eva unit zero

Agree on trapezoid, delay of game, and making zones the same size. You guys keep saying "I don't want to give the refs more power" What Scotty wants to do is take away the current rule which results in a lot of undeserved mandatory penalties, and return it to the way it used to be. Red line for two-line pass? Hell no. Traditional offsides, I'm actually not completely opposed to. It creates a different type of offensive atmosphere; dump and chase offense vs. puck carrying offense. Although one idea I have thought would be interesting is a different kind of offsides. Use the normal blue lines, but follow these rules: When any player from the attacking team is in his own defensive zone, offsides shall be called if the puck crosses the defending team's blue line while an attacking player is in the zone. When all attacking players are in the neutral zone, offsides is not called. As a tie in to my offsides rule, I have an adjustment to the icing rule; icing shall be called based on the attacking blue line rather than the center line. So shorten the distance for icing, keeping the no-change rule, and allow goalies to play the puck anywhere. There would be no reason to dump the puck in from that distance because the new offsides rule would mean that, unless your team still had someone back in your defensive zone, you didn't have offsides to worry about and could move in as you pleased.

Yes Doc, just like hitting the outside of the post was nearly a goal when the goalie blocked off every possible crack and crevice the puck could have squeezed through within a three foot radius had it been on net. Just like if you catch the puck in your trapper, you should then dive in the direction of your catching glove to maximize the flashiness and make people think you made a super-human save.

National Hockey League Player's Association. A 34 year old goaltender in the Finnish league isn't necessarily even a member of the NHLPA. But more to the point; entry waivers may impede the signing ability of a player who does not have an NHL contract and played or is playing in Europe during the same season. But this is counterbalanced by the fact that it protects the roster positions of the ~700 roster players in the NHL. If players could just cut out on European deals to sign NHL deals with no waiver process, what would happen if Chicago signed Fedorov, Zubov, Morozov, Demitra, Radulov, and Hasek all to league minimum, one-year deals right near the end of the season? That's a pretty hefty helping of skill onto the roster. And the players they replace would lose their jobs.

I have to go ahead and call out Matt Cooke. Explanation unnecessary.

I feel stupider for having read an article suggesting that filling our roster with guys like Martin Lapointe is the key to winning the Stanley Cup.

They're not trying to build around him. They're trying to build around DiPietro. However, saying that it was stupid of them to claim a high end goaltender at a $570k cap hit is ignorant. Worst case scenario is that nothing changes. Best case is that Nabokov comes in and kicks ass for them. So now, Nabokov is suspended and unless he suits up for the Isles, he'll be Islanders property for that rate next season. But if he still doesn't want to play for them? They now have a tradeable asset with very nice value. Any playoff-caliber teams looking for a goaltender like Nabokov? The Isles could get a decent return for him if he doesn't want to stick around.

People were saying iFlip should have been on the team THIS year. As for the 14th forward thing; I would imagine that Miller's fate depends on whether the Wings choose to carry 13 or 14 forwards, and whether Draper retires. iFlip doesn't come into play unless the Wings are choosing not to re-sign Miller for the last spot due to his play or his conduct.

If you go based on the top 180 scoring forwards in the NHL, the Wings have four regular forwards who have played primarily center this season who are within that range; Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Filppula, and Helm (yes, Helm.) If you add natural centers who play the wing, you have Franzen. If you consider the amount of time per game a second line center plays, and adjust for games played, the Wings can also add in Modano and Hudler. I don't think it's necessary to go searching for a second line center outside of the organization. If you want to put Dats and Z together, then you have the option of Franzen, Filppula, Helm, or Hudler (Modano being injured, of course) as a bona fide second line center. Flip is the natural choice as the best two-way player on the list. Detroit only has had six natural wingers skate this season; Holmstrom, Cleary, Eaves, Bertuzzi, Miller, and Mursak. This is compared to 11 natural centers. A fully healthy roster could feature any of these options (and more) as good 2/3 lines: Franzen/Filppula/Hudler Cleary/Helm/Bertuzzi Franzen/Filppula/Bertuzzi Cleary/Helm/Hudler Cleary/Filppula/Franzen Bertuzzi/Hudler/Eaves Hudler/Franzen/Bertuzzi Cleary/Filppula/Eaves

Acquiring a more experienced/better goalie than MacDonald is not a bad idea if it can be done on the cheap. If Ozzie is done for the year, and Howard goes down or turns Swiss, what next? MacDonald? Stick with Jimmy and kill him mentally forever? My top five realistic potential goaltenders to acquire if Ozzie is out for the year: In order of likelihood: Johan Hedberg, N.J. Alex Auld, Mtl. Jose Theodore, Min. Brian Boucher, Phi. Mike Smith, T.B. In order I would prefer them: Mike Smith, T.B. Brian Boucher, Phi. Alex Auld, Mtl. Jose Theodore, Min. Johan Hedberg, N.J. Pick up a guy like Mike Smith who has talent and is just having a bad year? How about a proven vet like Boucher who has carried his team deep into the playoffs. Or simply an experienced backup like Auld, Theodore, or Hedberg, who are all better than MacDonald and have playoff experience.

And you are, by contrast, suggesting that everyone is going to be perfectly helpful and trustworthy and keep their word based on one example. You do realize that the GM who got the short end of the deal in my example could do nothing about it, because it's a backdoor deal that is not a binding agreement and may even be in violation of the CBA.

The problem you don't understand is that what you posted is NOT a "loophole" as you suggest. The 2nd place team loses the goalie they sign, but is not guaranteed anything from the 30th place team. So why should they make the 'trade' as it were? You have two separate transactions. A goaltender signing which is subject to entry waivers, and a forward trade. So either the 2nd place team gets their forward before officially signing the goaltender, or the 30th place team effectively gets their goaltender before making the trade. Say the trade is made first, and the 2nd place team now has that additional top line forward they wanted for a 7th round pick. Next they sign the goalie and the 30th place team gets him on entry waivers, right? But the 2nd place team's GM can screw the 30th place team over and just not sign him. Or maybe he doesn't sign. There's no loophole. You're sitting there trying to manufacture one.

You're thinking of Todd Bertuzzi, Eddie Shore, and Dany Heatley. McSorley didn't shatter anyone's NHL career; he hit Brashear so hard he thought he was Ted Lindsay, and his offensive output basically doubled. Had Brashear simply continued playing at his pre-McSorley level, he'd have been out of the NHL by 2005.

Anyone who's been in the "iFlip should be on the team next year!" or "iFlip over Emmerton!" camps needs a reality check. Ilari is not going to be on the Wings next year unless there are MAJOR changes, and he is at best equally talented with Emmerton, who is younger and better defensively; so bringing up Emmerton to play in a two-way or checking role makes more sense. What will likely happen with regards to next year's roster and Wings prospect forwards is this, assuming the only movement is through retirement or free agency: Modano, Draper, Eaves, and Miller are UFA. Eaves will probably be re-signed. That puts the Wings at 11 returning forwards. Draper likely retires; Modano does not return through retirement or otherwise. Emmerton and Mursak both likely are carried on next year's squad, with Miller as a possible returnee if the Wings choose to again carry 14 forwards.

How about picking up Mike Smith from Tampa? If Ozzie is really out the rest of the year then LTIR provides enough clearance with Smith. I know he has s***ty numbers, but he was pretty good in Dallas and early on with Tampa. Dan Ellis would be another good option, but I think Smith is on the outs down there because he's been around a while where Ellis is the new guy, and he's Yzerman's guy.

You're a few days late for that one.

Bet you're not a fan of Martin St. Louis or Theoren Fleury either.

So pretty much any video from the 1998, 2008, or 2009 playoff runs?

Yes, Chris Osgood.

Because you were too busy spending some alone time with your Basil McRae highlight videos.

I was in this thread plenty during the early part of the season. In fact, I believe I already addressed the reason I wasn't coming into this thread more; it was so that I didn't end up getting piled on for being a Hudler fan. The big difference between you and I? You are constantly slamming Hudler and other players you don't like regardless of their performance, while I will actually pay attention to whether a player improves his game in certain areas.

How many years ago would the most recent one be then? Because I certainly haven't supported plus-minus as a statistic in years. Stats where your own number requires others to perform well must be taken in the proper context. With plus-minus, you can end up racking up a high plus rating or a huge minus simply by playing with a hot player. We'll call this the Kunitz effect.

To put to rest all of the "New Jersey trade conspiracy" ideas:

I had that thought when I first saw Nabokov's name pop up. It's happened before with Kenny.

Clint Malarchuk.

Dmitri is a big fan of all things elemental.