Nightfall

Closer to home for him? No tax on his pay? Easier physically? I don't know but he must have had his reasons.

Vladdy was a 1st tier defenseman, but he was no Lidstrom. Lidstrom is an elite defenseman, one of maybe 3-4 in the NHL right now. The future looks good, but I don't see anyone replacing Lidstrom. The Wings can afford a few 1st tier defensemen like Rafalski, but getting that elite defenseman like Lidstrom will be a tall order. Teams that have these elite defensemen don't let them go thats for sure. Scott Niedermayer is another good example of a elite defenseman.

Vladdy was a 1st tier defenseman, but he was no Lidstrom. Lidstrom is an elite defenseman, one of maybe 3-4 in the NHL right now. The future looks good, but I don't see anyone replacing Lidstrom. The Wings can afford a few 1st tier defensemen like Rafalski, but getting that elite defenseman like Lidstrom will be a tall order. Teams that have these elite defensemen don't let them go thats for sure. Scott Niedermayer is another good example of a elite defenseman.

The Griffins are going to need strong goaltending next year. Especially with Abdelkader, Leino, and Helm all playing for the Wings next season from the way it looks.

This is an awesome post. When Hossa spurned more than 8 million a season to sign with Detroit at a discount, everyone cheered. After all, it was only about 5-10% discount of a years salary to sign with Detroit Well worth the chance to win the cup. Now, wings fans are expecting him to take more of a discount to play for the Wings to the tune of about 40-50% discount. If someone offered me a job where I could make $80,000 a year but the work environment was not that friendly, or I could take a job at $75,000 a year for a much more laid back work environment, which one do you think I would take? Thats right, the 75k a year job. Now, if I took that job and then the company fell on hard times and wanted to keep me around for 40k a year, is it unreasonable for me to look elsewhere? Even though the other employees call me a sell out because I am looking elsewhere? Lets face facts here, we had our best chance to win the cup this year. We lost only Dallas Drake and Hasek from last season. We got a high impact player, and IMHO, we should have been able to go all the way this year. As it turns out, we came up one game short. I think we came up one game short due to lack of hunger AND the stars aligned for the Pens with late season acquisitions through the trade deadline. Maybe next season the Wings will regain that hunger that they had in 2008 when they lifted the cup. They won't need Hossa to do it either. I hope Hossa signs, but if he doesn't, I wish him the best. I really like him as a player.

I got over it about 10 minutes after the game ended and I saw Crosby with the cup. As a true hockey fan, it was great to see the entire Pens team lift that cup in victory. For many of them, it was their first time and that has to be a treat for them. Was I disappointed the Wings didn't win it though? Yes, however, it wasn't meant to be this year. Only scoring 2 goals in the last 2 games of the finals really isn't a key to victory. So now I am taking in some baseball action, then some college and pro footbal, and really just relaxing until hockey starts back up. I am going to be up in Traverse City for training camp. Then I have season tickets for the Griffins. With my NHL center ice package on top of that, I am going to be pretty stoked for the new hockey season to start. You are right, no sense of dwelling on it because it doesn't change a thing. As has been mentioned before, being a die hard fan of a pro sports team is a real killer at times. There can only be 1 champion, and when you set your sights so high, its hard to reach the top every time. The Wings just didn't have it this season, and I am hoping next season will be different.

Just like most of the asshat fans on the Detroit side last season that went into all the Pens fans forums and talked smack after we won the cup. Sure, there have been a number of moron Pens fans in this forum talking smack, but not a few notable people like BewarethePenguin. It's obvious he is not only a Pens fan, but a hockey fan as well. It was an excellent finals series. Now is the long 3+ month lull until hockey starts back up. The summer is always boring this time of year.

Same as they go every season. The team that wins will get a lot of press. To which I will say big deal. Now we enter the offseason which is going to feel long just like it does in every offseason to me. Hockey is my favorite sport and the lack of hockey in the summer is sad. I am glad I can still play hockey in the summer. Cancel the NHL Network? Thats dumb to me, but hey, its not my call. Have fun with that.

The only empty feeling I have right now is missing hockey for the next 3 months. Middle of September is when training camps open. Thats over 3 months without hockey. Sure, I will take in some tiger games and some minor league games here in Grand Rapids. In the end though, I am a hockey fan and a Wings fan. I will miss not seeing them on TV for 3+ months. Do I feel empty because of the Wings loss? Yes, but only because they didn't win their last game. Anytime you don't win your last game, its an empty feeling. At the same time though, 4 cups in 11 years? We are so spoiled.

This thread hasn't deteriorated into that and probably won't. Seems most of the people here are level headed. I am also very encouraged about the Wings future and I agree with your post entirely. Good luck in your job search man. I know its rough out there, but keep your head up and keep working at finding a job. Things will turn around. Just gotta think positive. Goodnight everyone!

Hell, every damned stat was pointing to a Wings victory. Teams that go 2-0 in the playoffs have won 41 of 44 of the series. Welp, now its 41 of 45. Teams that win game 5 when the series is tied 2-2 win over 80% of the series. Welp, that may go down to 79%. Teams that host game 7 at home have won 12 of 14 times. Welp, now its 12 of 15 times. Jinx? I think not. This was just a story of a Pens team that wanted it more.

Bed for me. Have a good night everyone. Sleep tight. I know it was a rough loss, but you always gotta look on the bright side of life. name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>&"> name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" />

Tomorrow I will post a few more thoughts on this forum and then I will part ways with it for the most part for the rest of the summer. When hockey isn't being played, I like to step away from the game entirely and try to focus on other things. I will keep up with the news though. If the posts stay positive, I may stick around and chat more though. Its refreshing to be talking with fans of hockey instead of biased Wings fans who believe that their team was robbed by a league conspiracy to give the Cup to Crosby so they give the Pens all the power plays and rig the final game.

Same here. Excellent post.

Perfect shot top corner. Not many goalies are going to make that save.

Meh, no changing the minds of people who are dead set in looking for reasons why the Wings lost and pointing to scapegoats on the team or the refs or the league for that matter. I was getting run down with the general attitude here. It seems after a disappointing loss in game 7 of the finals that the Wings fans have come out of their shells to give credit where credit is due. I am very proud of the members here that are trying to stay positive, but also giving kudos to the Pens. Shows they are true hockey fans.

Its easy for some Wings fans to just blaming the reffing or some stupid conspiracy to give Crosby the cup. In the end, I think most Wings fans are coming around to the fact that they were outplayed and the Pens deserved to win it. I am pretty proud of this because at one time I thought this forum was full of biased Wings fans who would blame ANYONE AND EVERYONE except their team. Its good to see that not only are a majority of fans on this forum Wings fans, but hockey fans. They give credit where credit is due, and for the most part, a majority of them saw what we lacked and what the Pens were willing to do to win. Excellent post by the way.

There are some classy fans in some of the threads on this forum. So it isn't all doom and gloom thats for sure. I am taking the time to post some positive threads before I head to bed. I am going to sleep like a baby tonight. Not because I am disappointed in the Wings losing game 7, but because I am no longer eagerly anticipating the Wings next playoff game. The 3 days between game 6 and 7 were just so exciting. I was so anxious. When the game was over and the Pens were carrying around the trophy, I felt a huge amount of negative energy leave me. I felt so relieved that it was over. Disappointed the Wings didn't win it, but relieved that the season was over and the Pens had EARNED the victory. It wasn't given to them thats for sure. The next 3+ months are going to be nice and relaxing until I go up to Traverse City for training camp in September. I will then catch hockey fever again and won't be able to wait until the season starts back up. Until then, summer will be quite boring.

I am going to be very sad if/when Mike sells the team. This team is a dynasty for two reasons. Because Mike is at the helm and because of the great front office like Holland, Yzerman, and Babcock. All the coaching staff and front office people make success happen. Since 1995 I have been a big Wings fan. I have had the privilege of seeing 4 cups lifted in my time as a fan. I never want it to end.

Excellent post! I have to agree. I really like our chances next season. The core will be back. Lidstrom will be 100%. The hunger to win will be back. I am looking forward to it. I am not looking forward to a long 3+ months with no hockey.

In order to win the Stanley Cup, you have to be healthy and have luck on your side. Its apparent the Wings weren't as healthy as the Pens. Both sides seemed to get bounces here in there, but in Game 7 the bounces went the way of the Pens because of their hard work and hustle. That being said, if the Pens were injured like the Wings they would have had a harder time with it. Who knows if they would have won or not. No sense of asking "What if" because it never happened. Kinda like asking "What if Hossa signed with the Pens?" If he did, would the Pens be here celebrating now? Who knows what kind of chemistry they would have had. They wouldn't have made moves for veterans like Guerin or hard working players like Kunitz.

Another post to congratulate the Pens. They really deserved to win tonight. Thats about all I can say about it right now. I am pretty tired and already posted many kudos going to the Pens for a great hard fought series. Enjoy your championship, you earned it. I can't wait until next season. Its going to be a long summer without hockey. I also have to say grats to all the Wings fans posting here. I didn't think that many Wings fans would be giving props to the Pens after a loss like this in a game 7. Instead, the forum surprises me and I am humbled. I didn't give the members on this forum a lot of credit. What I see here tonight are not only Red Wings fans, but true fans of the sport. Same goes for the classy Pens fans who didn't talk smack and instead extend their hands for a friendly handshake after a hard fought series. I know not all fans are like this, but I am impressed with what I see from the classy fans here.

Osgood proving all his doubters wrong and playing so well in the playoffs. Hossa scoring 40 goals in the regular season. The Wings playing well as a whole all season long. I will also remember the Ducks outplaying the Sharks in the first round and upsetting them. Game 7 against the Ducks was epic as well. Cleary scoring the game winner in the final minutes of the 3rd. Lastly, I will remember the hungry Pens team outhustling the Wings in the finals and Hossa being denied his championship. That really makes me feel bad for Hossa. To get him that close and to watch it slip away again. Has to be gut wrenching and I feel for him. This season was chock full of great memories though. Thats what I am going to focus on.

I think the Pens were more hungry than the Wings. After all, the Wings won last year and the Stanley Cup hangover seems to always be in full effect the following season. Maybe the Wings were tired, and if so, it certainly showed. The Pens just hustled and outplayed the Wings. That has to be worth something. With all the stats and odds stacked against them, they came into Detroit and won. Gotta give credit where credit is due. The Wings will realize the chance they just had when they come into training camp in September. I predict they will be a much better team and be ready to make their mark next season. "You don't know what you got, till its gone," makes sense in this regard. If the Wings came into this game complacent, then they are fools. These players are professionals. They know the other team is going to work hard and vice versa. Just in this game, the Pens seemed a little more energized and ready to play.

Of course, our lack of goal scoring had nothing to do with game 6 and 7 losses. Anytime you only give up 2 goals in a game as a goaltender, you have to think you are in a good position to win. Kinda hard to win with only 1 goal scored in a game.