Semin is an enigma. He seems almost like a recluse at times. I just think the organisation here has held his hand too much, I mean this guy is making 6.7mil a year and hasn't cracked 15 goals this year. This is someone who has the potential to do wayyy better, just prolly needs a change of scenery and a team that has a more disciplined ethic..which if your the capitals... seems like a lot of teams..if not every other.

The Reason I think Halpern won't be traded is that we don't have anyone else to replace him on the PK without using one of the big 6 forwards. He's 3rd in the league w/ FO% and He's also a Maryland native/D.C. local guy and fans like him. The past few games his line with Hendricks and Ward has been one of the hardest working on the team.

I could be wrong, stranger things have happened.

I think COL needs to look into D. Thats a young talented (speedy) bunch there, but no depth in the defensive department. Too bad that back up goalie was so expensive, could've used that first round draft pick right about now Haha

How true. Varlamov has been a wash. Giggy, while not all that, has impressed me in his ability to save games. I haven't really seen us lose and it be Gigures fault. If anything he's saved a game or two for us. Varlamov on the other hand wasn't worth a draft pick.

That's why I hope we court Nashville and David Jones plumps up his stats so we can get a nice return.

Is that Bieksa? My fave Canuck, mostly because he went to BGSU.

Yerp sure is..

Saw the yotes shut the hawks out last night. Not to be captain obvious but the Hawks definitely in trouble.

What I find to be more amazing is the season that Mike Smith is having, that guy has always pretty much sucked until this year. I think it says more about phoenix as a group, no real stars (if you scratch shane doan), franchise in limbo, yet they play very good and very responsible hockey. Bryzgalov's numbers reflect that too.

Flyers at Detroit tonight, where the Wings try to tie the all-time record of home wins in a row...20. It will be a tough one, I'm sure. I hope somebody can contain Giroux.

Even the heretofore rational hockey folks seem to think Quenneville's days are numbered. Ive even seen "rumors" that old man Scotty might be interested in one final go behind the bench, which seems highly unlikely.

This team has absolutely no desire right now, you can see that no one wants to be on the ice.
The constant line changing is becoming a huge distraction, no chemistry is developing between anyone in a lineup, because 2 shifts into a game Q swaps everyone around again.
I also think most everyone is tired of the man to man stick checking style of D that is obviously not working.
You've got guys on the ice not sticking up for their captain when he gets worked over, guys in the locker room supposedly not wanting to play certain positions (#10 &#88 not wanting to C a line)

Its an absolute mess. It's as though sometime right around x-mas, this team became the Cubs.
ugh.
UGH.

Forget Giroux, they need to contain Schenn.


Nice Power Play goal right there by Datsyuk.

We scored a goal late in the 2nd to make it 3-3 going into the 3rd. Great game. Fuck, we have to pull this one out!

Caps got solidly wooped again by the sharks. Season seems like it's really falling apart for the team that was picked to win the Stanley Cup this year. Injuries, goofy plays, and heart. Won't suprise me if they actually miss the playoffs.

Also...has anyone ever seen a player get a game misconduct for CHIRPING??

In PHX...how awesome is this!

RED WINGS. Just set the all-time NHL record for most consecutive home wins in a row, at 21 straight games. Hey, Crutch...what's up? ;)

FUCK YES.

congrats, thats a hell of a streak.
much better than a 9 game losing streak, for sure.

Even the Blue Jackets are playing better than the Black Hawks right now.

There's been a lot of talk lately about the Jackets trading Nash. I can't imagine that team without him, and what are they gonna get for him anyways? He's about the only bright spot on that team, and has been for the 10 years he's been with them. Plus, I don't know if their GM has made any real good trades or acquisitions in the 3 or 4 years he's been with 'em, so they'd probably end up trading him for a 3rd string goalie and a case of water bottles. Dark days for Jackets' fans.
I feel bad for Mullett too, as he's got season tickets, and every year I know he struggles if he should renew them. All Star game next year, maybe they figure if they trade Nash, the season ticket holders will still renew to get the first crack at the All Star tickets. Sad.

Toronto fans: "NASH TO TORONTO FOR KOMISAREK!"

not sure you're interested in reading it, but this is a nifty blog on just how bad , statistically, the Hawks have been during their skid. it's mind boggling, truthfully.

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2012/2/ ... g-the-skid

Yawn.



Seriously, though. I think it's going to be a Wings/Rangers series.

Even though the Wings are rolling, I still have some concerns:

1. The road record
2. Enough grit to survive the West playoff series, which will be loaded with good teams
3. Special teams: 13th on the power play and 20th on the penalty kill

It looks and sounds like Holland is gonna stand pat with the team we have, yet we have millions in cap space. I want to see him throw everything toward this year that he can, because if Lidstrom retires this time around...wait, I can't even talk about that or I'll cry. ;)

i wouldn't even venture a guess at this point... still 4 mos of hockey left to play.



What are the holes that The Wings need filled? yes they have cap room, but the way this season has gone, only 4-5 teams are really out of it. Picking up anyone of significant value will cost an arm and a leg.

I think that as competitive as the Western Conference is, they can't just rest on what they have when they (for once) have substantial money to put toward being better. But you're right, Holland may prefer to save as much dough as he can for the offseason, when guys like Suter are available (I don't think Nashville will let Shea Weber go anywhere).

I would love to see them pick up some grit up front, and we desperately need a right-hand shot (Patrick Eaves is our only right-hand shooting forward, and he is out with a concussion and may not be back- he's also a 4th line player).

I was extremely worried about the backup goaltending (Conklin is awful), but since Howard has been out, I think MacDonald has done a great job.

You know how it goes; other really good teams in the West are gonna make some last-minute deals that make you go 'gulp'. I don't want to look back and say, 'we should have prepared more for playoff hockey'.

I don't know, dominating in what is probably the toughest division in the West is about as prepared as you're going to get.

I'm far from saying it's a lock for the Wings, but they'll do fine for sure.


Also if I were Philly I would be pimping JVR to Nashville for Suter like it was my life. It would solve both teams problems.

Also, the Avs are terrible in our own division.

Was a good game tonight, though (thank you free center ice preview) Varlamov looked great, and had no chance on the second goal.

I think the Wings will pick up a #6/7 defenseman. I think, like me, the Wings get nervous when Ericsson and Kindl are on the ice together. I bet they pick up some older, solid D man who's not terribly expensive.

I also think they're looking for a depth forward. Again, no one too expensive.

I also agree with Asprin that they're likely to stick with MacDonald as the back-up and will release Conklin.

And no matter who your team is, the playoffs are all about staying relatively healthy.

On paper it looks that way, but all it takes is a hot goaltender. So, anyone team realistically has a shot at the Cup.