akustyk

could be great if he signed with the Wings. but let's be realistic - he's not going to be promised to get directly into Wings line-up, but rather get through normal process of earning the roster spot. exactly the way all prospects and young players in Wings system have to do. if DeKeyser is to become Wings 6th D-man, he has to beat Smith and Kindl to this role and I'm not quite sure he can do this without some Griffins time (is it even possible with undrafted players?), and I'm most certainly sure Holland will not give him that automatically. that's totally not Kenny, and it sure as hell is correctly so... that is exactly the reason why I think it may not work out with the Wings. if the guy's agent pump his tires and the kid thinks he automatically deserves NHL roster spot... he might even be right, if he's really that good, but it won't be Wings...

gotta say 3 games for Pacioretty is reaaally bush league. Letang should learn to keep his head up.and that's it. I don't get it. I could swallow non-suspension for Lucic (under the explanation, that Shanny can't suspend him with existing rule set), but the Pacioretty thing really feels awkward... Jesus, since when you can skate into the middle offensive zone with your hand down and expect not to be hit... this makes totally no sense...

on the other hand, I feel bad for this guy who became the scapegoat. it's not like you see him stand and do nothing on the ice...

better than yesterday but not where we all would like him to be...

Flip! on the side note: those were some really cute boobies celebrating Flips goal

personally, I don't complain. I just point out that Wings weren't the better team today and that they are in dire need to curb on the mistakes and turnovers. and in any case, am glad that Wings stayed competitive against a team of this caliber. those Bruins are good, and being big and physical are also tough to play against for Wings. nevertheless, we managed to have the lead in the game and then escape with 2 points. that's nice. but looking at the comparison between those two teams, with some of Wings players being so far from their top game, we'd get killed in 5 playoff games by those Bruins...

glad to see Wings get 2 points. they weren't the better team tonight imho

hard. I mean: you really see them skating and putting the effort into the game. bright spots: they're quick and their passing can be amazing. not so bright: they falter under the forechecking of big Bruins and can get trapped into their own end. and Howard handed the Bruins the goal on the platter... in short: a playoff game with big intensity... glad it's 7.00 PM so I can normally watch it...

yep, I gotta agree about defensemen. it's probably the comfort of having Lidstrom and another top-tier D-man (Murphy, Chelios, Schneider, Rafalski, Stuart) on the roster, but I agree Holland could sometimes be less patient. it did pan out with Kronwall, though... and we sure as hell are spoiled with thinking that D-men have to be decent, watching Lidstrom doing all the right things... guys who we think are bad (Meech, Quincey or Lebda) become decent players on other teams I want Kindl as regular. haven't seen Smith a lot this year (tough to do so with most games at 1.00 AM) but I can only be all smiles if he makes better impression than Kindl...

refs f* swallowed the whistles. that were two blatant uncalled chops from Bruins players...

that was sick! bravo, Pavel!

gotta disagree with this one. Holland is very patient with the development of prospects. it might be too patient sometimes, but if you look at the case of Kronwall, Howard or Abdelkader - there is logic in what Kenny does.

as you have correctly guessed, I'm very fine if this is the case

I'm perfectly OK with Wings not participating in this dumb popularity contest. I'd rather watch Howard play his All-Star game in June. that's all I care...

gotta agree on this one with you. I just wanted to point out that for many ppl here this isn't really about hatred towards Crosby, but about being fed up with all the indoctrination how he's the real son of a god (and Jesus was just some beta version of Sindy), because it is overwhelming. and the very reason of this discussion is not Crosby himself but how Canadian media behave...

judging after the way Wings handled their prospects in last 10 years I'd say: Smith is back in AHL and gets called up 1-2 more times this season. Next season he becomes 6th/7th D-men and in 2013-14 fills the 5th or 6th spot, thus becomes our regular D-man. that all based on the assumption that he (at least) keeps his pace in development.

fixed that for ya, bro! I have nothing in particular against Crosby (other than he's a whiner) but I'm sick and tired of media being disrespectful to 1000+ other NHL players who give their best day in and day out. Quite a few of them are close to skill level of Crosby and many are at least as entertaining to watch, if not more. but all you hear is Canadian media doing blah-blah-blah about Crosby... last I checked Jesus was Jewish. and he didn't play hockey. somebody please pass it to TSN/CBC. gonna be tough to swallow, I know... that's not to say I'm totally against Canadian Church of His Greatness Crosby when the later retires or resurrects (whatever comes first). I'm sure it'd gain whole 34+ millions followers...

yep... I open TSN to watch highlights of yesterday's games... of the 30 videos available on top page of the NHL section about 15 are about the return of Crysby... you sure don't get the impression that he's shoven down our throats, huh? I'm glad he's back. I'll be even happier two weeks from now, when I can watch a game/read an article that doesn't mention the Jesus Crosby rebirth... mind you, he's just a player. good one, but just a player...

Praise be to god... or allah, buddha or whatever...

you mean: why get royally milked before trade deadline for an UFA, rather than just sign him in the offseason? I don't recall a single cheap dead-line acquisition since the lockout. every single of the top-5 available players each year had cost a whopping price, calculated in prospects and 1st rounds. unlike a couple of years ago Wings look pretty decent with prospects right now, but I don't really see them going for such bold names. We could probably move some prospects and a 2nd rounder before trade deadline, but that's not going to land us Parise.

it is! and we're totally getting a clue! masterpiece! now get Emrick to learn to talk Cartmanish.

not necessarily. he is a decent D-man but he did play in Toronto, hence he was overhyped and, considering he was one of their better and more constant player, there was no chance for him to escape being overrated (by Toronto media) I'm kinda ready to bet, his stock will rise once playing with less media pressure in Carolina

I dunno. the guy has been brutal in playoffs for the Bruins. and even before that he wasn't really all roses with the Maple Laughs... he's still a solid defenseman, but 4,25 a year... sounds to me veeeery 2011, i.e. bit too much inflated...

great day for Canadian fans. less so for us, outside, especially those who need to rely on internet feeds which are in many cases the very NBC.... well... at least you folks in Canada will have it easier now...

oooooo... ! since when? the list of potential suitors is guesstimation here. it seems logic, but it's nothing more than player X will likely be sought after by team Y1, Y2, Y3, ... period. as for Wings choices... absolutely no go to Kaberle IMHO. if the fact that he was unwanted by the Maple Laughs is not enough, then add his miserable playoffs with otherwise stellar Bruins team. honestly, you don't want money spent on someone like this... gimme Wisniewski, Bieksa and Talbot of this list.