haroldsnepsts

Agreed. And he really needs to turn things around after that awful 80 point season last year. The team was awesome in 08, not just Z. Maybe he'll never hit that level again, but we're 7 games into the season. You might want to unbunch your panties and wait until he's got some more games under his belt before you worry about his career being over.

Actually it looks like he's trying to sneak out a fart without Datsyuk noticing.

Agreed. It's not just the giving up 11 goals in two games, but that they only scored two. And those were from Helm and Kronwall (on a 5 on 3). Where's our big guns?

Hudler and Mule haven't registered a shot on goal since the CBJ game on Friday.

They better come out flying after getting their ass handed to them by the Caps.

Makes sense. It's an unfortunate play but you can't be handing out penalties for follow through on shots or it'd get ridiculous. Agreed. It's why I edited my post. I didn't want to completely derail it with the one-millionth argument about the Bert Moore incident.

I don't want to drag this into a Bertuzzi debate, but all this ground has been covered. Feel free to verify your claims though.

False. Burke offered him a minor league contract when he wasn't even medically cleared to play, either just to taunt Moore or for the press and positioning for a lawsuit, so people will only remember "moore turned down a contract." Evidently it worked. Back on topic regarding Pronger, I hate the guy, but really just when the Wings are playing him. He got absolutely schooled a few nights ago when someone scored and I laughed out loud. He's basically a Chris Chelios. Talented player who has had several instances where he goes way over the line. Or for those who remember, he's like the player Harold Snepsts but with 10 times the talent. But I don't want him to lose an eyeball. The league is better with him in it. It needs villians and Pronger is a good one and a good player.

Has he ended anyone's career? no. Has Bertuzzi? yes. I think I've said several times Pronger plays dirty. As for the skate stomp, honestly I think Bobby Ryan's was worse than Pronger's. Ryan clearly stomps down with the blade and Pronger mostly grinds his boot. I think it was dirty and suspendable, but in that moment I don't think he was attempting to seriously injure someone, no. I think he lost his cool. the Homer elbow was much more calculated than the stomp. Either way that still doesn't mean I enjoy him losing an eye. In my earlier post I cited McKenzie's twitter which says he's seeing an eye specialist but there's so much swelling they can't evaluate it. So it's likely either an eye injury or a very close call. Like I said, I guess I just gave Wings fans more credit than they deserve. Seeing a player take a stick to the face, knowing there's a potential eye injury goes beyond how I feel about that player and his rep.

So you're lecturing the lecturer? No one openly said they were happy, but it's a surprisingly callous response from hockey fans when a player takes a stick to the eye. Like saying he should use ice and motrin. At the risk of moralizing, don't expect better from any other team's fans when one of our players gets hurt.

Exactly. I guess I gave Wings fans too much credit. Pronger has been a major rival over the years, but from the replay and from McKenzie's twitter update, it seems pretty likely he either had an injury to his eye or a very close call. It sucks to see any player suffer an injury like that during a game. jeebus people. It's not like Pronger has ended anyone's career like Bertuzzi.

did you watch the clip? He took a stick to the face, so I'm not sure what you're referring to. The puck wasn't involved. And you can hear the yelling. I think Pronger is a player who goes over the line (though I'd take him on the Wings), but that doesn't mean I'm happy when he takes a stick to the face.

Stay classy Wings fans. He dropped like a ton of bricks and you can hear him screaming as he goes into the dressing room holding his face. Clearly this was more than a little cut. According to Bob McKenzie he's seeing an eye specialist but there's too much swelling to know anything.

Slow start for sure. With Z I always worry he's got chronic injuries bothering him. His back, his wrist. But assuming he's healthy then I'm sure he'll be fine.

Off the top of my head, so it's probably skewed towards Western conference and guys who've been in the league a while since I don't get to watch as much hockey as I used to. Vancouver - Kesler (less so since the diving). I thought he had matured but I think the culture of that team doesn't help him. Los Angeles - Kopitar, Greene, Quick Ducks - Selanne Flyers - Simmonds, Carle, Pronger (It's a love hate relationship) Tampa Bay - Brewer, Roloson, St. Louis Hawks - Mayers, O'Donnell, Toews Preds - Weber Caps - Vokoun

Bertuzzi a sissy? That's just stupid. He doesn't fight much but he's no sissy. Last year Shane O'Brian and a lot of the Preds were running guys in a game against the Wings, Bert fought him twice and what do you know, things settled down and they stopped running people. He may not be an enforcer, but it still gives guys pause to have to drop em with a 6'3' 235 lb guy who can handle himself in a fight. And why would you want Ericsson to fight an enforcer? So we can lose one of our 6 Dmen for 5 minutes while they lose a guy who can barely play hockey? With the agitators it can be helpful if he were to drop the gloves to keep them in line, but it's always tougher losing a defenseman for 5 minutes than a forward.

Wow. Mike Green looks less douchey than I remember. Maybe I had him all wrong.

Luongo should go back to Florida where he can face tons of shots and play lights out in the regular season, knowing he'll never have to worry about the playoffs. He's not a bad goaltender, but that contract makes him one for the value.

I don't think he's a particularly great fighter (though he's better than Lilja for sure), but he uses his size well and I though handled Dorsett well. We're always talking about guys who can play the game and will drop the gloves when needed. Ericsson can be one of those guys. He may not be the best fighter but he's friggin huge, and most of the guys who deserve to have their ass kicked--the Steve Ott's, Sean Avery, Matt Cooke's of the league--aren't that big. This team is better if when someone pulls crap against one of our players, they know they're going to have to answer to someone big like Ericsson or Bertuzzi.

And both have contracts that end this season. Like you said this was pretty much a salary dump.

Conklin had a bad game, but the Wings still only scored 1 goal. And they had two 5 on 3's. Datsyuk and Z were dangerous in the first but otherwise mostly quiet. for the most part so were Mule, Hudler and Flip. (Hudler and Mule didn't register a SOG). Bad passing and turnovers most of the night. Some of it because of the Caps, some of it just bad play. I wouldn't in any way say they dominated. Most of the shots on goal weren't that quality of chances.

When you're losing by 6 goals, you do not deserve to win the game.

ugly. did that hit something? oof. That one's on Ericsson.

How many turnovers has Mule had tonight??

Flip let his man go. I guess he thought the Wings had the faceoff won?