haroldsnepsts

So because of this one instance where the shootout might keep a team from playing the trap, it's a good solution?? Even in that situation, I still prefer that the Isles actually have to win a game in a legitimate contest, rather than potentially get into the playoffs based on an illegitimate win from a shootout. They put themselves in that position by not winning enough games during the regular season. And like I said, I'd rather the NHL lose the shootout, switch to a 10 minute 4-on-4 OT, no points for the loser under any circumstances. As far as I know, the NHL has the proud distinction of being the only pro sport to award a team points for losing.

I think this line was just too good in the regular season (I realize playoffs are a whole new deal) to not start together. Hopefullly they'll play as great as they were, and you force Calgary to adjust, instead of changing your game plan to fit Calgary from the get go.

No limit OT in the regular season is impractical. The season is long enough without having one game drag on like that. I don't follow the logic here: Somehow the possibility of a tie will inevitably lead to a team playing 5 minutes of trap hockey? Yet the possibility of a shootout won't? With a tie, the most you're getting is a point if you just sit back and trap, trying to survive OT. Under the current shootout and points system, it seems to me that a team would be more likely to play trap hockey. They've already got the one point just by making it into overtime, but if they can hang on through OT then they've got a chance at that second point in the shootout. Edited for typos.

Shootouts are a joke. With the new rules and a 4 on 4 OT, there likely wouldn't be that many ties. An 82 game season can handle a few. And it at least is a legitimate way to award points. I'd rather no shootouts. 10 minute 4 on 4 OT. 2 points to the winner. None for the loser under any circumstances. A point each for a tie. apparently though I'm in the minority. people seem to prefer the spectacle and declaring a "winner," even if it's by arbitrary means.

or maybe he was just making a joke.

oh my god. people think Dom is good? I'm shocked. One thing I take exception with in that article is the supposed litany of excuses they say Cujo offered. I don't remember him saying anything Legace-like after their losses. He had a .917 save percentage in those four games in 2003. That should've been good enough to keep from getting swept. It was good enough in the first round of 2002. And when he replaced Legace the next year, he had a 1.39 GAA and .939 SV %.

He definitely does. And to be clear, I like Datsyuk. Even though I don't like this 7 year deal, I hope like hell he lights it up this playoffs.

you had to know this was coming. Lang 2005 6 gp 3 G, 3 A 2004 12 gp, 4 G, 5A 2003 6 gp, 2 G, 1A Datsyuk 2005 5 gp, 0 G, 3A 2004 12 gp, 0 G, 6A 2003 4 gp, 0 G, 0 A Obviously Pavel's been great in the regular season this year, but Lang's 50 pts and +10 isn't exactly terrible. And he isn't here to check people. No one in the Wings organization could've seriously expected Lang to be a hitter. Whenever people explain away Datsyuk's playoff no-shows, they often talk about how the whole team sucked or how he needed better linemates. Lang peformed in spite of those same conditions. He gets way more grief around here than he deserves.

awesome. That's so much better than a picture of hiim turtling. I like how the last game on NBC, I think it was Ferraro praising Lilja saying "I didn't even know the guy fought!" but liked how he was sticking up for his teammates and took on a decent fighter. Maybe someone pointed out to him that he's 6'3" 230 lbs and could beat the hell out of a lot of smaller guys once he learned a few things about fighting.

That's not a sentence I ever expected to read after a game. Lilja's been dropping the gloves a few times now. I may have to start liking the guy if he keeps it up. Especially if he starts winning some scraps.

ahh yes. the standard "you think you know better than management" response. So you've never questioned any move the Wings have made? If they had traded Datsyuk, would you have sat quietly and thought, "well, they must know what they're doing, so I won't comment" And I guess it depends on your definition of elite. There's no question Dats is currently at the top end of the league. I just think of elite as the top 3 or so guys at each position that you'd love to have on the team. I could come up with three other centers easy, and even top 5. Like I said, depends on what you consider elite. But I'm tired of the denial of Datsyuk's playoff problem. Hopefully he will bust out of it in a big way this season, but there's no denying that he has been well below expectations the last several years. EDIT: and as I made clear in my initial post, I think a seven year deal is a bad signing for almost ANY player, except maybe young supertalents like Crosby and Ovechkin. edited for spelling

I'd just kick em off your board. There's a good chance they've already been booted off this one. I know if Matt finds anyone from here trolling on another team's boards, he'll suspend if not ban them from LGW.com.

and a workhorse. His winning percentage is lower because they start him so damn much. Even though he's proven himself to be pretty durable, I still think New Jersey should rest him more before the playoffs.

If everyone were going around saying Brodeur was the greatest goaltender ever, then the whining about being overrated might be justified. But he is easily one of the greatest goaltenders of this era.

thanks for clearing that up for me. And I like your deal a lot better. If Dats is still performs that well four years from now to warrant more money, that's a good problem to have. I just don't see how anyone other than the most blinded Datsyuk lover's could think 7 years is a good idea under the cap, especially for a 28 year old player. Like I said originally, unless their name is Crosby or Ovechkin, it doesn't make sense. Dats is crazy talented, but few people outside of Detroit would consider him among the league's elite.

Agreed. My post was just referring to the guy saying if he doesn't perform we'll just trade him. That won't happen. No one will want him with that contract chained to his ankle.

That's just it. If Datsyuk doesn't perform, the Wings are still stuck with him. No one will want to pick up a contract of an underperforming player for that much money for that length of time. no one signs 7 year deals because they shouldn't. from a management side, it's just too long to commit that much money against the cap.

Better? (see sig) We signed Crosby?!

Two things. 1) Not liking this contract does not automatically make someone a Datsyuk hater. 2) I hope you're right.

so even with your adjustment, we're talking about an $800,000 difference. That still puts them up in the same universe. Like I said, I'm guessing it's structured where he's not gonna be making 6.7 million next season, but that's still the hit against the cap. Overall, this is just too long a deal in my book.

The would still have to pay to bring in a D-man to replace Kronwall. If he were ever healthy enough to play to his potential, he would be a bargain considering the premium defenseman seem to go for. So that's bad news in terms of the cap next year. They'll take big cap hits for Lids and Datsyuk. It will definitely effect re-signing Bert if they choose too. And as I mentioned, then there's the goaltending situation. I'm not sure Hasek is good for another year. So we're looking at Ozzy as the starter unless they go out and bring in someone new, and I don't see how they have the money for that. The clearest representation to me of this deal is that Datsyuk is now making the same money as Luongo. And he's just not the MVP of the team the way Luongo is.

that's what I thought. But when I look at stuff on nhlnumbers.com, I can never quite figure out how they arrive at the actual cap hit for some of these guys. It doesn't always seem to be the average salary. this damn cba requires too much thinking.

maybe you blocked it out. He played four games and recorded no goals and no assists and was -3. and you forgot a year. The year after that he averaged a half an assist a game over 12 games, and no goals. And he was perfectly healthy. Last year was when he was hurt. He had 3 assists in 5 games and 0 goals. That was his fourth time in the postseason. This will be his fifth.

I wonder how the deal is structured (I'm guessing it's not 6.7 million next year), because if Jimmy Howard doesn't work out, the Wings are gonna have to find themselves a starting goaltender. Plus Lidstrom's salary, plus if they try to keep Bert. That's a big chunk of change for the next few seasons. Plus the long term deal they have with Kronwall, who has continued to have untimely injuries and may need to be replaced. I'm hoping the bulk of it is pushed towards the back end.

I would be a little surprised if the Wings kept Lang, but it never ceases to amaze me how much grief the guy gets around here when he has done nothing but deliver in the playoffs, when a lot of the other big names on the Wings didn't.