Majsheppard

Doesn't matter at all. Rich people love sports teams because if they make money you make money, and if they lose money you basically get to pay less money to the government. Besides they will make more money unless for some reason the fall completely apart.

Well to that first part, I could point out that the Blackhawks should have lost to Nashville right off the bat but they got saved by an inconsistant call. Hossa should have been kicked out of the game like Ovie was for his "hit" to Campbell. His was far worse, but the player wasn't injured so he gets to stay in the game and score a GWG? I knew that series was over when that happened. The call goes the other way they might lose that game and the series would have been radically different. I doubt the would have even brought it to seven games, then who wins the cup? Phoenix was in many ways one of the best teams in the league last year. They play a gritty style and had the best goaltender in the west backing them. I feel Chicago would have had a simular time playing them. The Sharks series... well the Shark series went the way it did because you end your comment with a decent point. Bertuzzi helped us lose that series, not because he played poorly, but because he got several bad calls against him at bad times because he takes his hand off the stick and Refs took any excuse to call one against him and the Wings. That series pissed me off more than any in my memory, save the bunk one against the Penguins, which was even worse. Some of those youngsters might end up being really great for Chicago, but its hard to say they will be better then established guys. I will say Skille looks like the genuine article, but beyond that you just don't know if any one will translate to the NHL. Plus you lost all your role players in Chicago. I still think Ladd and Buttfgyinugly were more important to the success of the team than you want to let on. I would have kept them over Hossa, trading him would have been the best course of action, and he wouldn't have minded as he has no loyalties.

I know things are bad when you are making trades to gain 600k in cap space. That isn't even enough space to sign Lebda!

Do you see that guys stache up at the top?!? Thing has got to be fake.

You mean the paper that paid off a jury and judge to convict and kill innocent men for a crime they did not commit in 1887 while telling all of the world false news to drive home the fact that these men were villians? Yeah that one. Not surprised they haven't gained some integrity in 130 years.

I went to a bar here in Detroit to watch Philly-Chicago, Chicago ended up winning that game and there was a table full of Blackhawks fans, in sweaters with no name on them. They cheered and I booed them and the Hawks. When the game was over one of them came over and asked us if we were from Philly. We said no, Detroit. He asked why are you rooting for Philly then? I said why would I root for a team that chants Detroit sucks when we play them? He said, well Detroit does suck. I am not one for a bar fight, but if I were ever to get into one it would have been over that. I left immediately, as I would get fired from my job for one punch to that guys face. I say let their reign be the shortest ever. Let their misery last twice as long next time. To hell with Chicago, and to hell with their team.

I am not a fan of a hard cap, look at what happens in Basketball with it. Chicago traded a first round pick away to get another team to take a player off their hands. I am totally satisfied with the NHL salary cap system. Sure this is cheating the cap, but if everyone can do it, what does it matter? LA should have just offered another 100k a year and added another year at the end. I will have a problem with it when it leads to a team like Detroit who is right against the cap to add a player for nothing. Like, what if we were to had signed Hossa for 25 years or something and it allowed us to pay him 2.5 million and keep him? That would be bogus. True. Mind fail.

Yeah I orginally heard 100 million. Which makes it a bit more palpable.

The best is when he turns 38 he can go get a 15 million dollars a year contract in the KHL. rolf Only problem with this, players would never get multiyear deals then when they approach 40. That is unfair to players because then they would have to take one year deals where if they get hurt they lose all opportunity to make money.

17-years 150 million??? That is crazy. I hope we sign Tatar to a 1000 year deal averaging at 1 million a year. First billion dollar contract ever and we only end up paying him around 20 million.

There will be an hour long Russian special, brought to you by the KGB sports network. Kings for sure, or he is going home.

I kinda think people here are not getting how much the league is inflating the contracts of people. This is a hell of a deal a few of years from now. Hell, it is not horrible now. Datsyuk's deal was overpriced for like one or two years, as was Zetter's and Johan's. Seems thats the way the league is going to be, get them under the long term and overpay for a few years and then get a deal. I mean you could say every single player we have had under contract for a few years was getting overpaid, and many of them are a steal now. I have heard about 700 posts about how this guy or that guy is overpaid. Doesn't that just mean that it all adds up to the new market value? Overpaid or not, it is in line with a franchise player. He is their Franchise right now, doesn't matter what other guys got last year, only what guys got this year.

Technically I will be enrolled in a class there this fall for continuing education bull required of me. Too old most likely to play but it is pretty cool that you are putting that together. If you get desperate for players drop me a line.

Really? Anderson has had one of the best save percentages for the last couple of years. He deserves to be ranked higher than Howard does based on the fact that he did well two years in a row with two crappy, crappy teams. Howard did fine with a really good team, and should have to back it up this year to get real recognition.

I can agree with all of this, I just still think that there are enough Osgood haters to stop his inclusion in the Hall... though the odds of that are low. I just hope that. I think he should be in for sure, but I just hear people complain about him nationally and locally like his success will keep him out because of the teams. I thought it was going to be fixed when he signed a two year deal with the Wings and I assumed that he would be the starter for at least one of those years getting 30 wins and then prob 20 as 1b guy in Howard's second year. That would have been undenyable, but I just still have irrational fears that he won't be included.

Damn I love Canada. I only wish there was more cool crap like that here. I would play in that league. I am not an enforcer, they need dental insurance. I am the classic fourth line sniper, that is about all I am good at.

Best post ever man. Keep up the random ramblings.

I said in some thread last season that I thought Larsson would be the backup this year and Osgood would have retired. Honestly he could have a crummy job on some other team in the league, but he will not have a job here again. Babcock hates Osgood, and vice versa. I still am pissed that Ozzie had a real good shot at clinching a hall of fame spot by getting just a few more wins, when things got rough Babs didn't even give him a shot at backup. He is going to have less then 20 starts again this season and they will be so spaced out the rust on the Wizard will make sure he has a pretty mediocre season. It is a damn shame, I love him and think he deserves better. I was also hoping that we would have sent him to Tampa, he could have been a great starter for them, but they have Ellis now so they have no need for him. I just can't see anyspot for him that really would get him the wins he needs for that for sure Hall spot.

Oh I agree, but you know what also does all those things. Playing hockey. I still think you improve your hands best by practicing stick handling and passing. The only reason they can do those tricks is because they practice hockey the right way alot. Don't get me wrong I will practice that stuff too, like Sheahan there in a drive way, or living room, or backyard. My gripe is when you get out on icetime where you can actually do things that you can't outside, play hockey not lacrosse. I think you are right he is humble. I also think he knows that if you get complimented for a thread the needle pass it feels really good, or a deke that puts someone on their butt. When someone says whoa that was cool that you could do that trick, you just kinda go oh thanks... *shrugs* I am the type that just, (and rarely) does somethign right then skates back and just says thanks if anyone says anything but feels embarraced. Rarely when I know it was something really good I would actually smile and enjoy the ribbing that comes with it. That is the kinda guy Riley strikes me as, I like it. Modest is a good way to go. This is why I think the youtube thing bugs him. I bet if he had a Datsyuk like deke in the NHL go up on Youtube, he wouldn't feel embarraced about it!

and Illegal... lol. The one and only time that will ever work. It was a great goal for sure. Just not a fan how that turned the game into lets see what kinda tricks I can do on a breakaway instead of putting the puck in the net.

Too bad you can do NONE of it in a hockey game. Whenever I get out to a public place for a bit of practice, I always see kids trying this kinda stuff. I am sure it helps with hand-eye cordination, but I always think why don't you work on something that will help you in a game. I always love playing pick up games too where a kid decides to pick up the puck and carry it on the stick in the air. I always just slash their stick or if close enough hit them while they keep their eyes on the puck at the end of their stick. Get alot of breakaways like that. Moral of the story, learn to pass the puck boys and girls. Much more useful skill. I think that is why he is embarraced about it. Neat trick, but feels like it is showing off and not even in a way that is meaningful.

I will do that job for 40k, free hockey games, and airplane tickets to get to where I need to be for the job. Then maybe the league would be viable.

To be perfectly honest, I know the names of the people we drafted. I even watched some of the interviews online with our prospects like Sheahan. If I were to see them on the streets I wouldn't be able to tell you, and I was looking at their pictures minutes ago. I would only be able to pick out the regular Wings. I mean it takes alot of exposure for me to remember someone by their faces enough for me to see them and assume I know them. I couldn't pick out Suh either... but him being effing huge would help!

So much for him making the team his first year...

I got to still take the guy at his word. Detroit or Retirement. I do think this guy helps us win a championship, by making us the feel good story Bettman would allow to power his ratings machine. God knows it ain't gonna be Chicago next year.