RockyMountainWingGal

I think your'e wrong about the Wings fans having alot of hate and ill will in general. Of all the Wings fans I've known all my life, none would post some of the things you are mentioning above. I think therein lies the problem, when you're on a message board, you're essentially anonymous an one can spew out anything they think from behind a computer screen. Unfortunately, it seems like a few people got carried away with their hatred towards another team - which could be bad or good if you want to establish rivalries. I'm looking forward to a Ducks rivalry - seen as how we really haven't had a true rival since the Avs. That would mean we need to meet in the playoffs for several consecutive years - fine with me. I'm not sure the new NHL is set for that, which is a shame since that really gets people into it. Oh and hey I wouldn't let a few posters get you down. In the late nineties about half a dozen of my neighbors in Boulder drove around with "Red Wings Suck" bumper stickers. One guy used to park next to me everyday. I just had to make he saw me wearing my Wings shirt every time we beat the Avs. It can actually be kind of fun to have a "hateful" rivalry sometimes, as long as it's all in good fun.

Yup I'm even going to invest in some Avs tickets for next year since they'll be offering better deals. With Lacroix gone - they won't be winning anything anytime soon. I'm a Sakic fan, but when he retires in a few years, which he's indicated he will, there isn't really anyone to take over this team. They've cast off all their good veteran players. Now there are some young guys that are OK - but don't look for anything special from this team for awhile. I cannot even tell you one D-man on their roster for next year - lol (other than Leopold who's been hurt). I'm looking forward to the Ducks rivalry. We should look at them as our target - repeat the '96, '97 scenario by getting back this time, but winning!

If you want to hear why the Red Wings will never join the Eastern Conference, listen to the podcast of Gary Bettman on WXYT where they ask him point blank about it...... Bettman on why the Wings will stay in the West scroll down to the Bettman interview

I've heard alot about this on NHL radio shows - the Sirius show ends next week for the summer! Expansion is absolutely ludicrous. How about MOVING a few teams to the new cities, or CONTRACTING an equal number to the ones you expand? I firmly believe teams that are on the brink need to be given 2 years to get the ship upright, or sink.. Wah to the teams that lose their teams (mostly in the South). Remember when the Jets, Nordiques, North Stars all moved. Those Canadian cities and Minnesoty didn't like it all too much - but that was just too damn bad for their fans. So if economics once again dictates teams moving again - hopefully North - so be it! I actually don't think Vegas would be bad. They don't have a major sports franchise though, so it would be risky. But you can bet I would plan all my Vegas trips around when the WIngs would be in town. Would this mean I couldn;t place my hockey bets though? I've heard if they get any kind of franchise, you couldn't bet on that team and maybe sport??

Good question. I guess I don't think so. The Ducks were in the WCF last year and imo should have beaten the Oilers. In fact, the more I think about it, the Wings, Sharks, and Ducks should have all beated the Oil - wierd sh*& happens in hockey... No doubt he helped in the regular season and is a big reason they secured the #2 seed - and home ice for all but the Wings. The team played so well both games w/o him, it's hard to say how critical he really was. But it's team effort and no doubt he gave them an edge. Just think about it though, if his antics had backfired, and the Ducks had wound up losing one of his suspension games, and one of those series, they'd be talking about how he cost them the Cup...it's a fine line.

When I first joined these boards - we had rivalries with the Avs and the Blues - and alot of their fans were regular posters. It was fun. They've all but disappeared. Since things have changed and the Ducks and Sharks are *maybe* our new Western conference rivals, it would be nice to have a few of their fans on here also. I've seen rude posters from both teams. This is a board for hockey discussion and there's no need for that. Should be an interesting summer...

I still can't figure how California is a "bull-sh&^ Southern market to some"? Do they know Anaheim is on the West coast? The Ducks had a fan base before they won the Cup. I do have some issues with some of the Southern teams - too many of them imo - some with no fan base/losing money. But, what can I do about it? I thought they should contract a few during the lockout, but it didn't happen. The "traditional" market teams need to EARN their way to the Cup. The Wings have done a good job it seems adjusting. Looks like the Rangers are getting there too. I do agree that the NHL needs to have one of those east coast teams in the finals some year soon - but what is the NHL supposed to do - rig the games? Anyhow, I'm done with the whining posts too. 2007 done - accept it - some good stories. On to the summer and a new beginning for every team. I sense a Wings-Ducks rivalry for a few years....Go Wings!

lol on the Ducks shirt. Hold on to yours. My '97 was starting to look real ratty and I was getting worried - and then I got lucky in '02 and got a new one. Hope you enjoyed your posting here - don't let the few bitter ones keep you away. I've seen enough wins-losses in my lifetime to not let one year get to me. btw, I sense a Wings-Ducks rivalry over the next several years. No more Avs - it should be fun. Hope to see you guys again next year in the WCF! Revenge!

I cannot say I agree that any team doesn't deserve to win the Cup - like many already stated - the players on those teams certainly deserve it. However, I completely disagree with Bettman on the expansion thing. I think he added too many teams too fast. I'll admit I'm not a fan at all of putting a bunch of teams in the South. I think people are being a bit nairve on the California thing. They must realize Cali has had teams as far back as the original 6 - WHA teams etc. The Kings have been around since the '67 expansion. I see California as a pretty good hockey market actually. How I would judge it however, is whether the team can support itself. There are teams in some markets that could not sustain themselves without sharing and the cap system. I guess I have a big problem with that. The talent pool has been diluted, and the schedule is just killing the NHL imo. He's talking about expanding again - Las Vegas and KC I hear - ludicrous considering the ratings right now - and no tv contract. I love the league, but I don't think it can survive under the current system. I know it's cliche - but the big market teams are crucial to the league's success - and if none of them win for years....I think that's bad for the NHL. Now those teams will have to learn to compete under the new system just like the Wings have. But if they don't, and these expansion teams win every year - I fear the worst. And I'm not trying to be sour grapes - the Ducks were a great team and deserve to be champs - at least the West got the Cup back. I don't even consider Anaheim to be a small market (it's not) and California is not a place void of hockey tradition (I'd have to stick Tampa or Carolina in that category).

I guess by OUR defense you mean Nieds and Pronger. Well I might be biased, but I'd take Lidstrom first, Nieds second, and Pronger...well I'd take anyone else cause I don't like him. True our second D-man was out so our defense definitely wore down towards the end of the Ducks series, but I wouldn't say the Ducks defense is that much greater than the Wings. In fact, the Wings led the league with least shots allowed - in the reg season and playoffs I believe - protecting Dom... Anyhow, Giguere isn't coming to Detroit. I'd be shocked. I could maybe see if the Ducks had lost, and there were alot of questions about the team, maybe he would bolt for a shot at the Cup with another team (kind of like Pronger - bah). My guess is he stays with the Ducks, the only other possibility I see is the Kings...they need a GT and can afford him.

I have to agree - talk about whiny - this poster is whining about Selanne? Whatever - probably the Duck that deserves the Cup the most. Pronger gave us a reason to not to like him (well most already had some hatred from his days as a Blue), but Selanne hasn't done anything to warrant bad mouthing. Congrats to him - we'll see if he retires. I'm kind of hoping he does 'cause it's better for the Wings hehe..

This is what I've thought would help the NHL - launch it's own network - NHL TV. Just like the NFL and NBA do (although only the NFL is free I believe). Air one game every week on NHL TV. Also run classic games - and provide a weekly show. If they bought their own station - they could do at least market their sport a bit. I'm fine with hockey not being like football - it's nice to have a little niche. But seriously, no ESPN has killed the sport here in the USA. I could always count on the NHL nightly or whatever it was called - and several games a week. Now you have to watch ESPN news for an hour just to get a 60 sec blurb with Melrose- wtf? Versus has what - one maybe two games a week?? Last night - ESPN had "Anaheim Ducks win the Stanley Cup" on their ticker for about an hour before they got bumped by the NBA or MLB - lame...

I wish I hadn't discovered Youtube - I could watch old Wings clips all night and get nothing done!!! Ah the memories...scroll down the related videos on the side and watch Darren McCarty beat up Claude Lemieux - ah the good old days!!!

I was also thinking it must suck to be Paul Kariya right now. He bolted out of Anaheim - the face of the franchise - to try to ride to a Cup with the Avs. That backfired - he couldn't go back to the Ducks, and he winds up in a dungeon of hockey in Columbus (sorry Jackets but its true). Now he's watching his best buddy Teemu lift the Cup without him with his former team......now there's someone that should be depressed.

Freak - Melrose is drooling all over himself talking about the Ducks on ESPN. They're "sending a message to the rest of the NHL". No sh&6 Barry they won the Cup. Kudos to the Ducks, but I want to knock that sh&* eating grin off of Barry's face....

That's kind of how I feel. While I don't like to see guys charging for stuff like that 1) he didn't make nearly the cash the players make now and 2) alot of scumbags auction the autograph off on ebay right away. Not that paying for it would inhibit those losers. In fact, I know that's why Hull and others restrict their signings - because they wind up on ebay...can't blame them. If I lived closer - I'd certainly pay the $100. He's old and he's a legend - there are not many of them around. Plus, I ate at his restaurant several years back in Traverse City - they say he shows up there and hangs out sometimes and is completely accessible to fans....

Yup Ducks deserve to win. I disagree on Ottawa vs Detroit though - I think the West is so much better the Wings would have beat them handily too. I actually had a much harder time with two Southern teams winning the Cup than the Ducks. Even though the Ducks are relatively new - (1993)- California has had NHL hockey since the '67 expansion. I feel like California is a much better place for hockey than the deep South - that's just my opinion.

I thought it was a good choice - even if the number don't add up. Acually Lidstrom has better numbers than Scott, considering. Actually, Nick pretty much outplayed him in the WCF. That said, he was pretty much the glue that held the Ducks together. With Pronger going off the deepend, he had to keep the team focused and p/u extra minutes. I thought Giguere was the only other possible choice, but he had enough shaky games and didn't even play at the beginning of the playoffs. The Sens hardly threw any shots at him. MVP of the Wings series - no doubt. But overall, I don't think SN was a bad choice. Now, if he gets the Norris over Nick, I WILL really be mad.....

I thought it was a big gamble last year - but one that paid off well! I'd surely take that risk again. This team was completely different with Dom in net. I hope if he comes back - we have him take it easy and play the b/u alot during the reg. season... here's hoping for Dom, or else we've got squat (no offense to Ozzie)....

huh? I saw a talented and determined Ducks team easily smoke an overmatched, outplayed Sens team. I have to say I didn't see any great championship clinching goals....no offense to the Ducks...

Congrats to all the Ducks except Pronger - sorry Ducks fans, just can't do it. Here's a thought on why the West is/has been the better conference the last 5 years: West wins: #1 seed Wings beat #3 seed Carolina in 5 games East wins: #2 seed Devils beat #7 seed Ducks in 7 games East wins: #1 seed Tampa Bay beat #6 seed Calgary in 7 games East wins: #1 seed Carolina #8 seed Oilers in 7 games West wins: #2 seed Ducks #4 seed Ottawa in 5 games The East needs 7 games to beat our lowest seeded Cindarella teams. If the West sends it's best teams to the finals, we smoke them. Anyhow, just a thought. Congrats again to the Ducks - the Cup belongs in the West - even if it's California! Go Wings 2007-08! Lidstrom needs to tie Niedermeyer for most Cups by an active player! Plus he could use another Conn Smythe!

Heh - this game was over before it started. Anyhow, 2 of us diehards in the chatroom for the last game of the season if anyone's interested......

OK I'm seeing Oct 30, 1991 vs Buffalo - where Lidstrom received the instigator. His fight total is listed as "1" - lol. Stretching it a bit as that was 16 years ago....I couldn't find anything else. Lidstrom fight card Edit: in comparison; Bob Probert was the team leader that season with 18 fighting majors! lol those were the good old days...

OK I'm going to have to see if I can youtube this - I can't believe it unless I see it! Maybe he figured if he was to play 20 years in the NHL he would have to have one fighting major to make it legit....

Kronwall just needs a little luck to get off the injury train. Since I didn't see him play much this season - I can't judge him. But we all saw how well the Wings played w/o him in the lineup in the playoffs - we don't really know what he would have/can add to this team in the postseason. On the other hand, we saw what happened with Schneider out - lack of production on the pp - imo why we lost the WCF in the end. He's inked anyways - so let's just see - like I said we need to get a little lucky with him this next season - he's due.