Smart move Brunny. No, really. Who wants to play in the playoffs?

Impatient idiot.

Posted by Osrt on 04/14/08 at 10:23 AM ET

he wants to play in the NHL…

he’d spend a year in Grand Rapids if he signed for the Wings.

btw, Trotz is still saying Legward is a ‘game time decision’…

Posted by Pharazon from England on 04/14/08 at 10:44 AM ET

he’d spend a year in Grand Rapids if he signed for the Wings.

I remember him saying that he wanted to be a top-six forward immediately. I love the ambition but being in a high-level atmosphere is much better in the long run.

Oh well, good luck to him; I hope he doesn’t turn into another Marcus Naslund (sp?).

Posted by Osrt on 04/14/08 at 11:14 AM ET

Vancouver certainly could give him the ice-time with their need for scoring.  Detroit couldn’t guarantee him that.

Although if Luongo isn’t worked into the ground and the Canucks could actually realize that you can’t win a game 0-0 and eventually have to score a goal or two or three, they could be right back in the playoffs.  Might require a better coach, but it isn’t outside of the bounds of possibility - Vancouver isn’t the Maple Leafs, after all! 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/14/08 at 11:19 AM ET

Soon as I read his comments about getting top-six ice time, I thought as everybody else did, “It’s the Swedish Igor Grigorenko!” The last thing this team needs, and the last think Uncle Mike wants, is another prima donna.  Especially when so many other forwards, Buckets prime among them, have EARNED the damned ice time, not expected it.  And this is coming from a guy who’s a star in a league where Pavel Brendl and Matthias Weinhandl are stars.  I don’t want to disparage the Elitserien, but you can’t know for sure whether a player can successfully make that jump straight into the NHL.  And if they can, it’s virtually certain that they can’t successfully jump into the top six.  With the upcoming roster crunch, I’m glad this wunderkind is going elsewhere.

Good luck, Vancouver.  With Fifi Brunnstrom, you’ll need it.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the campfire with the rest of the NHL Scouts on 04/14/08 at 11:28 AM ET

He might very well be good enough to be a top-six forward, including on the Red Wings - Detroit just can’t guarantee him that he would because they have a pretty good top-six as is, while Vancouver has needed another top forward who can score all season...and then some.

I hope it works out well for him - and Vancouver.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/14/08 at 11:47 AM ET

Sure, Elitserien is not NHL. However, the rink size difference does allow for other kinds of players to flourish there. Some players can never re-adapt to the tighter timing and space requirements of the NHL but that does not necessarily make them bad players.

Brunnstrom probably believes he has already paid his dues with three strong seasons in the Swedish system. He wants a top six spot to continue evolving in a fast pace, since he considers himself on par with other Swedes who managed to accomplish that feat. Most recently Nicklas Backstrom of the Capitals comes to mind, who went straight to the first line stacking up assists for Ovechkin.

When it comes to Brunnstrom I am sure time will tell if Detroit was unlucky to lose him. I have a nagging feeling he would have been a great resource down the line. Oh well, at least Alanah looks happy albeit a bit tentative.

Posted by lilja4ever on 04/14/08 at 11:50 AM ET

Back to Legwand.  I don’t think the fuss over him playing or not is that important.  If he hasn’t played for a month or so, it’s going to take him a couple of games to get back.  Look at Homer’s change between game one and two, for example.  Even if Legwand plays tonight, I don’t see him lighting it up.

It will be a good test tonight for the Wings.  If they focus, close Bubba down, and win tonight, this series will be similar to the 2002 first round series with Anaheim (right?  I think it was them).  Anyway, got that series out of the way in four.  It was tight, and the Wings won by one or two each night, but it got done in four.  It primed the team for a long campaign and didn’t wear them down at the same time.  Here’s to hoping uncle Mike will stress how important tonight’s game is.....

Posted by TDeters on 04/14/08 at 11:56 AM ET

this series will be similar to the 2002 first round series with Anaheim (right?  I think it was them).  Anyway, got that series out of the way in four.

eh, what?  that was the year Vancouver beat us at home the first two games of the first round, Steve Yzerman made The Speech, and the Wings won the next four and went on to be dragged almost singlehandedly (and single-knee-edly) to the Stanley Cup by Stevie Y.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 04/14/08 at 12:19 PM ET

… the Wings won the next four and went on to be dragged almost singlehandedly (and single-knee-edly) to the Stanley Cup by Stevie Y.

Agreed, but don’t forget about Lidstrom who won the Conn Smythe Trophy that year as playoff MVP.

Posted by lilja4ever on 04/14/08 at 12:40 PM ET

Whoops, sorry.  My memory is gone.  Anyway, forget what I said about past series.  Very important to get out of this series quickly, especially with how the other western series are shaping up.

Posted by TDeters on 04/14/08 at 01:26 PM ET

Back to Legwand.  I don’t think the fuss over him playing or not is that important.  If he hasn’t played for a month or so, it’s going to take him a couple of games to get back.  Look at Homer’s change between game one and two, for example.  Even if Legwand plays tonight, I don’t see him lighting it up.

I would take Legwand at 70% over Hordichuk at 100%. I think that is the way that Trotz has to look at that. You want your most talented players out on the ice. Legwand is responsible at both ends of the ice and we are a better team with him in the line up.

They will run him out there for the pre-game skate and see how he does. My gut tells me that he goes tonight.

Posted by PredJoe from Nashville on 04/14/08 at 03:55 PM ET

They will run him out there for the pre-game skate and see how he does.

Good luck with that.

In the end, we would rather break your best possible team, while you catch every break and decision known even to the loony imagination of a Preds fan.

If we don’t, well you’ll see plenty of moaning and self destructive behavior on this site in the coming few days. I have a feeling this is not going to end quietly no matter what.

Posted by lilja4ever on 04/14/08 at 04:39 PM ET

Jebus, stop posting so I can get my jump on filing my taxes.  I’m 24 hours ahead of time and already have my name, address, and dependents entered in.  Trying to find that piece of paper that says how much money the Commonwealth of Virginia paid me last year, and how much the Defense Finance and Accounting System wired to my bank. Yeah, where did all that go? 

I’m way ahead, 30 hours to finish, minus 4 for the Wings game and other TV, 4 hours for sleep, 9 hours at work, 1 hour driving to and back from work...there’s time.

Posted by rwbill on 04/14/08 at 04:48 PM ET

By the way Chief, Strader and Olczyk for Blersus tonight.

Posted by Steve from New Jersey on 04/14/08 at 05:33 PM ET

similar to the 2002 first round series with Anaheim (right?  I think it was them).  Anyway, got that series out of the way in four.

You might be referring to the 2nd round in 1997.  It took almost 6 games worth of time (one game went to 3OT and another to 2OT), but we eliminated Anaheim in 4 games.

Posted by Incognetis from Exile in Alabama on 04/14/08 at 05:34 PM ET

You want your most talented players out on the ice.

There’s a mind-blower.

Posted by O-Joe on 04/14/08 at 05:37 PM ET

Incgnetis, thanks.  That in fact was what I was thinking of.  Got that out of the way in four, but reinforced the type of mental toughness needed to go long in the playoffs.  I’ve got a hunch this series could provide the same sort of spark.

Posted by TDeters from Washington, DC on 04/14/08 at 06:10 PM ET