joshy207

If it's not one thing, it's three others. Poor guy.

http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/Team-Canada/Men/Junior/2015 "In 2015, Montreal will host the preliminary round group including Canada’s National Junior Team, as well as two quarter-finals, for a total of 12 tournament games. Toronto will host the other preliminary round group, plus two quarter-finals, the relegation series, fifth-place game, both semifinals and both medal games, for a total of 19 games. Canada will move from Montreal to Toronto for the medal round. Everything will be reversed in 2017 – Canada’s preliminary round group will play in Toronto, while Montreal will host the medal round. The number of games in each market for 2017 will be finalized at a later date."

Could be a huge swing here, Mantha goal and a PP right after. Mantha definitely knows how to find the back of the net. You can't teach that. As we've seen SO many times with the Wings, it's quality of shots, not quantity, that really matters...

That and Canada is still struggling. They can't get anything going offensively.

That's what most are speculating, it was that hit. It may have been something else, or a combination of hits, but they may never say. Eric Lindros got a concussion without even getting hit in the head... all it takes is the brain bouncing off the inside of the skull.

Times are changing. As these leagues look for ways to generate more income, they will get more "creative". Uniforms WILL be used for advertising. I wouldn't expect something as gaudy as European uniforms, but a small patch or two on jerseys, maybe a helmet sticker, and something on the pants and/or socks is not a stretch. Reebok's jersey deal expires after 2014/15 (Bauer is rumored to be the frontrunner to take over)... teams that have changed uniforms have gone with something simpler or less cluttered... minor league teams wear small patch ads... it's coming, sooner rather than later.

It seems like most of the "popular" players are in the 2nd game.

Obviously, DTE is shelling out money for that. No different than a "Belle Tire Power Play" or the "Call Sam Studios" on TV. I agree though, it's annoying.

Demers was the coach who helped pull the Wings out of the basement of the NHL and got them to the Campbell finals 2 years in a row. Before him, they went through coaches like Brett Hull went through sticks. Demers may have had more success in Montreal, but he was Detroit's first really good coach in about 20 years. **Edit--and since it's Detroit-Toronto, not Detroit-Montreal, it makes perfect sense.

So, in the example you just laid out, the top 8 do NOT make the playoffs. So conference standings ARE irrelevant. Seeds are based on divisional standings and #1/#2 wildcards.

Yeah, not a good game for Patterson. Gotta imagine they'll give Fucale a look next game...

It doesn't take much to get a concussion, especially if you've had them before...

"Earned"? No. But this team struggles to score, and if Jurco and Datsyuk can provide some spark, why not try it? Canada is in trouble today... and I don't know how Plutnar isn't! You can't shove an official, even if they somehow thought it was an accident. I'd be surprised if he doesn't get suspended...

Were you looking at the Wings' official site? Those rosters probably haven't been updated in months. Toronto revealed their rosters on HNIC a few weeks ago, they have PLENTY of guys. (I counted 15 ex-Wings playing for Toronto!!) Here are their rosters, with a partial Wings roster at the end... http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-announce-winter-classic-alumni-roster-1.2464465

I figure Eaves and either Glendening or Sheahan will return to GR. They may want to keep Jurco up, and they'll need to keep the other one of Glendening or Sheahan to center the 4th line. But I also can't see Babcock scratching his precious Cleary, so Jurco may be GR-bound also.

Or, put him on an offensive line with guys like Datsyuk and/or Zetterberg, and a scoring line becomes a bigger scoring threat. However, I highly doubt we'll see Mantha in Detroit next year, outside of a cup of coffee or major injury replacement.

Alumni games are 1PM and either 3:30 or 4PM, depending on where you look... USA/CAN is 11:30AM. All times Eastern.

Supposedly, Sheahan, Ferraro, Callahan, and Almquist are out of options next year and would have to clear waivers to be sent down. Depending on who Holland can (and actually WOULD) move this summer, most, if not all, of those guys might be here. I can see Ferraro being let go, he hasn't even gotten a sniff of NHL action yet... Callahan and Almquist could stay or go, depending on roster limitations, and Sheahan should be up next year. Glendening could beat out Callahan and Ferraro, but I believe he is still waiver-exempt. Ouellet (and Sproul) still have waiver exemptions, and I'd venture a guess that Holland will use those and let them develop in GR for another year. I'd let every UFA walk, with the possible exception of Alfredsson. I'd try and move Kindl for a mid-round pick (3rd/4th). I would explore moving Franzen, maybe see if Vancouver is interested in trading Edler for him... Edler and a F prospect (Cole Cassels?) for Franzen and a D prospect (Sproul?) Explore the veteran backup goalie market, but strongly consider the fact that Mrazek might be the backup next year. Howard gets 55-60 starts, Mrazek the rest. Then explore the UFA market, see if there are any good fits at top-6 F and mid-level D. DO NOT "OVERBUILD" THE ROSTER. This season's roster management has been nothing short of an embarrassment. Sticking NHL-caliber forwards in the AHL because you can't trade them and don't have room for them is NOT a good look. Especially when you re-signed a washed-up returning veteran after training camp opened and you did not have the room to do so. I think Holland has made a lot of miscalculations since 2009, and I think he has THIS SUMMER to make up for them. If he can't, then it's time for someone else to step in. This club is ripe for some change... I think too many guys are content here.

Pretty balanced scoring by USA today, 14 different players with 1 point each. Unfortunately I missed the game. USA/Canada on New Years Eve day should be a great one!

I was actually thinking of the time they basically gave Ted Lindsay and Glenn Hall to Chicago. I just discovered that the Wings gave up Johnny Bucyk to get Sawchuk back from Boston... ???

"Of All Time"... yet your list ignores the first 70 years of Red Wings Hockey. Sean Avery has to rank high on that list. Biggest DB in Wings history, if not NHL history. Tony McKegney was a locker room cancer and lasted only 14 games here. He was acquired with Bernie Federko in exchange for Adam Oates and Paul MacLean in what was one of the 2 worst trades in team history. Samuelsson... in addition to previous posts, last year, while injured off-and-on, he wouldn't skate with the team, and somewhere there's a Babcock quote floating around that says "he just doesn't fit in here" or something to that effect.

Wings won 4 in 11 years (not counting the lockout year of 2004-05). '97, '98, '02, '08. Chicago looks pretty strong. Pittsburgh or Boston could put up a fight in the final, if either one gets there... maybe Tampa or Montreal, MAYBE? Doubtful though. The West is pretty tough, so it's not like Chicago would have an easy road to the Cup. 8 teams are within 12 points of them.

Sheahan, Ferraro, and Callahan are 4th liners, too. No better than what is already here. Just younger. I think a strong dose of fresh blood is needed... this team is stale. Too many guys who have been here for too long, too comfortable. That includes management and coaching. Status quo has become acceptable. For a team that says they expect to win, not winning seems to be OK. You can't have it both ways...

Cleary's still in the lineup though... baby steps, I guess?

I heard some interesting speculation the other day... with the cap expected to jump up significantly each year, some forward-thinking free agents might want to sign shorter deals (2-3 years), then cash in again as the cap continues to rise and teams have room to spend. It does make sense. Look at the deals Datsyuk and Zetterberg are currently on... big dollars at the time they were signed, but relative bargains today for the players they (still) are. Same for a lot of guys around the league.