RedWingAbner

Just think of how boring hockey would be if the players could not hit and the game was played without goalies. That's basketball. It sucks.

The only reason this happens is fans allow it. Really, is anyone changing their hockey habits in the "Push the Penguins" Era? Nope? Didn't think so. And, Bettman is pulling in idiots who clap in their helmets and repeat "Sidney Crosby, Sidney Crosby" while knowing nothing about the game-- they are spending the same currency we are-- so things won't change. I imagine that there will be an artificial dynasty of some sort--or at least a decent extended run--in addition to some sort of new cap rule that allows the Penguins to keep players based on some bizarre criteria (players drafted in the top 10, when more than one per drafting team, only count 70% of their salary toward the cap?).

The Pylon strikes again.

Can we waive Brett Lebda 3 times? In all seriousness, I really think Abdelkader goes down, May and Leino are waived. Ville is going to end the year in Finland.

First off, you can't just pull #'s out of your ass and assume that is what sponsors would pay. I'd continue, but this is a Jake Ryan post, and I'd rather discuss hockey with my dog-- at least he knows when to keep his opinions to himself.

MASSIVE FAIL. Please, do something with your life rather than watch hockey. Your opinions on the sport are nauseating.

If you get a hotel in the burbs, go to eat at Nemo's and take the free shuttle to the game. Eat at Nemo's=free parking, no hassle, safe ride.

Wow, this happened with Ducks fans? Not really that surprising.

I would take Chelios on the team over Rafalski. Without Lidstrom to make him look decent, that guy is a waste, and I really don't think he's a "Brian Burke guy." Realistically, it'll probably be Komisarek.

Your point is incorrect. If your 3rd liner is consistently something the first and second lines MUST overcome in order to win, you need to lose said third liner. Basically, you are saying that it's not Lebda's fault.....he's on the ice for goals against all the time.....but the top liners should be producing 5-6 goals a game to counteract this. If the top lines doesn't produce, it's their fault. If Lebda doesn't do his job, it's the top line's fault for not covering for him. Brett Lebda sucks.

Your point is incorrect. If your 3rd liner is consistently something the first and second lines MUST overcome in order to win, you need to lose said third liner. Basically, you are saying that it's not Lebda's fault.....he's on the ice for goals against all the time.....but the top liners should be producing 5-6 goals a game to counteract this. If the top lines doesn't produce, it's their fault. If Lebda doesn't do his job, it's the top line's fault for not covering for him. Brett Lebda sucks.

The whole "Lebda makes X" argument is so pathetically ignorant. It implies that a player's ability is solely tied to their salary-- ie, a player making $850,000 cannot possibly be thought of as competant because they only make that much. Regardless of what he is getting paid, he is s***ting the bed consistently. Nobody is asking him to score like Mike Green or play shutdown defense against the other team's 1st line. All people want is for him to play like a damn 6th defenseman-- and not get torched every.....single.....night. BTW, your question and answers=dumb. There's my subjective formula to counter yours.

I think Lebda has a role on this team. During practices, we can place him somewhere on the ice and instruct players to line up behind him. Or, we can place him somewhere on the ice and have players turn when they reach where he is standing.

This topic needs to be modified to read: "Howard to start, Wings to lose, Saturday."

No, I'm not attacking your post because you left that out. I made a single smart ass comment because you left one T out. Overall, I attacked your points because you (for some unknown reason) think Brett Lebda is serviceable.

One goal means nothing. Lebda still blows. Competency. He thinks he's the 4th forward when he's on the ice, turns the puck over, and is in terrible position far too much. Chelios was a 6th/7th defenseman. He did not blow. Either there is a "Bret" Lebda that I haven't seen, which may be who you are referring to in the rest of your post----or I have never been more thankful that any one person is not in the Wings scouting department. Brett Lebda is the worst defenseman in the NHL, regardless of what he is paid. The whole "pay" argument is stupid anyway-- these are supposed to be professionals. It's not like we hired a McDonald's drive through guy for the 6th d-man spot, and thus, the money and the player are a good value. He blows regardless of his pay.

This is a great topic. Ever since seasons have been cut to 7 games, we get a much better view of a player's production and value. For instance, we can infer that Vincent Lecavalier will not score a single goal this year, as through 7 games, he has none. Mikael Samuelsson is a reserve player doing well on a struggling team.

Anyone else surprised that Rafalski didn't miss?

What teams are actively looking for useless defensemen? Lebda provides no offense (save for the other team) and his defensive positioning/tendencies are atrocious.

Let's give Meech a shot. Nothing, even a carcass, is worse than The Pylon.

Remember, most Penguins fans only think hockey has existed since 2006.

Yes, in a second. Isn't Giguere's contract up before Rafalski's? Positive #1. Rafalski is a nice offensive defenseman. He looks better on the Wings because his offensive numbers are bouyed. Rafalski is a soft player, and really, can anyone say that we can't do better than his "effort" on Staal's SH goal in Game 4? Give Kindl a shot. Move Ericsson up. You then still have Osgood for playoff hockey, the only time he really cares.

The Pylon needs to be cut.

Garbage, pure garbage.

I wonder what being a seller on trade deadline day will be like.....