Echolalia

I was under the impression that Kindl peaked.

haha

I get what you're saying, and generally agree with you. Don't let your stay here be ruined if people give you a hard time. Its a lot of fun to talk crap in the playoffs when it really matters, so you need to stick around at least until then.

I'm scared as s***. What's the problem?

The way things are going Quincey will be in the Hall before Doughty.

I have peacefully accepted the fact that the Wings are the only team capable of beating the Sharks, and we'll do so on Wednesday as well as in the SCF, where the Sharks will get creamed with home ice advantage.

Theres about 20 more games to be played. That's a pretty big chunk of hockey. If he continues on his pace and Chara and Rafalski and Green and whoever else has been mentioned for the Norris continue their paces, I think Lidstrom should win it this year. What I'm worried about is voting for a new Norris Trophy winner just for the sake of a new winner. That's why Chara and Green seem so attractive this year, but who knows what'll happen. And its way way too early to tell whether he deserves it next year.

haha good observation. I totally didn't notice that all Euro-going coaches are now fired.

The more I think about it, the more I think its necessary to add specifically Chris Neil (assuming the rumors are true). Not only would he add just about everything our fourth line is lacking, but this is also one of the few times where getting a player simply to prevent the other team from having him would be beneficial. San Jose I believe is our only real opposition come playoffs (I know that sounds cocky and "any of the top 16 teams can win the cup", look at 2003, 2004, etc, but if we lose to anyone besides the Sharks this year, its simply because we aren't hungry), and the San Jose Sharks are scary enough without Chris Neil. Imagine them when they have a guy who can inspire them to play to their physical limits, and rub out Draper, Kopecky, and Maltby with ease. Depth is what wins cups. Edit: I just realized that Neil is on IR. Does anyone know exactly what's going on as far as his return? Lacerated calf doesn't sound too good.

This is a good idea. As much as I've loved the Wings for not "throwing away draft picks" ala Pens last season, this year is going to be one of the Wings best chances at a cup for a long time, and Neil is a solution to just about every problem we have on the 4th line.

Good to see Quincey thriving in the nhl.

As awesome as he has been for us, especially given what he was expecting his role to be back in August, I'm still worried about the possibility of him being our best option to win us a cup.

Welcome to the boards and you're definitely picking a good game to go to. I wont even be able to watch it on tv because of stupid Kaplan classes, from 6:30 to 9:30 (get home around 10).

I had a dream a few nights back that Lidstrom re-signed with the Wings for like 2 million dollars or some ridiculous number, and we were able to keep Hossa and Hudler and Franzen and yadda yadda. I guess whoever was the oddman out for the 09-10 year comes back the year after in my dream. Anyway, the nhl forced Lidstrom into retirement because he was "cheating the system", and retirement was apparently my house, so he lived with me.

Sorry I misunderstood your post. I thought you were comparing this year with 06-07, particularly any similarities between goaltender and/or team toughness. As appealing as it is to blame the Wings' series loss on something that they couldn't control, its just an excuse in my book (and this is in no way a knock on you).

The only reason we lost the playoffs that year was because we had a much more difficult road to the WCF than Anaheim did, and we had suffered some key injuries (ie Schneider). We also got a bit lazy (or tired) in the last two games.

Yes I do, that's why I brought it up. At the very least Draper Maltby and Kopecky know how to play hockey. Downey and McCarty's hockey skill is terrible. That's why they only ever play four minutes per game. They aren't trusted. Oh and you say that they'll prevent injuries from happening. The last time I can remember one of our players getting injured as a direct result of the opponent's physical play was when Lidstrom was injured last year, and Downey was in the lineup, so obviously Laperierre didn't think much of Downey's presence.

It seems Holland prefers players who know how to play hockey, and not just run at people. By the way, that isn't a knock on Downey, but a lot of people complain that our fourth line lets in too many goals. If you replace Kopecky (I'm assuming that's who "a guy" is), or for that matter even Draper or Maltby with Downey, I'm 95% positive that our goals against for the fourth line will get worse.

call me up baby the person below me hears "the person blow me" when s/he reads the person below me

I had a Lenders onion bagel w/ strawberry cream cheese, complimented by some pineapple and OJ for breakfast. the person below me is geographically below me.

hahaha

I see what you're saying, but loyalty isn't the only reason why those three are on the squad. They're all role players, but with the exception of Maltby, they're just about the best in the league at what they do. Draper is a faceoff specialist and a solid defensive forward. That makes him worth a lot to this team, especially on the pk, where a faceoff or a smart defensive play can easily decide the outcome of a game. Homer just about has the biggest ass in the nhl and for some reason doesn't feel pain, so players can whack him and crosscheck him and he's still going to have his butt in some goalie's face. Nobody screens like Homer. Nobody. There's also a certain sense of veteranship that is invaluable in teh playoffs; especially to younger guys who haven't experienced quite as much, but one of the biggest things that I think people often overlook is how these guys make the Wings organization look. Other players see they're still around and think "job security" when they come play for the Wings. Of course that isn't always going to be the case, but its a strong point in the emphasis of class that the Wings organization is known so well for, and that's part of what makes players like Zetterberg and Hossa and Datsyuk and Lidstrom take team discounts, so the 4M that the organization is spending on Homer and Draper and Maltby has already been paid off by the fact that Dats and Hossa and Z and Lids could've collectively demanded much more than that on their salaries, but for whatever reason, did not. As for replacing declining veterans with rising AHL stars, its a very risky business, because these kids have such little professional experience, and that really becomes evident in a playoff atmosphere, especially when there's no one like Draper or Maltby anymore to talk a team down from a cataclysmic situation and get back into the running to win a game. However I wouldn't lose any sleep if Maltby were to retire.

We'll need Sammy more than Leino in the playoffs.

I really love how much I've been hearing he's the best all-around player the league has. I'm glad people are finally starting to wisen up.

All of our prospects who people want to replace Kopecky with have greater than fourth-liner potential, and in the midst of sending Kopecky down (and to be honest I would send Maltby down before him (I also think Maltby has less chance of being picked up on waivers)) he would definitely be picked up. He's a young, cheap-as-hell fourth liner who knows how to do his job and will only get better at it. Then after Kopecky is picked up for nothing, next year when Helm possibly has a permanent role with our team, he'll most likely be playing the third line and we'll be down 1 fourth liner. Helm will almost certainly be able to demand much more than Kopecky will be able to a couple years down the road. Well, we could always pick up a free agent or trade, but skill per caphit, Kopecky is one of the best choices for us out there. His tiny caphit would allow us to possibly keep one of our higher tier players. He's also quite young and has showed great potential (ie he knows how to handle the puck, is familiar at the very least with deking, has shown glimpses of strong physical play, keeps his game simple, etc), to where he could be one of the better fourth liners in the league down the road, but that is entirely up to him. And that is why I believe the Wings are holding on to Kopecky, and that is also why I believe he will be signed again in the offseason and will be back next year.