Kp-Wings

Everyone's known that since about last month. I really don't think anyone was anticipating a deal this season, unlike last season (when the Hossa rumors were flying around, among others).

I think there's a better chance Bob Probert comes out of retirement and signs with the Wings then there is of us acquiring Chris Neil. After all, he as that former Red Wing thing going for him, right? Seriously though; for whatever reason, the staff is content with keeping a bunch of losers like Kopecky in the lineup rather than bringing up guys that... oh, I don't know... actually do something and contribute to the team. But, whatever. I've held my tongue for this long so far (you'll notice how long I've been away), so there's no sense complaining about it anymore, since I know nothing will be done. I seriously doubt Holland does a single thing when the deadline rolls around, other than maybe a useless Cory Cross or Jiri Slegr-esque deal, and that said player doesn't even make an appearance in the playoffs. This team is too soft, and too weak defensively to repeat. There, I've said. Let the bashing begin!

Haha, something like that.

You're speaking my language. I've never been a season ticket holder, though, so maybe this doesn't apply to me.

Is that available in Blu-ray, by any chance?

Another enforcer debate? Haha, this place is no different from when I left it. You already know where I stand on this issue, so... *declines further comment*

I've been following this kid recently, and it seems like he has a good future. He's playing on one of the OHL's worst teams, the Erie Otters, yet is still 2nd in team scoring: 2007-2008 statistics Games played: 49 Goals: 16 Assists: 30 Points: 46 PIM: 65 +/-: -21 His +/- total scares me, but if you get this guy on a good team, I think he could florish, like Emmerton has after his trade. He's definitly a prospect to watch, in my opinion, and could be a late-bloomer.

The 2nd line would be better if Hudler wasn't on it (since I think Zetterberg could develop some good chemistry with Franzen), but the problem is that there is nobody else to put up there. Filppula is not a top 6 forward in my opinion, and Cleary has proven he does his best on the 3rd or 4th lines with guys like Draper and the like. So, who does that leave them with? Samuelsson? I still don't think Hudler is a top line player. I'm sure I'll get blasted for saying that, especially because we're only three games into the season, but I just don't think he is. His best strength is on the PP, which really doesn't do much for his cause. But, because there really isn't anyone else to put up there, I guess that's the way it will stay. I just really hope Zetterberg can develop some chemistry with these guys. As far as reuinting Zetterberg and Datsyuk, that'll only happen if the Wings go into a huge losing streak. I think it would be for the best, since those guys have as good as, if not better, chemistry together than anyone in the league, but Babock feels differently. Hopefully Hossa can fill that role.

Nice to have another fight thread. That Iginla vs. Mitchell fight last Saturday was great. I have to give the win to Mitchell, because he wailed on Iginla for most of the fight, with Iggy getting one-good punch at the end (which is basically how he got the takedown). I absolutley love those NW division games between Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The intensity that those teams show, and all during regular season games... you can't beat it. The other big fight during that game (Prust vs. Rypien) really surprised me. How did Rypien not break his hand? He must have punched Prust' helmet a dozen times. It ended up being a fairly decent fight, despite being one where neither player took their helmet off, and both left them on (which I don't really care for).

Hah, I can't believe I completely forgot about this! Well, this already puts me back one week, so it'll be a struggle again this year. Oh well, it's all in good fun. I had a feeling I wouldn't have done too good anyways, so I guess it doesn't matter. I know I would have gotten one wrong for sure, since I wasn't banking on Detroit beating Ottawa...

Sopel hasn't played for Vancouver in over a year. Are you thinking of Ohlund instead?

Burke built the Ducks on a one-year window. While that probably wasn't his intention (or maybe it was. The guy is as crazy they come), he went wild with signing bad players like Bertuzzi and Schneider... and for what? Just to stick it to the Wings even more? I'm sure that probably is the reason why he poached two of our players. He has always hated the Wings, back since his days in Vancouver (when he couldn't stop bitching about our overzealous spending and ability to "buy a Stanley Cup"). Honestly, he didn't even need to replace Niedermayer and Selanne; not right away anyways. They had enough depth to get buy without putting themselves in a world of hurt by signing two players way over their values. Besides that, at the time, both Niedermayer and Selanne had never officially retired either; they were waiting out the decision. If Burke wasn't such a lunatic and actually thought things through, he could have figured that "well, these guys might come back, so I probably should save some cap space for them". Burke built a Stanley Cup team, but also destroyed it in the process. The man is totally incompetant, ranging from his horrible financial decisions, to his media tyraids with Kevin Lowe, among others, to his man love with Todd Bertuzzi. He isn't the hockey wizard everyone thinks he is.

I don't know why you guys keep saying we should get rid of Samuelsson, because he's already been gone for almost 10 years. Ulf Samulesson hasn't played for the Wings since 1999.

Team Howe can't win a game to save their life. Break them up already, and start mixing the two teams together. Clearly they don't have any chemistry. ...and is just me, or does Hossa look extremely lethargic and unenergized out there? I'm not going to get on a guy for being bad in the pre-season, but he should still be showing more of an effort than he is so far. He's had the potential for some really good chances, but isn't doing anything with him. Oh well. I'm sure he'll turn it on the regular season. I just want to see him at his best right now, because he is a really exciting player when he's playing at 100%.

That was weak. Oh well. It's not an overly big deal, since it's only the first pre-season game. The thing that pissed me off more than the loss was the spewing garbage coming out of the 'Habs commentators mouth tonight. Give a f***ing break already. I wouldn't want to listen to that crap even if I was a Canadians fan. That had to be one of the worst displays of broadcasting I've seen in my life. I almost had to check and see if Mike Haynes or John Kelly became 'Habs fans, and were calling the game tonight. Ugh, my ears are mad at me now. Ok, so maybe I exaggerate a little, but seriously. Those guys flat out suck at broadcasting. I think a bag of rocks and Evgeni Malkin could probably provide better commentary than those guys. (and yeah, I'm probably the only one here more upset by that than the loss. Big deal. )

lol

Duck and cover people!

Actually, he doesn't seem to be listed in the Detroit phone books anywhere. Any ideas?

Preaching to the wrong choir, my friend. His spot is pretty much set in stone. All the reports on MLive, Freep.com, etc. seem to indicate such, and plus, Babcock really likes Kopecky for some reason. Also, if the spot wasn't his, then why hasn't his name been mentioned in the group of guys still fighting to make the team? His name would have been mentioned by now, and it hasn't, so that indicates to me that he'll have the 12th forward spot. I don't agree with it at all, but I really don't want to get into that right now. He's got a spot, as long as he's healthy, so we'll see what he can do.

Downey is cool.

It's really too bad the way he's gone. He used to be a great player in Dallas.

Nah. He'll get rid of Patrick Kane and replace him with Steve McKenna. Or... OR... maybe, just maybe, he can save face for such a move by bringing in the amazing Todd Bertuzzi.

That's a bold statement to make. I'll be very surprised if a Monday night game against Columbus or something actually even makes it to the half-way point, let alone a sell-out. In this economy, it's a lot easier to for fans such as myself to stay at home, and watch the game in HD, while enjoying the luxeries of DVR, cheap beer, and no lines for the bathrooms. I'll try to make it down to some of the better games (ala Eastern Conference games), but otherwise, I'll be enjoying the action from the coach this year, as I have for the past few years. I'm not going to take a dive and buy season tickets again unless the economy gets better, which doesn't look to happen anytime soon. On a side note: I still think we will have sell-outs, probably a few more than last year since we did when the Cup, and the Tigers and Lions both suck beyond repair, so there's very little competition among other teams, but there will still be plenty of games with empty seats. It's sad, but it's true.

Are you kidding me? Alain Chevrier is a much better choice.

Downey should get the 13th spot.. It would make absolutley no sense to give that spot to a guy like Leino, and I'm surprised he's even in the running to get it. Other than Downey, we have no enforcer (don't say McCarty, because he is not an enforcer by any means, and who's to say he'll even be on the team), where as in Leino's case, we have guys that play his style of game in abundance. Plus, Leino has never played in North America, so who's to say he'll even be ready to play at the NHL level? The right choice is Downey. We need an enforcer more than ever, especially having just won the Cup.