YoungGuns1340

Wings are really throwing the body tonight. I dont think anyone can say the Wings are a soft team anymore.

Was he scratched last game? If so, it definitely lit a fire under his ass..

Wow....Kopecky using the body???

Haha. Leclaire with a 2.00 against the Wing Dings.

...and as you guys say that, he makes a huge heads up play to intercept that puck and set up an odd-man rush. Hes not what he used to be though, IMO. But thats still better than 100% of other Dmen in the NHL.

Is it just me or did Hank and Datsyuk just get obstructed/hooked/held about twice each on that PP??

Kronwall is coming into his own.

Man Dats has a weak shot these days..

Epiphany: MICKEY REDMOND LOOKS LIKE THE COWARDLY LION FROM WIZARD OF OZ

This should be an interesting game. On the one hand, I could see the Wings streak ending here as predominant notions about previous weak Jackets teams take over (Not to mention we only split the series with them last year.) On the other hand, I could really see the Wings top line dominating tonight and scoring an uncharacteristic 3+ goals on Leclaire. Leclaire is a pretty composed goaltender, but I could see him and other Jackets cracking under the pressure against a good measuring stick like the Wings.

Spector also commented on this rumor. In his eyes - and Spector is a pretty knowledgeable hockey blogger - the only teams who would really be in the running for Hossa would be Detroit and Colorado. IMO, IF the Pens make the playoffs, they're pressing need will be an experienced goaltender. The Canes are deep as hell up front and need to address defense - particularly a puckmover more than anything, plus they're an inter-divisional rival of the Thrashers. The Avs dont make sense to me because they're big need is better goaltending, and after that a physical defenseman (at least this is what their fans say) and theres simply not enough minutes to go around for all their forward depth. The Bs dont have the cap space apparently. In my mind, that leaves the Wild, the Sharks, and the Wings. Of those teams Id say the Wings have the least opportunity to land Hossa. I dont see Holland offering up what it would take to get Hossa, and the only way the Wings have the cap space to retain him next year would be if Nick Lidstom takes a significant paycut or we send big salary back the other way. IMO, if the Wings want to get Hossa, they have to trade long-term salary. That means STARTING with Niklas Kronwall, and probably throwing in Filppula/Hudler/1st to boot, maybe even in conjunction with Samuelsson. 3 of those guys might be able to get Hossa AND Exelby coming back the other way. But the ONLY way we give up that much for Hossa is if we KNOW hes going to re-sign with the Wings.

Please. The Wings wouldnt have made it past the Preds if it werent for Lang.

Haha was it a last name or first that he was referring to? Either way, there are a lot..

Since he threw his stick at a fan in the stands. No but seriously, Alfie really has become the heart and soul of that team. Any guy that is as dedicated to both ends of the ice as he is definitely has no problems with dedication to game. On the other hand, Im dying to know what Heatley's stats would look like if he ever had to carry a line and/or didnt always have a world-class center/winger to play alongside. No doubt theyd still be awesome, but it begs the question what Hanks stats would look like if he played with no less than Ilya Kovalchuk or Alfie and Spezza for his entire career..

See, now this I really agree with, and is one of he reasons I think if they want teams in places like Las Vegas, then they should relocate and not expand. Ive noticed this mainly because it seems like every team out there is in need of a top 6 winger and/or a top 4 Dman. Particularly for forwards, there arent enough to go around anymore. What would really be interesting to see was an idea I think proposed by Wayne Gretzky. Go ahead an expand the league if more markets is what you want, but decrease the team roster. Back in the day you basically running 3 lines allowed for the star players to be out on the ice more often. Sure it would mean athletes would have to be better conditioned (and maybe a response to that would be a 75 game season or so...but the league would never go for that especially with mking money being the #1 priority) but Im sure top 6ers wouldnt mind seeing 25 minutes a game instead of 20. It would be really interesting to see teams play with 10 regular forwards instead of 12...

Ottawa lost tonight. There go their cup chances..

How many handicaps does Burke need to work under a cap?

Ok, lets follow some logic here: Burke is a whiner. He ******* and complains to the media all the time. When somebody does him wrong, he goes after them in the spotlight. Regardless of whether or not he previously had a healthy relationship with that person. Case in point: Kevin Lowe steals Penner from the Ducks. Prior to this, Kevin Lowe and Brian Burke are self-proclaimed "good friends." Burke loses out on Penner, and Burke claims Lowe has "run his team into the sewer." So where is this criticism for Niedermayer?? Should it not follow and can it not be said that Niedermayers absence is "running the Ducks into the sewer" even more so than any other injury or absent player? What do we hear from Burke on the front? Nothing. Now lets compile this with the facts that: 1) Niedermayer has always been all about winning, and a very competitive player 2) He loves playing with his brother 3) He is entirely healthy, has no chronic injuries, and is still in his prime as a defenseman 4) Has 2 years left on his contract 5) Can make at least a million dollars playing for just a fraction of the season 6) Has always been a classy, dedicated hockey player. So my question for everyone is, what happened between the Ducks winning the Stanley Cup and now that 1) suddenly turned Burke into a compassionate GM who uses punity only through the system (i.e the formal suspension) and not by running his mouth/personal attacks through the media and 2) suddenly turned Niedermayer into an indecisive, classless guy who is unsure about his dedication and passion for the game enough to make his organization and fellow teammates suffer?

Jesus, step off the soapbox, *******. No need to go on a rant in response to my ONE SENTENCE.

Youre really embarassing yourself by holding onto this win. Detroit Red Wings > St. Louis Blues. End of story.

Cleary, Draper, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Samuelsson have all scored 20+ goals in the NHL. Doesnt mean theyll do it every year. As for Niedermayer, if you think he just "couldnt make up his mind", then youre not very privy to Burke's ways. Its not like Niedermayer is a classless *******. He wouldnt have screwed over his team just because he couldnt make up his mind.

If this is the Avs answer to their goaltending issues, then Im pretty happy. Although its doubtful it is. I wouldnt be surprised to see Gerber heading to the Avs possibly in exchange for a guy like Brunette.

Um.... Zetterberg put up 85 points centering Holmstrom and Sammy two years removed. ...kthanksbye. Dont necessarily agree that Rolston is coming to Detroit, but you hit the nail on the head in terms of the goal scorers Detroit should be looking at.....i.e. the ones that will cost 5M or less, not 7M or more. Like Ive said, Detroit will probably have a ceiling as to how much they spend on another scoring forward. And IMO, thats about 5M assuming the cap increases a touch and they dont go balls to the wall in replacing Dom in net.

You mean like are the Wings #8 overall for Times Shorthanded and #2 overall for Times Shorthanded for teams that have played no more than 14 games as of Nov 6th? Well then, yes.

It is a good point, but I wouldnt really like to see more teams meet in the playoffs. Unless it meant the top couple seeds or the division winners got out of the 1st round, or only had to play a best of 5 instead of 7 or something along those lines..Its already the toughest playoff run in all of sports. No need to add more rounds.