HNIC w/ Crawford Wings/Flames

[T.Low 1,011]

Last nights CBC broadcast Wings/Flames it was great to hear Crawford and (? this years Shorthouse replacement) talke about the Wings. Yeah, the usual stuff but even more. I sort of thought that Crawford would have a lot of ill will towards the Wings but he had nothing but admiration and great "insider" type thngs to say about them...and I was eating it up.

They both said how Detroit practices so hard, and how the verterans really work with the younger guys and tutor them so to speak. These guys get around and see all the teams practice, and they were still stunned at how hard the Wings work during practice. Crawford said Babcock literally had to call Datsyuk off the ice well after practice was over like a mom calling in the little kid cause he won't get off the ice.

They both were blown away by how much fun the team has at practice. They practice harder, or atleast as hard as any team) and have more fun. Something tells me Crawfords practices were not all that much fun.

I guess its not so much that Crawford talked about how the defensemen all give great stick to stick passes and that is the method of operation in Detroit, but rather it was the way he was so blown away by it, as if he doesn't see how it can be done with more than just one or two guys on your D.

A couple times when one of the younger Flame screwed up, Crawford right away said seriously that it was obvious that the kid was intimidated by the watching the Red Wings jersey while he was growing and now has to play against them, and thats something he needs to get over.

He talked about how almost every team in the league would love to have Filp as their second line center, talked about that at length, and how in Detroit there's hardly any ice time left for him on the 3rd line.

He talked about how many goalies came up thru the system into the NHL too fast and it almost ruined their careers. Made me think of slow the Wings are with their prospects.

Great hearing Crawford talk about the incredible logjam of prospects in GR ready to be called up.

It was great hearing this stuff from a long time Red Wing competitor, kinda getting the inside scoup of stuff that us Red Wing fans can take for granted. It just made me think of how hard we can be on our team. Detroit fans really do have exceptionally high expectations of the Red Wings.

As a side note, Mike Camilleri was on "After Hours" and I was really impressed by him. Haven't seen him before. (I moved outta state before he played for M ). Sounds like a great guy.

Edited November 23, 2008 by T.Low

[b.shanafan14 733]

good stuff T.Low, I watched the game on the FSN-Detroit HD feed on HockeyStreams.com last night but luckily they have the HNIC feed on the regular archive feed from last night so I'm rewatching the HNIC feed right now, good stuff.

[edicius 3,269]

I really noticed that Crawford seemed so much more at ease in a broadcasting capacity as opposed to behind the bench. I've never seen him that jovial and smiling, ever. Crawford actually seems like a decent guy when he's not yelling over the benches at Bowman.

[b.shanafan14 733]

I really noticed that Crawford seemed so much more at ease in a broadcasting capacity as opposed to behind the bench. I've never seen him that jovial and smiling, ever. Crawford actually seems like a decent guy when he's not yelling over the benches at Bowman.

haha i couldn't agree more. while listening to the feed I was thinking, so when is Crawford going to come in and start talking about the Wings like T.Low mentioned. And after a while I was like wait a minute, that nice composed smart color guy this whole time is Mark Crawford!? haha nothing like I remember from his villainous days as the Avs bench-boss.

[T.Low 1,011]

Ha, thats funny guys. Yeah I thought he was gonna blow a gasket hollering at Scottie like that. He was pretty young for a coach at that time if I remeber correctly.

b.Shanahan, thats halarious!

I saw his days as coach just north of me in Vancouver and its definately a pressure cooker there. I tune in the sports talk radio from Vancouver in the middle of JULY for crying out loud and they are still talking hockey all day long.

With his experience, I do think he is an asset to HNIC.

Edited November 24, 2008 by T.Low

[kylee 727]

I really noticed that Crawford seemed so much more at ease in a broadcasting capacity as opposed to behind the bench. I've never seen him that jovial and smiling, ever. Crawford actually seems like a decent guy when he's not yelling over the benches at Bowman.

i got that feeling too.

i actually like watching games when he does the color commentary.

actually seems like a good guy who knows his stuff

[edicius 3,269]

Agreed. Crawford impressed the hell out of me that night. Looking forward to hearing more from him in the future. Think he's found his happy place.

[DRW Dominance 255]

I was equally impressed as well. Did anyone catch the "after hours" show as well with whoever the host is, Crawford & Babs?

That was awesome too. I love listening to Babcock speak about the team. You can learn so much from that guy about the way the game should be played.

[miller76 463]

I was a little taken a back by how Marc Crawford did. I thought he did a good job. I was expecting him to start yelling at the Flames players to move their feet! lol. Between him and Craig Simpson, I was pleasantly surprised. Simpson can do Wings games anytime he wants imo.

[Coolio Mendez 7]

I also found it awkard how Crawford working play by play for Bertuzzi. Isn't he suing him? Like you said I was a bit surprised about how well spoken Mike Cammalari was.

[b.shanafan14 733]

I also found it awkard how Crawford working play by play for Bertuzzi. Isn't he suing him? Like you said I was a bit surprised about how well spoken Mike Cammalari was.

I was thinking the same thing, surprised Crawford wasn't choking everytime he said Bertuzzi.

Edited November 25, 2008 by b.shanafan14