Stuck in Internet Hell

Guys, I have to apologize...the Roundtable just isn't happening today.

Just like I promised, I got up, got halfway ready for the day and stumbled up to the Gladwin Public Library hungover as all hell just so that I could continue to the Roundtable today since it was my turn to host.

Unfortunately, the computers here will simply NOT let me paste ANYTHING so the post that I had all nice and prepared for today is simply not going to work.

As much as I'd love to spend this beautiful Saturday in this stuffy little room re-typing everyone's response (which I would consider if Malik wasn't involved), I am going to admit defeat and go out and try and enjoy my day.

This is extremely frustrating for me, and I apologize for any of you who were actually going to take time out of your day to read what we had to say.

Sorry. The post will actually be up as soon as I can find a computer with the simple capability of cut and paste.

Hank Can't Wait to Get Started

I apologize, I missed this part about Hank yesterday because the whole Maltby not retiring thing was filed under "Duh" in my brain.

Apparently, our future captain cannot wait for the season to start either:

"I don't think the summer is short," he said. "I would rather play hockey than work out in the gym. It would be tougher is summer was longer. You have your two or three weeks to take off. You have plenty of time to go back and see family and friends. I don't want summer to be any longer." --Henrik Zetterberg

When asked the obvious, overplayed buzz question of the off-season in regards to the offensive production lost to Free Agency, Hank had this to say:

"Everyone has to do their job. You are always going to lose some players and you are going to get some new ones. The good thing with this organization is that we lose guys but we find guys that replace them. There won't be any problem with production."

Confidence? Check. Hint of anger? Check. See you in Sweden, Hank.

Sweden Gear, not very Punny

Found this on shop.nhl.com, it's the new Premiere Game gear for the Wings/Blues in Sweden and apparently two crappy teams are playing in Finland that same weekend...

Anyone else have a problem with the color scheme here? I know blue and yellow are the nation's colors, but c'mon...it looks like a St. Louis shirt. I probably would have gone with the more neutral white or possibly even yellow since the Blues primary color is...yep: blue.

Also, was "How Swede it is" last season's Stockholm slogan? You guys couldn't come up with something new? This may be a knee jerk reaction, but first impression: FAIL.

Oh, but I'll still probably buy one while I'm over there.

Howard Wants In

Khan(!) reported this yesterday evening...

"I have to go out there and prove it. Nothing's going to be handed to me. I want to come out there and play every single night. So I have to prove to the coaching staff and management that I'm capable of playing so I can get more ice time.'' --Jimmy Howard

Of course, you wouldn't want a goalie who DOESN'T want to play every night...but I'm assuming that Jimmy knows who will be carrying the bulk of the games this season.

"I was hoping I could have broken into the NHL a little quicker, but the transition going from 40 games (in college at Maine) to 80 games (in the AHL) and becoming a professional is a little bit more difficult to figure out being a 21-year-old just coming out of school."

That's Kenny Holland for you. He has never been too quick to call someone up from the minors, and that style of "over-ripening" management has brought us the likes of Jiri Hudler, Valteri Filppula, and Johnny Ericsson.

Jimmy even touched on the fact that Detroit has drafted two other goalies since him in 2005, leading many to beleive that Detroit had lost faith in Jimmy's ability to take the reins as the #1 guy...

"I just kept telling myself every single day that everything's going to work out, just keep working hard and proving myself and everything will turn out for the best. I never had a bad meeting with Kenny (Red Wings general manager Holland), it's always been positive, so I knew in the back of my mind that I'd be here one day. And now that I've gotten the chance, the door is open. I just got to walk through.''

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...Or otherwise, don't let it hit you on the way out if you falter. It's a contract year for Howard, it's time to put up or shut up. Both sides involved have been wonderfully patient. We'll just have to wait and see if the great Howard Experiment finally comes to fruition.

"I want to push Chris so we can have a nice, healthy competition. He's been great since I met him the first time, a real good mentor for me. Always answers your questions and tells you the truth.''

That Ozzie...what a guy. Remember, Jimmy, you don't have to be a show stealer. A Red Wings goalie has only one job to do: not blow the game for us.

Roundtable gets Sniped and Dangled (Twice)

Today is part 5 of our Red Wings Blogger Roundtable, and it's being hosted by Kris over at Snipe Snipe, Dangle Dangle...

Aside from having a great blog name and a first name spelled like Draper's, here is SSDD's question to the rest of us:

First, how do you feel about a Chris Osgood/Jimmy Howard tandem carrying the Wings down the stretch? What do you expect of Ozzie this season? On top of that, do you think Howard will finally live up to his potential or is this the end of the road for him in the Wings organization? Looking beyond this season, who do you see taking the reins from Ozzie when he's gone? Despite the fact that he still looks like he needs parental supervision to get into an R-rated movie, he is getting up there in years. In addition to Howard, the Wings have Daniel Larsson, Jordan Pearce, and Thomas McCollum developing in the minors. Which, if any, of them do you think will be the Wings' "goalie of the future?" Or does the answer lie outside of the organization?

So far, we've covered the Olympics at Winging it in Motown, the Williams/Bertuzzi debate at Snapshots, fatigue concerns at The Triple Deke, and impact players for the 2010-2011 season at Bingo Bango. If you haven't checked all of them out thus far then go do so now...we've put a lot of time into making this for all you people.

To get even more preachy. Tomorrow is my turn to host, which comes with a set of unique problems. See, I spend my holiday weekends in a little town called Gladwin, MI which isn't exactly a technological Mecca. My only connection to the Internet is at the local library (which doubles as the hockey rink...strange I know). So if I'm going to be stumbling into Gladwin tomorrow hungover to post, I better get some readership, dammnit.

Ok, rant over....enjoy your Friday everyone.

Speaking of Chicago...

I wonder if THN watched how their season ended last year...



Oh that's right...

That's Right...Just Keep on Talkin'

Ready to get even angrier? Just read this from the Daily Herald...

The first preseason magazine is out, the Hockey News Yearbook, and the publication has picked the Hawks win the Central Division and finish second in the Western Conference behind the San Jose Sharks.Saying the Hawks are "fully loaded for a Stanley Cup push," the Hockey News believes in goalie Cristobal Huet and apparently has no concerns about the defense after Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Brian Campbell.

**Gag** What do Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Brian Campbell all have in common? Oh that's right; they're Canadian! No wonder the Hockey News fails to note the fact that they got carved up by Detroit in the Conference Finals after squeaking by a banged-up Calgary squad and a mediocre Vancouver Canucks. And Cristobal Huet? I'm guessing that because the man is French, there's some sentimentality there from THN's francophone staff members. Hey guys, you have no idea what you are talking about. How about some sobering facts, Chicago?

The Hawks haven't won a division title since the 1992-93 season when it still was the great, old Norris. The Detroit Red Wings have won eight Central Division crowns in a row and nine of the last 10.

Any time you get in an argument with a Blackhawks fan, make sure you remind them of that. Chicago has NEVER won the Central Division...EVER. Kinda makes you feel all warm and fuzzy doesn't it?

"Nice try...LOSERS!"