Heaton

Fleischmann is barely a 3rd liner when the Caps are healthy, he's an enigma over there. Caps fans are NOT happy with his development and many are calling him a bust already. Mike Green is a good player, but in hindsight it was still a decent trade. Have to give up good assets to get the leagues leading scorer at the time.

You keep associating waivers with being demoted, he's staying with the team, placing him on waivers just gives the team more roster flexibility. If Chelios and Lebda both go out in the same game, we'd have to waive Downey regardless to bring up another defensemen. Get used to this happening until a trade is made.

Kopecky would be claimed, Downey won't. If Florida was really this hard up for a tough guy they'd sign Oliwa or a few other dozen marginal heavyweights in the AHL. Downey has virtually no risk of being claimed.

I'm assuming he'll continue to go through waivers a number of times this year.

It was hurting more than it was helping.

What cable provider?

Because he's trying to get Tootoo to stop negatively contributing to the team by taking stupid penalties.

Trotz isn't allowing Tootoo to fight.

He also causes more problems than he's worth, every GM has called him a detriment to the team.

Holland did take a good long look and he signed him to a 5 year contract. Kronwall has had injuries in the past, but he's worth the risk, espcially at 3m a year for what he brings when he plays. If Holland had any intention of trading him, now or in the future he wouldn't have signed him to a 5 year deal. It's a complete overreaction.

I highly doubt it was sarcasm, Schneider really didn't like Babcock. It's no coincidence though, Schneider has made enemies on every team he's been on.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=221972&hubname= 7 years 49m. 7m per.

It could work, but the risk is that if Filppula or Hudler blow up in the next year or so we'd have to let one of them go. Or well, Filppula would probably have to be involved. Kronwall, Filppula, 1st, 2nd + another prospect I'm guessing and a conditional if Hossa re-signs. Might be too steep.

Thanks Matt.

Mike Babcock hockey, he may not be creative, but he knows what it takes to win. If you want more creativity, go get Ron Wilson and spend the rest of the season with a GPS trying to locate your heart. This is why Holland brought him in, not to take anything away from the players without them this system doesn't work, but this is what it's all about.

He played better because he had to earn his icetime and fighting was just part of it.

Me neither, Lilja has looked very well lately, I think some people forget that he only makes 1m/yr, you have to take that into account. Samuelsson has been playing great as well, 8pts in 9 games.

It does matter, a lot. The more shots you take is an indicator of how much you are in the offensive zone as opposed to the defensive zone. So far this year the Wings have basically camped out in the opponents zone for long stretches during the game and in turn it wears the other team out and suffocates them ot death. The problem in years past like against Anaheim in 2004 and Edmonton in 2006 is the Wings defense wasn't nearly as stingy as it has been since Babcock put his stamp on the team. If this were 2004, then sure, big shot totals don't mean much if there's defensive breakdowns. But this year? When you're throwing 40 shots and only giving up 15? Yeah, it's really impressive.

Kronwall has minor groin injury; Meech to make season debut by Ansar Khan Sunday October 28, 2007, 4:10 PM Update from the morning skate in Vancouver: Niklas Kronwall has a sore groin and won't play tonight against the Canucks, but it's nothing significant, coach Mike Babcock said. Babcock said Kronwall would have been able to play had it been a playoff game and he'll likely practice Monday and play Tuesday in Edmonton. He'll be replaced by Derek Meech, who'll make his season debut. Meech will be paired with Chris Chelios. Brett Lebda will replace Kronwall as Andreas Lilja's partner. Other than that, the lineup remains the same from Friday's game. Dallas Drake has been cleared to play but, for now, has slipped below Matt Ellis and Aaron Downey in the pecking order. Johan Franzen (sprained knee) said he will be ready to play Tuesday. If so, the Wings will need to clear a roster spot. They can put Dominik Hasek on injured reserve, retroactive to last Wednesday, or they can send Jimmy Howard back to Grand Rapids, if Hasek is ready to go. Chances are, Hasek (irritated hip) won't be ready for Tuesday, since he didn't skate on Sunday. There's no need to rush him back and they'll surely want to have him practice a couple of times before he plays.

Not sure why, the past 4 or 5 games Kopecky and Lilja have been stellar.

But Drake provides the ability to take regular shifts. If this were the playoffs, would you want Downey out there getting 4 minutes a game? Or Drake out there getting 8-10 minutes? I have no problem with Downey playing, I have no problem with Drake playing, I don't think it's a major issue if either play.

Big game experience, better skating, better defensively, can play the penalty kill, can get it on the forecheck. Look, I like what Downey is doing and I was one of the first to say without the fights Drake wouldn't be nearly as endeared but the fact remains that Drake has always been an everyday player, Downey isn't. Drake wasn't put in the lineup to fight anyway.

Downey isn't an every day player and while Drake hasn't been awesome in his games he can play in more situations. Downey will still get games in but don't expect him in the lineup the rest of the way.

That's what happens when you completely dominant a team who has no passion at all.

There's the youtube.