NeverForgetMac25

Check out those stats! SEASON GP MIN W L T GA SO GAA SA Sv% G A PIM 1980-81 1 60 0 1 0 7 0 7,00 0 0 0 TOTAL 1 60 0 1 0 7 0 7,00 0 0 0 I knew his NHL career was quick, but including this game he only played 4 total games (3 later with Detroit).....Ouch.

That's a good way of putting it and I would agree that balance helps a team win championships. Team toughness however can be substituted for straight up enforcers at the right time however (as demonstrated during the '08 postseason). I think the hope this year is that Kopecky will try his best to replace what Drake left and that guys like Downey and Mac are simply a phone call away when needed. Due to their contracts Babs has the luxury of bringing them up at his disposal and matching them up correctly against the right teams. Also, the Wings are most certainly not going to go through the regular season without injuries and a couple at a time isn't far-fetched. We're gonna see plenty of Downey and Mac this year regardless of what the opening night roster looks like. This team is more balanced than people want to admit, its just that some nights the roster won't "resemble" it as much simply due to need.

Just set my DVR via DirectTV.com to record this. Thanks for posting!

It interesting that you ripped Lilja in your first paragraph and then said it was nice to have him in the second. Lilja's still on the team and last I checked Downey can be called up at a moment's notice. This team isn't the toughest in the league but they're still tough and they have enforcers waiting when they're needed. This isn't directed at you Skiing - Puck, but I'd love to post some of the enforcer lovers posts on this board on the Kings or the Islanders forums, then just sit back and watch them get ripped apart for how spoiled they are. It's not enough that the Wings have won the Cup 4 times in the past 11 years, its not enough that they are the overwhelming favorite going into the season and its not enough that they have enforcers signed to their team for nothing but incredible terms......no, some Wings fans still don't have it enough. Its rough being Bill Gates' kid.....know what I mean?

Yeah....because all us Americans were in the board meeting that made the decision to add SO's. [/sarcasm]

I figured Leino (while promising) wouldn't make the big club, but after all the things I've heard about him in the preseason from Babs and after watching him play yesterday I was uber-impressed with him. He wasn't lightning quick by any means, but he was positionally sound, made some great "thinking" plays, got in great position to shoot multiple times and moved the puck well. He was strong along the boards (which surprised me) and his vision was great. That kid is really going to make things difficult for Babs and company which is a great problem to have.

People are really in for a rude awakening if they feel Detroit is just going to walk over anyone and everyone. I know this was a joke, but there are way too many people here talking about records being shattered and the Stanley Cup just being handed to Detroit.

Very interesting article. Perhaps this is a bit selfish on my part, but I don't want to see European expansion. I can understand how a global league would be attractive to all these countries that are losing their top players to the NHL, but at the same time if you want your best players to play at home you need to develop the game more and make it more attractive for players to stick around. Obviously, they do a hell of a job developing their talent, but now they need to work on their financing, marketing and other logistics of competing against the NHL. The KHL, while not as elite as the NHL does a very good job of paying its players lucrative amounts and has even started to win back some of its players. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't want to see the league start playing more and more games over in Europe, during times that aren't favorable for North America (which is where the league is headquartered to being with), and taking away more chances for Shelly and I to go see them play. If the NHL wants more of a worldwide presence, I'm not necessarily sure its in their best interest to play more games worldwide. The idea of a World Cup of hockey every 4 years (not being played in the same year as the Winter or Summer Olympics or the Soccer World Cup) is a great start as well as continuing to have Winter Olympics presence and the Summit Series.

With the addition of Bowman, the big splash in the free agent market this Summer and new marketing management it looks as though the Blackhawks are on the turnaround. I'm pretty impressed with the changes Rocky Wirtz has made since taking over after Bill passed away before the start of last season. On top of that, this article is a great read and hopefully the Blackhawks can return to the rival I remember loathing so much as a kid. That just makes for great hockey! Here Come the Hawks

I would agree with this, but keep in mind that Hudler is no slouch as a set-up man himself. While Z will have his best year assist-wise, Hudler is going to do plenty of set-up along with Mule screening. Z's still gonna net a bunch. 50 though....we'll see.

Probably, and that reinforces my point. Whether people like it or not its a business and god forbid Illitch would raise the prices. How many things out there that we all buy on a daily basis are the same price as they were last year? The answer is not many. Why should ticket prices be any different?

Yeah, because lowering the ticket price guarantees that those seats will be sold. [/sarcasm] It's not as simple as just lowering the cost. The fact of the matter is its conceivable that Illitch could raise the cost, miss out on a sellout and make more money then lowering the costs and having all the seats sold. It's easy for us to say "lower the costs Illitch" when its not our money to be made.

Putting a player on LTIR does not mean you can subtract their salary. All it means is that while Cheli is on LTIR the Wings are allowed to exceed the cap by Chelios cap hit *minus* however much they are currently under (I.E. the Wings are currently $226,667 below the cap, thus they are allowed to exceed the cap by $523,333 --- $226,667+$523,333=$750,000). Once Chelios comes back from LTIR, the Wings must immediately comply with the actual cap before Cheli is allowed back on the active roster.

Is this the year Crosby grows facial hair that doesn't look like pubes? Sorry, its early.

The point of what I was saying clearyly flew right over your head. The fact of the matter is that most analysts and media personnel haven't played at the NHL level, let alone have had the type of career Ozzie has. It's not about what Clement did, its about what Ozzie has accomplished.

If it doesn't bother Ozzie (which it doesn't), why let it bother you? The guy has HOF numbers, not to mention the fact that he's got 3 rings (2 as a starter). I'm sure that's enough for him (well, not enough rings but enough to be content with himself). I'm sure Ozzie is above letting what other people who've never been good enough to play in the NHL (let alone have the career he has) get to him.

OH NOES!!!!1111 PANIC!!!!!!!!111111111 No worries....its just another meaningless prediction that has absolutely nothing to do with what will transpire on the ice.

I hate the Blackhawks too, but its pretty hard to have a rivalry when one team is consistently at the top of the standings while the other is a cellar-dweller.

Oh, they drive me f*cking crazy. My wife and I always go to the Wings games at the United Center due to it only being 3 hours from Green Bay, and every time they never cease to amaze me with their inappropriate behavior and comments. I'm all for good-natured ribbing, but the stuff that comes out of the mouths of a good portion of their fan base is just beyond offsides.

True, but up until last week Rodgers wasn't costing them the game with picks. Week 1 against the Vikes was tough and went down to the last possession. One Favre INT could've been the difference. Basically, you gotta look at both sides of it.

Agreed. Opie, I know what you were going for but I (as well as some others) defended Sammy as well. You were in the minority, but you weren't alone.

Actually, its quite sharp. I'll still get most of my info from TSN.ca/NHL but this is quite a cosmetic upgrade.

If they're cut, they receive no compensation whatsoever? If that's true, that does change things quite a bit. Now that you mention it I remember hearing that a player could be cut but I thought their contract was still paid out (or atleast a portion of it)? Please verify if you don't mind.

Now that's incredible (for Sammy atleast).

He signed three option years on his contract worth $3.8 million per season. The contract is based on Games played and Points clauses, but thats not a renegotiation.