Yawn

No, the title doesn't come from the fact I played a men's league game that didn't start until 10:45 PM last night, it's because I'm getting sick of reading all of the gloom and doom crap that is still creeping it's way in to Red Wings news...well it's really not news, just predictions by a bunch of people who don't know what they're talking about.

Here's the latest from the Kingston Whig Standard...yeah, national mainstream media, I know, but here's what they had to say...

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Detroit Red Wings: That's right, Detroit in fifth (in the Western Conference). An exodus of talent during the off-season and a long-term injury to Johan Franzen will test the resolve of a club that is used to locking up a playoff spot by December.

*Sigh...Actually, the explanation of Detroit is one of the only predictions that is made for more than one reason. Other than that, this person (Jan...don't know if that's a guy or girl) makes predictions based on well-thought out one point arguments like "Luongo is the best goalie in the NHL". Let's look at some other well-researched predictions and break them down...

Washington Capitals Jan's prediction: 1st in the East.

This juggernaut led by Alex Ovechkin has been tearing defences apart so far in the early going. Ovech -kin is in a league of his own in the NHL and will walk to the scoring title this season. The only question for this club lies in goal, where Jose Theodore and Semyon Varlamov tend to the twine.

You mean that same juggernaut that tore Detroit's defense apart and scored a whopping TWO GOALS to the poor, depleted Detroit Red Wings? Oh, and they lost last night to your fifth place prediction in the Leastern Conference last night too. Hmmm...

Pittsburgh Penguins Jan's prediction: 2nd in the East.

They're the defending champs and the team to beat in the NHL. With Sidney Crosby, Evgeny Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury, the Pens will be good for a very long time. No weaknesses on this club.

Who can argue that Pittsburgh has ZERO WEAKNESSES? Oh that's right...everybody. How soon people forget that this team was below .500 deep into the season last year, even with the three players mentioned above playing the main roles. The three guys who actually made the difference in their season was Chris Kunitz, Bill Guerin, Dan Bylsma. They beat a mediocre Flyers team, a Washington team with shotty goaltending, and a completely exhausted Carolina team. You can really thank the Anaheim Ducks for your cup, Pittsburgh. I'd love to see what a series between the two of you would have looked like.

Chicago Blackhawks Jan's prediction: 2nd in the West

Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa ... the list goes on and on. Make no mistake, this is the Western Conference powerhouse of the future. Depending on Hossa's status, the future could be now.

If by "powerhouse of the future" you mean, "this year and this year only". This team's disgusting lack of salary cap management will be it's downfall after a single season. Enjoy your dozen years of Hossa's bum shoulder and Brian Campbell's $7+ million contract. Oh, and with all the cap space Detroit will have after this year, we'd be more than happy to take one of those stars off your hands when their contract is up and you have no more room. Payback's a b!tch.

Why bother even going on with any more? I feel like I wasted enough time reading the ones that I did.

Sorry.