Here’s what the Wings should do.  They should dress and play Datsyuk and Lidstrom, forcing the NHL to ACTUALLY, OFFICIALLY suspend them.  That way, they can:
a) appeal the decision and put an official microscope on the situation, and
b) if the suspension stands, without pay, they can call up a couple Griffins to fill in for Datsyuk and Lidstrom.
c) play Datsyuk and Lidstrom today, letting Franzen and Stuart rest for this game and maybe be healthy for the enxt game, when the “official” suspension would take place.

Posted by Garth on 01/26/09 at 04:32 PM ET

In related news, Gary Bettman announced that the Red Wings have been on double secret probation since the beginning of the semester…er training camp.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 01/26/09 at 05:08 PM ET

It’s simply the NHL enforcing an understanding it and the league’s general managers agreed to last February, that a player must miss either the game preceding or following the All-Star game if he elects not to play in the All-Star game.

Gary sure is sneaky… he must have seen this coming with Ms. Cleopatra’s help, so he got the approval of those darned GMs a year early, none realizing what forces they were messing with. Then, with a little pixie dust…. they all forgot about it, not being able to remember for a whole year to find anything wrong with the policy, until it’s true, diabolical nature was made clear.

Posted by SENShobo from Waterloo, ON on 01/26/09 at 06:21 PM ET

Here’s what the Wings should do.

The fact that the next three words aren’t “Let it go” is disappointing.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/26/09 at 06:30 PM ET

or that they aren’t ever about changing the rule that’s been in place for a year for the future, only for the here and now, when it affects Detroit. There’s always a lot of excitement to see what Holland’s cleverness can come up with, but in this case, there’s an undeniable tension, because the more asking about what can be done that goes on, the more you find out that the die was cast and known well in advance of this rise of din.

Posted by SENShobo from Waterloo, ON on 01/26/09 at 06:36 PM ET

The thing that makes me angry about the situation, is the fact that both players were injured. If they were injured, I don’t feel like they should have to participate in any ASG activities, whether on ice or not. But whatever, whats done is done, and you guys are right, the best thing to do is move on and start refocusing on games that really matter.

Posted by Sp4r7an on 01/26/09 at 06:58 PM ET

Here’s what Earl should do

I was thinking the next three words should be “kiss my ass”.

Posted by Garth on 01/26/09 at 07:08 PM ET

Garth, you are king of the HF-boards-style rebuttal.  Congrats.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/26/09 at 07:22 PM ET

I don’t know what “HF-boards-style” means, but thank you.  Ass.

Posted by Garth on 01/26/09 at 07:34 PM ET

So what in particular pissed you off today, Garth?  That I had the gall to suggest that the Wings should let it go rather than fight the league over this?

You’ll probably hate my next suggestion, too.  Maybe we should let this one go also.

Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/26/09 at 07:39 PM ET

Let it go?  Do you think I’m taking this personally?  Do you think I’m doing anything more than amusing myself?

Notice your previous comment.  Then notice mine.  Does it suggest anywhere that I’m angry?  Seems to me that I was making light of your comment.

But, I suppose THAT comment (and by extension, probably THIS comment) will be interpreted by you as me not being able to let it go.

I made a comment, you responded, I responded back.  Sorry, I missed the rule that states that Earl Sleek’s opinion is be-all, end-all.

My mistake.

By all means, tell me to let it go once more, because I am so fuming with rage that I simply will not be able to let it go.

Posted by Garth on 01/26/09 at 08:37 PM ET

The paid “suspension” is a good way to get around the Players Union coming in and calling for heads to roll.

Very convenient way to sidestep any and all rules.

Oh well - sack up and move on, the league is run as lamely as ever.

Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 01/26/09 at 08:39 PM ET

The rule that the BoG voted in says that it will be a game missed, with pay; it is not a sidestepping of the rules, it is the proper application of the rule, even if the 30 governors (including Detroit’s) who voted it in were not fully aware when they voted it in last year how they would feel about it when it was actually upheld and implemented for the first time.

Posted by SENShobo from Waterloo, ON on 01/26/09 at 08:43 PM ET

SENShobo, I think the real issue, with the organization at least, is that both players were injured. Especially with Datsyuk’s case in which he left almost half-way through the last game with his injury. I think, and I’m sure many people agree with me, that it is unfair to ask a player who is injured to do anything but try and get healthy, and flying to Montreal and shaking hands with a bunch of people is not a good way to do that. I agree that it is time to move on, but I can understand people’s frustration (myself included) who thinks this was a stupid rule to put in place. I don’t care what anyone says the ASG is not for the fans, it is to make money, which in a way is fine. But lets not pretend its anything other than that.

Posted by Sp4r7an on 01/26/09 at 09:00 PM ET

Sorry Garth, I’m with Earl.  The rules were laid out a year ago.  Why should they be changed just because the winged wheel happened to trip over them?

Posted by rwhater on 01/26/09 at 09:02 PM ET

I think, Senshobo, that the people who voted it in agreed with the letter of the rule but probably feel that it’s not being applied quite how they intended it to be.

Players who aren’t injured and won’t come?  Suspend them a game.  No question.

The beef that Holland, and the logical portion of Red Wings fans have with the application of the rule is that both players are nursing injuries.  Datsyuk left a game, and Lids has been hurt for a while.  The degree to which he’s hurt is definitely questionable- but he’s hurting enough that he wanted to bow out of something he’s done 9 years in a row and that should say something, right?

That’s our point of view, and I imagine it’s Holland’s as well.  “Wait a minute, I didn’t agree that injured players would be punished.  I agreed that wrotten apple (Say, Mason) players would be punished.”

Posted by shanetx on 01/26/09 at 09:04 PM ET

For the record, even though I think the non-suspension is crap, I too think it’s obvious the Wings only recourse is to let it go, use it as motivation and move on from here.

Hell, I’m hoping this is something they use to motivate themselves for a “the league is out to get us”-paranoia fueled drive down the stretch.  God knows they need a little motivation to play like the best team in Hockey, instead of one of the best teams in hockey.

Posted by shanetx on 01/26/09 at 09:07 PM ET