YoungGuns1340

Most importantly, he looked comfortable in net through game play. The shootout he looked shaky and unsure which, like you said, could be attributed to inexperience, but overall he was solid. Although I think 12 games may be a little much barring big injuries to our starters.

Zetterberg is still more underpaid than Malkin. Malkin made a little over 3.8M last year. In fact, Malkin earned as much in BONUSES as Zetterberg did in salary.

I thought that most of our regular players were pretty crappy - Rafalski, Filppula, Drapes, Malts, and Hossa - none of them did anything special outside of a play or two here and there. As for Flip and Hossa, Hossa looked like he didnt give a f***, and Filppula centering him was not a good move. At one point Filppula could've made a great backdrop pass to Hossa for the scoring chance, but instead he took the puck in deep and protected it along the boards as if he were trying to kill off time. Thats a texbook checking move. Filppula doesn't have the offensive instincts yet to give the puck up when he only has a split-second to think about what move to make. Hossa, I noticed, made a couple of no look passes kind of expecting someone to be there a la Datsyuk but no one was. Both players together was simply poor chemistry.

I think what matters is that we're the defending champs. Everyones gonna be on our asses this year just to prove they can beat the Champs. Pre-season is no different.

Tonights game was a perfect example of how much your work ethic can affect your game. Helm and Leino were great tonight. So was Howard sans the shootout. The regulars who already know they're on the team? Not so much.

I've always wondered that too. On a side note, I hope Datsyuk gets back soon, and I hope Hossa recovers from his Langism. He looked slow and lethargic, and he and Filppula have terrible chemistry.

Hossa looks dead.

So are the Habs themselves. Im not sure if Id be blocking so many shots in the preseason or going into the scrums so often. But Im not an NHL player either.

That was an awesome take away by Helm. Looked like Drapes in his prime.

The Wings look like crap.

I haven't heard anything from Holland about whether or not he's keeping Lilja. All I've heard is Babcock giving a pat on the back to a guy whos done ok as a 5-6 Dman. But heres the shocker - Holland is the GM, not Babcock. And while Babcock is instrumental in managing decisions, he sure as hell doesn't have the ultimate say, and if Lilja is the most logical answer to our "over the cap" problem, then he goes. Whats more is that he doesnt leave a hole. As has been discussed here at length, Stuart has the more physical resume vs. Lilja. And the PK can easily be taken care of.

Wow. O'Donnell has been better in a Ducks jersey than he has been in a long time. He was great for the Ducks during their run. If the Ducks can't get Beauchemin going again, their depth is pretty sore. For a team that made a name for themselves based on gritty defense, this is a pretty interesting move. And to think Marchant is still on the team. Hah.

Who cares? Its about image of the team, what happens in the locker room, and how well you perform on the ice. Luongo IS the Canucks, and he IS there best player. And whatever Luongo does in the locker room, the coaches know about it much better than we do. Good choice as far as Im concerned.

This kind of sucks. Not because of those lame, steretypical implications people make about players that wear visors, but because it usually takes a while before a player gets used to seeing the puck with the visor on. Considering Nick's game is half his vision, half his positioning, this worries me. Hopefully he can cope with it quickly..

Relax guys. This isn't factual information. The newspapers always seem to think they know whos going to get what and they're always off. Wasn't Cleary supposed to get at least 3.5M per? Wasn't Stuart "going to have to take pay cut from his 3.5M in order to stay with the Wings"? This just a journalist passing off their estimates as facts. And while these folks do know hockey, typically your run of the mill reporter knows less about market value than those of us who obssess over every little contract signed in the NHL.

The situation with Quincey was muddled by the fact that Meech and Quince are more or less on an even playing field, despite playing different games, so it came down to who could be exposed to the waiver wire. As for Howard, he needs more time. Osgood has only proved himself a starter again this past season. You need more veteran insurance than simply Howard alone. Theres no doubt in my mind that the coaching staff would be more willing to have Howard on hand as back-up if our #1 was more solidified. And this isn't a knock against Osgood. Its just that hes had a few rollercoaster years and he'll be 36 soon. And as for Helm, what do you expect? Zetterberg didnt make the team til he was 22. And this is Zetterberg we're talking about. Helm looks to be much better than simply a 4th line guy, but our 3rd line is stacked. So why stick him on the 4th line playing 6 minutes a night when hes still so young? He should be welcomed to the team when he can, as a youngster, get bigger minutes on this team. It makes more sense for him to get 20 minutes this year in GR, and then maybe 10-12 next year on the third line, as opposed to 6 minutes this year and 10-12 next year. One of the likeliest scenarios regarding our forward lines next year is for Hossa to leave, and for the Wings to let Sammy go. That situation lends itself to reassembling the ZDH line, giving Filppula the 2nd center position (if he isnt ready by then, then we have issues) and then giving Helm the 3rd line center position, which he could probably handle as of now, with Leino taking Sammys 3rd line winger slot.

JDs a good GM. While it makes a lot of sense for the Blues to go out and grab Schneider, theres no reason for the Blues to rush it. Burke only has until the start of the season to pare down his payroll, and Schneider's salary may be effected in a positive way for any takers if Burke has his hands tied in a few weeks.

Somehow hockey players going on a social golfing outing doesn't lend itself to the assumption that it was an alcohol-free event.

I haven't been able to follow hockey much lately, but from what I've heard, it seems like Larsson really is our goalie of the future. Ideally, the Wings can get two showcase both of them extensively in the NHL and possible drive up the trade value for one or the other.

Kind of sounds like Hudler...except for the offensive instincts part.

I know I mean...could you imagine if they had some huge book or something where they published information like that? And then left it on everyones doorstep? and updated it every year? Woah man.

He's weakest part of his game is his skating, according to his coach.

That was my first reaction too.

How old are his daughters? That could be a good indication of if/when he might move.

Honestly, is it really that hard to see? The guys trying to make the team and people think hes actually going out there for blood on his own teammates? The guys already dedicated himself to protecting our guys. It was a simple accident, no real harm done, you move on. And to Draper, it would be nice to see you go back to actually using the body in an effective way, buddy.