Herr Hockey

Wow. MSU doesn't have versus. I can't even watch games 1 and 4. I'm going to miss 2 ******* playoff games b/c of versus exclusive bs. A major college campus in a major hockey state and I can't even watch a ******* playoff game. I really can't even begin to describe how pissed I am right now. I look forward to hanging out with you guys in the gdt.

Does anybody have any idea when the 2nd round will start? I usually try to go to one playoff game each year (usually the opener), but I couldn't do it this year because of college. I was going to wait until the 3rd round hoping to see an epic Wings/Sharks WCF, but now it appears that will not happen. I think Anaheim in the 2nd round will be more entertaining than Vancouver, Calgary, or Chicago in the 3rd round. I'm thinking about purchasing game 5 tickets for game 5 of round 2, but I need to make sure that would happen on or after May 8th. I know it's going to be close. Thanks!

Good. Now if only Anaheim would close out that series...

Kopecky has shown absolutely no signs of ever becoming a reliable scorer in any sense, whatsoever, at all, and any other reduntant thing I can come up with.

Great work!!!

Theodore won't wait till the second round to choke this year. I feel bad for the caps, because they're one hell of an exciting team.

I want: 1. San Jose 2. Detroit 3. Vancouver 4. Chicago 5. Calgary 6. Anaheim 7. Columbus 8. St. Louis This way Anaheim can hopefully take out Vancouver for us, and even though SJ gets an easy first round pass, they are stuck with Anaheim for round 2. No matter who wins that series, the other team faces us in round 3 all beat up.

At this point, I have to agree with the decision. You have two goalies playing like trash, one that's played like 6 mins of playoff time and another that won 2 cups as starter. The choice is obvious. But to those who justify this whole thing by saying that it worked out with Hasek last year, I'd say that 9/10 times it doesn't work. Babcock said it himself last year. If you're changing goalies in the playoffs, you're likely fishing in a few days. Going with Hasek last year was the wrong decision because Osgood was clearly better. This year, it's a toss up. Call me pessimistic, but I don't see the Wings making it out of the 1st round so far. That being said, I think they have the potential to turn it around and be unstoppable. I know it's contradicting, but what hasn't been this season.

Yep, having a lefty and a righty gives you the option of using both point men for one-timers.

If Holland can't re-sign Hossa, is there any chance we get something nice for his rights before July 1st? Seems to be the new cool thing to do.

I agree with most of it too, except the d-parings. Babcock won't use those pairings because the left-hand/right-hand pair of Lidstrom and Rafalski is crucial to how our offense is run. It means a hell of a lot more on the powerplay, but really at any given time its nice to have that option of switching sides and blasting one timers.

Actually, I don't think Holland has a specific philosophy on goaltending. I think I recall him saying that his philosophy is that you either build a strong defense OR have an elite goaltender. I think it was in a interview with Holland, Nill, Devellano, and maybe the Illitch's. Someone might still have the link to that article. They said since Lids gives us the strong D, they focus on a cheap goaltender and spend the rest up front. Also, wasn't it confirmed that Holland was prepared to offer Luongo 8m/year if he wouldn't have been traded at the draft?

I'm really happy for Blue Jackets' fans. Also, Nashville doesn't get half of the respect it deserves. Trotz is an unbelievable coach, and those fans LOVE their team. I hope they win a series as long as it isn't against us.

Whatever it is, you can be sure it will be horrible, ala Fire on Ice. Then comes the horrible commercials where dissapointed fans without tickets get rescued by "Gordo."

How about this....keep the shootout and: 0 points for a loss 2 points for a win. It's complicated, I know.

Downey with the hat trick completed with an ENG.

Don't shoot the messenger. Apparently this was just reported on Team 990 in Montreal. I don't see why this deal is necessary. Does he even fit in under the cap? Maybe his contract is pro-rated since he is a UFA next year. ETA: The mods at HF closed the thread temporarily. It said it was reported as a trade though, not just chatter. I still have trouble believing it. Also, I noticed my title doesn't fit on the board. Note that I did include a question mark at the end. I am not trying to mislead anyone.

Ahh thanks, that's it. Although that Sportsnet one is nice too...

If theres any chance a mod could restructure the title until further info comes out, it would be appreciated. I didn't mean for it to look so misleading without further info. Speaking of which, does anyone know if TSN has that transaction page again this year? They seemed to update that thing pretty damn fast last year.

Well as far as I know, Eklund hasn't even mentioned it...So it's probably true. Cory Cross 2009 edition.

I am going through this in my head and I just can't come to a definite conclusion. The information seems to have been reported too specifically and straight forward to be BS, but I just don't see how we could have gotten another Meech/Lebda without giving up a Meech/Lebda. Maybe one will be waived. I guess if it were between the three of them going into the playoffs I'd take Dandy, but Kenny better not even dream of resigning him if this is true. With Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Stuart, Lilja, Meech, Lebda, and Chelios already, and Jon Ericsson in the AHL, Dandenault has no place on this team moving forward. None.

haha true. In other news, Jacque Demers was in tears over the news of Mathieu's departure. More on this massive story at 2am.

Can somebody please tell me what is going on? I don't have FSN +, and I check nhl.com to find some truly rediculous stuff. Meech with our only goal and Osgood with an S-word so far? Let me guess, Lidstrom is leading the team in turnovers and Samuelson has above average shot placement too right? Edit: and so it continues...

I have to be honest, I've been leaning towards keeping Hossa/Hudler over Hossa/Franzen if it comes down to it, but after giving it some more thought, I have changed my mind. Think of it this way...If we lose Franzen, we lose him for nothing, but if we lose Hudler, we can get some damn good picks. So the choice really comes down to Hossa/Franzen/Picks vs. Hossa/Hudler. I'll take the former.

Whoever can be traded to make room for Hossa, should be traded to make room for Hossa.