egroen

I would have trouble putting Shanahan on that list knowing the Craig Janey incident and what happened with that Blues team.

At the very most, Hudler will not be able to take part in any international tournaments... which I imagine will suck, but would he be willing to give up about $6 million dollars in order to play in the Olympics, when he will have another chance in 4 years?

Even "hitting" an elderly man at his job is well outside of normal behavior, even for a 20 year-old. Respecting everyone would be holding Kane to a 'higher' standard. Not assualting someone 3 times your age is simple human decency. No one was throwing Abdelkader under the bus for acting obnoxious at a bar recently and getting kicked out -- that is a 'mistake', but one many of us have made in their early 20s. Have you ever assualted someone three times your age? That is incomprehensible to me -- and I did a lot of stupid things at that age.

It's not even a "higher" standard. I was obnoxious at that age, drank too much and would get into fights -- all things I probably could have tempered if I had the responsibility and good fortune to be in Kane's position, but beating up an elderly man at his job is something I would have never done at even my lowest moments. Not that it matters, but I will certainly never be a fan of Patrick Kane, that's for sure. I do think this guy just made it a lot easier for Chicago to walk away from him after next year, though.

The 09/10 season is the final season of his NTC.

Can we offer the KHL Williams and Bertuzzi instead?

Detroit had 70+ games lost to injuries this past post-season, many to top players, and came within 1 goal of the Penguins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. How did Calgary do despite their injuries? Of course injuries are not an "excuse", but they certainly are a reason. I posted Calgary would be swept in the first round this year, because of all their injuries.

01 Devils 00 Stars 09 Wings 07 Senators 08 Penguins 06 Oilers 04 Flames 02 Hurricans 03 Mighty Ducks Tough to do -- for instance, if the 09 Wings were not hit with 70+ man games lost to injuries, I would have put them further up.

I still can not believe Lidstrom has never won the Byng -- but yes, I think Datsyuk can win another couple, it would be sweet if he won more than Boucher. The Lady Byng used to be considered the Hart runner-up, and I believe it is still worth noting, as the ability to simply stay out of the penalty box and not put your team short-handed is underrated in value.

That 2002 team played well in spite of itself, and I think Yzerman deserves a lot of credit for holding that team together the full season -- with egos and personalities the size of Hasek, Hull, Chelios, Fedorov, Robitaille and Shanahan, I think that team was never as cohesive of a unit as the later or earlier Cup Teams. In my opinion that team could have just as easily imploded and lose in the first round as they could have won the Cup.... or not even make the playoffs at all (see the Avs in 2004, and countless Rangers teams). Talent-wise, there is no question the 2002 team is at the top this decade, with the 2001 Avs right behind. But as far as excelling as a team, above and beyond the individual parts, and playing well together - the 2008 Wings, Avs, Ducks and Devils teams might actually be better. Though that 2002 team did beat Vancouver and Colorado, both of which had high-end talent and depth not really seen post-lockout.

Sounds like Huder would be a good influence on him

Can we make the modern-day players use 70s skates, pads, wooden sticks and smoke in between periods?

I have rarely seen Ovechkin play, and certainly not a large enough pool of games to form a well-rounded analysis of his play. Yet I still feel pretty safe in stating he is one of the best in the league - based on stats, opinions from those that do watch him and individual awards.

That's a regular team in a league -- like the Detroit Red Wings, not a national team. There have been a number of unbelievable russian national teams, though I think the 79-83 national team was probably the best, despite losing to a bunch of amateurs in one game.

There are a number of ways to adjust for era, but the easiest way is simply to look at average goals per game in a given year and then to adjust accordingly. For instance, in the 1980s, with the open style of play GPG actually broke 8. In the deadpuck era, it was as low as 5, and even lower in the Original 6 Period. Obviously it was a lot easier to score 100+ points in the 80s than it was during the clutch & grab era. Here is a list of the GPG per year: http://www.dropyourgloves.com/Stat/LeagueGoals.aspx For instance, Datsyuk's 97 points this past year (5.83 GPG) is worth the equivelent of 120 points as recently as 1993 (7.25 GPG / 5.83 = 1.24 * 97 = 120). 21 players scored 100 or more points in 1993 - only 3 did this past year. You can get more accurate by adding to the variables (for instance, there were less games played during the Original 6), but you'll get reasonably accurate results simply looking at average GPG per year. Skill is relative to their peers at the same time. If Gordie Howe was born in 1980 and enjoyed the same training, nutrition and equipment as modern players, I have a feeling he would be dominating the league today just as much as he was during the Original 6 era. IE. Scoring 140+ points.

Heh... adjust it for era and it is not even close. The best players in the world played for the NHL during the Original 6, a period which enjoyed the highest degree of competition only being approached now (5 times the teams; 5 times the hockey playing population worldwide; but still less players per team). Gordie Howe best represents just how good the Original 6 was: At the age of 41, Gordie Howe broke 100 points for the first time in 1969, post-expansion (12 Teams) and he was only 3rd in points, well behind Espositio with 126. Now do you really think Gordie Howe was a better player at the age of 41 than in his 20s or even 30s? Howe led the league (6 Teams) as a 23 year-old in 1951 in goals, assists as well as points - with only 86 points - but ahead of the likes of "Rocket" Richard and over a 30% margin above his closest competitor. Shanahan is up there... but Lindsay? Richard? Clarke? Messier? And being a power forward does not by default make you better than the likes of Delvecchio, Abel, Larionov and Bathgate.

Are you kidding me? Ted Lindsay is the only player in the history of the NHL whom has led the league in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes (Shanahan has done none not a single one of that). Delvecchio has been top 10 in the league in points 11 times (Shanahan has 2), Abel has him beat in everything but penalty minutes (and a Hart to boot) and Bathgate has been top 5 in the leauge for points 8 times (Shanahan? 0 times). And Larionov is the greatest russian two-way forward ever behind only Fedorov.

I would put Shanahan ahead of Bucyk and maybe Robitaille... ok, definitely Robitaille.

To be fair - how many players would the Wings have won "without"? Those were damn good teams and they have won "without" pretty much everyone but Lidstrom. But why does that matter? McCarty was obviously well loved by not only the fans, but his teamates and management as well. There is no doubt in my mind he will be inducted into the Red Wings Honored Alumni, and maybe even the Red Wings Hall of Fame, based not only on his value to the team, but also his charitable work in the Detroit area. You (and others) may personally dislike him, but that does not lessen his value to the Red Wings organization.

I'll agree -- the '87 Canada Team barely beat the Soviets, despite the star power. Here's a 'league team' that could rival the 78 Canadiens: '88-89 ZSKA Moscow Vladimir Krutov - Igor Larionov - Sergei Makarov Vyacheslav Fetisov - Alexei Kasatonov Aleksander Mogilny - Sergei Fedorov - Pavel Bure Sergei Zubov - Vladimir Konstantinov Valeri Kamensky - Vyacheslav Bykov - Andrei Khomutov Alexei Gusarov - Vladimir Malakhov Evgeny Davydov - Igor Chibirev - Igor Vyazmikin Igor Kravchuk - Igor Malykhin Evgeny Belosheiken Alexei Ivashkin

I was thinking Glenn Hall... but he was traded from Detroit before he really took off. Hasek in 2002, especially in the playoffs, is the best goaltending we have seen in some time... though I suppose Osgood would be the friendly choice. Smith, Lumley, Mowers and Vernon would all be decent choices for the backup to Sawchuk, as well.

Good lord, if we are going to devalue every single hockey player with an alchohol problem, addiction or whom let their personal life affect their play on the job -- well, there really are not going to be too many players left to cheer for.

Lol... Flash VS. Black Jack! For those interested, William "Flash" Hollett was the first defenseman to score 20 goals in a season (1945, which he did as a Red Wing), a record which lasted until Bobby Orr.

The year San Jose is not picked to win the West is the year I am going to be scared of them.

I'd put Datsyuk in, but Murphy does not belong that high. My Top 25 defensemen in a Red Wings uniform: 1) Lidstrom 2) Kelly 3) Stewart 4) Goodfellow 5) Pronovost 6) Quackenbush 7) Konstantinov 8) Hollet 9) Coffey 10) Chelios 11) Reise 12) Gadsby 13) Goldham 14) Murphy 15) Fetisov 16) Larson 17) Bergman 18) Brewer 19) Barkley 10) McDonald 21) Godfrey 22) Orlando 23) Rafalski 24) Schneider 25) Young