Seraph

I think they still have faith Cleary is hitting a rough spot and are giving him ice time so he can regain some confidence. It's arguable. We'll have to see. The QB job is up for grabs for sure. It's up to the D to sort that out in Babcock's eyes. I thought it would have been Kronwall but he has had a tough time holding onto the puck and making good passes. The number of shots we are getting is pathetic. Brunner is the only guy pulling the trigger half the time.

Tonight was the first game of the season we had good passing as a team. We controlled the puck and made good plays. We're definitely getting better with each game.

They were at the same level when they were first developing on the team. But now, by far, Datsyuk is the more valuable player. He does things no other player can do. Have you seen his passing this year? He's a maniac. Zetterberg is very solid and a top player on the team, but Datsyuk brings more.

Well, looks like we're settling into a sloppy joe with brilliant flashes of Datsyuk passing style hockey. Let's keep on growing. I'm still digging Tootoo and the fourth line. Boy is everyone in that stadium glad we got him. The guy is made for Detroit.

Lucky we got the one point. Night folks.

Nice way to put it, Mickey. Franzen doesn't "think like a goal scorer." Sounds way better than "he's a lazy sack." Can't talk bad about the guy after a goal though. Let's keep pushing.

Agreed. Kronner has to evolve that part of his game. The need is there.

Game plan: let's get on the power play over and over and use it to skate laps around the rink!!

This one is going to Chicago but I sure as hell will be hoping I'm wrong.

Honestly the calls weren't bad ones. The threshold was low to blow the whistle but on the replays all the penalties were legit. Can't blame them for being consistent. We did a bad job adapting to the tone they set.

We have a shooting problem. Brunner shoots. So far we're hyped because the kid picked a corner tonight and chances find him so easily when he's on a line with one of our playmakers.

I agree, Parise was out for blood tonight. Gotta respect that in a player. He is the type of player you throw money at, no doubt. There may be an argument Suter is overpayed, but again, it's super early to tell.

It's Edmonton. They eat this crap up. No big deal.

Datsyuk had some sick assists tonight. Wow. I think we'll be okay, guys. We're still looking for our post-Lidstrom identity, but I think we'll find it. We got a fourth line we're learning how to use. We'll file through our d-men and find our regulars and pairings. Maybe add another player to the mix later to complete the puzzle. Definitely feeling a little more comfortable now.

Fact of the matter is they're selling a product that people collectively pay millions to experience every year. They can throw a hissy fit every eight years if they want because they are the ones who own this amazing product. It's strange to see fans still butthurt that there is a business aspect to hockey, expecting free crap and Center Ice. Yes, the lockout sucked, but that's how business works sometimes. Yes, it has sucked more than other major sports leagues, but it's over now. Stop feeling so entitled. It's like being mad at a super hot model who stopped working for a few months. You aren't the one calling the shots here.

The beauty is he crammed it into the 3 inches that was left for him. I love it.

It was almost Datsyukian, but more Brunntacular.

This place would have been panic city if we lost again. Not unreasonably so, either. The room for error is cut in half with this shortened season. 0-2 to start the season would not have been a good place to be.

We decided we wanted to play with four people on the ice tonight.

Move over 13... geez man.

Brunner is hungry. I'm digging it.

Let's go ahead and abandon the swiss cheese defense model pioneered by Mr. Quincey, and we might put up a decent game. Let's go Wings!

Sure lost a lot of fans after the lockout.

Let's see how this D can hold up.

I can't see post-lockout-lockout Holland making a big splash in the trade market. He believes too much in developing his own players. Maybe we could put together some lower tier guys and get a half-way decent defenseman via trade, but I feel we are SOL for a top 2 d-man. It's either going to come from free-agency or from our young guns. This year might be a wash if our team can't learn how to play around the hole our old captain left. I don't really have a read on how the organization feels about Franzen's contract, but statistically he is one of our better players. So if anything, Holland can tell teams that are interested that he's sending them our top goal scorer. I know many defend Franzen, but considering his streakiness and our lack of defense, I would definitely deal him for an equally valuable d-man on paper.