WizardOfOz30 1,886 Report post Posted June 8, 2010 I miss him too, he was a great player. I remember how angry I was when I found out about that stupid limo driver, still am because he's probably out there doing whatever he wants and Vladdy is not the person he was back then. I get emotional every time they show him at a game, it's so good to see how well he is doing. 1 miller76 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted June 8, 2010 Seeing Stevie hand Vlady the cup while he's in the wheel chair still gives me chills. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nhurdi 42 Report post Posted June 8, 2010 My avatar since I joined the site pretty much says it all. His hip checks were awesome and he was a beast. Always been one of my favorite D men and I even named my truck after him. Great clip, thanks for the awesome thread. Cheers Vladdy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king_malice 17 Report post Posted June 8, 2010 I hope to GOD that god damn tree was cut down !!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z Winged Dangler 2,082 Report post Posted June 8, 2010 Won't ever forget this day... I was12 years old and thinking that they all died, including Stevie Y. The details were so sketchy when it first happened. We were just heart broken to see Vladinator reduced to this, but winning the following year was probably my favorite Cup just because of Vladi getting to hoist right after Stevie. We love you Vladi and Sergei M. Forever Red Wings. yeah, i remember that day too and i was the same age i think. that was the worst s*** ever. imagine this...: lidstrom - konstatinov fischer - chelios kronwall - stuart that's nuts! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted June 8, 2010 I want a new Vladdy... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IceMunkee 15 Report post Posted June 8, 2010 I have goosebumps. What a horrid accident. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yzermania19 1 Report post Posted June 8, 2010 I hope to GOD that god damn tree was cut down !!!! It wasn't cut down, but it's gone - a couple of years after the accident it was struck by lightning and what was left of it was removed. I used to drive through that intersection every day on my way to and from work and I remember the eerie feeling I'd get seeing that tree. I was never so glad to see a tree hit by lightning! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted June 8, 2010 Just wish we could've seen Vladdy smash poor Cindy at center ice. Oh man... It would have been ugly. At the height of Eric Lindros' career... he was afraid of Vladdy. I remember interviews with Lindros where he would describe Vladdy as a "red blur in the neutral zone". The guy had enough skill to be a seamless cog in the Russian 5 and was a freak of nature throwback. He was one of a kind and his likes may never again be seen in the NHL. 2 Vladifan and acidroach420 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftWinger 4,963 Report post Posted June 9, 2010 Pound for Pound there is, was and will never be another Vladdy. Period. Kronwall hits like a girl compared to Vladdy. And that's a compliment to Kronwall, I am sure he'd accept it. I would hate to see the "NEW" NHL officiating pick him apart, because you know they would! 3 wingsgirl001, miller76 and Vladifan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted June 9, 2010 (edited) Pound for Pound there is, was and will never be another Vladdy. Period. Kronwall hits like a girl compared to Vladdy. And that's a compliment to Kronwall, I am sure he'd accept it. I would hate to see the "NEW" NHL officiating pick him apart, because you know they would! This. He would get reputation calls like Holmstrom. Guaranteed. Edited June 9, 2010 by Broken 16 2 wingsgirl001 and miller76 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted June 9, 2010 This. He would get reputation calls like Holmstrom. Guaranteed. absolutely guaranteed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted June 9, 2010 absolutely guaranteed. Vladdy, Fischer, and Grigs all never having their accidents? Would be nice. Just an FYI to those making "what would our defense look like" combinations... Krupp, Hatcher, and Chelios would never have been acquired. Likely not Stuart either. Rafalski replaced Murphy, who replaced Fetisov. So our defense might be... Lidstrom/Rafalski Konstantinov/Fischer Kronwall/??? That 6th spot might be Anders Eriksson, it might be Jonathan Ericsson, it might be Kyle Quincey or Derek Meech. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted June 9, 2010 (edited) Pound for Pound there is, was and will never be another Vladdy. Period. Kronwall hits like a girl compared to Vladdy. And that's a compliment to Kronwall, I am sure he'd accept it. I would hate to see the "NEW" NHL officiating pick him apart, because you know they would! In general Vladdy's hits were cleaner and more devastating than Kronwall's. He was seriously old school. Skates on the ice, no jumping up into hits. And perfect hip checks. But I'm sure they'd find a reason to penalize somehow. Edited June 9, 2010 by haroldsnepsts 1 Vladifan reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vladifan 680 Report post Posted June 9, 2010 (edited) Loss of words then. Loss of words today. THIS ^ and more tears. I believe he may be even more of a warrior now, with what he's had to do to come back to where he is. God love him and I'm sure She does. EDIT: OK, so I lied about a loss of words. Edited June 9, 2010 by Vladifan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HankthaTank 1,100 Report post Posted June 9, 2010 Like poetry... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deetroit dario 27 Report post Posted June 9, 2010 this thread brings back so many wonderful memories. and only reinforces my sig... "RAISE #16 TO THE RAFTERS!!!!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cmonster 11 Report post Posted June 10, 2010 I hate to say this but I loved the physicality of the clutch and grab era. Today's players aren't warriors, they are wimps in comparison. I enjoyed the devastating hits of Vladdy and Scott Stevens. I enjoyed the fury of fists from Kocur and Probert. I miss that kind of hockey. Vladdy was a throwback. He was a player who could have not only survived but thrived in Gordie's heyday. 1 Broken 16 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jollymania 162 Report post Posted June 10, 2010 In general Vladdy's hits were cleaner and more devastating than Kronwall's. He was seriously old school. Skates on the ice, no jumping up into hits. And perfect hip checks. But I'm sure they'd find a reason to penalize somehow. He didn't need to jump up into hits, Kronwall makes due with what he has, Vladdy was a big man, he definitely could throw the hip better than any other big-man Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted June 10, 2010 I hate to say this but I loved the physicality of the clutch and grab era. Today's players aren't warriors, they are wimps in comparison. I enjoyed the devastating hits of Vladdy and Scott Stevens. I enjoyed the fury of fists from Kocur and Probert. I miss that kind of hockey. Vladdy was a throwback. He was a player who could have not only survived but thrived in Gordie's heyday. I definitely miss the Probert and Kocur days, but to be clear, that definitely wasn't the clutch and grab era. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Original-Six 254 Report post Posted June 10, 2010 1 HankthaTank reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HankthaTank 1,100 Report post Posted June 10, 2010 Amazing find Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ogreslayer 1,069 Report post Posted June 10, 2010 He didn't need to jump up into hits, Kronwall makes due with what he has, Vladdy was a big man, he definitely could throw the hip better than any other big-man Correct me if I'm wrong, but Vladdy was all of 5'11"/180 & Kronner is 6'0"/190. Wouldn't call either one a big man by any stretch of the imagination. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted June 11, 2010 Correct me if I'm wrong, but Vladdy was all of 5'11"/180 & Kronner is 6'0"/190. Wouldn't call either one a big man by any stretch of the imagination. Yep. He played a whole lot bigger than his size but he really wasn't all that big. If the Wings had a Vladdy today he would probably be the majority's favorite and would like win FSN Player of the game nearly every night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites