Kick 'Em While They're Down

That appears to be the attitude in the NHL right now when it comes to playing the Red Wings. But while I'd like to make excuses for Detroit getting beaten by everyone over the last couple of weeks while half the team is out with injuries, there's still no real excuse for the team not being able to put any pucks in the net. The injuries, on the back end primarily (with Lidstrom, Rafalski, Chelios, Hasek, et al out Saturday night), will have some impact on the forwards being able to set up and create an attack, but the reality is that the only regular they're missing up front is Cleary and the rest of the team just hasn't stepped up. With the trading deadline less than 24 hours away now, will Ken Holland be able to make a move for a top six forward who isn't in the tank right now? We'll see. But I think what Detroit really needs right now is a couple of lucky bounces to get those guys of the schneid.

Speaking of the trading deadline, I want to address the situation of those poor Leafs fans. The team has five relatively senior guys with a no trade clause in their contracts and not a single one of them has indicated any willingness to waive it. Now, I can understand a desire for stability when you sign a long term contract and if you've got the leverage to get the no trade clause put in, good for you. But on a team as bad as the Leafs are right now; On a team that has absolutely no shot at making the playoffs this year; On a team that doesn't appear to have anything positive in their outlook for the foreseeable future; How can you not want out of dodge?! Sundin is the biggest example. He claims to just have the Leafs in his heart and can't playing anywhere else. Yet if he was willing to take a trade right now to a team that has a chance, he would not only finally get a shot at winning the cup, but his beloved Leafs would get a bunch of prospects that could brighten their future and he could sign right back with Toronto in July! He's basically telling the fans of Toronto, "I don't want a chance to win now, and I don't want my team to have a chance to win in the future either." It's a sad time in Leafsland, and amazingly, I actually feel sorry for all those fans. They deserve better.