Conklin should start the Winter Classic

[interminded 1]

Conklin played for Edmonton, cause Tommy Salo was injured.

Conklin played for Pittsburgh, because MA Fleury was injured.

I guess you can call the man lucky for having been able to experience an ourdoor hockey game twice.

I think Chris Osgood deserves the experience as well.

As a hockey player and as a person.

[Guest Shoreline]

I say flip a coin. I'm just as comfortable with either, but Conk does have the outdoor experience, so maybe go with him.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Well I hope they wouldn't play Conklin based on his performance against Boston....

[rbochan 15]

Fleury was hurt for that game was he not? Seems to me that would be the only reason Conklin would start...

It was also versus Buffalo. The Sabres always seem to make backup goalies/former goalies look like frikken all-stars.

[Opie 308]

I think you all are missing the point, the reason I think the OP is saying Conklin should start is that every year he has started the WC HIS TEAM HAS MADE THE SCF!!!!

[TheBigRedMachine 2]

I really don't care who starts. Neither of them have impressed me thus far this season. Although I've always been an Ozzie fan I have to admit that Conks would have a way cooler Winter Classic mask.

Regardless of who starts I'll be doing the same thing - gettin' drunk and eatin' chicken fingers!

:goalie1: OR :goalie2: = :beerbuddy:

[DyingAlive 27]

i made a last.fm account today and this was my CAPCHTA

clearly a sign.

A sign from God himself!

I think you all are missing the point, the reason I think the OP is saying Conklin should start is that every year he has started the WC HIS TEAM HAS MADE THE SCF!!!!

Good point! And consequently have lost in the SCF!

Conklin is bad luck, lets trade him!

Edited December 3, 2008 by DyingAlive

[eva unit zero 271]

Ozzie should start the WC. He's the greatest Wings goaltender since Sawchuk, playing against one of the Wings' biggest traditional rivals in a game celebrating their rivalry.

[thedatsyukian 7]

Unless ozzie dies between now and then, he should get the nod.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Let's start Jimmy Howard for the game and bring Tim Cheveldae back out of retirement just for the outdoor game.

All right I'm not really that funny...

[wingfan1991 221]

i just hope it snows!!! and obviously they play in it .. would be great to see!

[YoungGuns1340 1]

By that logic, we should make Hossa a healthy scratch for the WC.

Besides, it's not like Ty Conklin 'embodied' any kind of long-term history of the Penguins franchise last year.

Yeah...except that there are 11 other players who play Hossas position. Who exactly would be put in over Hossa that is more of a Red Wing.

So, no. It isn't "by that logic" because thats not even the logic I'm using.

As for Ty Conklin playing for the Pens - again you missed the point. The Hawks and Wings are historic franchises. The Sabres and Pens are not. Theres a reason they're pitting two Original Six teams together instead of, say, the Sharks and Wings, which would put the focus on firepower.

[OsGOD 3]

I would really like to see Eddie the eagle come back and backstop the chi-town hawks.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

The point is, his statement makes no sense. Osgood should play if he's playing well, placing some assinine clause of Red Wing 'authenticity' as a factor on who plays in the WC is ridiculous. If he's playing like s*** in December and Ty isn't, play Ty, end of story.

Personally I roll my eyes a little at the hokey legacy-of-the-franchises slant people slap onto the WC. It's a special game but potential snowfall aside, this game is first and foremost about THIS season, not the 80-odd seasons that have preceded it.

My statement makes sense if you understand it. But you don't. Your intellectual capacity seems to be the problem - not my statement.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

The point is, his statement makes no sense. Osgood should play if he's playing well, placing some assinine clause of Red Wing 'authenticity' as a factor on who plays in the WC is ridiculous. If he's playing like s*** in December and Ty isn't, play Ty, end of story.

Personally I roll my eyes a little at the hokey legacy-of-the-franchises slant people slap onto the WC. It's a special game but potential snowfall aside, this game is first and foremost about THIS season, not the 80-odd seasons that have preceded it.

So they just arbitrarily pitted the Red Wings and Blackhawks against each other. Right.

[AtomicPunk 296]

It's an Original 6 rivalry, I get it.

They should play whoever they play that day. Sure it would be some little footnote if Conks plays in 3. They will put it in a book of hockey trivia 30 years from now. "Ty WHO?" will be the response.

No player should or should not be played because they are not "Red Wing" enough. That is just silly.

This is the 2008 Wings vs the 2008 Hawks. Leave that other crap for alumni games.

[paul19010 14]

Not trying to stir up any goalie controversy. However, I feel Conklin should get the nod over Osgood on New Years day. My opinion has nothing to do with how either goalie has been playing of late. However, the reason that Conklin should get the start on the Winter Classic is this:

In 2003, Ty Conklin started for the Edmonton Oilers during the Heritage Classic

In 2007, as you all know, Ty Conklin started for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first Winter Classic

He might also sport a new paint job for the occasion as well

Keep the tradition alive, start Conklin for the Winter Classic!

Discuss.

no way. i am not loving conklin right now. after the boston game i dont want to see him in any more big games. (as big as a regular season game can get). i know you cant play Osgood every night, so im not going to question Babcocks usage of him. would have rather Conklin play against the Jackets and Osgood against Bruins. but again, I am not going to question Babcock cause he is the man.

[Cern 0]

Yeah...except that there are 11 other players who play Hossas position. Who exactly would be put in over Hossa that is more of a Red Wing.

So first you're suggesting Hossa is replaceable, then you question his replacability?

Even if I were to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume the first statement is sarcastic, again, if placing some asinine bulls*** clause of Red-Wingness onto players as a litmus test of who should play would mean that Conklin is prohibited from starting the WC, then Hossa, who has been with the organization for THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, should equally be prohibited. f***, even Helm has been associated with the franchise longer than Hossa has, let's put him on the first line and give Hossa five minutes of ice time.

So yes, I was mistaken. I was thinking your logic was misguided when in fact you're using no logic whatsoever.

As for Ty Conklin playing for the Pens - again you missed the point. The Hawks and Wings are historic franchises. The Sabres and Pens are not.

Having a laughably shallow definition of 'historic' is unfortunately your problem to resolve, not mine.

So they just arbitrarily pitted the Red Wings and Blackhawks against each other. Right.

If it was exclusively about having an original 6 matchup, every outdoor game would be an original 6 game. It's not arbitrary, but it's not as much about the hokey heritage bulls*** you seem to insist it has to be. And frankly, it'd be a huge mistake if the players saw it that way too. It's a game that's taking place THIS season to determine the standings in THIS season's playoffs, publicity stunts to boost ratings and new jerseys to boost merchandise sales be damned. Both franchises are old? Big ******* whoop, the Wings could be playing against the Lightning for all I care (and on that note, notice how NONE of the teams who have played outdoor games are sunshine teams, even if they're the away team. This is why the Wings aren't playing the Sharks - although it'd probably be an awesome, exciting game, the significance the league places on the whole outdoor, classic, winter hockey atmosphere is likely to alienate a huge chunk of the sunshine team's fanbase, which dosen't do anything to boost ratings). And given that with the exception of the game in Boston Conklin has been for the most part less sloppy in net than Oz has this season, why in the f*** would you want to DECREASE your chances of getting two points? Because Osgood has been a Red Wing for longer? What kind of bulls*** reason is that?

If Oz shows himself worthy of playing the WC, then by all means he should. If he plays like s*** leading up to the game at hand, I really could care less about how many seasons he's been a Red Wing. It's that simple.

Edited December 5, 2008 by Cern

[TheCaptain19 49]

i think the fact that he will be dressed will be good enough for the whole "ive been in three games" thing.

[cboth686 0]

as of now, i think conk should start. cause i want to win this game more so than many others this year.

[DyingAlive 27]

Looks like I have the possibility of having my scenario come true!

Of course, I don't like see Ozzie being injured. But Conklin starting 3 outdoor games. Ridiculous!