haroldsnepsts

You got this: From this??

There's also the fact that Hudler ran to the KHL for more money, then came back to the Wings and his play had taken giant leaps backwards. I don't get bent out of shape about the loyalty thing. Ultimately it's a business. But I wonder what kind of player he'd be now had he stayed. He missed an NHL season, then spent the first half of last season just getting back to where he was. This season will likely be the one he could've had in 2010.

Agreed. 2002 was fun, but nothing can touch '97.

I agree with this part. A fine and the 4 minute major would've been plenty. Calvert initiated the altercation and Bouchard responded in a way that's a fairly common play in hockey. As slashes go it wasn't particularly vicious, just with an unfortunate outcome.

I'm in favor of keeping fighting in the game, but that's a pretty terrible article. He says tying it to fighting is a ridiculous claim, but makes few sensible points backing it up. I don't think anyone is saying that everyone who fights is likely to suffer depression and develop a drug dependency and kill themselves. But I also don't buy that a history of concussions and the added stress of being a marginal player in the league weren't a factor. And those are something it likely has in common with boxing and MMA. You just rarely hear about marginal fighters or the guys who didn't make it. And to claim Boogaard, Rypien and Belak didn't have to fight is ridiculous. Yes they did, if they wanted to stay in the NHL. Boogaard especially had nothing else to offer to an NHL team.

My money is on Burke. No one loves to hear himself talk more than him.

There wasn't one. It was a slash that went up the players stick. This didn't deserve a suspension, especially given the player involved. Careless, but it looked like it was supposed to be what Bouchard claimed, a whack to the hands, which isn't that uncommon.

Sorry. It was honestly meant in a lighthearted way. Teasing, not mocking. But as someone else mentioned, the main point was that it's only been two games. Hudler could go without scoring a point for the rest of the season, he could win the Art Ross, who knows...

Yes, because based on his performance so far, Hudler is on pace for an 82 point season.

Exactly. He was touching his head as if he was checking to see if he got cut or something. If he wants to embellish properly, he needs to study the tape of the guys he's headhunted and see what it really looks like when you get your bell rung. Absolutely clean hit. Primarily body contact. Looked like some incidental contact to the head, but honestly the hit wasn't even that hard. Though even if it broke his friggin jaw I wouldn't shed a tear. Cooke continues to disgrace the game.

He didn't. But he's the whipping boy. If he isn't awesome then someone will say he sucks. Especially since Hudler scored and they couldn't rip on them. His pinching makes me nervous, but Ericsson's play has given me some hope. Hopefully he improves. Great start for the Wings, I just wish they could've kept it clamped down at the end. As much fun as the five goals are, I don't want a repeat of last season's GAA.

He was doing that a lot in preseason too. Though I didn't really mind it then. why not try it out when the games don't count. As for regular season, not so much. I don't know if they decided Kindl will be the stay at home guy and Ericsson will jump into the play, but it seems like it should be the other way around. Either way, that pairing gets me puckered.

Even only there were someone to keep the flies off. Only kidding! Not trying to start an argument. The season has finally begun and the Wings are up 4-0! Woohoo!

Even beyond a jinx, it's a tradition. Part of the code of hockey. But I'm guessing you were doing this to bait people anyway.

After reading your post, Summer's Eve came to mind as a potential sponsor. Just brainstorming. You're being a little dramatic, don't you think? No one is saying get rid of all sponsors. Hell, has anyone ever complained about a specific sponsor here before? It's this particular one. I'm guessing Amway isn't the only corporation that was interested in sponsoring the Wings. There's likely potential sponsors that were less controversial.

But why were you asking me that? My post was specifically that a player being on waivers doesn't mean they suck. And in Newfy's post he pretty clearly explains that he hopes Brunnstrom would clear waivers, whereas Miller likely wouldn't. And he's also pretty clearly explained why he'd want Nystrom. You may disagree with his point, but his reasons are clear. I seemed like you were trying to draw me into an argument I wasn't a part of since Newfy wouldn't engage.

Without fans, a team wouldn't be able to operate either. I know what you're saying about investment in the literal sense, but as fans we do invest in the team through all the things you listed. Tickets to games, merchandise, and by watching on television, which increases ratings and brings in more ad revenue. Hockey is entertainment, and we're the audience. Which is crucial. I'm definitely disappointed that Illitch would sign a sponsorship deal with Amway, as I think the Red Wings (and Mr. I) are a class act. Amway is not, and definitely takes some shine of the organization for me.

What does that have to do with my post other than give you something to argue with me about? The point of my post was not that they should put Brunnstom on waivers to get Nystrom, but I was pretty clearly making the general point that a player on waivers doesn't necessarily equal them being a crappy player, and listed two examples of current Wings that were once put on waivers to reinforce the point. That's not to say I think Nystrom is awesome. In that same post, which you quoted, I also mentioned I don't know a ton about him. But given that in the enforcer debates people always ask for names of avaliable players that can play hockey and will drop the gloves, I understand why Newfy started the thread. That distinction clearly still goes to Ericsson and Hudler. Honestly I don't know that anyone is criticizing Miller. I'm sure not. I like him and think he's a decent player. But in this current Wings lineup, he's pretty redundant.

And people forget the Wings picked up Miller off waivers. And Commodore was put on waivers by Columbus. I don't know a ton about Nystrom, but being waived doesn't necessarily mean they player has no value to any club.

They interview the league biggest dirtbag in the postgame. Cooke taking no responsibility and making it sounds as if the hit he was suspended for was a result of the player moving at the last second.

Malkin waits for the Luongo flop in the shootout. Pens win.

Looks like Luongo and Fleury are already in playoff form. weak goal. Highlight reel save. Weak goal. Great save...

I don't know what to tell ya because it's a concept that's as old as hockey. I guess Babcock and I will have to agree to disagree with you. I'm not interested in having a goon out there, but the more players you have that will drop the gloves when need be, the less crap that tends to happen to them. As fun as it was to see Datsyuk fighting Perry, he shouldn't have to. You're talking about two players on six different teams, and basing it on only three or four seasons for each of them. Plus minus isn't a very useful stat for comparing such different situations. And it's not always about who's the better player on paper, it's about building a team, and Nystrom has qualities Miller doesn't. I don't think Holland will take a serious look at Nystrom, but it has more to do with the Wings being neck deep in forwards and Nystrom's contract.

That makes his suspension even more over the top. Even though I think it was reckless, he was trying to make a hockey play and it went bad. Because of the suspension from Shanny he's likely not going to play in the NHL this year, yet the AHL thought that wasn't enough and tacked on three games? He didn't Bertuzzi a guy. He made an ill advised hit. That deserves three pre-season games, 5 NHL games, and 3 AHL games??

You should ask Babcock to explain it to you. The simple answer is, if I'm a player around the net in a scrum after the whistle, I'm a lot less likely to take a little cheapshot at the goalie or give a little crosscheck to a star player if I know I will get punched in the face for it. If I only have to answer to Franzen, then it's jab away. I don't think it prevents guys from hitting players or injuries during the game, but as for crap after whistles and little cheapshots, hell yes it does.