gcom007

Am I the only one who thinks the league ought to own up as well? While it's the players that have gotten out of hand, the league hasn't done enough to counter it. Some serious suspensions would probably whip some people into shape and knock some sense into people. If more people start losings seasons or more and a lot more money, maybe they'll think before they drill someone's head into the boards or run a guy with blatant attempt to injure.

Certainly wouldn't be shocking at all. He's pretty intense to say the least. I don't want to minimize what Bertuzzi did, but I think it was a lot flukier than most have made it out to be. The whole pileup couldn't have helped either. It's interesting b/c Moore was running from the fight just as a guy named Claude Lemieux once tried to do when Darren McCarty just pummeled him. It certainly would've qualified as a pre-meditated assault as well. If Lemiuex had suffered more damage, would it have been perceived as gloriously as it is now even given Lemieux's past? Granted, it wasn't a sucker punch from behind but it's not like Bertuzzi came out of nowhere...he was trying to get his attention. If Moore hadn't have had such serious injuries (which no one can really think Bertuzzi intended to inflict) would it be as big of an issue? Where's the line then? Again, not minimizing, just tossing it out there. Bottom line revolves around the lack of respect though. Wonder if it'll ever be back. How bad will it have to get before people wake up? Will someone have to die or become completely paralyzed before players get the picture?

Well, most every hockey critic disagrees with you there, so I give you props for not running with the crowd. Unfortunately for you though is that logic is still on the crowds side with this issue. Hasek could come around, but just because he would never want to go out like this doesn't mean his age might have the upper hand. Only time will tell, but you can only fight it for so long especially in such a position as goalie where the slightest loss of reflex speed can screw you over. And if you're going to suggest that Osgood's benefitted from the team in front of him, you've gotta use the same logic on Hasek. And while I don't feel that his play was bad last year at all, it seemed quite obvious especially at certain times that he wasn't capable of playing at the same level of intensity as he once was. I think the playoffs were evidence of that as well especially in that must-win Game 6 against Anaheim. I'm not wholly blaming him, but it was a pretty lackadaisical effort for the most important game of the year. Even in '02 when he was showing signs of slowing down I don't believe that would've happened. I've been very vocal about who I would prefer to be in net but I've also emphatically stated that ultimately I want the best goalie to play come playoff time despite who I might prefer as a fan. With that in mind, to speculate, I don't think we're out of the woods with Hasek yet. One game (that was one of the most lopsided games of the season by far...) is hardly a tell-all for where he's at. I give him credit for playing well enough to win, but he's got to do so consistently when he actually plays in what deserves to be called a game. Before the hoopla began, in pre-season, I sensed that something was off. I'm not departing from that. I think 43 finally caught up to him a bit. But, time will tell...

If the saves he had to make qualify as "really good clutch saves" then I guess we really have lowered the bar. Again, I'm not knocking him at all so much as saying there wasn't much of anything to challenge him. The "clutch saves" that I assume you're referring to were pretty run of the mill. He won. Bottom line. Objectivity doesn't allow us to say much more than that about his play in the game. While Osgood has played games like that, I wouldn't call them great either. He has played great games though where he's been heavily challenged and held the team up when they were falling down. Those were some great games. Saying that yesterday was a great game is just ridiculous. Again, it might as well have been street hockey. Let him actually play a great game before you throw superlatives around.

I don't know how anyone could say he really had a good game against the Habs. I don't mean that he played bad, but come on, it was like street hockey out there. Though in the same breath, that is the very reason why he really needs to start again Friday. The win is nice, but he needs to get games under his belt that actually feel like games as opposed to the street hockey event last night in Canada. Next game is a question mark though. Give him three straight before getting a split going again or get Ozzy in there? I'd probably go three straight no matter what, but I'm not the coach.

It's not like he kept us in games or anything when the team and defense decided to take periods off. If you don't believe he's been great this season, you're way beyond biased. He hasn't had a bad game yet, has let in very few questionable goals and has made plenty of outstanding saves to keep us in games. Like him or not, he's been an among the elite goaltenders in the league this year without question.

No way. Besides the injury factor, he's got far too much pride to go given the way this seasons going. He knows the score.

Even in '02 before I really had a dislike for the guy I always questioned this. Sure, he's great and all, but goaltending has never been that big of an issue and that said, how much better could we be with a goalie who knows how to move the puck and keep the play going given our system? That's where Osgood's got a notable edge if you ask me even if they're both stopping the puck with the same consistency. What's also notable about Osgood is his play since the lockout. It's been nothing short of stellar sans when he was shaking off the rust from injuries. What's his record now since returning? 43-10-12? I think...that doesn't happen by accident. People are surprised by it b/c he's gotten the chance to play consistently this year, but I was calling it like this a few years ago when we made the mistake of going into the playoffs with Manny. I emphatically stated that Osgood was clearly outplaying Manny and playing great at that once he got healthy. Even last year, I thought he was playing as well if not better than Hasek as the season winded down. This isn't news to me. I'm not shocked. He's always been solid and he's improved his game immensely the last few years by reworking his style. Again, this isn't an accident or a fluke. 43-10-12.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=wzdgQsgTPhA Oh, the good old days...there'll never be another time like it...there'll be more that are different though, but man oh man, what a rivalry. And I want another Brendan Shanahan type guy on our team ASAP. Power forward who will fight with loads of personality. Then hand us the Cup.

Good read, good to remember. This team has so much character because of the guys that went through that. The memory still remains. It's still one of the saddest things but it's beautiful how the team has still rallied around him. It's mindblowing that the guy would still probably be playing now had the accident not occured. I drive by the spot on the way to school everyday and oftentimes remember it.

Nobody's perfect. I take it as a given that a goalies going to let in one goal a game they probably should've stopped. It happens. Such is the life of being a goaltender. Now any past that and the eyebrow raises...I'm not talking goals in general so much as the weaker/average goals.

Nobody's perfect. I take it as a given that a goalies going to let in one goal a game they probably should've stopped. It happens. Such is the life of being a goaltender. Now any past that and the eyebrow raises...I'm not talking goals in general so much as the weaker/average goals.

I kinda felt like I was watching a street hockey game. I mean, it's nice to have great wins like this, but man, it was underwhelming to watch an original six matchup as lopsided as this one was. Overall though, you can't knock the effort. Solid play all around and Datsyuk doing his thing again. I return to my statement a month or so back that he'd be scoring goals again before too long. Nice to see. Hasek didn't stand out but it was no fault of his own seeing as he was barely challenged but he did his job and got the win so it's something to build on.

I meant that last part as in if he continues to play poorly through December, I don't think management is going to be giving him anything but a backup role to finish out the regular season. Points are too valuable nowadays to waste if Hasek can't even hint at the possibility of him getting back together. They might not name Osgood the starter until game time, but it'll be a situation like the one going on now. Osgood 4-5 games, Hasek 1 and so on and so forth. And I'm not saying that it'll absolutely be like that, I'm just saying, I think that's a reality that Hasek faces so he doesn't really have the ability to take any game lightly.

Whoever is playing best at the end of the season will start. Hasek will get his chance to prove himself, but I think management has made it abundantly clear that they're open to rolling with Osgood in the playoffs should the current trend continue. Barring Hasek retiring or continuing to play blatantly mediocre hockey, it's going to be a waiting game. At this point though, Osgood play has eliminated any Hasek-bias that may've once existed. Hasek will still get a chance based on his name, but that's about it at this point. He's gotta take it from Osgood now. And only time will tell. Tonight's a big game for him, but unfortunately, he no longer has the ability to have anything but big games at least so far as the near future is concerned.

No joke. It's amazing how many bashers just assumed he started sucking when he went to bad teams but he kept a winning record and was a huge part of turning those teams around. The ignorance of the situation is mindblowing.

Smart if you ask me. Montreal will be more challenging. He's historically responded well in challenging situations and claims that he wants/needs that to play well. So here's another chance for him to prove himself. And hey, like I've said, if he can do it, I'm all for it even though I don't really like the guy.

I believe his record since returning to the Wings is now 43-10-12. That's kinda astounding. Considering many of his losses came when he was roughing his way out of injuries, that's a fairly astounding record. This isn't a new thing if you ask me. I've always felt he could play close to this level. Since returning to the Wings, when healthy, he's been nothing short of outstanding. You can really tell that his already steady play was greatly improved by all the technical work he put in during the lockout and offseasons. You'll never find me saying that Osgood is the greatest, but he is great and he's consistently been more than enough goalie for the Wings to win. He brings far more to this team than meets the eye and this season in particular, it seems the team plays better in front of him. It helps that he's such an outstanding puck handler given our system as well. It's good to see him finally being recognized in Detroit again. We're always so quick to overlook just how good many of our players are. Gotta love passion, but man, it sure can be irrational.

No joke...I didn't get how people were ragging on him so much earlier. It's not like he wasn't playing great, he just wasn't scoring a lot of goals. He had to be the most quiet assists leader in the league for those few days. He's been great all year and if he's got his scoring touch back, look out...

I'm loving the role Datsyuk hopefullly is getting on...nice to see him putting the puck in the net the last couple games. I never worried that he'd get going eventually, but I'm none the less happy for him. Even though Osgood's piling up great stats across the board, the one that I think is really most stunning is his record...12-1-1...wow...what is it now since he returned to the Wings? 43-10-12? That's really just unbelievable considering a good number of his losses came while shaking the rust off. He simply doesn't get enough credit for what he's brought to the team even these days. Overall a solid game. Should've/could've been about 8-1 but what can you do? Nice to see other guys contributing too. Considering Drapes and Malts were out, you gotta love the penalty killing too when we had to. Effortless.

While I don't say this to knock his play last year, since Osgood's returned from injury midseason last year, I had a tough time thinking either goalie was playing better than the other. I thought they were pretty neck and neck last year once Osgood got healthy. This year, I'm giving all the excuses till 12/31. I don't expect him to really improve that much as I think he's finally just hit a point where he can't compete like he used to, but until then, I'm still open minded about the possibility somewhat. I still think y'all are nuts to think he's going to be as good as he was this year even best case scenario. As objectively as I can be, I just don't see it happening. Everyone gets old sometimes. 43 for a goalie is intense. Like I've said, even just a millisecond of lost reaction time can mean everything. Based on how illogical your reply was on a number of levels, I'm not going to sweat your opinion.

With Osgood playing this well we don't need jack squat to replace him. If Hasek can play better, he should start, but by no means at all is Osgood's play need bailing out. If Hasek ends up playing better, this will be an issue of the greater of two greats as Osgood is playing nothing short of great this season and it's not a fluke. Since he's shaken the injuries last season he's been outstanding. He's always been solid and he's got his technique refined better than ever. He's won a Cup. He's probably more suited to handle the pressure than Dom when you think of all he's been through on this team. Again, I'm all for Hasek starting IF he can earn the right to by his play, but any of you who think we "need" it need a serious reality check. Only in Detroit...

Even I hope they get him into a few more games consistently soon. I like Osgood better and I don't like Hasek, but if Hasek can be as great as he can be, I want him starting in the playoffs. Waste of money otherwise. I don't think it'll take too much more time at this point either. If he hasn't proven himself by the New Year, I think the starting goalie going forward will undoubtedly be Osgood. I don't expect Hasek to really come out of this or play better than Ozzie, but I still hope to see him get his shot. Wah.

I never really liked McCarty much whenhe was here. He wasn't that great of a player and I didn't care for his antics. I didn't really dislike him much, but given how big of fan following he had, I definitely seemed like a hater. Plus, I hated Grinder like nobody's business. When he left though, I was surprised at the fact that it was a little upsetting. I realized that he's kinda like that cousin that can't seem to keep his crap straight. You wish he would and you still care about him, but it's hard. The idea of him not being around sucks a bit more than the idea of dealing with some malarky. And more than anything, the guy's got the Wings crest on his heart more than just about anyone. There's something to be said for that. Sitting here today reading this, I've gotta say I think this could be a good thing. They really have nothing to lose giving him a two-way contract to see if he can earn a spot. It wouldn't be a big money hit and it seems that he's aware of that reality and quite open to it. The biggest thing though is that given all he's been through and all this team has meant to him, I can see that guy working harder than anyone to get in and contribute. I firmly believe he would give everything his body had left for this team. While he's never been the most talented guy out there and he does have a lot going against him, having a guy like him around come playoff time really can bring a lot to the team. It's so easy to get caught up in stats, but look at Yzerman in '02. He could barely walk let alone skate! Yes, he backed it up with outstanding stats in those playoffs that are all the more exemplary given injury, but I'd be willing to bet that if he didn't score a single point but still was out there playing with as much heart as he was, it would've had the same effect on the team. While McCarty isn't half the player Steve Yzerman was on his worst days, he's still got a heart like a lion and given all that's gone on, that could be a huge rallying point. Passion means so much more than we give it credit for. We've lost site of that in our culture and it's really sad. If you don't believe that his presence and the fan reaction wouldn't be huge for the team that couldn't fill the arena in the playoffs, you're out of your mind and probably way too out of touch with your heart. Admittedly though, there's gotta be balance and you can't stick him out there if he's going to be a liability, but again, he knows where he's at. He knows what he needs to do. I don't see why he doesn't deserve a chance via two-way contract. In the grand scheme of things they've got nothing to lose and plenty to gain. Remember Kocur's return too... You never know...that's all I've got to say. I'm a natural skeptic and not one to give unnecessary grace when it comes down to getting the wins, but something about this situation gets me excited...

Well, I mean, he's kinda leading the league in GAA and is near the top in save %...I'm not one to get too into stats, but doesn't that say something??? Not to mention the fact that numerous national commentators have suggested that he's one of the top players in the league right now... And furthermore, it's not like he just has the stats. Watch him. He's kept us in a lot of games we should've lost. He's let in very few goals this year when it really shakes down and very few of those were blatantly his fault. Not saying he's great or perfect, but it's mind-blowing that anyone is critiquing his play this season when he's easily been one of the top goalies in the league statistically and just in terms of how he looks out there and the kind of saves he's making.