LeftWinger

Extra travel? Playoff structure? What do they want, all the teams to make the playoffs? I don't get what their concerns are?!?!?

Well, what now then? Does Winnipeg just stay in the Eastern Conference? Ya, that makes sense. If it aint the NHL screwing around, it's the NHLPA! I am a Union supporter and member, but I really would love to hear the explanation behind their rejection...not unless there was some small print that we as fans didn't get to see. I don't get it. It was a good realignment and everyone plays everyone twice outside of your conference. Really less travel for the most part. You would think that the players wouldn't care, you would think it would have been the owners in the East that wold oppose this yet they approved it. I guess they are gonna have to go to plan B and screw the fans of seeing all the NHL teams at least once in their home arenas. Thanks NHLPA. ...yep and after reading the article, Winnipeg stays in the East. WTF NHLPA, what do you suggest for a re-alignment then? Let's hear it, because I for one was pretty excited to see a Detroit/San Jose SCF next year...

Franzen, Hudler, Kindl, Andresson, Ferraro, McCollum, Nestrasil, ANY of our D prospects. You just cannot pass on Perry or Getzlaf. I would acquire them both if I could. Ya, now I am dreaming in EA Sports land, but those two on Detroit would make us almost instant favorites, and face it, with the improvements Chicago and San Jose has done this year, Detroit needs to step it up and this would be a great move. We have the Cap space for both, they are signed through next season. The Wings are over their head deep in great prospects and could easily afford to give up a few of them. McCollum is NOT going to be backup to Howard, he is going to want to be a starter in the NHL and will probably leave as a Free Agent before Howard is ready to give up the #1 spot, so you could easily trade McCollum especially with how good Mrazek is playing. Next season you will be shopping or a #1 defenseman, not another #7 so Kindl and the rest of the prospects are fair game. You could go down the list of top 25 prospects in our organization and chose three or four that you could really live without, so if losing Franzen & Hudler and prospects in exchange for Getzlaf and Perry, I am doing it. You have to ask yourself, if this trade were in the works, which Detroit team has a better chance to compete with Chicago/San Jose and actually win the Cup this year or next, the one with Franzen/Hudler on it, or the one with Getzlaf/Perry? Holland made a mistake in 2009 by letting Hudler handcuff him by coming back and re-signing Franzen. He lost Hossa who said he wanted to stay and would take considerably less to do so. Here is Holland chance to make ammends on that mistake, get rid of Franzen & Hudler and make his team much better and tougher to play against in the form of Getzlaf and Perry. That is a blockbuster trade that will workout for both teams. PLUS it allows Holland to just focus on replacing Lidstrom next year instead of trying to find that power forward and sniper along with a #1 defender. I know it is hard to say goodbye to homegrown talent. Guys who have grown up in our system, but in the end, it's all about the crest on the front of the sweater. I hope Holland doesn't make the same mistakes he made in 2009 by passing on better players to keep Franzen & Hudler... EDIT: Also, ask yourself this, who you rather have these two or would you rather see Chicago, San Jose, Vancouver or worse yet Pitt or Toronto or Boston get one or both of them? If that happens then you not only lose out on acquiring two great players, but you also take two steps back from being on par with the elite teams in the NHL.

So if Anaheim says they'll give you Perry (or Getzlaf) in exchange for Franzen, you're not buying? If so, you are crazy. IF I am Holland, I am seeing what it'll take to get one of Getzlaf/Perry or Ryan along with Selanne for the Cup run... But that is just me, a 41 year old rental who scores when he wants and Perry the reigning Hart trophy winner. Getting rid of Franzen, Hudler and a couple of prospects and picks would be well worth they return. Especially if you can keep Perry around long term...

You have to give up something if you want something. In 2001 Holland traded away perhaps one of the best playoff performers AND prolific regular season scorer we had in order to get a goalie he felt we needed. He traded Kozlov AND a 1st for Hasek. I think an exchange that involved Franzen for either Getzlaf or Perry would be a great move. Franzen, Hudler and Kindl are three players from the big club who can and should be shopped come deadline day. If Holland could trade any combo these three plus prospects and get a Getzlaf and or Perry and or Ryan, then it is a no brainer...

Lidstrom came in at a time where our rookies didn't have to spend 5 years on the farm to develop. He came in 1991-92 along with Konstantinov and they BOTH were on the All-Rookie Team that season. Lidstrom had an immediate effect on our team tallying 60 points playing 80 games, most of those partnered with The Beast Brad McCrimmon. He was touted in the pre-season and praised the entire season and he has always given McCrimmon a ton of credit in helping him adapt to the NHL. I would assume that Nick had a big influence on him getting the Asst. Coach job a few years ago as well. Having Lids and Vladdy on the same team was unlike any other defense in the league. They were rarely on the same line together, but they together made this team nearly impossible to score on. You often hear that "My Gramma" could've been a goalie in Detroit, well these two were the main reason that line was spoken, and no offense to Osgood, but even Tim Cheveldae won 38 games playing behind them. I often wonder if Vladdy hadn't been injured, what kind of career wold he have had? He was up for the Norris in 1997 and odds are if he hadn't been injured, he would've been up for it a few more times. Would he be the one with 7 Norris'? Would both of these guys have even been here after the lockout? If Vladdy hadn't been injured, they both would've been commanding top dollar salary by 2004, so when the lockout ended, would both of them still be here? Would one of them had to be bought out? Because of his style of play, I wouldn't think that Vladdy would've have lasted 20 years, but damn it was nice having them together when we did. I remember Nick started his career wearing a visor and I am not sure at what point he took it off, and honestly I don't even remember the year he put it back on. I do remember a game I went to his rookie season, it was a particularly bad reffed game and as fans were booing and showing their disapproval of the refs a fan threw a "Red Drink" onto the ice and it hit Nick right in the head and the red was all over his face shield. It looked funny, but I also was like, man I hope he doesn't think someone threw it at him! Man, to have the early years of Lids back again and to have him for another 20 years. It will be a sad day when he is done, just as sad, if not more, than when Steve retired. Thank you Nick Lidstrom, thank you. ...yes, along with the Yashin "trade" that happened, then didn't.

If you get flamed, then I am on fire with you! If this team had a chance to score any one f Getzlaf, Perry or Ryan, I would send Franzen packing in a heartbeat. Hey, Franzen may be our third best player right now, but he is in no way better than the fore mentioned Ducks. Perry just came of a Hart trophy for pete's sake! If we could package Franzen, Hudler and some prospects for two of them? Ok, I am gonna stop now because I am just getting carried away! I will bring the fired retardant clothes because trading Franzen for one of these guys would be worth the flaming!

of those four, I picked none. Since we really don't need those borderline players. Jokinen could've been had for nothing in the off season and although Gleason would be a solid, abrasive defenseman, he doesn't really address our need this season or next season. We already have very capable defensemen right now with the 7 we have and we need a #1 guy to replace Lidstrom IF he retires. The other guys are borderline top 6 and we have a handful of guys like that already.

Buddy, buddy, buddy... ...I mention Pronger because this whole debate is should be called the Pronger Affect. Why? Because just like then, you refuse to see what is happening right before your eyes and you make up your own story that you actually believe to make youself feel better. I am not saying Datsyuk didn't hit his head. I am saying Jackman tried to draw attention to it by flopping his head back and bouncing off the boards. It's right there in the video, plain as day, just as you see Abdelkader clearing the puck into the zone and trying to avoid Cole. If you can see that, then you can see what I see in the Datsyuk hit. Which still was not the initial point of contact and was not illegal and was not called a penalty and did not warrant a review OR a suspension. All of which Cole's did. You can have all the regular season wins you want, just like your boy Elliot can have all the stats and vezina's in the world, it means nothing until you actually win something. I am not gonna mention all the Cups Detroit has, but in 1997 Colorado won every single regular season game against Detroit except one, March 26th. Not only did Detroit win the Cup that year, but the also eliminated Colorado in the Conference Finals in 6 games, ah but being a blues fan, you stopped watching the playoffs after the first round after your boy Pronger possibly cost your team an upset series. I am sure the Avs fans were riding high on the hog when they were beating us in the regular season too, just like you are clinging on to meaningless games. But you can have them, I will take the 16 wins in the post season over 8 wins in the regular season. Dainty Datsyuk eh? I do agree with you a NHL hit is a NHL hit and these men are pretty strong, but despite that fact, players do embellish hits to draw attention from the refs, and sometimes the refs just laugh and tell the guy to take a seat(paraphrasing of course, I don't want you to think I talk to refs and know exactly what they say.) Just like they probably did with Jackman. So, keep convincing yourself otherwise from the facts in front of you and you will remain happy inside your little blues world. Just don't leave your city limits because the sun doesn't shine that color outside of your city. But it's your world there, you can place a happy little rock wherever you want. You can have your baby-steps too because like I said, regular season wins mean nothing in the big picture. But since you are mentioning games from the past and years prior in the regular season, just how many Presidents Trophies do the blues have again? One? I see...Detroit has 6. Oh and since 1991, how many times have the blues finished ahead of Detroit in points in the regular season? Once? And you guys still didn't get as far as the Wings did in the playoffs. That must chaff your ass when every year regular season AND playoffs you look up and all you see is Red & White. Sorry dude...I never realized it was that bad in st. louis. No wonder you are satisfied with a couple of regular season wins...since you are so used to losing to us, maybe I will let you win this debate so you can have a little joy this century.

Already giving Nyquist top line? Sheesh! Plus I see you are still trying to put Smith in there even though you know he won't be a permanent fixture until he is out of options...keep dreaming. Plus, you haven't watch the chemistry between Zetterberg and Filppula lately? Why on Earth would you suggest splitting them up? You amaze me... In my book the current lines are clicking better than most lines in the NHL. As long as Helm and Cleary stay together (when Helm returns) nobody can touch our third and fourth lines. I have a despise for Hudler and Franzen, but as long as they are scoring they can stay. But they will be my main bait on the trade deadline IF I am looking to deal, which right now, I am not. Unless an unbelievable deal presents itself, I am staying put with this team and then making changes come July 1 depending on how far they go into the playoffs...

You just can't put Cleary up higher than the 3rd line. He is a third line player, nothing more. Bab's needs to keep him in that spot...

Very hard to believe that there has been only one penalty in this game, and that was a weak one...

yep! Why the f&ck is Babcock screwing with the defense lines? Dude, there is no reason to split up Lidstrom and White and Kronwall and Staurt. What's next put Ericsson with Lidstrom? C'mon Mike! Quit f$cking around!

Fixed for you. Hate the Wings all you want...in the end, Pronger was at fault and until you accept that you will never see things the rest of the NHL and hockey world see... Go watch your Beta copies of the 1991 playoffs because that is the only satisfaction you have had over the Wings in your pathetic franchises existence...Good Day Sir!

No need to spin when it's right in front of your face. Embellish hit to head, then bounce off the boards like you were hit by Clubber Lang. You lose sir, Good Day!

I never said Datsyuk's shoulder never hit his face, but he did flop his back like he was ready to go down on Pete North. He tried to embellish it and the refs weren't biting. Not only did he flop his head back, he also decided he should violently bounce off the glass to make it seem even worse. That is a 10 on the Crosby scale of diving. Yes, Dats made contact with his head (not the principle contact though) and Jackman decided that he would try to get the refs attention by embellishing to play. I would say that could even be a Bill Laimbeer flop...

Abby lost the puck after he was clobbered. Yep he said Datsyuk APPEARED to and after further review, even you can admit the principal point of contact was not the head. Still a penalty. He was engaged already with Stewart as he was being stick-checked by him. Cole made a mistake and is now paying for it. It would've have been an interference call if it were a full body check.

Who is this anyone guy and where does he play? I understand he isn't gonna come out and say they are ballerina's but if Vancouver is tough, the Wings are Mike Tyson...

...and trust us. We argue with you not because we don't like "you" only because it is fun to bicker! Who wants to come to a forum and just read a bunch of rose-colored homer love? Not me! Good on ya! and we hate the blues too! Not as much as the Hawks, but we do! You are welcome for Adam Oates BTW, did you have to give us Federko? Sheesh!

Hey cprice, take a look at the third picture up top there, notice Cole is already in front of Abby, getting ready to decapitate him. You say Abby saw him coming and threw the puck around him as to try to avoid the hit and get the puck again...well what is that right in front of his stick? And where is Cole and his dagger of an elbow? This is the only time Abby saw Cole coming, when it was too late. Like I said, he saw a flash of blue and tensed up, that was the movement you and every other misinformed blues fan saw. Concerning your links of people upset about the suspension and not a review on Datsyuk, find me ONE, ONE story outside of St. Louis or Detroit talking about how since Cole was suspended, Datsyuk should have been reviewed...ONE. Just admit that you and the blues fans are crybabies and are still bitter over Detroit pouncing your team everytime they play in the playoffs. BTW, I bet in 1997, every single one of those websites you linked (if they were in existence) all pegged Yzerman for deliberately hitting Pronger dirty and injuring him as well. We all know your guy's view on that. We can agree to agree. edit: and BTW, also in that third pic, you can see the other blues player already stick checking Abby and trying to separate him from the puck, hence he was already being checked and Cole had no business stepping up on them. And yes, that type of play does get called in the corners. Two guys fighting for the puck and then another player comes up, ignoring the puck and just interferes with the opposing player by body checking him to the ice, its an illegal play and gets penalized a lot. This was a penalty even without the jagged elbow...

I like this guy, he is funny guy... Man you can spin a story better than Ann Coulter at a Presidential Debate. You are just a bitter fan who is dying to get something on the Big Bad Bullies from Detroit. Dude, I am sorry the Blues have been Detroit's whipping boys everytime they have met in the playoffs since Scott Steven's played there, but don't take it out on us. You are going to get no sympathy for your team. And Jackman (you know he is an ass so I will leave that out) did throw his head back like he was shot from the grassy knoll. Oh, and since you've been a blues fan for so long you should remember a guy named Roman Turek, who just happened to have a year (stat-wise) that pretty much was the best ever by a blue's goalie. But maybe you never watched him play, I dunno. And we have commented enough on Pronger, if you still play the naive role when it comes to him, that's not my fault. Just keep spewing garbage. When you have something to brag about come back because we love reading your rhetoric.

This is what I am saying. I am not saying do not celebrate your accomplishment, but all the staged antics and dances are annoying. Hey, let's pretend I am fishing after I make a tackle, let's do a salute (albeit a incorrect and almost pansy looking one) after I score a goal. I do not mind the pure excitement and celebration, but when a player in any sport does the same thing over and over (discount double check) it's like look at me, I am bigger than the game! Just freaking score and jump for excitement, don't put on the monkey act.

So, since it's almost a given that Detroit will host it, I cannot imagine the Winter Classic being played in Detroit without the best defenseman in history, who just happens to play for Detroit, not being there. Soooooo I guess Lidstrom is going to have to come back for at least one more season...done. Sign him up, Kenny! 1 yr $6M then go after his successor! Ya, but DETROIT would be the host, not Ann Arbor. Too far to travel. I do agree on the baseball park though! In Comerica National Park, you will have fans that won't even see the players, let alone the puck. Ahhhhh....if only they could've held off on the destruction of Tiger Stadium...idiots. I do agree it'll be a better game in Ann Arbor (even as much as I cannot stand the Wolverines) and it would surely sell out if it were Chicago/Toronto or Minnesota v. Detroit.

IMO, any kind of "dance" or strange celebration outside of a fist pump or raising your arms up then hugging you teammates should be penalized in ALL sports. Score a goal, Homerun, Touchdown and dance around like a damn fool like you are bigger than the game then it's a penalty. I know they don't have penalties in baseball, but enough of the chest bumps and crazy handshakes. Enough of the endzone charades and dances and enough of the "salutes" and "discount double play's." Score, pump your fists, hug teammates, get congratulated and move on. Nothing ruins a great touchdown/goal/homerun more than the kind of stuff that goes on after. (not so much happens in hockey, but the other sports got to do something about it.) at the negs. Thanks! I think I may just do a dance!

Looking forward to Commodore throwing Ott around everytime he steps in front of Jimmy! Go Wings! Dude, third wheel is not cool....lady friend won't be happy!