haroldsnepsts

I wouldn't mind Tkachuk as a playoff rental. A big body who scores goals and has a nasty streak. And without the chronic injuries that Forsberg and Bert have. works for me.

Definitely. Avery's just not the type of guy I would want around young players. In New York there's plenty of vets to help him keep his mouth shut.

Because back problems are a chronic injury, and he may not set foot on the ice before the deadline. He's gonna be a playoff rental, so it'd be nice to know exactly what you're renting.

Hate to say it, but Cloutier's injury is one of the better things that could've happened to the Kings. In the 8 games Burke has played for the Kings, he's posted a .932 sv % and a 2.17 GAA. Those numbers probably won't hold for the rest of the season, but they beat the hell out of what was happening with Cloutier in net. Getting rid of Avery couldn't have hurt the lockerroom either.

I think part of the Wings problems all those seasons was their inability to control the corners, cycle the puck and go hard to the net. Teams sat back, clogged the center lanes, and forced the Wings to take shots from the periimeter. A physical winger who can win those battles in the corner and crash the net (read: grit) will definitely help Detroit in the playoffs.

Manny is a good fit for St. Louis right now. Manny stinks in the playoffs, but luckily for him the Blues won't make it there. So he can keep up the illusion of being a competent starter, up until you guys do get back to the postseason. Then the dream is over. Enjoy!

Exactly. It doesn't matter how cheap he comes back for. It's taking ice time away from younger guys who could fill the same role for just as cheap, and hopefully develop into even better players.

I hope not. I loved DMac when he was here, but he's just not that same player anymore. Chronic back problems, now add to that chronic groin problems. We can't bring back everyone former Red Wings player for a reunion tour just because the fans love them. At least not if we want to win a Cup.

And yet Bettman comes out and says stupid sh*t in the press how no one has an idea for a schedule they like better, when every one who loves hockey everywhere is pretty much in agreement that even going back to the old schedule would be an improvement. He's either in denial, or doesn't give hockey fans of a lot of credit as being intelligent enough to know he's lying. It's the same garbage he said with all the clutching and grabbing pre-lockout. Complaints started growing from the players, from fans, from sporstwriters, but Bettman would stand there and basically say "everyone loves the game. we don't need to change anything." then suddenly with the lockout, Shanny and some other people get the leverage to make positive changes to reduce the ugly state of the game in the NHL. And Bettman does take a lot of grief, but he is commisioner of the NHL. He more than anyone is responsible for the current state of the league.

He doesn't play a terribly physical game for a defenseman, and he's a workhorse. I could see him playing for several more years if he wants.

Can you show me in the excerpt where he claims Shanny doesn't have penalties called on him because he would one day be their boss? He asserts that's why Shanahan wasn't fined for criticizing the refs in the press. He doesn't say anything about non-calls for that reason. And obviously I was referring to the part about Shanny going to New York to better position himself for a potential career with NHL higher-ups. The writer makes it sound like he's sitting on some big secret that he can't reveal now about Shanahan's future. Everyone already talked about that angle when Shanny decided on the Rangers. It's not exactly a secret.

I don't know about that, but he is correct in that this isn't exactly new news. People were speculating that before Shanny even finalized his decision.

then Detroit should retire his jersey.

Considering Kocur will be playing, you probably wouldn't even get hand on Holland's sweater before you were choking on the scar tissue from Joe's right hand.

Just more proof that Eklund is an idiot. If Bettman really was a good commish and knew the new schedule format sucked, he would've been able to convince one more owner to vote for changing it. that's all he needed. That he was unable to shows he is either incapable or unwilling to do so, even though it ultimately would be best for the league. He lets a handful of cheap owners have way too much influence. As for blaming the players for the cap, again, Eklund is an idiot. 80% of the players love this system because they make more? What kind of new math is that? And last time I checked it was the owners who were the ones paying players, not the agents. The inability of the owners to run their franchises is what led to the lockout. Goodenow certainly deserves a fair share of the blame for losing a season, he underestimated Bettman and the owner's resolve and overestimated that of the players, but Bettman also deserves half the blame. Had he started with a less combative tone and had any diplomatic skills at all, the season likely could've been saved. And let's remember two things. Bettman was the one who set up the last CBA that was so awful. And the owners all agreed to that one. It was his failed economic vision that put the league in such dire straits. yes revenue went up, but television ratings (which are a major revenue source for pro sports) went in the toilet under his tenure. He's taken hockey at what might've been the height of it's popularity in the U.S., and turned it into a fringe sport. Bettman needs to have a vision of what's best for the league and convince the often short-sighted cheap ass owners to comply, because what's best for the league often will make it more profitable, which will be good for the owners as well. Instead we get to play Columbus every other day. And half the country never gets to see Crosby or AO play in their town.

so funny to see those old clips of Chelios going after Yzerman. Man I hated that guy with a passion when he played for the Blackhawks.

don't say that name. It still brings up too many painful memories...

I know you never said it, I was being facetious. My point is that it didn't seem any more defensive minded than the Wings have been trying to play all year, no matter who is in net. And I'd hope they're trying hard to get the win anyway. If they need Joey's record as an incentive to win, we've got a problem.

So when Dom is in net, the forwards coming back is responsible defensive play, but when Mac is in net, that's babying him??

Stock Answer #264: Niklas Kronwall I know it seems like he's been on the Wings for a while now, but Kronwall has played a total of 93 games at the NHL level, spread over four years. Assuming he stays healthy (knock on wood) this will be his first full season in the league. Give him a chance to develop his game and his consistency a little. Clearly the Wings management believes in him. As for "Little Nik" I think it's because he's a younger shorter Niklas, not because people think he's gonna be the next Lidstrom. He may turn into a great defenseman, but the two already play different styles.

I see your point, and I'm definitely happy Stevie is involved. But: 1) People here predict the Wings would suck every year. Holland has done a good job keeping that from happening, except come playoff time. 2) I don't think Holland would ignore Yzerman's wishes, but I'm not certain exactly how involved Stevie is yet, and in what capacity. His opinion right now is one of many to Holland, not the final say.

Busted again!!! Like I said previously, he just likes to make ridiculous discussions for the sake of making them. It's not even to make a point. EDIT: Someone registered on the Leaf's site should spread the word of what's going on here.

Well Manny's always had a screw loose, maybe Homer knocked it completely free. and thanks for the recap y'all.

To keep me from having to wade through 20+ pages of the GDT, can someone tell me how the Ferret had 10 saves and got third star of the game, with Sanford getting 13? who started? did one of them get hurt or something?

Yeah, he called it very early on that WingsFan2007 was actually Rimouski. And predicted the impending pointless thread that comes with it. NNick is all knowing.