Heroes of Hockeytown

Holland is pretty cool dude. There you are.

And sneaky teams like Tampa Bay use to their advantage... Dark, light, makes no difference.

Good ol' Chuck.

That's a pretty sweet pic of Calder. Just got done talking to Mick, he's been reading LGW lately and has decided that there is something going on with Bob. He imparts upon him this deep wisdom: "Look, Bob, just don't flapjack his scooby snack, okay? You can serenade the monkey 'til the crows steal the bagpipes, but that's not going to make Norenna any more convinced your march of dimes isn't soaking in its own dishwashing liquid, or the BJs that you're not buttering the pinetree. Shovel the walk and move on, 'kay babe, before you look like a goat going both ways at a school crossing." Well said, Mick. Well said.

First two rounds on FSN... I know CBC televises all Conference and Stanley Cup Finals games. I think VS and NBC will pick up the ones in the US.

Which one imagines would also be a concern from the Wings' end as well... No matter. It's not really up for discussion if we don't know what Lang's salary is going to be.

The hell is that?! That jackass owes you some cash money if that's how careless and stupid she is. :nonono:

Wings don't do sign and trades. And in the unlikely event that Lang is re-signed, I don't really see what Jersey's incentive would be to swap him for Gomez (straight up, anyhow).

I sort of agree. Bob has brought home the bacon in the playoffs and I agree that that's the most important thing, but seeing this guy float and fail to give an honest effort on nights is still a killer. This is impossible due to the deadline having passed, Lang being a UFA, and Gomez still having another year left on his deal.

Darryl Sittler. EDIT: Echo... echo... echo...

Yes... let me relate to you my tale of woe: I was talking to this reeeaaally cute girl in the lounge today, for maybe a half hour or so, we were hitting it off pretty well, and then I ******* turn and see it's time to go to class and say goodbye, I leave. Seriously, what kind of retard move is that? I picked class over that? Egads. I didn't get a phone number or anything. I've been regretting that ******* decision all day. Trivial stuff, really. But it was just sooooo stupid.

I tend to agree with your point, but this isn't really a good goal to use as an example. Most of the time if the puck misses the net and comes off the endboards to a forward standing on the other side, there's not much anyone can do. That's just plain bad luck.

What is this? What are you trying to do here?

Case by case basis is probably best way to look at it. Steve and Alex: Played their whole careers in Detroit, won lots of trophies, Cups, etc. Gordie: Played a million billion years in Detroit, won everything, retired due to injury concerns but came back when he found out he could have a surgery. He went on to play hockey with both of his sons in the WHA. Ted and Sid: Were on board for the 50's dynasty, but were traded. They were still Red Wings at heart, and both returned to Detroit once they had retired. Terry: Was a huge part of the 50's dynasty, was traded, re-acquired, lost, came back, and on and on. He was always a Wing. Nick: Has won everything, been apart of the Wings Cup wins, and looks to retire a Wing. Sergei: Won everything, been apart of the Cup wins, left via free agency. Brendan: The shortest tenured of all considered. Was the part of the Cup team that put them over the hump. Left via free agency. There, that's everyone. Shouldn't be tough to see why the last two are the ones most often left off.

Other Hasek related news: He's been awarded the NHL's third star of the week. Gratz, dude.

I'm the biggest ******* idiot I know.

Earlier in the year, I'd agree with you. I don't know what happened up in Alberta recently, but they've got those guys playing Flames hockey again and that's pretty scary. Their big thing this year was they couldn't win on the road, OK, until they pulled off three consecutive road wins, two against Minnesota and then beating the hell out of Vancouver on HNIC (I know you saw that one). Aggressive forecheck, rough and tumble style, great goaltending. Those have been Wings killer the last three years, and the Flames are the embodiment of that. They're only 12 points off of the Wings too, so it's not like they've played like crap all year, and they're just now hitting their stride (sound familiar?) So there's something to be afraid of if you ask me. Can the Wings beat those guys? Hell yes, they can. But saying that they only barely lost to them two seasons ago doesn't exactly inspire confidence; if we roll those guys (very good chance we will) it's going to be a close one, a nail-biter for sure.

Perhaps a very marginal impact. Relatively insignificant, in my view. Oh, how do you think he's done adjusting? There are far more factors at play than his "adjusting" to previous years' postseason shortcomings. I'd say it's got very little if anything to do with that at all. Every player is different. Marty St. Louis is a tiny guy but he's an old pro at performing in the playoffs. I kind of got away from my main point in all this, so I'll try and get back to it here: Datsyuk's playoff struggles are still not preferable to Savard's non-experience in this realm. Whatever "adjustments" Pavel has been making, they haven't been terribly effective, and the results (or lack thereof) serve as a black mark thus far on his record. Whatever impact they've had on him as a developing player are marginal. There is not much good to take away from this. Compared to Savard, who, at worst, is equally ineffective, but is just as likely to be more effective.

Fair enough, less PP time and all that. I think Cleary was marginally better than Steve was last year offensively, but you also need to take into account that he's been with Hudler and Calder for the last ~15 games and was as up-and-down then as he's been all season. Those are far and away superior linemates, but the pattern is the same. Diminishing returns, anyone?

Per the other thread... I AM STARVING AND CRAVE THE DELICIOUS TACO MEAT OF TB.

He and Hudler tore it up off the bat, but now he's slumping again. This has just been a down year for him. He was awesome last year, he put up 60 points as the third line center, but this year, even after being promoted to second line duties, his totals have suffered big time.

You've got to worry about getting out of every round... wasn't too long ago the Wings had toppled Nashville in six games and were looking to make a big move for the championship... down the drain in a helluva hurry.

Unfortunately, this isn't a stat that's kept on NHL.com. Where did you hear it? In any event, he has improved his game since he left Detroit a few years ago, but he still doesn't look to be a worthwhile addition to our team now or in the near future. He's doing OK in NY, good for him and them, let's keep it that way.

False dilemma. The playoffs are different, insofar that they are tighter checking et al, but Datsyuk's maturation as a player exists INDEPENDENTLY of them. Whether or not this will carry over can't be known; his inherent weaknesses--like lack of size and strength--still exist, but he's improved elsewhere. We'll see. That Datsyuk's playoff struggles mean anything to his development and improvement as a player, which you've deemed as a positive, asset, or advantage over someone who hasn't played in the post season (Marc Savard).

O Glorious Fatherland! He shall represent thee well. The days of Datsyuk-driven domination are at hand. From the far off shores of noble Sweden, donning the three crowns of their ancestors, will Sirs Lidstrom, Zetterberg, and Franzen deliver ruin of their royalty unto those foolish enough to place themselves in their way. Hark, Bob! It is you now that will lead this merry band into the wilderness once again. With your trusty companion, Jiri, and sage elder, Dominik, the Czechs challenge will call out to the world; they will say: "Stand before us, peasants, fools, that would lay their hands upon our Cup. You lay no claim to it! We will take it back, once and for all." From the Great White North descends fierce warriors with ancient bloodlines, armed and ready for a return to the throne. The trio of Dan, Kris, and Kirk, will circle in the offensive zone as they would a bear--the creature is large, powerful, but clumsy--until the moment is right to strike. As they approach, a bellow, loud and fearful, will pierce the air. They will turn to see so mighty a beast as they ever have, full of strength and power. It is the Bertuzzi. From our own vast and wondrous shores shall we hold our ground. The way is shut, shall Chelios inform those misfortunate souls that come against them, and it shall remain shut. They will hesitate for but a moment--all Matt and Brett need to lead the attack the other way. These men, gathered from around the world, have come together now for one reason. There exists a trophy, though only three feet in height, that stands high before us all. These men--these warriors--will move with great purpose and all speed to attain it. Just three lousy games to go! The playoffs will soon be on us, and none too soon! :octo: