Echolalia

While I agree that something needs to be done to prevent everybody but the starters from showing up to All-star games, threatening to suspend players for the games that actually matter is a bit harsh. If anything, this is proof that the All-Star game needs to be modified, to make it more valuable for players to show up. Make it more than just a fun time for all. Put something on the line. It's also a bad idea to have fan voting be so powerful, because we obviously undermine the skills of those who are worthy to be there. Its become a joke that players don't want to participate in. Fix the joke, not the players.

The nhl obviously doesn't understand the laws of physics. As supported by the Leafs, this will only increase scoring if you can shoot the puck into the angle that aims into the net, which requires a player be directly in front of the net, and not off to either side. Otherwise pucks will be bouncing either to the area exactly opposite you on the other side of the net (should the puck hit the post on the flat end), or directly into the corner (should it hit the outside curvature).

mas⋅to⋅don    /ˈmæstəˌdɒn/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [mas-tuh-don]–noun 1. a massive, elephantlike mammal of the genus Mammut (Mastodon), that flourished worldwide from the Miocene through the Pleistocene epochs and, in North America, into recent times, having long, curved upper tusks and, in the male, short lower tusks. 2. a person of immense size, power, influence, etc. Origin: 1805–15; < NL < Gk mast(ós) breast + odn tooth hahaha breast tooth

You're opening the floodgates to a s***storm by posting that here in our sensitive and weakened state of goalie ridicule.

Are we the only team not represented?

I don't know if anyone has seen the Bruins/Blues highlights yet, but the Blues came back from being down by 2 goals to tie it with a fraction of a second left in regulation. David Backes slapped a rebound down from midair and to me it looked like it was above the crossbar, but I've only seen one replay, and it wasn't that good of an angle. But taking this goal into the number of questionable goals that Franzen scored got me to thinking that the nhl is becoming more inclined to allow a goal (probably for the sake of "high offense" and "greater excitement") than it has in the past. Any of the three in my opinion could have easily went the other way, and they were all at critical times in the game. What do you guys and gals think?

A somewhat radical idea would be to expand the crease by about a foot or so, and have this be the goalie's designated area where interference would be called against the player regardless of what happens. However, if the goalie comes out of that crease, even to cut down on an angle from a shot from the point, he is fair game to be interfered with/checked what have you if he gets possession of the puck. Essentially he inherits player rules instead of goalie rules for when he leaves the crease. So if he goes behind the net to play the puck, players are free to check him into the boards. Cleaner cut interference calls will make the fans happier; greater and more frequent scoring chances due to the risks involved with playing pucks behind the net/cutting off angles will make Bettman happy (and perhaps other fans as well). The goalie gets an increased area to make saves safely, so he's happy. But to be honest, I don't even know what I think of this. It might be too much change for me.

If a longer term contract helps Zetterberg sign for a lower yearly salary, I'm all for it, to help keep the core in tact.

Osgood in his prime is better than Conklin in his prime. We've all seen this, regardless of how good Conklin is doing now, or how dismal Osgood is doing. I think Babcock's line of thought right now is that we still have three months until playoffs, and he's doing what he can to get Osgood onto an improving track, hence his regular appearances in the lineup despite his horrible play. I think we would all prefer an optimum Osgood starting over an optimum Conklin, and worst case scenario is that that never happens, and we just ride an optimun Conklin through the playoffs. At least we know now that we can at least stay within one goal of the Sharks with an inferior goalie, poor penalty killing and discipline, and horrible defensive breakdowns at clutch moments in the game. Overall I think we'll be fine.

My fantasy team is entitled "Rouse's House"

I wonder if the Islanders would want to take Osgood of our hands

Whoever is the space of ice in question should be considered the interferee and whoever bumps into someone who already claims a space of ice is the interferer. But really I wish refs would just use common sense, because it would solve a lot more problems than just this.

I think you're misinterpreting my post based on the fact that I said nobody is stopping goal #5. I'm completely of the mind that Osgood is underperforming this year, and at this point I want Conkin to bear most of the games, but I'm also being honest about that fifth goal. It was a nice shot.

Play Conklin. He definitely seems more capable of saving games and robbing players than Osgood right now. Edit: by the way that fifth goal no goalie in the league is stopping. Editx2: This is probably the best way I've seen Osgood described: "Ozzie's not a goalie who's going to steal you a lot of games, but when he's playing well he won't cost you any either." -haroldsnepsts, and I think this is exactly what's going on tonight.

Well if the consistency of slushie is similar to "octopus juice", he'll have to be careful not to get any on the ice, or the team will be fined. Apparently it's impossible to skate over.

So probably like a handful of you, I have a spreadsheet with the Wings' cumulative salary cap hit now up to some arbitrary year. I've been fidgeting with some numbers here and there for some players' potential salaries, but I figured my numbers are most likely off, and initially wanted to just ask what other people thought our players are worth, realistically, and whether they would sign to our team for what we think they're worth. This includes current Wings and Griffins, and other players who we would like to see make their way onto the roster to potentially fill some holes (but as realistically as possible). I would like to take into account past signings and try to follow the pattern as closely as possible. So if you have a spreadsheet on your computer that's complete up to at least 2010, let me see what you're working with. If you don't have a spreadsheet, but like to think you know a thing or two about being a GM, let me hear your opinion. I'm fully aware of "reality" and how this isn't going to affect it in any way, but I like to think of my responsibility as a fan to include determining whats best for the team, up until Holland figures out something better.

tis already been posted, sir

I feel Datsyuk is a better all around player than Malkin, Crosby etc. While he isn't going to win a scoring title in his career, he is a strong scorer, always within the top 10 in the league, always healthy, and is worlds ahead of most other elite players in terms of defensive play, which I believe is the most underrated part of his game.

As much as Dats is talked about, I really think he is still underrated league-wide. Not necessarily just points wise, or based on your number crunching and hypotheticals, but I think he's the best player in the nhl right now. I would take him over Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, Zetterberg, Hossa, anyone.

Good god. And I'm not referring to what you said.

4-2. Zetterberg plays like its a contract year, for the first time this season.

But the loudest laughs always came when Draper noted that it only took 35 seconds for Conklin to finish playing with himself, usually ending the game with a big O

Datsyuk would've won and the ploy to endorse the nhl through marquee players would fail.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=404616 We get the privilege of cheating the voting system again with text-messaging. That pretty much leaves Crosby and Kane fighting for the championship.

I liked the celebrity judge panel personally. Even if these people have no clue what hockey is, it brings their endorsement and thus more support.