clayjoh

Just thought I'd throw this baby out for you boys to debate Is there any debate in anyone's mind (or Babcock's for that matter) about starting Osgood in the playoffs as opposed to Grandpa Hasek.I have to say Hasek seems to be a bit broken down ,prone to some real soft periods of play and perhaps is not quite inspiring the confidence of his team mates lately Also might we see vastly different forward lineups depending on the oppostion series ie could Kopecky and Hudler be benched against Anaheim or San Jose in favour of McCarty and Downey if it looks like it's going to be "One of those type of series" Lets get some thoughts on these queries of mine

But do you think that Hasek may be on a fairly short leash if he falters One bad game or two bad games and he gets the hook? Also I'm supremely pissed over the Stuart injury Just hope he's ready for round two

I just think the loss of muscle mass/strength is unavoidable with being wired up and he's a bit of a skinny rat anyhow but he'll be out there trying I'm sure.Also do you guys see vastly different lineups being put out by Babcock depending on the playoff opposition?Obviously Vancouver isn't too physical but I bet we'd need to bulk up for San Jose or Anaheim and their tactics I hope San Jose meets Anaheim first round and we can sit back and watch them pummel each other for 6 or seven games

As an aside here somebody mentioned Cleary coming back shortly.Unfortunately he will be a shadowof his former self for this year Remeber he's had his jaws wired together for several weeks and has lost significant weight(approx20 lbs on average) and muscle tone will be severely depleted due to lack of high quality meat protein.I'd bet we won't see him till round 3 of the playoffs Even if they put some form of NASA helmet on him he just won't have the gas for the playoff battles.His jaw fracture was much more severe than our close personal friend Pronger and it will be reflected in a longer transition back to playing 100% Sorry to rain on the parade. But I think management is ready to put out a real heavy hitting lineup if necc this year against San Jose or Anaheim to counter their greaser 3rd and 4th liners

In spite of being royally pissed off I too think we've still got something in the tank here But we can't expect to win too many games 1-0 when your only goal comes from a #4 depth chart defenseman We are getting nicked up pretty good the look on Lidstrom's face when the puck went in looked like a mixture of horror and even more of exhaustion He's tired it's obvious Bertuzzi is either got back problems again or he's just in another time zone out there His line spent their first three shifts in their own zone watching Getzlaf et al spinning around the rink Lang is hardly the guy to lead him out of the fog Sadly Draper is starting to look a bit over the hill and his faceoff % is poor Our powerplay should have put this game away much sooner the 5 on 3 was awful poorly executed If they're not totally exhausted from the flying and injuries that have piled up they still have more depth and talent than the Ducks but we may be approaching empty on the old gas gauge Hope the Swedes suck it up and find the net again on Tuesday

I was born and raised in Saskatchewan and still reside here and was priviledged to watch Gordie Howe(Floral Sask) et al in their prime I waited till I was in my forties to see the boys hoist the cup I was 2 years old when they won in 1955 and had some great sorrows in the playoffs in the 60's Whoever wins the next game will undoubtedly win the series If we make the finals Ottawa will be a formidible opponent but it is Do-able !!!

Does anybody worry that even if we get by San Jose we will just be too beat up to give Anaheim a decent challenge?Defense is taking a hell of a pounding and the young replacements will make mistakes with Selanne or Getzlaf bearing down on them THe cup teams of yesteryear were ridiculously healthy when they won

Why isn't anyone talking up this one?? Isn't Sundin just about done in T.O ?he would be a great addition and we'd re unite the Swedish National team.I'm sure all the other Swedes would respond well to his prescence.They might take Lang and a bucket of pucks for him.All these other guys being mentioned are over the hill bums or thugs who just wouldn't fit into the dressing room based on past history.Also if Holland has to deal someone off the active roster who else is vulnerable besides Lang ? Williams? Lilja?

No I heard some guy on TSN blabbing about this briefly a few weeks ago They figure if the Leafs look to be out of contention for a playoff spot they might consider letting him go Granted he'd be a rental player and if Holland is tight enough with Ferguson Jr they might cook up the deal just to give Sundin a chance to play for the Cup once in his career.Hell he might be back in To next fall but they might be able to swing it.Yes the fans love him but management there might give him the oppurtunity .Problem is the Laffs will probably hang around close enough to eighth place till late in the year that we wont be able to spring him loose