And those guys are in charge of our “demise”.

I’m so scared (cue shaking fingers with hands on my face).

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 11/13/09 at 01:46 PM ET

shaking fingers with hands on my face.
Posted by Guilherme from Brasil on 11/13/09 at 01:46 PM ET

And how exactly does one perform this action?

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 11/13/09 at 01:53 PM ET

George at Snapshots uncovered a good article by Mike Brophy, Sportsnet.ca, explaining the Wings sluggish start from Bab’s perspective. 

With the exception of the giant egg laid in Toronto the Detroit Red Wings are starting to show signs of shaking the off cobwebs.

The latest win over the visiting Vancouver Canucks, a game in which coach Mike Babcock thought his team looked a little sluggish coming off a 9-1 demolition of the Columbus Blue Jacket, was the Red Wings fifth win in six starts. Included in that stretch were wins against Calgary and San Jose. . .

In trying to figure out how he should approach this season, with so many new bodies and his team playing its first two games in Sweden, Babcock said he never imagined he’d also be faced with so many injuries to key players. Johan Franzen went down with a knee injury in the third game of the season while Valtteri Filppula (wrist) and Jason Williams (ankle) were also lost for long periods of time.

Leaving coach Babcock with a dilemma:

“We have two groups (of players) here,” Babcock told sportsnet.ca. “We have one group that can do a walk-through on our drills because they have been here and know what is expected. We have another group that has to do the drills over and over and over again before they get it right, the way we want it to be done.

“What you want is to come up with a blueprint that can be used game after game. We need to get ourselves in a position where we know what we have to do and then we do it night after night. Sometimes though, we tend to get a little too cute and end up making bad turnovers that lead to us doing more defending than we’d like to do.”

So it remains a work in progress.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/13/09 at 01:59 PM ET

Three of five in the Central Division.  Yeah, that makes sense.  Heck, the Predators would deserve more credit if not for the ownership crap they’ve been through.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 11/13/09 at 01:59 PM ET

^^ forget to add, where in the fuch are the local diggers on this?  Dave Waddell’s column today about Jimmah hitting the game tapes, and now Brophy getting face time with Uncle Mike - -

kinda makes the Wings’ [dead]beat writers look even worse, if that is at all possible.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/13/09 at 02:01 PM ET

Would someone please explain to me the significance/reason for typing this upcoming word “organ-I-zational” like that? I’ve seen it for a long time on this blog, and I’ve now seen it used on other hockey websites. Thanks.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 11/13/09 at 02:04 PM ET

I woke up this morning and thought “Gee, it sure is nice to have a job.”

Posted by Jimmy from Moose Jaw on 11/13/09 at 02:04 PM ET

AnimalDrew

Sure, ask A2Y’s Fez how to perform something that requires a much better vocabulary than he has. Thanks, Gingerbread.

(and come on, thay do it all the time in Scary Movie and craps like that)

Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 11/13/09 at 02:05 PM ET

Having the freaking Rangers in the top five completely invalidates the percieved expertise of the writer.  Sorry, that’s just plain stupid.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 11/13/09 at 02:12 PM ET

I woke up this morning and thought “Gee, it sure is nice to have a job at McDonalds.”
Posted by Jimmy from Moose Jaw on 11/13/09 at 02:04 PM ET

Fixed.  Welcome back….but not really.

Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 11/13/09 at 02:19 PM ET

The key: none of these people are execs with short-sightedness.

Hockey smart (very hockey smart) - experienced and willing to stay focused on “the good of the organ-I-zation long term”, not ‘my future’ nor ‘me’ or ‘I’.
The front office works together as a team just as much as the players on the ice.
The competitive edge, the desire to win at any cost, the hate to lose mentality - those are the things, the mindset that differentiates the champions from the also rans.
That is now the character by which the Detroit Red Wings are known, top to bottom, year after year.

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 02:25 PM ET

Would someone please explain to me the significance/reason for typing this upcoming word ”organ-I-zational” like that? I’ve seen it for a long time on this blog, and I’ve now seen it used on other hockey websites. Thanks.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 11/13/09 at 02:04 PM ET

It’s the way that Tick Tock, Babs, and Yzerman have pronounced the word.  It’s basically a phonetic spelling to how they pronounce it.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 11/13/09 at 02:38 PM ET

Thanks pal.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 11/13/09 at 02:46 PM ET

“organ-I-zational”

Gee, and all this time I thought it was some sort of implied sexual innuendo?

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/13/09 at 02:49 PM ET

Speaking of going deep…

Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 11/13/09 at 03:18 PM ET

But…but…where’s the Penguins in that top five list?? I’ve never even heard of most of those teams because I only started watching hockey five minutes ago but shouldn’t the Penguins be at the top because like they are the best hockey team because they won last year??

Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 11/13/09 at 04:20 PM ET

Roughly translates into 105 pts at their current pace.  Not too shabby, given their horrendous start.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 11/13/09 at 12:47 PM ET

Holy crap there must a whole flock of teams on pace for 100+.  Something about that is not possible unless Anaheim just goes 12-72 thus providing enough points for everyone else.

HellsYa, 105 points this year would be outrageous and another feather in the cap of one of the best coaches in the NHL.

“Organ-I-zation” is the way it’s pronounced by all the Hosers north of the border and the difference is clearly noticeable, it’s one of those distinct Canadian vowel sounds we’re always hearing aboot.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 11/13/09 at 04:42 PM ET

12-72.

that’s also not possible, maybe 12-70.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 11/13/09 at 04:44 PM ET

“But…but…where’s the Penguins in that top five list?? I’ve never even heard of most of those teams because I only started watching hockey five minutes ago but shouldn’t the Penguins be at the top because like they are the best hockey team because they won last year??

Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 11/13/09 at 04:20 PM ET ”

This past offseason and the start of this year I’ve found myself able to seperate even-keeled fans with strong, informed, thought out with an idea of how hockey is played, managed, and viewed (in my opinion-haha) opinions, and those that say “crosby sucks” or “Zetterberg’s past his prime” or “Hossa’s a traitor” or “he could have slowed down a bit and not hit his head.” It makes me feel real good, and my blood pressure is in much better shape than a year ago. Float on.

Posted by Nathan from BC on 11/13/09 at 04:44 PM ET

““Organ-I-zation” is the way it’s pronounced by all the Hosers north of the border and the difference is clearly noticeable, it’s one of those distinct Canadian vowel sounds we’re always hearing aboot.

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 11/13/09 at 04:42 PM ET ”

I see where Americans and whoever are coming from with this ‘aboot’ nonsense, but even the most thick-accented Nova Scotians still pronounce an ‘ow’ or ‘ou’ sound when saying “about.”

If you’d like to be kind to me for some reason, in the future please refrain from using “aboot,” and kindly use “organ-I-zation” in its place. Or “eh.”

Posted by Nathan from BC on 11/13/09 at 04:49 PM ET

Wow, I just noticed it now. I said “organization” out loud, and I pronounced it or-ghen-ni-zay-shun. I guess the American pronounciation is or-ghen-niz-a-shun?

As if this is a surprise to anyone. Well, maybe the Pens douches, I mean fans (save for the few intelligent ones). I have to wonder though with the Rangers being ranked so high. Are they taking money earned and team success in account? Because sure, the Rags make a shit-ton of money, but they haven’t had a good management team since the early 90s, and even that was pretty much just trying to gather up as many ex-Oilers as they could.

Posted by Alzy from Innisfail, Alberta, Canada on 11/13/09 at 05:20 PM ET

I see where Americans and whoever are coming from with this ‘aboot’ nonsense, but even the most thick-accented Nova Scotians still pronounce an ‘ow’ or ‘ou’ sound when saying “about.”

If you’d like to be kind to me for some reason, in the future please refrain from using “aboot,” and kindly use “organ-I-zation” in its place. Or “eh.”

Actually, that’s the “ow” or “ou” sound is what Americans are talking about (can you hear my accent?). 
Canada = a-bowt (strong emphasis of syllables and “ou” sound)
America = ab-awt (very little emphasis on the second syllable)

They also find our way of saying “sorry” hysterical.
Canada = sor-ree
America = sari

And “house”:
Canada = how-se
America = hows

There are many more.  On a very advanced level, one way to analyze Canadian vs. American speech is the way we “sing” our sentences.

In Canada, even when not asking a question, our tone rises and emphasis tends to be added to the last couple of words in a sentence.

In America, the tone rise and emphasis occur in the first couple of words in a sentence, with tone falling and less emphasis as the sentence completes.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/13/09 at 06:05 PM ET

“Organ-I-zation” is the way it’s pronounced by all the Hosers north of the border and the difference is clearly noticeable, it’s one of those distinct Canadian vowel sounds we’re always hearing aboot.

Really?  Is this a weird way to pronounce it? 

I mean…if you’ve got a bunch of stuff on your desk and want to set it straight you “organ-I-ze” it, don’t you?  You don’t “organ-iz” it.

I accept “a-boot” as being a distinctly Canadian thing (though my brother -who has lived in New York for the past decade or so and notices my Canadian accept when I visit him or vice versa- claims that it’s more “a-boat” than “a-boot”.  Although I went to college with a girl who, even to my Canadian ear, said “a-boot”.) but it seems to me that “organ-I-ation” is not the “Canadian” way to pronounce it, but the “proper” way.  I just so happes that we Canadians say it properly.

Posted by Garth on 11/13/09 at 06:12 PM ET

Geez-Oh!  I’d conseeder de nort but dat
dar wite tuff is der too long, too code, eh, yah? DonchaKnow
Fixed
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don�t live up to my expectations on 11/13/09 at 11:42 AM ET

another attempt at a fix

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 11/13/09 at 06:22 PM ET

Actually the “aboat” vs “aboot” is on the money, it’s just more reckless and fun to exaggerate the “aboot”.

Yes if you shorten Organ-I-zation to just OrganIze, then yes Americans use the I.  But when you make it Organ-I-zation Americans typically say “Organ-uh-zation”.

My ex-wife English citizen was always disgusted with Americans pronouncing all our “T"s like “D"s, i.e. we don’t say water with a hard T like the English, it’s more like wadder. 

My Momma didn’t raise no dummies, I dug her rap.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 11/13/09 at 06:25 PM ET

From -
Dictionary.com
(english):

organization

or⋅gan⋅i⋅za⋅tion

[awr-guh-nuh-zey-shuhn]

– noun
1. the act or process of organizing.
2. the state or manner of being organized.
3. something that is organized.
4. organic structure; composition: The organization of this painting is quite remarkable. 
5. a group of persons organized for some end or work; association: a nonprofit organization. 
6. the administrative personnel or apparatus of a business.
7. the functionaries of a political party along with the offices, committees, etc., that they fill.
8. an organism.

–adjective
9. of or pertaining to an organization.
10. Informal. conforming entirely to the standards, rules, or demands of an organization, esp. that of one’s employer: an organization mentality.

Note: (french) organisation

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 06:30 PM ET

another attempt at a fix

Lord tundrin jeez der bi!

I don’t think even the Newfies know what they’re saying half the time.

While we’re on the subject of pronounciations though, something that just irritates me to end living in Alberta is the way some of the locals say the word “produce.” I work at a Costco, and my supervisor will sometimes ask me to help out in the produce department. Except, he says “prah-duce.” How the fuch can you pronounce an O as an A?

Another one that boggled my mind a few years ago was the pronounciation of a Maple Leafs defenceman, you may remember him, his name was Karel Pilar. His first name was pronounced “Carl” fine, that’s cool. But his last name? “Pee-lash.” How the fuch do you get “Pee-lash” when there’s no S, C or H in the name? Was he just pulling someone’s leg when he told them that’s how his last name was pronounced? Because I look at that name, and there’s only two ways to say it: “Pill-lar” or “Pee-Lar.”

Posted by Alzy from Innisfail, Alberta, Canada on 11/13/09 at 06:37 PM ET

I say organ-I-zation.  It’s the only way to fly.

Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 11/13/09 at 06:38 PM ET

What are folks watchin tonight?  BJ’s vs. ducks should be an interesting tilt.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 11/13/09 at 07:03 PM ET

What are folks watchin tonight?  BJ’s vs. ducks should be an interesting tilt.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 11/13/09 at 07:03 PM ET

Right.
I’m watching now.
See what we’ll be playing tomorrow.

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 07:12 PM ET

“While we’re on the subject of pronounciations though, something that just irritates me to end living in Alberta is the way some of the locals say the word “produce.” I work at a Costco, and my supervisor will sometimes ask me to help out in the produce department. Except, he says “prah-duce.” How the fuch can you pronounce an O as an A?

Another one that boggled my mind a few years ago was the pronounciation of a Maple Leafs defenceman, you may remember him, his name was Karel Pilar. His first name was pronounced “Carl” fine, that’s cool. But his last name? “Pee-lash.” How the fuch do you get “Pee-lash” when there’s no S, C or H in the name? Was he just pulling someone’s leg when he told them that’s how his last name was pronounced? Because I look at that name, and there’s only two ways to say it: “Pill-lar” or “Pee-Lar.” “

I too detest “prah-duce.”

As for Karel Pilar, how about: Stanislav Neckar “nets-kash”

Posted by Nathan from BC on 11/13/09 at 07:14 PM ET

@ Stonehands—

Would it be possible for you to email me a copy or your resume, or a summary of your degrees and experience?  I mentioned your situation to my sister, and she has a friend who is a mech engineer who works around Chicago, and asked to know a little more about your background so she has a better idea what you are looking for when she is keeping her eyes open. 

My email is zielonka97 at gmail dot com.

Also, my sister says she knows TARDEC in Warren, MI is looking for engineers (although she isn’t sure what kind).  She said the openings should be listed on a US Gov Jobs website (she fired a quick response to my email before she ran out the door, so I can get the website address from her this weekend if you don’t google it first). 

The consensus opinion is that what happened to you is pretty crappy, especially given the timing - but it always sucks when one side of a company doesn’t talk to the other side.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/13/09 at 07:23 PM ET

Any of the 19 that are more computer savvy than I am familiar with the other side of streaming?

I’m trying to set up something that lets me broadcast stuff that I’m completely legally allowed to broadcast , but Justin’s website says crap about webcam and I have a slightly different setup.

I’m not averse (read: actually prefer) to use something other than Justin’s website.  I think I might be able to help some of the 19 with constant streamlooking problems.

jjfromkansas (at) gmail (dot) com.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 11/13/09 at 07:27 PM ET

Three teams from the Central on there.  Must be doing something right eh?

Posted by 42jeff from Minot, North Dakota on 11/13/09 at 07:55 PM ET

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/13/09 at 07:23 PM ET

I will be working on the resume tomorrow.
(I brought my son’s laptop out of storage from 2-1/2 years ago and am reformating the hard drive & loading programs from scratch - he had worked in the IT dept so it had Ubuntu op system but I didn’t have his password [nor the smarts, probably, to use that format]. Now using Windows Vista and need to find where he had kept his Office program CDs to install Word, Excel, etc., hopefully by tomorrow.)
Once up-to-date, I will forward a copy.
Feel free to share with the world if it means a chance to interview with a stable firm.

Baroque, Thank you! for the efforts on my behalf.
Regardless if anything does develop, your consideration to a stranger (i.e. an “imaginary friend” from the Gore who happens to dig the Red Wings about as much as you) is truely commendable. And the same is true for your sister. It is obvious that the worthy character of compassion runs in the family.

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 08:19 PM ET

reformating = reformatting
truely = truly

(Chief, how ‘bout a spelchiker, eh?)

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 08:28 PM ET

@ Stonehands—
Would it be possible for you to email me a copy or your resume, or a summary of your degrees and experience?  I mentioned your situation to my sister, and she has a friend who is a mech engineer who works around Chicago….
Also, my sister says she knows TARDEC in Warren, MI is looking for engineers (although she isn’t sure what kind).  She said the openings should be listed on a US Gov Jobs website ...
The consensus opinion is that what happened to you is pretty crappy, especially given the timing - but it always sucks when one side of a company doesn’t talk to the other side.
Posted by Baroque

I love this place. HockeyChic (and others I’m sure) have madsimilar offers and it is so wonderful.

Sorry if that’s maudlin ir inappropriate; could be the anesthitic or painmeds talking.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 11/13/09 at 08:30 PM ET

So many typos in such a short post. Sorry.

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 11/13/09 at 08:31 PM ET

Hey, imaginary friends are great for networking.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 11/13/09 at 08:33 PM ET

Anybody else wathcing King/Thrashers? The Thrashers logo looks like female parts

Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 11/13/09 at 08:46 PM ET

Stonehands, If you can’t find your Office disks and you’re not already aware of it, OpenOffice.org can provide you with a good free word processor program that handles several different text file formats, including Microsoft .doc It’s not quite as powerful as MS Office and others, but It’ll do what 95% of the population needs it for.

Rotten situation. Good luck with the search.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 11/13/09 at 09:06 PM ET

(Chief, how ‘bout a spelchiker, eh?)

Use Firefox, it spell-checks for you and does the red line thing under tpyos.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/13/09 at 09:17 PM ET

BJs beat the yucks in the SO

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 09:46 PM ET

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 11/13/09 at 09:06 PM ET

Thanks for the OpenOffice.org tip. I may need it.
And Thanks(!) for the ‘good luck’, Nate. I appreciate the support.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/13/09 at 09:17 PM ET

VooX - not much experience with Firefox but if it heps whit tiebos, I mite ooz its.

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 10:05 PM ET

Use Firefox, it spell-checks for you and does the red line thing under tpyos.

Posted by VooX

Thought this was only a mac thing.

Lots of crazy talk today.

I think one of the main divisions was between those who think the players deserve the majority of the credit and those who believe the coach should. Nathan then brought in a good argument for mediating the two positions. Tool.

There is no doubt the players deserve a great deal of the credit for their execution. However, we have to acknowledge several things that coaches do to help them:

Give them a system:
How to break out, PK & PP systems, forechecking and backchecking positions, duties (i.e. who to cover and where to be next if your team gets the puck), managing shifts, matching lines

People who critique these systems have every right to.

Coaches also assess their players relative to the rest of their teammates, and continually reevaluate as the game, season, years progress. They also scout teams ahead and show the players, on video, what to expect from the guys they’re matching up against. Video coaches also make tapes for individuals particularly if they or Babbles wants them to review it.

I’m buzzed and about to head out, but that’s what I can come up with for the moment. Add to the list.

But yea, I’m pro Babbles. And my new boy is Eaves; I like the way he plays.

Posted by Osrt on 11/13/09 at 10:22 PM ET

good game in CHI with TOR
2 to 3, Chi up in the 3rd with 14:00 to go

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 10:46 PM ET

But yea, I’m pro Babbles. And my new boy is Eaves; I like the way he plays.

Posted by Osrt on 11/13/09 at 10:22 PM ET

But have you ever noticed how much Patrick Eaves looks like a coked out Jared Leto from Requiem for a Dream?

Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 11/13/09 at 10:49 PM ET

fun game in Chicago
pretty intense

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 10:57 PM ET

But yea, I’m pro Babbles. And my new boy is Eaves; I like the way he plays.

Posted by Osrt on 11/13/09 at 10:22 PM ET

Me too.  Next time the Hawks are in town, we should thank Hossa for taking his boy toy with him to Chicago.  Eaves is outplaying Kopecky on the score sheet and has helped form one of the most hellacious energy lines in the NHL.           

...................GP…G….  A ...PTS.. +/- 
Eaves…...  10….1 ...  3…    4 ....  5
Kopecky… 17…1 ...  1…    2 ...  -6

Posted by Chris in A^2 from Nyquist Puck Control on 11/13/09 at 11:06 PM ET

Chicago wins

Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/13/09 at 11:13 PM ET