RyanBarnes!

Not very original. Bowman has always had this stance on fighting. It's not a big deal if a team dresses someone for the sole purpuse of fighting. I think Bowman should stop pretending like it is. Fighting is part of the game, just leave it at that. Don't try to change it into something else. Nobody cares how it is done in Europe.

I dunno. If Datsyuk asked for $20 M/4 yrs, then I think he would be signed by now.

Nobody and not much. It would be a huge mistake to fire Babcock, even if the Red Wings season ends early. He's done significant changes that will benefit the Red Wings for years if handled correctly.

Join the red wave?

Hudler < Filppula Samuelsson < Cleary

No, the NHL has effectively put an end to players policing the game. Someone might be able to beat him to the ice temporarily, but nobody will be able to stop him from doing what he does in the long run.

Who or what exactly would stop Tootoo from continuing his career in the NHL?

Don't worry, I got it the first time. I still think there's a huge difference. Maybe it's because I'm not American, but to me racism is more thought out than a single comment like this. It's more of an ideology, similar to the Nazi's.

Or if he has empirical data to support such a claim or...

Doublepost...

I think there's a huge difference. I don't think you can label just about any opinion as being racist simply because it is prejudice. Racism is more complex than so. For the record, I didn't say it WAS prejudiced, I said PERHAPS it was. I'm not sure what the comment is based on. Could be that the poster has a ground for his comment.

An opinion? A prejudiced one perhaps, but sorry I don't see racism.

If the effort is there in the playoffs, it's all that matters. Lang knows this. Lilja on the other hand is a hopeless case. He's bound to make at least one huge mistake in every game. The hand granade reference is actually very good.

I have no doubts Datsyuk will re-sign with the Red Wings.

The same can, to a certain extent, be said about Lidstrom (although Hasek's position make him more vulnerable). It's the ultimate recognition in many ways.

This topic is absurd. I'm one of Datsyuk's biggest critics, and not ever have I suggested Datsyuk couldn't produce in the regular season. I have objected to the suggestion that Zetterberg need Datsyuk more than the other way around though, but that is a totally different thing. The question is the same as always, can Datsyuk produce in the playoffs?! Makes no difference, people love to accuse others of being racist. Makes them feel morally superior or something.

With a healthy lineup and a contributing Bertuzzi, I dare say that the Red Wings stand a chance of making a push for game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Their chances might be slim and there are a lot of things that need to go right, but they're no worse than the other teams that have made it happen through the years. Hasek needs to be great, Zetterberg needs to be sharp, Datsyuk needs to produce and Bertuzzi needs to provide physical play in front of the goal, but with Babcock's system they have a chance.

This team is more suited to playoff hockey than any other Red Wings team since 2002. It's not saying much, but let's not forget the most important piece missing between the 2002 and the 2003 teams was Hasek and he's back. Older, more fragile, but still very capable and with a winning attitude second to none.

No big deal as long as it isn't more hooking penalties.

Agreed. I don't think anybody is willing to pay Datsyuk $7 M at this point. I'm thinking Holland offered $5 M, so they're probably meeting around the middle.

Samuelsson, hands down. As punishment for sucking last post season.

What are the odds of Datsyuk coming up big in the playoffs?! Now, if he'd beat those odds I'd gladly pay a little more. Now it looks like he will be rewarded with a new contract and then he can continue to suck in the playoffs.

Ugh, how stupid would it be to sign Datsyuk BEFORE the playoffs?! I mean, what are the chances, he comes up BIG?

So nobody mentions Detroit in the pre-post season discussions? Great, Detroit will benefit from being the underdog.

I'm inclined to believe that these injuries is the result of season long abuse due to the lack of a physical presence and an enforcer on the team.