LeftWinger

...PLEASE! Ok, maybe he should have said, he was one of the greatest players to play the game, and he had so much left to give. It was a shame that a guy that had so much heart, had to have his career ended by a loser... ...give us a break dude... C'mon down off the horse... ....so easy a caveman can do it...

...funny, noone in Nashville cares what the rest of the hockey world thinks either. That is why it will NEVER be a true NHL city, never. The only real fans down there are the tarnsplanted Northerners who go to watch the visiting teams... ...Knowledge is power, it's obvious Nashville fans have none... ...funny, after watching that video, how in the hell did Robitas get a charging call? In this day and agae of Bettman wanting to clean up the NHL, TuTu should have been given a game misconduct for intent to injure. That was blatant. Another thing I didn't like is TuTu should have never been ablr to finish the game healthy. He should have been taken out, legally or illegally. That is what's gonna clean up our game to get these suckers out of here!

...just think, there are people out there that want to legalize pot, then we can have cars hitting trees all over the place! ...don't get down on me for that comment, I know, "in Amsterdam it's legal and there aren't cars hitting trees everyday." ...but, if you legalize it now in the US, it'll be just like the crime in the US. Idiots and retards will have access to it "LEGALLY" and bring harm to other people, because they would abuse it. It'll be just like drinking, you'd probably have a legal limit, and most people who choose to partake, will ALWAYS go way past the legal limit. In my opinion pot is for losers, and WHOEVER smokes it, is in fact a loser, whether I know you or not, you're a loser. I have family members that smoke it, and guess what? They're losers... ...anyway, back to Vladdy himself. I met him one time in the old Delta Airines baggage claim at DTW, back in his prime. Nicest guy in the world (of course most Hockey players are) barely spoke English, but he got his point across in our limited conversation, he was picking his wife up from CVG. Someone mentioned earlier that he only played 5 years, in those 5 short years he became one of the most feared players to play against in the NHL. Everyone hated him, unless he was on your team... ...Too bad about his fate... Happy Birthday!

...all of this Nashville bashing got me thinking... uh -oh! ...seriously, here we have a team sitting on top of the NHL in points. It's really been one of the better teams the last few years. Yet, this team CANNOT sell out it's own stadium unless a team like Detroit or Dallas come to town. Look at Tampa, a Stanley Cup champion, are they selling out thier arena? No. Like the opposing team or not, at least some of those teams sell out YOUR arena when you cannot do it yourself, so, like when the Wings come there, there are probably about 20-25% OPPOSING teams fans there, maybe they should have announced something. No big deal though, they can just continue to leech off the good teams revenues and never sell their arena out. Someone said that they were against the new schedule so they can play weaker teams more often, well I bet they'd be DEAD set against the Wings moving east wouldn't they? They would sell out 8 less games per year. And why is Nashville always mentioned when people talk about teams moving? Whether or not they team should've have acknowledged Modano, or the fans, it's pretty evident that hockey in Nashville is an afterthought to the residents, even being the best team in the league, and that should piss the owners and players off...

...well, just as everything else in this world, politics take control of everything. Not that he is not having a great year, but the NHL is doing so much ass-licking and ball munching on Sidney Crosby that they will hand him at least 4 of the next 5 Hart trophies. For sure this year. I wonder what the chances of getting Vinnie into a Winged Wheel are? That would be awesome...

...also, what the hell does Sports Illistrated know about hockey? They dedicatede, what, 2 pages each month to the sport? When the Wings won their first Cup in 42 years, who was on the cover? Michael Jordan winning his sixth championship or something like that... ...I know that Sports Illistrated sucks balls over teams in the Metropolitan New York area (ie new Jersey) but you would think that since Detroit IS and American team who just happens to have more Cup wins than any other American Team, and most Canadian teams, that they would be sending some BJ's this way... I never understood it...

...I am SO tired of this Holland BOUGHT his Stanley Cup garbage, and that the Devils were the better team during the 90's! First of all, lets look at the 1997 Cup team. Who did we buy on that team? How about 1998? Strange, didn't throw any huge money around to big-name UFA's that year either. Ok fast forward to 2002. People say we signed Hasek for big bucks... uh.... hello, we traded one of our consistant playoff performers in Kozlov and 2 first round draft picks for him? Is that breaking out the chek book and buying the Cup? We also signed Olausson (nobody else wanted) Robataille (nobody else wanted) and Hull (nobody else wanted, he didn't sign with us unitl AUGUST of 2001!!!!) Just tell me how that constitutes BUYING the three Cups we won?!?!?!? Damn that pissess me off!!!! ....ok, the Devils comparison. Lets see, the had 3 cups in 9 years? In those 9 years, they had 3 first round eliminations, 1 second round and 1 finals elimination and the year after they won their first cup, they didn't even make the playoffs!!! ....Detroit, 3 Cups in six years, but lets look at the same 9 years we did with the Devils. 3 Cups, 2 first round defeats, 2 second round, 1 third round defeat, and 1 finals loss.... Regular season in those same 9 years Detroit had 416 out of 704 possible wins. Devils, 379 out of 704. ...I'll give Lamoriello the nod over Holland obly because our first two Cup teams were basically built by Jim Devellano, Bryan Murray and Scotty Bowman, with Holland adding a couple of pieces to put us over, and Lou built his team on his own. But there is no way in Hell am I conceding that the Devils were the better team in that same time frame, no way! Stats and playoff sucess prove it otherwise...

...you could still see that in the near future. I am still counting on Fedorov finishing his career in Detroit. I believe as soon as he becomes UFA again, he will sign with Detroit, for mere pennies just to get back to winning and competing for the Cup. Then again...

...unfortunately the time to trade Dats has passed (Lang too.) Now we are going to lose him for nothing or overpay his overrated a$$...

...does this now mean that JLA will be the oldest arena in the NHL? Hmmmm... maybe the Wings will leave Detroit if they don't get a new one! (obvious sarcasm intended)

...once clicking on these probie links, I got to finally see the Sabres/Senators brawl, as a link to that video popped up while watcing the PRobert one. Seeing the coaches screaming at each other brought back memories of Scotty Bowman and Marc Crawford (when he was coach of the aves) at JLA. Does anyone have a link to that video? Thanks in advance!

...ironic how all these "upper" and "lower" body injuries are coming near the end of the season? I don't think the Wings are throwing the race to the #1 spot away, but I do believe that these "injuries" are just pre-cautions. These players who would normally play through these "aches" are being given the time off to, both, gets out some kinks and REST for the playoffs! We ALL know, as well as the coaches, that home ice means notta in the NHL. Better to rest the elite players of your team now, and have them 100% for the playoffs, then to expend all your players to the very end fighting for the #1 (useless) spot. It's not like they are fighting for a playoff spot. They will make the playoffs and probably feel very comfortable being the #4 seed. Let Nashville fight tooth and nail to get that #1 spot, let them get some end of year injuries (like we usually do.) I wouldn't doubt, once Zetterberg comes back, Datsyuk comes up with an "injury" of some kind... ...smart...

...well I've been eating crow all year so far, so a little more doesn't hurt! LOL! ...anyhow, at least he is trying to improve his team. Anybody confirm or deny the Lapointe rumor yet? ...officially, sorry for doubting you Holland, although it remains to be seen if it puts in Stanley Cup favorite status, but it gives us size and grit doesn't it? ...even though Calder is similar stat-wise to Williams, I hear he plays with a lot more grit! Good on ya Holland!

...well s***, I'll take those too for sure! At least they bring some sort of physical aspect to the game, along with some kind of scoring touch... ...of course in hindsight, we could've have just signed Nolan over the summer...

...WAAYYY too expensive for a rental... ...I am glad Holland didn't give up a prospect and 3 draft picks, including a 1st and 2nd this year!!! ...I'd rather have Guerin than Tkachuk, hopefully his asking price isn't higher than that!

...which is why it would a good idea for Holland! ...anyhow, trade for Blake & Guerin, then buckle up for the run!

...well, since he is on waivers, all LA has to do is pick him off of them, for free. There is no shipping needed...

...well, I think he has a little more left than all you assume... ...he is still fast enough to play, obviuosly, he is still in the NHL, he can still hit HARD, just ask Dany Markov about that, when he was nearly put through the boards and had to be helped off the ice and I think put him on the right team, he can still contribute. If we're entertaining the idea of getting rid of Lang, just to cut salary, Roenick could definately provide what we would lose in Lang if not a little more desire to win that Cup that has eluded him his entire career. Talk about getting a rental player without selling the farm. Roenick may, MAY cost us a low low draft pick, he more than likely would cost the proverbial "future considerations" or "player to be named later." ...at that price if Roenick is available, I would do it. He is the type of player that would help more than he would hurt this team. If he doesn't work out, then you don't lose anyone or lose anything for next off season either... ...worth the risk (if we are dealing Lang away.) If we aren't dealing Lang, then he would be useless on the 4th line. He wouldn't get enough icetime...

...ok, it's takes a lot for me to say this, so here it goes. It's really not Holland who is at fault here. BLAH!! That tasted horrible!!!!! YECH!!! ...ok, what I mean is, there are teams that KNOW exactly what we need, these are also teams that we constantly beat the s*** out of in the 90's when we could throw millions around. I am not saying that there is a conspiracy going on, but it always seems that most teams ask Holland for the whole house when he inquires about a trade, and then when Holland backs off, they trade that player to someone else for lesser goods. Maybe they are looking to screw the mighty Wings, maybe not, it just always seems that way. I do credit Holland for not giving away the house for the likes of Bertuzzi or Tkachuk. Guerin might be worth what they are asking, but unless we are getting someone worth while, then I say screw the rest of the teams... ...Good on Ya Hollland! I say make some minor deals, ie Lapointe, and go for it with the team you have. Save your money for next season, then shove our 11th Stanley Cup up all their assess!!! (especially if it comes this year!) ...going back to what I was saying, I am sure most teams are asking about 3 or 4 certain players in return. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kindl & Kronwall. All of which I would say are WAAAYYYY too high of an asking price for the likes Bertuzzi/Tkachuk/Guerin/Smyth, etc... ...I know some of you won't believe that I actually wrote this post, but yes, I am supportng Holland and 4 European players! WOW! Miracles never cease!!!

...well what is the truth behind the price going down for Bertuzzi? If the price is just gonna be a conditional pick, then I am definately ALL for it... ...now we can use Hudler for Guerin...

...Hudler was better at every stage in his career than Datsyuk? Well except this one. Why is it that Hudler has been in the minors his entire career and Dats has NEVER? And they have been in the organization pretty much the same amount of time. (Datsyuk' rookie year being the year they drafted Hudler.) Hmmmm, I guess being good in the minors does not translate into the big leagues. I know, now you are going to say the same about Abdelkader, but if you look at redwingscentral.com prospect report, Justin is #6 right now, Hudler was never in the top 5, so he was never considered better by the scouts at that point in his career... That was my point... ...all I was saying is if we had to get rid of Hudler, lets face it, it's gonna take someone to get someone, we would still have plenty of younger prospects with just as good as potential as Hudler, if not better... ...would you rather trade Abdelkader or Hudler for Bertuzzi?

...you're right, but at least this time I am not talking bad about them, I was just confirming Kenny's love for the European born player. It was more of a shot at Kenny... ...anyhow, I believe the risk is worth it. Even though he is coming off an injury, he would definately fill more than one void in this lineup, if he is healthy enough to play...

...maybe he is delaying his return because he is not happy there and wants out. Maybe he is dragging his feet, you know, how some people are allways calling in sick to work when they don't feel like going in that day... ...maybe he does't want to come out and say he wants out, but really does. Heck do you know anyone who WANTS to play for the Florida Panthers?

Hudler is never gonna shine here. Period. Let's say we keep him, then next off-season whe the age of UFA's go down, and we sign a bunch of guys, Hudler will not even make the club. We have to do something to trump the Nashville trade, and I say if Kenny doesn't give them Hudler for Bertuzzi, then he will only fall another notch on my (and many others) good standing list... Hudler, I believe, along with Williams are the only younger guys than someone MAY have an interest in. Williams MAY get us a Lapointe type player, if Hudler will land us Bertuzzi, then do it. But kenny is so high on his European players that I wouldn't be surprised. Besieds, how much young talent do we still have in the minors and over-seas that are waiting for their chance in Detroit? JUSTIN ABDELKADER, CORY EMMERTON , JOHAN RYNO & IGOR GRIGORENKO to name a few. All of which are better than Hudler at this point in their respective career's... ...make the trade, Hudler for Bertuzzi, done deal... ...resign him, because next year we will have a ton of money (as opposed to this season) to sign players. If we trade Lang for a draft pick or 2, Ficsher's contract should come off the books, resign Maltby to less than a million, give Schneider about $2MM. We should have lots of cash to throw around, as long as Holland doesn't give Dats the max...

...so put Zetts on a line with say, Crosby or Yzerman or Fedorov or Larionov or Adam Oates (in their prime, of course) and he will only score single digit goals? Please! Put Z on a line with ANY playmaker along with a player who takes the abuse (ie. Holmstrom, Lapointe, s***, even Ciccarelli in his day) and he still scores 40 or 50... ...you know, you can have a Turkey sandwhich without cheddar cheese. Swiss cheese taste's just as good with it and so does provolone...