ltgator333

I really think this discussion hinges first and foremost on whether or not Lidstrom is back next season, it's the most important thing that's going to happen one way or another as far as defense personnel so first you have to clear that up. If Lidstrom doesn't retire, I think Lilja has a lesser chance of returning because of the younger defensemen that are ready to pass or fail the test, and the prospects out there that aren't in the system yet. If Lidstrom does retire, I think you'd almost have to keep Lilja even if he is the 7th defensemen because he's a known veteran quantity. The only way to not keep him at that point would be to bring in a FA of equal or greater ability than Lilja or gamble with guys who weren't playing regularly last season. I'd like to see him stay, I would, but if Lids comes back I just don't see Lilja > young guns in the eyes of Holland, and I'm under the impression there's a mini-log-jam at the position below the NHL regular level. Some of that is remedied by certain pint-sized "defensemen" going away, but he's still just one body. It's going to be interesting at least.

Four- I have to wonder if there isn't some truth to that, but we'll have to see. I didn't expect that Ozzie would get the flu and then end up way out of the loop like last year. FireCaptain- I agree on that if Ozzie's 400th (IF it happens) comes in a jersey other than the winged wheel, it would be the exact opposite of fitting imo. I think there's still an outside chance that, by demotion/buyout or trade, that Ozzie won't be in Detroit next year. I wouldn't count on it, but I would not be too shocked if it happened. But if we assume he'll be back next year and getting regular playing time, I don't mind any split that is good for the team given the circumstances- and you never know what the next season will bring good, bad or meh. I really think that the future of hockey goaltending lies in more of an even split in workable situations, and if both goalies are playing well it's a workable situation in my mind.

Heck with that, check out how many Wings/former Wings are triple gold- http://www.iihf.com/iihf-home/history/the-iihf/triple-gold-club.html

Happy b-day Nick!

Well he's something of a legend in the hockey world, so I was a bit shocked when I read this yesterday on TSN. I didn't realize the guy was pushing 65, so I suppose I can't really blame him. Sucks to be NJ tho, I mean they're either going to end up with someone who is a NHL coach for a few years here and there (Andy Murray, for example), someone who really is untested, or Lou Lam manning the helm himself again. Either way, it makes it that much more difficult I would imagine to attract/keep (KOVALCHUCK) free agents to/with the club.

There is no try, there is do or do not. Very fitting for a game 7. LGW!

I don't catch any Sabres games so I can't really comment on them or their coach, but if you're going to make the argument that Ruff can't get it done come playoff time and this makes him a poor coach- well what about Barry Trotz? He's been there in Nashville forever, and has won squat. Generally I think coach Trotz puts a good effort in and becomes a victim of circumstance year after year. So, what's the difference between Ruff and Trotz?

It's a good indicator of that when they feel the need to pay a player nearly twice what NHL arbitration says he's worth. I have to wonder how much those big money contracts contributed to this, but on the other hand if they were irresponsible enough to do things like that what else was going on? Another indicator of a league where something is just not right- in NA (and most likely western Europe) you're paid in the currency of the location. In the KHL, at least in some cases, you're not. To me it indicates an economy that almost certainly can't support the league. Don't get me wrong though, I would like to see the Russians have a viable league of they're own. I just don't think they're doing a good job of it, and I also do not think they're idea of trying to directly compete with the major NA leagues is a good idea either- obviously they have to on a certain level but they don't have to make more of it than what it is.

It almost appeared as if they were playing 'possum in the first 20, I didn't think it was as bad as I was reading on here (caught up with it on the DVR, skipped ALL the commercials..) but they were playing at a level that was just barely equal to the opposition. After they got their legs going in the second, it seemed as if for periods of time they were just putting the dogs to shame. To be fair, Jimmy did bail them out a few times. Any time you score seven goals against a team in the playoffs, that's sending a message. Unless they score 9.

Swear it's a pattern, seems like Anahiem's rink was this way too..

Speaks volumes for the wings really, I'd take it as a complement. I think the precedent makes it all that much more of a big deal to me that the wings win- I am sick of the princess story post seasons for failing franchises.

Well I didn't think it would happen so soon but it can't hurt, that's for sure.

I doubt we'll see lineup changes for this next game, but in the event the wings go down 2 games to the dogs in similar fashion I can't see why Babs wouldn't give May or Abby a shot. Really at this point I think I'd like Abby's skating ability better so he > May for that reason. May couldn't be that bad though. I don't see what Williams is doing better than Abdelkader, other than manning the PP point and I'm positive someone else (Ericsson has a 90+ mph shot, hello!?) could do just as well/better.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Recently I'm starting to take more of a liking to NCAA hockey really.

TY Matt!

Yes. Even though I didn't sleep worth a darn last night, I thought about it, and it went no further than that.

Actually- a good portion of the tickets sold in that arena when the Wings are in town are to Wing fans, am I right? So if Wings fans didn't show up, maybe they wouldn't make squat for $ on the two playoff games they host this year and finally have to move that dive-bomb franchise to somewhere that should have them. Would serve them right for talking trash, imo.

I've always thought Kronner must've done it so he can see the puck in his feet better.

I also do not understand why Willy gets to man the 2nd PP point over E and it frustrates the heck out of me why Willy and not ANYONE else. The OP hit the nailhead the guy seems to be just missing something that shows up for very brief periods of time and is gone just as quickly for LONG stretches of time. And it seems to have gotten worse since the broken leg. I know for fact broken bones can screw with your head, for what it's worth.

I've always thought if only Murph could've skated better, he would've been absolutely sick as a player. Obviously you don't get into the HOF for nothing, but still. Best partner Nick ever had, imo. As a broadcaster, yeah he's AWKWARD as can be but he's in the absolute best spot he could be in. You have to think that Murph is exactly where he wants to be in Detroit and that makes a heck of a difference, it really makes a guy like-able above all else. Larry Murphy, you have been appreciated!

That would certainly make a few ppl around here happy!

I too have the simple gut feeling Nick will be back for one more year. It'd be cool if he was around for one more season and retire with the handfull of others who have been around this franchise for a while with him. There's always the possibility he retires gracefully (of course he will irregardless, that's just how Nick was/is/will be) at this season's end, and I surely hope it doesn't happen. As for what the team looks like post-Lidstrom... well hopefully better than it usually does on the rare occasion he's not on the bench. I really believe there is not another defenseman out there that's approaching a drop-in replacement simply because of the style of game he has always played. There might be someone nearly as effective, but it will take some getting used to and not just for us the fans. It will be a test of the true resolve of the organization. To say the least, it's going to be odd. And to top it off, I'm not sure that he's going to be around in such high profile as Stevie Y is. I'm sure there's a spot for him in the organization (if he wants), but let's face fact that Lidstrom despite all his achievements has never really been a flashy guy in any sense. And because of that, well for example think of how many trophies he had to win before he became a 'household name' amongst the common out-of-market hockey fan. I guess what I'm getting at is that I feel that the legend that is Nick Lidstrom will fade far too quickly from the minds of the hockey community.

Totally agree, but we all know it can't happen. I mean his clip reel would be bare-bones 75% blown crosschecking/roughing calls, and the NHL can't have that now...

I voted yes, unless he really doesn't want to play hockey anymore he should ask for a trade, and even if that means playing in the AHL, if he wants to play he should be happy. My call for next year he'll play about 10-20 games for the wings next year in nearly identical fashion as this year, and retire. I just think it's sad that he will almost surely allow things to play out that way.

That is the relevant bit of info there. Bottom line is the team has apparently played like crap two games in a row now (bound to happen after a 7 game win streak, I mean what did you really expect???), and even the much maligned Most Controversial Player to Ever Play (according to LGW.com) couldn't bail them out. Shame on him!! Looking back through said players statistics, I've noticed a possible pattern in his play- his best years came with the crappiest teams and the most starts, for the most part. So he's not a natural backup goalie, darn. Or at least that's how I interpret the numbers. Time will tell what will become of this whole deal, but patterns of behavior don't lie- one day the whipping boy will be Howard just like all the 'much better goaltenders' before him, and the cycle of these redundant irritating threads will continue on until the end of time...