10 Burning Questions: Preseason edition

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3576983

Specifically Red Wings related...

4. Will there be a Stanley Cup hangover in Detroit?

Burnside: Yes. As good and deep as the Red Wings are, there is always a little hitch in the step of the defending Cup champions. Watch for Marian Hossa to take some time to fit into the Red Wings' lineup, and there will be a ripple effect in terms of who gets power-play time and prime minutes among the team's forwards with Hossa's arrival.

LeBrun: No. Too much is being made about the post-lockout Cup-hangover effect. Carolina got hammered by injuries, and that's why the Hurricanes plummeted after their Cup win in 2006. Anaheim began its title defense without its most important player, Scott Niedermayer, and top goal scorer, Teemu Selanne. The Ducks also began last season overseas with a brutal schedule. But the Wings have a normal start this season, and all their key players will return. Not only will they remain a Cup contender, they also will threaten to shatter records for wins and points in a single season.

9. How will this season's Winter Classic (Chicago versus Detroit at Wrigley Field) play out?

Burnside: It will be a much different, cozier feel inside Wrigley Field on Jan. 1 compared with the inside of Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium this past January. It goes without saying that the weather will dictate not just the outcome of the game but also the NHL's continued appetite for hosting these outdoor shindigs. That said, it's hard to imagine the clash between the Blackhawks and the defending Stanley Cup-champion Red Wings wouldn't be spectacular, providing another winner for the league given the history the franchises bring to the contest and the singular appeal of Wrigley, even in the dead of winter.

LeBrun: It will be another success, but not quite the same level as last season in Buffalo. There's a novelty factor here, and I believe the NHL made a mistake by bringing back the Winter Classic so quickly. I know a dozen or so teams were pleading for a chance to host one, and I know the TV ratings and corporate-sponsorship interest are through the roof. All are great reasons to bring it back. But it's short-sighted. The better way to keep the Classic a desired and viable event is to space out the outdoor games every two or three seasons. Would the Olympic Games be as cool if they were staged every year?

[Chunkylover 26]

Olympic games are cool?

Will there be a Cup-hangover? Interestingly: "Yes, they will stumble," and, "No they won't." Everyone suspects injuries to be the only thing capable of slowing us and there's no knowing when or who they will strike.

Chemistry problems? I doubt it.

Record shattering? Well, we were on pace last season and it was unpredictable injuries that prevented it, although they were a mixed blessing because it provided some adversity and culminated in a Cup.

[Slave 31]

i agree, the injuries sucked at the time but i think in retrospect they are the best thing that could have happened to us, giving us the mental team toughness to get through the playoffs. If injuries don't devastate us this year i think we could break records, i think we tweaked the team just enough to be even more well oiled then last season, if it ain't broke don't fix it I think we should have a pretty incredible record this year, hopefully it all ends the same as this last season as well.

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

I cant wait for the Hawks v Wings game on Jan 1st.. thats going to be epic.. i cant wait..

[YoungGuns1340 1]

The Cup Hangover thing is interesting to me. For whatever reason, I'm not jumping on the repeat bandwagon just yet, but I do think the Wings are a bit different than your traditional Post-Stanley Cup winners.

The team is littered with, if not entirely made up of, competitors and winners. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Cleary, Holmstrom, Filppula, Raffi, etc. These guys compete. They don't slack off. This isn't a group of Brett Hulls or Mathieu Schneiders or Robert Lang. This isn't a group of guys who got away with floating or inflated offensive stats or past accomplishments. And this isn't a team thats run by a coaches coach or a "play your stars" guy. On this team, hard work is rewarded. Winning battles is rewarded. And perhaps most importantly, defense from every player is rewarded.

[Tane 17]

Meh, I like it as a yearly Tradition. But just not on Bowl day. I'd maybe rather see it on Christmas, Christmas eve or Boxing Day. I'd prefer Christmas eve, and make it a tradtion. Bettman wanted to make it a day where everybody was at hiome watching TV (good philosophy) But I think it should have it's own day. NBA has Christmas, I'd like it to be Christmas eve. Think about all the kids growing up, 30 years from now Just remebering the tradtition of watching the outdoor game EVERY Christmas eve, getting ready for all the presents tomorrow and all that good stuff.

Next year is rumored to be December 9th, so, hopefully, that gets them off of Bowl Day.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I cant wait for the Hawks v Wings game on Jan 1st.. thats going to be epic.. i cant wait..

Imagine how I feel about it.

Lilja vs. Sharp, on primetime television. It doesn't get any better than this.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Imagine how I feel about it.

Lilja vs. Sharp, on primetime television. It doesn't get any better than this.

:punch: