Louisville

Well you beat me to it, because I hate this kind of BS posts too. First of all, "the skill set" you speak of doesn't need to be on a fourth line that skates for 5 minutes a game. They need to be out there crashing, banging, and wearing the other team down. When Downey was up, and his line was on the ice, that was the loudest I've heard the Joe all year. That's a game we lost. He brings something the Wings don't have anymore, something the fans wanna see, and teammates feed off of. Isn't it enough to have 3 forward lines with an insane amount of skill? Can't we just have one energy line where the other team has to keep their heads up? It's my firm belief that the Wings would have had more intensity this season if they had a guy to push back on a regular basis. That's why I still think Dallas Drake was a big loss for us. Intangibles are so unappreciated.

Fixed it for you

Dammit. I love Ryan Miller so that really sucks. It's all over for Buffalo who haven't played consistent all season.

I think it's going to be a tight game. No more 6-0 or 5-6 scores. Good goaltending on both sides with special teams making the difference. 3-2 Wings with goals from Franzen, Datsyuk, and Cleary

These back to backs are killing us. Isn't this weekend's games like our 4th or 5th week in a row of back to backs? Crazy

Last year they asked Zetterberg what teams he didn't want to play in first round. All he said was 'Nobody'

Hossa, Hossa, and a Hossa fight.

Hahaha Your forecasting of events was detailed and spot on.

Bylsma is from my home town woooooowoooooo His jersey hangs in our local Applebee's and I have his autographed picture actually...

I'm curious, when a team "calls a player up" who is actually doing the calling? If it's Babcock then I am suprised he hasn't had Downey in more games. I really thought the second we had an injury it would have been Downey or Helm getting the call.

Hmmm Didn't he just come back from a hand injury? I don't think I'd be dropping gloves (in a contract year) the game I got back from a hand injury. Plus, if your looking for Franzen to fight and win on a consistent basis then your barking up the wrong tree.

Hossa is so staying...then I can finally feel safe enough to buy his jersey.

Tim Thomas has had to prove to people his whole career that he's good, I think he's going to be playing with a chip on his shoulder going into the playoffs. That said, the Devils look really good. Shanahan and Rolston have made their scoring lines and power play so much better.

Yeah, I heard that part too. Maybe someone should have told them that their team has a Malkin and Staal line too. Sid isn't exactly the king of faceoffs either. In fact, it's probably the one weak point in his game. But no...Crosby's not out there for the last two seconds?!?!OMFG!@%!!

Man, I forgot how the Preds would just not go away. The majority of those videos also involved massive hits from Kronner and Drake. I miss those.

A lot of good teams have money tied up in their top 6, so comparing the Wings to the Sens or Lightning is lame. Were going to have to lose people to keep people, and until their is a cap discount for teams and the players they drafted, get used to players lost to free agency. We also don't have a 3 - 8 million dollar goalie so why not spend it on our top six?

Not exactly on topic but if the Coyotes were to fold what happens to their players? Do they automatically all become free agents?

Since you guys are such experts on Val, who was giving him 'charity' points last year? Franzen?...who didn't get going until the end of the season... Can't be Datsyuk and Zetterberg because they were on a line together mostly... Hmmm...maybe it was Datsyuk when Val filled in for Zetterberg on the Z-D-H line while he was out? He played pretty good with them as I remember it. Maybe it was Hudler and Sammy but you guys wanted them traded so badly last deadline it can't be those guys. Truth is, we really haven't seen what he has to offer, his rookie season he didn't play much, last year must have been a fluke, and this year he's only good because we have good people around him. Oh yeah, he was pretty good in the playoffs but that doesn't count, of course. Last year: 78 GP 36 P This year: 53 GP 26 P Only 10 points behind last years totals (but I digress because as YoungGuns pointed out he's getting charity points). Yes he has a larger drop off in goals but why should he have to score when he's always been a playmaker? Why should he have to score when he's got Hudler, Franzen, Hossa (who he really hasn't played too much with until recently), and Sammy to pass to? Also, if you think that being on the third line for the majority of the season and no power play time doesn't effect you and your stats... then you are a moron.

I think every team in the league (besides the one's who can't) is going to be throwing money at him. It's just going to be up to him where he wants to play. If Toronto was smart, they'd lock that s*** down.

I think people should be more upset with the play of Kronwall lately more than Osgood. I don't know, I guess with the addition of Stuart late last season and Hossa I just thought we would see a fun Detroit Red Wings team to watch this season. I think a lot of other people did too and it's hard to watch them struggle like this. But the Wings are third in the league in points so we really shouldn't be complaining so much.

Yeah, I speak Polish too and I couldn't really pick out anything either. In the second video, seeing Hossa in a gold figure skater outfit was...different.

I'd rather the NHL do it like this, and I was curious to see what you guys thought. A guy on Buccigross's column suggested putting a clause in the CBA by which a team who signs a player they drafted signs to an extension when they become a UFA will only have a certain percentage of their salary go towards the cap. His point being that the cap was supposed to stop crazy free agent spending, now it just seems like teams who draft well are getting screwed. Here's the letter: I think it's brilliant.

Your one liners are killing me lately As for the topic...he's right, it's sickening. Two top six forwards out, one top four defenseman out, and a 5 game losing skid. All I'm asking for is just a little urgency at this point.

Yeah it was on Versus too. They said Leino didn't know and nobody bothered to tell him, Keith Tkachuk thought it was on purpose and was cracking up.

Oh yes! I completely forgot about that. Now that you mention it I do remember Eddie Olczyk saying how Lilja needed to protect himself better after that hit...I suppose the same can be said for Backes here, eh Eddie?