Drake_Marcus

No more dice rolling for me... Friday: Montreal @ New Jersey St Louis @ Carolina Vancouver @ Atlanta Columbus @ Colorado NY Islanders @ Phoenix Philadelphia @ Anaheim Saturday: Buffalo @ Boston Florida @ Pittsburgh Calgary @ Nashville Ottawa @ Toronto NY Rangers @ Washington Carolina @ Tampa Bay Detroit @ Minnesota Columbus @ St Louis Dallas @ Edmonton Philadelphia @ Los Angeles NY Islanders @ San Jose Sunday: Florida @ Montreal Tampa Bay @ Atlanta Ottawa @ New Jersey Calgary @ Chicago Phoenix @ Anaheim Minnesota @ Colorado Dallas @ Vancouver

What else do you guys expect from the idiot that introduced, then gleefully overused ridiculous terms like "active stick" and "monster". The thing I hate the most about that tool is his constant sycophantic babbling aimed at whichever team is in the lead. He's infamous for his mercurial opinions about the player of any given player or team in a game. If Detroit's leading in the first period he'll spout that they're dominating the other team and the class of the league. 2 minutes later the other team might score the tieing goal then take the lead and he's saying the Wings are too old and were lucky to score in the first period. I've heard him praise the Wings for an entire pregame show only to do a 180 ten minutes later- saying the opposite about them since they're suddenly down 2-0. In short- he's a spineless windbag that changes his allegiances according to the score board.

Let's give the kid a fricking season or two before we throw him under the bus, eh? Oh and by the way- he's the number one goalie in the entire OHL right now Quick edit- I forgot to mention the main thing- he's American. Euros don't get infinite time to develop now, but American kids can be left in College for quite some time under the current bargaining agreement. Thus the Wings are suddenly picking more American players- they can leave them to mature.

Exactly you want to see from a 3rd pairing d-man.

Agreed- a very classy move.

Hahaha seconded.

I certainly think he's played well enough to put him on the ice for the Winter Classic... but it looks like he probably won't play He practiced on the 4th pairing with Meech today... I think that's pretty crappy considering this is a famous ex-Blackhawk that could be playing in the Marquee game between the Hawks and Wings. I dunno- I just don't see why he wouldn't be just as good as putting Lebda out there with Lilja, even if Lebda's also a Chicago boy (and thus should get some consideration too). Chelios is a hockey icon in Chicago, let the man play his 12 mins.

Oh I think I can imagine how it feels- I do live in die-hard Leafs country (That being anywhere in Canada)

The effects of the economic crisis as far as professional sports is concerned certainly started this year. The primary revenue sources through which the cap is determined were secured before October. According to the PA and NHL head offices the cap won't drop more than about a million bucks. To quote the Globe and Mail "NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been saying for months that next season's salary cap, which is based on this season's revenue, will either stay the same or drop only a small amount from this year's $56.7-million. Much of this season's revenue, from season-ticket holders, broadcast contracts, suiteholders and sponsors was collected before the economy really hit the skids in the fall." And as far as Holland's concerns- as I said before, the cap most certainly stands a good chance of dropping after next season, and since Holland doesn't sign every player to a one year contract, I can certainly see why he's concerned.

Good point about the winning thing The Clippers kind of remind me of the Flint Tropics in Semi-Pro.

Just a quick note- it's been aluded to that the cap will go down this next year (by professional hockey writers no less). That's wrong. The cap for next year is pretty much set. It's based on the previous year's earnings, which have been fairly constant (although nothing's shot up). The global economic crisis will more than likely drop the 2010/2011 cap, not next year's. On top of that, the PA's been holding more player money in escrow for just this situation, and has the option of boosting the cap by 5%. The odds of the cap dropping this season are very, very low. The odds of the cap dropping for the season after next are pretty damn good.

Did you forget the Clippers?

That's exactly the thing with Lidstrom- he was the leading all star vote getter for the first 3/4 of the contest... I'm not getting bent out of shape about it... just wanted to point out the hilarity of the roster right now. Look at Ovi's votes. He has less than half of Tangay's.

I wouldn't worry about that- the Wings management is very high on Ericsson and he's yet to disappoint them. Quincey had to disappoint them for an entire 18 month span before they dumped him.

If the Wings lose Hudler to an offer sheet it would have to be 4 million + (since anything less is a no brainer to match). At 4 million + we'd get a 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And Sammy WILL get a raise. He's extremely under paid in this NHL. If he signs for less it's only because Holland is a wizard.

I certainly agree with you in principle, but we all know Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Hossa and possibly Zetterberg will make the team via the non-fan-based pics. At the very least, Lidstrom will be asked to play. For Lidstrom to have his first place status stolen is what makes me angry. I hate cheaters. *Sigh*

Babcock said before the game today that Lidstrom will be ready for the Winter Classic. I heard him say it on the WXYT stream before tonight's game started.

The reports I've read state that Ericsson's looked uninterested out there and cruises for the first 50 mins each night. Apparently knowing he can't come play in Detroit this season because of cap issues has made him decidedly unenthusiastic about grinding it down in the AHL. Not the best attitude to have, but it certainly isn't typical of Ericsson and no one can blame him. He's done everything he can to make it to the big leagues and has received the equivalent of a rain cheque. He knows he'll be here next year (no more minor options left and he's the team's #1 blue chip prospect) and he knows he can't come up to play due to the cap, so where's the carrot? Kindl on the other hand had a trainwreck of a season last year and most definitely has motivation to show his stuff. Good on him- he's been very good so far this season. Can't ask for much more of a rebound season than this.

Uggg.... didn't the recent WC commercial prove this is a bad idea? Well if we can't nix the Crosby banner at the completely non-Penguins event, nixing the song celebrating another sport is probably going to be tough. (Why don't they put a Malkin banner up? He's the one leading the league in points by a mile)

I find your dancing produce disturbing yet strangely comforting.

A car battery connected across each of their nipples. That should give them a jump.

You better not be the Penguin GM! We accept no traitors on these boards!

Easy now Supafly... your club is as south as his... and thus equally susceptible to the silly "dats not a traditional hockey market down darrre" crap.

Well if Mr. I really cared about this team have a team of Little Ceasers delivery boys wearing these pads 24/7 in front of a automated puck shooter. I mean come on! And that set of Harding gear is AMAZING!

How can you hate someone that's so arrogant they try the same junior league asinine spin-o-ramma move twice a game, 82 games a year? (and yes- it seems like the opposing players have learned to anticipate his nightly spin-o-rammas!)