haroldsnepsts

I disagree regarding Lidstrom. He was definitely one of the best defenseman of all time, which is why you're not going to be able to replace him with any one player. It requires examining the whole makeup of the team and in particular the blueline, and probably requires changing multiple parts, some even before Lids retired. Lidstrom eventually retiring was a pretty known event, plus or minus a couple years. To me, Holland participating in the ridiculousness that was the Suter sweepstakes is more of a sign that he didn't have a good plan post-Lidstrom rather than he had one and it didn't work out. If your transition plan hinges on landing one or two of the absolute most sought after free agents, you're in trouble. I can't think of another time he involved the team in a bidding war like that. Add to that Stuart's departure, which was also known event. Like I said overall Holland is a great GM, but this team is still dealing with the lack of an effective transition plan post-Lidstrom. He didn't get out front of it and ended up having to desperately chase free agents like many lesser GM's in the league.

Agreed. If they tossed him yesterday he probably doesn't get anything. Or at least a fine. It was a bad hit by Kronwall. It's hard for me to argue it wasn't. It's just infuriating given all the other crap that hasn't even warranted a review or suspension from the DoPS.

This feels like a cumulative suspension for his previous hits.

Even though he's toned it down the last few seasons, I think his history of these borderline types of hits are definitely a factor. There's likely a lot of people around the league still wanting him to get some sort of punishment for what he's done over the years. Setting aside any other hit or non-suspension and pretending the DoPS actually tries to protect players, this hit should get a game suspension. However, taking into consideration all the crap they've let go this playoffs, I think the Wings can be understandably pissed if Kronner ends up sitting a game for this.

I just wish I saw him play in Florida so I had some idea the kind of player he used to be. On paper it sure sounded good. As I've said many times before, I just don't understand how a guy who was a 2nd line center, and sometimes even a 1st, can be so easy to strip the puck from.

I just get a little frightened whenever anyone talks about Kindl being in the lineup. Plus I think some people have said the things you did and actually meant them. It makes Kindl even more frustrating to me because he can come in and is good at getting shots through from the point but is so bad at everything else it's still not worth the tradeoff.

Oh please. Even going with your heart at least try and be a little realistic in your predictions. Wings win 9-1.

Watch any team coached by Vigneault. That's where the Wings being the "best (or worst)" at it falls apart for me. They're somehow doing it more than anyone in the league, but consistently getting away with it enough to make it a sound strategy? How exactly are they pulling a fast one on all the refs in the league night after night?

Holland is a great GM overall. The team has done a tremendous job in developing players without having any early draft picks and he has an impressive track record. When it comes to free agent signings though Holland has made several uncharacteristically bad deals over the last few seasons. And has looked desperate in his attempts to bolster the blueline in Lidstrom's absence, which was also uncharacteristic of him. I think my biggest worry with Holland is that the handful of bad deals he's made are indicating a trend rather than exceptions.

Where he belongs. Kindl is not an NHL defenseman. I'd rather Marchenko or even XO play over Kindl. With Kindl in the lineup he typically plays such sheltered minutes that everyone else has to pick up the slack. And our defensive core isn't good enough for that. Especially without Kronwall. So Kindl may look ok, but if you played Quincey 16 minutes a game starting in the offensive zone whenever humanly possible, he'd look like Shea Weber. As for this hit, I have no idea if Kronwall will be suspended. He probably should be, but the league has passed on several incidents that were suspension worthy. He did that "exploding up" garbage I thought he had taken out of his game, and even a favorable description would be a forearm shiver or clothesline. Bottom line is it was a bad looking hit that involved head contact. And he went airborne to make the hit. It's part of the problem with his penchant for coming in backwards. It's hard to see where the guy your trying to hit is going and adjust.

Chiarelli keeping MacTavish around? http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/753553 Any role larger than running the alumni game seems like a mistake.

I'm by no stretch a Wild fan, but it is nice to see Backes and Jackman lose.

Nervous about your job Jon? Outcoaching someone is not cheating. You know a team is rattled when they're crying about something the other team is doing. The potential downside is that the refs may actual believe the crying.

Let's talk about the actual topic of the thread please. What he said. (Though if you're gonna do my job for me you should've also cited the forum rules, specifically the thread derailment portion. Also try to provide a link to the rules next time. I'll check in to see how you're doing while I'm on vacation)

Most goals are the result of multiple breakdowns. Helm definitely got beat but at some point Ericsson has to come over and help. And E was definitely a factor on Palat's goal as well, but wasn't that pretty much Datsyuk's man? Dats was skating back and looked like he didn't really pick anyone to cover. He goes over and challenges Palat, who is also being challenged by Ericsson and a backchecker ( I think Tatar?) so now there's three Wings players all within arms length of each other right at the blueline, then Datsyuk comes down the middle but doesn't shoulder check to see Palat cutting backdoor. Watching the replay, coverage looks like a complete mess.

Ducks should be thankful the league didn't suspend Byfuglien for his shove on Perry. He played like hot garbage through much of that series. The score is tied late in the second period of what's an elimination game for his team, and he abandons his coverage to try and make a hit on Perry, leaving Cogliano with all day to score. That is not how you win playoff games.

Honestly the lack of punishment is what pissed me off about that whole thing. Much more than the event itself. And as much as I hated Weber in that moment, I'd still take him on the Wings in a heartbeat.

I agree about the attempts. Injury should certainly factor in to the length of punishment but right now it plays way too big of a rule. If a guy is luckily enough not to get concussed (or if the symptoms of that concussion have not manifested themselves yet), that doesn't make the play that caused it less dangerous. It's why I think elbows and attempted elbows to the head should be punished severely. That's not a hockey play gone bad. It's a deliberate attempt at a headshot. I'm also surprised that the NHL doesn't have a more established support system for former hockey players. Most of these guys didn't go to college and even lived away from home as teenagers so they could play hockey. It's been the basis of their entire life. Whether you leave the game as a 27 year-old retiring due to concussions or a relatively healthy 40 year-old who just won the Stanley Cup, it has to be a massive adjustment.

I thought what you posted warranted it's own thread, so I split those posts out into their own thread here: http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/topic/77429-carcillo-speaks-out-on-montadors-death-and-mental-health-issues/

I hate the way he plays the game, but I have a lot of respect for Carcillo for doing that. EDIT: I thought this warranted it's own topic so I split the thread.

Why? I'd much rather Nashville advance and the Blackhawks go out in the first round. No dynasty talk that way. Agreed. I don't remember how it all shook out but I'm guessing that losing skid by Nashville put them in the position to face Chicago in the first round? Though I guess the new stupid playoff format also played a factor or they'd be facing the Wild in the first round.

The Wings win to go up in the series. Mrazek plays great and gets a shutout. Yet people are fixated on Howard?? I will never, ever understand the desperate need for goalie wars here.

Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun 12m 12 minutes ago Sens coach Dave Cameron confirms Zack Smith in for David Legwand. Says will give team more speed Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun 11m 11 minutes ago Cameron says he's not sure yet who will start in goal for Game 4. Will announce it tomorrow.

Ansar Khan ‏@AnsarKhanMLive 30m 30 minutes ago Babcock confirms Smith is in. Marchenko is out.

Stay on topic about the series or there will be suspensions.