Echolalia

http://m.freep.com/news.jsp?key=452260&rc=sp

Rust isn't a problem. Actually, apparently the flu is roaming around the Wings lockerroom, so the extra couple days is really going to help IMO

Are you from the Metro Detroit region? Where did you play indoor soccer? Do they have amateur adult leagues?

So does anyone know if the rule is actually officially in place?

Last time we faced them we had also just finished off an overtly physical Calgary followed by an oversized San Jose, and were down two of our top defensmen. Anaheim cruised through Minnesota and the Canucks, and it was just a matter of picking the Wings off when they were down (much like we did to Dallas last year). The Wings core was also two years younger, and two years less experienced than now. That might not mean much for Lids, who is about as playoff savvy as one can get, but for the younger folks like Kronwall, Franzen, Dats, Zetterberg, Hudler, Fillppula, etc, two years, including a Western Conference Finals loss to the team they're about to take on, no less, and a Stanley Cup Winning run is a hell of a lot of experience to gain. You may be right. They might not be able to shut that line down. But if the Wings don't, it sure as hell isn't for the same reasons that they couldn't shut them down two years ago.

As long as the NHL continues to hold out on ESPN for coverage, the vast majority of ESPN will ignore/downplay/insult hockey. Think about it. Should they decide to give unbiased coverage of hockey like they do other major sports, they're essentially promoting VS and NBC, rival sports channels (albeit weak ones), and potentially making it more difficult for the NHL to want to sign with ESPN. It's in ESPN's best interest to continue to ignore hockey until the NHL decides to give them some games to cover. At that point, you'll see more ESPN extracurricular in PTI and other shows, because then they'll be advertising their own product, so to speak, but I assume for that to happen, VS/NBC will have to drop many or all of the games that they cover.

The Ducks have more playoff savvy than the Pens did last year. They know how to rise to adversity when the bell rings, something the Pens struggled to do against the Wings.

The same thing thats about to happen to Hiller.

Time to introduce Anaheim to real playoff hockey. Sorry Duckguy, but they're only getting 4 wins this postseason. 5 tops.

The Sharks do not look like they want this. Anaheim doesn't even look overly impressive, yet it seems so one-sided.

This here is a good thread Go WMU

Everyone except Shanahan and Hull.

I hope you stay on the forums for a while. I like your debating skills and the fact that you try to avoid personal confrontation. We need more of that here.

I've read through some of the posts supporting versing Anaheim in the next round, and the only one that I can really justify is simply revenge for a couple years ago. In terms of knowing what it takes to win in the playoffs, Anaheim is the most dangerous team besides the Wings in the Western Conference, and possibly the entire league. They play a really gritty game that wears down the opponent, and while I'm confident the Wings can beat them, I get worried about the 3rd and 4th rounds and how fatigued our players may be after tangoing with the Ducks. In contrast, if San Jose wins, that means its a seven game series, and they're the subjects of 1st round fatigue. Should the Wings happen to play the Sharks, it'll be in the third round and after a tough 8 wins. The Wings can take the Sharks in the 3rd round a lot easier than the Ducks in the 2nd. Maybe I'm underestimating the Canucks, but the only thing intimidating about their team is Luongo, and if any offense in the league can beat him is the Wings; especially after warming up on Mason.

I've been hearing Friday for game 1 and Sunday for game 2, because apparently Saturday the Joe is preoccupied. By the way, this isn't official, but I expect this to be the case.

I'm sure she's quite familiar with that having been a valued member of LGW for some time now. Anyway, as much as I respect Crosby's offensive talents, I would not like him on this team for a number of reasons. First of all I believe Holland can do better for the organization with the money that Crosby earns (ie Franzen + Fillpulla + Osgood + small extra $$ = Crosby's current caphit); secondly, his defensive game is flawed and the Wings are a defense-first organization. I like to point out Zetterberg's defensive play on the 5-on-3 last year as the perfect example of what the Wings brass ideally likes from their top forwards. Thirdly, he has a hot head and as a result, has a tendency to take stupid penalties. He has been getting better at this, but again, that's not Wings' hockey, and I feel he still has a bit more to learn, for the good of his team, regardless of whether he has the weight of the world on him or not. Nobody will point that out as a valid excuse ten years from now. Fans will only remember Stanley cup or no Stanley cup.

I feel like the Wings organization give injured players more time off than other teams (which I think is a great move)

There's been a lot of talk for a couple years. Although it's desperately needed, funding will be a big issue preventing the erection of a new arena. Illitch has a complete steal with the Joe's contract, and it surely won't be as sweet for a subsequent arena. Taxpayers will be looked at to pick up some of the load, and with Detroit still in economic limbo, there's not going to be too many who will support that. As much as I hate to say it, I think the Joe will be around for a bit longer.

Yeah, I remember him always mentioning Ericsson for the past couple years, saying he would be up if it was his decision, or he belonged to any other nhl team.

Thank god there are still people in the league who don't take every hit to be a cheap shot, and admit when their clock's been rung cleanly. RJ Umberger is now one of my favorite BJ's Blue Jackets.

Brrrrrrrrrooooooommmm Broom brooooom! Sorry guys, is my motorcycle too loud?

I trust my gavel to Pavel, You should too

He's definitely smashed all my expectations, which is good, cuz the Wings aren't winning the cup with anything less than what he's giving them.

This is probably going to sound incredibly homerish to many people, but I'm convinced that if we had any other pathway to the WCF, the Wings would've won the cup. Going up against Calgary, then San Jose, then Anaheim was far and away the most difficult and physically demanding way of winning the cup. Anaheim took on the Wild and the Canucks. It doesn't get much easier than that. Now I'm not discrediting the Ducks for their accomplishment, but the Wings were worn down much more than the Ducks were at that point, and picked the Wings off in a vulnerable position, much like we picked off the Stars last year.

I would rather verse Vancouver than Anaheim easily. Especially because the prerequisite for versing Anaheim is that they beat the Sharks. I'm confident that the Wings can take both teams out in a series, but I would rather verse the likes of Anaheim, Calgary, and San Jose in the 3rd round, ideally when they're beaten down and worn out, instead of in the 2nd round, when they can beat the Wings down and wear them out.