haroldsnepsts

I guess people forget Ozzy crying after playoff losses? or that Chelios skipped the handshake in 07 because he couldn't keep his composure? I hate a handful of the Ducks players (Perry is tops of that list by a wide margin), but when the game's over, it's hard for me to keep up most of the hate for them as a team. Hiller suffered a pretty heartbreaking loss in an exhausting 7 game series in his first stanley cup playoffs, I can't really fault the guy for being emotional. ok, I have to admit though, seeing Perry that disappointed is pretty nice.

Seconded. The guy is a beast. And he's 24 years old. I don't get why people are talking about how classless or dirty he is on the ice. I hate most of the Ducks, but didn't really see Getzlaf doing anything that wasn't just hockey. Especially for a young guy who had to try and carry his team. Perry on the other hand...

Well, the Wings have made themselves a one game series. We need our PP, PK, and our regular season MVP all to show up for game 7. If the Wings lose this series, it's no one's fault but their own. the Ducks have been beatable for several games now, but have gotten a big goal or two and hung on for dear life. Through the course of a game, on one shift this team looks like the dominant Wings of last year, then another shift they look like the Dave Lewis era Wings.

I don't think fans are cheering his name to bolster his confidence. It's more like "Welcome back! Where the hell have you been all season?!" The fourth line is pretty bad but because of the important role of goaltender, Ozzy isn't necessarily the weakest link, but he sure is the biggest question mark for the Wings postseason. and that journalist need not fear. A couple bad goals and Wings fans will turn on him faster than you can say Osbad.

So Z will retire when he's 35? Franzen when he's 36?

Agreed. It was borderline because Ballard was pretty damn low, which is why Malkin went flying. If Franzen got hit like that, people would be saying how Ballard went for Mule's knees. Props to Crosby for being willing to get into it, but honestly it's just not a good tactic for his team. Putting himself in the box for 5 minutes or getting hurt in a fight hurts his team.

He doesn't have to do anything with his stats. He just has to do what he did last playoffs. Make the big saves when called upon and give his team a chance to win. Fingers crossed that he does that. And for those of you who think the second goal was a bad one by Ozzy, why is no one bitching about Datsyuk getting knocked off the puck and turning it over, which led to the goal? The first one was a horrible goal to let in by Ozzy. The second was a scramble off a turnover behind the net. It happens.

Near total domination by the Wings, which was good to see. If not for a total brainfart by Osgood and exceptional play by Backstrom, this game isn't even close. I think Ozzy played well most of the game. He made some big saves, especially late in the game. I just wish he would put together a full game without any of those "wtf?" gaffes like the one today. That first goal was a total momentum and morale killer because the Wings were absolutely dominant at the time. He had a lot of great chances though didn't really show up on the scoresheet, but Zetterberg was a beast today. What a great shut down guy.

again, what evidence? Datsyuk not knowing about it is evidence? Crosby didn't even know about the rule. How would he know about the "exception?" What about: C) Holland thought this rule was stupid and tried to work something out with Campbell earlier in the week. When he found out that Campbell was actually going to require them to come or be "suspended" Holland got pissed and took a stand. I think one of the things people should actually be getting upset about is that because this is not a real suspension, Babcock apparently can't replace Dats and Lids in the lineup. This is a horrible rule/non-rule that has come to light in the worst way.

What I want is people to stop making things up. or provide some links I haven't seen that actually verify what they're claiming. Campbell is talking about the rule. That's not the text of the rule. That's him talking about it off the cuff in an interview. Where in the link about Crosby does it say he talked with Bettman on Friday and hopped on the plane? How is he shooting himself in the foot? If you listen to any of the interviews where he talks about it, he's saying he was unaware of the rule about being suspended, not the alleged "crosby exception." You exactly demonstrate my point in that you guys are making bad assumptions to fit your preconceived notions about what happened. He also says "we contacted" Bettman. Just like Holland could have for his players. The league stated a policy at a managers meeting last year, which Campbell says several times in his interview. He also says the managers understood the rule at that meeting. It's not really a rule, it's an unofficial agreement. If Holland, as GM, was unclear of this rule, he should've clarified it then or at the very least should've clarified it when Lidstrom and Datsyuk were not attending and were going to have to miss a game. Yet people have stated repeatedly that Gary Bettman called Crosby on Friday and said he needed to attend or be suspended. Clearly there was a phonecall, but I haven't heard it was friday, and it actually sounds like Crosby or the Penguins organization initiated it. And I've heard in several interviews from several sources that Crosby was coming anyway. He only changed his plans to attend from Friday on instead of Saturday on. But he was already attending part of the festivities. But everyone's talking like Bettman specifically picked up the phone on Friday and invented this Crosby exception. What it sounds like to me is that it's a stupid rule, even though the GM's agreed to it a year ago, it was poorly handled on all fronts, and Holland didn't want anything to do with it.

link?

What new information is in that post exactly? you're quoting and highlighting the rule from a local sports site, not any text from the actual rule. I think this article has already been quoted in the existing thread. Wings GM Ken Holland had conversations with Colin Campbell early in the week regarding the ASG and his players not attending. Lidstrom informed him on Monday about the tendonitis. This is a rule that Ken Holland and the other GM's agreed to last year. So Holland and his management can find draft picks in the last rounds, can land the biggest UFA in Marian Hossa, can sustain a great franchise even under the cap, but he gets none of the responsibility for this?? He agreed to this rule a year ago. Of course there is no appeal process because it isn't in the CBA. It was basically a gentleman's agreement between the NHL and the GM's that they would enforce this rule with their players. It would've occurred to any poster here at LGW to clarify if a player would have to attend, or would have to play to avoid the suspension. If the players weren't aware of this rule, or weren't aware that they could just attend the festivities, that's Holland's fault. That's not Bettman's. And them being unaware is no proof that Bettman made some special deal with Crosby. I love it how people think Holland can pull off anything, but then don't think he takes any responsibility for this as GM of the team. The reality is Holland thought it was a stupid rule, which it is. But it's one he agreed to a f*cking year ago. And his line about not even knowing where Lidstrom and Datsyuk are is total bulls*** too. You don't think he knows where two of his franchise players are every week of the season? or couldn't find out with one phonecall? The point he was making was that he wasn't going to make that phonecall. He wasn't going to back down. He didn't and now they have to sit a game. If he wanted to play along with Bettman and make the "Crosby exception" I'm sure he could have. But he didn't. Not that big a deal. Not a conspiracy. This only verifies your case to you because you're once again reading between the lines and making assumptions about what happened.

The Canucks can casuck it. Seriously. Maybe they lost that stretch of games because they went into it thinking this could be where they'd lose a stretch of games.

It's all Bettman's fault. Everything Crosby does is whiny and wrong. Everyone hates the Wings and is therefore unfairly trashing Lidstrom and Datsyuk. The Red Wings can do no wrong. did I miss anything?

I don't know that the Wings looked like arrogant dicks, but otherwise I agree. Seems like there was time to sort this all out. Especially because in one quote Holland made reference to Nick telling him about his elbow on Monday. So they probably knew then he didn't want to attend. They should've sent Hudler. Something tells me he would've had a blast at the ASG.

Ah. I see. I hadn't seen anything from Holland that made me think that, but I may have missed it. It sucks, but honestly I think the rest will ultimately help them, and by Bettman making an example of these two great players, he only makes himself look more like a dickhead.

Agreed. I've not seen any compelling evidence about the timing of the various phone calls to the Wings and of the supposed exception for Crosby, but it's kinda pointless to argue anymore. I'll just agree to disagree. This all should've been handled better, mostly by Bettman. But Holland hasn't really acknowledged that by letting his players sit, he should have already known that by that rule they would have to miss a game. As I've said, basically it's a bad rule that no one really paid attention to and has now come to light in the stupidest way. Which makes an already lame ASG look like even more of a joke. The upside being that by Lidstrom and Datsyuk being the ones punished for this, Bettman looks like even more of a douchebag.

That's it in a nutshell. These guys are ultimately entertainers. Part of their job is promoting the sport. They chose to skip and there's a rule in place saying they have to miss a game, so they're missing a game.

What part of his quote makes that obvious? From MLive: so it sounds like even without the MRI, Lids informed Holland Monday about not wanting to play in the ASG. Less than a week to make plans. so he talked to the league earlier in the week. This did not all go down on Friday. Ok, assume this alleged "exception" never happens. That means when Holland said Lidstrom and Datsyuk could take the week off, he should have known that by the rule enacted last February, they will have to miss the game following the ASG. Players too hurt to play in the game have to miss either the game preceding or following the ASG. It's pretty clear. So without the exception they absolutely would be required to miss a game. If the exception happened at the last second, that just gave Dats and Lidstrom and opportunity to not miss a game. Whereas without the exception, by the rule they were 100% going to miss it. And Holland should have known that. It's a bad rule that's come to light because of two great players like Lidstrom and Datsyuk getting caught in it. But the rule was in place and exception or not they would've had to miss Tuesday's game.

Where is there any evidence of this??? Here's an excerpt from Mlive from yesterday: http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/01/ho...rikes_back.html Basically it's a bad rule that Lidstrom and Datsyuk got caught in.

I totally agree. That's a difference. It's a helluva lot easier to change your plans at the last minute when you're single and in your early 20s. But that's not an exception made by Bettman. The rule puts Datsyuk and Lidstrom in a difficult place, but Holland bears some of the blame for this by either not informing his players about the rule, not looking into it more, or maybe just guessing that the league wouldn't back it up.

I'd have to see a link to believe that about the rule. But even if it's true, how is that an exception for Crosby? It helps Dats and Lidstrom out too because they would not have to play the game, yet could still attend the event and be eligible to play their next game. This rule was agreed upon last February. When Lidstrom and Datsyuk decided not to go, that should have put up a red flag to someone in Wings management, and they should have looked into the implications of their players not attending. It's unfortunate, but I don't see an exception here. what is the timeline here? How Crosby notified in advance? Even if Bettman had called Crosby earlier and not the Wing's players, as soon as he changed plans as the NHL poster boy (which you guys constantly ***** about) it was all over the media. Not exactly a secret. As I've said, the rule was made in February. That's Holland and the Red Wings' managements responsibility to have their players informed about it. Not Bettmans. Don't get me wrong, I think Bettman's a dick and once again went about this in an obnoxious way. But that's how the rule is. If Lidstrom and Datsyuk really didn't know about it, that's Holland's fault. Maybe they just decided to roll the dice thinking the NHL wouldn't enforce it. Personally I'd rather they take the game off, and make Bettman look like a douchebag by cracking down on two of the league's (i hate this word but can't think of a better one) "classiest" players. It's a win-win.

I know it's Sidney Crosby we're talking about here and he's the devil and the worst thing to ever happen to the game of hockey, but I'm still not following how it's an exception. He was planning on only going Saturday night for the Young Stars Game and Skills competition. Then he was informed by Bettman of the rule, so he changed his plans and is attending the whole weekend. The only thing to really make fun of here is that is sounds like Bettman called Crosby personally to inform him of the rule change and did not with Lids or Datsyuk, which honestly if I were them I would prefer he don't call me. But Bettman or someone from the league obviously informed Holland. Not to mention as GM Holland should be aware of this rule since it was voted on a year ago. But that's not an exception. That's just Crosby being the NHL poster boy. He changed his plans and is going for the full weekend, which is exactly what the league asked of Dats and Lidstrom. I think it's also interesting that Crosby, and I'm guessing Lidstrom and Datsyuk, weren't really aware of this rule change. The GM's agreed to it a year ago, but didn't give their players a heads up? Or I guess they didn't think it would actually be enforced. According to Hockey News, most players were unaware the rule even existed. It's nice of Holland to stick up for his players this year. I hope he wasn't one of the GM's to agree to it last year. All in all this was handled extremely poorly by Bettman (shocking, I know). But there's no Crosby exception here. If Lidstrom and Datsyuk showed up too, they'd be playing on Tuesday. It was theirs and Holland's choice.

Free Datsyuk! or Free Lidstrom!

well, the point still stands that they could at least go and sign autographs and make appearances and stuff. if they're too injured to handle even that, the they'd be missing a game anyway... Still kind of funny thought. Lidstrom and Datsyuk, then NHL's new bad boys. Only 7 more suspensions to go until they catch Pronger!