KATIEBARTHEDOOR24

Just a thought, I haven't looked at all the other posts. After one-half year in the east the Wings are first in the big bad easy east. Are they a contender? Yes. I know the post season is a different game. But that isn't for another few months. They will only get better.

DETROIT --- Hockeytown, Motor City, The D, Motown. The city of Detroit goes by many names and now, after being voted by USA Today readers, can call itself America's Best Sports City. That title came as no surprise to Red Wings forward Daniel Cleary. "Where I've played there's no comparison, quite frankly," he said. "Looking throughout the country, there's a lot of cool, great sports towns. You know Boston is a great sports town, so is Chicago. ... Detroit is just an awesome sports town. Sports a lot of times are uplifting too, especially when they do well. In particular, the Red Wings have been pretty stable for a number of years, a lot of history here. The Tigers, a lot of history too and go back to the Pistons in the 80s and then the Lions, football is always going to be huge. I just think the fans are just diehards." Cleary spent the early years of his career with the Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers and Phoenix Coyotes before landing in Detroit in 2005, a place that he still calls home today. "I just love the people of Detroit," he said. "It's a great place to live. I know we've had our struggles in the city of Detroit and things like that but the fans and how they treat the players and how passionate they are, you can't beat it. I'm glad we're No. 1." As one of 12 cities in the U.S. to claim a professional team in each of the four major sports, the Wings, Lions, Tigers and Pistons fan bases that come out in droves to support their teams. One of the newcomers to the Wings' locker room, center Stephen Weiss came from the Florida Panthers through free agency before the 2013-14 season. He said support from the fans has been overwhelming. "Not only at the games but in and around the community you'll have people come up to you and say things," Weiss said. "I had a note left on my car at the mall the other day from someone just saying, 'Hang in there' and that was pretty cool. My wife and I thought that was awesome. You know, even when we do autograph night we sign for two and a half, three hours straight. It's pretty cool." Weiss spent 11 seasons with the Panthers but said nothing he has ever experienced can compare to his short time spent here in Detroit. "Well it's the history, it's an Original Six," he said. "When you have that type of history, fans grow to love your team and your players and especially with this team. You have players that have been here for so long, you become attached to them. They grow the young guys and keep them for a long time, it's easy for fans to become attached to players. In Florida, it was not like that with players coming in and out and tough for fans to really latch on to guys, so those are some of the differences right off the bat." A history of success and tradition is not limited to the Wings' four Stanley Cups since 1997 and 23 consecutive playoff appearances, but also the Tigers' four straight American League Central Division championships from 2011-14, the Pistons' NBA title in 2004 followed up by a return trip to the NBA Finals in 2005, and the Lions' recent accomplishments, the title as America's No. 1 sports city is well deserved. "We did get Hockeytown for a reason," defenseman Kyle Quincey said. "Our fans are obviously one of the better American fans in the league. Definitely, this organization is top notch all the way around so in regards to that, I agree." Detroit was ranked at the top of USA Today's Top 10 sports cities, beating out Indianapolis, Dallas, Chicago, Green Bay, Boston, Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Oakland. The list was compiled from votes during a reader's choice contest.

I'm sorry did you say something about Chicago? Lol. And for those that don't like the city of Detroit. Ya it has managerial issues. But has come a long way. It's not Flint.

Will always one of my favorite players and humans. Probably my favorite Canadian.

The people own the team. Imagine owning a share of the wings and all there history. Always liked Weiss since before the NHL. He's gotta alot of flack during his injuries with the wings. Little things like that go along way.

Babs has the greatest job with the greatest players. Why would he leave. He and Holland don't agree on everything. But what coach and GM do?

What is this "In-tear-night" you speak of? Al Gore would be so proud.

Something smells like Hossa.

Oh Cuddles, I miss you. Lol GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can we get a bag of pucks or at least $1. Glad he was a Red Wing. Bummed it could be longer and even worse bout no cup. Good luck to him and his family. Almost want to root for the Sens for the up coming game... Almost.

^^^ if you find yourself in parrel my bro lives in ridgefield WA. He is a huge wings fan. Lol that is a drive

Early games are funny to predict. If ya look at it this way it will only be 11am in BC. Maybe the Canucks will be the ones slow and sleepy. Anyway... GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Q&A with Khan. Anthony Mantha is the Detroit Red Wings' most heralded prospect since Henrik Zetterberg in 2002. But while Zetterberg was a rookie a dozen years ago, "prospect" might not be the right term to describe him. He was a little older at 22, had two years of experience in the Swedish men's league and had appeared in the Olympics and World Championship before arriving in North America. He was a more accomplished and NHL-ready player and finished second in Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the year. So, on second thought, Mantha probably is the Red Wings' most highly touted prospect since Keith Primeau, the third overall pick in 1990. Because of where they have drafted every year since selecting Primeau (only one top-10 pick since), the Red Wings don't get players that resemble Mantha, a 6-foot-5, 214-pound pure goal-scoring winger they were fortunate was still available at No. 20 in 2013. This is why Red Wings fans are always asking about him. This week is no different. Q: Do you really think Mantha could be in Detroit after just a few weeks of producing in the AHL? - Matthew A: I think so. I was told a week ago that the Red Wings have discussed bringing up Mantha from the Grand Rapids Griffins in a few weeks if he's playing well. He has two goals and no assists in five games, after an eight-week absence due to a broken tibia. "He's got too many things going for him not to consider bringing him up," was the way it was explained to me. This was before Stephen Weiss produced four points in his first two games back from a groin injury and Tomas Jurco perked up with five points in five games. But the Red Wings are anxious to get a look at Mantha sooner than later. They realize Zetterberg (34) and Pavel Datsyuk (36) are getting up there in age and they want to surround them with more talent without sacrificing part of the future (by making a risky trade). Of course, if they promote Mantha, he'll need to play well to stay here. Q: I am curious what you think about the fact that Datsyuk is playing without Zetterberg these days. ... Datsyuk mentioned several years ago that it is much tougher to play without Zetterberg because he has to back-check so much more, while he is obviously also the playmaker going forward when Z isn't there. With both of them getting up there in age wouldn't it be much safer to play them together? - Joe A: I think Mike Babcock will eventually reunite Datsyuk and Zetterberg, likely with Justin Abdelkader. But it depends on having a reliable, productive second-line center. Riley Sheahan is showing signs of becoming that player. They initially signed Weiss to fill that role. He's produced in two games; if he stays healthy maybe he'll finally lock down that second-line center spot. Q: We all love watching The Magic Man play but that's becoming an increasingly infrequent opportunity. It's clear Datsyuk can no longer stay healthy and without him the Wings are going nowhere. Do you think there's any possibility Ken Holland trades Pav, Hank or any of the other brittle veterans while he can still get a decent return? - jmb A: Not sure what other "brittle veterans" you're referring to, but Datsyuk and Zetterberg aren't going anywhere. Even if the Red Wings missed the playoffs and went into some sort of rebuild, I highly doubt they would look to move either of their franchise players. Some players are just destined to wear the winged wheel their entire NHL career, and Datsyuk and Zetterberg are two of them. I'd also include Niklas Kronwall in that category. Q: Will Datsyuk ever play 60 games a season again? - Reporterone A: I'll let you know in a couple of years. Q: What is the "real story" behind the seeming disdain Babcock has for (Jakub) Kindl? ... Looking at his full body of work this year, both his hard numbers and his decision-making and play on the ice, I do not see him as any worse than (Jonathan) Ericsson or, overall, (Brendan) Smith and (Kyle) Quincey. Does Babcock not like his work ethic? I had the same suspicions about (Jiri) Hudler and (Valtteri) Filppula, who have both gone on to prosper elsewhere. I think this is a shame as I see in Kindl as a kid with a lot of raw skill, a great skater, with offensive potential and a bomb from the point when he wants to unleash it - hence I was happy to see him on the power play. But I now wonder if his confidence is so shaken he is on his way out of Detroit. - John A: I wouldn't go as far as to call it disdain, but he certainly is hard on Kindl, who has a shorter leash than others. I don't believe there is anything more to the story than what Babcock said earlier this week and has stated previously - Kindl needs to compete harder on a regular basis. He must win more puck battles and not avoid contact. Kindl hasn't been available for comment in a couple of weeks but has admitted this in the past. It was puzzling to see him benched midway through a 4-1 victory over Chicago, and I don't think he should have been scratched the next four games. Overall, Kindl has played better than he did last season, and the second power-play unit is more productive with Kindl than Danny DeKeyser. But I believe Kindl eventually will be traded, whether it's this season, in the off-season or next season. They have so many defensemen in the system that are projected to reach the NHL - Alexey Marchenko, Ryan Sproul, Nick Jensen, Mattias Backman and Xavier Ouellet, who's here for now - they won't be able to keep all of them in addition to Kronwall, DeKeyser, Ericsson and Smith.

Mrazek is starting. GO WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Statistics are for losers, unless they are good ones" Mickey Redman

SLOW'S BBQ. FISHBONES

I'm waiting...

Ya shoulda saw the way Quincey tossed him like a rag doll

Bingo Bango

Quincey needs a goal tonight for GH hattrick. Words I never thought I would ever hear.

Voracek high stocked himself

Well.. Now it starts a new.. You must NEVER stop eating.

Quincey looked very out of place doing that

Was cool.. But I didn't think it look anything like him. That's a great name for that line LOL

Honestly I thought I was the only one