Entries with the tag: datsyuk

Vacation Deferred

by IwoCPO on 06/18/08 at 09:00 AM
Comments (75)

So I stayed away 4 days. I think that’s pretty good.  And I’d expected to ignore you longer, but three factors forced my hand.

First, the girls at Pensblog said hurtful things.

Secondly, the Professor’s in the Hall, where he belongs.

And third, Denver’s foiled again.  And this one’s funny.

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You Can’t Always Get What You Want

by IwoCPO on 06/14/08 at 05:47 AM
Comments (31)

But, allegedly and according to Mick, providence somehow assists in providing what your spiritual advisors determine to be your greatest need.

Interesting.

Because I’d say we have the whole “wants” thing covered.  Now? Well, now it’s up to Tick Tock to determine the “needs”. 

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Re-Rack ‘em

by IwoCPO on 06/13/08 at 12:18 PM
Comments (10)

Some dude named Jean working for the Calgary Herald asked Matt at Battle of Alberta for his take on a 1998 NHL draft do-over.

1998, you’ll recall, was the year Pavel Datsyuk was drafted in the 6th round, 171st overall.

According to Matt, things might be a tad different today.

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Bettman:  “There’s an ‘n’ in there.  Put it in there.  Do it.”

by IwoCPO on 06/13/08 at 07:27 AM
Comments (32)

He’s only won six Norris trophies Gary.  You gave him the cup a little over a week ago.

What did you say to him then?  “Congrats Dick”?

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The Legend? It Lives On From The Chippewa On Down.  In Its Honor?  An NHL Awards Show Live Blog

by IwoCPO on 06/12/08 at 06:47 PM
Comments (278)

I’ll be editing this as we move along.

Gordie Howe, Lifetime Achievement Award?  Could it have gone to anyone else?

Lidstrom, Norris?  Check. Legendary.  2nd Best Ever?  Maybe.  Maybe Better.

Datsyuk, Selke? Check.  “Long speech, but English is little.”

Zetterberg, Selke? Denied, but with a big old consolation trophy.

Datsyuk, Byng? Check. There was no doubt.

Chelios, Masterson? Denied, but with a Cup, and still with a job...allegedly.

Uncle Mike Babcock, Adams?  Denied, but there is no doubt, none, who the best coach in the NHL is.

It’s a dynastic Live Blog.

“That Is One Crazy Motherf…”

by IwoCPO on 12/08/07 at 08:55 AM
Comments (8)

Updated 1051 EST: Just for fun, read through the list of comments at Russo’s Rant’s blog from last night.  Amazing how the tone changed over the course of three hours.  Includes a good comment from Matt Saler from OtW.

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I put that in quotes because I guarantee those were the exact words shouted, whispered in awe or uttered from father to son accompanied by a hearty back slap last night at 2153 EST. 

And it’s true.  With a shutout just moments away and the memory of watching Chris Osgood start seven consecutive games still very fresh in his cluttered mind, our Czech Miracle of Insanity returned to his sociopathic self and gave us a wakeup call.  I’m almost shocked he didn’t point at the cameras after his takedown of Gaborik and say…

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5 Minutes of Datsyuk

by IwoCPO on 12/01/07 at 05:29 PM
Comments (15)

Waiting for the game to start? 

This should tide you over for a while.

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Re-Thinking The Official A2Y Stance on Hudler

by IwoCPO on 11/30/07 at 08:33 AM
Comments (10)

I’m a big guy.  In stature?  Perhaps not.  But, emotionally?  Huge.  It takes a strong man to do something like this.

December 15th, 2006/Me

What is the infatuation with this kid?  Who in the organization is so tied to him that we can’t jettison him? Is Hudler better than Rem Murray or Boyd Devereaux...two players the Wings passed on the last two training camps?  Can anyone tell me Hudler fits into the Babcock system...at all?

At what point does wasting a roster spot on his potential become too cumbersome?

Through 25 games last year?  4 points, all goals.  I had lit the torches.  Lit them, ran with them through the village.  “Hudler must go,” I said. 

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Proof Positive

by IwoCPO on 10/27/07 at 07:00 AM
Comments (17)

Stu Nahan, in the second round of the second Balboa/Creed fight, said, “...and I thought Balboa took a beating the first time these two fought but this is a butchering.  That’s what it is, plain old butchering.” Rocky, of course, eventually wore the Master of Disaster down, waited until the 13th to break a few more of his ribs, then miraculously rose to his feet as the Spectrum crowd sobbed in joy.  It was, as Rocky would tell you, the greatest moment of his life--with the exception of his kid being born.

Last night was, as Stu would tell you, a butchering from start to finish.  Every facet. Every shift. San Jose can go 65 and 5 the rest of the way, but they’re not beating Detroit in a playoff series.  Not after last May and not after last night.

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Name That Line

by IwoCPO on 10/15/07 at 04:53 PM
Comments (39)

Yes, we’re going to make it official.  Name the Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Homer line.  Send in your suggestions and we’ll vote and happiness will ensue, as usual.  What do you get?  Why does it always have to be about “getting something”?  You get the warmth that accompanies seeing your brilliance used again and again within the cozy confines of A2Y.

So you get jack squat.

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One Liners: Minor, Major, Does It Matter?

by IwoCPO on 10/15/07 at 06:30 AM
Comments (24)

Kris Draper’s a frigging rebel.  On a night when the boxscore could have made an emphatic statement, he had to go and throw a shorty in there. If not for his unassisted goal in the second the entire scoresheet would have been dominated by the to this point unnamed Zetterberg, Homer and Datsyuk line.

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Saturday Issues

by IwoCPO on 10/06/07 at 08:56 AM
Comments (4)

First a few congratulations are in order.  Gramps is back.  Grampa Pinhead, who has served as the A2Y logic czar since our inception a few years ago, has brought back his own blog: HockeytownTodd.  If you’re familiar with Gramps’ comments at our site, you know he’s traditional, cranky and caustic.  Great reading and always a source for stats you won’t find anywhere else.

Secondly, Behind The Jersey has been selected hockey’s tenth best blog by Sports Business Daily.  Visit BTJ to see which other hockey bloggers made the cut.  I’ll let you know when Cracked comes out with their rankings. I’m sure I’ll be in there somewhere.

Oh, and back to Gramps for a second…

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And We All Stayed Home

by IwoCPO on 10/04/07 at 03:19 AM
Comments (23)

It won’t be just a local story this time.  Nope.  The Wing win last night, as fun as it was to see, will be secondary to the echo chamber they played in.  As Mike Emrich and Ed Olczyk did their pre-game deal on camera, the results of Red Wing apathy jumped out at us on Versus.  A thousand empty seats just minutes before faceoff.

So prepare yourselves because that’s going to be the story today.  When Detroit can’t fill the Joe on opening night against a team that barely beat us in the conference final...well, just stand by. 

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“Datsyuk Looked Brilliant”

by IwoCPO on 09/15/07 at 05:18 PM
Comments (21)

Those are the words of anti-Digger Bruce MacLeod in his blogged recap of the second scrimmage from TC.  He also notes that Hasek and Sopel looked very good.

Grigorenko? Invisible.

It was hard to notice Igor Grigorenko, who skated with Mark Hartigan and Aaron Downey. Grigorenko even missed the net on his shootout, going with a deke, but tapping the puck wide.

Scrimmage recap from MacLeod is here.  Another very good piece on why Aaron Downey may make the team here. 

Stealing From My Friends

by IwoCPO on 09/12/07 at 09:52 AM
Comments (22)

I’ve decided I don’t like the term “blogosphere” anymore.  Kind of like “Michigander” or “diet”.  Not real fond of those two either.  So, this will be the last time you see it at A2Y.  Henceforth and thusly, any time I present to you a conglomeration of views in one sloppy post I will title it “Stealing From My Friends”. 

I sense that you are apprehensive.  Apprehensive like a transvestite Dive fan caught in Raleigh at 0130 on a Tuesday?  No, but understandably wary.  Me too.  Here we go.

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Mirtle: Wings Will Win 75 Games

by IwoCPO on 09/10/07 at 11:01 AM
Comments (7)

Oh alright. No, he didn’t actually say that.  But James Mirtle, writing for AOL’s Fan House, agrees with all other smart people in saying it would take some sort of wacked-out science fiction scenario to keep the Central crown out of Hockeytown.

Detroit may remain an old team by NHL standards, but that’s not going to stop them from winning a seventh consecutive Central Division title. Given the league’s ridiculously unbalanced schedule, one that will see the Red Wings face Chicago/Columbus/Nashville/St. Louis 32 times this season, it’s going to be relatively easy pickings as long as Hasek remains healthy.

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Sunday Odds and Ends

by IwoCPO on 09/09/07 at 08:23 AM
Comments (4)

It’s been nearly two years since we came up with the blog title, “Abel to Yzerman.” For most of you, the significance of that has been pretty clear.  “Abel” refers to Wing legend Sid Abel.  “Yzerman” is our tribute to a little-known role player who somehow eeked his way onto the Detroit roster for 23 consecutive seasons. 

Why do I bring that up? 

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News From TC: Little Wings

by IwoCPO on 09/08/07 at 07:47 AM
Comments (5)

As part of the site’s re-design, I canvassed the 9 A2Y regulars.  I emailed each one claiming I was the widow of a deposed Liberian dictator and that I had millions to place in their bank accounts for safe keeping until I could retrieve it.  Naturally, each regular responded quickly with their account information.  I plan to embezzle twenty dollars from each and send the money directly to Dwayne Klessel so that I can have access to only the hottest rumors.

I also listened to them when they said they wanted more info on Wing prospects, that fans in Hockeytown are hungry for news from TC.  Actually, I haven’t canvassed anyone, no one’s said a word to me about more news on the prospects and that number is really 8, not 9.

Regardless, the kids hit Center I.C.E last night. 

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