Dabura

Honestly, I think it's sort of amusing that the Pens are even talking about Kronner like this. There's no strategy to "getting the best of him" or what have you -- just keep your damn head up! If you get Kronwalled, it's because you had your head down. That simple. That said....my money's on Malkin, if only because I really, really want to see it.

Never Forget Mac, If you want to get personal, I'm game. But let's keep it to PMs.

My problem with Sammy's presence on a scoring line is that Sammy, by make, shouldn't be on a scoring line -- especially if the team he's playing for is a deep-pocketed one bent on winning the Cup year in and year out. At very best, and in a perfect world, he's a guy who makes infrequent appearances on the second line, specifically when things aren't going well. That he's been counted on to be a big producer for several seasons now is ridiculous -- and yes, I blame management and the coaching staff more than I do Sammy. Sammy is what he is; you can't expect a checker with a "pretty good offensive upside" to transform into an elite scoring-line forward, even with the supporting cast he has around him. I don't care how good the coaching staff is, sometimes it's just not meant to be. Thankfully, the Drake-Draper-Sammy line seemed to click in that last game. And, of course, Mule should be coming back sometime soon. As for Holland -- no, I'm not going to fall to my knees and cry, "Kenny, you were right! I take back everything!" That's because I take issue with specific decisions he's made, and they're the kind of decisions one can take issue with regardless of the ultimate outcome. I get frustrated at times and get hyperbolic -- at the end of the day, Kenny's the best GM in the league, hands down. Again, though, I take issue with the way he does some of his business. It doesn't make me a fairweather fan or whatever it is you like to imply that I am. Should the Wings win the Cup (and they will win it), I think that between the coaching staff and upper management, it's the former that should get most of the credit for good "management." The Red Wings needed to become a "Babcock team" in order to go all the way. Right now, they're very much a Babcock team, and very much within reach of the Cup -- all despite Sammy!

To be fair, a lot -- if not most -- of Kronner's big open-ice hits are questionable.

He's a third-or-fourth-line guy being counted on to carry a huge offensive load because, gosh darn it, the idea of a high-scoring 2nd liner getting paid practically nothing is just so sexy. And, you know, he's just such a big guy. Unfortunately, he'll never be a high-scoring guy who puts his size to good use. But don't tell Kenny that.

Did Holland really say hes doubtful for Game 1? Well, even if he did -- grain of salt. I wouldn't be surprised if Mule's "doubtful" right up until the last minute (i.e., whenever the lineup needs to be submitted). You know, just to throw the Pens for a loop. EDIT: Oh.

Guys, don't even bother getting worked up. Just my two cents.

I've been thinking Wings in 5 with the lone loss coming in Game 3, so...kudos to the computer!

I vote for the dentist.

Depends on what you're downing. If it's the hard stuff, yeah, you'll be dead before the puck even drops.

Hmm, Crosby Campaign is catchier. I'll go with that.

Thus begineth The Sid Campaign.

EDIT: Brain fart.

Truth be told, I want every analyst, every talking head to go against the Wings.

I doubt anyone genuinely believes terrible things were said. What caught people's attention (including mine) was merely the awkwardness of the exchange -- specially, an exact moment towards the very end of it. It's fun to speculate.

Fitting. You're not going to change the complexion of a fan nation. I'm sorry, but stuff like "BURNSIDE SUCKS FOR GOING AGAINST THE WINGS" is built into the machine; opposing it is futile, no matter how "classy" you may be.

The Roenick signing is interesting. I was expecting SJ to part ways with him for the sake of making a statement (i.e., "We're really serious business now. No, really! We swear!") This is a merit-based signing; he performed, he gets another chance. I think that sends a much better message. Kudos to JR and management.

Give it a rest

Excellent post. The bottom line is this: the Pens will need to play out of their minds and make zero mistakes if they're to win this series, whereas all the Wings need to do is play their patented brand of hockey that they've been playing and perfecting for over a decade. This series is the Wings' to lose.

It keeps me up at night. Truly. Anyhow, like I said in another thread (or maybe it was this one?) -- I like Burnside a lot, but I think this is bad call on his part. We'll see.

q f t

This thread won't end well. I mostly agree with you, though.

Welcome. I'm in Pennsylvania, so I feel for you.

As far as I can tell, Franzen should be ready for the start of the series. Why are people fretting?

Stupid post. Everyone here, I'm sure, respects Babcock. Personally, I happen to respect him and like him on a personal level; he's a great guy, period. However, that doesn't somehow make all of his decisions unassailable -- especially when those decisions include putting Mac on the ice after he's taken three stupid, potentially back-breaking penalties in the most important game of the season thus far. But it's not like anything we say here really matters in the grand scheme of things. This is a freaking fan forum, after all.