evilmrt

Yeah, this might turn out to be a fortunate thing for us, as Holland will be under some more pressure to address the team's defensive (or maybe even goaltending as well) problems at the deadline. Don't think Ilitch isn't pissed about this embarrassing loss. I can't remember the last time the Wings lost this badly....

You're kidding me, right? This should be at most a 5... Thats the one thing Fedorov DIDNT have. Thats why so many people here are glad hes gone. Don't you remember when Bowman made him play defense, as a way of kicking him in the ass?

This guy is on crack. Ericsson is not going anywhere. That said, he does have a point about Howard, Ericsson, and Quincey. We have too much dead weight, and the good prospects aren't going to want to languish in the AHL forever. I didn't realise Ericsson was 25. He needs some playing time, THIS SEASON.

Doesn't anyone remember the huge disaster that the NBA 2007 All-Star game was, when they held it in Las Vegas? The town was rumored to be getting a team sometime in the future....and then the All-Star game happened, and it embarassed the league in front of the whole country. source article I know I've been arguing against moving the Yotes to Vegas, but it seems like an NHL team would be more attractive to the city than an NBA (or even NFL!) because of the reasons above. But some of the same things would apply to having ANY pro team in Vegas, and that might be enough for the league to pass on the city.

Oh I think you know what I'm going to say here, based on what I have as my avatar.... they definately bring great to watching the Wings on tv. when I go to games, I've found myself wishing Ken and Mickey were sitting behind me, so I could hear the running commentary. oh yeah, theres usually SOME kind of commentary, but its usually not up to FSN Detroit quality and for anyone who has suffered through Strader and Pang (ugh) on FSN Arizona....how can you not like Ken/Mickey?

So says the man from Texas Actually, I really do agree with you here. I live in the Southwest, but in the highlands....I'm watching a snowstorm out my window right now. It looks like Michigan's U.P. or Northern Ontario. Do you think the people here give a damn about hockey because of the climate? NOPE. Its a balance between population and the potential for hockey culture to solidify. Looking at population OR hockey culture/social attitudes individually is a mistake. And thats why the Yotes have been a failure in America's 5th largest city (and the 2nd largest after LA in the western US). If you look at the numbers alone, it should be a no-brainer. Too bad theres alot more to it than just population numbers. Which is why I think Vegas is more of the same. Anyway, in this financial climate, Bettman is going to have to make compromises to keep the Yotes/Jets franchise alive. Unless theres someone out there with a ton of cash that we don't know about that wants to move them to Vegas, Portland, Houston, or KC, it still looks like Balsillie wins here with the Hamilton/Southern Ontario thing. The playoffs don't look like they're happening with this years team...not after games like yesterday's against the Canes.

Ok folks, I found this story in print: Phoenix's books scare potential buyers away Okay, after reading this, I'm much more skeptical about this franchise even moving. I can only see someone like Balsillie throwing down enough cash for a move. The question then is...does Bettman work out a deal with the Leafs/Wings/Sabres to put the Yotes in Southern Ontario, since its the only way to save the franchise....or does he let it die?

Yeah, this makes SO MUCH MORE sense than Vegas! Wisconsin is huge on hockey culture, and they have no pro team! I cannot for the life of me understand why you guys think Las Vegas would support an NHL team...in many ways, its worse than Phoenix is. Fanbase? What kind of fanbase do you think you're going to get? You'll just have a bunch of tourists at every game....

So apparently part of this agreement is that the Wings play at least one exhibition game against.....Färjestad BK! Is this because they have Dick Axelsson, or what? Apparently this will be played in Karlstad....in a little 8200 seat arena. http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/hock...ticle4200242.ab This should really be something to see. When is the last time the Wings played a team from another league?

Hes a joke, but he also knows if he doesn't get the Coyotes into the playoffs, its bye bye to Phoenix. I think its a little bit of panic, to be honest. Too bad they didn't remove him um....like 2 years ago. Maybe that team would have turned out okay.

YEAH! I've got the inside track on tickets! WOOOHOO! I wonder if Ericsson and Ritola will make the cut in time? Now to just...talk to that old buddy....hmmm....

Hey Ms. Hockey, I disagree with you a littttle tiny bit about Nick. And here is why: Lidstrom is an amazing D-man, but he seems to be falling short as a Captain. Maybe this is just me being used to Stevie "rallying the troops" whenever something like this happened, but I would at least expect a multiple Norris winner to keep our defence from looking like utter garbage. I just wonder if he is taking charge....it doesn't seem like it. That said, as an individual player, he is almost flawless. But the big C on his jersey means we should expect more.

Hey great, another weekend without a nationwide broadcast of any game Sorry folks, but Versus sucks in this respect, bigtime. How about a stream link for us out-of-market folks? Also, this should be a nice opportunity for Captain Nick to get the Wings' defense in order. FINALLY. GO CONKS!

well, heres two ideas...one is, of course....some kind of REASONABLE SYSTEM of letting people vote only ONCE. and the second idea, which I haven't seen elsewhere: have the ASG after the season ends, and before the start of the playoffs. that would give playoff teams a break, and I think the idea might go over well just because of that. kind of like the NFL is now (starting next year) going to have the Pro Bowl during the off-week before the Super Bowl, only right after the season ends.

yep, a wikipedia administrator locked the article until March 2nd. But, you can modify the "discussion" page still. I left a nice little comment there as a test.

hooray, 4 game losing streak. what the heck, babs?

This is a great deal. Holland isn't perfect, but he is a good GM. Everyone knew that the plans were for Hank to be a Stevie-type franchise player, and it looks like everything is being set for that to happen. Now where can I get the best deal on a Zetterberg jersey?

While some of those girls look hot (and others are just fake baked silicone skanks), I don't think this belongs in Detroit. We have too much history, and the game sells itself. WTF do we need ice girls for? More idiots sitting in the seats talking about some unrelated crap during the game while I'm trying to watch? YEAH WE NEED MORE OF THAT. Plus Michigan has a ton of female hockey fans, unlike some places. Am I sure that a good number of them would NOT appreciate ice girls? Yeah...just about every game that I catch with the Wings in Phoenix, I hear some female Detroit fan complaining about the stupid dancing girls that the Yotes have. I think its annoying myself, especially when they do line-dancing to country music NO THANKS

Yep, count me in on Team Ovechkin. Watching him at the All-Star game and skills competition won me over, and the bit with Malkin putting the funny hat and sunglasses on him was great. Plus I heard he DJed some party at a big club in Montreal last night? Did anyone see the little promo VS taped in Montreal for the Bruins/Caps game on Tuesday? Savard, Chara, and Ovechkin are standing there, and Alex points to Savard and Chara and says "this guy cannot beat me, and this guy cannot beat me...." Something about it was hilarious, I guess its like you all say, he has a good personality to sell the game.

AHAHAH BRAVO SIR!

Good on Holland for standing up to that joke, Buttman. I like the comment about carrying the flag for the league. Good point, and very significant when you realize how important the Wings are to the league, and how Bettman has slighted us...(even before this), and even a little bit of pride thrown in, when you realize that if the league folded....the Wings would live on in whatever future post-NHL there could be. F*** the league, Detroit fans didn't give much of a damn about the league before, and they sure as hell don't after this garbage. Have fun with almost no viewers in one of your largest oh-so-precious US markets, dumbass. Plus, I think we have the most out-of-market fans (in the US) as well?

Heh, Strader and Pang were saying the exact same thing with GLEE in their voices during the AZ broadcast. I don't blame them, they want to keep their jobs! Pretty pathetic breakdown in the 3rd period. I lay the blame on Lidstrom...as a Captain, you need to lead, not let the team fall apart. Plus even he wasn't sharp himself, in the 3rd.

As an Arizona resident, I'm going to have to say that I agree that the Yotes are doomed. Everyone here is talking about what city draws this many tickets, etc etc....I think you guys are missing the money picture. This franchise is in major debt, and the only reason they're still running is because of the revenue sharing that goes on in the league. 10 years in the desert should be enough time to foster a hockey culture....but its not happening. It seems like the only games people go to in Phoenix are when the Wings are in town, and even then you get heckled by the staff at the arena. Even Wayne always has something to say about the Wings fans that show up at games at Jobing.com Arena, and its never positive. So, they turned away the little amount of hockey fans that they did have. The article from the first post made a good point about going back to Winnipeg: they have a VERY high amount of hockey fans per capita. Overall numbers, to be honest, don't mean a damn thing if the people there are generally uninterested in hockey. So, instead of looking at raw numbers, we should be looking at the total number of hockey fans, and the number of potential fans as well (but be reasonable). People keep dropping cities for the Coyotes to move to...Winnipeg, Vegas, Seattle or Portland, Kansas City, Hamilton. Of these, it seems like Hamilton would be the strongest choice, but the League needs to prove to the Leafs (if they want to save the franchise) that the numbers are solid enough that it will not have an impact on business. I think it could certainly be done. One city that I HAVEN'T seen suggested is Milwaukee. It seems more viable than ANOTHER team in Missouri, Las Vegas (why would you even try that when Phoenix didn't work??), or going back to Winnipeg after they couldn't keep the team the first time. Whats wrong with Milwaukee? Wisconsin has a great hockey culture.

Yep, this isn't too far off the mark, from what I keep hearing. I've been meaning to go down to Phoenix to see some more games before they do move or fold. I seriously doubt they last any more than one more season, and I would not be surprised at all if this was the last. In terms of numbers though, is the break-up of the team more likely than a sale and a move?

yeah, but still.... oh, someone else can drop an F-bomb on Melrose. Sorry folks.