barabbas16

Don Cherry is a clown. His thoughts and opinions are as predictable as the sun rising and I put no stock in anything he says simply because he said it.

I don't think anyone expects Brandon Dubinsky to fight on a regular basis. If he were a "weasel" and had no value to the team, he wouldn't have a roster spot. I think it is a bad time for Shelley to be calling people weasels, seeing as he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the puck, let alone the net. Additionally, if he were expected to back up his big mouth in the upcoming meetings with New York with anything other than fighting, he won't be able to... because he IS a terrible hockey player. I don't like Shelley and I view him as a player that has no mind for the game and is only there to fight, which is all he is capable of doing on the ice. Unfortunately, Claude Giroux, Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell will have to score all of his points for him. Not like they aren't used to it, they score all of Zac Rinaldo's points for him too.
No offense or anything, I like a lot of your posts... just trying to show the opposite perspective from which I view this situation.

I don't think anyone expects Brandon Dubinsky to fight on a regular basis. If he were a "weasel" and had no value to the team, he wouldn't have a roster spot. I think it is a bad time for Shelley to be calling people weasels, seeing as he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the puck, let alone the net. Additionally, if he were expected to back up his big mouth in the upcoming meetings with New York with anything other than fighting, he won't be able to... because he IS a terrible hockey player. I don't like Shelley and I view him as a player that has no mind for the game and is only there to fight, which is all he is capable of doing on the ice. Unfortunately, Claude Giroux, Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell will have to score all of his points for him. Not like they aren't used to it, they score all of Zac Rinaldo's points for him too.
No offense or anything, I like a lot of your posts... just trying to show the opposite perspective from which I view this situation.

I don't think anyone expects Brandon Dubinsky to fight on a regular basis. If he were a "weasel" and had no value to the team, he wouldn't have a roster spot. I think it is a bad time for Shelley to be calling people weasels, seeing as he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the puck, let alone the net. Additionally, if he were expected to back up his big mouth in the upcoming meetings with New York with anything other than fighting, he won't be able to... because he IS a terrible hockey player. I don't like Shelley and I view him as a player that has no mind for the game and is only there to fight, which is all he is capable of doing on the ice. Unfortunately, Claude Giroux, Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell will have to score all of his points for him. Not like they aren't used to it, they score all of Zac Rinaldo's points for him too.
No offense or anything, I like a lot of your posts... just trying to show the opposite perspective from which I view this situation.

I don't think anyone expects Brandon Dubinsky to fight on a regular basis. If he were a "weasel" and had no value to the team, he wouldn't have a roster spot. I think it is a bad time for Shelley to be calling people weasels, seeing as he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the puck, let alone the net. Additionally, if he were expected to back up his big mouth in the upcoming meetings with New York with anything other than fighting, he won't be able to... because he IS a terrible hockey player. I don't like Shelley and I view him as a player that has no mind for the game and is only there to fight, which is all he is capable of doing on the ice. Unfortunately, Claude Giroux, Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell will have to score all of his points for him. Not like they aren't used to it, they score all of Zac Rinaldo's points for him too.
No offense or anything, I like a lot of your posts... just trying to show the opposite perspective from which I view this situation.

Who cares if he's not having a blistering year so far? The guy has been in the league 6 years (plus games this season). Four of those he's had over 60 points. Except for his first year (understandable) and last year, when he was injured most of the season.
He's an 80 point getter and he'd be a great pickup.
Depending what happens to Cleary or Bertuzzi, Sammy would be an acceptable replacement for a third liner who can fill in on the second line, though he's not high on anyone's list, I don't think. He's not the solution but he'd be a good replacement if we lose someone.

Oh I see... only look at less than 25% of one season, but completely ingnore the previous full regular seasons and playoffs. That seems logical.
Or perhaps you actually mean "Don't bring up things that don't support my statement. Only look at what I want you to." Sorry, I'm not going to do that.
I know it may seem difficult, but if you could remember WAY in the distant past to last season. Detroit won the Central Division, beating Chicago - AND they scored more goals than Chicago. This happened in a season when the top six forwards for both teams were almost identical to what they are THIS season.

The sky is falling!

The sky is falling!

The sky is falling!

Well, maybe it is some small consolation to Columbus that they aren't alone on the starting 0 for 16 on the power play part.

Mmm... I see what yoiu're saying with Nyquist and I wouldn't have been upset if it was his roster spot instead of Brunnstrom's, but I like the decision that was made there. I say keep as many assets as you can. Giving Brunnstrom a spot gives us another potential asset for the future - some have said they see him as a potential replacement for Holmstrom, etc. I think Nyquist is still too small - Brunnstrom as a full size NHL player. And, Nyquist will benefit more, I believe from playing all the time in GR instead of rotating games and plkaying 10-12 minutes when he does play, as Brunnstrom will. The Wings will lose a few players next year and Brunnstrom and Nyquist can potentially both step in and fill full-time roles at that time. Just my thoughts.
Also, totally agree with the bottom part of your post. Well, I can't speak to the parts about you specifically, but I just do not understand the pro-enforcer faction on this board. It seems as though they all want a fighter at all costs and it doesn;t really matter which one or if he even knows how to skate. It's like they all really love fighting and find hockey boring without it, but they don't want to say that. So, they make all these hollow arguments to justify wanting this goon or that goon without revealing that they just want a fighter because they fight - end of discussion - no other reason. I mean, a guy that drops the gloves becomes available.... you can bet that there will be a thread with his name on it on LGW within the hour, doesn't matter who it is or what else he can do, if anything. Somebody call Brent Severyn - we need him on this team.

No. It isn't. The '20 minutes of game time where the puck is in play' (per period) is the game.
And yes, we all realize that fighting has been around in hockey for a long time. That's why I have to hear my dad give me the old 'I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out' joke every time I bring the game up. Fighting is fewer and farther between than it used to be, and while I do not think that fighting should be disposed of from hockey or anything like that.... but I do think that the changes we've seen as far as fighting goes is for the better.
I enjoy a good fight when it IS part of the game. I enjoyed the Wings in the 90s as much as anyone else. I loved Shanahan and McCarty, but they were hockey players who could fight. I do not like players who fight just to fight for no real reason and that is basically their sole purpose - guys who wouldn't be playing otherwise.... fighters who play hockey. If you seriously think fighting IS the game - go watch UFC or something.

No. It isn't. The '20 minutes of game time where the puck is in play' (per period) is the game.
And yes, we all realize that fighting has been around in hockey for a long time. That's why I have to hear my dad give me the old 'I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out' joke every time I bring the game up. Fighting is fewer and farther between than it used to be, and while I do not think that fighting should be disposed of from hockey or anything like that.... but I do think that the changes we've seen as far as fighting goes is for the better.
I enjoy a good fight when it IS part of the game. I enjoyed the Wings in the 90s as much as anyone else. I loved Shanahan and McCarty, but they were hockey players who could fight. I do not like players who fight just to fight for no real reason and that is basically their sole purpose - guys who wouldn't be playing otherwise.... fighters who play hockey. If you seriously think fighting IS the game - go watch UFC or something.

You said that here.
Obviously, you didn't say it verbatim, but you clearly were implying 'Cooke=Abdelkader' or something similar with this post.
But then, you already knew that....as did anyone else with a fully functioning brain.
See - I didn't actually say in the line above that you have a full functioning brain, but I implied it.
There's no need to play dumb. Go ahead and stand up for the point you are making. I don't agree with it and neither would most, I would imagine. But, you're entitled to your opinion, so don't be fickle and back off from it.
Unless 'Bring Back the Bruise Brothers' is right and your whole purpose in posting was to stir up trouble.

I agree with everything that has been said. Lidstrom is a special player. He is and has been one of the very best, if not THE very best defenseman ever. There clearly is evidence that he does belong in that group. And I do not think that anyone would be able to legitimately argue if this were to occur. All of that said, I don't believe this will happen either. The reason that I think this is that Nicklas Lidstrom was not born in Canada, as we can all see that the entirety of the players who have received that distinct honor were. I think that the HHOF will keep this exclusive club exclusively Canadian. I will, however, be extremely pleased if I am surprised by their decision and they choose to waive the waiting period for him.

You're happy with second round playoff losses? Based on the personnel decisions so far (re-signing everybody under 38), I can only assume Kenny is.
Konopka just went to Ottawa for $700,000. Some old Wings assistant named Paul MacLean coaches there. Tell me we couldn't have used Konopka in Miller's spot, even giving him Miller money ($837,000/ two years) to take on that role.
Kenny has been a very good general manager, but this off-season and last off-season hasn't yielded anything that would lead me to think he's serious about changing the makeup of a team that has gotten older and softer.
I want this team to win, and failign so, I want them to compete hard. I'm sorry some of you don't feel the same way.

Really? Around 40 points is where you're setting the bar for tongue biting? I would say be prepared to bite your tongue, then. That's a bit of a exaggeration. Everyone was all disappointed with last season and he scored 37 points. I would say that qualifies as 'around 40 points' - and everyone seems to be in agreement that it was less than expected. This year he won't be dealing with the KHL transition, etc....plus, no Draper or Modano so he may not sit as many games. If he had played a few more games last year, he would have hit 40. He hit 40 in 07-08, not to mention the 57 in 08-09. I understand the disappointment with the output vs. the $ for Hudler, but let's be realistic.

Really? Around 40 points is where you're setting the bar for tongue biting? I would say be prepared to bite your tongue, then. That's a bit of a exaggeration. Everyone was all disappointed with last season and he scored 37 points. I would say that qualifies as 'around 40 points' - and everyone seems to be in agreement that it was less than expected. This year he won't be dealing with the KHL transition, etc....plus, no Draper or Modano so he may not sit as many games. If he had played a few more games last year, he would have hit 40. He hit 40 in 07-08, not to mention the 57 in 08-09. I understand the disappointment with the output vs. the $ for Hudler, but let's be realistic.

Yeah, I get it.... and I think saying '20 goals' or '50-60 points' as you said, would be a better bar to set. I guess the KHL thing didn't really bother me as much as it did some others. Anyway, I'm trying to look at it more positively. Let's face it, Hudler is probably going to be on this roster next season. There IS reason to believe that he could return to 07-08 form this coming year and score your 20 goals and 50-60 points. As I said, no KHL adjustment period, etc. If he does that, then great - everyone will be happy to be surpised (since it seems that everyone is of the mind that he will go downhill from last year instead of up, considering all of the negative Hudler talk). If he doesn't... well, it's only for one more year at the $2.875 million. Was I disappointed in his play last year? Definitely. But, this switching back and forth from NHL to KHL is a relatively new deal. I feel like that was a huge part of the reason for his dropoff. He wasn't any smaller or weaker in 07-08 when everyone was happy with his production. I believe that he deserves the chance to rebound to that form this season, and that he deserves our support in attempting to do so.

Really? Around 40 points is where you're setting the bar for tongue biting? I would say be prepared to bite your tongue, then. That's a bit of a exaggeration. Everyone was all disappointed with last season and he scored 37 points. I would say that qualifies as 'around 40 points' - and everyone seems to be in agreement that it was less than expected. This year he won't be dealing with the KHL transition, etc....plus, no Draper or Modano so he may not sit as many games. If he had played a few more games last year, he would have hit 40. He hit 40 in 07-08, not to mention the 57 in 08-09. I understand the disappointment with the output vs. the $ for Hudler, but let's be realistic.

I do not understand why Ed Jovonovski's name seems to continually get mentioned as some kind of a solution before Ian White.

I do not understand why Ed Jovonovski's name seems to continually get mentioned as some kind of a solution before Ian White.

While I think that the 'Wings are too old' story has been proven to be... old, and not a valid point (since it has been said for... I don't know, at least 10 years now it seems like). ... The Wings aren't young. The time is now. They want to win. It comes down to two guys. They kept the guy who is most likely to help them win. Now. That guy is Drew Miller. Not saying Ritola is awful or anything like that. Maybe he'll turn out great. I'm just saying, tough decisions come up. Sometimes you're the odd man out, not necessarily because you're definitely the poorer option, but because you're definitely the poorer option for a certain situation (this season). Drew Miller was the right call.

While I think that the 'Wings are too old' story has been proven to be... old, and not a valid point (since it has been said for... I don't know, at least 10 years now it seems like). ... The Wings aren't young. The time is now. They want to win. It comes down to two guys. They kept the guy who is most likely to help them win. Now. That guy is Drew Miller. Not saying Ritola is awful or anything like that. Maybe he'll turn out great. I'm just saying, tough decisions come up. Sometimes you're the odd man out, not necessarily because you're definitely the poorer option, but because you're definitely the poorer option for a certain situation (this season). Drew Miller was the right call.