gcom007

I would say Osgood actually played a solid 60 minutes last night. He had no team in front of him for the last 5 minutes of that game and it's only because of Osgood's play that we didn't lose that game in regulation. People are overreacting about the overtime goal in this instance. Osgood's been significantly better so far this year between the pipes compared to last year and he's only bound to improve as the season goes on and he gets into more of a groove. What's all the more encouraging in saying that is that he's playing better despite the fact that once again, the defense is doing next to nothing to help him out. Osgood can't do it all and ANY goalie in this league is bound to let in 1 goal a game they really want back. Everyone makes mistakes and goalies, ALL OF THEM, are no exception. Their mistakes are simply more visible than the mistakes of skaters and sure, that sucks, but as a standard, I give every goalie an ugly goal a game without question. They happen to everyone. Osgood's had his at inopportune times, but he's been outstanding plenty of other times despite having little to no help on defense. Again, he's already playing much better than he was last season, it's just he's not getting any help. Hell, the defense, again, just like last year, scares me far more than Osgood. I think we'll be in a lot better shape when we get Lilja back and don't have to rely on Lebda so heavily. If we make a trade and/or a coaching change on the D, we'll be in even better shape.

I think to some extent this has to do with having more youth this year than we're used to plus a lot of new guys coming in. It's going to take this team a bit of time to gel up and mature. We've had years of teams with lots of veterans/HOFer's that didn't rattle so easily in the 3rd in a close game. We don't have that luxury so much this year, but that doesn't mean we have a bad team. The great news is we have plenty of talent to go the distance and a lot of games left in the regular season to refine the talent. You'll see a complete team no-doubt come playoff time. You can bet your bottom dollar that Holland will strengthen up the D somewhere down the line now that we have more cap room to play with. We'll also get Franzen back which will help immensely with scoring and Osgood is a rock in the playoffs. Everything that happens between now and then is simply progress. It won't always be pretty, but even the losses count as progress. This team is going to learn a lot more about themselves losing right now and working through these kinks early. And again, I can't even begin to tell you how many positives I've seen thus far this year. I honestly am more excited and confident now than I was over the summer. The concern I had is gone because I've seen a lot of good things happening. There are kinks to work out still especially now that we're down Franzen, but this is a good hockey club. Just relax and give it time.

Yeah, I agree. I don't think we've looked as bad this year as last in many ways. I don't think Osgood's looked near as bad this year. Sure, we're not scoring as much but it's obvious why that is. I have taken many, many positives away from some of these losses. We're not getting the bounces right now and that happens especially when you're missing key components. We'll iron out some of the little things and our kids will continue to mature and by the end of the season when we ideally have Franzen and Lilja back, we're going to be as good to go as any team heading into the playoffs. I have ZERO doubt of that. Even if Lilja doesn't come back, we'll deal for a defenseman at the deadline to pick up some slack. We'll be fine.

This is worth questioning if you ask me. It very much feels as if this team has struggled defensively since he came on board. It hurts not having Lilja, but we still should not be near as bad defensively as we have become with the crew we have. Even if he's done everything right, you've got to wonder when they might just decide to shake things up a bit simply in order to try and get the message across in a new way.

History may not have bearing on the literal play of the Wings, but it absolutely should have bearing on the fans perspective. It's not the Wings that need to worry about it. They've got it down and they'll be fine. I'm not concerned about them now mostly because I know that it makes no sense to get too caught up in judging them based on the regular season in general, let alone October. I learn this from paying mind to and respecting history. You're fighting an uphill battle when you suggest that history has no bearing on the present. A lot of people love to suggest that lately in our hype-driven, knee-jerk culture. Once again, in the context of HISTORY, it's quite obvious that it's an idea hung on to mostly by those ignorant of history who are too lazy to actually put in the critical thought and research that those with more rational, objective opinions have. Sorry. I'm not trying to be an ass, but that's just the honest truth.

2nd goal was just a botched play on many levels. One could objectively make a case for it going either way. It didn't go our way. Oh well. Moving on...

I'm not inferring that we're bound to have another epic, record-setting regular season. It's a tougher league and we're not as good this year as we've been in the past. However, the bottom line is that all too often, October doesn't mean s***. If it was '95/'96 you can bet that LGW's would be flipping a s*** if it existed just like it is this year. The reality is, it's all for naught by the time things really shake down. People need to relax and lay off the panic.

Listen, if the playoffs started today, Colorado would be first in the West followed by Phoenix. This is reason enough to chill the *beep out for awhile and wait for the season to level out. It WILL happen.

OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP OH CRAP!!!!!!!

It was pretty ridiculous. It's kinda pathetic how volatile people have become and how utterly and completely ungrounded people are. These so-called "fans" make you wonder what's more important: winning or losing? They seem to enjoy the losses more as the losses allow them to fly off the handle.

No. You're wrong as usual. Osgood was #1 last year and had a rough regular season and was the best goalie and maybe the best player in the playoffs. I don't give a s*** what he does in the regular season or what tired bulls*** some of you people spew year after year. The guy wins games when it matters and the guy is great when it matters. That is all that matters.

Game 7. I take it all with a grain of salt at this point. Datsyuk and Z have both been troubled with injuries early on but we all know by the end of the season they'll be the offensive leaders (by miles) on this team.

I'm not bashing Lilja and I desperately want him back, but he was stupid to get into that fight in the first place. There was nothing to prove in that game. It was a stupid move on so many levels. And by that I mean, I absolutely don't hold anything against Weber. There was nothing dirty about it and again, I'm more pissed at Lilja for getting into the fight in the first place. I think we'll see him back though...

Could he be a fine 3rd line center? Sure. It's not like he'd suck. He's hardly horrible offensively. But I think you can stick Jason Williams there really and he'll do a better job in terms of handling the "scoring" part of scoring line 3. But you want to ice a checking line that can shut down and play with a #1 line and still create some offense? You want to see Flip play to his strengths? Again, I just think about how much more comfortable he would probably be at the role. I don't think he looks comfortable at all in the offensive zone and I never have. Datsyuk always struggled with shooting, but he still dazzled people endlessly on the attack. Flip has never been that guy. He always looks more awkward and lost and let's face it, he doesn't have the best offensive skills. Personally, I'd rather see the guy be the best 4th line center and win Selke's than a so-so 3rd line center. I think it makes more sense long-run.

In my opinion, you're only showing a lot of disrespect to Draper and dramatically misunderstanding how incredibly important he has been to this team for a long time. You're talking about a guy who helped define the role of the modern checking, shut-down center. You're talking about a Selke winner. You're talking about a 4th line guy who managed to crack team Canada's olympic lineup in 2006. I'm not knocking Finland, but Flip playing for team Finland is nothing like the accomplishment of Draper being selected to play for Team Canada. That was a big, big deal. I'm sorry, but I think you're flat out wrong if you think me saying that Flip is better suited as the new and improved Draper is a bash. You can disagree with me all you want, but to deduce what I'm saying to "bash" level simply proves how little respect and understanding you have of what Draper has meant to this team throughout his career.

We probably will, but it won't be because we keep losing games like this or because we suck. Everyone's gotten better especially in the West. There's not going to be such a huge gap between 1-8 points wise this year. I wouldn't be surprised if it's as little as a 10 point difference.

I'm happy he got the goal but if he and Leino were in similar spots, that play doesn't happen. I don't care how botched it is, Flip has a knack for simply failing to make plays in the offensive zone. Sure, he's fairly strong on the puck especially in our end and up the middle, but when he starts carrying it in to the offensive zone, the guy just looks confused. He doesn't know whether to shoot or pass because he has no faith in his shot. And you know, that wouldn't be such a bad thing if he had a descent shot because you can always work through that. But the thing is, he doesn't have a good shot so he's actually right to question it, but that's neither here nor there. Bottom line is you can tell he just doesn't have the vision or 6th sense that the truly gifted playmakers have. Watch how often he ends up just drifting towards the corners with the puck only to do nothing with it. Seriously, go ahead in the next couple games and count how many times he carries the puck in and what happens. It leaves me as befuddled as I think he may feel at times. I certainly agree that the guy is really strong defensively. I guess my biggest frustration is that in our hunt to try to make him out to be the next Datsyuk, are we not doing him and ultimately the team a greater disservice in simply trying to make him out to be the new (and rather improved) Kris Draper? I see the guy fitting in a role like that far more to be honest. He's got the speed and size to be a great shut down defensive-forward. His assets are far more suited for a shut-down, checking role if you ask me. The thing is though, he's still got better hands than Draper (though that's not saying much) so he'd really be a great successor in my mind. Again, the guy's got all the tools if you ask me. He doesn't have a great knack for offense, doesn't have a great shot and doesn't tend to finish plays well (to the corners and cough!). But he can fly, he's smart defensively, he's strong on a face-off and he's got a bit of size that he could likely learn to use better. I mean, if AussieWing wants to say that I just am negative about him, that's fine, but I simply don't see it that way. I don't think the guys a scoring line center. I don't think he sucks. I think he could win Selke's and be a big improvement over Draper on the checking line. I still think that's likely where he'll end up if he isn't traded first, and I really don't consider that a bad thing at all. Our 4th line has been quintessential to much of our success through the years and a guy like Flip only stands to take it to the next level.

I've said plenty good about him and little that's actually bad in the context of what he's actually done and the type of skill set he actually has. What people like yourself and many others fail to see is that thinking of a player to be more "average" hardly equates to having a negative perspective. Too many people simply hope a player may end up being "great' because we've been lucky to have some other guys seemingly become great out of nowhere. I'm not one of those people. I also appreciate balance, and with so many Flip slappy's around here, I intend to be somewhat of a check when I can be. Sorry. At least I can back up what I'm talking about based on what Flip has shown and done thus far in his career as opposed to relying on hopes from a distant vision of what he could be in the future.

So long as I'm not utterly boring you...

Again, I'm not shaken at all by this loss. We're a far younger team this year than in years past and tonight we're missing guys like Dats and Franzen who are bigtime contributors. That makes us all the younger and more vulnerable. We were in total control of this game and a real stupid line change happened with our worst defenseman as just about the only guy back. Then we lost our composure. We got sloppy. Osgood really wants one back for sure, but the team just stopped playing like they did in the first 50 minutes. They got shaken. It's game 7. They're young. This is called a lesson. I love lessons!!! They're great! Losses like this are kinda nice to have especially in October because it's a great opportunity to learn at a time when it matters the least. There's no better time for some of our kids to start learning these lessons and this team to gel. I'd be far, far, far more worried if we started out great and had a real rough February given how many new guys we have. Going through this early with a new squad is much better than later as far as building character goes. No adversity and a bunch of young/new guys isn't necessarily the best recipe for long-term success. We will work this out. Relax.

I'm not sorry.

Flip got the goal, sure, but Leino made the play. I know it's cool to love on Flip and all, but I've been more impressed with Leino and Williams is no slouch like we thought he'd be. Flip still does a lot of stuff that convinces me more and more that he's just not going to be the player everyone wants him to be. Even today, there were just so many moments where I just don't know what to say.

This I absolutely agree with. Lilja's injury is a HUGE loss for the Wings. I've said it before, but I truly believe if we had just Lilja back but still had all the other injuries in the playoffs, we would've won the Cup, and in 5 games most likely. Lebda is almost as horrible as LGW's makes him out to be, and that's really saying something.

I'll care when it matters. It doesn't right now. Osgood could read a book in net for all I care and lose half his games. So long as we make the playoffs, which we will, I have absolutely no doubt that he'll put the book down and dominate once again. The last two years, he's arguably been the best playoff goalie. That's all I care about. If you want to s*** all over the floor and roll around in it over the 7th game of the regular season, go ahead, but I'll be the one laughing in April when you're in love with the guy again.

The 50% thing is definitely pushing it, but it took them 7 games to beat an incredibly beat up Wings team last year. Sure, they won and I give them credit for making it happen, but again, 7 games and we were so beat up it's kinda ridiculous. It aptly shows how great this team was last year. And did we lose a step in the off-season? Absolutely. But so did a lot of other teams and while it's definitely a more competitive league, when the real season starts in April, the Wings will still be the team to beat out of the West.