haroldsnepsts

He has good size, a strong shot, and on his off year is good for 50+ points. In spite of his work ethic, I think he'll find a home somewhere in the NHL. And in his 3 postseasons in Detroit, Lang has 9 goals and 23 points. 62 points in the regular season last year, and 52 this year. It's definitely time for him to go, but I think the bashing here is getting a little ridiculous.

Agreed. I didn't even know the center ice rule existed. It'll be a big change for all those times a guy is on a clean breakaway by his own blueline AND gets hauled down from behind. So maybe it'll happen once this season. Maybe.

My understanding of it is now you could get awarded a penalty shot if you're taken down past your own blueline, but before center ice. Previously (which I never knew) you had to be past the center ice redline headed towards the opposing goalie. It seems like sort of a moot point with how rarely they call penalty shots, no matter how in the clear a player was. I still don't see a ref being inclined to call a penalty shot on someone who's taken down by their own blueline.

I don't think it's necessarily a deal breaker, but I think there is a serious chemistry consideration to bringing Fedorov back into the fold. I like Sergei, but he's always been a little on the difficult side, and most of all I thought Babcock didn't have a good experience coaching him. (I'm not 100% on that though). Either way, he's expensive. He's old. He's become injury prone. And I don't think a skilled center is not the top of the Wings priority list right now.

me too. I wouldn't put him in my top five most hated though.

No real surprise there.

Agreed. And a new entry to the list. Tootoo

A 37 year old underperforming center (who's become injury prone) with a huge contract is just not very high on the Wings list of needs right now. I could see Kozzie coming back here way before Fedorov. Though I don't think that's necessarily the best move for the team either.

Seriously, they had it how many days between the Final game and their celebration, and they already managed to dent it??

It may be interesting for discussion, but contraction isn't going to happen. It's too expensive for the league to buy back a few franchises. I'm okay with holding steady at 30. Just improve the quality of the game.

I could see getting tired of the travel. Tired of being away from family. Tired of having the crap beat out of you from October to May. Some guys just don't have the hunger to play for as long as their bodies hold up, like Stevie and Cheli. Yeah, thinking there's other things in his life greater than hockey definitely makes him a *****. He's been playing probably since he could walk. you don't think he likes the game that much? I saw an interview with Rob Niedermayer where he talked about how he and Scott didn't really know each other. They didn't really grow up together because they were always various places playing hockey. So it was nice for them to be on the same team to get to know each other. How f*cked up is that, that two brothers less than a year apart in age don't even really know each other as well as they've known some of their teammates? A life in elite hockey takes it's toll. If he hangs 'em up, he's going out on top.

Lucidi is that you??!?!? *backing away slowly* I hope that's you showing a wry sense of humor. and let's be honest here folks, if the Wings had a team like the Ducks, this town would love them. Wings fans wouldn't stop watching because they weren't "classy." Bruise Brothers anyone? the Bad Boys? Detroit would worship a team like the Ducks. It's hard to admit it, but true. The only guy I truly hate on that team is Pronger. Hated him in St. Louis when he had no chance of winning the Cup, hated him in Edmonton, hate him even more after this season. For me he used to be the guy you love to hate, but would also love to have on your team. Now, not so much.

If he was traded to L.A., it's not like it would be a big move for his family, if at all. It'd be nice to see any respectable goaltender between the pipes for the Kings. You could tell they just had no confidence with Cloutier back there. I was referring to the fact that the Kings are stuck with him for two more years because of his contract. Not that they thought he was their number one guy. He's already more than proven there that he isn't.

A game like that would never happen with the current Wings because they just don't have that many guys who would drop the gloves. Also when a game gets out of hand like that, you can tell the players have zero respect for the refs working that game. they clearly lost control of it.

This Red Wings team just forged a new identity for itself in the playoffs this year. As much talent as Fedorov has, why mess that up by bringing back a player from the Cup years who has a considerable amount of baggage?

Is there any serious talk of Giguere going to L.A.? They're committed to Cloutier for two more miserable seasons at 3.1 mill. I still can't believe the Kings made that deal. They screwed that team for three years with that signing. The best they looked all last year was when Burke came out of retirement to play. And honestly I'd be surprised if Niedermayer retired. He's only 33. Still, he's done about all you can do. Won what, 4 Cups now? and the Conn Smythe? There's not a whole lot left to do other than try and win another one. and he knows how hard it is to do. It would definitely be going out on top. And a huge blow to the Ducks blueline.

No kidding. Now Buffalo being this bitter when Dallas won the Cup, I understand. But still being this pissed about losing to the Ducks, I don't get. It's disappointing, but the Wings had a great season overall.

I thought by now we could have some fun about the Ducks denting the Cup and make a few jokes, without it turning into a "They don't deserve the Cup" thread. I guess it's still too soon??

You're the one who seems fixated on the Kegel exercises, darlin. Now how about we talk about hockey?

I agree three teams may be too much for California. But getting rid of the Kings would be getting rid of the team with the strongest fan base. If the Kings could get their act together and perform like the Ducks. A lot of hockey fans would re-emerge in Southern California. People who've been watching a looong time.

I don't need him to worship the Wings. His gloating just wore a little thin on me. That's all. I didn't know my comment would become such a topic of conversations. And I've been accused of a lot of things, but having good taste has never been one of them. Kegel exercises? you better not be calling me what I think you're calling me.

I don't know what to tell you dude. I see a dent on the first small ring in all three photos which are taken from different distances and angles. And my intent wasn't for this to be a "That SoCal hockey team doesn't deserve the Cup!" thread. I had made a joke about Pronger elbowing it and denting the Cup in another thread, before I realized it actually had gotten dented. I guess I should've thrown a couple smiley faces in my initial post. I just thought it was funny, especially considering the speed with which they dented it. I would bet not too many players, if any, had their day with it at that point.

when you click on the photos, they should enlarge. The one of Scott Niedermayer holding it is probably the best one. It's on one of the smaller rings towards the top. I know. It's been at the bottom of pools, on jetskis, etc. But they didn't even make it to the celebration before they mangled it.

And just so no one thinks I retouched the photos. They're from the Duck's website.

The Kings should stay. They've been in the league for 40 years and have a pretty good fan base, the problem is they've been a disappointment for so long. Every year they're supposed to turn it around, it never quite happens. It's like saying the Wing should have lost a team in the early 80s. If the Kings start winning, the fans will be there.