WingsCaptain

I had to read this thread because I thought it had to be a joke. If I had a dollar for every time I read an article where an opposing team's coach (usually after a loss) said they wished they had someone like Holmstrom who can screen a goalie as well as he does, or how Holmstrom is the best in the league at screening goalies, or how he takes a beating but doesn't retaliate and gets the tip-in, then I'd be asking Mr. Ilitch for a stake in the team. Because um, yeah, I'd be friggin' rich. ~ Z

Saw Micah's post and had to respond. Too funny . . . 1. Not more than me. Unless you're a pro hockey player, which you're obviously not. But really, what does yearly salary have to do with hockey? 2. Yes to the hockeyfight. Not fun. Obviously you've never been in one. You do it because you have to, not because it's "fun." If you have been in one and you really think it's fun, then you're a masochist. Read any of Aaron Downey's comments on the subject, as to why he does it. 3. No, but sometimes an ill-advised major (along with an instigator penalty if you're particularly stupid) can cost you a game. The Wings play it perfectly. Get inside your opponents head, tick them off, then let them take a penalty. PP = win. Matching minors = dumb. 4. Lidstrom is quite the opposite of 'soft.' Sixteen seasons without missing a playoff game (until now, at age 39) and 1330 regular season games in 17 NHL seasons. And saying Lidstrom is 'great' is like saying the surface of the sun is 'warm.' He's one of the top 5 defensemen of all time. Well that was fun. For what it's worth, I find Micah's posts amusing. ~ Z

Exactly. For 50+ times this season (for the 4th year in a row), the Wings played better than their opponents and won the game, without risking undue injury. Makes perfect sense for Babcock to ask his players to step it up come playoff time. Any more before that is just dumb. Just look at the teams who were on the links when the season ended . . .

Double post.

Right on. Drake Marcus for MVP. You know, since they sure as hell aren't going to give it to Osgood (even though he deserves it).

Much props to Helm. He brings energy, speed, faceoff wins and enthusiasm that is well-needed for champions to repeat. I like this kid a lot. So much so that I hope he has a permanent roster spot along with Ericsson, Abdelkader, and Leino come next season. He's not a scoring juggernaut, but he's only logging limited minutes. That breakaway goal was awesome to watch and Mickey Redmond's comments had me in tears, I was laughing so hard: Bear in mind that he and Abdelkader are making great use of their limited time by leading the team in hits. As for the Draper comparison, I think they're very close in just about every respect. As Helm matures I think you'll see him post more goals per season. ~ Z

Agreed. Take into consideration what Cleary said after the game: Blocking those shots from Getzlaf was crucial during that 5-on-3. Let's face it -- if the Ducks get a PP goal early, that's a lot of momentum. When they end up with nothing, it deflates them. You gotta know that the opposing team is going to do their best to shut down our top players/lines. That's when Detroit's depth comes into play. Columbus didn't have much luck shutting down our boys, but Anaheim was a tough opponent. There's more to playoff performance than scoring. Winning the scrums, cycling down low, or just taking on the opposing team's best defensemen so others can score, is how playoffs are won. ~ Z

To the OP: Fortunately, we don't have to decide who the 'better' player is because neither of them have huge egos, which allows them to play extremely well together. Hmmm, that's most of the Red Wings actually. I mean really, both of them are world class hockey players and would do well apart -- as they showed during the regular season on different lines. Comparing them is apples and oranges -- two different players that just happen to complement each other. But, ain't life grand when we get to see them together? It's like being 5 years old on Christmas morning all over again and getting a shiny, new bicycle. Almost too good to be true sometimes.

I was born in Arkansas, but all of my dad's family is from Flint, MI. I started following ice hockey at age 10, right as Detroit picked Stevie Y in the draft. He quickly became my favorite player, and a short while later he was named Captain. So I followed the Wings closely as they began coming out of the "Dead Wings" era and started having success. In 1992, I joined the military and that would eventually land me in Washington, DC in 1997 (where I've been ever since) -- just in time to see the season that culminated in the Wings winning their first Cup in 42 years. The following season I watched them in person as they swept the Caps in 4 games in the finals. Watching them hoist the Cup in person and seeing Vladdy on the ice was definitely a Top 5 moment for me. Months later I was at the White House when they came to meet then-President Clinton. I got my picture taken with most of the team, and I got most of the team's autographs on my Yzerman jersey. I also got in a lot of trouble with my superiors later on, but who cares? Meeting the guys in person, talking to them, and meeting Scotty Bowman was well worth it. Another Top 5 moment, for sure. I wondered if my passion for the Wings would diminish at all after Stevie Y retired, but along came Pavs and Z, and Z became my new favorite player. I'm just glad to see he's sticking around until he too retires from the Wings. I believe Z will be the next Captain after Lids, too. But with all these stellar, lifelong Red Wings, I think rafter space in the Joe and jersey numbers are going to start becoming scarce in the future! ~ Z

Okay, now THAT was funny. And I agree ... I think Kopecky cleans the ice better than the Zamboni. But, I think that's more a product of his poor skating ability (compared to others) As for Cleary, he's probably injured. But seriously, who cares if he's been falling down alot lately. It could be that he's a little fatigued after playing the Ducks the past 5 games. And the guy is still fourth on the team with 8 points.

For the posters who scoff at the benefit of Hossa during the regular season, then imagine the Wings without Hossa and his 40 goals (10 GWG) and where the Wings might have ended up, points-wise. Still in the playoffs, probably -- but if they were the #8 seed and faced San Jose in the first round, things could have been much different. Hmmm ... Columbus or San Jose, Columbus or San Jose ... um, yeah, I'll take Columbus, thankyouverymuch. You can bet that Anaheim & San Jose beating the crap out of each other resulted in nothing but benefit for the Wings in the 2nd round. FWIW, Hossa was third in +/- (+27), 1st in goals, 7th in assists, and 3rd in points in the regular season. This is a no-brainer. Ken Holland signs him if he can, and I think he will be able to. We might lose Samuelsson and/or Hudler, but you have to try to keep all four of the guys who scored 30+ goals this season, particularly a great two-way player like Hoss. These are the same sort of things we praise Z and Pavs for. Maybe Kenny will sign him to a really long-term deal: 6M a year for 7 years, then $500k for the next 20 years after that. Then the cap hit is really low.

Anyone seen that dead horse? - Z

Both goaltenders are doing a great job at keeping their teams headed on, but let's not forget that Osgood is currently leading the playoffs -- 0.67 GAA and a .974 save percentage. And I'm not counting Varlamov because he didn't start (or finish) game 1 of that series. Personally, I'd rather beat Luongo sooner than later. Plus, I'm thinking that a Photoshop of Bobby Lu from the NHL commercial where he was curling his hair has endless possibilities. - Z

We could always re-start this thread after the Wings finish off the Blue Jackets, prior to the other first round series finishing, so that we have something to talk about, but I don't believe that I or anyone else can "jinx" the Wings. I'm not superstitious, but I am realistic -- what happens with the Wings comes down to the the guys on the ice as to when (not if) they will finish off the CBJs. Me and the OP discussing who the Wings might theoretically face next is just passing the time until it actually happens. I may not be superstitious, but I do have faith. - Z

I'd be okay with that. I look forward to the Penguins becoming the Buffalo Bills of the 90's. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Fitting for Sidney, don't you think? The real question is, when the Penguins lose this years Stanley Cup to the Wings, who from their team do we get this time?

The Getzlaf-Perry-Ryan line is the one to worry about. After that, the Selanne-and-whoever else line. They're not as deep as the Wings, IMHO. But they are big, physical, and they have good d-men. - Z

Only two other teams have come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a series and the '09 Blue Jackets aren't the '42 Leafs or '75 Islanders. Still, I hope the Wings close out this series quickly so they get a week of downtime to rest up. - Z

Only options are Anaheim or Vancouver, Ducks or Canucks. If San Jose (#1) comes back, then they play whoever wins the Chicago / Calgary series, since the #6, #7, and #8 teams will have been eliminated, and we get Vancouver (#2 vs #3). If the Ducks win, we get them (#2 vs #8). The Canucks breezed past the Blues, so give me the Ducks -- and here's to a 7-game series between the Sharks and the Ducks where they beat the hell out of each other. - Z