gcom007

I'll never forget that Yzerman play. It ain't subjective to dislike Pronger. He's just a sleezy player. He's a disgrace to players with talent.

Time will tell...it seems the last couple times he had little "day off" hip flexors they turned into significantly longer ordeals. He'll start in the playoffs, but love him or hate him, you've gotta admit injuries are a concern. Hell, this isn't new...hello? 2004 anyone? Ottawa disaster anyone? Yeah, he's picked up his play. Definitely. If he stays healthy, he'll most likely be alright in the playoffs if he can keep it consistent and help us protect leads. But you're just lying to yourself if you don't find a potential injury to be of relevant concern. He's old and he's been taped together for years now. This shouldn't be surprising to anyone nor should it be minimized. Doesn't mean everyone runs and freaks out, but again, come on, be objective at least about this...it doesn't make anyone less of a fan...promise...

I'm certainly hoping it doesn't continue into the playoffs, but for the first time, I'm a bit worried about our goaltending. I've said most of the stretch that I'm fine with either. Hasek's definitely improved immensely over earlier in the season but then there's games like this that remind me of the concerns I've had since his return. I just don't see him as the consistent finisher he once was. Osgood had it for the first half of the season and then as injuries piled up for the team and his own natural slow down, he's lost it a bit. I still feel that it doesn't matter who starts as both at their best have been great, but as the dust has settled and problems have become more identifiable, it's also clear that they both seem to share similar problems in not being consistent finishers. No matter who starts, they both need to turn it on for the playoffs. Hasek needs to leave everything he's got left on the ice and Osgood needs to remember what was working in the beginning of the season.

What on earth is going on? I thought, oh hey, Lidstroms back! Look at the difference! Then this...and you know, this is what I worry about with Hasek and Osgood for that matter given recent play. I thoroughly understand neither can do it all and I'm not saying we need to make all the trades in the world, but it's a little unnerving that it seems like the team and the goalies seem to not be helping each other out much...there's got to be some give and take once the playoffs role around. Osgood was much better about this sort of thing earlier in the season and he's faltered with it as time's gone on. Hasek's improved but this is exactly the kind of thing that's worried me since he came back last year. He made some big stops but both our goalies need to really step it up for the playoffs in terms of consistency. And don't even get me started on the freaking team...injuries, yeah, but come on...sloppy! I think they'll elevate their play when it counts, but man, they're definitely leaving things to worry about.

He's been a favorite of mine since the first game he played in a Wings jersey. He got into a fight at the end of the game and got his jersey ripped. It was great. I wish he'd get that scoring touch that developed before the lockout back. It's tough with his minutes though...

Yeah, just as I and numerous other people with a semblance of logic posted on deadline day. There's no way in hell the Wings were going to get as good of a deal for Feds as anyone in the East. It's just completley silly to believe so. People running their mouth about Holland ought to learn some basics of NHL hockey before spewing their crap.

No one's made this exact same thread like everyday since the first loss. No, serious. Yeah, they're going to fire our coach b/c we're losing when half the team including the best defensemen in the world is injured. Right. It's obvious many of you haven't gotten out of high school yet...you really need that drama to keep you going, eh?

I don't think $2.5 mil is going to get it done for Cleary...

That's an e -18 if you guys were wondering...

This thread is absurd. Armchair GM's make me want to vomit. Again, this thread is absurd.

I think people forget that Yzerman was right there with Holland today as was Bowman and countless others. It's not like Holland was making these decisions alone. He didn't bring everyone to Edmonton for nothing. Some of you are just impossible to please though so I don't know why I even bother trying to be rational and logical. You don't get it. It's not my downfall and it sure isn't the downfall of Ken Holland.

Oh yeah, even with half our team injured and two NHL defensemen we're still first in the league. Stick to X-Box.

That's your own damn fault for wasting YOUR time on the matter. Nobody promised you anything would go down. I swear, half of you truly are pissed just b/c you sat around all day and nothing big happened so you feel you were cheated. Hey, take responsibility for your own decisions. Again, no one promised you anything and I'm pretty sure Kenny is only operating in the best interest of the team...he and his giant staff...you know, Steve Yzerman and Scotty Bowman too...I'm sure they all just want to make fans on a message board sweat...

I was under the impression that D was more of a priority. But do you believe what Presidential candidates say when running too?

Ahhh, more experience for the young guys? A healthy Kronwall? Hopefully Rafalski doesn't get injured halfway through like Schneider? Some of these guys got a taste of things to come and learned more about what it takes. Expect that to carry over into the playoffs especially with Babcock at the helm.

I thought Burke made a lot of good points today. I think at the end of the day, he and Holland will be the winners. Wings-Ducks WCF. I'm betting it's still on.

For those still upset about Fedorov, consider that it's true that it wasn't going to cost much to get him, so if you're the Blue Jackets and you're not going to get much for him, are you going to trade him to someone in your division or someone in the East? It's most likely as simple as that. Without overpaying, there's probably nothing Holland could do.

From the other thread... 2006/07 Playoffs: Lang: 2 G, 6 A, 8 P Bertuzzi: 3 G, 4 A, 7 P Schneider: 2 G, 4 A, 6 P (though injured) Total: 7 G, 14 A, 21 P Total minus Schneider: 5 G, 10 A, 15 P I'm not saying that's insignificant, but I don't see it as a huge issue at all, because... 2006/07 stats and thoughts... Holmstrom: 5 G, 3 A, 8 P (missed 3 games with injury...) - Barring freak injuries, he should put up as good if not better numbers Fillipula: 3 G, 2 A, 5 P - I think he'll double his production this year, I don't think he's a future Datsyuk, but I think he's got a lot more to show us Franzen: 3 G, 4 A, 7 P - I think he'll add to that this year, the Red Wings playoff team is made for guys like him Cleary: 4 G, 8 A, 12 P - He'll add to these numbers this year without a doubt, a jaw injury won't throw his game off like a Zetts back injury can Samuelsson: 3 G, 8 A, 11 P - With more expected of him, I think he'll at least equal this if not exceed it slightly Kronwall: 0 G, 0 A, 0 P (missed entire playoffs with injury) - If he can stay healthy and actually play, he'll help us offensively signicantly Rafalski: N/A, but he'll easily make up for Schneiders point production and some and let's not forget Hudler, he'll get his chance to contribute and he could flake out, but maybe he'll step up. If so, hey, it's a good thing. When he's on, he's on. He just has to decide if he's a real-deal playoff contributor. Then Stuart will definitely help out and I wouldn't count Kopecky out yet. It'd be a good time for him to step up and prove himself. So could a big-time legitimate scorer have helped? Sure. But at the same time, I've got a bit of faith in what Mike Babcock can do with this team. They made it far last year with injuries that would've killed other teams. If we're healthy going in and can stay healthy, we're still the team to beat in my mind. I'll add that Colorado, San Jose and Dallas have simply made things more interesting. It's still the Ducks or the Wings who are going to be battling it out for the Western spot. I'm content.

I understand that it hasn't been an issue most of the year and it probably won't as the season winds down and I'm not worried at all about Babcock revealing a very different Red Wings for the playoffs.

And come on people, we've got arguably the best goalie tandem in the league, leading in GAA and Ozzie would be up there in sv% most likely if we hadn't had so many injuries lately. Yet how many times do people suggest we need to get Luongo? Spoiled and crazy are we Red Wings fans...

2006/07 Playoffs: Lang: 2 G, 6 A, 8 P Bertuzzi: 3 G, 4 A, 7 P Schneider: 2 G, 4 A, 6 P (though injured) Total: 7 G, 14 A, 21 P Total minus Schneider: 5 G, 10 A, 15 P I'm not saying that's insignificant, but I don't see it as a huge issue at all, because... 2006/07 stats and thoughts... Holmstrom: 5 G, 3 A, 8 P (missed 3 games with injury...) - Barring freak injuries, he should put up as good if not better numbers Fillipula: 3 G, 2 A, 5 P - I think he'll double his production this year, I don't think he's a future Datsyuk, but I think he's got a lot more to show us Franzen: 3 G, 4 A, 7 P - I think he'll add to that this year, the Red Wings playoff team is made for guys like him Cleary: 4 G, 8 A, 12 P - He'll add to these numbers this year without a doubt, a jaw injury won't throw his game off like a Zetts back injury can Samuelsson: 3 G, 8 A, 11 P - With more expected of him, I think he'll at least equal this if not exceed it slightly Kronwall: 0 G, 0 A, 0 P (missed entire playoffs with injury) - If he can stay healthy and actually play, he'll help us offensively signicantly Rafalski: N/A, but he'll easily make up for Schneiders point production and some and let's not forget Hudler, he'll get his chance to contribute and he could flake out, but maybe he'll step up. If so, hey, it's a good thing. When he's on, he's on. He just has to decide if he's a real-deal playoff contributor. Then Stuart will definitely help out and I wouldn't count Kopecky out yet. It'd be a good time for him to step up and prove himself. So could a big-time legitimate scorer have helped? Sure. But at the same time, I've got a bit of faith in what Mike Babcock can do with this team. They made it far last year with injuries that would've killed other teams. If we're healthy going in and can stay healthy, we're still the team to beat in my mind.

Stuart to Detroit for 2nd and 4th. He didn't do "nothing." I think that's a solid move. Good stuff. I stand by the previous post though. I'm glad he didn't overpay for anyone.

I'm quite happy with the fact that this was the only guy that anyone overpaid for. That's a lot of progress from last year and we need to make sure that reasonable deals become the precedent moving forward. Lots of kinks to work out in getting used to the new business of the NHL. I'm going to applaud Ken Holland for not getting worked up and making a stupid move. Even if nothing else comes through, I think it's real smart that the big-wigs like Holland and Burke stood strong with their rosters so as to discourage the bloated trades that went on last year. I mean, you've really gotta think on that level. Even if you feel like a deal like Hossa could really help you now, you don't want to set yourself up to continue to be backed up against a wall year after year having to give up the world for middle of the road guys. I think Holland gets this on a much more wholistic level then pretty much anyone in the media as well as many GM's. So again, hats off to Burke and Holland for playing it conservatively. They'll still probably be the two teams in the WCF and then what can you say?

We'll see if Ken pulled anything off in the next few minutes I guess, but it's going to be minor depth at best. I'm still fine with everything though. I'm confident going into the playoffs with a healthy roster that's been here all year. I dont think Pittsburgh made a smart move. I don't think they were in a place for this to be a reasonable move long run. Unless they've got an inside track on resigning him cheap based on the Crosby card, I'm just not sure this was the best move. It'll be great for this year but eh, long run, I kinda feel bad for Crosby right now. I don't know though...I'm just a guy on the computer with a guitar on his lap. I'm not a GM. I just don't quite see the logic in this and it's certainly not sour grapes as I really didn't expect the Wings to get him at all and I'm not upset whatsoever.

Yep. There it is. Pitts...that was such a setup, no doubt about it if you ask me. Ain't hatin', just saying. I'm thinking they've known this for awhile.