Dabura

You suggested that I would've had Holland "Sacrifice draft picks, players, and long term sustainability all for 4-7 extra games." That, to me, is essentially a Gaborik, or another high-end-ish player of his ilk. Iginla, perhaps. I could do without the condescension, the you-don't-really-understand bit. I could also do without this look-the bottom-line-is-Kenny's-hands-are-completely-tied mentality that so many here seem to stand by as unequivocal fact. Do I believe Holland had a lot of options this season? Not at all. I followed the deadline very, very closely. Every GM and his mother wanted a top-sixer. And, yes, I realize that, in general, the price for even a relatively middling bottom-sixer is high enough to make you really sit and wonder if it wouldn't be worth standing pat. But, you know what? We've been doing this there's-nothing-we-can-do-but-take-it-up-the-ass-and-like-it song and dance for several seasons now, and, all the while, we've been slipping and sliding down the slope. We were the class of the West (if not the League) when we took the Pens to seven. Now? Now our M.O. is "Suck and settle." I'd be more understanding if this "rebuild" and "youth movement" weren't just the latest excuse. But now I'm derailing the thread. I'll tell you what: these Blue Jackets? They are a joy to watch. If Nash misses the playoffs and Gaborik makes it...blood bath in the Big Apple.

He was a big factor in the first goal. Maybe he moves his ass a wee bit faster. The other goal, all on him. This was basically a must-win. The Flames are the worst team in the West. We knew this was going to be a goalie battle. Unfortunately, Kipper owned Howard. Howard's been very strong this season. This was not his best work, though.

Right, because I said, "We should've sold the farm for Gaborik!!!" Holland's very, very, very big on this "If you can make it to the big dance, anything can happen" mentality. Now, here we are in a dogfight for eighth place. Not a good time to make a minor tweak or two? (I mean, before the deadline?) It's not like we're the Jackets or the Stars and we can say, "Eh, we make it, we make it, we don't, no biggie." We're the ******* Red Wings. To whom much is given, and all that. And we're just stumbling along, settling for mediocrity, seemingly not-at-all worried that we're in very real danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1990. I believe we'll make it. But it's going to be grueling. I simply think we should've, at least, brought in some hungry hearts. Y'know, guys who actually give a damn.

Blue Jackets and Stars deserve it more. They're playing like they give a damn. So glad Holland stood pat. Jackass. We may not be a player or two away from winning the Cup, but we are a player or two from making the playoffs.

And that was not smart! Given a choice between a Hossa (who's been a known value for a long time) and a Franzen (flashes of brilliance but essentially an unknown value at the time of his re-upping), you go with the former. (IMHO) I assume it was pride more than anything else. As in, Look, everyone! Ken found a bona fide power-forward! And he did it all by himself! And that's how we do it in Detroit! (We drafted Shanahan, Maltby, Draper, Bertuzzi, Larionov, Hull, Vernon, Hasek, Chelios, Murphy, Stuart, Rafalski, Fetisov, et al.) Always have, always will! mehhhh

We suck.

Kane, Kane, go away...

Howard is not a happy camper.

lofl

Was Hank smiling on the bench just now, before puck-drop? Eh.

If only we had Sammy.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Quincey will be the death of me.

"Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!"

United Center is such a strange, strange land.

And the "equalizers" begineth.

Wow, Cleary has lost a lot of weight.

Do we ever talk on the forecheck? So much get-it-to-the-middle, get-it-in-front-of-Crawford...but there's hardly ever a guy there in front to spring on it.

I appreciate what Miller does in the corners.

Brunner getting in some faces...and (smartly) promptly backing the f*** out. Good times.

Flip...what happened to you, man? OMG, we're playing like an NHL team.

Hey, we're playing better. Kinda.

Thing with the Habs is...they get the job done. They can really light the lamp (against any team in the EC), and they're "sandier" than a lot of people give 'em credit for. Our Wings, on the other hand...a lotta nights it feels (to me) like they couldn't impose their will on a peewee B team. (Hyperbole, but you get the point.) Someone please GIF that Joel-rage. DON'T GIVE HIM ANY IDEAS KTHX

It's kind of flattering that Joel would be so angry. Does he feel our team is, like, especially good at holding leads, or something?

MCCARTY!!!