Hank

I'll be shocked if anyone on the team actually touches it, as that Trophy is more a curse than an accomplishment.

The Wings have had home-ice advantage for almost every playoff round in the past 5 years and it hasn't won them a Cup. And to be quite honest, too much is made about home ice. In 2006, the Oilers were terrible on the road and the Wings were brilliant at home and yet the Wings won only 1 game at home out of 3. Last year the Wings wrapped up the first two rounds on the road while they fell apart in two crucial home games against the Ducks. The only person that is truly effected by home or away dates is Illitch. He wants more home ice so he can make more $$. As far as winning or losing, in regards to the players, it makes no difference. And that's why the Wings showed little to no interest in last nights game - hence the 'boring' tag I slapped it with.

You could say that the Wings 'squeaked' it out, but in reality both teams looked very disinterested. And I couldn't care less about the President's Trophy. How many of teams that have won it went on to win the Cup? Nuff said.

Nope, but I don't think you can say that he's helped either. He's been very beige. If you're going to be a 4-minute player you need to do something with those 4 minutes. McCarty doesn't have that capability anymore. Hope I'm proven wrong though.

Yeah, I thought he looked really good too and got some of the rare cheers for his hits and tenacity. On a side note, I think the McCarty experiment is over. He took part of the warm-up but wasn't used for the game. If guys like Hartigan, Downy and now a rookie get more looks than him, he's done with the Wings.

I had the opportunity to attend the game last night. I have to say, I've never heard the Joe that quiet in my life. We could hear converstations from people an entire section over. I know this game meant virtually nothing to either team (in the large scheme of things), but lets just say I'm glad the tickets were free. It was a boring game.

All my buddies who happen to be Leaf fans are still pissed about Peddie throwing Bowman out the door. I can't blame them though. The Leafs are working on consitency and missing out on the playoffs 3 years in a row is as consistant as you can get. Even the Thrashers have made the playoffs more in that span.

I really hope so. Nashville would be the easier of the two and they're in a decent time zone.

I'm trying not to sound like a homer, but I don't think there's another dman in the league that even comes close to him. Sure, he lost some games due to injury but this award is for the best defenseman in the NHL. If all 30 GM's had to pick one dman for one year, who would their top pick be? Unquestionably Nick Lidstrom.

Dangit! I just wrote an article for bleacherreport.com based on the same subject. Now I look like Dane Cook - stealing material!

I hope so. Speaking of Avery, did anyone see his tilt with Ryan Malone last night? It was pretty good. Malone was giving it to him good when Avery knocked him down with a beautiful right hand.

I'd be shocked if Phoenix didn't pressure him into signing a contract. Why on earth would this kid refuse to play in major junior just to retain his college eligibility for one season? And while he did lead Wisoncsin in scoring, as a freshman (huge feat!), he scored 12 of his 35 points in the first 4 games. He hit a major wall after that and the Badgers coach even stated that he needed another year. I'm a big Turris fan. I think he's going to be a special player. But having Mueller and Hanzal as your #1 and #2 centres, and then adding Turris a year or two early makes no sense to me. But what do I know? Turris will probably have a Toews-like season next year. Anyhoo, I wish I still had my centre ice package. I might actually tune in to watch some desert hockey now.

Malone please!

Absolutely! One can be bought for food stamps and the other has all their teeth.

A friend of mine bumped into Probie about 3 years ago in a Windsor bar (dive really). He said he was a cool guy who had nothing but great things to say about Stevie. It would have been great to see him win a Cup with #19. Regarding the fighting debate did anyone catch what Mike Milbury had to say on TSN last night? He said there is no room for fighting in amateur hockey and it needs to be eliminated. While I do agree with Milbury I found it funny that this was coming from someone who once beat a fan with his own shoe. For those that missed it or can't get it in the US, go to http://broadband.tsn.ca/ , scroll down and select "Milbury's Take".

Me too. Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall and Stuart. That's a great 4 core defensive group. Nothing outside of Anaheim comes close IMO.

Good post. If my son got into a tussle because some guy got away with a cheap shot that could have really hurt him, I would stand by his decision to throw some knuckles. But like you said, the kind of shenanigans displayed by Roy & son should be punished to the umpteenth degree. There's no place for it in any amatuer sports. Regarding Probert, a friend of the family has known him for years. Lets just say his family upbringing would make June Cleaver blow her brains out. His father was a massively abusive alchoholic and in turn so became Probert and his siblings. Probert was also no stranger to street fights as he's even more proficient with his fists off the ice as on. But I don't know if all enforcers have suffered the same abused upbringing. I knew a kid that was as tough as they come on the ice but never missed church on Sunday, never drank, swore, smoked or looked for trouble off of it. Some guys just get that 'mentality' when they hit the ice. McSorley reminds of that. Greatest guy in the world without skates. Monster with them on.

The president of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) has also stated that it won't be long until it's banned completely in major junior hockey. I know this isn't a popular opinion but I'm not upset by this ruling. Most of these kids are 16 to 18 year olds. I've seen games where grown men are salivating with blood lust hoping a couple of these kids murder each other. When I was younger I used to think differently of it, but now that I'm a father of 2 I think differently. Think of that young goalie that didn't want to fight but got pummled by Johnathan Roy. Think about his parents. Would you want to see that happen to your kid? Most of these kids are living away far away from home. How would you feel if you saw your son have to go through that after giving up your care of him to the coaches and community of where he plays. I wouldn't be too happy. While this isn't the most 'manly' statement to make, some parents raise their kids not to be fighters. Some parents want their kids in hockey to enjoy the beauty of the game, not worry about getting pummled every night. I have no problem with fighting in the pro's. Like Tiger Williams once said, "if you're not getting paid to fight, you're an idiot". But in junior, it's different. Just my thoughts on it.

Losing Morrison won't hurt them in the least. In fact, you could probably replace all 12 forwards with blind monkeys and it wouldn't change much. That entire team is based around Luongo and strong, boring defensive play. What the Canucks should really worry about is Luongo taking more time off for the birth of his child. Rumor's are circulating that he could miss the first 2 games of the postseason and a few down the stretch. I also hope Nashville can catch Vancouver because I don't want to face a hot goalie in round 1 and I absolutely loathe the style of play Vancouver employs. It's terrible for hockey and it's even worse for people living on the east coast to try and stay awake to watch.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/305184

For anyone that still feels sorry for goalies watch this video: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/player/index.html...bject=686918939 Note where Kay Whitmore talks about how some (ie Giguere) add loops and tape so that their chest protectors pop up to protect more net, not body. Or how the new goalie pads have greatly reduced the amount 5-hole goals. Or my personal favorite, a former goalie wearing 2 jocks. One to protect his junk and the other to prop up his chest protector when in the butterfly position. Wow! All of these 'tricks' sure help keep the nets, <cough> I mean goalies safer! Goalies are cheating and even other goalies are calling them out. Something has to be done. The pendulum has swung too far in their favor.

Excellent post! I'm a diehard hockey fan and I desperately want to see more goals. But more than that, I want to see a wider variety of goals. Every goal today is the same; screen, rebound, tip. If we're going to get 10 of those a game, then I'll pass. What I want to see is more goals like Phaneuf's last night. A beautifully ripped slapshot from the wing. On top of that, I want to see goals where a good scorer can beat a goalie clean from about 15 feet out. Scoring zones that existed for nearly 80 years are dead. Now, you can only score from 4 feet around the crease. And while defensive systems have hurt scoring so have inflated goalie gear. I'd much rather see the league taper goalies than implement illegal defenses. And as far as I can tell, you have to be legally retarded to think that goalie equipment has to be the size of Giguere's, Luongo's or Millers to be safe. Brodeur has proven everyone who thinks that wrong for the past 14 years. Pants don't have to be 14 sizes too big; leg pads don't have to be up to your waist; a belly pad doesn't have to hang 10" below the waist or stick out 18" from the stomach and shoulder pads certainly don't have to protrude up to your ears. Shave 'em down and give shooters a chance to score from areas that went extinct 10 years ago.

Thanks for posting this. I'm going to try and bring my 4-year old to this. I think he'd have a fun time seeing a practice at full speed instead of watching his old man skate at sloth like speeds.

I got to meet him also, just after his probation was lifted from his coke charge. He was doing a promo in Leamington for a car dealership that my grandfather worked at. When Probie arrived he called my mom who pulled me out of school so I could meet him. He was really nice and signed an autograph for me. What I most remember was the size of his hands. They were like dinner plates.

Look at this pic: I've been noticing that some playes are getting jerseys in extra large sizes to retain that baggy look. Not everyone is doing it, but not every player looks like a Britney Spears dancer now.