haroldsnepsts

How many times in a season do you think players say "you're ******* dead" to one another? It's the actions, not words. Maybe i'd feel differently if the next time the two teams met, Mac had followed Keczmer down the ice trying to get him to fight, and when he wouldn't oblige, completely cold cocked him from behind and broke his neck. But he didn't. In the video Gordie, it's not even close. Mac grabs him from behind and rides him to the ice. Looks like he did throw a punch when he was down on the ice, but because of the way Mac took him down the guy is basically turtled and has to know something is coming. That's not nearly the same as punching a guy in the back of the head when he is completely unprepared for it. I've never pretended that the Red Wings were innocent of any cheapshots. Fedorov crosschecking a guy in the head, Fischer rearranging some front teeth with his stick, and countless others. The incidents aren't even close. Mac jumping Lemieux is at least a closer comparison, and that's one that's already been beat to death by a few of these same people. This is just a thread to stir up s***.

It's funny to me how the "tough guy" members here have become the biggest attention whores on the site.

What a dumbass thread. These two plays could only be considered remotely alike for those who think people falling on Moore is what broke his neck and not the suckerpunch to from behind. Mac tackles the guy from behind and rides him to the ice. Nevermind, I've already wasted to many words on this. If it's not obvious to him by the video, there ain't no explaining it. EDIT: My favorite part of that video is Mac pointing at the guy as he says "you're ******* dead!"

Well I guess the good news is he must've been cleared for a concussion if they let him drive himself.

Agreed. Good to see him pick up the assist, and he's always responsible defensively. But he didn't manage a SOG tonight.

Would you prefer this one?

That's a little dramatic, don't you think? Yes Lidstrom will be hard to replace. Honestly he wont' be replaced. We've had the luxury of having him on the blueline for something like 17 years. The Wings defense can still be good, it'll just be different. Ericsson will hopefully be a big part of that, but it hardly hinges on his development.

Agreed. It seems like no matter how times you say it, people still seem to think he is a first round draft pick that's played 5 seasons and has yet to live up to the hype. He's a converted defenseman drafted dead last playing in what is essentially his rookie season. He's not gonna be the next Lidstrom, but it's already impressive what the guy has shown. Like I said, I think he'll be a solid top 4 defenseman if he continues to develop.

The retirement home in Detroit made it to game 7 of the cup finals, won the Cup, and made it to the conference finals the last three years. But how's that working out for those youth-movement franchises?

From someone at hfboards:

Because he played in the playoffs and is older, I think people here think Ericsson has more experience than he actually does, but this is essentially his rookie season. Ericsson was just coming up on his 80th NHL game. And with all the injuries he's been picking up more ice time than he otherwise would have and may be ready for. Whereas this is Lebda's 5th season. He's played over 350 games in the NHL and doesn't look that great playing 14 minutes a night, with zero time on the PK. He's a known and limited quantity. If he stays relatively healthy, plays more physical, and continues to develop, Ericsson could be a great top 4 guy for the Wings. I think less than one full NHL season is a little early to write him off in place of Kindle. And Janik isn't really a prospect. He's a 29 year old AHLer who's been up in the NHL a few times, but never made a permanent lineup.

It seemed inevitable. The Wings need to cut their losses with this kid. It's not like this came out of the blue. Some lowlights: http://www.redwingscentral.com/prospects/axelssond.php A lot of those are attributable to youth, but you can only expect so many of them to go away.

Yes. He's a common example of how great goal scoring in the minors doesn't mean jack for the NHL.

Exactly. This is Ericsson's rookie season. He's made rookie mistakes for sure, but he plays 18 minutes a night, including on the PK. Move Lebda up to fill those minutes and people will be pining for the good old days when ericsson was in the lineup.

Man Bryz is a mess tonight. And boy is his defense trying to compensate for it.

This is absolutely in direct relation to Ville Leino, which is why Newbury wasn't called up when Leino was benched. Instead being called up when Helm got injured.

Airfilter isn't a very good nickname since we already have Mule, maybe he could be Rented Mule. (as in "beat him like a rented mule" in case that was too subtle.)

I think the main question is what exactly is going on with Dats? Because something clearly is, and it's not linemates. Zetterberg has been producing, but still not like he should be. But he's a force out there most every game. He just isn't getting them to go in. But there's been a lot of nights where I don't even notice Datsyuk out there, or when I do it's because he's turned the puck over, and I seriously can't remember him playing like this for more than a game. As I said before, it's like he's a half a step slow or something.

I don't have sympathy for the guy. I'm not even a Laraque fan. He made a stupid and dangerous play that hurt another player and was rightly suspended for it. You said it was time for him to man up and admit he did something in the heat of the moment that was dangerous and hurt another player. He did exactly that.

umm, that's pretty much what he did. He clearly explains his problem is not with the 5 games but because there are different rules for star players.

Yup. And very late in his career at that. He switched to D at the suggestion of Wing's scout Hakan Andersson in 2001, so he's not been playing the position very long at all. Basically I think the Wings are trying to mold him into the the D man that fits their needs. Right now I think he just needs to keep it a little simpler than he has been, and be more physical. Sometimes I think Ericsson doesn't always realize how big he is, though he's probably also afraid of taking a penalty.

First, I think you're forgetting about a lot of major gaffes that Kronwall made. He definitely had growing pains. Second, this is Ericsson's rookie season. He's playing more minutes than he's probably ready for, and I think a lot of these mistakes are as he's trying to do more (sometimes too much). In the playoffs he kept it absolutely simple out there and made the safe play all the time. Now I think he's trying to grow into the role. He's definitely been given a lot of responsibility very fast because of all the injuries. He's playing a lot of minutes, killing penalties. I think he'll be fine. There's just gonna be ups and down, especially with the team as shaky as it's been this season. Who's been predicting that Ericsson will be anything like Lidstrom??? He was drafted dead last overall and is a converted forward. If he becomes even a top 4 guy for the Wings, that's a victory.

Rafalski too. He had a good game back.

Wings do a great job overcoming the officiating tonight. Great game by Howard.

Cleary scores Shanahan style!!