egroen

Strawman what? Yeah, I'd say you really nailed your points home here. Well played. You may have won this battle, but by golly, I'll win the war!!!

Hossa was playing about 3 minutes a game more with Atlanta than he is now in Detroit. Why do you suppose that is? Is it because Hossa all of a sudden became fat and out of shape? Does Babcock feel Hossa can't handle it and he needs to take it easy on him, like you assume he does with Datsyuk? Is Babcock just an idiot? Or is there perhaps another reason for it? You tell me. In the past two years, Datsyuk has scored at almost the exact same clip as Iginla, while also serving as a checking forward against other teams' top scoring lines. Iginla is out there for offense only. Now I know you really hate the Red Wings and feel the defense-first and 4-line system Bowman first implemented when he came to Detroit, and has been at the heart of the team ever since, has been a spectacular failure (only 4 Cups!!??), but I tend to value an elite scoring forward who can simultaneously shut down opposing top players more so than a similar scoring forward who will get into an occassional fight. I know, crazy. I actually like the way hockey is played in this town over the past 15 years and think it could have some success if we just give it a little more time. If only the Wings had the amazing Iginla or Ovechkin, maybe they could have gotten past the first round the past two years and actually made it to the conference finals or even won a Cup.

I had thought the sarcasm dripping off that post would be obvious. Datsyuk is often complimented by his teamates and coaches for being one of the hardest workers on and off the ice and for being in phenomenal shape. I am pretty sure he could handle the extra minutes. Babcock has the luxury of a stacked team, and can evenly distribute the ice time of his forwards, also ensuring they will have plenty in the tank for the playoffs. Not a single forward on this team gets over 20 minutes a game.

If you can - lower bowl near center ice so you can watch both ends. It's kind of annoying to be lower bowl on one end or in a corner, as you never have much of a clue what is going on at the other end. Lower upper bowl gives you a pretty good view from anywhere. Suites, if you are going with a good amount of people, give great views as well. Does Atlanta have standing room? If it is just you or a few friends, standing room is a ton of fun - but not best for a family.

Fun year for Janik: Janik signed as FA by Chicago Janik put on waivers by Chicago Janik claimed off of waivers by Dallas Janik put on waivers by Dallas Janik claimed off of waivers by Chicago Janik traded to Dallas for future considerations Janik traded to Montreal for Begin

Sure - because Babcock obviously needs to get the most out of his superstars during the regular season. He realizes the whole "rolling 4 lines" thing is a load of bunk. That's why we see guys like Hossa and Zetterberg playing 23+ minutes a game - without those guys carrying the load this team would be lost. Too bad Datsyuk can't handle those type of minutes, because if he was, I have a feeling this team would finally be able to make the playoffs.

I would take Dandy as a rental in a second. That's easily worth a 4th round pick in my book.

Do you really believe that? Because I find it to be the type of asinine statement that ignorant fans from other teams make all the time. Datsyuk produces no matter whom he is playing with - and that has often included Holmstrom, Cleary, Franzen, Devereaux, even Kopecky -- guys that are not exactly playmakers. Iginla is not playing on a team devoid of talent either -- he has Phaneuf, Cammalleri, Langkow -- not exactly third line scrubs. Put Iginla on the Red Wings and he is playing less than 20 minutes a night, his PP time is more evenly distributed and he is required to backcheck more and play more on the PK (he currently is averaging a whole 12 seconds a night). Looking at Hossa this year, I think it is safe to say Iginla is not going to be winning any Art Ross trophies on the Red Wings. Now if I put Datsyuk with Calgary, he gets almost 2 1/2 minutes more a game, which is really 10 extra games in playing time. He also will see as much as an extra 1 1/2 minutes of power play time per game --> That's around 30 extra games worth of power play time. Now do you really think Datsyuk's production would "decrease" on another team? Is Brind'Amour a better "all-around forward" than Ovechkin? It's certainly arguable, isn't it? But I wouldn't say he is a "better" forward than Ovechkin. But what were we talking about again?

Lol... How many teams' fans do you think are out there right now that are actively campaigning for one of their players to recieve the Lady Byng? Don't get me wrong, I am proud to see the Wings do so well each year for this award; the Lady Byng was often considered the unofficial runner-up to the Hart, but the thought cracked me up.

Perhaps, but you base that off of one quote, which could very well have been an "Aww, shucks" selfless compliment, from Datsyuk. Zetterberg definitely has more "captain" qualities, but Datsyuk is an alternate captain for good reason I bet. Despite his willingness to defer to Zetterberg, especially in front of the media, Datsyuk possesses many leadership qualities: dedication, work ethic, passion for the game, class and the willingness to do everything for the team. More so than anyone else on the team, he is that guy who can take over a game and keep you glued to your seat. To-mah-to!

Most of your best "all-around" forwards are centers for a reason. Iginla is a different type of leader, but not any better of a leader than Yzerman, Sakic or Lidstrom. And if you can teach any idiot how to skate, pass and shoot the puck -- I would ask that you start giving lessons to Kopecky, immediately. I simply value a scoring forward who can shut down an opposition's first line more than a scorer who will give you a fight every once in a while. Datsyuk is a threat on both ends of the ice every single shift of every single game while Iginla has been in all of 3 fights this season. Oh, and Datsyuk has also registered more hits this year than Iginla.

If fighting is your number one requirement for "All-around forward", which it is for a lot of people, than Datsyuk loses. But the only other areas Iginla is ahead of Datsyuk (leadership, hits and goal scoring) is not a huge gap. Personally, I would prefer defensive play over fighting, so I consider Datsyuk a much better all around forward.

Essentially Chelios, Lilja and Quincey for Ovechkin and two prospects. Well, s***... we already lost a key ingredient to that trade... now we'll never get Ovechkin!

Sweet, got tix -- will be there! Go Wings!

I'm smellin' Arby's! I'm trying to get to this game, should be a great one!

Getzlaf A) Irrationally: Because he just looks like an arrogant prick. B) Rationally: He is a Wings-killer.

Wings would need to dump Kronwall or Filppula in order to rent Khabibulin. No way.

All true -- but I'd say it is still a good point. Things have not gone as well for players over the past decade who have left the team voluntarily. Lapointe, Fedorov, Shanahan, Schneider, Bertuzzi - not one Cup or even a conference finals between them all. And most of them do not find a home for very long.

They rank them more heavily for top "potential" as opposed to "how close are they". IE. Kindl and Smith, while further away, have the potential to be better than Ericsson; Larsson and McCollum have higher potential than Howard.

Ovechkin plays with Semin, Backstrom and Green - three of the most offensively talented players in the league, and they get to throw Fedorov on their power plays as well. Datsyuk is playing regularly with Holmstrom or Cleary - both of whom are last on the list of players mentioned in offensive skill. Ovechkin may have one less game than Datsyuk, but he is averaging 22:50 in playing time to Datsyuk's 19:09. Over an 82 game season, that difference factors out to over 15 extra games Ovechkin sees in extra ice time. Each game, on average, Ovechkin sees 2 more minutes of power play time than Datsyuk and an extra 2 1/2 minutes of even strength time. Do you think Datsyuk would be doing a little better points-wise if he was seeing an extra 45 games worth of time on the power play (averaging 3 1/2 minutes)? Maybe?

What makes you think a smaller european, with absolutely no history of fighting whatsoever, would be able to handle himself with another player that was willing to fight? "Willing" being the operative word here, because most players Datsyuk's size that are "willing" would more than likely mop the ice with Datsyuk. How'd you like to see Datsyuk go toe-to-toe with Rick Rypien, Daniel Carcillo or Jordin Tootoo? I am sure it would be really uplifting for the team to watch Datsyuk get smacked around. Maybe you're right, and maybe we would have seen him do well against Roberts or Daley if the refs were not there -- but I'm fine without knowing.

Obviously because he has been in one NHL fight in his career, where he was thoroughly trounced by Paul Gaustad.

Rafalski signed with Detroit for $6m a year over 5 years.... with a NTC.

You are aware this is a sport, right? I am sure if someone legitimately threatened his wife or daughter, or even close friend, Dasyuk would be willing to fight. Outside of those cisrcumstances, I fail to see when fighting is a necessity. Why on earth should he go out of his way to get his ass kicked on the ice? Do you really think he has a single teamate or coach who questions his leadership, determination and guts simply because he has never received a fighting major?

You're still a Wings fan? Ovechkin runs around half the time like a chicken with his head cut off, and would be a much better player if he focused a little more on positioning, take aways and defense -- instead of flying all over and losing his position to make a big hit. Give Datsyuk Ovechkin's even strength minutes and power play minutes and Datsyuk would easily have a lot more points, while still playing Selke-worthy defense. Datsyuk's hits are played to perfection. He rarely goes down in a heap with the player he nailed, but comes away with the puck. He broke Ryan Malone's nose and sent Chara flying into the boards - not because of his mass, but because his hits are unexpected and perfectly timed, which makes them terribly effective. I am perfectly content if 100% of the rest of the NHL could beat him up, because Datsyuk wins games. Detroit destroys Washington in a 7 game series. I would not trade Datsyuk this year for Ovechkin. Ovechkin is simply younger with more years ahead of him, so of course he would be the logical choice for a long term contract at the same cap hit. Marcel Dionne was an absolute playoffs disaster. I'm not even sure what your point is. Who wants Datsyuk off the ice for 5 minutes and who wants him to risk an injury against a 4th liner? Blithering idiots? Do they even want that? Would you prefer we swap Lidstrom for Phaneuf this year?