clutchngrab

Babcock should just rotate wingers with Pavs and Z. Maybe have a lottery on the plane or something. Homer gets the spot for the power play, but rotate in Cleary, Bert, Mule, Modano, Abbie, Helm. Hell even Miller and Eaves. Homer really needs to be getting less ice.

Well yeah, get now while the gettin's good. Apparently slurping beluga cavier out of prostitutes navels does not do much for playing hockey

Pavs has been amazing pretty much every game. I really didn't notice Mule or Bert much tonight. 3rd line looked good. It seemed like Mike was trying to get the 3rd and 4th rolling at the expense of the 2nd. Given the game tomorrow that makes sense. Kindl is the only d man looking consistently shabby right now. Once Rafalski is back look out! Well, he has played with his head up his ass until very recently. What don't you understand? Oh Right...Hudler.

2 Choices: Bring Happy up and drop Bert and see what happens or trade Happy. Thats really all there is. BTW, Draper won't be able to crack this lineup either.

Agreed. 1) This is shoulder not elbow. 2) most of this is a result of Thorton being a big guy and the angle that they met. 3) Thorton did not intend to injure. If you look closely, he doesn't come close to leaving his feet and does not in any way "drive" into Parron. Tough break for David, but mostly his fault.

I watched Hudler closely while he was developing here. He was always too small, too slow, too whatever. Babcock hated him. But he improved greatly over a 2 or 3 year span and I kind of liked him as the underdog. The guy worked hard back then, but sadly probably forgot that ethic after his KHL contract. I always pulled for the guy, but I have to say that a trade for another Abbie type forward now, while we still can, would be the best move.

Mule, Dats, Z, Bert, Helm Kronner, Salei, Osgood, Cleary

Just finished watching the game and thought the wings out-played them for the last two periods. This game came down to their goaltender being better than ours. Without that horrible 3rd goal we get a point at least. Oh well - here's to Ozzie staying off the ice as much as possible.

Yes the team was bad, but Osgood isn't bringing much to the table. Here is the line from the AP wire story: "The Stars scored on four of their first nine shots against a struggling Chris Osgood, who made 11 saves for Detroit (2-1-1)." This is the same goalie that had an .888 save percentage on a playoff team last year. Ever wonder why he never gets the "lucky break" and have the puck hit him? Because he is small, usually too deep in his net and can't see over or around players. Even his pads are too small. Osgood is a 1980's style goalie playing in 2010, and his best asset in the past - his quickness and lateral movement - is pretty much gone. Sorry but he is as "Done as Dinner".

Please remind what Cleary brought to the Wings last year? Savard is infinitely better, but it doesn't matter because Cleary + pick won't bring Savard anyway.

EggZactly - I've been saying that forever. That's one thing Kenny has gotten right.

You forget that players calculate what is in the best interest of their careers. If you are Ville Leino or Kyle Quincey where would you rather play to further your income? No knock on them BTW.

While I totally agree, Chicago is a very talented team despite Quenville. I can't stand that ****** Maquire, but he's correct in that SJ can't skate with the hawks. Chicago looks like the wings used to when every line and every D pairing out there was better than the other teams. For them 20 years of sucking and the Wirtz ownership will be culminated by this year. Its just too bad they didn't have to go thru the wings to get it. I really wanted a re-match this year, but thems the breaks. I've said it multiple times: Nabakov is the biggest playoff choke goalie since Eddie Belfour.

Yeah, I saw a few Nabby and Setoguchi bulls*** embellishments which were completely ignored. Now that the s*** storm of protest from the fan base is forcing the refs to allow them to play, the sharks number is up.

Works in Chicago and San Jose, and you'll notice they are still playing hockey.

How about a real upgrade? Cleary and Hudler for some size, grit and scoring.

It takes more than a fight every blue moon to lose the ***** moniker. He has to actually play with some snarl.

Tony Granato - but yeah his CV wasn't so hot.

Everyone is talking about forwards, but the real weakness on this team is defense. We need a legit top 3 defenseman because Kronwall and Erriccson in particular have underperformed. Stuart and Rafalski are inconsistent for different reasons and Lebda just plain blows. Even if Lids does come back, he's lost a lot in the last 2 years. Hudler might be good trade bait. I would love to get out from under Cleary too, but that's unlikely. And finally Rafalski is vastly overpaid. Yes he scores points, but he he's almost a wash on the defensive side of the puck love to get out from that contract and Draper's as well.

Never understood the trend towards signing goalies to LTCs.

The waste of size that is Ericsson when it comes to physicality is appalling. This kid is all over the map. Back in the day, Cheli would have set him straight much like he did with Fischer.

I throw a ton of respect your way for managing LGWF. Hope your ailments are recoverable and that it happens fast. Peace to you.

I really don't get Kopecky on that line - I know they are Czech buddies and all, but is Q really that much of a tool?

I liked your original post, but then you followed up with a 3rd line of Cleary-Abdelkader-Jagr. I can see the negotiations now: Holland: "We've got you slotted on the 3rd line w/ Apple Fritter and that Newfie guy Cleary. No one's gonna touch you." Jagr: "My agent should be here any minute. Wait, never mind - I'm not sure I need him. Where do I sign!"

Yeah the fans were great, but the place that really rocks is Montreal. They were getting the usual Bettman/Penguins ref rape-age and the place was pretty berserk in the 3rd period. I'm not really a Habs fan, but it would be cool to see a playoff game in their barn. Any word on Stuart? (Sorry if its in the 40 pages.)