skacore

Really, really not a good time to ask a question like that... 1. Brassard's injury is pretty serious, I'd say. He'll be missing the rest of the season... 2. Don Sanderson, as far as I know, is still in critical condition and in a coma from his fight

That was his first fight this season, I think you have him mixed up with someone else. It was very clear that Brassard has no business fighting, he really looked out of place, I really admire the attempt though. Maybe you are thinking of Chicago's high scoring rookie, Kris Versteeg? He's a bit more fiesty

and most people wouldn't call Datsyuk and Zetterberg "elite" players until they did

then he'll make moves like last night and blatently cause his team 2 goals, which is what seperates him from the truly great players in the NHL

I posted this on redwingscentral but I have a feeling that Downey fought Wilson 8 seconds in because he really gave it to Abdelkader the other night. I saw a short clip of it and they were trading bombs, Abdelkader got a good one off but then looked to eat a couple. I've read from a couple sources that Wilson landed quite a few flush on Abdelkader's face. Abdelkader didn't play tonight... not good.

March 5th, 2008, he wasn't given a major because the fight sucked. I didn't know that would have given him the Gordie Howe Hat-trick... not bad

any word on the Abdelkader scrap?

Moen, Travis 27 ANA L UFA 0.912 0.925 Montador, Steve 29 ANA D UFA 0.800 0.800 Parros, George 29 ANA R UFA 0.550 0.575 Armstrong, Colby 26 ATL R RFA 1.200 1.200 Valabik, Boris 23 ATL D RFA 0.858 0.925 Hnidy, Shane 33 BOS D UFA 0.757 0.760 Kaleta, Patrick 23 BUF R RFA 0.492 0.500 MacArthur, Clarke 24 BUF L RFA 0.522 0.522 Bertuzzi, Todd 34 CGY R UFA 1.950 1.950 Eager, Ben 25 CHI L RFA 0.600 0.650 Walker, Matt 29 CHI D UFA 0.600 0.600 Wisniewski, James 25 CHI D RFA 0.900 0.900 Hossa, Marian 30 DET R UFA 7.450 7.450 Zetterberg, Henrik 28 DET L UFA 2.650 2.900 Cole, Erik 30 EDM L UFA 4.000 4.000 Strudwick, Jason 33 EDM D UFA 0.650 0.650 Begin, Steve 31 MTL L UFA 1.057 1.300 Chipchura, Kyle 23 MTL C RFA 0.943 0.860 Komisarek, Mike 27 MTL D UFA 1.700 1.900 Latendresse, Guillaume 22 MTL R RFA 0.850 0.850 Rupp, Michael 29 NJD R UFA 0.500 0.500 Orr, Colton 27 NYR R UFA 0.537 0.550 Neil, Chris 30 OTT R UFA 1.100 1.200 Clowe, Ryane 26 SJS R RFA 1.600 1.600 Crombeen, Brandon 23 STL R RFA 0.550 0.550

OK OK hold on, before this thread can continue, how did Mac lose this fight?!? the same way Downey apparently "got his ass kicked" all of last year?

You have to build a reputation as a tough team over time. We made big strides last year and took a major step back this year.

there's no way in hell Lucic loses more often than Carcillo lol he's lost maybe 2-3 fights so far in the NHL

Oooohh!!! All this time I've been thinking that the Wings have been holding onto Kopecky because of his AMAZING size and because he's sooo young still. Now I get it, it's because of his friend making abilities!

Carcillo loses much more often than Lucic does. He'd had probably 1 knockout in his entire career. Lucic also fought Ivanans last year, except that resulted in a draw whereas Carcillo was TKO'd by Ivanans. No way in hell does he have more potential than Lucic, he's what, 24? Lucic is 20 and already a first line player and becoming an elite power forward. Lucic also hits much, much harder than Carcillo. I like both players just being logical about it.

Sure I'd take Park-Sim-Jackman and Boulton-Slater-Crabb over our current 4th line. They'd be more physical, much more energy, less expensive, those are all givens. Their offensive production can only be better and they can't do much worse +/- wise. And those are two of the worst teams in the league. But instead how about we use one we already have in the system: Abdelkader-Helm-Downey

Because they're horrible? Instead of thinking up one-liners why don't you post something that's relevant to the discussion? Draper, Maltby, and Kopecky have been bad this year. They rarely chip in offensively, they don't shut down top lines, they aren't physical. They are all minus players, our PK is awful, and our goals against is awful. Our goals for is fine, our PP is incredible. The biggest holes in this team are solid defense (as a unit), a solid PK, and consistent physical play. Most teams use their bottom 6 to achieve those accomplishments.

Ok try to stay with me here... An effective enforcer can change the team's mentality as a whole. Effect the way they play, etc. The 82 regular season games are played for a reason. Oh yeah, and Darren McCarty played in the playoffs, and it wasn't for his finesse.

Again, just poor hockey knowledge. Having a guy like Downey brings more than just an on ice presence, he can help change the team's attitude, that's what everyone has been saying for a while now. Downey wouldn't take Hossa's spot in the line up so that's irrelevant who you'd rather have.

No one is saying an enforcer is the key ingredient, smart guy. It's about balance, those teams just weren't good.

thnx 4 da opineon

Here's a nice article about the effect Jody Shelley has had on the San Jose Sharks http://bleacherreport.com/articles/92980-j...-sharks-rolling

Abdelkader-Helm-Downey might make games watchable

Osgood could have murdered Ribeiro's first born, a two-hand slash to your starting goalie still isn't tolerable. Yeah, Draper "jumped on him", woo hoo! It's not able fear, it's about knowing your teammates have your back.

I posted this somewhere else but I forget where, anyway I feel this is a good place to vent this frustration. Last night was the first regular season game against Mike Ribeiro since he two-handed Osgood in the chest in last year's playoffs. Not 1 Red Wing said anything or did anything to Ribeiro all night long, he went untouched. He scored an empty netter and then stayed out during the final minute to kill the game, I literally felt sick. It's been driving me nuts all day and I probably won't even watch the game tonight. Osgood has been in a horrible slump recently. I'm sure he remembers Ribeiro's slash, but apparently no one else did, I'm sure that's real good for his confidence knowing that stunts like that are tolerated without retribution. Unreal, how's your groin, Mac?

Yeah I watched the entire game. If there was any question about it, I think this just indicates the type of hockey we both find entertaining, I loved that game last night. I love old time, physical hockey. You probably prefer the more European brand of game the Red Wings offer, at times I do too. Parros vs. Shelley was a scripted fight. It was heavyweight vs. heavyweight, it's been a part of hockey forever. An early fight in the game, your guy wins, your team is fired up. Their guy wins, their team is fired up. It's a solid draw like last night? Both teams are fired up and the fans are fired up. It sets the tone for the game and it's entertaining, this is an entertainment business, without fans there isn't an NHL. Sharks won 2-0 like you said, could have maybe won 6-0 if they turned a cheek to the Ducks physical presence and looked the other way, could have. But let's face it both teams are making the playoffs, if they meet in the 2nd round this year what is going to matter more, the 4 extra goals or the fact that they stood together as a team and stood up for each other, and built a strong team bond? When guys like Blake, Niedermayer, Pronger, and Getzlaf get involved in mini-brawls at the end of a game, that is a good thing! It shows emotion! If you feel the Sharks would be more successful in the long run if they eased up on the physical play and fighting, maybe you should send in an e-mail or something to San Jose's owner and let him know you can do a better job than Todd McLellan. But I don't know if he'll bite man, because they are the best team in the league and also one of the most pro-fighting, and physical teams.