Learn2LuvIt

Watched it (finally) last night.  Really, really good.  A lot of good insight into how tight that team was off the ice.  Loved it when Mac explained the difference between a sucker punch and getting cold cocked.  Hilarious.
If I had one very minor "I would have liked more" from this, I would have liked to have more insight from Stevie on his perspective as the Captain and how he dealt with their style of play, speaking very little (if at all) English when they first arrived and how this effected how they communicated, how he dealt with the perception among the other teammates that "Russians were bad for NHL hockey", etc.  However, top to bottom a outstanding film.
Yes!  I definitely got the impression that Kozlov had a major edge to him.

Watched it (finally) last night.  Really, really good.  A lot of good insight into how tight that team was off the ice.  Loved it when Mac explained the difference between a sucker punch and getting cold cocked.  Hilarious.
If I had one very minor "I would have liked more" from this, I would have liked to have more insight from Stevie on his perspective as the Captain and how he dealt with their style of play, speaking very little (if at all) English when they first arrived and how this effected how they communicated, how he dealt with the perception among the other teammates that "Russians were bad for NHL hockey", etc.  However, top to bottom a outstanding film.
Yes!  I definitely got the impression that Kozlov had a major edge to him.

My buddy just texted me:  If we could sign him for super cheap $$, do I think we should sign Phaneuf for a 1 year (2 max) to stabilize our D and provide some leadership until we're able to bolster our D via GR, draft, and trades? 
My one word response back to his very long text was "NO"

Me mowing the lawn at 6 AM and none of the neighbors wake up, picking the right setting on the microwave for my bacon cheeseburger, asking the wife permission to go to the local sports bar and she says yes, listening to the same classic rock for the billionth time but still enjoying it.
I have a separate touchdown dance for each one.

Ha ha ha.  Don't forget you fishtailing the shopping cart perfectly at the transition between aisle 6 and aisle 7 at Meiers. 

Red Wings signed 23 year old, Finnish, defenseman Oliwer Kaski to a 1 year ELC today.  Kaski was 2nd in the Liiga in defensive scoring this season and had previously played at Western Michigan for two years so he's familiar with North American hockey.  Oh, and he's a right shot for the dopes who over value that particular characteristic.
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2019/05/13/detroit-red-wings-oliwer-kaski/1191355001/
 
And his highlights package:
https://youtu.be/OKbOJyjwwTM

Totally agree.  Had to be tough for him and he's handling it with pure class.

Totally agree.  Had to be tough for him and he's handling it with pure class.

Regardless if it is or isn't true, Holland handled the whole situation extremely well IMO

True. There's a lot of that going around these days tho. 
No. Media is always right.

Yeah, overrated in regards to what they are paying him for sure.  If I had my pick, there would likely be two current coaches who I'd take over Babs.  However, what happened to the Leafs/Babs last night I believe more a testament to how awesome the NHL Playoff's are and what a massive grind and accomplishment it is to win The Cup.  The "second season" is a bit cliche, but it's soo true and what makes the playoffs compelling even in the 1st round.  Compared to some other pro sports like the NBA, the 1st round is really a formality (e.g. see Piston's basketball).  With the NHL, you never freakin know and "upsets" happen every single year.  Crazy...but awesome.
Babs will have a tough summer and likely a tough road ahead in Toronto indefinitely until he either gets them The Cup or deep (like game 7 of the SCF deep).  He'll bear the brunt from of an old saying he saw here daily in Detroit: "To whom much is given, much is expected". 

Yeah, overrated in regards to what they are paying him for sure.  If I had my pick, there would likely be two current coaches who I'd take over Babs.  However, what happened to the Leafs/Babs last night I believe more a testament to how awesome the NHL Playoff's are and what a massive grind and accomplishment it is to win The Cup.  The "second season" is a bit cliche, but it's soo true and what makes the playoffs compelling even in the 1st round.  Compared to some other pro sports like the NBA, the 1st round is really a formality (e.g. see Piston's basketball).  With the NHL, you never freakin know and "upsets" happen every single year.  Crazy...but awesome.
Babs will have a tough summer and likely a tough road ahead in Toronto indefinitely until he either gets them The Cup or deep (like game 7 of the SCF deep).  He'll bear the brunt from of an old saying he saw here daily in Detroit: "To whom much is given, much is expected". 

Perhaps his moves cause the cup to come home a couple of times I think 3 is a good number before he retires(one can wish). Then he is both a LEGENDARY player AND LEGENDARY GM. No way does he come back to the Wings without the thought he can take us to the promised land. 

This video compilations of players are always really interesting to me.  I tend not to pay too much attention to the one-timers directly in front of the net (that's really more of a product of a great assist), or the wrist shots from 15' out...those plays and associated skill set don't typically translate on equal par to the NHL game as other qualities (IMO). What I DO (or stood out) like about this Podkolzin kid is his calmness and power in controlling the puck through traffic...and then the finish.  Very small sample size, but impressive.  One last thing that i noticed was his teammates reaction when he scored...although a national/pride game being played, they all seemed super pumped for him and swarmed him..I wouldn't even consider drafting a player on this last  observation alone...but it doesn't suck that he seems to be well liked by his teammates.

Fair point for sure

Sure, they get the "best chance" at the top pick now, but that chance is still really low. They're playing against the field, and have less than a 1 in 5 shot at the top pick. There's a 50/50 chance the worst team in the league gets a top 3 pick or the 4th pick. Those aren't great odds...
Any team can beat any team on any night. If the "worst team" in the league has 15 games to accumulate points, and the "best of the worst teams" has 1 or 2 games to accumulate points, who do you think will end up with more points? Obviously the former... With the "Gold Plan", no team is likely to move up or down more than a few spots, especially with the motivation to win every night.

Yep.  Also IMO, this goes against strategy of trying to create consistent parity within the league.  The way it is now, the poorest get the best chance to get significantly richer.  If they changed it to "play for the pick", then it changes the equation to: the poorest will likely remain poor because as stated, they were the poorest and shouldn't be expected to miraculously become better in the final stretch of the season to win the highest or very high draft pick.  They are the poorest/worst team for a reason and the league has a vested interest in making sure these teams have a fighting chance at becoming rich in the future.
Last thought...playing for the pick might actually cause teams to "fake tank" ...."lying in the bushes and wait" until the "play for the pick" sweepstakes begin...then they kick it in gear and suddenly look like the best of the worst teams and win the highest for a very high draft pick.

Probably lots of valid reasons, tbh.
Differences in strength of schedule could be a sore point and would probably have fans complaining just as much if not more than they do about the current system Injuries could also be an issue, e.g. the Devils probably don't finish third from the bottom this season if Taylor Hall doesn't miss most of the season (again, fans would howl) Might change the standard development curves of prospects, as teams might be less inclined to give young players a serious look in the late stages of the season I'm sure there's other stuff.

No worries, I'm very used to is.  People (girls in particular) never call me back.
 
I've devised ways around this though.  I just need to find out where Coach Q lives so I can continue to try and make this a reality. 

No worries, I'm very used to is.  People (girls in particular) never call me back.
 
I've devised ways around this though.  I just need to find out where Coach Q lives so I can continue to try and make this a reality. 

No worries, I'm very used to is.  People (girls in particular) never call me back.
 
I've devised ways around this though.  I just need to find out where Coach Q lives so I can continue to try and make this a reality. 

No worries, I'm very used to is.  People (girls in particular) never call me back.
 
I've devised ways around this though.  I just need to find out where Coach Q lives so I can continue to try and make this a reality. 

When he got home he remembered that Jimmy Howard is still Detroit's goalie.  He's not calling you back.  

So we are banking on you? Hi Yzerman!  lol
One more for old times sake?

I sat next to Coach Q on a flight out to San Fran a month ago.  Our connection from DTW was in Chicago, and that's when we ended up on the flight together.  No sh--.  He was flying into the area for the All Star game and had his wife and kids with him.  (i can provide a picture of evidence if actually needed to support the following.).  Not posting this to play any type of big-shot or "name dropper" (I got bumped to first class and was originally had a ticket in coach), just thought the below was funny.
Long story, long flight, but i basically told coach Q the following scenario that I'd love to see play out:  I prefaced this with saying this could be next year or the year after:  Jimmy D retires or at least gives up his official role as SVP of the Wings, Kenny moves into the SVP position, and Stevie takes the reins as GM.  Stevie hires Coach Q to be our coach.  We potentially have Jack Hughes and a stable of younger talent with growing cap room and expiring contracts to improve the team considerably and fairly quickly.  Coach Q can keep his family in Chicago if he wants (he said his family loves the Chi area) and be a 40 minute flight to jump to-and-from home when wanted/needed.  I also pitched him in relocating his family to the Detroit area as the lifestyle/community is somewhat similar (midwest values, etc.) to that of Chicago.  He said he loved the Detroit area and had spent a lot of time here over the years (he named a few areas, restaurants, and golf courses that he really likes).  He also gushed about the Wings organization.  The deep history, the way they run the organization and what a marvel they've been for so long, original 6, etc..  He commented that "you have this all thought out don't you!"  I think he actually liked my plan (hopeful but I doubt it).  I told him to call my cell if he wanted me to "set the wheels in motion" lol.  I have not heard from him though (yet..lol).