The optimist in me says:  it could have been worse.

The realist in me says:  Fuch, R.S.V.

Wondering if the league that Gary built is going to mete out any supplemental discipline?  Who am I kidding?

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/22/09 at 02:29 PM ET

There is absolutely no reason Laraque should still be in the league. He high sticked, quite blatantly, Helm on the same shift and got a 4 minute penalty for that, then pulls a very dirty hit on Kronner.

Posted by Osrt on 11/22/09 at 02:39 PM ET

Agreed, Okie.  Could have been worse…and unfortunately a month is just the time it’s going to take to get him back on the ice.  Getting his legs back to mid-season form is going to take a while longer…he’ll probably be about where he needs to be just before the long Olympic break.

*#$%@&.

Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 11/22/09 at 02:47 PM ET

Grade 2-3 on the MCL means he bent it pretty good. 

Fu&%#$@  Laraque should be suspended

Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 11/22/09 at 03:42 PM ET

I was bracing myself for him being out for the season.  This isn’t as bad as I had initially feared.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/22/09 at 03:56 PM ET

Laraque deserves a suspension of about 5-10 games in my mind.

There is absolutely no reason Laraque should still be in the league. He high sticked, quite blatantly, Helm on the same shift and got a 4 minute penalty for that, then pulls a very dirty hit on Kronner.

Posted by Osrt on 11/22/09 at 02:39 PM ET

Careful calling for a lifetime ban.  The Wings do employ Todd Bertuzzi.

Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 11/22/09 at 04:11 PM ET

Careful calling for a lifetime ban.  The Wings do employ Todd Bertuzzi.

Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity… on 11/22/09 at 04:11 PM ET

Well, I would be okay with a lifetime ban! 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/22/09 at 04:42 PM ET

I’m relieved it isn’t worse ... he was in so much pain I thought it likely would be a tear. Still, I’m not looking forward to two months of Meech.

Careful calling for a lifetime ban.  The Wings do employ Todd Bertuzzi.

Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity… on 11/22/09 at 04:11 PM ET

There are many Wings fans who would have been fine with that, and who still don’t like the fact that 44 is on the team.

Posted by Bella on 11/22/09 at 04:48 PM ET

That is true Bella.

Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 11/22/09 at 05:01 PM ET

I’ve been a Wings fans since the day when Dale McCourt was our star player, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a season such as this one, injury-and just plain ass bad luck-wise.

GONE
Hossa
Franzen
Filppula
Samuelson
Hudler
Kronwall

Sheesh ...that lineup right there would beat the Leafs in a 4/7 series.

It’s amazing, the attrition this team has had to endure in the last six months.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 11/22/09 at 05:07 PM ET

Laraque should be out until Kronwall comes back. that was the stupidest thing i saw last night. he should of been thrown out after been seen giggling in the penalty box.

Posted by FlyersFan on 11/22/09 at 05:19 PM ET

It sucks that the Wings are turning into the ‘07 Avs.
If the Wings fans remember they were basically playing the Lake Erie Monsters in the playoffs.  Although to really make the Wings the Avs of two seasons ago they would have to lose Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Lidstrom for a time right before if not during the playoffs.

Let’s just hope that if the injury riddled Wings limp into the playoffs and are swept by a hot, healthy team, that team’s fans won’t rub the Wings fans noses in the fact they got swept.

Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 11/22/09 at 05:19 PM ET

Had the knee to knee been made on Rosby, Laraque would be facing the death penalty.

Posted by Jerrod on 11/22/09 at 06:13 PM ET

... that team’s fans won’t rub the Wings fans noses in the fact they got swept.

They probably will.  Human nature - it’s very common.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/22/09 at 06:28 PM ET

Let’s just hope that if the injury riddled Wings limp into the playoffs and are swept by a hot, healthy team, that team’s fans won’t rub the Wings fans noses in the fact they got swept.

Posted by AvsRock

Hey man, nothing personal. I grew up admiring Sakic and hating Lemieux so any time we beat the Avs it brings joy. The only people I hate now are trolls who show up at A2Y and spout off about beating us in the regular season, like that fuching matters at all.

Also, I’m hoping Tuzzi can right himself and play a valuable role but if he had been banned for life that would have been ok too. I’m rooting for him in the name of rehabilitation and redemption, although neither of which is entirely possible.

Laraque should be out until Kronwall comes back. that was the stupidest thing i saw last night. he should of been thrown out after been seen giggling in the penalty box.

Posted by FlyersFan

Agreed. This would be a great way to deal with head shots as well. You’re out as long as the player you hunted is. If their career is over so is yours. Why? Because NHL players know better than anyone how hard they had to work to make to the league and carve out some kind of career. If such a drastic case does occur, then the NHLPA should review it and hold a league wide vote about kicking the player out; they’ll have to share the ice with him at some point, so they should have final say.

Posted by Osrt on 11/22/09 at 06:33 PM ET

Let’s just hope that if the injury riddled Wings limp into the playoffs and are swept by a hot, healthy team, that team’s fans won’t rub the Wings fans noses in the fact they got swept.

That would be a better point if not for the 2009 team being essentially the same as the 2008 team, and stinking outrageously.

Really, even the 2010 Avs are pretty bad, they’re just getting outrageously good goaltending from Anderson.  If/when he returns to planet earth the Avs will go back to losing the significant majority of their games.  Colorado’s getting routinely dominated right now, with their only win in the past 6 coming in a game Anderson outright stole for them getting outshot 36-24.

Even after Detroit experiencing year to year injuries and personnel losses which dwarf what Colorado suffered in the 2008 playoffs the Wings are only 3 points back of the Avs with two games in hand and Colorado coming up on a 5 game in 8 night stretch.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 11/22/09 at 06:50 PM ET

Its tough, but you can look at it this way:

Kronwall will be about a month fresher come playoff time.

Same goes with Filppula and Franzen.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 11/22/09 at 06:55 PM ET

Its tough, but you can look at it this way:

Kronwall will be about a month fresher come playoff time.

Same goes with Filppula and Franzen.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 11/22/09 at 06:55 PM ET

Team Sweden is getting decimated - especially considering that Lidstrom hasn’t decided if he is going to play or not in the Olympics, since he wants to see how he feels.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/22/09 at 07:13 PM ET

Well HinHD, the Avs have surpassed every fan’s expectations already.  If they start to tank we’ll just continue the rebuild.

If I were the Wings I would seriously start fearing Chicago right about now.  I think the Hawks are going to take the division pretty handily.

If the injuries keep coming, I don’t think the Wings could handle a playoff run right now.  Let’s face it folks.  The last two seasons have been pretty grueling.  It’s arguable that they have played more hockey than any other team.  Couple that with a few games in Europe and the team’s stars going to the Olympics and the Wings are going to be pretty exhausted come April.

Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 11/22/09 at 07:17 PM ET

My last comment being said, I will wish the Wings good luck.

I think it would be fantastic if the Wings met the Avs in the playoffs this year.

Posted by AvsRock from My timeshare in insanity... on 11/22/09 at 07:18 PM ET

If I were the Wings I would seriously start fearing Chicago right about now.  I think the Hawks are going to take the division pretty handily.

Chicago is good. There’s no doubt about it. Am I worried? Meh…the Wings already beat them once. Sure they seem to be rolling…but don’t forget…they have Coach Q. That evens the odds rather well.

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 11/22/09 at 08:42 PM ET

Well HinHD, the Avs have surpassed every fan’s expectations already.  If they start to tank we’ll just continue the rebuild.

I think that’s more an example of the Avs only winning 2 playoff games past the first round since the Wings ended Roy’s career in 2002 with a game 7 mutilation than anything else, really.

If I were the Wings I would seriously start fearing Chicago right about now.  I think the Hawks are going to take the division pretty handily.

Entirely possible.  Also entirely irrelevant.  San Jose is also going to have a fantastic regular season.  As is Washington.  As are lots of teams who have just about zero testicular fortitude when it comes playoff time and next to no real chance at unseating a tough, playoff-tested team.

Also, it’s not unreasonable to think that Detroit will be leading the Central by the end of November, even injured as they are.  Chicago has 4 on the road all against relevant teams, while Detroit has 3-2 (home/road) with only maybe one or two games against playoff-contending clubs.

If the injuries keep coming, I don’t think the Wings could handle a playoff run right now.

Gee, ya think so?

It’s November.  If Detroit’s this injured in April, we’ll see.  Heck, even if they are they will be a team that not one single club in the postseason will want to face.  Not in the first round, not in the second round, not at any time.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 11/22/09 at 10:07 PM ET

Its tough, but you can look at it this way:

Kronwall will be about a month fresher come playoff time.

Same goes with Filppula and Franzen.

Gotta get to the playoffs before that’s a factor.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 11/23/09 at 08:32 AM ET