beez35

.... no goalie bashing!! Most years I've been here as a fan and we've been knocked out of the playoffs, too many people here call out the goalie and wish they were traded. It's nice to see that Jimmy is getting the credit he deserves this year, being a 2nd year playoff goalie who's proved (at least to me) he can handle the big games. Sure he let in a couple of squeakers - so do the best of the rest! I personally thought Howard had a great playoff run this year, and I'm looking forward to having a confident goaltender in the playoffs for the next few years at least. Despite the Game 7 loss.... what a GREAT series, and hats off to the Red Wings, and the Joe Louis fans for having the heart to come back from 0-3 down and still only get beat by 1 goal in the end. The Sharks are still a bunch of gutless, cheating p*ssies, and I hope they get their a**es handed to them by at least 1 of the next 2 teams they could face!

Take a look at the website Guardian Project . I've had a good root through this today and actually think it's quite cool. There's a backing story and a "Behind the Scenes" video. As well as all the characters in their comic form. I'm pretty hyped about this! I think people are getting the idea that this was totally hockey related, and the heros are going to be ace hockey players or something?! But the only relation to hockey seems to be that the kid involved is a youth hockey player. His dying father created these Guardians to protect him - and I'm guessing he related them to NHL teams coz his son was a hockey fan?!? That's my 2 cents anyway (or 2 pence if you're from the UK like me)

Digital if possible would be great, but anything at this point would be good!

I'd be interested in this also if anyone knows where we can get hold of them?

Bring back the NHL of the 80s and 90s. The NHL of now is starting to remind me of the crap they called Slap Shot 2. With all the "family" and fairy nonsense.

Do you know what photo it is? Plus would you ship to UK?

Cheers for the heads up guys - I've now added him to my fantasy hockey line up

HAHA! I can't believe I just sat and worked that out! I must be bored at work! And I read it out loud, sitting 6 inches from the screen, so had people standing watching me.

I'm still laughing at this thread..... but haven't worked out why yet

Carey Price one is funny. Is he ducking away from the puck... or a Canadiens' fan?! Carey Price

I drive round in my new Mini Cooper S I bought last weekend. I try to keep up to date with Wings news, and play the PS3 more

I just choked and spat out my tea when I saw this on NHL.com just now. Totally gutted! Best of luck to him though, such a class guy. However I'm down about it now, and depressed for the day

One thing that people need to stop doing - which is the same at every down turn, or bad patch - is to stop thinking that we need to get rid of 5-6 players (who ever they may be) and replace them with 5-6 other players! Keeping certain veteran players like Maltby and Draper for a small price can be a great asset for the team when mentoring younger up and coming players. I don't believe there's another team in the NHL that has as many Stanley Cup rings in the room - experience is a great thing to have, and a lot of teams lack. How many rings do the Oilers and the Maple Leafs have between them? And neither of them know a f*cking fiddle about how to make it far in the playoffs, yet alone to the playoffs in the first place. We'll be back - maybe not this year, but possibly 2011. And it will be veteran leadership and proven management that will play a vital role in putting that winning team together. Remember this is the team that battled through massive injuries this year and got all the way to the 2nd round of the playoffs (so far). 16-1-3 (??) since the Olympics? That's huge! IMO there's only minor tweaking that needs to be made here, like there is every year - to get the combination right again.

I think 'realists' was the word you were looking for. We've all realised that it's probably over - however it would be a nice treat if the Wings won in 7. However two 7 game series in the 1st 2 rounds, how far would we go next round? I myself am happy with the Wings in the last few years. Nothing can even come close to the disappointment at the final horn of last year's game 7 final - and having to watch Cindy lift the cup at the Joe during every commercial break! I'm glad Howard has seen some playoff action - he did pretty well for his 1st two rounds of playoff hockey, and we're always saying we need a goalie with playoff experience - and he has shown some promise so far! Also this gives us a longer rest period during the off season to rest players, move some trash, and sign some stars

Goalies are neither taught/trained to give or take hits - nor do they wear protective equipment for that purpose. I play goal in the UK and have been hit before by a team mate in practice who was goofing around and because I landed on my back, with no protection, and hit the back of my mask on the ice - no protection either, I was out of hockey for a month. Goalie equipment is designed to stop pucks from the front only, and masks are the same also, they are not helmets that give you all round protection. However - there is a fine line between protecting goalies who come wandering out of their crease, and saying they are fair game - and that is certainly a ruling that should be looked at more closely.

No way! Just as much as I cringe with frustration when Bertuzzi touches the puck. That's one pick up I didn't like at all.

I wonder if their performance this year in particular has anything to do with losing in Game 7 of the finals last year?! that must have some kind of lasting effect on players? To be so close, then lose out. I know for a fact it's had a lasting effect on me, and I don't even play for them! To me, the final horn felt the same as a death in the family. Also, I wonder how much of it has to do with riding a young, inexperienced goalie throughout the year?! There's a certain stability that a rock solid goalie brings to a team, we haven't had that stability with Osgood this year, so the players may be looking at it in such a way that Howard is their only hope, and they get nervous most nights?! I'm not sure, just suggestions, but since I've been a fan of the Red Wings (1996-97), I have noticed that being a goalie in Detroit is brutal - for anyone!

Thanks very much for the info. I'll take a look.

I have a quick question. I live over in England, so I don't ever hear much about the Red Wings prospects, draft picks, or the Griffins etc. Where's the best place to get that sort of info?! Thanks a bunch

I was just wondering if anyone else wished the NHL regular season games were anything like the gold medal game yesterday. Watching that game reminded me of hockey in the mid-90s. The refs were letting plays go, and we even saw players nearly jumping on top of each other at one point to get to the puck. The new NHL rules have cracked down on our game more than I realised before watching yesterday's final. Your thoughts..

I was about to say that also. I thought he was doing pretty well with the rebound control. Especially that one where the rebound was nearly up over his shoulder, he stayed tall and kept it in his body.

Whatever happens this year, my view will always stay the same - I f***ing love the Red Wings - no matter what!! Everything about this team I love, the players, the fans, people on this board, the management, the uniform, the history, the cup wins, the cup loses and early exits. I hate it when people just want to trade away guys like Maltby and Draper, for that "one player" that is going to win us another cup. I love watching the "old guys" play, and remember all those cup finals they got us through. Yeah sure, Homer doesn't look that fast as he used to be, and he's a bit beat up... but he's way older, been so far in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but still sits in front of the net getting a pounding. I just love it!! Go Red Wings

Just a question - but does anyone think that the loss in Game 7 last year is still playing on the minds and bodies of the players during this current season? We went all the way like Pittsburgh, but came out empty handed. Also less rest time than the other teams in the league. I'm not trying to use it as an excuse, just that it must be such a blow to the players to go all that way, and end up losing. Plus the fact that we let so many players go this off season, including a very capable backup (Conks). I'm not sure what the answer to all this is - so I'm not going to even try to come up with one (and get ripped! ). I just wanted to see what other people's opinions were.

Dude, that sig is sick!! Love it!