Detroit Red Wings & the NHL

[Mike]

Nobody here will watch that crap except you two and OP.

[WingsFan]

Not a good time for OP, his last place le Club de hockey Canadien fired Jacques Martin today. Will be replaced on an interim basis by Randy Cunneyworth for the remainder of the season.

[Detroit Dan]

How about the Ilitch family as one of the best sports team owners? The Red Wings have been the best team in hockey for 20 years now. And the Tigers have been coming on strong in recent years.

The Red Wings are truly amazing, as they continue to dominate despite all manner of changes (e.g. salary cap) and setbacks. They are a class organization...

[Jamie H]

Oh yea, now I remember why you guys don't like him.

I honestly had completely forgotten about the last Olympics until you posted that. Canada seems to get all frothy about Olympic and World Cup hockey. I'd bet 99% of Americans couldn't name one player on our last World Cup or Olympic team.

Honestly, I had more fun rooting for the Russians back when their team was mostly Red Wings than I've ever had rooting for the US. Almost every favorite player of mine has not been from the US.

[Tony G]

Honestly, I had more fun rooting for the Russians

Proof Jamie hates America

[Optimus Prime]

And Canada.

Nah Packfan, as a kid yes but now I like about a 1/2 dozen NHL Clubs.
Quebec is in another political uproar becuase the Habs did not select a Francophone head coach. Oh please, reminds me of a time when the Habs selected an Anglo coach named Scotty Bowman, he won 5 Stanley Cups in Montreal and learned to speak French!

Get ready for the World Jr. Hockey Tournament commencing Boxing Day!
Jamie will be please to know Russia beat the USA 6-3 in exhibition play.

[Jamie H]

LOL! I hated the guys on those USA teams. Weren't they the ones that trashed the hotel rooms? I sure as heck wasn't going to root for Thachuk and Roenick.

[Hannibal]

Olympics are a joke now. I couldn't care less who wins since the guys that I cheer for are mostly Swedish, Russian, and Canadian. Couldn't possibly give a hint of a damn whether Ryan Miller ever wins a gold medal.

[Jamie H]

And Canada.

Nah, I liked the guys on the Canadian team better than the USA team at that time too. Yzerman and Shanahan were playing for Canada. Yzerman is far and away my favorite player of all time and always will be. Without him, I probably wouldn't have even become a hockey fan.

Get ready for the World Jr. Hockey Tournament commencing Boxing Day!
Jamie will be please to know Russia beat the USA 6-3 in exhibition play.

I've moved on. I more of a Team Sweden fan now.

[geo weidl]

The reason why Canadians look forward to these Christmas hockey tournaments is these players are the future of the NHL. Whether they are American, Canadian or European is irrevelavent. These tournaments are the bcs bowl/march madness games for hockey players.

Not sure if it was hockey or basketball all stars who first played in the Olympics, kind of cheapens the whole event for me.

[Jamie H]

Well, the USSR was using pro players for decades. Of course, they weren't "officially" pro.

[geo weidl]

Well, the USSR was using pro players for decades. Of course, they weren't "officially" pro.

You just reminded me of the '72 Summit series.

[Detroit Dan]

Best game of the year last night. Red Wings reclaim first place in their division with OT victory over Black Hawks, on a Datsyuk goal that was pure magic...

[Hannibal]

Knock on wood, the Wings are mostly healthy this year -- moreso than any other year since 2008. They are playing their best hockey since then. Record doesn't quite reflect it, since they are winning almost entirely with blowouts and losing lots of 1-goal games and getting unlucky in lots of the close ones (e.g. the game at Nashville where Shea Weber magically bounced one into the net).

Howard looked like he really needed a rest last week. His endurance could be an issue. Conklin has been awful. Nowhere near as dependable as he was three seasons ago.

[Jamie H]

Health right now doesn't help like health in April-June.