Son of a Wing

It all boils down to what your definition of toughness is. Toughness=fighting, protecting teammates Toughness=battling in the corners etc Toughness(mental)=battling through adversity, injury. I think they are all a vital element to any team and something you can never have enough of. I just don't see the logic in dedicating a roster spot to a guy whos only going to dress 10-15 games when it could be better served to a rookie. If we lacked depth and no one was ready to step in, than ok maybe to fill the roster but we've got guys knocking on the door. By the way, I'd love to have a player like Neil but he's not just an enforcer he does everything. And theres no one like him available so why even mention him? Players like that arent just given away. You have to work with what you have and try to get the most out of those players. I know you guys dont think we're tough enough because we don't have anybody known for fighting, but what practical solution do you offer up to fix that? Naming off unavailable players does not help your cause.

Where did I even mention the word goon??? Youre right about Kopecky though. He's a developing youngster who has shown decent promise through ONLY 27 games. You're ready to throw him to the wolves by the sound of it. Are they really that helpless????

Skilled Euros? Couldn't be more ignorant. So no one has EVER layed a finger on Spezza, Alfie or other "skilled euros" on the Senators? Its clear you don't watch other teams. Yeah more grinders just what the team needs!! You obviously dont understand the importance of cheap secondary scorers who are not liabilities.

Because he doesn't encourage fighting when it isn't necessary? Or because he disagrees with you......

That hit on Williams was 100% clean and his own fault for havin his head down. Its part of the game. So explain to me how it is an injustice? You can't go after every player that lays out a big hit.

Kinda funny but gives off more of a deperate feel. Video Article

I ask you what Norton did that impressed you so much to get a roster spot?

BINGO

If I think they are tough enough, wouldn't that imply I think they can stand up for one another? This team is not all prima donnas. People on our current roster have dropped the gloves before and if the need arises they will again. They are not heavy weights but they can also skate and play. and log over 5 min a game. We do not need a player who is out on the ice looking for a fight.

Ok first of all you complain that we didnt have enough pim? haha Thanks but I'd rather win. Fewer men in the box means less penalty killing, more goals and less goals against. No you're right we should try and aim for having more penalty minutes next season Second of all sortserve hockey? No its called smart hockey. Their style is puck possession, not crash and bang, not dump and chase. An enforcer would be a liability and waste of a roster spot. The Wings dont get much respect? They are a Stanley cup favorite every year. Who is it that is not respecting them? Cleary, Zetterberg, Franzen, Homer, Drake, Maltby, Kronwall and Chelios is the kinda toughness this team thrives off of. Players who are not liabilities, solid in both ends, play with an edge and protect their teammates. Did you watch the playoffs?

Well actually Babcock says he plans on playing Lilja with Kronner on the second line. Chelios will more than likely be rotating on the 6th spot all season long to keep him fresh for playoffs. So that leaves Lebda, Meech, Quincey, Ference, Ericsson and Kindl to battle for a fulltime spot and a rotating spot with Chelios. I would think that for most the season Lebda and Chelios will man the 3rd pairing with Meech subbing in for Lebda and Quincey subbing in for Chelios if either get injured or under perform. Why rush Kindl and Ericsson? We are deep enough to be patient and let them develop right.

Article on Osgood and his trainer. Says he wants to play for five more years. Wonder if the wings want him for five years? I don't see why not as long as its affordable. Originally linked from Kulkas Korner

Kuklas Korner Woops. Sergei Fedorov, steadfast in his refusal to speak with Russian media, spoke with the Russian media again yesterday. And, if the reports are accurate, it would appear the chances of a return to Hockeytown are as slim as ever. A2Y’s Russian correspondent, working out of his Wisconsin home office, provides this translation to a Sport-Express article that ran last evening. It’s the business. And when in this business someone tries to screw you, it greatly activates those qualities I used to fight through and win all those years. Perseverance, judgment of the general situation, my career… Do you understand what I am talking about? We agreed about a certain contract with the club’s management, and I found a completely different one the next day when I came to sign it. No one really knows of this story. I really didn’t have a good “aftertaste†after leaving Detroit. That “aftertaste†probably got progressively yuckier after every trip back to the Joe, and every chorus of boos. A few more tidbits from the interview with Express reporter Elena Vaizekhovskaya. Do you feel nostalgic about “Detroitâ€Â? Sergei Fedorov: I don’t know. But I was pleasantly surprised that they have Steve Yzerman’s jersey in Novogorsk (the training base of Dynamo Moscow where he’s training - MR) with whom I played for 13 years. EV: In other words, you spent the best days of your life there? SF: Of course. Having won 3 NHL Championships I can be sure of that. EV: How long do you plan on staying in Russia? SF: I’d like to spend 2-3 more training sessions in Novogorsk. I would have liked to be in Russia 2-3 weeks earlier to complete all the work I planned on doing. My NHL season starts on September 10. Exhibition games start on the 12th. As it turns out we’ll have only 2 days to train as a team. And prior to that I’d have to become acclimatized. And move from Detroit to Columbus.â€Â

Anyone else looking forward to this? The Wings have 2 prospects on team Canada - Cory Emmerton and Logan Pyett. None that I know of on team Russia. The tourny starts on the 27th and goes til Sept 9. Im really looking forward to see what Emmerton can do. I expect big things from this kid. Hockey Canada

Well im sure every Wings fan would Thats why I asked what team would want him as a starter over one of those guys.

I love Osgood and all but who are you kidding? What team's starter could he actually beat out? Biron, Emery, Denis, Leclaire, Mason, Legace, Budaj, and Aebischer are the only current starting goaltenders he would really have a chance against. Not to mention that they are all young (exception of Legace) and are only going to get better while Osgood is only going to deteriorate. So i guess my question is what team is it that you think would sign him as a starter? Not who you think he could do well with but what team would WANT him as a starter?

Well it does make sense with the Russian players. Give Ovechkin a couple more countrymen.

People just have to realize that ESPN does what any smart business does. They listen to the majority and do what ever is in their best interest. aka whatever makes the most money. This is the goal of any big business. If they started reporting more on hockey and less on baseball, nascar, football, poker etc. they would be pissing of alot more people than they are now. People like to listen to smartass comments about hockey. Thats why they continue to do it. Many americans do not understand the culture of hockey. People do not like what they do not understand. Americans (kinda stereotyping here) love drama. Thats why they love football and baseball. There is as many if not more stories about the personal lives of athletes than their careers themselves. People would rather hear about Vicks and Bonds problems than some NHL contract signing. They would rather hear 4 grown men yell and rant like idiots about the smallest decision by a football coach or player than see McKenzie intelligently discuss some hockey issue. I dont like what ESPN does but I can hardly argue with them for doing it.

lol oh man you're too funnny. My player? ummm ok. No bias here, Im as big a wing fan as they get, born and bread. I'm a good friend of the Hotchkiss Family and have had dinner with Harley many times. If you think getting information from one of the owners of the Flames and one of the most respected men in the NHL is not relevant then you need to get your head screwed on straight. And Im biased towards him for not taking it personal and ripping him apart for one act of foolishness? Wow you keep up that way of thinking

Chris Simon has re-signed with the New York Islanders according to his NHLPA page. His 2007-08 salary is reported as $475k. He is also listed on Isles roster on their official website. Simon still has five games left on his 25-game suspension for slashing Ryan Hollweg. Nothing earth shattering. Kuklas Korner

All I'm saying is don't completely judge the guy on that one incident. And for christs sake you bring up Mcsorley and Bertuzzi for comparison? Come on. Seriously.

Don't be so biased. You act like it never happens.

Barnes' comment is referring to the fact that he is more complete in all aspects of the game. Not that he was a better player. Gretzky was not a complete player, Coffee was not a complete player, Orr was not a complete player, Murphy was not a complete player, but few would argue anyone was better than them at the time. They were the absolute best in a certain aspect of the game. Rafaski is fairly solid in all aspects of his game. Not the best in any but solid.

Don't be so quick to judge over one incindent. The reason Calgary kept him on for so long was because he was such a character guy. He was never that overly skilled nor did he ever really play that much but was one of the most popular guys in the dressing room and with management. I know this directly from Harley Hotchkiss. Good luck in Russia Noodles

What are the other sites reporting this? You said there were a bunch.