CMatt89

Breaking Necks - Todd Bertuzzi Winning Fights - Brad Norton Getting a chance - Darryl Bootland Reading and Writing - Jacques Demers Hitman - Mike Danton Hairstyles - Mark Messier Big Man on Campus - Andreas Lilja Earning Playing Time - Jiri Hudler Art of Playoff Performances - Pavel Datsyuk Sobriety - Tho Fluery I F***ed you up - Bob Probert Learning English - Pavel Datsyuk

Jesse Wallin? Jiri Slegr?

In the past week I've seen: Datsook, Foresburgh, Kaldar, Hoodlur, Frahntsen (Franzen), Lindstrom, Mikkey Rendman, Matthew Shnider, Bill Garin, and Dom Hashik. ...I'm dead honest about those too, I hope those people werent serious

YEah it was kinda old news, I actully still would like getting Blake...Although it wont happen..Blake>Hudler

Wingsfan, scroll up, the article is there. It was actully released long before the Bertuzzi trade. No Blake for us..

Suddenly, our playoff hopes seem quite good. On paper, it looks like we're the team to beat. It all comes down to health and on-ice performance...Can we get it done? I would believe Bertuzzi is ready to play, I doubt Holland would push that hard for a guy who will still be out.....

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID...0/1053/SPORTS05 Heres the link saying Detroit has been offered Blake

Free Press released an article saying the Islanders offered Detroit Blake. I say take it. Then get a fighter. After that, were set for playoff time. Blake has 29 goals this year, he's the spark needed for the second line. Now, he doesn't have size, nor is he gritty, but he's fast, can score, and is a relentless forechecker..I'd get on it..

Losing Fisch was huge. I can only imagine how much he would help us this year and last. But, I think I'd take living over playing hockey as well.

I'm glad Williams is gone. This is clearly a contract situation as many have stated. I do not think Holland is done. Am I the only one who think he has tricks up his sleeve? I think he's gonna pull something off that non of us will expect. I don't think we will land the obvious Guerin or Bertuzzi..guys like that. Either way, I have faith in Holland. He'll do the right thing..not the stupid thing like get a rental for his whole bank account.

Is he available? Or worth looking at? Could Pittsburgh be looking to move him to clear up space to sign their stars in the next couple of years? Maybe Schnieder could be the base in a deal for Malone...They are in terrible need of veteran defenseman. I don't really know much about this guy except he's huge, plays well defensively, and has alot of potential. / ?

Detroit is not tough/physical enough to have a rival.

Over the last couple years people have been saying " I hope we get this team or this team because it would be an easy victory" ..Well, I hope we get the toughest draw possible. I hope Detroit comes in as the big time underdog. It should light a fire under their Euro behinds to be seen as the weaker team. Then they might get past the first or second round. And, it might inspire Datsyuk to score

It's not just this year. It's been like this for quite some time now. The crowd is filled with non-hockey fans. The lower bowl is filled with people in suits who bring their boss, or co-workers or parents get tickets and give them to their kids, and they bring friends who don't really know much about hockey...people who generally don't care about hockey. They fill up these seats because they can afford the tickets. Now, if you want to attract a better audience, i think general costs on tickets, merchandise, and food needs to go down. Also, with hockey becomming less appealing every year, I don't forsee the crowd issue getting much better.

Since it's clear Holland doesn't want to lose alot of prospects, or assets, why don't we forget about the "top 6 forward". I don't think we really need it. We have the veteran leadership to carry us in the playoffs, we have the star power, and we have the skill. Everyone knows, it's the toughness were lacking. So by bringing in older guys like Guerin, and Roberts or injured guys like Bertuzzi, will that really help us out in the toughness department? This is what should be done: Go after 2 or 3 players. Not older expensive guys. Get big, young, one dimensional role players. Guys who are waiting to prove themselves in the NHL. Get some cheap guys who will just hit, shoot, and fight when needed. They don't need the big minutes, replace Hudler and Langfeld with those types of guys. The way I see it, Langfeld and Hudler get 5 minutes or less a game. So, why not replace them with gritty young, role-playing forwards? I believe they will have a bigger impact on the team than Langfeld and Hudler. To fix our second line, I think Fillpula should be on it. Cleary - Lang - Fillpula. Our first and 3rd lines are set. Now the 4th line would be either Williams at center or wing..then put 2 big, grinding, young guys around him. This would solve our toughness issue. Of course these to guys wouldn't put us in the final...But they sure could help. Also, maybe even replace Markov with a Lilja-sized, young hitter, than our D would be solid as hell. So, when Holland says we lack toughness, why don't we actully get it? Forget the big star player. We have that in Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Lidstrom.

I'm not suggesting any hot shot players if you read what i wrote. I'm suggesting cheap, 500,000 dollar role players. Guys that are yet to prove themselves. Guys waiting to crack lineups. They don't have to have blazing shots or win every fight, their only here to body guard, provide toughness, and shoot the puck at the net and dig for dirty, garbage goals. I'd take a guy like Brain McGrattan, Colton Orr, guys like that who can fight/ hit and are huge. Who would you rather have on the 4th line, McGrattan or Langfeld? I also understand having guys like this is a liabilty..but, their not supposed to be playing big minutes. There here to kick someones ass when we play Calgary and Zetterberg gets high sticked and chips his teeth, or Datsyuk gets run and his helmets gets ripped off, ...when Lilja gets blindsided, or when Hartnell on Nashville runs Hasek. I also might consider bringing Norton back up....Maybe. Also, Markov is too inconsistent. If he's our best hitter, why is it that he can go 3-4 games without getting his name mentioned. He's too quiet to be our best hitter on defense. And plus, he's only thrown about 3 or 4 big hits all year. He's believe he's easily replaceable.

I'd rather have a 75 perent healthy Bertuzzi than Hudler. This is great news. I'd make that trade in a heartbeat. What would you rather have: Hudler, a small skilled forward ..in which we have an abundance of them...way more than enough; or A beast who can hit/fight/and put the puck in the net....Hmm, well, Since we need Men instead of boys on this team..I'll take the guy who will play over the guy whom rarely plays..

They were signing autographs at the IKEA store. It was pretty cool talking to them. Nice guys..and Franzen wasn't as big as I expected haha.

Actully, i met him today at IKEA ..him and Franzen..well, He said he'll be back in 2 weeks. He said he broke his shoulder/collarbone in 4 Spots. That came straight from his mouth..

He was hacked in the face in Calgary 2 games ago..2 chipped teeth.

BOYD!? I thought Lilja was the leading candidate. He very much leads on the ice.. Boyd...Pssh

The day we trade Zetterberg is the day I stop watching the Red Wings.. And this will never happen..