imisssergei

I disagree with Don on this one. Canadians dominate the league. They have more players than any other nationality. I think it's something like 48% of the players are Canadian. So seriously, of course any team that wins the Cup is going to have a majority of Canadians. It's like saying that since most NHLers are lefties, you should steer away from righties. Doesn't make any sense. It's about the players abilities. Nationality makes no difference.

The same reason I watched 3 games yesterday, and 3 more tonight. The same reason I grab my gear and goto the rink at 11:40pm for pickup. The same reason I've watched the Wings in the 80's. I. Love. Hockey. EDIT: Also, like I said, barring any big deals, they won't win the Cup with Osgood and Hasek in net. Neither guy is good enough to make up for the shortcomings of this team.

I didn't say anything detrimental about the defensive scoring. I merely wanted to bring some light to it. Did I purposefully imply that it could be better? Yes, but I feel it could, and should be improved with the acquisition of a Brent Sopel type player. A move such as this would also help the physcial side of things. Not that Sopel is an intimidating force, but he is moreso than Lilja. If you want to make a good comparison as to how good this team is, let's look at last years team. Our are Matty, Bert, Calder, Markov and Lang. In are Raffy, Downie, coupled with Rex and Flip playing bigger roles. Offensively, the Wings lost Lang and his 19 goals and 33 assists, and Markov's physical presence. Bert and Calder are moot for this since a) they were rentals, and b) I said so. The Wings essentially replaced Lang with Flip. He won't come near Lang's numbers. On the surface, Rex's numbers look bigger than last years. But if you take into account that he had played the majority of the season with Flip, who is stepping it up, and also at times with Datsyuk or Hank, you get a better look at why they aren't much better. Currently Rex has 34 points, last year he managed only 25. But last year he had 15 goals, thus far he has 11. He might hit 15. On the blueline, I think most would agree offensively Matty and Raffy are a wash. I also think most people would agree that Matty is more physical, while Raffy is more defensively. This means that the Wings got slightly better defensively, but slightly less physical with these two. Losing Markov the Wings lost their only true physical dman. Couple that with the physicality lost with Matty and the Wings have a pretty big hole in the way of physical play. Again, I'm not saying the Wings need a big bruiser back there, someone like Sopel would fit good. In net the Wings have and older version of what they had last year. All in all, the Wings are weaker this year than last. So what makes you feel so strongly about them winning the Cup this year?

There, fixed it.

The same way I knew Kronwall would get injured this season.

The regular season part needs no explanation. We have all seen them dominate. But what does it take to succeed in the playoffs? Scoring from all 4 lines, 4 solid defensive lines, at least 1 great pair and 2 pretty good pair of dmen, and stellar goaltending. The Wings have 4 solid defensive lines. They have 1 great d pairing, 2 average pairings. At best, they have above average goalies. They do not have secondary scoring. It's the most glaring hole on the team. No Rex, Flip, Sammy, Franzen, and Cleary aren't cutting it. Outside of ZHD, Cleary (40) is the only forward with more than 35 points. On defense, outside of Lidstrom and Raffy, no dman has more than 25 points. Even further, Kronwall has 25 points, past him, the next best is Lebda with 12. In addition, the Wings don't have a true 'tough' dman on the squad. Not a single player on the roster strikes any sense of fear into opponents. Finally, it's my opinion, so that's all that really matters. But can you justify why you think they will win the Cup?

I did read your post. You said that it gave the Flyers an advantage. "The Caps were not likely knowing that it would get delayed, and therefore gives the home team an advantage." This implies that A) It was an intentional 14 minute overrun, B) The Flyers players were informed that it would take longer and C) The Caps were not informed that it would take longer. Otherwise, how does it pose any advantage for either team?

Here is how they are wasting money. Electricity used during the hearings, beverages, lunches, hotels, flights, ect. None of that would have to be paid for if they weren't wasting time talking about steroids in sports. Furthermore, they are wasting time. And as we all know, time is money. They aren't doing their real jobs. How would your boss feel if you spent all day at work doing something that didn't have anything to do with your job? Finally, talking to whomever about steroids in sports pushes off other things they should be talking about to a later time. And again, time is money. We are paying them to talk about sports. I don't know about you guys, but my friends and I talk about that s*** at the bar all the time. Sounds more to me like they are pursuing personal interests than doing their jobs. But hey, what do I know? I'm just an average joe.

ARTICLE Is anyone else pissed off that the government is now not only wasting MILLIONS of our tax dollars to find out which baseball players were taking steroids, but that now they have turned their focus to hockey?! WHAT THE HELL IS THE POINT?!?!?! With all of the other problems this country has, say troops overseas for one, why the hell is Congress even thinking about steroids in sports?

By saying that the home team had some sort of advantage because the ceremony ran over 14 minutes, you imply that it was an intentional 14 additional minutes. Even so, assuming it was intentional, how does this at all give the home team any advantage whatsoever? Both teams are used to a set series of events between periods, both had that series altered. This is just another on that the mushheads in Toronto got wrong. I think that more teams should do ceremonies in this manner. It would ensure more fans are in the building, and it would make for great T.V., something the NHL needs. The article said it shouldn't matter as long as everyone is informed in advance, but it did not say if the proper people were informed. Judging from the fine, I doubt they were. In this case, I would agree with the fine for not informing the proper people, but not a fine for doing it.

Call it what you want to call it, but the Wings aren't strong enough to win the Cup with either Hasek or Osgood. And no, Hasek has not stolen a game this season. How does a goaltenders GAA translate in any manner to stealing games? Just so we are clear, my definition of stealing a game is the Wings winning a game they had no chance of being in. Example, if the Wings would have beaten the Jackets 4-3 instead of losing 5-1, Osgood would have stolen that game. The Wings have a great regular season team. They have, at best, a mediocre playoff team.

Hasek hasn't stolen a game this year. He is a shell of what he once was, and he isn't even as good as he was last year. The Wing won't win the Cup, barring multiple BIG trades, with either of those two in net. By big trades, I mean bringing in a Hossa, a Campbell, and a depth dman. Just won't happen. The Wings aren't good enough.

That's why I took the time to write that I wasn't suggesting a Sammy and Rex for Fedorov deal. All I was saying that in order for Fedorov to fit, those two guys would have to be moved.

I've said this all season long, and I'll say it again. The Wings won't win the Cup with the tandem of Osgood and Hasek.

Plain and simple, they are the government. They can do whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want and pay no consequences. And if you don't think so, I'd suggest reading the 'Patriot Act'.

Also, regardless if the steroids or other meds are prescribed or not, if the are illegal a player can't take them.

Read the first post it explains everything. The Wings aren't lowering regular season ticket prices one penny, they just aren't raising them either. What's happening is the playoff ticket prices are going to be lower than last season, with a few sweet deals for season ticket holders. Back on topic.... Sergei: I love Sergei, more than most people on the boards. I wouldn't mind seeing him back here, but unless Rex and Sammy are going back to the Jackets (I'm not suggesting this as a trade possibility) than he just doesn't fit into the roster. He is a second line forward, and with those two guys still on the roster, there really isn't room. Yes, he is a very talented player, but you gotta believe that Babs and Kenny are going to go with what they have before they deal for an overpaid, aging vet. Mac: Maybe next season. This season is a loooooooooooooong shot. Finally, Dandy: I actually think this would be a solid pickup for the Wings. He is a great guy to have on your playoff roster. With his versatility, speed, and hard nosed style, he couldn't do anything but help. One more tidbit, for the playoffs, the NHL expands the roster size, I believe by 2 skaters. So in theory, the Wings wouldn't really be wasting roster space on a PR move in reacquiring these two guys.

This pretty much sums up how I feel. However, I do disagree with forcing the new comers to wear neckguards. It's no different than the requiring batters to wear cages on their helmets. It's a knee-jerk reaction.

Why not? It would be a great opportunity to get rid of some impending ufa's like Kolzig and Kozlov (Washington), Boyle, Gratton, and Prospal (Tampa), Hedican and Wesley (Canes), Hossa and Holik (Atlanta), and Jokinen (Florida) even though he isn't an ufa. It's a chance to get some good young talent in return for expiring contracts. Every player I listed would be helpful to a team looking to and some punch for a long playoff run. Look at things realistically. No one in the SE division (based on points alone, I know division winners get in) belongs in the playoffs right now. At best, the division winner gets lucky, and wins it's first round matchup, then loses in the second round. I just can't see any SE division team beating any playoff team 4 out of 7. IMO the Canes had the best shot. But with the loss of Brindy, they just took a few steps back.

It's true. Every thread on this board somehow turns into a Fedorov thread.

What's that you say? Carolina has gone into 'sell' mode? Let's be realistic here. If any GM was smart in the SE division, they'd realize that no one from that division really deserves to be in the playoffs. Furthermore, the ONE team that does make it will undoubtedly have an early exit from the playoffs (barring a major deal). So why not sell?!

Read below. His list wasn't about offensive threat. He based his on goal scoring threat. So what's the big deal?

You took that out of context. Read further.... That's right, I acknowledged that Crosby can score. Just not at the rate of the Ovechkins, and Havlats.

I think that video would actually do more to reinforce GST's opinion and his list with the omission of Crosby. Crosby isn't a goal scoring threat. He is a fantastic playmaker. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Sid can't put the biscuit in the basket, we all know he can. He just isn't nearly the threat that Ovechkin, Havlat, ect. are.

LOUD NOISES!!!!!!! As I've said all season long. Split them up. The Wings have all of their eggs in one basket with Pav and Hank together.