Abel to Yzerman
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Wednesday Questions
by IwoCPO on 07/25/07 at 02:58 AM ET
Comments (16)
Updated 2 minutes after I hit “post”: Almost forgot. Happy birthday to my little doorknob of a brother. If any of you see him on the town today or tonite rub his tummy and buy him a cheap warm one for me.
Tick, tock….tick, tock. Just waiting for the summer to end. Kenny’s done dealing. Jimmy D’s had his annual senility-driven rant and it’s still plenty warm enough in Denver for Thomas and his pals to run the street in mascara and Dique jerseys.
Been sitting here for a few minutes considering what kind of brilliance I can provide you and I’m afraid the tank is shockingly empty. Boredom, in my case, can be a little dangerous. The last time I found myself with nothing to write this happened:
Some Ho’s are, and have been, proud to be Ho’s. And I think it’s time we all reflect on the contributions of Ho’s, and what they’ve meant to our society. If you find that offensive, you need to take a long look in the mirror and asked yourself why you don’t place that kind of value on a Ho, especially one in particular.
That’s right, Don Ho died Saturday. No Ho ever sang tiny bubbles like that Ho did. America lost a Ho yesterday, a big-time Ho.
Me? I love that post. Love it. Some of you took offense. Others ignored it completely and shook your heads from your elitist ivory towers. As A2Y legend Jack Black would say, “you create something…like inward singing.”
I wish I could give you something to equal that tribute to the American ho, but I can’t today. So, I’m left with questions, more questions.
If Nik Kronwall stays healthy this year (don’t even write it, I know), just how much of an offensive impact can he have? There are moments when he shows us flashes of brilliance, those moves with the puck just inside the blue line or a surprising deftness between the circles, that lead us to believe he could be a fifteen goal guy, a 65 point guy. But his career path doesn’t indicate that. In nearly ten years of pro hockey in Sweden, Grand Rapids and Detroit; Kronwall’s had one season with ten+ goals: ‘04-‘05 for the Griffs. He had 13 that year in 76 games. Consider this though: he’s never had a season other than that one and last year in which he played more than fifty games. Given a full year (I know, don’t write it), we could very well expect ten or so, or more.
Listening to Sirius yesterday morning I realized that they won’t be carrying hockey this Fall? Whatever happened to the rumored merger between them and XM? And speaking of Sirius, there’s an early morning sports host on ESPN named Jason Smith. Three times in the last week he’s compared various topics to infidelity. “You know, it’s like when your girlfriend’s cheating on you…” He goes into a long description of a scenario (“she’s not answering her cell phone, plenty of ‘just friend’ guys, etc, etc) then says, “not that I have experience with that or anything.” I’m thinking the young man has some issues he’s decided to resolve in front of his listening audience. Excellent. I’ll be tuning in again in about 30 minutes.
Is Mikael Samuelsson trade-able? 1.2/year for two more years says perhaps. Why do I even bring it up? Because I’m not sure I can handle another season of his hot/cold routine. Don’t raise my hopes by scoring in 9 consecutive games then dash them again by going all fetal for 20. If you’re going to suck, then suck. Suck and you’ll be gone. But don’t tease the organ-I-zation to the point where getting rid of you isn’t an option. I understand some players are streaky. Hank’s been through a few of those himself, but the effort is always there which is how he breaks out of his slumps. With Samuelsson, I don’t think you can say that. And I’ll bet it drives Uncle Mike frigging insane. If there is a trade to be made, I’m betting he’s involved.
Discussion amongst the diggers and a few message board experts centers around Kyle Quincey possibly finding a spot in the top six next year? See it? Me either. I just don’t know how that could happen barring injury. Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Lebda, Chelios and Lilja. Will Quincey make the team out of camp? Probably. Twenty starts? Maybe. Top 6? Nope. I liked the way he played last Spring when we needed him badly. He was steady and amazingly composed for his age and that situation. But, I think he’s a year away, or more. And…if Meech and Kindl are as good as advertised then Quincey’s playoff performance may have set him up for a ticket out of town…if the right deal comes along.
That’s all I got. There is no more. Enjoy your day and remember…America thrives because we are a nation, a continent, of diverse cultures and communities. Each lend something different to the success of the republic. So the next time you have the chance, do us all a favor—a solid, if you will.
Thank a ho.
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Comments
I’m not sold on “Little Nicky”. Nor Samuelsson. Trade ‘em both, with a pick if need be, for said top six forward that KH desires. Just my $.02
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 07/25/07 at 07:12 AM ET
Kronwall is definately worth trading if they can get a top 6 forward that’s under the age of 30.
Posted by Nathan on 07/25/07 at 07:27 AM ET
Little Nik is a big dud. Not learning from his mistakes, he keeps making the same ones over and over. His defensive partners wind up looking terrible while trying to cover his errors and poor judgement. He should have been traded before the last deadline. He reminds me of Anders Eriksson (this year he will be doing his best to shorten Iron Mike’s new career in CGY).
Don’t give up on Sammy, I think his inconsistency could be linked to ice time. His goals are timely, and inspire the whole teams performance.
Posted by Gramps (HockeyTownTodd) from Hockeytown on 07/25/07 at 10:16 AM ET
I have been to Denver twice in my life. I am from Detroit. Born and raised. Everyone knows that.
If making transvestite jokes gets you off, so be it. I guess I cross-dress in Detroit then. Heh, I guess I’d fit right in. Go to downtown Royal Oak or Ferndale on a Saturday night, go home with a “girl” and then tell me Sunday if she had the proper parts. 10 to 1 you got a little “surprise”.
Posted by Thomas on 07/25/07 at 02:22 PM ET
Wow Thomas. Wow. All I can say is that I’m shocked to see you react in such a defensive manner. It certainly wasn’t my intent to offend. That’s just not who I am.
Please keep reading and expressing yourself. Not only is it healthy, but it’s something we’ve all come to enjoy.
It’s not just “transvestite jokes” that I enjoy, Thomas. It’s Dive Transvestite jokes. That’s, as we like to say here, fun for the whole family. Speaking of which, did you like the Ho post? I did.
And, again, let us know if you need help with bail money.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 07/25/07 at 02:29 PM ET
Defensive? Not at all.
Like I said before, I don’t see the relevance. A transvestite hooker was arrested in Denver wearing an Avs jersey. So what? Why is that so funny? If it were a transvestite hooker wearing a Wings jersey, I’d shrug my shoulders.
Wings fans’ obsession with the Avs and their fans is fascinating to me. You’re just like Buckeye fans. Buckeye fans center their entire existence around Michigan, while Michigan is centered around winning. Ohio State’s entire season is based around beating Michigan, while Michigan could beat OSU 77-0 and lose the National Championship and their season is a failure.
Same with you guys. It’s all about Colorado. All these years later, you still have to refer to the Avs with some stupid nickname that makes no sense.
Nobody is getting defensive, I just don’t get why someone who should know better by now seems to think I am from Denver.
Hell, I piss Avs fans off all the time by saying I wouldn’t mind seeing the team move. I’d love to see them move into the Palace (couldn’t happen, but one can wish).
Guess making transvestite jokes and calling the team names is about all you can do when your idiot GM lets an entire 2nd line as well as one of your three best defensemen go with absolutely nothing in the system even remotely capable of replacing them. Whatever sops up your tears, I guess.
Posted by Thomas on 07/25/07 at 02:49 PM ET
As for the “Ho” post, I found it dick-and-fart humor, which is something that I have come to expect from you. The type of person who would get so much mileage out of a transvestite being arrested in an Avs jersey is the same type of person who would find humor in the name “Ho.”
I guess we can all just be thankful that you don’t live in South Carolina. People wear “Cocks” hats all the time, and I can only imagine what you’d post about that.
So anyway, are you Beavis or Butthead? I can never remember.
Posted by Thomas on 07/25/07 at 02:52 PM ET
And long winded too. Outstanding effort. Transvestite jokes, ho’s, Dive fans in denial…all are fair game here Tommy.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 07/25/07 at 03:00 PM ET
I guess I cross-dress in Detroit then.
ya don’t say…
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 07/25/07 at 03:48 PM ET
That’s fine. Like I said, whatever sops up the tears.
Wait, nevermind. No tears from you. You’re the one with Holland’s nuts on your chin, making ridiculous predictions about 3rd line pluggers scoring 25g. You don’t even understand how screwed your team is right now. No, it’s Avalanche fans who are in “denial.”
Denial of what, I wonder?
Posted by Thomas on 07/25/07 at 04:00 PM ET
Denial of the fact that they didn’t even make the *#$%@& playoffs last season?
Denial that Jose Vezina is still in the fold?
?
Posted by TeamDub from The Fifedom of Finkbeiner on 07/25/07 at 04:26 PM ET
Yeah, I’m a little confused about that too. The team that just made the WCFs is screwed, but the team that missed the playoffs entirely is in such great shape?
Posted by HockeyinHD on 07/25/07 at 06:03 PM ET
I’ll be very happy when Thomas either a) goes back to school or b) starts taking his medication again. Summer boredom and a desire to get one’s rocks off while dishing out abuse on an obsessed-upon subject (which is, of course, denied and subjected to the “I’m rubber, you’re glue” treatment), these get boring, fast. Trolls are trolls are trolls.
It’d be better if he just sat in his tower, and [blanking] napped. Or if he took the schnitzel.
Next song.
Determining the offensive output of a European-born defenceman is a difficult endeavour. Nick’s best season in Sweden was 23 points in 39 games, whereas Quincey put up 46 points in 59 games with Mississauga in his last OHL season. Up front, Pavel churned out 27 points in 49 games in his last season in Russia, whereas Hank put up 46 points in 47 games in his second-to-last season in Sweden…
I’d say that Kronwall has the potential to put up about 50-55 points one day, maybe when he’s 28 or 29 and has gotten his feet under him. His puck-rushing ability is pretty awesome when he’s not worried about blowing out his knee or nearly cutting his nose off, and he’s got a tremendous ability to rove, join the rush, and rush the puck himself when necessary. I’d say that he needs to follow Nicklas Lidstrom’s advice in trying to keep things simple, because he’s always looking to make that play that has one extra deke, one extra second of holding onto the puck before shooting or passing, or one extra stride before clutching up, and that makes him horribly prone to turnovers. He needs to settle down, big time. If he can simply chill and keep his hot-dogging to a bare minimum, the points will come.
As far as Samuelsson goes, he does have quite the after-the-whistle-scrum edge to him, but his inconsistency frustrates me, too. I think he’s tradable, and if he doesn’t establish himself as a top-six guy this year, the Wings will move him in my opinion.
Quincey can make the Wings’ roster, but I’m with you on this one, Bill—send him down until he gets the swagger to step into guys and level them. Meech isn’t nearly as physically aggressive, but he’s extremely solid, a la Quincey last year in the playoffs, and his offensive upside at this point is very polished. Meech has the NHL strength and fitness level that Quincey still lacks, and, at his very worst, Meech projects to be a Woolley-style complimentary vet. At his best, he could become more of a second-pair guy who could supplement Rafalski or the aforementioned Kronwall as a steady-eddie defenceman who can both provide a solid partner to an offensive guy on the PP and be the first man back in his own end, breaking up odd-man rushes and shutting down teams on the PK. He just needs to play.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/26/07 at 12:19 AM ET
I agree with George’s comments re: Kronwall. Goalscoring in the SEL isn’t anywhere near what it is in the NHL, not to mention they play fewer games. Zetterberg scored only 25 goals in 95 games before coming over. Datsyuk scored 15 in 99 games at Russia’s top level. Both are legitimate goalscores in the NHL.
I think trading Samuelsson is a bad idea. First, he’s a decent complementary top 6 forward. Not great, certrainly not consistent, but effective enough to merit a regular shift on those two lines and on the PP. Second, he costs 1.2. Detroit isn’t going to move him and be able to get someone better who makes less.
Finally, Quincey would really have to impress to make the roster, because doing so would force the Wings to expose Meech to waivers if they sent him down (IIRC). I think it’s much much much more likely Meech does a Hudler/Kopecky 2006 impersonation so the team can keep him than it is the team risks losing him for nothing just so Quincey can play 10 minutes a game on a third pairing for Detroit in 2007.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 07/26/07 at 07:32 AM ET
Sigh….
Anaheim is screwed because of the Stanley Cup hangover, Detroit is screwed because Ken Holland is an incompetent monkey with a cell phone, Chicago is going to make a run for the playoffs and Patrick Kane will be rookie of the year, Dustin Penner will be the missing piece that leads Edmonton to 50 wins…..
It’s the end of JULY. Could we at least wait until the season starts and each team has played enough games to extrapolate an entire season from a ridiculously small sample size? That’s what most fans do, anyway.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/29/07 at 09:51 PM ET
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Chief, the “Ho” post is a classic. You do some of your best work when you get bored!
Besides, the problem is, as soon as the pre-season starts, you will get shipped to Manchuria or some place with no electricity (and no ocean).
As far as I am concerned, “Little Nick” is highly over-rated. No? Then SHOW ME! ... Give me Lebda. He is more fun to watch.
Quincey played very well in the playoffs, but he may not make the team. If the Wings try to send Meech back to G.R. they lose him on waivers. Ultimately, Lilja gets traded to make room for both.
I like the way Sammy always pisses off the other team. He is ALWAYS in a tussle when the whistle blows. Maltby used to do that. Sammy has size, and he doesn’t get pushed around. He plays with an edge, whether he is scoring or not. Many times he is playing hurt and we don’t know it.
Assuming he has seen that endearing photo of the average Dique fan, I suspect that Floppa is all atwitter about re-joining his old buddies….Won’t they get high in Denver!
Posted by w2j2 on 07/25/07 at 06:18 AM ET