A.T.Hun

That's an interesting article. Granted the NBA still outdraws the NHL because of larger arenas and the fact that hockey is still basically a regional sport. I think you could argue that that article is more of a worry to the NBA than it is a feather in the cap for the NHL. I like watching the Pistons too, but so much of the offense is spread out the D and let the superstar go one-on-one. The solution a few years back was allow zone defense which unfortunately made the offense even more boring. The stars had a harder time taking it to the hole and teams just fire up brick after brick from the outside. I haven't the foggiest idea of what to do about it. They quote Mark Cuban in that article. The NHL could really use to have him as an owner. He'd give the league a personality and some media savvy which it desperately needs.

I feel bad for the Maple Leaf fans. Just when you thought the organization (pronounced organIZEation) had bottomed out, they bring in ol' Burkie. OK, so I don't feel THAT bad.

And THAT's the logic behind firing him? Yeah, five wins in 16 games isn't exactly going to get you the Adams, but did people really expect the Ning to make the playoffs this year? How many seasoned coaches will be lining up at their door after this? So they turn to Toccet who probably hasn't gambled in, what, months now. Craziness. I, for one, wouldn't mind at all seeing him back on ESPN.

Why do so many guys on this board have security issues when it comes to the Pens? Between this and the constant harping on Crosby you tend to sound like a bunch of insecure high-school debutantes. The Wings won the Cup. We've got the banner to prove it. We've even got Hossa. Deep breaths. If the commercial troubles you so much, change the channel like I do every time a political ad comes on.

I think I had a brief coronary there. Anyway, Detroit fans would already know what that's like. Two words: Matt Millen. Sorry, that might even have been a low blow for old Burkie. Nevertheless, I feel for you Duck Guy.

If Kenny can manage to shoehorn Z, Mule, and Hossa under the cap to new contracts beyond this year he will be deserving of the "Bestest GM Evar" award. Can't see it happening, but I didn't see Hossa signing with the Wings for this year either.

Or perhaps, more appropriately, the Carolina Tropical Depressions given how the team makes their fans feel. Having said that, I don't mind the black look at all. I've never cared for their red jerseys which is odd since they were obviously modeled generally after the Wings.

http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...er&mid=3368 That link is available by clicking on your name on any of your posts. There's a drop-down list that will let you search for your posts or threads.

Farewell, Scotty, we'll always have 1997 . . . and 1998 . . . and 2002. Part of me is very happy about this because I was more than a little sick of seeing Dollar Bill keep grinding the 'Hawks into the ground. It appears that Rocky is far more serious about winning than the old man ever was. A strong team in Chicago is A Good Thing for the NHL. It would also be nice to have a team in the division that mattered.

Yeah, but what about after the All Star break?

It's always someone else's fault with ol' Burkie. Remember the "our goalie isn't the one flopping around" speech a few years back? No matter what kind of offer sheet there is, the draft pick compensation is high and there is still the salary cap to deal with which puts everyone on a level playing field. As Harold mentioned, if he hadn't signed Bert to that ridiculous contract, he might have an argument. If someone would sign Flip to an offer sheet, I'd be upset and I'd miss him, but it would also mean that we'd have more leeway to sign Hossa long-term. If your argument is that we never should have signed Hossa for fear we'd lose Flip, well, that's just silly.

If the Wings' biggest problem this off-season is that they have too many quality defensemen, then they are the most fortunate franchise in the NHL.

Is there anyplace we can get one of those for less than $185? I'd prefer online but I will be at my folks' place in Saginaw at the end of the month.

w00t! How Swede it is! Man, I'm so geeked right now. They changed the rules just to keep us away and we win anyway! And yes I'm using the first person pronouns and I don't care. You couldn't knock the smile off my face with a sledgehammer right now.

First of all, I love it. The Pens have totally lost it. The cheap shots and Michelle saying that the Wings are obstructing and diving show a team that is in disarray. Keep it up, guys. Secondly, though, I want to kick his French-Canadian ass. You lose your right to ***** about officiating (or anything for that matter) when your team takes not one but two cheap shots at Franzen's head. Thirdly, I don't want to see him doing it often, but I loved seeing Pasha throw the haymakers. Besides being ueber-talented he also has developed a nice nasty streak.

As far as Paul "Some people call me" Maurice goes, I think you could call this a mercy killing. Toronto management is still under the delusion that simply by invoking the name "Maple Leafs" that everyone will beat a path to their door. Until the hydra that is their ownership is dealt with, the Leafs are going nowhere fast. It hurts me to type that actually since I hate seeing Original Six franchises so horribly mismanaged.

I think the rest is better than having to keep playing games. Babcock made a good point that every game a series gets prolonged means another chance for an injury. Unless some Wings join Zumaya's moving company, the time off should serve them well.

Even if San Jose comes back to win, which I don't see happening, they would be beat up and tired out in the process and then have to make the big trip to the Joe to face a rested and healthy Wings team. Dallas has looked really good in the playoffs but of all the goaltenders in the West, Turco scares me the least. For whatever reason, Detroit just owns him. If Detroit plays with the focus they played with over the past six games and keeps getting timely goaltending from Ozzie, I can't see fearing either team.

IIRC, they can be signed to extensions starting in July. I expect Zetts to get a Pasha-like deal and Mule to get a very nice contract as well this summer.

That picture absolutely made my day. What could be better? The Wings advance and Chrissie gets to pick out his favorite golf shirt.

Pasha has been our best forward in the playoffs since he signed that big contract last year. That contract looks pretty sweet now, doesn't it? I even like how he was throwing the body around on people. I just love the thought of an opposing defenseman seeing this little Russian coming at him and thinking, "Crap!" But, as always, the MVP is you, the fan

Apparently FireBettman.com got a hold of this too: http://www.firebettman.com/entries/8-more-...losing-bettman/

That would basically be my logic too. If my wife doesn't have to be concerned with me yelling at the T.V. around midnight, she'll be happy. I also would like to see the Wings-Predlies rivalry get jacked up a notch. It happens in the playoffs, not by playing a team a bajillion times in the regular season. I've got to hand it to the Preds and their coaches. Management basically gutted the team but they still found a way to be on the verge of the playoffs.

Note to the rest of the West: You got your shot in--we're baaaaaaack!

Typical Pronger. He rarely is going to hit anyone who is in a position so that he could immediately retaliate.