haroldsnepsts

Am I the only one who wouldn't mind having Jackman on the Wings?

Off topic, but here's another good one. Wings Toronto in '86 The Leafs school the Wings on this one, but you gotta love Gallant dropping the gloves right on the opening faceoff. My boy Harold mucking it up. Norwood getting into it. A young Joey Kocur scrapping. Man I miss that rivalry.

No score predictions, but I hope they light up Legace. It'd be nice to hear one of those whiny soundbites from him when he's on the other team.

Sadly, I agree with you Hank. Of the games I've watched this season (mostly Red Wings and a few others) I have to say, I found a lot of them kinda... boring. I couldn't tell really if I was just losing interest in hockey or if the game really has become a dull trap fest. I'm afraid it's the latter. I think on googlevideo or maybe youtube you can watch some games from the 80s. They're nothing like the game today. The new rules have at least cut down on the clutch and grab, but I haven't seen many games that were as wide open as they were then. Wings @ Flyers in 1985 (look for a very young Stevie Y) This isn't necessarily a spectacular game, but I can't believe how much room there is out there. (plus it showed the Red Wings from a time that I think a lot of people here haven't seen)

Exactly. I checked the rulebook on goaltender pad size a while back, and the perimeter of catching glove can be 48 inches around. Basically if you took a tape measure and held it at the wristpad, then ran it around the outside seam of the glove all the way back to the starting point, that can be friggin 4 feet in length. That's ridiculous. that's a good point about the pants too. If you see a goalie with just his hockey pants on, he looks like one of those old cartoons where a guy is wearing just an old barrel being held up by suspenders.

There's no HOF talk for Cam Ward because he's 23. I think there's still hope for him yet before we call him the next Jim Carey.

Following your reasoning of contracting the league, wouldn't the defensive pairings get better too? No more Lillypads out on the ice....

why are so many people so confident that Crosby wouldn't want to stay here for his career? This is all fictional anyways, but I don't get whey people are so certain he wouldn't stay. Detroit is an original six team, finishes at or near the top of their conference year after year, is a Cup contender, and Crosby grew up idolizing Steve Yzerman. Crosby is 20 years old. How good of a two way player do you think Z was seven years ago?

Bigger nets is a bad idea that needs to die. As I've said before, they better crack down on goalie equipment before they come anywhere near net size. Not just the Michelin man chest and arm protectors like Luongo and Giguere. They could reduce the size of the ridiculously oversized catching glove, and even the blockpad a little. Most of that isn't protective, it just covers more of the net. And goalies talking about needing the padding to protect themselves is b.s. The pads have gotten much better over the years. They can reduce the size and still be safe. Funny how they need the giant chest arm and leg protection to be safe, yet many go without any throat protection because it bothers them. I'd also rather they increase the size of the rinks. Not olympic size, but with the players getting so much bigger and faster over the years, there's a lot less room out there. This is even less likely to happen than the goalie equipment, unfortunately, as it requires owners thinking about what's good for the sport long term and giving up some seats in the arena.

That was my favorite part of his post. You spelled out all these questions, then in his post he puts questions up in bold as if they were what you asked, then refutes them. Except you never even said those things. So he's just making up stuff to argue against, or doesn't take time to actually read and comprehend posts before answering them. Gordie: "Is Zetterberg a better winger than Datsyuk? Yes." 134096: "Is Zetterberg better on wing? No." Gordie: "Datsyuk is a better natural centerman and Zetterberg is a better natural winger... Babs should move Dats back to center and Z to the wing." 134096: "since you think Z is the best player in the league he is obviously carrying Datsyuk and Holmstrom.. blah blah.. since Wings fans specifically are the end all of hockey knowledge, at what moment did Z pass Lidstrom as the best in the league." It's like the telephone game in this thread.

Draper as usual is dominating faceoffs, but yeah, Z is getting killed. He's won 3 and lost 8.

Unfortunately, you're right. But I think Osgood has played fine, Kopecky is showing promise but still has plenty of work to do on his game, and basically this game has shown that if our top line gets shut down, the Wings have a hard time scoring. (That's in no way a knock on Dats)

no kidding. I'm afraid the Wings will mount a comeback in the 3rd, only to have Lang kill us again with the game winner.

give me a f-ing break. will you ever stfu about Hasek? He's not even playing tonight. Poor old persecuted Dom. On topic, how the hell do the Hawks have our number this year? They're definitely not the Chicago team of years past (read:crap), but man oh man, what is going on? I guess there's some silver lining in that it should stoke the fires of that old rivalry. And way to go Kopecky mucking it up.

Good for JR! I'm glad he's got a new attitude and will end his career on a more positive note. I was afraid he was going to wash out of the league last season.

there's no point Gordie. Though I personally didn't really agree with your original point, I still think it's a valid topic worth discussion. But dare to say anything other than hyperbolic praise for certain players here (Dats and Hasek top the list) and people go apes***, ranting against non-existent insults and slights of their favorite player. You'd think when you started this thread by saying how great Datsyuk was playing, that might prevent some of these idiots from whining about people picking on Datsyuk, but alas it's not enough, because they would have to actually read your post before spouting off for that to work. As I said in another thread, I thought this is a hockey discussion forum, not a player worship forum. It's been f-ing ridiculous here lately. EDIT: this isn't really directed at you nkuehnl because I haven't been following your argument, but a couple other people who invented arguments in this thread.

So lets's see, I'm the one who resorted to namecalling? Try rereading your first crazy ass post. You basically accused everyone on this site of worshipping Zetterberg and saying Datsyuk was a bust. Now skim through this thread again and show me where someone said anything close to Datsyuk being a bust. Almost everyone in the thread was saying Datsyuk was doing great and there's no need ot change anything. Yet you flipped out. Now you're accusing me of bashing Datsyuk during contract negotiations. Wtf do their contracts have to do with this? You've seriously got such a weird chip on your shoulder about Datsyuk. I can't believe you can't see it. Your first post had almost nothing to do with the topic of this thread. Neither do their contracts. since then you've managed to make a reasoned, on topic, informed response. Not so hard, is it? Go back and read your first post. It was a massive off topic rant. I'm not high and mighty. I'm just sick of people flying off the handle if you say anything even remotely critical of Datsyuk or Hasek, or whoever else some members have an irrational love for. This is a hockey forum and Gordie brought up a relatively harmless point about switching Datsyuk back to center, and you and a couple other people go apes***. it's ridiculous. Some highlights of your rant: It's like you made up your own arguments to get pissed about.

topics do change over many posts. but its' not like his had evolved to that place. Aside from his many factual errors, he basically flipped out like people were bashing Dats, and they weren't. He was mostly ranting how Zetterberg is not the greatest in the league. Do I need to explain how that has little to do with Gordie's suggestion that Datsyuk be moved back to center and Z back to wing to get Dats scoring more goals?

True. I'm not saying it's fair. Just that's how it seems to be. I think Ozzy's generally been considered a good goaltender behind a great team.

actually, though I disagree with Gordie's point, I think it's a valid discussion. Then go ahead and explain it to me. Because I sure don't understand what he's saying that's relevant to the original post. Here's the post that started is all, for you chuckleheads that like to chime in without even bothering to concern yourself with the topic at hand. I've highlighted the most relevant portion, so you guys don't get tired sounding out all those big words. EDITED for grammar. not that it matters since no one actually reads the posts before mouthing off.

Do you have any reading comprehension skills at all? This thread has nothing to do with Zetterberg being the best player in the league. The original post was about moving Datsyuk back to his natural position at center in hope of increasing his goal production.

hey sport, I understand Datsyuk is your favorite player, but why don't you untwist your knickers and actually read what people are saying here, particularly the first post of the thread. I haven't seen anyone say anything close to Datsyuk being a bust. Gordie merely pointed out that his goal scoring is down, which is true, and made a suggestion that he thought might lead to Dats getting more goals. good lord man. It's just a discussion. no one is bashing Datsyuk here. It drives me nuts that you can't mention certain players here without people freaking out and jumping to their defense, even though there's nothing to defend.

that's a good point. It'll be strange because he's going to finish his career with at least one Stanley Cup as the starting goaltender and impressive numbers. But whether it is fair or not, Osgood isn't getting into the hall of fame. He's has never really had league wide respect as an elite goaltender.

oh, well if we're talking later in the season, then yes, I agree. I'd definitely be concerned and while I think Z is more dominant at center than he is at wing, it'd probably be worth moving him in the better interest of the team. The Wings are already struggling to get goals from anyone other than that top line, and if only two thirds of that line are finding the back of the net, it's an even bigger concern.

Someone asked this question to John Buccigross. Here's his answer, which I unfortunately have to agree with.