JeeSpot82

The mock draft has been updated and the Wings pick is now an American kid named Mike Hoeffel, who plays for the US U-18 Team.

Ray Emery is a quality goaltender. He's not going to be an Elite goaltender like the Brodeurs of the world, but that's not what the topic is asking. It's asking if he's going to be the next Cam Ward. And the difference may be that Cam Ward won a Stanley Cup. Ray Emery has an all-uphill climb ahead of him if he's going to accomplish that this season. Also, Cam Ward was a rookie. Ray Emery is not. Ray Emery was really good in the chances he was given last season (when he WAS a rookie). Something Cam Ward and Ray Emery DO have in common: removing Martin Gerber from the slot ahead of them on the depth chart HA

No, I fully expected to be in the minority, I'm just really disappointed with how the majority is treating that minority. What I meant with the opening statement of my post was that topics like this one aren't usually met uniformly - and some people like to gang up on others and I'm not sure why this one would have been any different. Ha. I'm sure this reason is right up there on his list of positives of the area hahaha... but yeah, that's a rumor I heard - that he bought Dre Bly's old house in Northville. I'm no real estate agent, so I can't confirm that, but it sounded pretty credible to me. Especially when teamed up with reports of how much he enjoyed the locker room, the reception he received and the area.

I had a feeling I shouldn't have opened this thread. It's the vast majority ganging up on two or three people who think differently. I'd like to join that minority. I'm not interesting in having Bertuzzi return. He DOES seem happy here, and I heard it through the grapevine that he's closed on a house in Northville - so I'm pretty certain that he WILL be back. But, I wasn't impressed with his physical play this post-season, except for a handful of times when he was very strong on the puck behind the net. But he wasn't the force I was hoping he'd be - and maybe it's not fair to ask that of him, being that he's still recovering from back surgery. Like I said in another thread, perhaps he needs a full season in the system to make a full recovery and put his head in the game, but judged simply on what was seen during this post-season, I would throw my vote in for no.

Help! I'm in Pennsylvania on business and my hotel doesn't have Versus (who's shocked!?). I know that some people on here know how to view TV feeds on the computer, and I'd love someone to walk me through it. I tried to download Sopcast already and it says that it can't play because it's not the newest version... yet I got it from the website. I have no idea what's going on, because I'm basically computer retarded. It'd be greatly appreciated if someone would step up and walk me through it quickly -- feel free to PM me or whatever you gotta do. I bought Center Ice for the regular season and haven't missed a regular season or playoff game ALL season, it'd be a shame to miss this one - it's got huge implications. Thanks in advance!

You're my hero. I'd like to buy you a virtual beer. And if you ever make it to New York City, I'll make a real beer. Thanks a million.

Yeah, I'm doing the research right now -- hope I can find one that's showing it... but i'm in the mountains, so it's not exactly hockey country....

He is signed on next season - so you'll get your wish.

Everyone thinks I'm crazy for not shaving - but damnit it's working. Luckily I have a laid-back enough job where they don't care, but I'm starting to feel creepy (it goes well with the itchy and dark-figured spectre feeling I carry around).

Anyone think the league will react to this situation similar to the Calgary suspension/finings because of the situation of the game? By that I mean a game in which the score is decidedly one-sided, not to mention Anaheim has some reputation this season leading the league in majors... Just wondering if any fans out there thinking something along those lines.

I'd almost prefer Homer not to play the rest of the game. He's clearly goin to have some cobwebs after that hit -- I'm glad he came back, showed the fans he's a hardass mofo, showed the Wings fans at home that he's okay, show his teammates he's in it for the long haul, but there's no reason to risk further injury in a game that's really pretty one-sided.... That said, he's a goddamn tank and I officially have man-crush love for him.

HE'S ON THE ICE.

The VS commentator just said that Homer's in with Dr Colucci, which I take as good news.... if it was serious, he'd be on his way to hospital. of course he can still GO to the hospital, but it wasn't an immediacy thing. And Colucci is a hell of a doctor, and he is usually spot on with the diagnosis of sports situations and other injuries. He was the guy who knew what was happening to Ficsh behind the bench and acted in a way that probably saved his life. I'm very confidence with Dr. Colucci on the good guys' side.

I think Radulov only got one gamem for his hit on Bernier.

Pretty certain that's one of the reasons he was appealing in the first place....... be nice if he did SOMETHING......

Yeah... I have never really loved Pronger... but right now I'm more concerned with Homer. It's sad that some teams go up high when they're hopelessly behind. I want nothing more than for Holmstrom to be alright. I like the lead, but I'd rather not have anyone get hurt - especially someone as important to his team as Homer is to ours. Updates are welcomed and looked forward to...

I'm not even so sure he's next in line after Holland anyway. Assistant GM Jim Nill has to turn down offers to be other teams' GM because he's supposedly the "GM in waiting." Steve Yzerman did a great job with the Worlds roster, but he'll be the first to tell you he's got a long way to go before he'd be given control of an NHL club full-time. He'll get there, but I don't think it'll be in Phoenix, where they have a menargerie of underqualified people running the Coyotes (including Gretzky).

This is easily the hardest I've laughed in quite some time... ^ ^ That s*** is hilarious. I'm all for trash talking, I was a pro when I played... but cracking fun at it (and in perfect Datsyukian language) is great fun.

Brad Norton sucked donkey nard - I was thrilled to see his exit and Val Filppula's entrance at the beginning of the season. Hopefully Bertuzzi is willing to drop the gloves (if necessary), because Anaheim led the league in fighting majors and they may get wiley.

I don't think Bertuzzi has the same skill set as Homer does - as far as tiping and such, but he's a monster body that can block vision just as well... I meant Bertuzzi needs a Holmstrom roll in the same way that he makes a better door than a window, not a deflection machine. If you have trouble moving Homer, you should need a bulldozer to move Bertuzzi.

Phenomenal analysis. Something I like that I've seen this post-season is during the final 10-20 seconds of a power play or penalty kill when Filppula and company are on the ice. They certainly generate some energy and do a great job either keeping the puck deep or pushing the forecheck to enable a better matchup after the next whistle. I think that if the Ducks PP is exhausted and can't put either Niedermayer or Pronger on the ice for some reason, even if just for a minute, it might be a great time to strike with our forgotten guys like Flip and Franzen. I don't anticipate a heavy scoring affair, because both teams are particularly strong on the back end, so it might be the dirty goals that are the difference. I'm sure Anaheim isn't afraid to crash Hasek, and our power play will need to chip in some goals. All of a sudden, in games 5 and 6 of the San Jose series, Samuelsson found his aim - and hopefully it'll stick around because without Schneider, guess who we're going to see on the point every single power play? I'd really like to see Bertuzzi park his ass in Giguere's face, a la Holmstrom, either on PP Unit #2 or just during regular shifts. The strategy proves effective - even if Homer doesn't HIMSELF score - and if we have the opportunity to double our annoyance efforts at the top of the paint, it can't hurt in any way.

I'd love to see Morozov back in North America, especially in Red & White; but I just read that he signed a 3-year contract with his club and he seems pretty content on that side of the pond.

But the Leafs just signed Boyd the Void to a 2 year extension: http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=205617&hubname=nhl

I thought Kyle Quincey played really well last night, and Babcock clearly has faith in him -- playing him in the overtime and whatnot. I'd rather have Brett Lebda, obviously, but Red Wings fans should feel totally confident that they won a playoff hockey game in a hostile environment with their #7 and #8 defensemen on the ice. Neither Lilja nor Quincey seemed out of place and both played REALLY well. Now if only there was a way to get Hudler in the lineup without losing any players to injury...

Going into the playoffs, I was hoping every Western Conference series would go to 7 games (except the Wings of course, because my little heart couldn't handle that kind of pressure). I figured the Sharks/Preds series would be the best series in all of the first round matchups, but knew the Sharks were the better team, and the team I'd rather avoid, so I'm kind of pulling for the Predators. For the Predators to win, the series HAS to go to 7... a plus on both accounts. The Wings need to get past the Flames, and the second round will be tough as hell either way...