Offsides

Yeah, he still piled up the wins on the lowly Isles and Blues. He's always done a good job. The Oz-o-meter stands thus for the year: Which is one win above Gump Worsley. I think he's 15th or 16th overall in wins right now...

That's what I love about Ozzie...he's the complete package. He's unassuming, accepts his role, took less to play for the team, and is an excellent team guy. And he's funny. On top of all that he wins all the time, and is an awesome goaltender. We are lucky we have such an awesome 'back-up'

The PT is not a curse. Only 1 team wins the President's Trophy Only 1 team wins the Stanley Cup The odds of them being the same team are very low because of the nature of NHL playoffs. If the top 2 teams in the league played it out in 1 round of the playoffs the odds would be very high that the winner of the PT would also win the Cup, but as it is set up, it's almost anyone's games, and is determined on bounces and injuries as much as skill and great goaltending.

Red Wing fans think themselves the classiest in the world. Booing Sergei is NOT classy. It's very embarassing, actually. It's been too long, it's tired...I wish one of the Red Wings would say something about it, as I've heard quite a few announcers bring it up. If it was one or two drunk guys doing it, people would roll their eyes at them, maybe get a chuckle and call them an '*******' under their breath...but because everyone's doing it no one sees that they are all ridiculous.

Now, granted, I am the last person on the planet to hear about this. I'm very happy we re-signed him. But I'm nervous on the amount...moreso the impact on who else we re-sign. I hope we get Bert again.

Indeed. Some people won't be happen until all the 'kooky' Osgood fans are 'brought down to earth'. "Just making sure you guys think he sucks as much as I do...wouldn't want you to overly think he was good"

I only have one thing to say...not about the booing, but about the people who say, 'Get over it' If it happened once when he first came back, and we kept making threads and talking about it, and saying...'remember that ONE time...' But it happens every time he is here. So, everytime he is here it is brought up anew. You might as well say, "Get over NOT winning The Stanley Cup every year", "Get over losing in the first round for the last few years" "Get over bashing our players every 4 seconds, they still suck the same amount as they did last week" Pretty much 2/3 of the threads are the same thing over and over, and it bothers people that people boo Sergei and they aren't just going to 'Get over it' But how about this...why don't you guys 'Get over' having to post in these threads to tell people to 'Get over it' Practice what you preach. You are doing Fedorov fans no favors by trying to give them free psychiatric help.

Glad to see all the people sticking up for Ozzie.

Cool! I'm excited for the game then (as these games aren't the greatest) I don't care who we play in Round 1 as long as we play well I think we will win!

You aren't rude, but you aren't going to see what he brings to the team because you are expecting him to be lazy and to suck, so everytime he does it confirms your belief that he is, and you don't really notice when he's doing good things for the team. For instance, when he was one of the hottest players in the league this year where was everyone complaining? Where were these threads? He's been having a bit of a scoring slump, but my God if we got rid of players everytime they had a scoring slump we'd have no team left. Don't discount him for being Hudler's landlord either. I think he's a good helper to him. I always see them talking on the bench and stuff, and he DOES have skill so that's not a bad thing. Lang is a skilled player that is not the fastest or most physical, and takes bad penalties. Those are his downsides, everyone has downsides though. What he can do is score timely goals when the Wings really needs it...he's a very good stickhandler who can make some pretty plays, and he is usually in pretty good position, which is why good things happen to him. He seems to try to be in good position to make plays and score so that he doesn't move as much...which might seem lazy, but is actually smart for 2 reasons 1. it helps emphasize his strong points, and de-emphasize some of his weak points...that he's not that fast and physical 2. it keeps him energized so that he doesn't get tired as fast. Also, for the 100th time, he will bring it in the playoffs! Probably because he is very well rested from all the laziness of the regular season Lang is the team goat. He's the player du jour that we love to rip. He's not perfect, but this is getting ridiculous.

Wow, that's a pretty strong stance. He does nothing? He contributes absolutely nothing to the team? Hmm, there's no possible way you can back that up.

I think they go up around row 26 but not in all places. It depends on where you sit. We were in a high up row a game or a few ago, and it was fine.

And don't forget Datsyuk Yeah, I guess it all depends on what other teams offer, and if the Wings make an offer...

Sometimes I watch Maltby and I think that he has no place on this team anymore. Not on The Red Wings, but on THIS team. It's so different now... then when he was grinding it up on the Grind Line. I think he will be on the team next year for some of the reasons people said, and because he's been a long time Wing, and I can't really see him wanting to leave, or us giving him the boot. It would be sad, really, to see him leave, and I can't picture it. It might be the right move business-wise to get rid of him, but the one thing I do like about the Wings org is that they make them family, and will at least try to find a place for players that they love as long as possible..so that's something I can get behind and respect even if Maltby's role is diminished.

I don't know as to the friendship of Lang and Babs, and maybe he will leave...it's not like these rumors aren't flying around about EVERY OTHER Red Wing who's played with Babs - past and present. But Lang does get playing time and decent Wingers so far that he must be somewhat happy. I guess it would depend a lot on whether he wants to move, and what he can get from other teams. I'm not sure why we are comparing Maltby and Lang, actually...but I think Lang is a much better player than Maltby, and it would be more worthwhile to keep Lang on the team than Malts...although, again, at a paycut. If we can keep both, I'm not going to be sad at all, that would be great. If Lang decides to go, well, that is how it happens, sometimes.

I'm hoping for Round 2....but yeah. I know people think it's all manly and tough and team-oriented to play through an injury, but I think it's stupid. It could jeopardize a brilliant career, and injuries can be such a plague in this league. If he's back, I do hope he's healthy!

At this point I think whether he comes back or not before or during the playoffs he won't be 100% by the playoffs and who knows how that will hamper his game. I'd rather have no Z, than a Zetterberg who is a liability out there. Or for him jeopardizing his long term health. I still think we can win without him, and get him when we really will need him in later rounds.

Aw, I'm going to miss the Joe, I really will. But I'm not so silly to think we will never move on...though I do have some concerns. One is the location. Wants: Some of those cool electric runners that go all around the arena, an awesome scoreboard, comfy seats, more bathrooms, decent location where it's easy to get to but isn't ridiculous to park at, something that will feel like home, better access to food..., waiters ooh, maybe even a cool store and restaurant.. DOES NOT Want: An arena that's too big...seriously...at some point you might as well be at home watching on TV and the accoustics are horrible (you think it's quiet NOW), to pay MORE for parking...it's already ridiculous, to pay a lot MORE for tickets...same reason, to lose my season ticket seat at the end, a really HIGH arena, An upper bowl that overlaps the lower bowl, a parking nightmere.

Ticket prices are seriously out of control. So many regulars give them up that a lot are available...then no one can afford them, or can, but have to weight the lofty decision of going to a game where we might just get eliminated 1st round...or lose the game. Let me tell you: It's heartbreaking to pay $300 to watch your team lose...it gets worse as the rounds go on, even if it does get more exciting.

Malts makes 1.4 Lang makes 3.8 But really, I don't think the debate is Lang's salary, or Maltby's. I pretty much think most agree he's overpaid and will definitely have to take a paycut to come back, which he may or may not be willing to do.

Whoever made of the phrase 'Lang is lazy and he sucks' is on my list. I am so sick of that phrase. I know it's a tongue in cheek joke - even with some truth to it. I get it, and it was funny for about the first 1,282,421 times, but then it got stale. And now, it's a substitute for people watching the games, or thinking for themselves.

I also prefer the Leafs system where great players are honored and no numbers are retired. That would leave room for some great players who've been big parts of the org. to be honored, but okay, they are not necessarily rafter material: i.e. Shanahan, Osgood, etc.

GOOD NEWS!

Sign him and trade him for Sergei near the end of the year....now that I can get on board for Fedorov outshines Lang in every season.

Better than the regular season, probably...because people have been disappointed recently, and a lot of ticketholders have to give up playoff tix...therefore more are available than in the reg season when something like 18,000 are taken up by season ticket holders.