Jedi

I suppose it depends on when he would theoretically be sent to waivers. The longer the season goes on, the more and more likely he would get picked (as teams get their rosters set for the playoffs, and late injuries send teams into a panic). That said, it's highly, HIGHLY unlikely that he would be sent down. Lashoff will get more minutes in GR (where he could be higher in the D pairings) than he will in Detroit, where he's pretty much assured of the 5/6 line, if not riding the bench. Best to let him get more minutes playing under a coach that's phenomenal at getting young talent to perform well, then to be up in Detroit where he'll get fewer minutes, and fewer games played. Lashoff is 22. He'll have plenty of time to develop into a potential every-game player here in Detroit. Until then, he's waiver exempt, and will do better where he can play consistently, so it makes the most sense to send him down.

Hey, I just realized. Next year, the Office of the Commissioner will be old enough to buy everyone a beer! Maybe THAT'S the apology that they're going to give everyone for the lockout!!

Lash and Smith are the only waiver-exempt defensemen we have, which means Lash would be the first to be sent down. So unless Kenny/Babs are working on getting Kindl some ice time in preparation for a trade, we'd likely see Lashoff back with the Griffs when Ian returns. However, it's likely inevitable that we'll see Lashoff in Detroit again this year. Someone will get injured, and Lash will be right back in Red & White.

Per Ansar KHAAAAAAN!!!

You say anything bad about Firefly, and I swear by my pretty floral bonnet I will end you...* As far as how bad the new series will be, I'm torn. Honestly, I can't see them being any worse than Attack of the Clones, so there's still a little hope. But there's no way they could ever hold a candle to the original trilogy. *See my avy/sig combo. Yes, that's a Firefly quote.

Those ideas were more than "floated around". One of them was approved by the Board of Governors. The NHL would currently be using this setup, if it weren't rejected by the NHLPA. This was the alignment that the BoG approved, before the NHLPA rejected it. 8 teams per "division" in the "Western Conference", but only 7 teams per in the "East".

Whether a contract is "one way" or "two way" has no bearing on a player's waiver eligibility. That only determines the salary that player is paid, depending on where he's playing. Best explanation of that (and the entire Waiver Eligibility process) I've found for that is here... For what it's worth, Lashoff is on a two way contract too, but it doesn't matter since his salary is only $523k this year (he'd make $50k if he's playing in GR). I believe that Lash is waiver exempt, too.

Because I'm sure I"m not the only one thinking it... An increase to 32 teams means Bettman would need to have 9 votes on his side to ensure he can't be overruled, up from the 8 he currently needs. Though, I doubt that would be hard for him to do...

Huskins has been solid so far, no doubt. Which is what most of the scouting reports we saw at the time of the signings said he would be. Time may tell a different story, of course, but not one complaint yet about him. I'd like to see if our current D can actually get their stuff together before saying we need to make a move. It would be nice to add a #2 D man to this roster, but it would have to be at the right cost. Might be best to see who is available at the deadline, or who is available as a free agent (or possibly an offseason trade).

Can't believe that thought hadn't entered my mind yet... ...oh wait, yeah I can.

The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful - Jimmy Buffett

Yep, that's the one I was thinking of.

IIRC, McCarty and Lemieux had a staged fight once, maybe around 98/99 (not the "turtling" fight, but still in the midst of the bad blood between the Wings and the Avs). In that instance, I was completely ok with a staged fight. But that's the exception, not the rule...

Mon Capítan!!

Whoa, wait, we scored against Dallas? We can DO that?!

Hope I'm wrong, of course. But it looks like the Wongs just don't have the confidence to beat Lehtonen tonight. I'm calling it now, if we lose, Babcock will say something about how he liked that we competed, and got better each night.

Worth mentioning again. Detroit is the only team in the league without a first period goal.

Might help the Wings tonight, or it might not, but I thought this tidbit about the Stars' travels was interesting, heading into the game. From the Dallas Morning News Stars blog... Playing against a team that travelled here just a few hours ago, playing against a goalie who played yesterday, while we've had a day of rest since our last game... Those are a few advantages that the Wings really need to grab a hold of.

Mike Heika (Dallas Morning News, covers the Stars) says that Lehtonen will be in goal tonight.

Considering he aggravated it enough to justify an MRI, finding out it's only inflammation is a bit of a gift. I want him back as much as everyone here on LGW, but rushing him just opens a door for worse injury. Get well soon, Helm. I miss being able to post this...

From the Red Wings official Twitter feed...

Wings haven't scored a first period goal yet this season...

Per Bob McKenzie.

Oh, and did we mention that Crosby scored two goals in a losing effort? And how he's such an influential and effective player, and how he scored 2 goals tonight?Made me sick.