ltgator333

Technically yes he's a rookie. This year ends that one way or another though, he'll be over age by next season.

After watching the first period it was fairly easy to go to bed last night, but I was very surprised when I watched the rest this morning (DVR's rock). That was a good game for the Wings and exactly what they needed- a good effort rewarded with the win. Maybe they'll *start to* get it turned around now? Also, **IMPORTANT** I am NOT trying to start stuff here, what a sad showing by Ozzie. I hope for everyone's sake he doesn't have too many more games like that this season.

Well he won the game and gave up 2 goals in 52:50 of play. I think you could argue his fundamentals all day long but I also think he gave his team a chance to win, and that's ok with me. Had he started the game, I don't think Vancouver would've had 4 goals. I'm going to just come out and say that I think there's a chance this guy could be a competent NHL goalie in the future, and his flaws are things that can, with the proper coaching, be minimized. It's there, it could happen, we'll have to see. And considering how long it's been since Detroit has had a young goaltender with a hint of talent (Det. draft pick) I'm pulling for him.

Wow that's all they have behind Anderson? I too didn't know he was still in the NHL- they better hope Andy keeps playing like that for at least the rest of the season (not happening). I love how the media has tried to over-blow this every chance they get and apparently sports writers are no better than the rest of their counterparts..

Well by the OP summary of their cap situation (haven't looked, it can't be good) they're screwed then- defense and goaltending DOES win championships these days and they have neither so far.

I'm fairly sure Bert has rung the goalpost more times than any other player on the roster so far. He's just .5" off. It's just a matter of persistence before some of those start going in. Maybe tonight- that'd be nice. And yes I agree his skating/backchecking leaves something to be desired. But I think all of us should've known that would be the case.

I would like to echo the people who don't feel offended by Hudler playing in the KHL. After all, it's his life/career and he's going to do what he wants with it. I also didn't think it was such a bad thing for the Wings initially, but with Franzen down I'd take him right about now. The way Sammy's playing, irregardless the fact that typing this hurts my fingers (that took a few tries, FYI), I'd even take ... Really I believe there's a definite possibility that he'll be a Wing again (also possibility his contract gets traded) and when he does come back to the NHL, whoever he ends up playing for will be better off from him spending a season or two in the KHL, where hopefully he can grow some leadership skills. edit- apparently I can't spell.

I'm with you two above I think he looked fine, the second goal was a little shaky but 1 goal for lost Howard the game. If he can play that well or maybe a little better I'm fine with him starting some games.

Well good I guess we'll be getting closer to actually knowing how he'll do in the NHL for real. Because reality > opinion. If the guy gives me something TO about, I will. I think for me that would take more than 3 pucks in his net at this point of time.

He should've thrown the Corvette flags on it somewhere kinda like Cheveldae used to have. Sad we're on here talking about Jimmy H's mask and his golf game because he's still barely been between the pipes to have something to really cheer or criticize.

Kinda funny but I thought Bobby Lang looked better than Bert last night...

From last watching last night's game rebroadcast in the wee hours of the morning, it didn't look to me that there were but maybe a few players that were really not good, and that the leading cause to a OTL was a team that still doesn't look like a properly functioning team. Any time you're going to let a team out-shoot you that's had good goaltending lately you should expect to lose. I can't figure out where their legs went in the third because there seemed to be a lot of coasting along in general out there. That said, the only players that really looked 100% (jmo) were Filppula, Leino, Maltby and Nik. Honorable mentions to D and Z. The third line was a complete TURD that seemed to get hemmed into their own zone every other time they were on the ice and it seemed that one defenseman on each paring couldn't play along the boards/down low in their own zone to save their life. Ozzie- he seems to be moving and reading the play just fine, I think he needs to basicly get not-unlucky. I hope Babcock just keeps throwing him out there until he plays a full 60 minutes of good hockey and put the demons to rest. I really think these guys need to gel before any other changes need to be made, but I still maintain the best thing that could happen is a veteran stay-at-home defenseman to play with Ericsson. Nobody fancy, just somebody that can play along the boards without getting pushed off the puck all the time.

It's hard to disagree with Mickey he's awesome, just like that hit.

The article on TSN about this, the comments more specifically, was a bash-fest and I for one really don't get it. Obviously at this point he's playing for the love of the game and I say right on, good for him. http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=295489

Very informative. Very interesting the ppl that Jimmy D beat out to get his job, as they've all went on to have success at varying levels. Nice to see him get some recognition!

Something that hasn't been said- Even when his brain is healed enough for him to return to full contact, he's not played a game in nearly a year now. He's out of the loop, so to speak and I would imagine he'd spend some time in GR for conditioning purposes and then may be a healthy scratch more than a few times once he's back to the big league unfortunately. By the time he's fully ready to go, if all goes well, will be next season.

There's really little point in this discussion- the players that have trade value (you could get an impact player or first tier prospect for them) either have a NTC or are worth more than what they would return in a trade. The rest of the players on roster simply wouldn't return more than draft picks and/or second and third tier prospects. The only trades that could happen in my mind would be to simply unload salary for the offseason.

For sure.. who's cookin my crow? It was the only game I could get on TV so fortunate for me I kept it on... even tho the pens eventually won, it was a good game. On a luckier night, 'Canes win- they're forcheck impressed me a handfull of times and some of the other things they were doing right.

..as it looks right now skip the pens/canes game. You can about here a mouse fart in the arena...

that goalie was a spectator.. poor guy! SICK move tho..

Why is Bettman still the commissioner? I can understand the ppl writing the checks for these players have a gripe in the short term if a player is injured but I'm sure something could be worked out to cover that. You just have to get the little troll's opinions out of the way first in order to get something fair for everyone put in place. Obviously, there are players that are going to the olympic tournament barring them being physically stopped or financially coerced one way or another, so something needs to be done because it's a dead serious issue. I also like the part where the troll plays obvious favorites with the fact that he considers the olympics held in N.A. better as opposed to anywhere else- travel is just an excuse for his real problem of where a good percentage of talent that plays in his league has been coming from lately. He's trying to put the game out there in the US (failing@that) and get more kids out to the ice rinks, apparently he feels that the olympic tourney being held outside N.A. doesn't help get north american kids out to the rinks, so the international community must pay for his agenda (trying to downplay the internationalization of the game) and it makes him and his league look bad, again. I just wonder when the almighty board of governors is going to realize this and be done with him, finally.

Something that hasn't been mentioned that I've noticed so far is that I think we could really use another un-fancy stay-at-home veteran dman that knows what they're doing on the PK. I really think we have only 2 dmen that are good, consistent penalty kill guys. And I'm getting into this because it seemed to me that it was from the faceoff dots down that the wings were getting killed last night. There's nobody in GR that can get it done. Lebda isn't the answer, and Meech obviously wasn't the answer to him. Somebody else (in real life that doesn't care to chat on here) was trying to make a case to me for firing McCrimmon not more than 2 weeks ago... hmmmm......

Well too bad I don't get Vs. anymore, and don't get TSN or any other Canadian channel either.. thanx directv for nothing! I'd make a prediction but... any news of a definite lineup for tonight? LGRW!!

I knew Babcock was a bright guy. Good bye Kirk Maltby.

I'd pay good money too see that. Especially if the competition's up to the task of trying to stop them..