barabbas16

1. Doug Gilmour 2. Brian Leetch 3. Joe Nieuwendyk 4. Matthew Barnaby 5. Rick Nash

Ok internet tough guy... You'll be waiting - give me a break. The main reason he isn't leading this poll is because the poll is on this board.... and people on this board have consistently and unreasonably, in my opinion, made Samuelsson their 'whipping boy,' as they put it. This is probably because they are like you and had some overly ridiculous expectation of him being another Brendan Shanahan. I notice that you didn't respond to any of that part of my message. Maybe it made too much sense or was too logical for you to handle. Besides, just because people didn't say they miss Sammy the most doesn't mean they won't miss him. They might just miss Hudler or whoever more...and that's fine. But you, you just took another opportunity to get one last jab in at Samuelsson. Obvously you hate the guy and that is shown in your blatant exaggeration of everything in your posts about him. I'm not even going to address any of them because they are all completely wrong. You are enititled to your opinion just like anyone else, but I disagree with everyithing you said. Plus, I have long been sick and tired of the Samuelsson bashing. Whatever though, he's gone now so you'll just find someone else to start trashing with the rest of them.

I will miss Sammy the most. Hossa obviously was the big difference maker, but...only one year of watching him. I like Hudler and I hope he comes back...if he does not, I will miss him, but not as much as Sammy. It is absolutely ridiculous to compare Sammy to Shanahan. We traded Paul Coffey and Keith Primeau for Shanahan...he probably scored upwards of 400 goals (I am guessing here...and thinking of playoff goals as well) at least for us....and he made a ton of money doing it - earning the money, mind you, but still a lot. He's a sure-fire hall of famer. Anyone who was expecting Samuelsson to be the second coming of Brendan Shanahan has to be delirious. Sammy didn't have 20 goals in the league before he came to Detroit. Let's not forget that Shanahan wasn't even gone when Sammy first became a Wing. If we're going off of Shanahan as a guage....Jiri Hudler was a piss poor replacement for Shanahan....Valtteri Filppula was a piss poor replacement for Shanahan...Dan Cleary was a piss poor replacement for Shanahan...Hell, Johan Franzen isn't damn Brendan Shanahan. We were lucky to have Sammy - especially at the price we had him for. So shut the hell up and give Sammy his damn props cuz he earned them AND his paycheck.

In 2005-06 we had 8 20 goal scorers..... Shanny - 40, Z - 39, Homer - 29, Dats - 28, Sammy - 23, Schneider - 21, Jason Williams - 21, and an even 20 from Langer. I can't remember the last time the Wings had that many. As of right now - 51 games into the 2008-09 season we have 2 there already - Hossa with 28 and Mule with 22 We have 3 pretty much given to make it in Dats with 19, Z with 18, and Huds with 17. Then there are two that wouldn't be too much of a stretch to call 20 goal scorers at this point with Homer needing 6 and Sammy needing 7 to reach 20. If they are healthy for the majority of the rest of the season, then I would say that will happen. Question being.....can one of the others turn in a stellar finish and reach the 20 goal mark? AND, if so, who will it be? Dan Cleary? Can Nick score 12 more this year? Rafalski? And one more thought.....we scored 301 goals in that 05-06 season - the only time we've done it since before the Cup win in '97. Will we do it this year? Any thoughts?

.....size.

Well, Fraser tried his damndest to hand this game over to the Coyotes on a fricking silver platter.

If that is the case, then I disagree with this move. I do not feel that Conklin has played well enough to overtake the #1 job.

HAhahahahahaha! Hilarious.

It's not just based on professional sports or national titles. They are taking into consideration all college champiomships...NCAA Div I, Div II, NAIA, whatever and also high school championships. That probably contributes to Gainsville being on there (although I really don't know that for a fact) and definitely is the reason that Valdosta, GA, Massillon, OH and my hometown of Parkersburg, WV are included. Obviously, none of these cities will win, but I do think it was a good idea by ESPN to include them as finalists to draw attention to the accomplishments of those cities.

Well then, it's a good thing I couldn't care less what you think....about anything.

As far as the people on this board are concerned, the answer is Mikael Samuelsson.

Cost us a season? Seriously? That's a bit melodramatic. Maybe you see it differently, but, to me, one play does not make or break a season. Lilja played solid overall last year in the playoffs just as he did this year. You can't crucify Lilja for that one play.

Well, then maybe you should give the Wings a call and see what they say....smartass. The main point I was making is that a big reason I root for the Wings is how the organization is run....Konstantinov...Fischer.....Osgood....McCarty...and so on, you know the deal. I'm talking about like Wings for life type loyalty. If that doesn't have any pull on why you're a Wings fan, then whatever.....but it does for me. But yeah, Downey's way better than McCarty.....that's why Babcock put him on the ice instead of D-Mac. If Franzen had stayed healthy, then Darren's name would be on the Cup because he played in Game 4 for Holmstrom. That would be besides the other 3 times it's on there. I don't dislike Downey, but I completely disagree with you if you say that he's come close to earning more than McCarty has. When it comes down to it....all anyone likes about Aaron Downey is that he drops the gloves. We could not have Downey OR McCarty next season and they'd sign some guy nobody even knows, but if he drops the gloves, you and all of those other guys will love him. Downey.....I like him....but he's just another guy. Darren McCarty is a huge part of Detroit Red Wings history and he can still contribute to this team INCLUDING dropping the gloves 10 times next season or however many few fights Downey had....and probably play more than 4 and a half minutes a game too.

Um, so who is the 4th D-man on the PK if Lilja goes? Rafalski? : / Lebda? No way. Chelios? Maybe, but not on consistent basis. A rookie? Not a chance. Also, so if we get rid of Lilja.....no one has a problem with the complete lack of size we will have on the blue line? We would have Stuart (assuming he's signed) and that's it. Kronner hits bit, but he isn't big. And don't say Ericsson cuz Lilly Pads has like 30 pounds on him. I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing him back. I may be in the vast minority, but I like the guy. I like the whole 'Pain Train' thing. It's fun.

THANK YOU! WTF people? I couldn't even get through the whole thread reading everyone trashing this move. I'm glad I finally found someone with some sense here. We're not talking about signing some random 4th liner/reserve forward here. We are talking about Darren fricking McCarty! Darren McCarty! I don't know about any of you, but a huge reason I love the Wings IS the loyalty. They are a class organization and this is a class move. It's not like he'll be playing in the top six or anything. He has MORE than earned this contract. And people are getting upset about signing him? About helping him out? No one is thinking he's going to be a top six forward or anything, but he can still contribute in a 4th line role and no one deserves to be offered that role more than him. Not Aaron Downey. Nobody. I don't dislike Downey - I don't. But, he hasn't given a fraction of what Darren McCarty has given to this team. So, shut the hell up and freaking cheer your butts off for D-Mac....next season...and right now.

Why didn't you post this in ANY other existing thread? You know, since there is Samuelsson bashing in all of them....because that is exactly what this thread will become shortly.

Everyone should just stop arguing with this guy. He is obviously set on what he thinks. If we had won 15 straight in the playoffs, this guy would still be b!tching about Samuelsson I don't even think he cares if we win. I'm pretty sure he would be happier if we got eliminated and Samuelsson got benched than if we won the cup and he played.

I totally agree. I didn't even have to look and I knew the posts would be that way. Everybody makes mistakes...it's just Sammy's are over-scrutinized by almost everyone on this board. STFU and enjoy the win.

Maybe you're full of crap.

It's just you. Cleary played more, he just isn't doing anything so you haven't noticed him.

Whatever. Samuelsson has had an excellent series so far. Much better than Flip's. Flip had a good game 5, but Sammy served him up that goal on a silver platter and he blew it. Again.

A one game slump would work for me.

Do I think it was terrible? No. This is far fromt he worst thing Tootoo has done. Do I think it should have been a penalty? Yes. I don't think you can have something be a penalty in one situation and not another. A hook is a hook. A high stick is a high stick. And if you stepped on somebody you freakin stepped on them. It doesn't matter if you know you stick hit someone in the face...it's a penalty. Tootoo should have been in the box intentional or not imo.

I got your point and I agree with the point. I was just speaking in reference to this game though. It IS possible that Osgood could shut them out....and obviously that Dats could score. Which would, in a way, be winning it alone for them.

I disgaree. Osgood and Datsyuk CAN win it alone. Osgood shuts them out...Datsyuk scores. It's far from inconceivable. Let's hope they don't have to do that, though.