Shootout Addendum

Over on Puck Daddy's blog today they pose the question about the shootout becoming an "all-star" affair. The idea is that fans don't want to see the 3rd and 4th line grinders participating in the shootout, instead they want to see the Crosby's, Ovechkin's, Malkin's, and Heatley's of the world shooting round after round. While I think that this would be interesting for fans of purely unabashed scoring and flashy stick work, I think that there is a much better, strategic approach that could be employed. So without further adieu here is my proposed changes to the shootout format. 

  1. Change the shootout from 3 round to 5 rounds
  2. Coaches set the 5-man shootout roster (in shooting order) before each game along with the starting lineups
  3. Coaches can pencil in 2 "injury reserve" guys in case one of the starting 5 is injured during the game
  4. At the conclusion of the overtime period both teams' 5-man rotation will each shoot once to decide the game
  5. If neither team is ahead after the initial 5-man rotation sudden death will ensue 
  6. Coaches then pick players from their 5-man rotation to participate in each sudden death round. At this point coaches can use a player as many times as they want until a winner is decided.

Why do I think that this would be helpful?

First, a 5 round shootout is better than a 3 round shootout from a fan's perspective (Ideally, I would like to see no shootout at all and just a 10 minute 4-on-4 overtime period and then a tie if no winner prevails). Second, setting the roster before each game forces coaches to play strategy against each other much like in baseball; it makes no sense to have your superstar center shooting against a goaltender he's absolutely terrible against. Third, coaches can use it as incentive for their younger players or call-ups to play hard to make the "shootout roster". Think about the hype that comes when Ovechkin or Malkin or Crosby or Nash score an amazing shootout goal, now think about how important that publicity would be to a young future star who wants to solidify their position on the starting roster for the season. Finally, it would be nice for fan's to know who was going to be in the shootout before each game that way they could make signs or trash-talk each other. 

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June is a Red month year after year

"As they seemingly do every year, as the days grow long and the air warms, the Red Wings offer an example of excellence from the city, a whip smart, powerfully efficient winning organization in a region too often criticized (often unfairly) for being just the opposite."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AmVuVG3z1Im5SGXKSp6pc885nYcB?slug=dw-wingscolumn051909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns#


A nice little piece about the best post-season team in all of sports. When people who don't know much about hockey ask me about the Red Wings I always compare them to the New England Patriots in the sense that they know how to develop players and play by the salary cap rules to fill in as much talent as possible. I think it is also a great testament to the franchise that you can go from a HoF coach like Scotty Bowman to Mike Babcock and still have just as much success.

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Detroit Red Wings playoff history - NHL

Detroit Red Wings playoff history

Apr 28, 8:33 pm EDT 

Playoff Appearances: 58
Overall Playoff Record: 289-254-1
Stanley Cup Championships: 2008, 2002, 1998, 1997,
                           1955, 1954, 1952, 1950,
                           1943, 1937, 1936

2009 -- defeated Columbus, 4-0, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        vs. Anaheim in Western Conf. semifinals

2008 -- defeated Nashville, 4-2, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        defeated Colorado, 4-0, Western Conf. semifinals
        defeated Dallas, 4-2, Western Conf. finals
        defeated Pittsburgh, 4-2, Stanley Cup Finals

2007 -- defeated Calgary, 4-2, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        defeated San Jose, 4-2, Western Conf. semifinals
        lost to Anaheim, 4-2, Western Conf. finals

2006 -- lost to Edmonton, 4-2, Western Conf. quarterfinals

2004 -- defeated Nashville, 4-2, Western Conf. quarterfinals
     -- lost to Calgary, 4-2, Western Conf. semifinals

2003 -- lost to Anaheim, 4-0, Western Conf. quarterfinals

2002 -- defeated Vancouver, 4-2, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        defeated St. Louis, 4-1, Western Conf. semifinals
        defeated Colorado, 4-3, Western Conf. finals
        defeated Carolina, 4-1, Stanley Cup Finals

2001 -- lost to Los Angeles, 4-2, Western Conf. quarterfinals

2000 -- defeated Los Angeles, 4-0, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        lost to Colorado, 4-1, Western Conf. semifinals

1999 -- defeated Anaheim, 4-0, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        lost to Colorado, 4-2, Western Conf. semifinals

1998 -- defeated Phoenix, 4-2, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        defeated St. Louis, 4-2, Western Conf. semifinals
        defeated Dallas, 4-2, Western Conf. finals
        defeated Washington, 4-0, Stanley Cup Finals

1997 -- defeated St. Louis, 4-2, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        defeated Anaheim, 4-0, Western Conf. semifinals
        defeated Colorado, 4-2, Western Conf. finals
        defeated Philadelphia, 4-0, Stanley Cup Finals

1996 -- defeated Winnipeg, 4-2, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        defeated St. Louis, 4-3, Western Conf. semifinals
        lost to Colorado, 4-2, Western Conf. finals

1995 -- defeated Dallas, 4-0, Western Conf. quarterfinals
        defeated San Jose, 4-1, Western Conf. semifinals
        defeated Chicago, 4-1, Western Conf. finals
        lost to New Jersey, 4-0, Stanley Cup Finals

1994 -- lost to San Jose, 4-3, Western Conf. quarterfinals

1993 -- lost to Toronto, 4-3, Western Conf. quarterfinals

1992 -- defeated Minnesota, 4-3, Norris Division semifinals
        lost to Chicago, 4-0, Norris Division finals

1991 -- lost to St. Louis, 4-3, Norris Division semifinals

1989 -- lost to Chicago, 4-2, Norris Division semifinals

1988 -- defeated Toronto, 4-2, Norris Division semifinals
        defeated St. Louis, 4-1, Norris Division finals
        lost to Edmonton, 4-1, Campbell Conference finals

1987 -- defeated Chicago, 4-0, Norris Division semifinals
        defeated Toronto, 4-3, Norris Division finals
        lost to Edmonton, 4-1, Campbell Conference finals

1985 -- lost to Chicago, 3-0, Norris Division semifinals

1984 -- lost to St. Louis, 3-1, preliminary round

1978 -- defeated Atlanta, 2-0, preliminary round
        lost to Montreal, 4-1, quartefinals

1970 -- lost to Chicago, 4-0, quarterfinals

1966 -- defeated Chicago, 4-2, semifinals
        lost to Montreal, 4-2, Stanley Cup Finals

1965 -- lost to Chicago, 4-3, semifinals

1964 -- defeated Chicago, 4-3, semifinals
        lost to Toronto, 4-3, Stanley Cup Finals

1963 -- defeated Chicago, 4-2, semifinals
        lost to Toronto, 4-1, Stanley Cup Finals

1961 -- defeated Toronto, 4-1, semifinals
        lost to Chicago, 4-2, Stanley Cup Finals

1960 -- lost to Toronto, 4-2, semifinals

1958 -- lost to Montreal, 4-0, semifinals

1957 -- lost to Boston, 4-1, semifinals

1956 -- defeated Toronto, 4-1, semifinals
        lost to Montreal, 4-1, Stanley Cup Finals

1955 -- defeated Toronto, 4-0, semifinals
        defeated Montreal, 4-3, Stanley Cup Finals

1954 -- defeated Toronto, 4-1, semifinals
        defeated Montreal, 4-3, Stanley Cup Finals

1953 -- lost to Boston, 4-2, semifinals

1952 -- defeated Toronto, 4-0, semifinals
        defeated Montreal, 4-0, Stanley Cup Finals

1951 -- lost to Montreal, 4-2, semifinals

1950 -- defeated Toronto, 4-3, semifinals
        defeated N.Y. Rangers, 4-3, Stanley Cup Finals

1949 -- defeated Montreal, 4-3, semifinals
        lost to Toronto, 4-0, Stanley Cup Finals

1948 -- defeated N.Y. Rangers, 4-2, semifinals
        lost to Toronto, 4-0, Stanley Cup Finals

1947 -- lost to Toronto, 4-1 semifinals

1946 -- lost to Boston, 4-1, semifinals

1945 -- defeated Boston, 4-3, semifinals
        lost to Toronto, 4-3, Stanley Cup Finals

1944 -- lost to Chicago, 4-1, semifinals

1943 -- defeated Toronto, 4-2, semifinals
        defeated Boston, 4-0, Stanley Cup Finals

1942 -- defeated Boston, 2-0, quarterfinals
        defeated Montreal, 3-1, semifinals
        lost to Toronto, 4-3, Stanley Cup Finals

1941 -- defeated N.Y. Rangers, 2-1, quarterfinals
        defeated Chicago, 2-0, semifinals
        lost to Boston, 4-0, Stanley Cup Finals

1940 -- defeated N.Y. Americans, 2-1, quarterfinals
        lost to Toronto, 2-0, semifinals

1939 -- defeated Montreal, 2-1, quarterfinals
        lost to Toronto, 2-1, semifinals

1937 -- defeated Montreal, 3-2, semifinals
        defeated N.Y. Rangers, 3-2, Stanley Cup Finals

1936 -- defeated Montreal Maroons, 3-0, semifinals
        defeated Toronto, 3-1, Stanley Cup Finals

1934 -- defeated Toronto, 3-2, semifinals
        lost to Chicago, 3-1, Stanley Cup Finals

1933 -- defeated Montreal Maroons, 5-2, in total goals, quarterfinals
        lost to N.Y. Rangers, 6-3, in total goals, semifinals

1932 -- lost to Montreal Maroons, 3-1, in total goals, semifinals

1929 -- lost to Toronto, 7-2, in total goals, quarterfinals
via sports.yahoo.com

A little Red Wings playoff history for those of you that need to brush up or for Ducks fans who need to be informed of what they're up against!

Big Dubya today for the Wings, it was good to see a little pep in their step throughout most of the game. And how about Helm, he's gonna be a superstar if he keeps this up! GO WINGS!

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Nathan "Flutebox" Lee and Beardyman @ Google, London

via youtube.com

This is just incredible. Gotta love what the Google employees get as benefits, cool private concerts and fridges full of beer!

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Apple Buying Twiitter? Why this makes sense to me

From TechCrunch:
 
"Today, though, rumors popped up that Apple may be looking to buy
Twitter. “Apple is in late stage negotiations to buy Twitter and is
hoping to announce it at WWDC in June,” said a normally reliable
source this evening, adding that the purchase price would be $700
million in cash. The trouble is we’ve checked with other sources who
claim to know nothing about any Apple negotiations. If these
discussions are happening, Twitter is keeping them very quiet indeed.
We would have passed on reporting this rumor at all, but other press
is now picking it up."
 
Full story can be found here:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/05/twitter-mania-google-got-shut-down-apple-rumors-heat-up/#
 
To me this kinda makes a whole bunch of sense. Twitter is no doubt
becoming more than a trend and turning into a legitimate player in
social-networking/communication/whatever you wanna call it. Why this
makes sense for Apple looks like this. Imagine if Twitter was the main
form of communication for the iPhone. Dump the idea of SMS and replace
it with Twitter as a built in client for the iPhone and then add the
GPS features and twitpicking and finally the ability to copy and paste
and you have a new way of communicating on the iPhone that makes money
for Apple and keeps the iPhone appeal on the up and up. Integration
with Mac and PC Twitter clients keeps the non-iPhone bunch in the loop
and adds to the drool-factor of the iPhone, pushing more customers to
Apple and whatever network they end up on in the future.
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Naslund retires from NHL at 35

via cbc.ca

Wow, didn't see this one coming. I guess it's tough seeing your old team surging into the playoffs while you look across the locker room and see Sean Avery's glowing face. When he and Bertuzzi were in their prime the Canucks were a fun team to watch. Thanks for a good career Naslund, good luck on the golf course!

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Slap Chop

via hotforwords.com

This is an example of creativity through boredom! How much extra time do you have to have to be able to think this up and remix the ShamWow guy advertising the slap chop!

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It's déjà vu all over again: Favre-to-Vikings rumors heat up ... - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

via sports.yahoo.com

Favre to the Vikes? Shoulda happened last year instead of the whole Jets debacle but the Packers didn't want to compete against him in the division. I'm not sure if Sage Rosenfels is "the answer" at QB but i would take anybody over Tavaris Jackson and his all filler no killer attitude.

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Red Wings Ducks

via flickr.com

So when playoff season came rolling around (a.k.a my favorite time of the year) I was really hoping that we wouldn't have to play Anaheim in the opening round. They are a very good team and in a fairly competitive division, especially when compared to the inflated numbers that Caps were rolling into the playoffs with. And once again they proved to knock out the ever-reliable and o-so-consistent first round dropouts the Sharks.

But this second round matchup is going to be an interesting one. Once again it all comes down to defense and goaltending. Osgood vs. Hiller, Rafalski vs. Pronger, Lidstrom vs. Niedermeyer. We all know these two teams can score goals, I mean c'mon they're riddled with future hall of famer's but it should be interesting to see who jumps out of the gate and sets the tone with regards to physicality and time of possession. My Red Wing's are going to have to get under Pronger's skin and draw some misconduct-worthy penalties to expose some holes in that iron defensive wall.

We hold the lead in the regular season series but just ask the Sharks, this is the playoffs and anything can happen. I predict the winner of this series wins it all.

GO WINGS!

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Ellsbury's Steal of Home a Rare Feat

via youtube.com

What could be better than a sweep of the Yanks in Fenway? I think Ellsbury's cock shot to Pettitte and Posada in the form of stealing home plate is up there on the list.
GO SOX!

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Cooking, Baseball, Hockey, Football, Red Sox, Red Wings, and anything else I can think of will show up here from time to time