NHL Season 2011-2012

[kronovan]

Wings fan for 40 plus years. The West is tough...Canucks look good, although like everyone else I hate them. Hawks and Sharks just dont seem to have it. So that leaves 3 boring teams .. the Blues, Coyotes and Predators. Call me crazy, but something tells me Nashville will win the west.

Wings here too but yeah they need to change something. When Lidstrom retires it seems like it will be the end of the team. They just seem to fall apart when he's not around to babysit.

I disagree... I think they have a great team, even without Lidstrom.  Obviously he's a HUGE piece (don't get me wrong, the guy is my favorite player), but he's not the only piece.  I didn't get to see the win in Columbus, but did they look bad? They won...

Those recent losses had several factors:

Oh, I don't know, the best two way forward in the entire league not playing.
Howard returning from an extended layoff... takes people a little bit of time to get back up to speed.
Going on the road after an extended home stand.
Hockey.

I'm not worried.  Especially if they land Weber when Lidstrom leaves.

I've admittedly only seen the Wings in a handful of games this year in addition to those they played against the Cancuks, but in those they've looked terrific. And with them you always have to consider their best asset; coach Babcock. I really got to form an opinion about him when I watched him coach Team Canada to gold, and IMO he's the best head coach in the NHL right now - certainly shoulders above Alain Vigneault IMO.

[kratz]

Yeah, the whole org good.  They have a good eye for talent where other people don't see it, commit to players and let them develop, and coach them well.  I like what they do, from there all the way to the ice... clean game, high skill... yup.  I'm feeling good about this post season.

[kratz]

First 32:00 of this game the wings have looked great w/o Lidstrom and Datsyuk.

EDIT: Starting to feel bad for the Wild.  Wings just put on a 5 on 5 clinic to a goal, then scored on a flukey fluttering bouncing puck from Ian White about a minute later.

[Devil]

I don't feel bad for the Caps.

[kratz]

Nobody feels bad for the caps.  I'll watch the condensed version of that tomorrow.  Looks like an ass kicking.

[Kagath]

First 32:00 of this game the wings have looked great w/o Lidstrom and Datsyuk.

EDIT: Starting to feel bad for the Wild.  Wings just put on a 5 on 5 clinic to a goal, then scored on a flukey fluttering bouncing puck from Ian White about a minute later.

In their defense the Wild aren't very offensive. Well, I suppose some people hate them, but the team doesn't usually score too many it seems. They didn't show much effort tonight though.

[kratz]

First 32:00 of this game the wings have looked great w/o Lidstrom and Datsyuk.

EDIT: Starting to feel bad for the Wild.  Wings just put on a 5 on 5 clinic to a goal, then scored on a flukey fluttering bouncing puck from Ian White about a minute later.

In their defense the Wild aren't very offensive. Well, I suppose some people hate them, but the team doesn't usually score too many it seems. They didn't show much effort tonight though.

The night before the Wild were playing great...

[kratz]

Zubrus' goal was pretty great, and really all the other ones the Devils scored were pretty sexy.

[hammer600]

Wilson gone in Toronto..Habs Leafs tonite. Could be good although both are non-playoff teams.

[ScubaV]

Cmon Sharks, you can't do us a favor and beat down those pesky Blues?

[leo8877]

Cmon Sharks, you can't do us a favor and beat down those pesky Blues?

Right now they can't beat anyone.

[Kagath]

Cmon Sharks, you can't do us a favor and beat down those pesky Blues?

Right now they can't beat anyone.

[Koz]

Bruins dominate the Rangers and still find a way to lose. So frustrating watching them the past 2.5 months.

[hammer600]

I wouldnt worry about the Bruins. Does any team in the East stand a chance against them in a seven game series? Short answer..nope. Flyers, Pens and Devils will be slaughtered if they play the bad B's.

That leaves the Rangers, but I just cant see them winning 4 out of 7.

I earlier posted that I have this ominous feeling that the Preds will come out of the West. So its Boston-Nashville in the final. Yikes

[hammer600]

Oh and on a sidenote, the Habs have apparently given up on the season. Sacre bleu...this is unacceptable

[pr0ner]

Oh and on a sidenote, the Habs have apparently given up on the season. Sacre bleu...this is unacceptable

Did you just now come to that realization?  I thought they had given up months ago.

[Koz]

EVERYONE RELAX!

Marty Turco is here to save the day.

[kratz]

Watched the condensed version of the Wings/Hawks game from Sunday... really looked like the Wings only lost on the scoreboard, which is a bummer. 

Then I see Howard is hurt.  Howard, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Ericsson, Bertuzzi & Kindl injured and out... Cleary, Zetterberg, Quincey all injured and skating.  Yeesh.  This is not good.

Hope this all clears up in time for the playoffs... and doesn't affect things enough to prevent  them getting home ice.

[Devil]

Kovy was a monster. Everywhere. All night.

Anyone remember Brad Richards? On the ice for 20 minutes and not sure he even touched the puck once.

[theohall]

Suck it, Detroit!  It's about time the wings dealt with losing their#1 goalie, best d-man, and best forward at the same time like divisional opponents have had to deal with over the past few years.

[Devil]

Actually wanted Detroit to win that one. Stupid Wings!

[theohall]

Actually wanted Detroit to win that one. Stupid Wings!

sorry for your Devils, but conference rivalries are more important.

[kratz]

Suck it, Detroit!  It's about time the wings dealt with losing their#1 goalie, best d-man, and best forward at the same time like divisional opponents have had to deal with over the past few years.

Yes, this is the first time in the past few years this has happened to the wings. 

[gellar]

Suck it, Detroit!  It's about time the wings dealt with losing their#1 goalie, best d-man, and best forward at the same time like divisional opponents have had to deal with over the past few years.

This is far less entertaining than your usual posts, FYI.

Kings beat Nashville tonight in a game I expected them to lose.  Yay!

[theohall]

Suck it, Detroit!  It's about time the wings dealt with losing their#1 goalie, best d-man, and best forward at the same time like divisional opponents have had to deal with over the past few years.

Yes, this is the first time in the past few years this has happened to the wings. 

When you lose Datsyuk for 40+ games in back to back seasons, or - a top 3 forward for 90+ games, your top goalie for 20 games and 2 of your top 3 d-men for 20+ games - your "rollie eyes" might actually mean something.  About time Detoilet has to SUCK IT during the playoff stretch.

Blues - #1 in the West. 

[kratz]

Clown shoes.

[leo8877]

At least with the Sharks missing the playoffs this season I won't have to stress about them choking again.

[kratz]

Dude, if the Sharks miss the playoffs I won't have to worry about them knocking out the wings in the second round. This is a GREAT idea!

[kronovan]

The Sedins have decided to stop scoring with 15 games left in the season - good Lord talk about sucktastic timing! 

[Kagath]

Dude, if the Sharks miss the playoffs I won't have to worry about them knocking out the wings in the second round. This is a GREAT idea!

My thinking exactly. 

[Koz]

Suck it, Detroit!  It's about time the wings dealt with losing their#1 goalie, best d-man, and best forward at the same time like divisional opponents have had to deal with over the past few years.

This is far less entertaining than your usual posts, FYI.

Seriously. More OUTRAGE, less whining please.

[theohall]

Yet another Red Wing player not suspended after putting a shoulder directly into a player's head.  The interesting part - the reason was Voracek should not have put himself in that position, but that did not apply when Cole was suspended 3 games for hitting a Red Wing player, Abdelkader, who put himself in a vulnerable position.  Heck, the doggone safety videos specifically mention players understanding they could seriously injury someone and taking some honus upon themselves before hitting someone in the head, specifically the way Kronwall lowered his shoulder and drove it directly through Voracek's head.  There are example videos from the pre-season specifically showing what Kronwall did as a suspendable offense.  So why the F wasn't Kronwall suspended????  OMG - Shanahan can't suspend a Red Wings player what with all their current injuries, regardless of the fact that hit could have caused serious injury to Voracek's head.  What happened to the league actually protecting players from head hits specifically like the one Kronwall dished out???  There was no need to drive directly through Voracek's head - which was the exact reason given when Cole was suspended for hitting a Abdelkader.  Nice double standard by the former Red Wing Shanahan.

And here will come - it wasn't an elbow, he just skated through, and Vorackek shouldn't have put himself in that position.  All three of those "reasons" apply to the Cole hit on Abdelkader, but Cole was still suspended.

[pr0ner]

Yet another Red Wing player not suspended after putting a shoulder directly into a player's head.  The interesting part - the reason was Voracek should not have put himself in that position, but that did not apply when Cole was suspended 3 games for hitting a Red Wing player, Abdelkader, who put himself in a vulnerable position.  Heck, the doggone safety videos specifically mention players understanding they could seriously injury someone and taking some honus upon themselves before hitting someone in the head, specifically the way Kronwall lowered his shoulder and drove it directly through Voracek's head.  There are example videos from the pre-season specifically showing what Kronwall did as a suspendable offense.  So why the F wasn't Kronwall suspended????  OMG - Shanahan can't suspend a Red Wings player what with all their current injuries, regardless of the fact that hit could have caused serious injury to Voracek's head.  What happened to the league actually protecting players from head hits specifically like the one Kronwall dished out???  There was no need to drive directly through Voracek's head - which was the exact reason given when Cole was suspended for hitting a Abdelkader.  Nice double standard by the former Red Wing Shanahan.

And here will come - it wasn't an elbow, he just skated through, and Vorackek shouldn't have put himself in that position.  All three of those "reasons" apply to the Cole hit on Abdelkader, but Cole was still suspended.

 

Hilarious, but unsurprising, that you can't tell the difference between those two hits.

[kratz]

I was only surprised he hadn't mentioned it earlier...

[theohall]

Yet another Red Wing player not suspended after putting a shoulder directly into a player's head.  The interesting part - the reason was Voracek should not have put himself in that position, but that did not apply when Cole was suspended 3 games for hitting a Red Wing player, Abdelkader, who put himself in a vulnerable position.  Heck, the doggone safety videos specifically mention players understanding they could seriously injury someone and taking some honus upon themselves before hitting someone in the head, specifically the way Kronwall lowered his shoulder and drove it directly through Voracek's head.  There are example videos from the pre-season specifically showing what Kronwall did as a suspendable offense.  So why the F wasn't Kronwall suspended????  OMG - Shanahan can't suspend a Red Wings player what with all their current injuries, regardless of the fact that hit could have caused serious injury to Voracek's head.  What happened to the league actually protecting players from head hits specifically like the one Kronwall dished out???  There was no need to drive directly through Voracek's head - which was the exact reason given when Cole was suspended for hitting a Abdelkader.  Nice double standard by the former Red Wing Shanahan.

And here will come - it wasn't an elbow, he just skated through, and Vorackek shouldn't have put himself in that position.  All three of those "reasons" apply to the Cole hit on Abdelkader, but Cole was still suspended.

 

Hilarious, but unsurprising, that you can't tell the difference between those two hits.

Yet no comment from you irt the NHL safety videos which show this specific type of hit as being suspendable???  Suddenly, it is not suspendable when Kronwall does it?

[pr0ner]

No, the videos don't show full body hits like Kronwall's as being illegal.  As usual, you're making things up out of whole cloth.  Sorry that you can't tell the difference because you're so blinded by your OUTRAGE.

[gellar]

Yes!  This is more like it.

[kratz]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1094652-nicklas-kronwall-nhl-smart-not-to-suspend-red-wings-star-for-jakub-voracek-hit

Voracek didn't have enough awareness in this moment, and that's why he was caught off guard by Kronwall's massive hit.

The NHL has been inconsistent when it comes to handing out suspensions and fines for big hits recently, but in this case, it got the call absolutely right.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/witness-niklas-kronwall-devastating-hit-jakub-voracek-red-020852563.html

Should this warrant a suspension? Of course not. It's a brutal, legal hockey hit that caught Voracek with his head down, attempting to finesse the puck with one hand along the boards. He glances up before he plays the puck. He knows there's a defender near the blue line. Made he didn't know it was Swedish one-man wrecking crew, but he knew someone was there, and ran the risk.

[gellar]

It's a vast conspiracy that also covers hockey bloggers.

[kratz]

...and Jakub Voracek!

“It was a clean hit from my side, it was my bad and I think those hits should stay in the game”. Flyers winger Jakub Voracek on the Kronwall hit.