vladdy16

Any way to put the players on rollerblades instead of skates?

I would love a Bruins/Wings final! Not quite as much as a Toronto/Detroit final, but that would be cool. Even cooler if we won. Maybe them getting the teams right but the outcome wrong works in our favor?

The only way the Wings lose this series is if they can't recover from the ennui they seem to have been suffering from lately. Not to take anything away from the Preds, but as their very own fans say, it's the freaking Red Wings. The Preds need to meet and beat a Wings team that isn't struggling come playoff time I think to gain the respect they so desire. It would be nice to face the Preds with the Detroit team that we all know exists, but has been hiding lately. Can't wait to see who shows up!

PLEASE TURN OFF THE CAPS LOCK!!!

That is indeed the $64,000 question.

You guys have certainly set the bar pretty high. I haven't quite figured out what my pledge is going to be yet, but it certainly won't be quite so grand as the rest of you. I don't feel bad about that, and no one else should either. Ilitch Charities will appreciate whatever we send. Scott brings up a good point - some people don't have Paypal. I will be happy to accept other methods of payment.

I waffled a little on this one, but I think you're right.

You guys are awesome! Thanks so much.

Can we define respect? I can't speak for all, but from my perspective, the Preds will get respect when there's blood on the ice and the day comes where we know that the road to the Cup goes through Nashville. I'm not denegrating the Preds, but they're not a rival yet. Those kinds of things take years to develop, or Claude Lemieux.

Seriously? First of all, you might want to re-read the post. The only part you could possibly, maybe consider disrepectful is the last line. Secondly, you might want to consider developing a thicker skin. Hockey ain't no place for a nervous person, and if that post bothers you, you're in for a rude awakening. Stick around. We're pretty cool around here, as long as you are as well.

Really? I think I'm on the other side of the spectrum. Of all the matchups, this one is the only one I see having a remote possibility of a sweep. I say New Jersey in 5.

For me, the fact that one of these teams has to win is depressing. I'm torn for many reasons. Rarely do I root against an O6 team, but right now I have to say I'd like to see Phoenix take this series just so they have accomplished something. And it's never a bad thing to see Chicago lose. However, I reserve the right to change my mind. I suspect Chicago takes this one though. Say Hawks in 7 just because.

I don't really care about either team, but you can't argue with Original Six and Torts brownie points he's scored lately, so I'll say Rags in 5.

To be fair, he said not a lot of experience. Compared to 21 consecutive years and the entire length of Lidstrom's career, Preds don't have a lot. I don't know what you're sensing or where you're sensing it from, but I don't see any disrespect here thus far. Bear in mind you're in enemy territory for future reference.

I'm all for this. I would much rather start the playoffs close to home. No sense getting worn out by travel in the first round. If the Preds are going to be a tough series, better to face it first rather than possibly later after flying out west. If we get Helm back and the Doctor Jekyll Wings show up, I have no worries, not even running into a potentially hot goalie. If the Mr. Hyde Wings show up, we're in trouble no matter who we play.

NBC showed them during intermission. It looked like they were having a good time. I hope they had a great experience at the Joe and that soon they won't have to travel so far to see a game in person. Too bad they couldn't sit in the lower bowl.....

Here's the 2008 thread.

Guaranteed to be posted in the Photoshop thread. Check there over the next couple of days.

Well played.

Heat of the moment usually is fine. Casual conversation should be kept respectful. It's only polite. Whether you're an adult or not, as most of us are, is immaterial. Matt has asked us all to be judicious in the use of curse words is all. Dropping an F bomb in every other post is going to get edited or deleted, and it's silly to lose posting privileges over it. I will leave this conversation here as it is helpful, but any further questions or concerns please handle via the PM system so we don't completely derail this thread.

I get it. I've been known to use colorful language - I'm not against it. It should just be used sparingly is all. The word "freakin'" works pretty well for me. Feel free to use it.

· DO refrain from using vulgar language. There isn't an active curse word filter here because our members have shown in the past that it isn't required to make your point. Curse words can, at times, be an effective way of translating some emotion into a post, but only if done so in moderation. Abuse of this privilege will result in the activation of the curse filter and the suspension of the offending member's account.

If this series plays out even close to its potential, it's going to be my favorite non-Wings series of the playoffs. With Pronger out, I can safely root for the Flyers. Even if the Pens take the series, they should take a serious beat down in the process. I for one am looking forward to it.

This seems like a "Do you want red arsenic or yellow arsenic?" question to me. However, I agree that a Chicago win is better for the Wings.

Which is why they probably should have at least made a gesture of including the NHLPA, but ultimately it's the owner's decision. The entertainment business is still a business. It's not like they're trying to move the NHL to Russia.