Kp-Wings

Hehe. My only real complaints about the Wings are the lack of enforcers/fighting, and the fact that the Wings, at times, can be an extremely boring team. Yeah, I will also complain if they are on a prolonged losing streak, or if Hasek plays a bad game, but's that just a heat of the moment thing. I usually drop it by the next day. You will notice I complain about Ken Holland a lot also, but that's only because he seems goes soft on me when I compliment him. Every time I call him a horrible GM, he comes out and proves me wrong. So, why change up that trend? Catch my drift? That is, if you watch only the regular season and tune out the playoffs.

Sutherby still has plenty of potential. He was a 1st round pick of Washington back in 2000 (26th overall), and he's a good skater for his size. Plus, you'll have the possibility to get 15, maybe even 20 goals out of him, even considering he's a tough guy. Players like that are a rare breed in today's NHL. I have a feeling that, with the system the Ducks play, Sutherby will do well with them. Couldn't agree more, Lou. The fact that Anaheim got 3 picks from Edmonton for Penner (including a potential #1 overall pick if Edmonton finishes in last place) gave them some leveridge as far as draft picks are concerned. Sutherby really doesn't put them in a cap bind, either. He makes less than 1 million, and if he doesn't pan out, he'll be an unrestricted free agent at seasons end. This deal works out well for the Ducks, because as I mentioned, Sutherby is the type of player that will fit in well with the Ducks system. Washington is more of a finesse team (other than Brashear and Erskine), and didn't really fit in with them.

8, eh? Sounds about right. Congrats to irishtemper14+25. You must be psychic or something, because this week was one of the worst weeks ever as far as predicting goes.

Sutherby is a guy I've always had high hopes for. Hopefully he turns it around in Anaheim, since he was getting shafted in Washington. Or... better yet... he get's traded to the Wings.

Downey brings that one element this team has lacked over the years. I really think he should be rewarded for his good play, and stay in full-time instead of Drake. Drake has sucked badly ever since he got the face-shield on. If Drake can't fight, there is no point in having him in the lineup. Hopefully he get's back in on Wednesday, especially because it's against St. Louis. I'm tired of guys like Jackman tacking liberties against our players, and nobody doing anything about it.

I'm surprised Fedoruk hasn't been forced to wear an artifical face yet. Some of his fights, especially last year's one-hit KO from Orr, have been extremely brutal. I used to like Fedoruk, but he shouldn't be fighting anymore. I'd rather have Downey at this point.

Hull is an idiot. He should just go work for CBC in the broadcast booth or something. Ronnie Francis would make a great GM also. He should be next in line for the that spot in Carolina once Rutherford is done.

Exactly what I'm wondering. Their playing Jones the whole game, and it's clear as day he isn't getting done, much like the rest of the team. Terrible game. We shouldn't have lost to the Giants. They are a horribly overated team (Lou, I know you changed your thoughts, but I'm staying put), and the Lions failed to capitalize all game long. It's really pathetic when Jason Hanson is the teams best player. Not taking anything away from him, because he is a great kicker, but the kicker should not be the guy scoring the majority of points for the team. The offense needs to start getting things done. That means not dropping passes all the time. One other big irk with me today was the offensive line. How many times did Kitna get sacked today? I counted at least 5, and there was probably more. I don't know what was going through their heads, but they looked terrible today. Guys were getting by them left and right. I knew this season was too good to be true. Yes, we are still above .500, but it's entirely possible the Lions lose every game for the rest of the season, and finish at 6-10. They have a history of collapsing big time on the Thanksgiving game, so it wouldn't surprise me if that does happen again this year. Thursday's game will a tough challenge for sure. The Lions always struggle against Green Bay.

Hehe... What would your comeback be? I'm curious to know.

Stevie has already proven his worth by putting together a winning team during last year's IIHF World Tournament in the spring. He would make a great GM.

Downey has to stay in the lineup at all costs. He is the only player that actually brings energy to this team. His running the goalies, and Jody Shelley, tonight was great! Too bad him and Shelley didn't have a go at it, but I can always hope for next weekend. These two teams meet again, so hopefully there are some fights in that one.

The Habs already have Kostopoulos and Komisarek, who are both capable of fighting. Since they are already at a premium for roster space now, I doubt they bring Downey back. Plus, last week they just let Garth Murry go on waivers. I rate Murray higher than Downey, just because Murray has some scoring skill, while Downey doesn't. I don't think they have any intentions of havinga an enforcer since they just let that happen. But... it is a possibility. I just wish Babcock would quit being an ******* and play Downey for once, just so he get's a few more games in this season.

They also do this in Lions Live, and Pistons Live. It's not stricly based on not wanting to talk about the Wings. Once the game is over and you've went through all the interviews and highlights, there is nothing more to talk about. Since they need to fill up a half-hour segmant, they usually move on to other sports and talk about the other teams in the area at the very end. The only one they don't do this in is Tigers Live, but that's only because baseball is the only major sport going on during the summer.

If ESPN did something like that, there'd be a 500 page topic here discussing how much they suck... ...oh, wait... they don't cover hockey. So there is still a 500 page topic talking about how much they suck, but it's on a different subject.

So than tonight was no different from any other night?

I can't believe I turned this game off before all the fights happened. Oh well... I'll catch the replay's tomorrow.

Was it really? I kept hearing Ken and Mickey make mentions to it during the broadcast, but it certainly didn't look like a selllout. I thought the San Jose game back in late October was fuller than tonight. As for the game itself: no comment.

nevermind

Well, obviously, but what kind of trade-off is Lilja for Schneider? Salaries alone would prevent something like that from happening. Schneider makes somewhere between 3-5 million a season (don't have the exact figures, so I'm ballparking it), while Lilja makes 1 million. That's a huge dropoff, and while the Wings may have the cap room, I don't think bringing Schneider back is going to address any current concern with the team, because they have plenty of players who play the exact same way. We have enough offensive defenseman. What we need back there is a physical, shot-blocking defenseman, something we lack dearly. Lilja could be that, which he has shown in stretch's, but he's such a mystery it's not even worth bothering with him anymore. I don't know why he doesn't do it consistantly, because that's the only thing he's capable of doing. The Wings biggest needs, right now, is more secondary scoring up-front, and more grit. Schneider brings neither of those elements. He does score points, but he's a defenseman, and the Wings need gritty defenseman, not more highly paid offensive defenseman. They already have Lidstrom, Rafalski, and Kronwall (Kronwall isn't offensive, but his 3 million dollar salary makes me include him in that group). I would take Schneider back, if it became a priority, but I would rather see the teams other needs be addressed first. Cap room is a big issue.

Not really. It's been reported that the Thrashers are one of the worst financial teams in the league. The ownership is also strict on a lower, self imposed salary cap. If Hossa plays the situation like his predecessors did before him, he is going to use those players high contracts as a benchmark for his signing. I like to think of Briere in this situation. If Briere can earn 10 million a season, I don't see what's stopping Hossa from that. Atlanta is a small market team. The salary cap, while it was meant to help small market teams, really hasn't. Hossa will seek out top dollar wherever he can get it. And unless Atlanta starts making money, or raises it's self-imposed salary cap, they're not going to be able to re-sign him. Hossa's most probable location would be a be big market team with plenty of spending room, though it's really hard to say who that would be. If Toronto finds a way to dump their dead weight players (McCabe, Kubina), they might be the guys to make an offer. The Wings might be able to meet Hossa's possible demands come free agency (if he's available), but it would pose a huge problem. You throw in Datsyuk's salary, Zetterberg's raise when he get's re-signed (I doubt he'll take that much of a hometown discount), and Hossa's salary, and this team is looking awfully similar to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Three hugh contracts, followed by scrub players on every other line. I don't think Hossa is worth the hassle. He is a great hockey player, but the Wings won't have the cap space to address the rest of the teams needs. This isn't baseball, or the pre-lockout NHL. Teams can't spend like they could before, and it's unfortunate. But, that's the way it is.

You really want him back? I don't think he'd have a positive influence on the team, considering he already left in the first place.

2-7 here as well. I don't get it. What the heck is wrong with Carolina and Colorado? Why is it every time I pick those teams, they lose? On the opposite side of things, why does Atlanta always win when I pick against them? They suck, yet always manage to win on weekends. I'm never going to catch up. This game is almost impossible to win at. I'm sure pre-lockout it would have been a lot easier, because the good teams always won, and the bad teams always lost. Nowadays, it seems like everyone is going on mini hot and cold streaks. Damn league parity. I certainly hope I put up a better showing tomorrow...

He's Canadian born, but is of Slovakian descent. I guess, though, since he was raised in Canada that he technically is Canadian. But whatever the case, the guy is going to be a tremendous hockey player in the near future. On a related note: Lucic is actually the nephew of former NHL defenseman Dan Kesa. I remember Kesa from his days with the Detroit Vipers in the IHL.

It's hard to give them the credit for playing a defensive style, though. Their goaltending sucks (Fleury is overated, and Sabourin is an ok backup, but not a starter), and most of their better defenseman are all offensive minded. I just lean more towards them playing offensivily, since they give up a lot of goals. I can definitly see that being true. Rod Brind'Amour won it last year, and if you ask me, both Pahlsson and Pandolfo (the runners up) are better defensive players than he is. I still think Zetterberg's two-way ability should be givin some recognition. It seems like that's the one trophy he has the best shot at winning. The scoring title is a stretch, because of guys like Lecavalier and Crosby. And unless Zetterberg carries the team on his back and everyone else falls apart, he's not going to the Hart Trophy either. Crosby will probably win that award also, because right now, he and Malkin are the only ones on Pittsburgh that are scoring. He is carrying that team, in a sense. None of this is a knock on Zetterberg, but those two awards are very tough to win. I think he has a much better chance at winning the Selke than the other two.

Bell really got his ass beat in that fight. He was actually looking at the linesman to break up the fight. This Lucic kid is off the charts good. Since the Wings love to draft Europeans, why can't they draft players like him? Guys with loads of offensive talent, yet are also tough enough to defend themselves and their teammates. They could have drafted him that year, but chose Shawn Matthias instead (who they traded anyways, which makes it a total wash). I didn't have a chance to catch any games tonight. Any other good fights of note?