Vancouver Wings Fan

It'll be a ton of guess work until game time Thursday. If they play, and I pray both do, fantastic. If not, it is a great chance for guys to step up and make a name for themselves. Not matter what I am taking Calder in my playoff pool....I am expecting big things from him. Every year there is a guy that comes outta nowhere...this is Calder's turn!! Either way GO WINGS!!

BlueMonk, great point, no team can boast consistent playoff success year after year either... However, I am not suggesting that I expect the Wings to win the Cup every year, but rather, the result of being a consistent regular season superpower and then bowing out in the first round results in polls predicting the Wings to collapse. It is what has happened more consistently then any other team in recent years..... Ottawa is another great example...until they prove they can back-up their regular season success...they have to be considered as under acheivers. Also, it is not the standard of the Wings fans that are unrealistic as it is the team that sets the bar. A team finishing consitently high in the seedings should be expected to consitently challenge for the ultimate goal, and therefore not consitently collapse so far short. Looking at this year, I think it is proper of me as a Wings fan to expect them to at minimum challenge for the Cup by reaching the Conference Finals.

Hasek is awsome and an obvious future Hall of Fame goalie....we are lucky to have him and he could backstop us all the way! For him to do that we need goal scoring.....any win/loss total is only as good as your goal scorers get the goals to win! So maybe this thread should be titled....Pavel and the playoffs!

A little naive to say that...unfortunately, the Wings have had a history of monumental chokes. Not just recently to Edmonton and Calgary...remember....San Jose, Anaheim, LA...seems it is all or nothing for quite a while. Until the consitant regular season achevivements can parrallel the post season, these kind of poll should be expected.

No matter who we play, here are the keys: Travel / Home Ice - Zet on the mend, older players - need the "extra" game at home as well as first punch Dats - only three goals in playoff hockey Dom - needs to be the Dominator Penalties - need to be smarter then recent Of course good fortune for Detroit and a tweaked groin for Luongo would help!!

Delveccio...because nothing was the same after he bought Arnold's!! A show called Happy Days for those to young to remember.....

Very true....supoort in Van is huge...pulling Nashville out to Portland or Seattle would make a hugh rivalry out here. Nashville is a mess....a great team like that drawing less the "Are You Samrter then a 5th Grader"!!

....and the Canucks seem to elevate their game everytime the face the Wings. Canucks are my biggest worry....then Anehiem then San Jose. Toss up between 4 teams.- including the Wings for the West IMHO. Anyround.....Wings over....... Dallas in 5.... Nashville in 6 Minnesota in 7 Calgary in 6(we have home ice. Calgary sucks on the road)...... Yes...it would be the first time in history, however, remeber, this is the "New NHL"...three point games with a winner evry night. Kinda skews the stats.

I am no Canucks fan....I am trapped here as a Wings fan watching these guys claw their way up the standings. They are only 3 points from Detroit and 4 from the lead in the conference - they have the best record in hockey since Christmas. They are not a dynamic team - really 1 solid line and a stellar goalie - but they do not lose!! I have been telling people back home to watch out for these guys but people think I'm nuts. I don't think the Wings could take these guys in a 7 game series. Am I crazy!!??

Hey AKI - I have been to 47 Wings games in my live. Since I was a kid I never saw a live loss!! I was at the game Saturday as well - I'm now 46 and 1! Likely would be near impossible to get a reasonable ticket anyway if it happens tha both Van and Det are far enough in to meet in the playoffs!

Bertuzzi is a bum....should never be allowed to be put in a Wings jersey!! There is a reason we got him for nothing!!!

Let me be the only one on here to say....Bertuzzi is a train wreck..... I have seen him play 100's of times..... Mods...get the board ready for the following Threads... Bad penalties.....Bert Bad attitude....Bert Never Won at any Level....Bert Injured.....Bert Selfish Player...Bert Time will add about 10 more topics on this guy..... Sad day to see a player like this about to put on a Wings jersey....

You are right...Bert has a relationship with the GM in Anaheim and he will end up there. Radio is all over Anaheim interviews and it really sounds as though it is only a matter of time....also they are bidding for Mayers against the Leafs.

Wish the Wings could have got him....sick of seeing Hasek getting run.....elbows high on our forwards.... Would have made a nice fourth line add on for the playoff run....just like Edmonton last year...

Apparently Big George has been given a choice of the Pens or Flames - unconfirmed as per Van. Radio Here is a guy I was hoping Kenny could have landed....

Good point... Perhaps there could be a three way situation and Florida flips for more draft picks? I think this speculation has run it's course!! We'll see what happens as the day goes.

Jokinen would be an awsome addition to this team. Great player and hungry for playoff success. My 2 concerns: It may take more then Lang to get him here and this would be considered major surgery...would it upset team chemistry??

Smolinski coming to Vancouver for 2nd round pick.....Sportsnet

Maybe not the overall toughness as Calgary/Edmonton (last year), true. When I am talking about a page from their book I mean in defensive play. Their record since Christmas can't be denied. They have played that Edmonton "playoff" trap system all season and again IMHO are more tough and gritty defensively then most teams in the NHL. Couple that with Luongo and they are a spoiler in the making. This is why I keep saying that the Wings need to add toughness (Laroque) and gritty roll players (Lapointe) to open up our guys who will need to carry us......Dats, Zett, Lang, Lidstrom, Schnid

You got it right Manny. The Canunks have taken a page from Edmonton and Cagary's recipe and IMHO are the team to watch out for.

Calder....Not a bad move......dependable, energy type player..... Guerrin and Laroque being reported on Van radio going to the Wings...but that is pure speculation...they are too busy planning the parade route given their great pick ups....

Breaking news during the game (TO and Mon) on the TV.......hoping they confirm the Calder deal..... http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=197807&hubname=

TSN reporting the deal confirmed....also Canucks adding Sopel on the D Solid moves by Nonis....... People should take notice, these guys are contenders.....

As as newbie here I gotta say I love it....great job on the site.....I can finally stay up to date thousands of miles away!