WingNut722

@yave1964 Welcome to HockeyForums, yave. What I actually remember most is the 2008 playoffs where Osgood butt-ended Ribeiro, who then slashed his across the chest with his stick. I was at that game, everybody started throwing bottles, cups, and garbage on the ice. Real good game last night. Stars came out strong despite being down a couple key players. Detroit really had to earn it. Conklin impressed me with some pretty hefty goaltending. He seems to be getting back on track, but I think he's got a long way to go before he's out of the doghouse. But that has to be the UGLIEST goal by Hudler in the second.

The Detroit Red Wings broke their previous franchise record of consecutive home games last night with a 5-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Thie victory was their 15th straight and longest since 1965. Now if only the could turn that kind of consitency to their road record....

I really felt bad for Miller last night. Despite the media hype about Brother vs. Brother, they don't get a chance to see each other very often, and the one night they do spend on the ice together, you get that result. Lot of defensive breakdowns for the Sabres that game. Miller shouldn't have to face a lot of the shots that he did.

No wonder Canada abandoned him with the Blueshirts. "Send him down south, he'll fit right in, there!" How come the Blackhawks don't pick him up. He and Carcillo could be roommates on the road, and tear the place up like a Van Halen concert. (Nevermind his knee surgery, of course)

I think you're understating Harding's value to the club. He's a hugely capable goaltender and they should keep him if only to get huge value from a cheap contract. A decent backup goaltender will run at least $1MM a year.

Detroit did what I feared they would do. Got a comfortable lead at the end of the first, then sat back and passively tried to sail it home. It happens all the time, and they never learn. The Hawks almost burned 'em for it, too, and got a point for ther perseverence

Certianly not, Doom. Not if Bettman has anything to say about it!!

@Bertmega ....and a large pizza

www.freep.com/article/20120112/COL22/120112046/Michael-Rosenberg-How-about-Winter-Classic-Ann-Arbor-Detroit- This column appeared in the Detroit Free Press yesterday by one of their sports/opinion coumnists. Now Michael Rosenberg is pretty much one of the biggest idiots they have on staff there. However, he does raise a few interesting points. Hosting the Winter Classic in Detroit does present a number of options which the NHL can "experiment" with. In my opinion, The SPIRIT of the Winter Classic belongs at Comerica Park. However, the REVENUE of the Winter Classic makes it hard to pass up Ann Arbor. Here’s the kicker… There are many thousands of fans who would pay the money to see a Winter Classic. So much so, that they need a lottery to keep it fair. Now is that number 110,000? If not, then the prices have to drop in order to fill the place, which brings the ratio back to Comerica Park. An attendance record is meaningless if you don’t get the revenue to back it up. And they would be truly embarrased if Michigan Stadium wasn't filled to capacity for this. I don't think I'd want to split up the Winter Classic festivities between two cities that are an hour apart (without traffic). That also means there would have to be two ice rinks built, decorated, and sustained during that period. Obviously the NHL would only be responsible for one, but that said, if one rink is of less quality than the other one, why would anyone bother to play on it? I say forget the U of M stadium and the attendance record. Put the Winter Classic in Comerica Park in a very vibrant part of a legendary city which is doing its best to bring itself back from the hell it's been put through. I've spent a lot of time in Ann Arbor. There's nothing there. Particularly around the stadium Matter of fact, directly across the street from the stadium is.....a high school and a golf course..... Comerica Park is surrounded by bars, restaraunts, clubs, theaters...much more enticing to the fan looking for a Hockey Weekend in Hockeytown. If the NHL still has faith in what it touts as the class and tradition of the world's greatest game, then don't put it in Ann Arbor just to sell more tickets.... Just sayin'

That was the way before this mock draft. Now it's bit screwed up. I don't know how you would determine it with the draft. The draft is still new, and rather interesting, so I'm sure we'll be dealing with it for a few more years.

Adds a bit of creedance to the other rumors swirling around that Iginla will be traded away.

I know a lot's been said about the ALl Star game, but I still like it. The new draft style is interesting and the Super Skills is alwasy fun. While the game itself isn't as intense, I think a lot of the players still enjoy it. @OzFlyer I did hear that Lidstrom asked the NHL to leave him out and that's he drather be home with his family. Didn't hear that about Selanne, though. @Digityman Do you think you'd get a better experience if it was at the end of the season; Pro-Bowl style?

All Star Ballot is out. Nick Lidstrom didn't make it, but Jimmy Howard did. How do you feel about that?

When (If) he does come back the second time, do you think Consol Energy will follow him around with that spotlight during warmups like they did last time?

@hf101 I see that a lot, not just with the Islanders. But it appears the Islanders get it every year.

Great to discover your rumors here, DL. I had the same problem with HockeyBuzz as you did. Lot of haters there. I'll keep an eye for your posts!

I hope Getlaf does not end up in Detroit... No, thank you!

Might look even better without the mask altogether! Old Time Hockey, anyone? :-)

Follow-Up: Please keep in mind, gentle reader, that this article is not meant to "bash" the Islanders. I'm actually "bashing" the Detroit Red Wings. I do not wish to insinuate that, had they played their best, Detroit would have won. I'm simply saying, apologetically, that it appears that Detroit does not hold the Islanders in as high regard as they do other clubs, which is shameful. Thank you.

Dear New York Islanders Players, Organization and Fans- First, I want to congratulate you on your victory against the Detroit Red Wings last night. A 5-1 score is very respectable against any team in today’s NHL. Also, it’s a great feeling to garner a solid victory at home after a disappointing road trip. Your goaltender seems to have shaken the cobwebs away. You had a great night and it showed in the result. However, while the victory is sweet and you should toast your successes, I’d like to apologize on behalf of the Detroit Red Wings for not offering you to respect and challenge that you deserve. Last night’s Red Wings team was NOT the team you have seen in the highlight reels and in the top three of the Western Conference. Though you have enjoyed a lengthy winning streak over the Winged Wheel, your recent position near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings has caused the loss of your recognition as a competitive hockey club by the Red Wings. The Red Wings see this as a “throw-away game.” We tend to give you our back-up goalie. We tend to favor the less experienced forwards and defense to give them ice time. We call a hangnail or dry elbow skin an “upper body injury” which allows us to rest a few of our key players. Did we realize that we were tied three ways for first in our Division, with the other two contenders playing that same night? Did we also realize they were both heavily favored to win their own games? No we didn't. Let them get ahead, we'll catch up. At the end of the second period, when you were ahead 3-0, did the Red Wings make a goaltender change to try to spark the rest of the team? No they didn’t. They left Ty Conklin in net, so they could rest Jimmy Howard a bit more. Wouldn’t want to scuff up his freshly-buffed goalie pads, now would we? When the offensive strategies we were using were turning up fruitless time and time again, did we revisit our approach? No we didn’t. Wouldn’t want to change anything now, because we’ll need those ideas the next time we play a “real” team. When you scored first, and then second, did our defense step up their efforts to keep it from getting worse? No, we didn’t. We don’t want to hit you too hard. You’re just kids and you have your whole careers ahead of you. We wouldn’t want to jeopardize that. Understandably, a game against the Islanders may not carry as much weight as a game against a Divisional opponent, so I can agree that this is the time to scrape the rust off your less-used players. However, this shouldn’t happen year after year. At some point, you should see the Varsity Team that Chicago or San Jose would see. Detroit is used to hearing that they are the measuring stick by which other teams compare themselves. I only hope one day, you’ll get that chance as well. You have a young, vibrant team with a LOT of talent and I enjoy watching you play. Your speed and skill are unlike that of any team in the NHL, and I’m sorry that the Red Wings are the only team who refuse to give you the challenge you deserve. But take heart, Islanders! You are building a new team brick by brick, and while it will probably take a while, you’ll get out of the cellar someday and up in the playoffs where you belong! And as long as the Detroit Red Wings refuse to honor you by giving you Team B to play against, I hope you win ‘em all! Sincerely, WingNut722

@doom88 Thanks for clarifying!

Richards has a great opportunity. The team is dead last, which means there's no where to go but up. The season my be over, as playoffs are a very tall order at this time, but if he can turn the club around with a "respectable" finish, no one will speak ill of them. They'll get a fresh start next year. Convince Rick Nash to hang on for another year or so, and watch what happens!

I don't know about the culprit being Hudler's stick. It doesn't look like he hit him that hard, unless he just aggravated something already there.

I don't agree with combining the Winter Classic and All-Star Game. I know the All Star game is losing ground, but with the WInter Classic being a regular season game, they players play hard, tough hockey. Watching the All-Star game outside would be like watching the Winter Classic alumni game, and that's NOT what rabid outdoor hockey fans have in mind. The novelty of a New Year's game is cool but yes it does conflict with a lot of other stuff. I agree with moving it to February, plus you'll get a lot more "dependable" weather in the northern climes. Having the fans pick the game would result in a lot of WSH/PIT or NYR/PHI matchups, don't you agree? Makes it hard for less followed teams like Florida, Anaheim, or Isles to get their shot.

Say it ain't so, Irishjim! Of course, now that you mentioned it, that's exactly what WILL happen!