Well, we have half a pro team and half a minor league team. Any thoughts on the season thus far gents? I've only been able to see a handful of games.

HOLY SHIT! ZEKYL'S BACK!!!!!!

"we"?

Are the Cleveland Lumberjacks still around?

I actually have friends from Cleveland visiting this weekend. Would you like me to ask them?

No doubt the interest has faded... used to be die hard... now I find myself watching a movie or another NBA game.
It's not like Hockey is a boring sport... Baseball is twice as boring and I'll watch a couple games a week.
Hard to figure... just don't care anymore... until playoff time.

Can one still be a true Red Wings fan even if they only watch when the playoffs come?

I watch whenever I can, but not having cable makes it hard.
Plus, the Lumberjacks are never on TV, amiright?

Well, I hear they're starting to get it going. Might as well start watching, because I refuse to watch another Pistons game this season.

HEY HEY HOCKEYTOWn

HEY HEY HOCKEYTOWn
*guitar riff*

I'm going to see the Griffins next week. Any news on possible rehab assignments for the big dogs?

I was talking with my Dad about how Howard was stepping up after people were writing him off, saying he wasn't going to do anything in the NHL, then he gets pulled in the 2nd during a 6-0 loss. Ugh.

didn't see it but the recap said the D hung him out to dry. I've seen about 10 games of his this year and most of his goals allowed were the D's fault and not his.

Howard's number are great this year. Main reason team injury is still in it.

Any way Holland can explain the concept of drafting and development to the Lions/Pistons?

I can't wait until the Wings are healthy and just buttfuck all these teams that have been taking advantage of them this year. I hope to God they get the 8th seed and piss on Chicago in the first round.

HORSESHIT LOSS TODAY. That was seriously one of the worst calls I have ever seen.

I hope Holland is flying to Toronto as I type this to rape all of the executives in the NHL headquarters. Fuckers.

HORSESHIT LOSS TODAY. That was seriously one of the worst calls I have ever seen.

I hope Holland is flying to Toronto as I type this to rape all of the executives in the NHL headquarters. Fuckers.
I was listening on the radio. That's pretty much what it sounded like. They were 100% certain that the call was no goal, then it just kept getting reviewed and reviewed and eventually somehow it became a goal.

Saw the Griffins tonight. They just aren't very good. It's tough to say whether any of the guys would play better in an environment like the Wings have with the coaching and system, but there wasn't anybody I was thinking should be called up.

On the bright side, I don't think I recognized any of the names, so they aren't guys who have been getting called up. Plus with all the injuries the Wings have had this season, I didn't expect any of the guys that bounce between the teams to be in the AHL right now. According to their site, Abdelkader is with them right now but he did not play.

We look pathetic.

We look pathetic.

For about 50 minutes of the game, yes. There were some spurts where they played like we all expect. Howard is the only reason that game went to OT though.

We are giving up way too many shots on a regular basis.

Plus not getting enough shots. At one point they said the Pens were up 23/9 on shots. I think that was towards the end of the 2nd, and you're not going to win many games putting up 1 shot every 4 minutes.

I remember it being 15 to 3 at one point. Remember when we were the ones outshooting the opponent by double? Our offense is dump, scrap in the corner, get back on D. I felt like I was watching us play in our own zone for 70% of the game.

Red Wings = Spurs?

Just asking, I don't follow.

The wings aren't aging really. Ozzie (not essential), Nick (will be hard to replace), Draper (young guys provide about everything but faceoff prowless), Maltby (already worse than young guys) are the only guys nearing the end. I suppose Rafalski isn't too far away.

I would say no. If Nick leaves they'll have lots of money to find a stud D anyway. The key really is the bad plays made by Ericsson, Lebda, Lilja (if he plays again). Those guys need to get their shit together and play tighter.

I think we've still got a few years of Lidstrom ahead of us. He's getting old, but he's still one of the top defensemen in the league.
Ozzie looks pretty poor this season. Part of that could be a lack of playing time to get in a rhythm. Howard has become the present and future of the position in Detroit, though. Finding a solid backup G won't be hard, especially if the defense can pull it together and get the number of shots down (by defense, I mean the team as a whole, not just the defensemen).
Helm is quickly turning into a young version of what Draper has provided over the last few years, although I think we still have a few more years of Draper as well.
Maltby's on his way out. Once his contract is up, I don't see us bringing him back. I'll hate to see him in another uniform, but he'll be somewhere else next season.
I'm going to move an actual roster breakdown to another thread.

Nick is a FA. He flirted going back to Sweden a few years ago. So, while I think he has a few hockey years left, he may not want to stay in the US any longer. I know they decided they'd continue to raise their kids here at that time. Not sure how old they are now.

Nick is a FA. He flirted going back to Sweden a few years ago. So, while I think he has a few hockey years left, he may not want to stay in the US any longer. I know they decided they'd continue to raise their kids here at that time. Not sure how old they are now.
I completely forgot about that. Could be an interesting sub-plot this offseason. I still think he sticks around though.

I completely forgot about that. Could be an interesting sub-plot this offseason. I still think he sticks around though.

I agree. I think it's pretty tough to leave a situation where you're one of the most beloved players on one of the most storied franchises in league history. There aren't a whole lot of all-time Wings you can put above the guy, and he knows it.

Lidstrom has been saying he's going back to Sweden for over a decade it seems.

I swear I remember them saying this last time that now that they would keep the kids in American Schools straight through...that's why it was such a big decision last time, they didn't want to go half and half.

I agree. I think it's pretty tough to leave a situation where you're one of the most beloved players on one of the most storied franchises in league history. There aren't a whole lot of all-time Wings you can put above the guy, and he knows it.

There is only one. Gordie Howe.

EDIT: I'm talking about greatness. Love Yzerman and we've had some all-time greats. But Howe is the only Wing, like Lidstrom, that can enter greatest ever debates.

I can't wait until the Wings are healthy and just buttfuck all these teams that have been taking advantage of them this year. I hope to God they get the 8th seed and piss on Chicago in the first round.

I would sacrifice live animals for this to happen. I dream of this scenario every day. I hope we get healthy and then have to play playoff-caliber hockey for the last month just to get into the playoffs (instead of cruising the last few weeks as we've always been able to do). We get a low seed and have the entire Western Conference shitting their collective pants at the thought of having to play us.

I'd put Stevie ahead of Nick still. The guy did lead us to 3 cups. The heart he showed through injuries makes him legendary in Hockeytown too. But Nick would be right up there.

I guess it's the difference between all-time Wing and Wings who were all-time players. If we're discussing all-time great as a player it's not even close. And that's not dissing Yzerman. In fact it just puts a better light on how great Lidstrom has been.

I'd also argue that we don't win any of those cups at all without Lidstrom. Even Yzerman called him the best player on the team.

I agree with Chris when he says it's the D sucking. I'd say it's a team D in general, not just the blue line. You can see it when we get periods with big SOG differences. We don't pressure in the neutral zone as much and get turnovers and breakaways (fewer shots on goal). We stand around in our own zone and just set up in this box sometimes and never pressure the puck. The Crosby goal in the Penguin game we had all 5 players looking at the puck. In fact there were several moments in that game (and NBC had a field day pointing it out on replays the bastards) where they showed how a Penguin player could slide by Wings players just looking at the puck.

I guess it's the difference between all-time Wing and Wings who were all-time players. If we're discussing all-time great as a player it's not even close. And that's not dissing Yzerman. In fact it just puts a better light on how great Lidstrom has been.

I'd also argue that we don't win any of those cups at all without Lidstrom. Even Yzerman called him the best player on the team.

Yeah, Nick is bigger from an all time NHL perspective. Perhaps the best D ever (probably still behind Orr at this point though).

Stevie wouldn't be considered in the top 3 forward/centerman conversation though. He's just bigger from an all time Red Wing perspective.

The first anything I've watched of the Wings this year was the 2nd period today. 4 goals.

Is that a big enough sample size to say WE'RE AWESOME!

And they almost blew it...

Good win, nonetheless.

I'm excited to be going to see MY Wings next Saturday vs. that a-hole Ryan Miller.

That period was amazing. Especially after the comments at intermission by the analysts saying Detroit wasn't in their league anymore. They have a nice stretch coming up so hopefully they can pile up some points.

Some team is going to be miffed that they run into the Wings in the first round. Maybe we can finally be that lower seed Anaheim/Edmonton-type that topped us then went on to the cup 3-4 years ago.

Yeah, but I'd rather avoid Chicago and SJ in the first round. I'd like to see the Avs again, which is why I am rooting for them to pass Vancouver.

Yeah, but I'd rather avoid Chicago and SJ in the first round. I'd like to see the Avs again, which is why I am rooting for them to pass Vancouver.

I think the Wings can handle SJ (3-0-1) vs them this yr. Nabokov, Thornton, Marleau and Heatley have well documented track records of choking in the playoffs.

SJ to me is the travel mostly. I hate playing CA teams because there is so much travel involved. Same reason I don't want Vancouver either. Plus Luongo can steal games. I think Nabokov can too (he had 2 bad games and 2 great games against us).

At this point I might root for Chicago. Close for travel, their goalie situation is sketchy at best (watched the game Sunday and neither looked solid). We're 2-1-1 against them anyway. Chicago is 25th in save % as a team.

True, i forgot about Chicago's goalie issue. Cristobal Huet is far from a sure thing and it seems like they don't trust Niemi as much as they should (probably because they're so heavily financially invested in Huet).

Last night was a good game too. Hank seemed to wake up finally.

I was pleased to see that the Sabres are planning on resting Ryan Miller tonight vs. the Wild, since I'm going to the game tomorrow and want to see him play.

RotoWorld suggests that Jimmy Howard is the odds on favorite to win the Calder (ROY).

As well he should be. He's been one of the top goalies in the league. To do that as a rookie is very impressive.

14 games left and he's at 26 wins. Realistically he could have 35 wins. Esposito, Sawchuck and Dryden all won 38+ in their rookie years (and are all in the HOF I am sure). I can't remember any rookie Goalie being close to that recently.

Lundqvist was a Vezina finalist in his rookie year with 30 wins.

Goalies to win it recently:
Mason 33 wins
Raycroft 29 wins
Nabokov 32 wins
Broduer 23 wins
Belfour 43 wins!

Belfour played 74 of 82 games his rookie year. That's insane.

Howard is at 26-15 right now. If the Wings pick it up during the playoff push to finish out the season and Howard keeps his averages, he could end up at:
35-17 .. 2.35 GAA .. .924 SV%

ESPN has his projected record at 31-18 for the season.

I don't know how much they'll look at how poorly our defense has played this season. He's only got 1 shutout, which is going to hurt him a bit. He's in the top 10 in Wins, GAA, SV%, and shootout shots against and saves (we seem to have a lot of those).

I don't think he'll win it unless we have an oustanding finish to the season, but I think he'll get a lot of consideration.

I don't think he'll win it unless we have an oustanding finish to the season, but I think he'll get a lot of consideration.
Who's his real competition though? Matt Duchene has 47 points and 23 goals which is great but nothing spectacular. Tyler Myers has 36 points as a defenseman. Howard has 27 wins after tonight, gotta think he's close to a lock if he gets to 32.

Good point. I guess it's a bit of a toss up at this point. I thought Myers had a bit more impressive numbers. I think he's top 20 in goals, assists, points and minutes for defensemen, which isn't bad, but not as good as I thought.
But Howard isn't even top GAA or SV% for a rookie with 30+ games played. Rask (Boston) has a 2.09 GAA and .928 SV%.
Not saying Rask is a better goalie by any means, and the numbers definitely aren't everything, but people take those things into account when they're voting.

BTW, Colorado, Buffalo and Detroit are only separated by 4 points total, so team performance should not be an issue.

I think Myers has the slight edge, but a strong finish by Detroit could give it to Howard. You have to factor injuries into his record for sure. He could easily have another half dozen wins with a healthy team around him all year.

Howard is looking like the suck.

We must be getting close to the playoffs. I hope he gets better. Does he have a long-term contract?