GuloGulo

My comment: Nevermind the score. Spend the game headhunting and retributing if they take runs. Take penalties if you need to. Use the anger to build character.

That is one approach. The other approach is to hope he can play himself out of the funk. Nobody here's saying he cannot be benched. Anyone can be benched. Call Babs and have him do it.

In a cap environment having a lottery EVERY year seems like the right thing to do. teams are supposed to be on "even playing ground" (blah) yet they are supposed to get bonuses (draft picks) for not spending money, or for spending them on poor players. I guess you gotto bait those losing team fans with anything, the mythical "bright future" (hohumm). Really s***ty teams are rewarded with rights to potential superstars. Really good teams might win the cup. Teams that do everything to get to playoffs and fall short get "nothing". Heck, they've quite likely lost both money and assets just by TRYING to compete. It's awkward.

True. I intentionally neglected that fact, because his _future_ contract numbers seems to be a point of concern to a lot of posters.

How is the team supposed to get younger if we keep resigning the old players?

Good. Hockey belongs in Pittsburgh. Just a goddamn shame this circus went on so long. + At least we won't have to hear more "Save the Pens!!!" for a while + The league won't have to rig more lotteries in their favour. + Pens won't be getting no high picks in a near future. - Detroit won't go East :/ - Fans were hold hostage again

I agree that the contract isn't justified by his play this season. He's not playing 3M hockey. But then, that's perhaps a reason contracts should be kept from the public in the future. A lot of whining about players is related to their compensation. IF we didn't know Lang cost ~4M, would we rag so much about him? If we didn't know Chelios was making league minimum, would we have as much patience? This isn't a huge deal with the current Red Wings, but reading other fan boards really makes you think... think about Theodore for instance. If nobody knew his contract, would anybody really care about him losing his starting job? A tad OT, I know.

He be a big game player. Watch in the playoffs. ... However his current play is inexcusable. If I was Babs I'd try put him with #5 until Markov comes back, or demote him back to pair with Lebda like last season.

Playoffs are pretty much locked up.. that's all that matters. The regular season team has done their job, the rest of the season is a strech to prepare for the big show. If that means a whole lot of losing due to injuries, then be it.

Thank god he didn't sign with the Wings

Ozzie vs Hasek debate makes baby Jesus cry. Please no... NO NOT AGAIN.

Calder-Lang-Hudler: 2G 2A +5 A keeper formation?

What about Stastny? I'd say he's displayed the most complete hockey from ALL the rookies... and disgustingly enough he's a Avatramp.

Mmm some sweets and a big dip'o'skoal made me forget this debacle. Babs needs some bodies back, can't really punish or threaten the squad in its current state. Pointless. Our forwards carry a heavy defensive load, it shows that many are missing. PK units decimated. PP units decimated. Our #1 scorer and the #1 deadline boost still sitting out games. for a few weeks, I expect our boys to lose a fair dose of games, hopefully not with big numbers like these, but it's going to inevitable. Hopefully the injured guys haven't lost their mojo entirely.

Nah well, poopy effort, but that's what happens when your skill and experience level is drained by injuries.

the regular season is meaningless

ridiculous.

One more goal, and we got a ball game.

nah need a full lineup back pronto, this won't cut it in the long run.

3rd period comebacks are the bomb.

booger poop

annoying goal.

No, backup goalies are bad medicine for Wings.

I think they're doubleshifting Datsyuk

Fight > goal against