Posted Wednesday May 22, 2013, About: Red Wings are winning mind games

It will be interesting to see how the roster fills out next year too.

The old guys Bertuzzi and Samuelsson aren't even cracking the lineup right now and they each have one year left on their deals. Tootoo has two years left and isn't cracking the lineup.

Both of Zetterberg's linemates, Filppula and Cleary, are unrestricted free agents next month as are Brunner and Miller.

Additionally, there are some pretty good forwards incubating in Grand Rapids that could be worthy of a roster spot.

Posted Wednesday May 22, 2013, About: Red Wings are winning mind games

"on a muggy night in downtown Detroit"

... good choice of words

Posted Wednesday May 22, 2013, About: Blackhawks not willing to start Ray Emery in Game 4

The third goal was an insane Datsyuk wrister that blows past the ear of every goalie in the world. Crawford has been good positionally, he just needs to improve his rebound control. Howard's rebound control is phenominal right now; thus he's making Crawford look like a chump.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

If someone gets decapitated on the ice, I'd be like "go pick up your head and get to the bench, you pansy".

In fairness to Franzen in this instance, though, he the boards with some force. He was on all fours like he was about to blow chunks in the corner.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

To that note, interesting faceoff percentages in the series among the dueling Selke finalist. Toews, who was over 60% against the Wild is under 50% against the Wings while Datsyuk is still over 60% no matter who's in the dot.

Apprentice, meet master.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

The Wings have good chemistry going right now.

Cleary may not chip-in much offensively, but he does play an important role on that second line by getting to the dirty areas of the ice along the boards and in front of the net, similar to Abdelkader's role on the top line. Bertuzzi has looked slow and hesitant in his spot duty, which is the exact opposite of what the Wings need against the fast and talented Blackhawks team. If Bertuzzi was healthy and on his game, I would agree with you about Bert.

There isn't really a place in the lineup right now for Tootoo. Emmerton, Eaves and Miller have played very well as a unit and all three are solid penalty killers. Last night's extended PK from those guys was awesome.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

That's what I told my cousin last night who is a Blackhawks fan. The Blackhawks seem like they expected to ease into the Western Conference Finals on talent alone and are a bit stunned by the fight they're getting from the Wings.

Even if the Wings lose their next three games, I'm happy with how this season and playoffs have played out. The last few years they went out with a whimper; this year they're fighting.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

I agree with your analysis of the awards. And in my opinion, the Selke is the TRUE league MVP.

However, I would like to note that if you put Lidstrom back on this Red Wings team, he is STILL the best defenseman on the roster.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

The adversity was finding adequate replacements in the lineup for them with no preseason and a 48-game regular season.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

How much adversity did Babcock's team have to overcome?

- He lost one of the greatest defensemen in NHL history to retirement (and the team captain) and another solid defenseman in Stuart to free agency.
- His team endured the 3rd-most man games lost to injury in the league. The two teams who had more (Philly and Florida) folded early.
- Six rookies played significant time during the season (Brunner, Nyquist, Andersson, Smith, Lashoff, DeKeyser) and several others filled-in from Grand Rapids during the early-season injury plague.

... and he found a way to get his team into the playoffs.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

I agree. In fact, last week before the finalists were announced I labeled MacLean and Babcock as the top two should-be finalists and briefly discussed this topic in one of these FN threads.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

I think they should nominate coaches who actually deserve the award, not the ones who had the best regular season records.

Posted Tuesday May 21, 2013, About: Babcock's best job ever?

He's thoroughly outcoached two of the Jack Adams finalists in consecutive playoff series, yet he's not a finalist himself.

Posted Monday May 20, 2013, About: Roy back in Colorado's sights

I don't know why the Avs are looking at a guy who is notoriously tempermental, especially considering the abundance of impressionable youth on that team.

Posted Monday May 20, 2013, About: Jonathan Toews takes issue with refs after Game 2 blowout

Don't officiating crews rotate games?

Posted Thursday May 16, 2013, About: Packers fans to get their own reality show

They should've just named the show "Endless Exploitation of Stereotypes: Wisconsin".

Posted Thursday May 16, 2013, About: Explosive comments could send Bryz packing

Water is wet, sky is blue and people work the system to stay on welfare all across the country.

Posted Wednesday May 15, 2013, About: Ducks GM levels threat of sweeping change

I wholeheartedly agree, but our votes don't count.

Posted Wednesday May 15, 2013, About: Ducks GM levels threat of sweeping change

He would definitely be my fourth choice. The reason he's not top three is because the Isles didn't really experience any debilitating obstacles like the other three.

Babcock suffered the loss of one of the greatest defensemen of all time, a solid defenseman in Brad Stuart, started at least five rookies for most of the season and had the 3rd most man games lost to injury in the league. [Then proceeded to mentally dominate Brucey in the first round of the playoffs.]

MacLean lost his reigning Norris Trophy winning defenseman and his blazing hot goalie to injuries and his team never missed a beat. [Then he thoroughly outcoached Michelle in the first round of the playoffs.]

Oates found a way to get his disgruntled and disinterested superstar engaged and flourishing by making some savvy and unconventional coaching decisions. He turned his last place team into a dangerous 3rd seed.

Posted Wednesday May 15, 2013, About: Ducks GM levels threat of sweeping change

The three Jack Adams finalists should be Babcock, MacLean and Oates.

Posted Wednesday May 15, 2013, About: Ducks GM levels threat of sweeping change

Completely agree. This is a topic I have ranted about for decades and it applies to all sports. The "coach of the year" award almost always goes to a coach with the best record and most talent who was lucky enough to make it through a season without major injury problems.

The truely transcendent coaches are the ones who turn lemons into lemonade.