Drake_Marcus

People also seem to ignore the fact that Pavel had Scott Neidavacation draped on his back all game, every game. You can criticize Dats for not putting up impressive numbers, but you can't ignore that his shadow is one of the best defensive players in the league... It's like calling out Nash without mentioning that Lidstrom dogged him every game.

I think you'll be disappointed in his playmaking abilities too. Helm won't put up many points in the NHL, but he'll do everything else really well. And Maltby was the pest... I'm not sure Draper's more than your average chirper. But you're right- Helm's not really a chirper out there, although that sometimes comes with age and experience.

Don't pay for NHL.com to do it! You'll be disappointed in the quality, and pealing off the numbers/name is tougher than it sounds. Buy a blank one and have a local shop do it. Better yet, get the jersey from an online retailer like icethetics or that Detroit based one I can't remember off hand and they'll do it well from the start! Plus you'll pay less if you buy it from anyone other than NHL.com. Just don't ebay it- the fakes on there all have normal looking tags in the pictures (but are always missing the hologram if I remember correctly)

s***ty Ken and Micky will be missed! Can't wait to hear from them in October, or at the parade if we're lucky

Why does everyone seem to forget that Jimmy Howard is out of minor league options? Howard will start the year in Detroit. He's one of their blue-chip prospects and they're not going to expose him to waivers by leaving him in the minors to start the year. Conks is gone by July 1st.

Good moves in the short-term, if they work. Semin had a point per game average of 1.27 this season, good for 4th best in the league. He was leading the league in scoring for a time and got side-tracked by a long term injury. And this year during the playoffs he was a point per game player even with a shoulder injury. Backstrom had an amazing season, letting go of him now would be a monstrously stupid move. Hossa won't take it after seeing how you treated your big free agent signing from last season. He's seeking job security. Calgary would pay that much for Cammy, and he'd get more from another team. Plus you killed your credibility with your treatment of Theodore. The Wings would jump for joy and match the Hudler offer. You'd get a thank you card and a cake in the mail from Ken Holland for making his job so easy. This might work, although I think the Wings would match it. He's likely looking to stay in Montreal since he started his career there and just moved there at the deadline. Schnieds will likely be re-signed in Montreal and retire there. Possible. You'd be beaten out by 10 other teams. Hell, the Wings would take that kid for 5.5 on a long-term, and to hell with retaining Hossa and the rest of the remaining free agents. Good move. Leino isn't ready for the first line- he's still a rookie. The drop off between the second and third line is monstrous... , but aside from being amazingly top-heavy I guess it could work. Cool ideas, but almost all of it would be impossible in the real world.

Like I said- rookies are the most likely to change their number over time, either because someone more senior shows up and wants to keep their number they had on another team, or because the number they wore as a rookie wasn't their first choice and they waited it out until it became available.

To be fair, Ozzy's definitely had a renaissance in terms of his technique. In terms of technique, the guy who showed up after the lock-out is miles above the guy who left for for the Island.

Seriously? Then I have a feeling you're going to be disappointed in Helm next year. Helm is speedy, really strong on the draw, a great shutdown player, and provides energetic checking. He's suited to grinding it out on the 3rd and 4th lines. Draper, in his prime was speedy, really strong on the draw, a great shutdown player, provided energetic checking and chipped pretty well offensively (good for 15 goals a year on average during his prime). Draper had decent hands, Helm really doesn't. Even Babs said he won't score much at this level. When he does score it's with his speed, which is fine. Just don't expect Helm to be a 15 goal a year guy- the odds are really stacked against that. So how isn't Helm the new Draper? Draper was a better scorer while Helm has more energy.

Guys- I'd definitely hold off on the jerseys until he's played more than a full season wearing #43. I'm a hockey card 'tard, so I can tell you the majority of players recently have different jersey numbers now than they did as rookies. When new players come in they usually decide who gets to keep their number based on seniority within the league and respect for each player's accomplishments. Rookies have a tough time winning that argument

Well this was the dream match-up for the Pens. They did not want to play the Bruins defense. So... Forwards: Advantage Penguins (Penguins win this category by a mile-- Sid is scoring at will right now) Defense: Advantage Hurricanes (and we all thought Joni Pikachu fell of the face of the Earth) Goaltending: Advantage Hurricanes Depth: (slight) Advantage Hurricanes 'Been there factor': Tie (Pens were there last year and are playing with a chip on their shoulder because of it... Canes won in '06, normally this would tip in the favour of the Canes, but apparently the ghost of playoffs past is haunting Crosby and he's chosen to exorcise that ghost on the score sheet) Clutch Play: Advantage Hurricanes (Sid's been great in the clutch so far, but the Canes just keep seeming to pull goals out of their ass with one minute left on the clock... and the Canes are the ones beating the teams that are better than them on paper... the Pens were expected to win both match-ups so far) We'll see how it goes, but as of right now I'm thinking it'll be Hurricanes in 7 games.

Bwahahaha. Oh man, that's so saved on my harddrive now.

And continued from the last post (LGW limits the number of emoticons you can use) ______________Play-offs_______________ Doubters__________________________________Believers ............................................ :) :) :goalie1: :) :)

Here's my visual map of Ozzie's season thus far: ___________Regular Season____________ Doubters__________________________________Believers ............................... :goalie1:

I wouldn't say he's a beast that's in on every big play, but he was one of the best forwards on the team tonight. Helm is having an amazing post-season right now- the Wings couldn't possibly ask for more from him. Big hits, lots of speed, good defense, great face-offs, the occasional clutch goal... Yup, he's had a great post-season so far!

Ummm that save Ozzy made tonight in the first when he kicked his pad up high was fricking awesome. Up until the third goal tonight I'd put Ozzy as the first star of the game, but that goal (even though it wasn't his fault) combined with Cleary's game winner puts him in as the second star in my opinion.

Detroit: Osgood/Franzen/Zetterberg (in that order) Chicago: 'bulin/Kane Pittsburgh: Crosby/Crosby/Crosby Boston: Thomas/Ryder (well Ryder more-so last round than this one) Carolina: Ward/Staal (Ward being way ahead of Staal)

Crosby is far and away the most impressive offensive player in the playoffs right now. Ovi was real close, but Crosby put up an extra goal in one less game so he wins. We'll see how Crosby plays against a smothering Bruins defense that plays almost as well as Detroit's did last year (hint- check out his play in the finals... not exactly 1.60 points per game). Cam Ward can have that effect too. I really don't see the Pens moving on since they're defensively inferior to everyone else in the playoffs, but Crosby has been an absolute game breaker this post-season.

Don't forget that the Ducks had two HUGE breaks this game- first Pronger crosschecks a puckless Hudler into Hiller and magically generates a PP for the Ducks instead of a PK, then a stick laying around behind the Wings net (that'd been there for almost a minute- I'm looking at you Refs) ties up Ericsson's feet on a routine play and creates the scoring chance they capitalized on with Ryan's goal. So they get two lucky breaks that lead to a goal and we get one (arguably).

Ahhh Supafly- you're experiencing it right now. Your team is done for the year, but you're not done watching hockey... and here you are on the most prominent Wings forums. Just give it a few more seasons... you might find that when it comes to your secondary team... you're a closet Wings fan.

Sweet. Porn 'stache approves!

Ha! If you really think so, then: Reading comprehension fail.

I dislike his lack of class on the ice... but something tells me I'd love him if the Wings had drafted him. It's tough to admit, but seeing as I fricking LOVE Gordie Howe I really can't say I'd hate Getzlaf when Gordie was known for his elbows.

Anyone here have access to the West vs. East winning percentage this year? It was so obscenely onesided for the West that NHL.com had an article about it. The word you're thinking of for East is Least.