al48

It's just stupid, really. What's the point of having your logo on a practice jersey? Who are they marketing to, the players? That's like selling ads on the boards of your backyard hockey rink.

I've thought the preliminary coverage of hockey and curling has been pretty good so far, between USA and CNBC...really it's just some damn boring preliminary games, so it doesn't bother me coming in a few minutes into the game. At least we're seeing them. I haven't missed a game or match yet. I've been more disappointed with the lack of coverage of some of the other sports that I wish I could just sit and watch in full, instead of having to watch the abbreviated NBC "wrap up" show. I'm assuming that you all don't have cable that are complaining about it?

McCarty was bought out by the Wings because of salary cap reasons after the lockout, and then signed as a free agent in Calgary. Failed knowledge.

Keep in mind JJ is only 23. He would still be in Grand Rapids developing if he was part of the Wings system. Cleary was already around 26 when he came to the Wings and had played parts of 7 NHL seasons. They're very different situations. I wouldn't call JJ a fully developed player yet by any means. He still has a ton of time to mature and live up to hype and potential.

Go to Monkeysports or Hockey Giant in Orange County. I usually make a trip out of it and go to both.

Hudler's lack of transparency regarding his KHL contract is what pisses people off. I don't know how you can all be so "UP" on Hudler for the way he handled things. A lot of you are acting as if he's doing the Wings a favor by taking a "leave of absence" because of the tight cap space. The fact is, Hudler didn't make his intentions known while the Wings were letting people like Sammy leave. I imagine, had Holland known that Hudler was taking flight to Russia, he would have made Sammy a bit of a better offer rather than letting those extra goals slip away. Instead, the Wings let Sammy walk and then Hudler announces his KHL contract after he's already filed for arbitration. You can't possibly think this was handled well and be a rational person.

I disagree. I think the Kings are 2-3 years off from really going on a Cup run. This year will probably see them sniff making the playoffs, if not making them as a later seed. The goaltending isn't an issue for them right now. Their defence is going to get a little more experienced and Bernier has some time to develop a bit.

They do have Bernier coming up as well. He'll start to challenge for an NHL job this year or next and will most likely pan out to be a great starter within a few years.

Price needs to get out of Montreal before his career is dead. That organization put way too much pressure on him and he hasn't reacted positively to it. He needs to go to like Atlanta or something where he can get the media out of his grill and get his head straightened out before he winds up going all Jim Carey.

Only because he started so strong. He's done jack in his last 15 games, and I think only 1 assist in his last 7 or 8.

Why, exactly? How's that going to help you? It's not like it's going to be some HUGE advantage, so why are you wishing ill for a guy's career? Don't you want the Wings to beat the best, or do you want them to win because all the good players were injured? Why don't we just drop down to the AHL so we can win every game to inferior competition. You're a moron.

Wasn't Sundin's whole deal that he wanted to be with a team for the entire season for a Cup run, and that's why he wouldn't waive his NTC last year? So, what's up Mats? The season is over 1/8th old now. This guy is such a phony.

Sorry, but I'm not in a game for a camera/directorial performance. I want to see the action, follow the play, and observe what goes on in the game. If I wanted cuts, edits, and up close shakey cam action then I'd go watch a movie about hockey. The camera angles they use may be "cool" at times and in replays, but it's not the best way to watch the overall game.

He didn't play.

I think turning the Cup upside-down before the start of the season will forever become a symbol of repeating as champions.

Look, I apologize for my seemingly assholic attitude earlier. My point wasn't that the Soviet players were actually slaves. In comparison to other Soviet athletes they were treated relatively well. The fact, however, is that they weren't really allowed to pursue a career on THEIR terms. That's the comparison I was trying to draw. They were, in all terms, property, and couldn't pursue relations with the West. These players became increasingly aware of the short end of the stick they were getting and that's why they were beginning to defect. Also, let's not forget the countless Soviet players who, prior to Mogilny, wanted to make a living out west and were subsequently brought down by the Soviet government. My point is, there's a lot more to any of this than "contracts". Soviet players and players of the entire Eastern Bloc weren't just able to shop around, and don't ever forget the effect the cold war had in a lot of people's lives.

Seems as though there's only one person who's ******* stupid here as you seem completely uneducated as to how the Soviet hockey system was set up and why the players defected. There's no point in arguing with you though. Why don't you go read a little bit.

I suppose in your world, a Northern person in 1840 should have paid a Southern slave owner if one of his slaves had run away and come to work for the Northern person, right? I suppose that the Northern person should have probably just sent the former slave back down to his owner in the south in your world.

I happen to semi-agree with Duck Guy here. Goalies these days are much better positionally and athletically than their counterparts 20-30 years ago. Goalie training is also way above and beyond what it use to be. It takes a hell of a lot more skating, athleticism, and work to be in position to have a puck hit you in the stomach consistently than it does to have to make the BIG GLOVE SAVE. That being said, I think Giguere pushes the rules to the max on equipment sizing. I don't blame him for playing within the rule, and I hardly think he'll become a worse goaltender if gear is again reduced. People said the same thing would happen after the last reduction, don't forget. Instead he went on to win a Cup. Giguere is an incredible positional goalie and his rebound control is usually above and beyond that of most tenders. That's why he rarely has to make huge saves. But, it takes a lot more setup work for him to be in those positions.

The pants are the one thing that drive me nuts. They've quadrupled in size over the past 15 years. The 5-hole cheaters get bigger, the side panels have foam inserts, they bulk up into the stomach now and extend high up on the hips....they're friggen huge.

Leg pads aren't the major issue at the moment. Chest and especially goalie pants are the things that need major overhauls. Funny story though.

I don't think he'll be fired, but it will be interesting to see if he asks for out of his contract and heads home to Vancouver.

While I feel he was within the written rules of the NHL, I feel like the rule should be like lacrosse's. I don't believe you should be allowed to screen a goalie face to face. I don't have a problem with Avery being a dick, but I don't believe you should be allowed to face a goalie like that and follow his head to screen him. There's a reason lacrosse established this rule, and I feel the NHL should look at its reasons. While I feel this way, I can't understand why no New Jersey player came flying in and leveled him.

Eh, it's not bad. It challenges the fans to watch/go to games or not be "in". So it's effectively better than "ride the red wave" which nobody would really want to be a part of. The idea behind it is good, but I think they could have come up with something a little better.

The Ovechkin cam was a disappointment. While Center Ice offered the game straight up or with OvechCam on different channels, I was expecting something different. It would have been a lot better had they mounted a camera on his helmet, not just isolated him.