for 1 million, i say yes.

but karma might be following him…

yeah, a million and he’s a Wing.

Posted by Alex from San Francisco on 06/27/08 at 05:32 PM ET

Irritating? You said it. I will give you Rolston, but that is as far as I’m willing to go.
Tucker? Sucker. Stillwoozy. Well that moniker speaks for itself.

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 06/27/08 at 05:34 PM ET

Off the topic. Is anyone else sick of seeing the Neidermayer brothers with our Cup, during our Summer of Stanley?
Two days in a row at nhl.com, The Frozen Moment. I thought the Wings won the Cup. Really, aren’t there any photos of this years winners? Thanks Gary.Ass

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 06/27/08 at 05:44 PM ET

I dunno. I wasn’t thrilled with Woozy the first time around. Not cause of what he could bring, but what I expected him to bring. Same goes for picking him up now.

Since the Moore incident, he’s been a tentative head-case, or injured, or both. I didn’t see much of him this season, but from what I read he played much like he did in Detroit. Brief glimpses of his old mean self, but mostly timid, hesitant, and half a step behind the play.

Now, Franzen is playing like Bert used to, but without the cheap-shotting, and mean streak.  He’s running over opponents going to the net, hitting in the corners, and cleaning up around the net. I don’t really see the need for another of that mold. A shooter is more important.

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 06/27/08 at 05:49 PM ET

Well, at least you’d take Rolston over Tucker, so you’re not totally insane.  Just checked out his numbers at behindthenet.ca, though, and I worry he’ll be overrated.  He did a better job generating shots than any other Wild player, but he wasn’t particularly good defensively.  Most of his goals seemed to come with Pierre-Marc Bouchard on the ice--and Bouchard was better defensively, to boot.  He could be a respectable trigger man for Filppula, but Fil may not even be good enough next year to warrant a shooting winger, let alone a permanent spot on the second line.  Definitely a worthwhile pickup, but for no more than 2 years or $3m.

Bertuzzi might not be an outright bad signing for the right dollar figure (less than $2m), but why bother?  He’s unlikely to be a more effective second-liner than Franzen or Cleary next year, and he’ll certainly be a less effective third-liner.  He already had a chance to be one of those notorious “Red Wings reclamation projects” and passed it up.

And that video?  Brilliant.  Haha, oh Ed Belfour.

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 06/27/08 at 06:34 PM ET

but Fil may not even be good enough next year to warrant a shooting winger, let alone a permanent spot on the second line.

I don’t follow Ryan; Fil was our second line center for the entire playoffs. Why would he suddenly not be good enough?

I liked Bert when he was here and maybe a more limited role would serve him well. Unfortunately, less ice time means that you are expected to crash and bang; I don’t know if his body can do that for a full season.

Posted by Osrt on 06/27/08 at 07:18 PM ET

Bertuzzi was a bad idea the first time around.

I doubt that Ilitch or the Org are about to take a
bad idea and stick with it till it works.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 06/27/08 at 07:28 PM ET

i don’t think it would be a bad move. he hasn’t been the same since the incident but he was defending a team mate and that’s got to count for something (he just went about it the wrong way). they’ve got McCarty for the rough stuff (another great move) so Bertuzzi at the right price certainly wouldn’t hurt them. now all they need to do is get a goalie, they won despite Osgood not because of him.

Posted by m from Vancouver on 06/27/08 at 07:32 PM ET

now all they need to do is get a goalie, they won despite Osgood not because of him.

wrong

Posted by Osrt on 06/27/08 at 07:40 PM ET

How do you win despite a goalie when that goalie was brought in to replace the starting goalie.

So the Wings should have won with and despite Hasek in net? I don’t think so.

Posted by moocat on 06/27/08 at 07:47 PM ET

they won despite Osgood not because of him.

Good point m from Vancouver.

If only we’d had Cloutier.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 06/27/08 at 07:55 PM ET

they won despite Osgood not because of him

You left the ‘oron’ off of your handle.

Posted by shep from california on 06/27/08 at 07:59 PM ET

I doubt that Ilitch or the Org are about to take a bad idea and stick with it till it works.

I have trouble doubting that.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/SPORTS0103/806240346

While Stuart is a work in progress, the Wings appear to be close to bringing back Lilja.

A potential unrestricted free agent, Lilja replaced Chris Chelios in the Stanley Cup Finals and was impressive.

Lilja said after the season he wanted to return to the Wings, even after rejecting a two-year deal late in the season.

“Of course I’d like to return, who wouldn’t want to play here?” Lilja said.

Holland said he and Lilja are close to an agreement, likely for one or two years.

“We may have something done by the end of the week,” Holland said

this is one of those inexplicable things that teams do which makes fans pull their hair out.

which is it?

A - they don’t see what we see

or

B - we don’t see what they see

can an organization like the Wings, with a coach like Babcock and a brain trust like Holland/Bowman/Yzerman, seriously not have seen all the bad plays, giveaways, and how many times the puck ended up in our net seemingly only because Lilja was on the ice.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/27/08 at 08:02 PM ET

Beat you to the punch by 8 minutes.

I think that, if Bertuzzi’s willing to take an extremely affordable deal, he could be utilized in a Dallas Drake-esque role, as a third-line banger who might put up 15 or 20 goals if he actually stays healthy, and if he doesn’t, well, he could compliment Tomas Kopecky as a forechecker with some size and grit.  The expectations and salary alike would have to be on-the-ground low, but as a spare part, sure.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 06/27/08 at 08:05 PM ET

It’s hard to remember back past that time WE WON THE FREAKIN’ STANLEY CUP, but I don’t remember Bertuzzi playing with a whole lot of size, grit, or physicality when he was in Detroit.

Maybe Ozzie can loan him the name of his sports shrink (He’s been a revelation this past playoff year. I can not remember another athlete coming across as more grounded.), so he can get a bit of his old game back. But I wouldn’t be too cheesed off if they gave him about 1/4th of what the Ducks decided he was worth.

But I’d really rather Tucker and/or Rolston.

Posted by Modnar from Cincinnati, OH on 06/27/08 at 08:21 PM ET

Is anyone else bothered that we have $2 million in cap space being taken up by Lilja and Chelios?

Granted Cheli’s going pretty cheap, but he’s on the edge of liability at this point.

With $2 mil Kenny could have some fun rather than cause more heart palpitations in the fanbase.

Chelios needs to put a fork in it...I love the guy’s grit but it’s like giving an old man a drivers license....sure he’s cleared to drive, but doing 35 on the interstate is gonna cause some problems!!!

/Rolston ftw.
//We still in the running for Sundin?
///Dear God. Please no more Bertuzzi. I’ll be more gooder I promise. Thanks, Scott.

Posted by Scott H from Kalamazoo on 06/27/08 at 09:22 PM ET

68 games with Anaheim.
97 penalty minutes.
40 points.

With Detroit and Florida the previous season, 11 points in 15 games.  Starting to have injury problems.

No.  It didn’t work the first time - getting him even cheaper isn’t going to be any better, it’s just going to be a lower salary cap hit of lousy.

Franzen is providing everything that Bertuzzi was supposed to - size, scoring, toughness, drives the net - and he was right under the eyes of the organization all along, he just needed an opportunity.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/27/08 at 10:18 PM ET

Franzen is providing everything that Bertuzzi was supposed to - size, scoring, toughness, drives the net - and he was right under the eyes of the organization all along, he just needed an opportunity.

a lot of people seem to wonder if Franzen is going to be able to continue his high level of play.  will he give us a goal a game for months on end?  of course not.  but we don’t need him to.  if he can play at half the level he did for the last month and playoffs, he’ll be head and shoulders above what Bertuzzi would provide.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/27/08 at 10:35 PM ET

Chelios is completely done, like a stuck-fork type done. He’s an asset during the regular season, but a total liability come playoff time. (If you disagree, Mr. Babcock would like a few words with you) The restaurateur just isn’t the same force he was 15 years ago.

And those that doubt Bertuzzi, just look at what an aging power forward has done for us in the past; you know, a guy like Brendan Shanahan. And, no, Franzen is not a true power forward, and he never will be. I’d take Bertuzzi or Owen Nolan on our 3rd line, second PP unit any day.

Posted by JAMESinMI on 06/27/08 at 10:41 PM ET

it’s like giving an old man a drivers license....sure he’s cleared to drive, but doing 35 on the interstate is gonna cause some problems!!!

Nice analogy. I don’t mind Cheli. So long as his role is limited. Give him 40 games a season, let him work with the younguns. Perfect.

And, no, Franzen is not a true power forward, and he never will be

Just what do you define as a power forward then? His final couple months of play were exactly what you want. A big body who bullies his way to the net and protects or gains the puck with his size. The ability to bang a bit on the forecheck doesn’t hurt either.

Bertuzzi’s play the past couple seasons has been only a shadow of what they were in Vancouver before the incident. Franzen may never be the force Burt once was, but he’s learning to do a damn good job. Less nasty perhaps, but smarter too. I’ll take that trade-off.

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 06/28/08 at 12:44 AM ET

I dunno.  A healthy Bert would probably be pretty fecking great, but he hasn’t been that at least since his back went, and even somewhat longer.  I thought when he was with us last year that he wasn’t fully healthy, and that he’d be a force if we could re-sign him.  Now?  Damn, I’m glad we didn’t.  If he sitll isn’t back to ‘normal’ after a year, then it isn’t his back.  He’s just a shadow of what he once was, and the only way I could see him fitting in would be for a million or so on the third or fourth line.  I’d take Tucker over him.  But again, Rolston over both, and I still think he’s the most likely target.  TWO hometown boys and D-Mac on the roster?  The Wings sales department would be salivating like dogs over horse meat.

they won despite Osgood not because of him.

F*ck it, I’m not pulling any punches here: this is without a doubt the absolutely most idiotic, asinine, uninformed, pigheaded, and downright moronic thing anybody has ever said here, and I’m NOT using The Famous A2Y Sarcasm here.  It may very well rank among the top ten dumbest things ever on the internet, and for a community where Ate My Balls pages and Mahir were once inexplicably popular, THAT’S saying something.  I’m shaking my head as we speak, and if you get upset, M, well then, maybe you should think before you open your whore mouth, you f*cking idiot.

Maybe Ozzie can loan him the name of his sports shrink

He must be good, to make a GOALIE grounded, calm, and normal.

Franzen is providing everything that Bertuzzi was supposed to

I think Franzen just needs to get tougher, and better in fights, and then he will be doing just that.  That being said, he’s now doing all the scoring that Bertuzzi would bring and more, so from that side, really, we’re set.

aging power forward has done for us in the past; you know, a guy like Brendan Shanahan

Uh, Shanny wasn’t exactly ‘aging’ when we got him-- he was 28 and just entering his prime.  If the Poultry had waived a 28-year-old Bertuzzi, I’d be all over that like the fly on the proverbial.  But they haven’t.  And we’ve got to remember that by the time Shanny left, he was a shadow of the dominant power forward he once was with us.  Bertuzzi isn’t even what Shanny was when he parted company with the Wings.  I’m just perplexed by your assertion that Franzen isn’t a power forward and never will be.  6’3, 230 lbs., scores like stink, goes hard to the net, retreives the puck, good in corners.  So what part of that says NOT POWER FORWARD?  All he lacks is the abrasiveness and the fighting acumen, and those can be gained pretty easily.

Heh.  I think the heat and lack of hockey is making us all say some strange things.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the walk-in freezer, keeping cool on 06/28/08 at 12:58 AM ET

Heh.  I think the heat and lack of hockey is making us all say some strange things.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor

So you finally drew me out of MY vacation, you bastards.  Before I go off on anyone, some constructive comments for summer 2008:

The Mojito is the drink of the summer. If you aren’t buying a pretty lady near you one sometime on patio or in a cool bar, you are living in 2006.

If you want to be an interesting person, lead an interestiing life. Instead of staying home 5 nights a week, and going out 2 nights… go out 5 nights a week and stay home 2 You don’t have to spend much money, just spend some time with your friends and family often.  If everyone you know did that, think how many new experiences you would have in a month… in a year.

NOW back to BUSINESS…

Chief summer is not a time to drink your brain into a blur, you still need your analytical faculties.  I could stay silent during the Darcy Tucker talk, many here took care of that.  To stay silent during the Todd Bertuzzi talk is impossible.

I didn’t like Bertuzzi on the team last team, and I sure don’t welcome that neanderthal back on our team.  We are the class of the NHL and should keep it that way.  It is why Avery will never be asked back.

Chief, lay off the moonshine, and remember if you have to make your own the first few gallons have to be thrown out as drinking it will make you go blind due to impurities.

Three helpful summer tips for your amusement.

I have a hot date waking me up in the morning, back to the vacation bitches.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 06/28/08 at 02:34 AM ET

I don’t mind Cheli. So long as his role is limited. Give him 40 games a season, let him work with the younguns. Perfect.

Agreed. And regular season pace is not playoff pace; he can handle the regular season well in a limited on-ice role. Think of him as a bargain player-coach.

Franzen *is* a power forward, but in Wings Style. He’s defensively responsible and plays a rugged game between the whistles; he won’t be a fighter and there is no need for him to be. We’ll probably have the lowest number of fighting majors again next season and that’s fine by me.

Nice post VooX; I like the 5/2 advice.

Posted by Osrt on 06/28/08 at 04:30 AM ET

Regarding Cheli, Nate and Osrt are spot-on:

I don’t mind Cheli. So long as his role is limited. Give him 40 games a season, let him work with the younguns. Perfect.

Holland wrote a lengthy piece in the Hockey News discussing 9 (curious selection huh?) components of making a champion. 

Since it is early here, and I don’t have the magazine in front of me, I’ll paraphrase.  One of the components was basically, stick to your style (puck possession = skill).  Another was that the team was composed of a core of winning veterans so that the “new guys” learned what it takes to win.

Cheli’s inteneded role (i.e. barring injury) is limited minutes of 5 on 5 play, and the P.K.  He is a freaking warrior.  A step slower (ok maybe even two steps) to be sure.  But he has the heart of a Lion, of that there is no doubt .  Trains like a freak.  How valuable is that?  According to K.H. about $850,000 - pretty damn valuable in a cap system.

George James Malik, the notoriously efficient one, noted in another thread that K.H. took the issues in order of importance. Holland noted in the Hockey News article that his team starts with skilled, puck moving “D”.  I’d wager (probably poorly) Holland sees what Stuart does before any moves are made.

Bertuzzi, 3rd or 4th liner only; assuming he would play for that type of money.

Tucker—see above.

Rolston interests me.  A big Flint boy.  35 y/o. 6’2”, 215. 81 games (only 1 game not on the ice), 31 g, 28 a.  For the defensively minded Wild, not bad at all.  In the Playoffs (6 games) 2 g, 4 a, +4. 

He made $2.4 last year!!

I could relish Rolston on the #2 line with Fil and Mule. Put Willam Tell down to the 3 line.

Tucker and Stillwuzzi—I think you have to ask if that is really an upgrade.  Recall, K.H. was going to see if either Downey or MAC would take a two way deal.  Assume one of them does.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 06/28/08 at 08:07 AM ET

I had wanted to comment on that bit in the News about the meatball.

A potential unrestricted free agent, Lilja replaced Chris Chelios in the Stanley Cup Finals and was impressive.

WHEN WAS HE IMPRESSIVE??? WHEN??????  I WANT PROOF!!!!!

Posted by monkey from Waiting for the lambs to stop screaming on 06/28/08 at 08:39 AM ET

The Osgood haters should remember that there are only seven NHL teams that have won the Cup more times than he has.

Posted by monkey from Waiting for the lambs to stop screaming on 06/28/08 at 09:09 AM ET

WHEN WAS HE IMPRESSIVE??? WHEN??????  I WANT PROOF!!!!!

He’s 6’3”, 220 lbs - so I guess he is impressively large.

Other than that, I got nuttin.

Another thing to be aware of with Rolston is that the buyout provisions are different for players over 35 years old, so that has to be considered.

I really don’t see either Bertuzzi or Tucker as an upgrade over anything short of a semi-trained orangutan on skates.  The guys currently on the roster worked their butts off last year and I think they and the new guys should be given first crack at any open spots instead of bringing in someone with his own full luggage cart of baggage behind him.  Why make the season any more difficult than you have to?

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/28/08 at 09:47 AM ET

People keep posting about how Chelios’ skills aren’t what they were 5 years ago (which is very true) but I think McCarty is in the same boat.

Posted by Yzerman19 from Nashville on 06/28/08 at 09:52 AM ET

I’m not worried about Cheli’s “decline.” I think that the stuff that needed “cleaning up” in his knee significantly limited his mobility, and was a much bigger factor in his playoff struggles than we were led to believe.  He couldn’t effectively turn to the right when he was battling for the puck along the boards, and he couldn’t recover if somebody chipped the puck in and got a step on him, either.

When he can skate, he doesn’t look like he’s doing much at times, but I think that he’s much more effective than people give him credit for as a rock-solid stay-at-home defenceman, and he seems to steady the Wings’ younger blueliners, big time.  I genuinely believe that Lebda’s a better defenceman when Cheli’s there to push him along. 

I’m less worried about Chelios, Lilja (he’s a bonehead, but come on people, he didn’t do too many stupid things in the finals, and for a defenceman whose job is to limit his mistakes, he was damn good), or anybody on the Wings’ blueline not named Stuart--if he’s gone, the Wings need somebody to either step up and establish himself as the #4 guy, or they need to find one, fast--and their main issues (otherwise) are to find a #2 centre to buy Filppula some time to develop into that role, find a nasty forechecker to fill in for Drake (again, to buy Kopecky time to grow into that role), and to determine whether they’re going to go with Howard and a veteran AHL’er who can step up in a pinch, or whether they’re going to go with a more established NHL #2 guy. 

That’s my take, and I think that Bertuzzi, if he’s willing to actually not chase money this time around, could work in a very limited role.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 06/28/08 at 10:31 AM ET

The Wings need Darcy Tucker.  He could come with a huge discount if he wants his name on our cup.  A 6 mil buyout would be a luxury in making that decision. 

Here is what he brings.

‘Attitude’

With Drake’s feet up and in a rocking chair it will be sorely missed.  All the arguments that McCarty and Downey filling that role are rediculous.  Just imagine either of them out there killing a 5 on 3.
Drake was used there successfully many times.

As for Rolston:

It took Scotty many years to unload all the talent that were lacking on ‘Board Skills’.  Since that time the Wings have never procured any players that were not great on the boards.  Board skills were detrimental in the development of Dats and Z, worth the wait, but really a 35 yr old lacking that trait...give me a break.

(I am not saying Brian is weak on the board...but..I always notice players that are strong on the boards, and in all these years he never caught my eye.....trust HockeyTownTodd.)

Darcy Tucker fits my roster

and

By the way Kenny…

Owen Nolan would be an easy fit in your record of HasBeens and ReTreads.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 06/28/08 at 10:52 AM ET

For those who are old enough to remember who Dusty Springfield is, this is her time of year in the hockey world...a lot of Wishin’ And Hopin’.

But where’s the reality in these discussions? Tucker and Bert are being touted as replacements for Drake, but if that’s to be their role, what happens to Kopecky? If the Wings do sign a #2 center/winger (Rolston would be my choice), and with them almost certain to carry 8 D-men, there’s only one additional roster spot open. Even without signing Tucker or Bert, Helm has to go back to G.R. to make room for D-Mac. With them, there’s no room for Tomas.

With Lilja and Cheli both back, if the Wings sign Stuart or another #4 guy, there’s also no room for one of Meech and Quincy. Somewhere along the line, there’s going to have to be a trade because there’s no way Kopecky, Meech or Quincy will pass through waivers if they’re sent down.

This truly is an “embarassment of riches” situation for the Wings. A roster that’s pretty damn good just the way it is. Money to spend. And a number of options available (did I mention Rolston) to make the team even better.

Having Holland, Nill and the rest of the organ-I-zation making these decisions should make us all feel pretty good. So, why am I still so darn nervous? 

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/28/08 at 11:25 AM ET

Are you really that bored, Chief?

Bertuzzi—I was ok with ti the first time, but his time in DET and since in ANA proves that he doesn’t have much to contribute anymore.  So an emphatic “no”.  He wouldn’t be a locker room problem or anything… but no.

Now what HTTodd said… Owen Nolan… I could get behind that idea.  He showed he has some left last year, and he’s hungry for a ring.

Posted by Primis on 06/28/08 at 11:54 AM ET

While I like Tucker on this team, I’m also of the mind that if the Wings do nothing this free agent summer, I’m quite content in knowing that the organization knows exactly what they’re doing.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 06/28/08 at 01:56 PM ET

All this talk and nobody’s bringing up Huselius and Malone?  Either/both of these guys are more valuable for the money than any of the free agents talked about here.

btw Screw the guy who hates Ozzie.

and Screw Bertuzzi.

Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 06/28/08 at 03:49 PM ET

All this talk and nobody’s bringing up Huselius and Malone?

Good guys, but both will be overpaid by someone this summer.

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 06/28/08 at 04:38 PM ET

I gotta throw my hat in the “No” ring on the Bertuzzi question.

There were a few plays near the end of the season, and in the beginning of the playoffs where we saw glimpses of his old, fearsome, self. But if IIRC the Wings divulged that he played half of the first round, all of the second round and all of the conference finals with a cracked tailbone. Frankly, I don’t think he can stay healthy anymore and for that reason I’d take a pass on him unless he was dirt cheap (like sub 1 million cheap), but since he’s never gonna be quite that cheap, it’s sort of a dead issue.

Posted by wingsfanindenver from 'lancheland on 06/29/08 at 06:26 PM ET

VooX is a blog wizard.

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 06/29/08 at 07:18 PM ET

I really don’t see either Bertuzzi or Tucker as an upgrade over anything short of a semi-trained orangutan on skates.

Agreed, Baroque.  Agreed.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 06/29/08 at 09:51 PM ET

F*ck it, I’m not pulling any punches here: this is without a doubt the absolutely most idiotic, asinine, uninformed, pigheaded, and downright moronic thing anybody has ever said here, and I’m NOT using The Famous A2Y Sarcasm here.  It may very well rank among the top ten dumbest things ever on the internet, and for a community where Ate My Balls pages and Mahir were once inexplicably popular, THAT’S saying something.  I’m shaking my head as we speak, and if you get upset, M, well then, maybe you should think before you open your whore mouth, you f*cking idiot.

What’s wrong with you?

Posted by Alex Cutter from L.A. on 06/30/08 at 07:25 AM ET

What’s wrong with you?

You really want me to qualify that with an answer?  Maybe you should use your eyes and read what I was responding to (handily quoted in my post) before you insinuate that there’s something wrong with me besides provoked anger.

I’m sick and tired of the old lies, bro.  Old lies like the Wings winning Cups despite Osgood, not because of him.  Luckily, stats don’t lie.  Stats like a 1.55 GAA and .930 save percentage.

If that means there’s something wrong with me, than the vast majority of Wings fans are so afflicted.  If you’re not, go hang with your kindred soul in Vancouver.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the day of the long knives on 06/30/08 at 07:42 AM ET

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the day of the long knives on 06/30 at 08:42 AM

I understood everything clearly, even being 6 hours behind you.

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 06/30/08 at 05:55 PM ET

You really want me to qualify that with an answer?  Maybe you should use your eyes and read what I was responding to (handily quoted in my post) before you insinuate that there’s something wrong with me besides provoked anger.

I did read—by using my eyes (thanks for the tip!)—what you were responding to.

I was just curious why someone who wasn’t mentally retarded would react that strongly.

So again, what’s wrong with you? Why so much anger?

Posted by Alex Cutter from L.A. on 06/30/08 at 06:10 PM ET

um, VooX, I agree with a lot that you say, except, The Mojito WAS the drink of 2006. I sense your about to tell us to check out that hot new band Coldplay, to be romantic for that special lady, also. We’ll, they actually sucked back then too.

What kind of ladies are you going out with?

Posted by cowboycoffee from San Francisco, CA on 07/01/08 at 01:01 AM ET

What is it, Be An Absolute Jackass Day in California?  Once again I’m reminded of the unpleasant tendencies of those on the coasts to look down on people from ‘flyover country.’

Alex, your cruel pillorying of the mentally disabled to make a crude point doesn’t seem to be asking for a rational response as to why I reacted angrily, but I’ll give you one anyway.  Perhaps you haven’t been following this team for long, or maybe not at all (if not at all, I’ll refrain from asking you what you’re doing here in the first place).  If not, then you haven’t heard the barbs directed at Osgood over the past twelve years, over and over, by people who should believe in him as I believe in him.  Perhaps you haven’t seen him go about his job with good grace and quiet humility, posting numbers that prove those insults misplaced and wrong.  Perhaps none of these things.  If you haven’t, I appreciate that it’s hard to understand my anger.  It is a strong anger borne of the repetition of lies, provoked incessantly over more than a decade.  I will say that being angry doesn’t make me mentally retarded-- it makes me human.  In any case, the original poster displayed at best profound ignorance of the season Osgood has just had in saying what he or she did.  At worst, it’s intentional malice.  Either way, it makes me angry and I reacted strongly.  If that offends your delicate sensibilities so much that you have to insinuate that there is something wrong with me and that I have a learning disability, I’d advise you to steer clear of Abel To Yzerman, because buddy, there’s stronger stuff than that lurking around here.

Ah, who am I kidding?  I’m sure you’ll just sling out another boorish insult that humiliates a defenseless segment of society in order to show your contempt for me.  Others can then decide for themselves who, indeed, has something wrong with them.  Fire away, sir.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from online, again cynically unsurprised by people on 07/01/08 at 04:47 AM ET

Oh, and Bill-- thanks.  I knew YOU’D get it, time difference notwithstanding.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from online, reminded again of the emeralds in the coal on 07/01/08 at 04:50 AM ET

I’m not sure why being ticked off at hearing the same uninformed comment year after year after year after year after year like a stuck parrot, despite all the considerable evidence to the contrary, means that someone is mentally disabled.

To me that indicates a degree of sanity.  But then, what do I know.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/01/08 at 07:20 AM ET

To me that indicates a degree of sanity.

Thanks, Baroque.  All too often it seems as though the inmates have taken over the asylum.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King on 07/01/08 at 09:22 AM ET

hahaha, jk. i just thought i was in the Dear Abbey forum for a minute.

Posted by cowboycoffee from Boston, but usually San Francisco on 07/01/08 at 12:20 PM ET