Brashear's antics on Sunday (suspension coming)

[esteef 2,679]

We're talking about the Wings.

The Wings are the class of the league. Why? Because they win. And win. And win. And then they win some more. And then when they're done, they win. How is this possible? They have a good system and they stick to it. They value skill. They emphasize two-way play and puck-possession. They strive for classy conduct. They don't get bogged down in stupid s***. Which is not to say they don't know how to play a rough, physical game -- they absolutely do, as anyone who's watched their last two playoff runs should know. If the opposition wants to dress a goon, then Babs might dress Mac or Downey. It's not like there are no fighters within the organization. Generally, though, the Wings don't give two s***s about fighting, and that's to their benefit. Their last postseason run speaks for itself: Downey wasn't dressed for a single game, Mac had one meaningless scrum (and was otherwise a brutal liability), and the Wings carried the physical play in every series -- en route to winning the Cup.

Let other teams have their goons. The Wings will keep winning. Because that's just what they do.

That's what I'm saying though, they don't "always win" using this method. In fact, it hasn't won them s*** yet. The point I'm making here is that everyone here seems to be certain that fighters/goons/whatever are this cast off part of the game that nobody worries about anymore, yet every team has at least one, and are using them in the playoffs when it matters most and the game is "real". The presence of goons/fighters in the playoffs alone doesn't jive with this "it doesn't work in today's game" crap. Case in point, I'm sure Anaheim could find a faster skating puck handler to put in instead of Parros, but they don't. Why?

esteef

[Dabura 12,232]

That's what I'm saying though, they don't "always win" using this method. In fact, it hasn't won them s*** yet.

They won the Cup last season. If they hadn't been without two of their top defensemen in '07 and battling crooked zebras, they likely would've won in '07.

Like I said, the Wings are the class of the league for a reason. If they were to start following other teams' models, they'd water themselves down. I'd be more inclined to side with you if Wings players were getting knocked out left and right -- but that's not happening. As it is, this team is a juggernaut.

[Guest micah]

This is my last "babbling" response to you and whoever else keeps braying about this. YOU'RE the one who brought up Maltby, who's obviously enough of a loser in your eyes that he should go out there and lay it on the line. And I just love the idea that you think it's OK if he's in pain afterward. How much pain is acceptable to you? Bruises? Stretched ligaments? Dislocations? What do YOU consider injuries? Something that takes him out of the game/series or maybe less where he might come back in the third period? And could you please get that in writing from Brashear or whoever that they won't really hit to injure? Oh, wait....

YES. I'm saying that if some a-hole like Brashear recklessly and illegaly hits one of our guys on the ice - if it can't be taken care of right there and then by whoever's on the ice - that YES, the Wings play their game to the best of their ability and hope that the NHL comes through like it did this time.

Have a nice day.

Right. Yeah, so...ummm...when was Maltby a "fighter"? I said he should fight because he's expendable, I didn't claim that he used to be a fighter. He used to rack up a couple of FMs a year, but never did anything that really resembled fighting.

...and yes, I think it's okay if hockeyplayers are in pain. It's part of the game, you learn to kinda enjoy it.

[Guest micah]

They won the Cup last season. If they hadn't been without two of their top defensemen in '07 and battling crooked zebras, they likely would've won in '07.

Like I said, the Wings are the class of the league for a reason. If they were to start following other teams' models, they'd water themselves down. I'd be more inclined to side with you if Wings players were getting knocked out left and right -- but that's not happening. As it is, this team is a juggernaut.

LOL. "Crooked" refs. Yeah, that's it.

[Dabura 12,232]

That was mostly just a (hyperbolic) reference to the nail-in-the-coffin call on Dats. Which was unequivocal bulls***.

Is that all you've got?

[esteef 2,679]

They won the Cup last season. If they hadn't been without two of their top defensemen in '07 and battling crooked zebras, they likely would've won in '07.

Like I said, the Wings are the class of the league for a reason. If they were to start following other teams' models, they'd water themselves down. I'd be more inclined to side with you if Wings players were getting knocked out left and right -- but that's not happening. As it is, this team is a juggernaut.

They won the Cup with Downey, Drake and McCarty all in the lineup at different parts throughout the season. They haven't won anything without a player such as that on the roster. The 07 Cup is certainly debatable as to why they lost, yes they had defenseman out, but IMO the Ducks physically pushed them out of the playoffs plain and simple.

Again, the recurring theme we got from the non-fighter crowd is that fighting and fighters are useless in the playoffs, and that's where Cups are won and lost. Yet we still see fighters and fighting and cheap shots, and scrums in this year's playoffs. Are all the other coaches/GMs just dumb?

I'd be more inclined to side with you if there were no fights or fighters in the playoffs, or on "winning" teams.

esteef

Edited April 28, 2009 by esteef

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

LOL. "Crooked" refs. Yeah, that's it.

I'm also tired of everyone blaming the 07 loss on refs and injuries.

Who knows, if we had a tougher team that year, maybe we would have beaten Anaheim even with the injuries. Fact is, by the end of the series we were getting worn down physically from playing three consecutive tough teams in the playoffs.

[Dabura 12,232]

Again, the recurring theme we got from the non-fighter crowd is that fighting and fighters are useless in the playoffs

No, that's not the theme you get. That's just how you guys like to interpret it.

This is about the Detroit Red Wings. The Detroit Red Wings generally don't care for using fighters in the big game -- i.e. the postseason. And that works for them. Other teams like using goons. Great. The Wings aren't other teams. The Wings are the Wings. The Wings will only dress a fighter if they feel they absolutely must.

I've never blamed the '07 loss solely on the officiating, so give the trolling a rest, micah and GMR. Like I said, I was referring mostly to the absolutely brutal late call on Datsyuk that went a long way in sealing the Wings' fate. "ZOMG WELL MAYBE THE WINGS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THAT WHOLE IF THEY'D FOUGHT BACK A LITTLE!" Give me a break. If anything, the Wings were carrying the physical play in that series. The Wings lost because their blue line -- the foundation of their entire system -- was missing two key pieces.

Give it a rest. All of you.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

No, that's not the theme you get. That's just how you guys like to interpret it.

This is about the Detroit Red Wings. The Detroit Red Wings generally don't care for using fighters in the big game -- i.e. the postseason. And that works for them. Other teams like using goons. Great. The Wings aren't other teams. The Wings are the Wings. The Wings will only dress a fighter if they feel they absolutely must.

I've never blamed the '07 loss solely on the officiating, so give the trolling a rest, micah and GMR. Like I said, I was referring mostly to the absolutely brutal late call on Datsyuk that went a long way in sealing the Wings' fate. "ZOMG WELL MAYBE THE WINGS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THAT WHOLE IF THEY'D FOUGHT BACK A LITTLE!" Give me a break. If anything, the Wings were carrying the physical play in that series. The Wings lost because their blue line -- the foundation of their entire system -- was missing two key pieces.

Give it a rest. All of you.

Trolling?

I haven't posted any more in this thread than you have. I just brought up one damn point in response to the 07 series and I'm trolling?

[Dabura 12,232]

I'm going to label anyone who supports micah's inane arguments a troll. Or a terrorist. Whichever one sounds less patriotic.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I'm going to label anyone who supports micah's inane arguments a troll. Or a terrorist. Whichever one sounds less patriotic.

That particular argument about the 07 series is not really that inane, but if your position on this is so childish that you'll label anyone who disagrees with you a troll, then I won't argue on this point any further since there's no point in doing so.

Apparently your position is a good argument, but the counter is trolling. Hmmmm.......very interesting. I think I'll try some of your philosophy in the future.

[Dabura 12,232]

I thought the terrorist comment was a pretty clear indication that I'm being slightly facetious.

As for micah: to hone in on that one comment I made and that one alone -- that's trolling in my book. And not because he disagrees with me.

Edited April 28, 2009 by Dabura

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

I think that the after-whistle jaw-running and glove-punching is girlie, yup. If you refuse to fight, skate back to the bench like the coward you are, don't talk smack and posture likwe you're some badass.

I was happuy with the way the Wings played hockey against the BJs. I was sickened by some of their post-whistle extra-curriculars.

Well I guess we differ in that I am more interested in defending the Cup than fighting. Other than Sammy, I sure as hell don't see anyone that's "girlie" out there. And i certainly don't want another Lilja-esque injury. As long as we're smoking them on the scoreboard, the Wings can talk smack and act like badasses all they want. As long as we have the Cup, we are badasses anyways.

[esteef 2,679]

Girlie!

:beerbuddy:

esteef

Edited April 28, 2009 by esteef

[egroen 384]

Why do you never answer questions? I asked you what you would like the Wings to dio in the situation I presented. Why do you refuse to answer?

Also, Downey didn't get carried of the ice on a stretcher last time he fought Brashear, why would he this time?

Anyway - I haven't said that I think the Wings should ice Downey in the playoffs.

I think that what needs to happen should a guy like Brash start getting chippy with this team, is that some sacrificial lamb goes out there and takes him off the icem, 5 minutes at a time. Maltby ain't gonna play next year anyway, he could man-up for the 1st time in his carreer. Franzen is a biggish guy - he oughta be able to handle himself. Shanahan picked a fight with Brash last year, he ain't much bigger than Franzen - and Franzen is younger, in his prime....right? LOL

Tussels with Brashear, if you are lucky, are about as avenging as a bake sale (I figured you had watched him)... seriously, Brashear is such an awful example you are better off just saying "someone" cheap shots our player. I really have a hard time seeing Brashear on the ice against the Red Wings (and by the way, it was the Wings player cheapshotted by Brashear I saw going off the ice, not Downey). Anyways, the answer is - I don't really care what the Wings do, as long as they come out ahead because of it. Whether that is someone fights; delivers a huge hit; picks himself up and takes his game to another level; or if someone scores on a power play, I'll feel a bit redeemed. I guess I don't feel on-ice violence and cheap shots need to be answered in kind, for justice to be served. I believe a payback can come in many forms, especially when the ultimate prize of the playoffs is winning. Thus far, the Wings have done a good job of doing that , in whatever form it might take.

Unlike you, I do not think there is only one acceptable "answer" to your question.

LOL - What powerplay? There wasn't a penalty on that hit. Just a player with a broken jaw. I hope if it happens to the Wings too, it's to a 4th liner like it was for New York...

Why do you keep laughing and using the words "hoping" and "wishing" in the same sentences as terrible things happening to the Wings players? Are you even trying to be subtle?

Edited April 28, 2009 by egroen

[Guest micah]

As for micah: to hone in on that one comment I made and that one alone -- that's trolling in my book. And not because he disagrees with me.

Okay. You said that we lost the series because of crooked refs and a injurred D. I agree with the injurred D so I didn't address it - the crooked refs bit was stupid, so I called you on it. That's trolling? Really?

[Guest micah]

Why do you keep laughing and using the words "hoping" and "wishing" in the same sentences as terrible things happening to the Wings players? Are you even trying to be subtle?

LOL. I like how you ignore the word "if". It's cute. You're cute. I like you.

[CUJO#31 0]

Doesn't matter anyway, Tyson will get his and we will get the cup...again, lol. This hit really worth 6 games?? The gorilla is an idiot. Enjoy NHL jail and get used to this position.

[CUJO#31 0]

I still believe fighting should remain in the game. But a goon like Brashear gives nothing positive to the argument of keeping it in the game.

Does anyone remember when Brashear went after Bogosian early in the season? Bogosian I think was just a 19 year old kid.

2 reasons you are correct.

1) That hit wasn't a fight. Blindside hits like that are just a joke, like him.

2) Brashear being suspended means nothing. If your contribution to the team is "guy who can get suspended for cheap shots" then it probably says something about your skill, or lack of. This guy is a pathetic wash-out.

The caps can BARELY contain the Rangers. They won't make it out of the next round. The gorilla had 40 more penalty minutes than anyone else on the team despite missing 19 games. Don't mistake his role on that squad as anything other than "large dumb person who is expendable" lol. Of course if they still have to beat the rangers again.