skacore

I'm not saying Parros is a good hockey player compared to others in the NHL, I'm saying he's not a pylon and that he is a very suitable 4th line winger. Maybe he could survive in the NHL if he didn't fight, maybe not, he probably wouldn't have been given a chance if he didn't though. I'd rather a team full of tough players than 1 guy as well but with Detroit, clearly they aren't headed in that direction. When Shelley came to the Sharks last year he was contributing more than just fighting. He'd fight when called upon and was, in my opinion, a good acquisition to polish off a very tough team, all they lacked was a heavyweight fighter. I don't even need to check NHL.com to know that Shelley racked up at least half a dozen points in about 30 games in the reg. season. He may not have played all the playoffs but I know he played a bit anyways, and was a viable option if the coaching staff felt necessary. I'm not sure what you mean Shelley's role has diminished? Yes the team has come together as a whole and are playing tougher as a unit, but it wouldn't be crazy to suggest that a veteran enforcer like Jody Shelley had contributed to that mind set. The guy is playing every game and getting 4th line ice time on the best team in the league right now, so they obviously see something in his game. Fewer fights? Less distractions? Of course they have had fewer fights compared to last year's total, the season has just started. They are on a high pace again and are going to be up around the top of the league in fighting majors when the playoffs come. So the Sharks acquired a veteran enforcer, they play him every game, the team is playing much tougher and much better, but for some reason you don't seem to want to admit it? I don't get that part. If I cared enough I could probably dig up some video clips from "Sharks Bite" or whatever it's called and get the player's opinion of Jody Shelley, but I'm pretty confident I'd know their responses and I don't really care enough to do so.

To show some leeway in this discussion, guys I consider "pylon enforcers" are: Mitch Fritz on the Isles, Brookbank on the Canes, MacIntyre on the Oil, Koci on the Bolts, and Godard on the Pens. Just to name a few.

George Parros can play hockey and he isn't a pylon like you said he was. Why do you even mention me bringing up stats? I brought up stats to further prove you wrong and you act like they're irrelevant. 7 points and +9 in a limited 4th line role, while being a top notch enforcer, that isn't an effective player? Hmm... I agree with you that the Wings need someone who can play and contribute while being an enforcer. I disagree with your example of George Parros as the stereotypical "pylon" enforcer. Jody Shelley isn't a pylon either, he's a veteran enforcer and he's been around so long for a reason, he knows how he can contribute (aside from fighting). Boogaard isn't as effective as Parros or Shelley in playing ability but he just brings intimidation to a whole new level. Not only does he have the potential to put you in the hospital with his fist, but he can skate very well for a big man and is very effective on the forecheck, you know when he's on the ice. I think you've wandered off a bit and you're trying to argue something you aren't very familiar with. You don't have to put up 40+ points like a prime McCarty or Probert to have an effective enforcer. There's a reason those 3 "pylons" you mentioned play regularly on 3 good teams in San Jose, Anaheim, and Minnesota.

Ribeiro the hero gets an empty netter and even stays out in the dying minute afterwards, untouched.

Hey I forgot Dallas has Mike Ribeiro! Didn't he two-hand our starting goalie in the chest last year? With Osgood in a huge slump and all, I'm sure he could use a bit of a confidence booster knowing that his team has his back. We should send our _______ after Ribeiro.

n/m

Yeah then we can just cut the whole English crap all together, let the team speak Swedish during the games

I lasted about 5 minutes while watching the Wings and Stars, switched to Bruins and Thrashers and got there just in time to see Lucic and Boulton have a go... nothing much, Lucic fell. Good to see Lucic fighting a legit heavyweight for a change though.

For Rafalski's salary, I would welcome him with open arms...

It's hard to take any of your post seriously when you make a stupid claim like this. You take the prototypical enforcer and call him a pylon, have you ever seen Parros play? He's not a ******* pylon. 7 points and +9 in 26 games, a consistent physical presence and one of the best fighters in the league, not to mention one of the smartest enforcers in the league, he knows when and why to fight. He takes a regular shift on the Ducks' fourth line and contributes every night. He has outplayed anyone on our 4th line so far this year. Don't comment on something you know nothing about.

that's what I'm looking forward to too, a game full of hooking penalties so the Wings can capitalize 5 times on the PP... OLD TIME HOCKEY!

We gave up a rock solid 23 year old defensive defenseman with pretty good offensive instincts. Good hitter, good net presence, good first pass, stands up for team mates. Thank god we have Chelios coming back soon, though... :|

Hey man, you never know! I mean... it ONLY took him 4 years in the AHL to become a decent player there. He has such appealing size, 6'3 and 200 soaking wet (looks like a skeleton) how could we get rid of him?

Ok, 1 sec... I think I have an idea of the type of hockey fan you are... ...did you just throw up?

Having at least 1 tough guy in the line up goes beyond whether it helps win games in the regular season or not, it's just a part of the game. Hockey is about standing up for each other and team bonding. Anyone watch HNIC on Saturday nights? Late game especially? How can you compare that to the style of hockey that the Wings' play? If you are satisfied with the product that the Wings put on the ice then my hats off to you, but I'd had enough and I think a lot of fans are the same way. Many fans fell in love with a team that iced Probert, Kocur, McCarty, Shanahan, Lapointe, etc. Yzerman was the leader, not an overly physical player but a hard working North American (uh oh I went there) who wore his heart on his sleeve, our team is now full of EXTREMELY SKILLED European robots. They go through the motions almost every night. They are a very skilled team and one of the best in the league, but attendance sucks, fans suck, the atmosphere at the Joe sucks, it sucks watching Wings' games at a bar or with friends, and most of their games are just downright boring (again, if you disagree, I tip my hat to you, don't know how you do it). It may not the 1980's but fighting is up, hitting is up. Guys are getting bigger and stronger and there are some real bruisers out there, it's not like they aren't available. Ken Holland has stated year after year he'd "love to have" a guy who can play and hit, or play and fight, but they aren't hard to come by. It's like he constantly addresses this need but doesn't act on it. It's not impossible to get a player like that. The example I'll use over and over again is Chris Neil, what will it take to get him in a trade? A 3rd rounder? You're set for a tough guy for the next 5-6 years with Neil and he brings excitement to any game, any time, any score, etc. He's something the fans who appreciate physical play can rally behind. At the bar with some buddies, Raffi Torres pulls a Williams hit, you tell your Oilers' friend beside you "Neil is gonna f*** him up, you just watch!". The loyal fans deserve to be able to do that, that's how hockey has always been. I appreciate what Filppula can bring to the 3rd line, he's a good all around player, but I don't think I'll be rocking a Valtteri Filppula jersey anytime soon... You can say, "then go become a Ducks fan!", but anyone who hasn't already done that clearly isn't a bandwagon fan. We grew up and fell in love with hard nosed, rugged hockey and it's been taken away from us and replaced with a European style. The atmosphere at the Joe is embarrassing, watching our players turn their back when push comes to shove is embarrassing, having like 6-7 North American players on the roster is embarrassing. I'm not asking for Derek Boogaard but have some balance, give the fans some real hockey.

if you want quality then it's Dion Phaneuf, if you want quantity it's Mike Komisarek, and there are plenty of other guys who should be mentioned well before Brad Stuart... he's had a couple beauts though

god no lol

No way he comes to Detroit 1. he's not European 2. he's plays physical

I think it would be appropriate to give him a smirk or a nod if he looks your way, but don't go out of your way to get him to recognize you. I've never understood the point of getting an autograph (with all due respect, at least from Holmstrom anyways) on a piece of paper. Is it just for proof? I don't know. I can see jerseys, maybe a picture or poster but just to have the name written on a paper seems weird to me. Unless maybe it's Yzerman or Gretzky or something haha.

That's pretty bad dude!!! Especially considering he is an NHL star!

I meant only 1 North American forward, not Canadian

It's not all about fighting, when have I said that? I enjoy all aspects of hockey as well and watch games every night, usually 2 at a time. I bought Center Ice so I can watch all games. Fighting is a minor part of what I'm trying to say, but comes naturally when you play with emotion. The Wings in the 90's were so entertaining because they played with their hearts on their sleeves. They could score, hit, and fight with the best of them. If you watched the Wings in the late 90's you know what the atmosphere at the Joe was like when the grind line was on the ice... unreal. They used to start games and just blow the roof off the place. I have a ton of respect for elite players like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Hossa. But what I don't find entertaining is a guy like Kopecky who gets 3 dump ins a night and a wrister from the blue line taking up a spot on the 4th line for an energy player. It's just boring as s***. We win games nowadays based on skill level and skill level alone. Hardly on momentum, emotion, etc... Like I know people may joke about it but what if the Wings actually become Team Sweden? How is it possible to cheer for that team night in and night out... Maltby and Draper are on their way outs, I know we have Helm coming up, but aside from those guys Cleary is or only other Canadian on forward, that's insane! Put a product on the ice that people can root for and idealize and old school fans may actually start to give a s*** about the games and show up for some games.

My honest opinion, you probably won't agree with, but no, not really. Initially they would be thrilled to be winning but I don't think they'd be able to fall in love with the European style game that they'd be witnessing. I mean maybe though, just because you said Columbus or Florida. A major hockey city though, no chance in hell.

I tend to disagree, as do a lot of posters around here, and seems like the fans at the Joe tend to disagree with that statement as well the NHL has gotten to where it's at because of it's entertainment value

that is exactly what I just described and thank you for the video evidence