Echolalia

Even if the headaches are slowing down, if he still has them he won't be cleared to play, as far as I know.

Cloutier for captain!

Bombay.

So apparently Rodney faces a three game suspension for tossing the ball into the stands following his last victory. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Aldi...p&type=lgns This is crazy, it didn't seem malicious in the least.

Lets keep the votes coming. We're still under 20 right now.

He said that he would like to continue playing beyond this contract.

Who would've thought the Tigers would sweep TB

Voting is closed for round three with a total of 27 votes again. Here's how everything turned out: Crosby: 12 votes (44.44%) Datsyuk: 11 votes (40.74%) Malkin: 2 votes (7.41%) Downey and Zetterberg: 1 vote each (3.7%) 1) Ovechkin 2) Lidstrom 3) Crosby Now lets get started on voting for the 4th best player in the league (or the best player in the league not including Ovechkin, Lidstrom, or Crosby). Remember, bold your vote to make it easier for me to include it in the tally. Its a bit difficult to rummage through the debates for people's votes (but debating is fun so keep that up, too). My vote goes to Dats for 4th best.

How about them votes?

Okay I think you're missing my point, but you can tell me if that's a wrong assumption. The Wings were decimated in the playoffs last year with injuries. Abby and Helm not playing, as wonderfully gifted as these two prodigies are offensively, weren't the reason why the Wings lost. The players that we rely on to produce weren't producing, again, because of injuries. What happened to Yzerman essentially happened to Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Cleary, Ericsson, Draper, Kopecky, Rafalski, and Lilja. They got injured and they became less effective because of it. But this is what makes the Stanley Cup so elusive. It requres far greater a grind than any other trophy, so that it does take more than skill to win it. It takes a good deal of luck also. We just had bad luck last year and the Pens had good luck. Just like the year before, we had good luck and the Pens not so much.

i guess he's just not tough enough.

Those are some pretty lofty predictions. Especially because there is no all-star shootout this year. The Wings win the Cup. That's my only prediction, and you can take that to the bank.

Jesus, I don't care how tough you are, even if you are Donald Brashear or Gary Roberts, you aren't going to be able to handle a ruptured ********, or a ruptured disc in your spine, or an obstruction in your trachea from torn cartilage from a high stick, or a severely pulled groin, or a series of charlie horses and shots to the foot, or a busted up face, or any of the other injuries that occurred throughout the postseason and still be able to play effectively. No amount of toughness can magically heal injuries this severe so you can play at 100% again 2 days later. And no, Brashear's and Roberts' presence wouldn't have prevented any of that from occurring either. The Flyers didn't get too far in the playoffs. Neither did the Ducks. Both of these teams pride themselves on TOUGHNESS first. The only time I can ever remember Lidstrom getting injured from a hit in my entire lifetime of watching was when Downey was in the lineup, and he's as tough as nails. But that's taking the debate into territory that nobody wants to get involved with. My point is the Wings didn't lose last year because they weren't tough. In fact I would argue the Wings made it as far as they did because they were exceptionally tough. And just a side note, what happened with Scotty's team in 1999, 2000, and 2001? He seemed to let all those years slide by.

If Bertuzzi ends up injuring Crosby (legally, and not to the extent of a broken neck), I wonder how many haters will support him again.

My bad. I don't ever read things. Ever. So is Lilja included in this poll?

Are we including Lilja in this poll?

I'm glad Maltby was an option.

Neither one of those are particularly appealing, but pizza rolls A job where you do nothing, or a job where you are very busy.

You guys don't think Filppula will receive any power play time?

He has a larger role on the team this year, as opposed to last year when his role actually diminished with the Hossa signing.

But is that really a fear?

I don't see anyone even touching Filppulla this year.

Okay Round 2 is officially over. Here are the results: Lidstrom 11 votes (40.7%) Datsyuk 10 votes (37%) Crosby 4 votes (14.8%) Broduer and Getzlaf 1 vote each (3.7%) 27 total votes. Overall: 1) Ovechkin 2) Lidstrom ROUND 3: Who do you think is the best player in the league, not including Ovechkin or Lidstrom? please bold your answer to make it easier to filter through the debate

I got 9 less votes than last round, folks. At least make it to 30.

I'm not so much depressed as I am embarrassed of the circumstances. But at the same time, it has really been a while since I was this excited for a new season.