Outsider

**un-jinx** Well..... Oz hasn't yet lost a game this Season where the Wings played well in front of him, and he was the sole reason for the loss. I figure he's got two, maybe three, more "off" games, (with the possibility of one or two of the "my bad" types of games in there), before he gets his head screwed back on straight again. All the damned personal attention does him in every time. The guy does NOT like having the spotlight focused on him. He prefers to go about his business quietly, without the "Hey! Look at me!" nonsense.

Yeah. Wouldn't want that. Well.....at least Babcock wouldn't want it. Just like he didn't want it during the '05-06 Season, when Osgood clearly outplayed Legace down the stretch. And Babcock certainly didn't want it when his chosen Starter was talking about how much he needed to go home and cuddle with his wife, or how he felt like hanging himself, when the pressure ramped up during the Play-Offs against Edmonton. And I agree with GMRedwings1983 when he states that Hasek would probably simply leave Detroit were his #1 status so much as threatened, however temporarily, rather than stay and accept a diminished role.

Fans are funny. Loyalty to whom? The Owners? The same Owners who voted unanimously to "starve" the Players into accepting a salary cap, by not allowing them to play, at ALL, until they gave in to the Owners demands? Because it was, as we can all see NOW, the sole fault of the PLAYERS for the state the NHL found itself in. Ayup.....you betcha..... Loyalty to the GM's? Ask Dave Andreychuk where the Loyalty has gone. Ask Dallas Drake. I'm sure they'd like to know, too. Loyalty to the fans? Those very same fans who, only a few short years ago, were screaming "Greedy!" and "Selfish!", and calling for scabs, stating that at least SCABS would play with some heart, some desire, unlike the spoiled, greedy, rich pigs in the NHLPA, and then rubbing their hands in glee when the Players finally gave in and accepted the Cap, (now, it appears, under less than "official" terms), because they were so glad that those greedy bast@rds had finally gotten their comeuppance? The Owners got what they wanted. So did the vast majority of NHL fans. Welcome to the New NHL. One wonders if fans in small markets like Buffalo, Edmonton, and Atlanta are still patting themselves on the backs because their Teams NOW have a level playing field, without the Flyers, Leafs and Rangers being able to ****** up all the "good" players. Ayup.....fans sure are funny.....

Perhaps you're right. But if that's your stance, then in all fairness: Why sell food at hockey games. Or better yet.....beer? It's a hockey game. Fans came to watch guys perform athletically and play their hearts out in a designed contest. Are we there to ingest overpriced, unhealthy food, devoid of anything but fat and cholesterol and imbibe WAY overpriced and undersized alocoholic beverages? It's hockey. There are plenty of eating establishments and bars on every street corner without having to peddle bad food and watered down beer to folks who hadn't the forethought to have dinner before coming to the game, or who simply cannot wait until AFTER the game to knock back a few cold ones. We can afford not going the way of MLB. All a matter of simple perspective.....

Okay, an Isles fan weighing in with a few points: * Anybody here meet many LI girls of that age group? One word: S N O T T Y. Period. I can just HEAR the girl in question, in patented nasally LI voice to Lundquist: "Excuse me.....Excuse me......EXCUSE ME!!!" Then the disgusted, I-can't-believe-I-have-to-deal-with-you-do-you-KNOW-who-my-daddy-is snort, followed by her PUPOSELY jamming her squeegee against Lundquists goalie stick. * Just a guess, but I'd bet good, hard-earned money that Isles Management encouraged this little bit of Drama. It's not the first time they've done so. Anything to make an Isles/Rangers game even NASTIER. Especially at THIS time of year, and with the implications of this Game. * NO NEED for these girls to be out there, BUT......If they ARE gonna be out there: They're going to have to learn to EXPECT to be treated like "shovel chicks". Society is harsh. Out in the big, bad world, NOBODY cares about you, honey. Get used to it. Whining and crying only reinforces the fact that you ARE a "shovel chick". Rise above that stigma, and adopt a more dignified, mature response. EARN any respect you feel you deserve. That's the way the Law of the Jungle works. * To those wondering what these girls could possibly be aspiring to in hoping to be "discovered, for what?" as an Ice Girl? Jill Nicollini got a nice spread in Playboy based on her in-crowd interviews during commercial breaks. And that's perfectly fine. These girls do personal appearances, commercials for local businesses, meet and greet type of gigs, photo shoots. Who KNOWS who they might run into at one of these engagements? Some tend to forget that many people, men AND women, don't aspire to attend college, nor to earn two Graduate Degrees. It's perfectly fine to get by on your looks alone, if you can swing it. It's good work, if you can get it. Cindy Crawford is dumber than a ROCK. I'm guessing she doesn't have many money concerns, though. Alessandra Ambrosio doesn't appear to have much need for a higher education, either. Somehow, she's getting by. Both appear to be doing quite well for themselves. And BOTH of them probably making a DAMNED sight more than someone with two, three, or even four, Graduate Degrees. Again......Law of the Jungle.

The reason the Wings play differently in front of Ozzie than they do in front of Hasek is because Hasek is a bit fanatical. Remember what Derian Hatcher had to say about him earlier this season? I remember a game at the Pond in early April, 2002. Ended in a 1-1 tie. DEADLY boring damned game......but, anyway..... I took my best friend to his first ever hockey game that night. He brought his girlfriend along. During warm-ups, there was a young Detroit player who scored on Dom. Big "no-no", apparently, especially for a late season call up. His name was Jason Williams. After the puck found the back of the net, Dom turned and broke his goalie stick over the crossbar, then flung the shaft of the stick directly at Williams' head. Luckily, Feds was standing next to JW in the half circle of players taking shots on Dom, and kind of "pushed" him out of harms way. The kid looked shocked and rather scared, especially when Hasek came out of his net and took a skate toward the kid, gesticulating like he was truly angry. Feds shoved him toward the bench with a few words of what appeared to be encouragement or "no worries" type of stuff, while Drapes cut Dom off. The kid spent the remainder of warm-ups there. He didn't BUDGE from in front of the bench again. My friends girlfriend turned to me, surprised, and asked..... "Did that guy just throw a stick at his own teammate?" When I replied with a bland "Ayup.", she got a disgusted look on her face and made a "snort"..... "What an a$$hole." Now.... I know that there will be those, (I won't mention any names), who come out to say that I must be mistaken in what I saw, or who will defend Hasek, saying that it was just his "competitive nature" which caused him to chuck a splintered stick at a rookies head for having the temerity to score on him in warm-ups. Whatever. I know what I saw. And it wasn't right. No matter HOW competitive your nature. Players DO play with "fear" in front of Hasek......

Simple. Understated. Completely UN-flashy. More than a little Old School in appearance. LOL.... How very typical of Chris Osgood. ***Edit: Does the article include a shot of the back of the lid, where the Wings Logo is located?

Whatever gave you the impression that Osgood doesn't want to be a Starter anymore? Prior to the Wings signing him last Off-Season he outright stated that he'd love the opportunity to prove that he's still a Starter, but that he'd sign with Detroit in WHATEVER capacity they chose to sign him for. Then a couple of months ago, during an in-game interview from the bench, he reiterated the same, stating that it would be nice to get back to being the #1, but that it would be "very difficult" to leave Detroit under any circumstances. Ozzie's here because he WANTS to be here. This is where his heart is. He will always be a Detroit Red Wing. Don't be surprised to find that Oz is STILL with the Wings even after his playing days are done.

Given consistent playing time, Oz is a more than capable Starter. He's not a back-up, because he's always gotten better the more he's played.

How 'bout: "Groin(g) all the way!" or perhaps: "For-the-love-of-GOD-please-not-another-SouthEastern-Team!" or even: "F*(K the Underdog!!!"

There was rumored to be friction in the lockerroom and between he and the coaching staff in LA. Apparently HE though he should be getting more ice time, and a larger role. His coaches saw him as talented, but selfish. His attitude was rumored to be "F*ck you then. Trade me. You'll be sorry when I'm gone." So they traded him. He became very close with Mike Peca once he got to Long Island. It was rumored that he had T-Shirts made up after the 2001-2002 Season which read "Good Ole Boys Club", (or something to that effect), for himself, Peca, and 2 or 3 other undisclosed Players on the Team. It was rumored that it was the members of the GOBC which led the charge against Peter Laviolette at the close of the 2002-2003 Season, throwing their head coach under the bus, and resulting in Peter's ouster from the HC position on LI. It has been rumored, (by some very reliable sources within the Org.), that Blake is NOT liked even amongst his own Teammates, and that he further doesn't much care for THEM, either. Nothing personal.....just that he has what has been called a "Little Man Complex", and that he's never really been fond of ANY of his Teammates, anywhere. Now.....all of that has been rumored......but here are things I see NIGHTLY, with my OWN eyes......and I not only watch, but TAPE, every Isles game via NHL Center Ice....... He is definitely a high energy guy, but watch him. Really, REALLY watch him. He's a puck hog. He'll take the shot rather than pass the puck, no matter HOW BAD the angle for himself, no matter how GOOD a Teammate's angle. He's also a show-boat. He'll dipsy doodle, especialy on the PK, much to the delight of the fans. Matter of fact, he'll keep the puck for so long that he gets so exhausted that he finally stumbles, loses the puck, or gives the puck away entirely out of sheer exhaustion. All the while there are fresh legs on the ice, other guys he can pass to. And watch his goal celebrations particularly closely.......EVERY TIME..... Back turned to the ice after scoring, he skates directly up to the glass behind the goal, does the whole fist-pump, stick waving, "look at me, look at ME!", chest butts the glass for the fans, then finally turns and gives a courtesy nod to the guy who passed him the puck.

I'm not sure Blakesy would fit in with the Wings lockerroom. For the same reason that he was never drafted. Which would be the same reason why he was never able to catch on in Los Angeles. Wonder why he's being shopped when the Isles are in the middle of a heated race to make the Play Offs? He leads the Isles in goals and in points, after all..... Don't get me wrong, I love Blakesy's hustle. But there's a definite culture inside the Wings lockerroom, and I don't think Jason Blake would fit in.

Understood, Crymson. I retract my previous statement regarding thunderous flatulence at social gatherings. Stand up move by you to jump back in with a form of apology. Thank you. I rather prefer to think of myself as an Ogre, though......

I don't know where you're getting that information, unkempt. Hasek has always been known to be a bad puckhandler, and a goaltender who takes crazy risks coming out of the net. Where you get the impression that those are anywhere near "strengths" of his is beyond me. Just because he does it often, doesn't mean he's good at it. Remeber a game against the Blues back in late 2002? I believe it was Keith Tkachuk, (could have been Dougie Weight, but I believe it was Walt), who was getting a bit too close to Dom in the crease...... Dom skated out of his crease, while the Blues were cycling the puck in the Wings zone, and Dom started berating Tkachuk near the left face off circle. He was paying absolutely NO attention to the play going on around him. The Blues scored into a VACATED net, while Dom was "chatting" with Tkachuk. Matter of fact, Dom continued to "chat" with Tkachuk until the Blues, including Tkachuk, started to skate off for the face off at Center Ice. Only THEN did Dom realize that he'd been scored upon. How many times have you seen Dom fall down like he's been SHOT, when he hasn't even been touched, then lay there waiting for a whistle, while the opposing Team puts the puck into the empty net because the whistle never came? Patrick Roy was one of the best to ever play the game, and he was constantly coming out of the net to play the puck. He SUCKED at it. And he got burned frequently. Doesn't make him any less a great goaltender. Simply a bad puckhandling goaltender with a penchant for wandering. That reporter was not "hounding" Hasek. He questioned his "injury" status, and implied that perhaps Dom wasn't as unhealthy as he stated, but wasn't willing to play in the Play Offs for other reasons. And as for the Buffalo/Nolan situation.... Why not read up on Hasek's OWN COMMENTS from a few weeks ago regarding what happened in Buffalo? Dom does NOT have a squeaky clean reputation, character wise.

Yes..... Crymson certainly can shut folks up with the best of 'em. Kinda like a really loud fart in the middle of a cocktail party. Kudos to you for your classy rejoinder, Crymson. It's good to know that opposing opinions are accepted here with only a hint of personal attack directed at the poster. Bravo! You're right, loo.....very few question Hasek about anything at all. One person who questioned him got assaulted outside the lockerroom in Buffalo for his audacity. Another got fired after taking home the Adams for Coach of the Year, then blacklisted for over a decade within the League.

Dom's antics outside the net are pure arrogance. He's a terrible puck handler, but feels he's entitled to roam anyway because no one should have the temerity to score on his empty net when he goes wandering. And if they DO score on his empty net.... Well then.....it's partially his Teammates fault for not supporting his decision to go for a completely unnecessary stroll. But because he's The Dominator, people give him a pass.....as they do for many things.

With Ozzie's recent history of hand related injuries, I'd much rather NOT see him throw the mitts, thankyouverymuch. I hear he's gonna be on Red Wings Weekly tomorrow morning with Murph.....

LOL. Ozzie's tougher than he lets on, and definitely tougher than he's perceived to be. He's more than willing to dust it up when the occasion arises. Game against Washington in March (?) of 2002 comes to mind, where he shoved his own Teammate Branislav Mezei out of the way in order to get at Steve Konowalchuk. He appeared to shock the Hell outta both Mezei AND Konowalchuk, who had a look on their faces like "Is this guy NUTS, or what?" Oz is a nasty customer when he's riled up. He's got temper, too.

Obviously muuuuuuuch pickier than the 5 girls gcom saw in Dom's limo back in '02.... AHAHAHAHA!!!!

Probably because neither of those girls are what one would call precisely attractive. And the fans are probably looking at the scoreboard for the same reason Dom's looking at the scoreboard. Because what's up there is far more stimulating than what's on the ice at that particular moment. And regarding gcom's comment about Dom with "5 girls in a Limo" back in 2002.....??? <shudder> I guess it pays to be a great goaltender and future HHOF, because I think it's safe to say that it's certainly not Dom's looks that make the girlies swoon. <shudder AGAIN>

To all those wishing to see Biron in a Wings uni..... Be careful what you wish for.

Depends upon the night, I guess. (smirk) The Wings are, however, the only Team in the League with TWO goaltenders on the roster who have won the Stanley Cup as a Starter. That's quite a distinction. Oz looked good tonight....

Haven't read through the GDT yet, so someone else may have addressed this, but I had to comment: Osgood is perfectly fine in "tight" battles. Matter of fact, that's when he's at his best. It's in games where his 'mates go up early, or by a large margin, where he has problems. He tends to lose focus when he feels "safe" with an early, or large, or BOTH, lead. Ozzie's got game.

You mean kinda like Babs stuck behind "his guy" during the Play Offs last year, even when it was clear that "his guy" wasn't getting the job done, and even when he had another viable, possibly better, option? You're right. It DOES seem kinda like that, doesn't it? Babs is pigheaded stubborn. I said it last year, and I'll say it again now..... Babcock would rather go down in flames than admit that he was wrong, or give the slightest impression that this is anything other than HIS Team, and HE makes the decisions.