The “I want a Wii for Christmas” line was genius. Not to feed your ego, or anything.

Posted by Nathan on 11/20/07 at 03:48 PM ET

If Hasek is already crazy, can he possibly go any crazier?

Or will he come out the other side a sane goaltender, as though he was attracted by the singularity of the five-hole and passed through the wormhole to a 0.999-save-percentage-alternate-universe?

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/20/07 at 03:49 PM ET

Babbles is sending Hasek a clear signal: duh…

Ok, so people are arguing that Hasek had little to do with the 2002 cup win. That team was definitely incredible and I’m sure they could have done it with Ozzie, or Legacy for that matter, in net. However, he still had the Hasek mystique around him and that alone was a confidence booster.

There is no mystique around Hasek for me anymore. Given his play, I’m not sure it’s there for anyone––opposing teams I mean. Look for Nashville shooters to go five-hole on him (as Baroque already noted).

I think Ozzie is great and his mindset right now is fabulous. In almost every interview he talks about how important calmness is for a goalie, and for a team’s trust in a goalie.

Are we going to trust our playoffs on him though? Given that Lids and Chelios are nearing the end of their careers? I want to…I really want to… but…

Posted by srt on 11/20/07 at 05:05 PM ET

Are we going to trust our playoffs on him though?

Why not?  If the results over the next few months show that he can be trusted, then why not go with him.

After all, it’s barely winter yet and the playoffs aren’t until spring.  There is a lot of time for goaltenders to run hot, cold, room temperature, near absolute zero, whatever.  If Hasek isn’t playing well enough to win games, then he sits until he is.

(And I’ll believe that Chelios is near the end of his career when he actually files his retirement papers.  Not one moment sooner.)

(Lidstrom too—he’ll retire when he gets bored and it isn’t a challenge anymore, I think.  Maybe he was made captain partly to keep him from getting bored and retiring before Holland is ready to leave?) 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/20/07 at 05:16 PM ET

Re Ozzie:  IN Iwo’s previous post Y…Z… mentions seeing “a number of comments (in the MSM) about him seeing a sports psychologist to better deal with being the backup.”  I hadn’t seen those myself, but it makes sense.  Ozzie himself has made comments about having trouble dealing with his position last year and being much better at that this year.  It does seem that nothing much bothers him this year and that would help any player’s game.

Playing Ozzie next makes sense to me.  St. Louis is stronger than Nashville, and even a veteran team like the Wings must feel a bit fragile after 3 losses and very fortunate shootout win.  Another win would go a long way to restoring the confidence that no one is admitting has waned.

Bruce MacLeod made the argument last week that the Wings are playoff bound anyway, that they’ll need Hasek come playoff time, and the only way to get him ready is to keep playing him.  That makes some sense to me now, too… how much sense it makes as the season progresses depends on the Wings’ position in the standings.

I tell you what, though.  If the Wings drop too far back in the standings because they’re playing Dom into shape, I’m going to have to give that sports psychologist a call myself.

Posted by BobTheZee on 11/20/07 at 06:01 PM ET

Hasek…I get the sense their is a little more to the hip pain thing than is being let on.  Get him back to his baseline (normal?!) and let the squirrels in the attic romp in time for the playoffs.  You might not want to bet on him, but I wouldn’t bet against him.

Posted by Rumbear from Partly Sun Diego on 11/20/07 at 06:02 PM ET