haroldsnepsts

I had heard he'd been doing well lately. It wasn't so much a knock on his play of late, just that in general the last couple years he hasn't seemed like the Fedorov I know. And honestly, though they're tied in points, I guess I expect more from Sergei than either Z or Dats. He's a more talented player than those two.

I'd be excited for anything that gets him out of Columbus, in hopes he can start to look like his old self again. I saw the Ducks-Sharks game this weekend. holy cow. BOTH those teams scare me. Great game though, it felt like a playoff game it was so intense.

Well, I think you're in the minority Barnes. Many people were pissed about the lack of response, but even angrier about Drake's cheapshot in the first place. I full agree we need a guy like Tucker, I just can't get excited about seeing Darcy Tucker wearing the winged wheel.

I find it a little funny that everyone was up in arms about Drake's hit the other night, but are falling all over themselves to bring in Tucker. Several times in his career, Tucker has thrown the exact kind of hit Drake leveled Lebda with. Like I said, I like a lot of Tucker's qualities, but I'd prefer a guy without the history of cheapshots (charges, elbows, knee on knee hits, hitting a guy with his helmet during a fight).

I think we do need a player like Darcy Tucker. I'd just rather it be someone that's less of a cheapshot artist. I did hate Chelios before he played in Detroit, but I thought he was a great defenseman and respectable player. Tucker... not so much on the respect...

Yes, I definitely do get your drift. though I can also see the side of people who would love to have Fedorov back here, even if it goes against all reason and is mostly based on being a fan of his. Like I said your points are all valid. But you came out of the gate surprisingly angry on this one. It was bound to make people dig their heels in more and fight back.

Here's some unsolicited advice for you Gordie. Your valid points get lost in your angry tone, profanity, and unprovoked mocking. Can't you state your case without coming off as such a d*ck? And to try and be on topic, as I said before, I'd love to have Feds back in Detroit. Maybe he could get his game back together and it would be nice for him to finish his career here. But I realize the Wings aren't a farewell tour for aging veterans (at least they shouldn't be anymore) and acquiring him just doesn't make sense for this team right now.

This is the longest 24 hours I've ever seen! It's almost as if *gasp* 99% of these rumors turn out not to be true!

Honestly I have a soft spot for Fedorov and a part of me would love for him to come back to Detroit and retire here. But realistically he's got a $6 million salary, and good as he can be (though he hasn't been himself since he left) another center is not exactly one of Detroit's pressing needs right now. Zetterberg is the new Fedorov. I haven't seen enough of Nagy to have a strong opinion of him.

The Tigers should enjoy this support while it lasts, cuz next year if they don't win it all, Detroit fans will be calling for Leyland's head, and screaming how they blew it by not trading for Jeter, A Rod, and Damon.

ESPN's Gamecast is pretty amazing. I know more about what's going on than if I were there!

Go Tigers!!! (jumping on the bandwagon) actually, I'm not really a baseball fan but it's still nice to see them doing well after soooooo many years of losing.

Perhaps you should take a look at Lang's playoff stats compared to his teammates the last couple seasons.

The difference being that Howard is 22 years old and just played his first year of professional hockey. Manny had several years in the minors before he ever started an NHL game. Howard's got to get used to playing so many games in a season and adjust to the speed and skill at this level, but this kid is Detroit's best shot at a franchise goaltender. and Cam Wards are the exception to goalie development, not the standard. Plus he could still burn out or fall apart next season. you never know with young goaltenders.

Honestly as I get older, I could take it or leave it. My fear would be if they eliminated it, then all the cheapshot artists would have free reign, and the game would get uglier. Growing up I loved watching Probert or Kocur destroy someone in a fight. Now it's not really that big a deal. Occasionally I want someone on the Wings to pummel a player in response to a cheapshot, but that's about it. As for it being motivational when your team is losing, I put less stock in that than I used to. I think it's a myth. having your heavyweight beat the tar out of someone may vent some frustration for the losing team, but I don't think it really builds any momentum that translates to the game. Like with Calgary a couple seasons back, watching Iginla try and goad someone into a fight every single time Calgary was going to lose just seemed sort of pathetic and desparate. And I like Iginla. But I do take issue with people who claim hockey is a thug sport because of fighting. Having two guys try and duke it out while standing on skates seems a lot more fair than rocketing a 90 mph fastball in a guy's ear because the other pitcher hit one of your players.

Considering how many times you've claimed I argue with you just for the sake of arguing, I find it a little funny that you felt the need to jump in to a conversation that didn't involve you just to say you felt he had made his point. Chiming in with something even remotely related to the topic is what most are here for. But jumping in to say you think someone has made their point, not so much. If you feel like arguing or complaining or whatever, PM me. Our lovers quarrels have already derailed too many threads as it is. (Edited for clarity)

No. I'd still like the guy because of his size and abilities. But for me it's definitely the clutch playoff performance that puts him over the top.

Really? I'm not disagreeing, I'm just not sure. I'd think Marleau's qualities would bring him Datsyuk-like money when he re-signs. And Dats' stock may be falling if he doesn't put up some postseason numbers. Honestly I'm probably more willing to do this trade because it's purely fictional. I can't imagine this trade ever happening. I'd love to have a guy like Marleau on the team and would give up a considerable amount to get him, but it is always easier to gamble with play money. Agreed. But I'd be more than willing to trade some regular season goals, even if it means a lower playoff seed, if it means we'd get more postseason goals. And Marleau has been terrific there. [ like I said, I just don't put much weight on comparing plus minuses of players, even with some context. When Dats was -2, one of the only players that were negative on the team, did that mean he's a bad defensive player? No. but having a guy like hull on his wing, and even the way he played when he was with Hull apparently did something to affect his +/-. I just put much more stock in seeing a guy play over the season than in +/-. I was referring to you saying that it was only here at LGW where people think Marleau is better than Dats. NNick's link shows it's a more widespread opinon, that's all.

Datsyuk had the honor of being one of the only Red Wings with a negative +/- when he was on a line with Hull (who was the other player sharing that honor). Plus/minus doesn't make a strong argument for me when comparing two players on two different teams. I can't say for sure he's better defensively than Dats. At most it's a wash. Shooting % I could care less about, as long as the puck ends up in the net. In my opinion, Dats doesn't take nearly as many shots as he should. How do you define playmaking exactly? If it's the same as passing, then I'd give it to Dats. If it's purely making things happen and driving the offense, then it's up for grabs. Age is a wash. do you have stats on the faceoff percentage? I can never find that info when I look for it, so I have no idea how they match up. Dats used to be pretty bad, but has definitely improved the last couple seasons. You skipped overall playoff goals. That is such a massive massive difference between the two. Marleau had 9 goals in 11 games last season. 17 playoff goals in 28 games over the last four years, 2 of which they weren't in the playoffs. I don't think I need to list Dats' playoff performance over the same time period. Marleau is clutch. That means a ton in my opinion. Check out NNick's link. Seems I was right about the league wide opinion of the two. It's actually more skewed towards Marleau than I expected. Dats is the more talented player, but I'll take the guy who does more with less. As for the straight up trade and potential fleecing, the reasons like Marleau being a better fit for us and the Wings needing size are exactly the same reasons why it would take more than a straight up trade to get him. We need a player like Marleau more than they need one like Datsyuk. then why chime in on a post that wasn't directed at you? Gordie is more than knowledgeable enough to speak for himself. (and I was working on my post when he put his up. He answered the question while I was asking it)

If you think Dats is hands down the better player, why would you be okay trading with him for Marleau? what categories do you think he owns Marleau in? Passing. Fancy dekes. What else? Datsyuk is not an elite player either. He's got amazing moves and great regular season scoring, but that big donut in the playoff goals keeps him from being considered close to elite in my book. I can't really think of a time where he's strapped the team on his back and taken control of a game. If you had set your threshold 8 points higher at 68 instead of 60, Dats has only done it once in his career too. They've both clearly benefitted from the new NHL. I don't think the gap in scoring is as large as you're making it out to be. Dats has had 87, 68, 51, and 35 points the last 4 seasons to Marleau's 86, 57, 57, 44. He's actually got more points than Dats over the same time period. And I don't put much stock in comparing a player's plus/minus between teams. I don't think it's particularly telling as there are so many other variables involved. So you take similar regular season production, Marleau's better speed, MUCH better size, MUCH better playoff performance, and seemingly better defensively. Then consider how desperately the Wings need more size up front, and it makes sense to want Marleau. And honestly if you put the question up around the league as to who's a better player, I don't think it's only the people here on LGW that think Marleau would be better. Not to mention we're not just talking about them as players, it's also their contract situations.

Exactly. Federer is an amazing player and likeable guy, but it's getting old watching him destroy the rest of the top players on a regular basis.

A lot of the men definitely grunt, but what Sharpova does is nowhere near that. A higher pitch grunt I could handle. She literally yells during a lot of points. Enough so that it echoes. The thing is, as one of the commentators mentioned (can't remember which one. It wasn't Mac), screaming isn't really a good technique for hitting harder. Maybe mentally it gives them some confidence or boost or something, but physically he pointed out that it causes them to tense up while screaming, when they need to be relaxed and fluid as they strike the ball. Grunting, gasping and even the occasional yell I can handle. But screaming on practically every point is ridiculous.

agreed. It started some years back with Seles, then there's the Williams sisters, but Sharapova has taken it to new levels of ridiculousness. I'm sure I'm missing a few other culprits, but man it's annoying to watch a match like that. Imagine if the men yelled like that every time they hit the ball. It would be intolerable to watch. ugh.

Man, another guy I grew up watching has retired. I must be getting old. Agassi will be missed on the tour. Sampras was the more dominant player, but not nearly as entertaining to watch.

I know cycling is virtually non-existent as a sport in the U.S., but I thought some people might like to know that American cyclist Floyd Landis is about to win the Tour de France. Though there is technically one more stage, it's really just a victory lap. Maybe a couple of you accidentally flipped to OLN looking for hockey and saw part of the race. Landis rode well through most of the Tour, then had a terrible day in the mountains and everyone pretty much thought his chances at winning were over. The next day he went on an epic solo breakaway and put himself back in position to win it, which he did today in the Time Trial. He'll be only the third American to ever win the Tour (Armstrong and Lemond being the other two). So the French may be rid of Lance, but an American once again wins their race. Gotta love it. http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/tdf2006/colu...tory?id=2525361 http://www.velonews.com/