258 replies to this topic

[kipwinger]

I saw the video -and as annoyed as I was, I cant help but think theres a grain of truth. Don is now 78 years old and even more of a rambling incoherent mess then usual - but lets not kid ourselves, hes knows the game. He isnt a Red Wings hater - he has rooted for them in many a playoff series and supported on on CBC many times. I think he sees the lack of sandpaper that used to be filled with the likes of Mcarty, Kocur, Malty, Downey, etc. This is why id love to see Gaustad or Moen - so if were up 3 goals with a minute to play the Joe Thorntons of the world arent going to try and mug Hank/Pav/Nick. With another big body in the lineup should sh*t hit the fan I think we could throw 5 guys out there to handle business with the best of them.

Bertuzzi, Adbelkader, Gaustad, Ericsson, Commie ...

When was the last time that Hank, Pav, or Lidstrom missed a game because someone took a run at them, mugged them, or otherwise hurt them? I object to the idea that we should change our already good lineup around in order to protect against some hypothetical problem which never actually happens, even when we don't have an enforcer. Especially when we've got real problems, like the inability of our second line to produce/play defense when facing tougher matchups on the road. Fix that problem via trade, not this mythical "protect the stars from muggings" b.s. which I'm fairly sure is just used as an excuse to bring in a fighter because some people have a preference for that type of hockey.

Edited by kipwinger, 21 February 2012 - 12:20 PM.

[_Kabrok_]

Who, exactly, was our enforcer in 08? McCarty was little more than a nostalgic guest cameo, and even if he wasn't I don't think anybody playing against the Wings were exactly quaking in their skates at the prospect of getting into a fight with him.

I don't really get the point of an enforcer in the first place, honestly. Why would fighting make someone think twice about cheap-shotting one of our top-six guys but not getting decked against the boards by Kronwall? Either way you make the guy hurt and someone like Kron is a lot more useful in other areas of the game.

Edited by _Kabrok_, 21 February 2012 - 12:23 PM.

[pucktividi]

The former NHL coach who has lost both SC Finals keeps on bashing the GM with 4 Cups...enough said

[dragonballgtz]

Let's get this over with and yadda yadda yadda.

Grapes has never won a SC while Holland and Babs have. I would rather follow their success way before Cherry's on this one. Every once in awhile Grapes makes good to great points but not this one.

[Nev]

Atlantic Division:

Halifax
Fredericton
Charlottetown
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland

I confess, I lol'd hard at that

As for the rest of your post, couldn't agree more.

[_Kabrok_]

Now, I don't like seeing NHL teams fail on Long Island either, but he acts as if Canada invented and trademarked hockey, and nobody else can even think about liking it, or its copyright infringement.

He does act rather self-entitled about it but Canada DID invent hockey...

[Konnan511]

I agree with the whole sentiment that Detroit doesnt need a goon and could use another guy who can play a bit and be tough but are you forgetting the team Cherry is in love with? The bruins, to say he wouldnt allow American teams isnt true at all.

I dont think the wings are softer then a few teams out there, but they are definitely soft and could use another Abdelkader in the lineup.

PS isnt it nice to see Abdelkader manning up now and actually scrapping? 5 fights now, probably end up with 6 or 7 before the year is done and hes getting a lot better at it too

To be fair, besides the two best players on that team, they are just about all Canadians.

He does act rather self-entitled about it but Canada DID invent hockey...

Ice Hockey was originated in Canada, but not by Canadians. It was by British troops stationed in Canada who played a variation of their field hockey.

[SidAbelsSon]

I miss Vladdie...

[newfy]

To be fair, besides the two best players on that team, they are just about all Canadians.


Ice Hockey was originated in Canada, but not by Canadians. It was by British troops stationed in Canada who played a variation of their field hockey.

Yeah but Cherry has never hated America or Americans. Everyone rips on him here but noone has ever memtioned how he did a piece on Abdelkader a couple weeks ago blocking a shot, being hurt and than trying to block another one. He gives Americans plenty of credit all the time. People just dont notice that because after doing that, he'll call the wings soft. Which to be honest they are a pretty soft team, one huge hitter in Kronwall, a couple solid ones with Stuart and Abdelkader, Helm is good for a big one but not consistently at all and ABdelkader seems like the only somewhat willing fighter that plays.

I dont know why people care so much that Cherry points it out. The wings are still a very elite team, but they are fairly soft compared to most teams and definitely are in the bottom 6 or so

[Detroit # 1 Fan]

I used to love Grapes. But he's an old windbag who keeps taking shots at Detroit for no reason. Babcock and Holland have there way, oh ya, the way that WINS. For him to call out Babs, a guy who's won a cup, a gold medal for our country that Don is so proud of, a world championship for that country and a world junior medal makes me sick. Shut your damn mouth Don, that win at the 2010 games is reason enough that Babs is a true Canadian coach and for Don to s*** talk all Detroit does and all the class they build in there organization is a joke. We had a grittier team in 2008, and Don didn't acknowledge that. He never talked about Downey like he talks about Orr, he never mentioned Drake as a catalyst like he did with Markf****** Recchi last year for the Bruins. He's a fool, as a Canadian, and a damn proud one at that, to hear Don spout off about one of the best Canadian coaches and GMs in the past 10s really pisses me off.

[_Kabrok_]

Ice Hockey was originated in Canada, but not by Canadians. It was by British troops stationed in Canada who played a variation of their field hockey.

By that argument American colonial history is actually British history.

[Barrie]

The problem with Cherry is that people still watch him. More and more people are turning on him and his 1970's views, but they continue to give him high ratings.

Honestly, I haven't watched Don in about 10 years.

[Red Wings Addict]

The problem with Cherry is that people still watch him. More and more people are turning on him and his 1970's views, but they continue to give him high ratings.

Honestly, I haven't watched Don in about 10 years.

He's good for a laugh I guess. Like any reality TV show or something.

[Phil Lesh]

Too bad, indeed. I have tried reasonable discourse, multiple times on this board. All it gets me is hyperbole thrown back, strawmen, and outright personal attacks. So, I fall back on humor.

For #1 Fan, I'll tell you one thing: if Boston ends up not making Shawn Thornton an offer for next year, I REALLY hope the Wings are waiting outside his apartment to get a deal done. He would be perfect for the Winged Wheel. Holland may even go for it because if I recall correctly, Thornton turns 35 this year and we could call it "veteran leadership".

This your first day on the internet?

[newfy]

I used to love Grapes. But he's an old windbag who keeps taking shots at Detroit for no reason. Babcock and Holland have there way, oh ya, the way that WINS. For him to call out Babs, a guy who's won a cup, a gold medal for our country that Don is so proud of, a world championship for that country and a world junior medal makes me sick. Shut your damn mouth Don, that win at the 2010 games is reason enough that Babs is a true Canadian coach and for Don to s*** talk all Detroit does and all the class they build in there organization is a joke. We had a grittier team in 2008, and Don didn't acknowledge that. He never talked about Downey like he talks about Orr, he never mentioned Drake as a catalyst like he did with Markf****** Recchi last year for the Bruins. He's a fool, as a Canadian, and a damn proud one at that, to hear Don spout off about one of the best Canadian coaches and GMs in the past 10s really pisses me off.

Actually he did give that 2008 team credit just this season lol

I get the Cherry hate for the s*** he says, but at least know the facts

[Detroit # 1 Fan]

Actually he did give that 2008 team credit just this season lol

I get the Cherry hate for the s*** he says, but at least know the facts

Of course the only few times I tune in he rips Detroit, and the one time he gives them credit I miss it. Figures, he can still suck it

[newfy]

Of course the only few times I tune in he rips Detroit, and the one time he gives them credit I miss it. Figures, he can still suck it

Yeah I think when he really rips on the wings people catch wind of it but when he compliments them people forget, you tend to remember the negative and forget positive stuff.

That Abdelkader bit was definitely telling everyone how much guts he had for blocking those shots, and last time he ripped the wings for not being tough enough he was talking about how in 08 they could handle the rough stuff with Downey Mac and Drake regular season and Mac and Drake in the playoffs. He really just said what a lot of people here including myself say at that time

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros]

Yeah I think when he really rips on the wings people catch wind of it but when he compliments them people forget, you tend to remember the negative and forget positive stuff.

That Abdelkader bit was definitely telling everyone how much guts he had for blocking those shots, and last time he ripped the wings for not being tough enough he was talking about how in 08 they could handle the rough stuff with Downey Mac and Drake regular season and Mac and Drake in the playoffs. He really just said what a lot of people here including myself say at that time

No doubt Cherry makes good points, I just think he takes it a little too far at times. I agree with him in that we need to play grittier to succeed in the playoffs, but the amount of fighting majors a team has does not guarantee anyone the Cup.

Cherry takes about Vancouver being "Tough", listing Lapierre and Weise, and Volpatti, who has been hurt all year. They're a bunch of spot-pickers. The only gritty player on Vancouver I respect is Byron Bitz. We've handled them pretty well in the fighting department this year. Abdelkader has smoked Yapierre twice, and Bertuzzi handled Ballard pretty easily.

Edited by Bring Back The Bruise Bros, 22 February 2012 - 02:16 AM.

[F.Michael]

When was the last time that Hank, Pav, or Lidstrom missed a game because someone took a run at them, mugged them, or otherwise hurt them? I object to the idea that we should change our already good lineup around in order to protect against some hypothetical problem which never actually happens, even when we don't have an enforcer. Especially when we've got real problems, like the inability of our second line to produce/play defense when facing tougher matchups on the road. Fix that problem via trade, not this mythical "protect the stars from muggings" b.s. which I'm fairly sure is just used as an excuse to bring in a fighter because some people have a preference for that type of hockey.

It's not so much changing the line-up as it is making an addition, or two...Guys like Moen/Gaustad are respectable 3rd/4th line guys who can play a decent defensive game in our own end of the ice while adding a physical presence to our forward lines.

I agree with jroc86 concerning the last few minutes of any game in which the Red Wings may have a significant lead; some teams like the Sharks/Ducks may go ahead, and "send a message" by attempting to rough up some of our guys...Personally I'd rather have someone like Moen/Gaustad out there so in case if something happens.

[Holmstrom96]

What's a "Detroy-it"?