haroldsnepsts

I definitely don't want obstruction coming back into the game. It's too hard to monitor what level is acceptable. Pretty soon we'll be back to the clutch and grabfest. Picture Datsyuk juking a guy out of his jockstrap, only to have that player hook and hold on to him to negate the play. I think getting rid of the trapezoid is a pretty good move. This hit is tough. Letang does make that last second poke that puts him in a vulnerable position. But more and more it does seem like guys are passing up a completely free puck to crush a guy, making no attempt to play it. I'd call this a legal hit, but it's pretty brutal. EDIT: watching the replay again, Nystrom has his arm pretty tucked. It looks even cleaner than I originally thought. Like I said, legal hit. tough break for Letang though.

As many have said, home ice advantage matters. President's trophy itself doesn't mean much.

The reality is you have no idea what the actual claim or situation was. I could totally understand him seriously returning to his native country to raise his kids there and be with his family. I can also see an agent using that possibility as leverage. To think you could possible know it was all about the dollars is extremely presumptuous.

I don't think that's a crazy argument. He doesn't face as tough of competition as Lidstrom does, and as you point out doesn't have the offensive prowess, but I agree he's been very solid this year. If he does end up going back to California next season, he'll definitely be missed. He was a great pickup.

Who would you put above him? Not Kronwall. He's been good but had some really awful mistakes and weak games. White is having a great season in part because he's paired with Lidstrom.

I can't see Lids winning it. Karlsson should be in the running for sure, but unless he ends up top three in points in the league, he shouldn't win. It would take that kind of offensive output to make up for the lack of defense. Before anyone brings him up, Coffey was insanely productive offensively, but was also pretty good at playing defense too. In general I just hope the Norris remains the best all around defenseman and people actually vote that way. I don't want it to go the way of the Selke, which has become best forward who scores a lot of points and is also good defensively.

That's hilarious. Don't forget the 10 takeaways the Blue Jackets had to the Wings 4. A little home cooking on those stats maybe??

These things do matter in the playoffs, I agree. But had hudler and bertuzzi played awesome tonight, you likely would've said it didn't matter because the blue jackets are so crappy. The Wings definitely have issues to work out if they want to get past the second round of the playoffs this season. But if they can win games while they work out those issues, awesome.

piss poor effort. special teams suck. one of the best defenseman of all time out of the lineup. one of the best forwards in the world out of the lineup. Wings are winning 5-2. Somehow I'll manage to suffer through that kind of game.

I just re-read your post. I totally misread it the first time. Sorry. Hadn't had coffee yet or something. I get what you're saying now.

I always thought (and maybe read somewhere?) that his kids were in school and he didn't want to uproot them.

Aren't the Columbus fans already unhappy with management? This sure shouldn't help matters. I can't blame Nash for asking to be traded. They've been in the league 11 seasons and made the playoffs exactly once. That's the only season they finished above .500. And they've gotten a top 10 pick in the draft every season but one.

Honestly I think that's a lot to ask for the game he plays. He's going to be carrying the puck a lot and trying to make nice outlet passes, not just chipping it up the glass like a stay at home bottom end guy would. So unfortunately that's gonna come with some painful turnovers as he adapts to the NHL game. I definitely think he should keep it simple at first, but he's gonna make some mistakes as he stretches his game a bit. I just hope he lives up to the promise he shows already. Pretty interesting quote from Babcock regarding Smith. I don't think he's always a fan of Holland's "over-ripe" philosophy. http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2012/02/red_wings_anxious_to_see_brend.html

No it isn't. It's fun to hate on E, but Kindl couldn't even hold his spot in the lineup over Commodore, let alone outplay Ericsson. The fact of the matter is right now Ericsson is a superior defenseman to Kindl. Quincey can play on the PP, pick up time on the PK, and play somewhat physical. He's basically the kind of player they're hoping Kindl becomes. So defensively we're looking pretty good. But I'm not crazy about our 4th line. It would've been nice to bolster that a little at the deadline.

I really don't understand giving up Commie for a bag of pucks then if Holland wasn't clearing a spot for anything, considering Ericsson is out with a broken wrist and now lids is out too.

I won't ***** exactly, but I gotta admit that I'm disappointed. Probably Lidstrom's last season, the team is good, we have a ton of cap space. I was hoping he'd make a serious move to go for it this season.

I tend to agree with you, only because of Lidstrom potentially retiring. Like you said, they have the cap space. When was the last time that happened? If Holland was ever going to gamble, now is the time.

Agreed. And whoever does take him, I can't see them giving up much. Unless it's a team out west that there's some sort of handshake deal to re-sign this summer.

If Stuart is being traded, which seems highly unlikely, Holland would have to be bringing in a friggin stud on defense.

Let's hope so. Trading Commie for a bag of pucks better not be the only Wings move today.

Agreed. And I'd take Pronger on the Wings in a heartbeat.

I just can't imagine who the Wings could trade that would make it worth LA's while to trade their captain and one of their leading goal scorers (tied for 1st with Kopi). If LA trades away Brown Id' think it would have to be for a big offensive name.

1) I'm guessing you were drunk when you posted this? I'm not sure what it all means exactly but it was a fun read. 2) As much as some people may want Ericsson traded away, they're ignoring the fact he has a NMFTC! And I can't see him agreeing to be traded to Florida. Or Columbus. Or most of the other franchises people have suggested.

I agree with your point, but it would be hilariously bad if the new CBA included a reduction/restructuring for the cap. It's one thing to do it when you're converting the league to a cap, but to have to do it less than 10 years after the implementation of the cap just shows some of these idiot GM's can't help themselves with bad contracts. It'll be interesting to see how much further the NHL will go to protect poorly run franchises from themselves.

Agreed. Holland would be nuts to dump a Dman like Stuart before the playoffs. Especially because that's when Stuart usually ups his game. I'm guessing he picked up Quincey looking forward to next season and as a nice addition since Kindl and Commodore haven't really impressed.