until he can't skate at all or loses his ability to handle the puck, he is the best player we have in the bottom six.

The first thing HBO ever broadcast was a Paul Newman movie. Then they showed a live hockey game. Fun fact for you to chew on. Also, as mentioned above, the editing is an issue and none of those other channels would be able to handle it well. Not everyone gets or even has ACCESS to CBC. I wouldn't trust ESPN to cover a pee-wee hockey game. ABC doesn't have the rights. And an NBC special would be about the time Crosby was in the Winter Classic. I'll stick with HBO. They do the best docs, boxing, and sports news reports anyway.

Some experts have them winning the Cup. Some have them winning the East. Some have them winning the Atlantic. Some have them finishing 26th. All pointless. Anything can happen. These predictions are all based on the current roster of healthy players. One puck to the face, or knee-on-knee hit, or tweaked groin can turn a team from Cup-contender to barely missing the playoffs. Howard tears a groin muscle. Datsyuk gets a concussion. Zetterberg's back acts up again. Kronwall blows out a knee. All spell doom. Not to mention other teams. Crosby takes a big hit and can't keep his eyes in focus. Chara takes a slapshot to the wrist and can't hold a stick for 4 months. Quick breaks his hand trying to stop a puck rolling along the boards behind the net. Freak accidents that no one can predict, not even experts. BUT, experts also don't take into account players having career seasons. Weiss scores 40 goals. Alfredsson gets 60 assists. Franzen scores a goal in every away game for 3 months. Quincey leads the team in hits and +/- and does a great Konstantinov impression all season. DeK not only wins the Calder but gets Norris nods. All improbable, but still possible.

They film a few days in preseason then they come back in November to finish filming.

Good read, however, it fails to mention a CRITICAL component of the TOR/BUF incident. What happens the next time they play? Is John Scott going to be sat because BUF wants to avoid fights? No, if he is not in the minors he will play. He will still be a deterrent from TOR players hacking and whacking BUF skill guys. And he will probably have to fight a TOR enforcers. So when a goon goes and shoulders Z in the head, pops Datsyuk in the mouth, cross-checks Alfredsson in the face, no one will be there to retaliate/answer the bell. Tootoo is what we have that can manage any kind of challenge. He is small and a light-heavyweight at best, but he can run people and isn't afraid to jump up and smack Scott in the mouth. If we lose him, we are left with Abdelkader (who at best can grab a jersey and fall down), Ericsson (who is dangerously close to pulling a Lilja everytime he fights someone who CAN fight), and Bert (too old, but holds his own against agitators like Phanny and Torres, NOT fighters).

BURN!!!

Glad I don't have to change my signature. I want Tootoo as a fourth line regular. We will have plenty of skill guys to rotate in and out. We only have a handful of grinders and Tootoo will have a role every game in the East.

I logged in just to comment on this. This is hilarious, cute, worrisome, and depressing all at once. Hilarious: Great way around the rule. How can you stop it? They are being gentlemanly about it and playing/fighting within the rules (as ridiculous as they are). Cute: How awkward they are. It's like two teenagers figuring out where to put their hands for their first dance. They are both obviously aware of their roles and both trying to stay on the big team. They both don't want to hurt each other (by letting the other remove the helmet) but immediately start to try to hurt each other. This is both cute and honorable and one of the reasons I love hockey fights, the pageantry of two enforcers knowing they have to meet at some point and being classy about it. Some people hate the "set up" fights, but I think that the fans of each of the teams want to see it and are somewhat disappointed if they don't. The other reason being the pure hatred that is built up over a game/season/career that is only curable through fists. Those fights are usually better (Mac/Lemieux). Worrisome: This isn't going to last long. I bet the first draft of the rule is already written. Probably 2 for delay of game, 5 for fighting, game-misconduct, and maybe a short suspension/small fine. Depressing: That it's come to this. So many recent, stupid rules (instigator, jersey tuck, glove tuck, goalie pads, puck over glass, trapezoid, spin-o-rama, stick curve, GOALIE INTERFERENCE OR NOT!?!?, and the dumbest: OTL). It's killed the game and made it so complicated that causal and new watchers are so confused that they won't attempt to watch it. If I were to talk to one of my co-workers who I know are into sports (NFL, NBA, MLB) and ask them what they know about hockey, 90% would mention "allowed to fight" in their answer. If I ask them why they don't watch it at least half would say "confusing/rules are weird."

Per @georgemalik on Twitter: http://kuklaskorner.com/tmr/comments/hearing-for-pulkkinen?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Like last night's game, all I hope for is good play and no injuries. Hopefully Bert will show some chemistry with Weiss and Alfie and will put some pressure on Mule to actually play decent hockey for extended periods of time.

I agree. I am actually hoping very hard that Bert brings the Weiss and Alfie line some chemistry and "demotes" Franzen. If that happens, most likely Cleary will be placed on the 3rd line (if Abby does well on the top line) and Sammy dropped to the 4th line. Like this: Z-D-A Bert-Weiss-Alf Cleary-Helm?-Franzen Nyquist/Tatar-Andersson-Sammy Tootoo, Miller Nyquist/Tatar have very good chances to move up into the top six when injuries inevitably occur. I DO NOT want to see Cleary on the top line and only want Franzen there as a last ditch effort (one minute left, down by a goal, goalie pulled). If Franzen is on the top line we move from a 3 line team to a 1.5 line team very quickly. Emmerton plays in GR/gets traded, Eaves is dropped, and someone not dressed or on the 4th line is moved. I would actually prefer Eaves to stay as one of the undressed players (righty, good one-timer, great PK) but Miller is too similar of a player and is actually better on PK. And with the extension Holland has made his choice. I still like Tootoo as an option against teams playing heavy with similar players (Philly, Chicago, Boston) even though little to no offense will come from him, scoring chances and stars on the other team keeping their eyes on him and off the puck might give the Wings a slight edge. Plus, in the East, there is more "running around" by the pesky players and a "sheriff" is needed on every team. The Wings will see more teams built in the traditonally Burkian style in the East and it will be more physical. Tootoo is good to have around.

Let me know how it ends. Seriously though, Nyquist should be a priority over Cleary.

Since it's preseason and doesn't mean much, all I really want is good games from Tatar and Tootoo and no injuries.

From the fake Freep: Said Kenny Holland of the highly touted Canadian 18 year old, "Well, we like our team right now. The kid has a lot of potential and we think that he needs to find his legs in Grand Rapids before joining our club. We have a good 3rd line options with Drapes and Jason Williams, with Mark Mowers able to fill in there too. We just don't think he is on an NHL-calibre level like those guys are right now... we like our team. Say, have you seen the new guy we just signed? His name is Dan Cleary. He could play on the 3rd line too. Look out for him. He's a gamer and at no point in the future do I see him being a polarizing figure and keeping young future Wings like Sidney Crosby off the roster."