This will be a little like a state of the season address. This has been a rough season so far and I am hoping they can make a little push here before the Olympic break. I will get back to the Olympics a little later. I am in the camp of Ozzy is no longer our #1. Here's why. He is still mentally off. Yes he popped the clutch in the playoffs, but those are not the only games you play. There are still these ones called 'regular season games'. Games that the Wings desperately need right now. Goalies are the easiest to pick on since they are the last line of defense. And we can quibble about good goals and bad goals, soft goals and deflections, but the fact of the matter is that you have to play out of your mind sometimes. You need to be Beyond Thunderdome. Make those awesome saves that are a symbolic middle finger to your detractors and the rest of the NHL.
I am not sold on Jonathan Ericsson. I have heard the nickname Big Rig bandied about. Yeah, a big rig being driven by a little old lady down the freeway at 35 mph with her blinker on. I call him Palmolive. For his big soft hands in the wrong situations. Another puck given up at the circle? Oh Jonny, you're soaking in it. And then sometimes he is like Lenny from Of Mice and Men when he accidentally strokes the puck too hard and kills it for an icing. The thing is even though I say these things I do see the unlimited potential. Oh, and one more thing Jonny, FUCKING HIT SOMEBODY! You need to knock the shit out of them, not practice frotteurism.
Ville Leino, don't make me sic the Finnish Mafia on you. The Finn in me wants you to be a superstar, so quit taking your sweet ass time to get there. Especially after making your demands, because right now you should be the Griffins jock washer.
So far this season the thing that makes my heart happiest is Kung Fu Hustle. That is the Draper, Helm, and Eaves line. Draper looks like he's about 5 years younger playing with those boys. The speed of that line creates great opportunities in all aspects of the game.
Abdelkader hasn't done anything special lately, but I think his role has changed and I like what he does on the ice. So Williams, you better do something special since Abs of Steel was sent back down for you. Or I find you and break another bone so the lines can be set again.
I know some of the vets are having off years but I am not worried about that. What I think has really hurt this year is obviously the injuries and the impact that has had with the inconsistency of the lines. As soon as a line clicks, someone gets injured or someone gets healthy and the lines get rearranged. And that has impacted missed assignments in the defensive zone.
I may be a ritard and talking out of my ass but if we can at least make the playoffs and keep that streak alive I am o.k. with that. When life gives you lemons, squeeze those lemons into a glass of vodka and get drunk during the game. It works for me.
My wife and I have met a lot of Wings fans internetally this past year and they have been really cool. You want to know how cool. This cool. herm2hockeytown.com/ Go to that site and do the right thing. (Sadly, only 2 people will go there because I only have 3 readers and one of them is my wife).
This has gotten quite long enough so I will save my rant about pros in the Olympics for another time.
