A.T.Hun

His points are pretty good: 5-21-26 but he's -5 By way of comparison Nick is: 3-24-27 and is +14 As others have said, it's a little early to be talking about the Norris. Having said that, it's hard to imagine a scenario where Niedermayer (sp?) would end up being a candidate without a career year, yes, a historically unprecedented year.

I think the article and the argument is a bit on the dopey side. Having said that, I was able to see the Wings play the Wild at St. Paul a couple of years ago. The Xcel Energy Center is a terrific. The place was packed on a Monday night and there was a ton of energy. When Stevie scored for the Wings, I heard a Wild fan behind me say, "You just saw a goal scored by one of the greats." There was a vocal minority of Wings fans there. I had some good hockey-related discussions with the people around me--including about why the North Stars failed and bemoaning that the current ownership wasn't doing enough to win despite a sold-out building. The only "argument" I got into was a disagreement on an icing touch-up (I still think Schneider got there first). There was also the obviously well-to-do but equally obviously drunk Wild fan who said something incomprehensible to me at the end of the game, which the Wings won. I took it as a compliment The point is that "Hockeytown" is a marketing gimmick that isn't really worth getting all that worked up about. Hopefully this new guy the Wings hired can get the Joe filled again.

While I've been a supporter of ESPN, their coverage of the NHL is almost non-existent. I don't think that they didn't know how to pronounce "Valtteri Filppula" (whose name, admittedly, looks like a typographical error) really has any bearing on anything. The Euro thing might be a factor, but the Wings have been big on Euros for a long time, so don't honestly believe that it's that big of an issue. There was an interesting article on the Free Press yesterday talking about the new guy that they hired from the Preds to be a business guy. Basically, it will be his job to get butts in the seats at the Joe. The article was telling. The Wings basically have done nothing for group sales or promotions because for so many years they didn't have to. It will be interesting to see if this guy can be successful in getting sellouts again. Another issue that is seldom discussed is the whole "get back to me in April" mentality. The Wings have the longest continuous streak of playoff appearances right now. Wings fans know that the regular season is more or less superfluous. Call me when the playoffs start. Then add in their recent (until last year) playoff futility and you've got a recipe for empty seats. That's even before you throw in the Euro thing, the economy, ticket prices, etc., etc., etc.

While I've been a supporter of ESPN, their coverage of the NHL is almost non-existent. I don't think that they didn't know how to pronounce "Valtteri Filppula" (whose name, admittedly, looks like a typographical error) really has any bearing on anything. The Euro thing might be a factor, but the Wings have been big on Euros for a long time, so don't honestly believe that it's that big of an issue. There was an interesting article on the Free Press yesterday talking about the new guy that they hired from the Preds to be a business guy. Basically, it will be his job to get butts in the seats at the Joe. The article was telling. The Wings basically have done nothing for group sales or promotions because for so many years they didn't have to. It will be interesting to see if this guy can be successful in getting sellouts again. Another issue that is seldom discussed is the whole "get back to me in April" mentality. The Wings have the longest continuous streak of playoff appearances right now. Wings fans know that the regular season is more or less superfluous. Call me when the playoffs start. Then add in their recent (until last year) playoff futility and you've got a recipe for empty seats. That's even before you throw in the Euro thing, the economy, ticket prices, etc., etc., etc.

Agreed. For the life of me, I don't understand where the angst is coming from with Sid. I'll gladly watch any game that he's involved in because when he's on the ice, something is going to happen. Same thing with Alex Ovechin, who has the quietest 21 goals in the history of the NHL right now. It's a great time to be a Wings fan with Zetterberg and Datsyuk too. Hank will get something done by pure force of will, almost an Yzerman-junior. Pasha will do something that, even when you watch the slo-mo replay, you'll say, "How the heck did he do that?" There are some really awesome young stars in the game today. It's a great time to be an NHL fan.

Seems like somebody's regretting that Todd Bertuzzi deal already . . .

You can't just hold JFJ accountable for what has happened in Toronto. They haven't been a "great franchise" for a long time. I mean, it probably won't hurt for them to get rid of him, but until the entire corporate climate changes in Toronto, they wil continue to wallow in mediocrity, the same way they've been doing it for basically all of my 40 years on this planet.

Because the Wings fans are so darn SEXXAY!

For my money, watching the Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom line is what hockey's all about. I get that tingly feeling when they're on the ice now. It's almost like it's not a question of "if" something's going to happen, but "when."

Lindros is considered a "bust" of sorts for two main reasons: 1) All the hype surrounding him when he first came out. Pretty much nobody short of Gretzky could have lived up to that. 2) That he was traded for Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, two #1s, and $15 million. That trade transformed the Nordiques from being a joke into the Stanley-Cup-contending (and winning) Avalanche.

That's more like it! I thought this thread was getting far too positive. Now I'm sure we're still on LGW. FWIW, I think the deal was very fair. I can't see how people can spend much time complaining about it other than the fact that that's what we do around here.

Look at the ESPN clip. He had his stick up in the air, parallel to the ice, with both hands on it. What the heck he was doing losing it when his team is up by 5 with 6 minutes left is beyond me. Here's a quote from HIS coach:

Here's the article on ESPN with an accompanying video clip. The NHL has to come down hard on this. Hits like Downie's are stupid and dangerous, but that cross check from Boulerice could have put Kesler out for the season or even killed him. Sticks to the head have to be dealt with most severely.

I think you summed up my thoughts too. I was very surprised watching the video. He is generally loathed by 'Hawks fans. I posted some very sharp words in another thread about "Dollar" Bill Wirtz. You can't spend your life doing everything not to win a Cup (they're too expensive!) and kicking the average fan in the teeth and then expect them not to sing "Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead" when you croak. Nevertheless, I was still amazed at how loud the booing was. I felt sorry for the guy who had to read the speech. Mayhaps Rocky was listening and he'll run the ship differently.

I've been relatively impressed, although the video is pretty compressed looking. Given that I can't get Center Ice on my cable system, this would be my only option. I had pretty much convinced myself that it wasn't worth it, but watching the Wings via the FSN Detroit feed is making me reconsider. Do they ever offer a reduce rate, like say 1/2 way through the season for 1/2 price?

He cleared waivers, which I think tells you about all you need to know.

I thought the article was good too. I always am amused at the reaction to a Drew Sharpe article. Often the first responses, containing many correctly-spelled words, just point out that he is a jerk with varying levels of vitriol. The Wings set themselves up for this by not lowering prices upon the end of the lockout. They assumed that Hockeytown would be Hockeytown no matter what. Plus, usually the Tigers season ended in mid-July so people were eager, yea dying, for something resembling quality by the beginning of October. Even though the Tigers "underachieved" this season, they were still in it until the last week. Granted, the Lions have had a fast start, but everyone knows that that won't last. Plus, while every Lions game sells out, there's only eight games to sell out! I think the NHL in general and the Red Wings specifically need to be very concerned about this. Not having a sellout for the first time in 10 years on opening day (and not even close to a sellout) in one of the top hockey markets in the U.S. does not bode well for the NHL.

Is this game on regular T.V. anywhere other than CBC? I checked NBC (golf) and Versus (college football). What kind of half-arsed crap is it when the NHL makes a big deal about starting overseas and no one in the U.S. can see it live without CBC/Center Ice?

Greed took over? So if you were in his situation with no previous connection to the Wings at all, you'd automatically choose the Wings for less cash? That makes no sense. While I'd definitely say that the Wings are in better shape to have a prolonged run for the Cup, there are no guarantees that way. Going to Chicago he gets more money and, the way Chicago's defensive corps is, he'll get more playing time. I fail to see how greed even enters into it.

I can't remember if I saw it on ESPN or what, but they said that the suspension does not start ticking off if he is sent down. I guess that begs the question, why bring him up . . . ever?

Let's hear it for Boyd!

How does an official press release sound? This is from a Cox Communications announcement.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was in no small part because of pressure put on by the Wings management/ownership. I'm of the opinion that the Wings should have at least a home-and-home against the other Original Six franchises every year, especially Toronto. Really, do we need to see the Jackets and Predlies more than six times a year?

This one was always my favorite. The Canadiens' goalie with the outrageous French accent saying, "Aaah het yoo Mahple Leafs!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ghL3yWD-I

Well, I'm pretty impressed. The video has more than a few artifacts, but hockey action doesn't lend itself well to most streaming video algorithms. Nevertheless, the fact that I could watch the Wings and the Leafs games at the same time was pretty slick . . . in Linux, no less!