OTTAWA @ DETROIT - GAME DAY #1!!!

Filatov/Spezza/Michalek
Greening/Zibanejad/Alfi
Foligno/Smith/Neil
Condra/Da Costa/Butler

Cowen/Gonchar
Phillips/Lee
Kuba/Karlsson

Anderson

Rundblad and Konopka sit.

MONEY.

Would be nice to win this one for The Stache in Detroit's house to kick off the season.

GO SENS GO!!!

Kuba is obviously getting a shot at showing he is good enough to be in Ottawa or worthy of keeping around over Lee. Also, they can't let Rundbad sit. I think this is one of those things that is going to have to sort itself out.

Man, I hope Konopka draws into the lineup tomorrow, against the Leafs. If we end up losing to them, I hope we smash a few faces, at least.

A little shocked to see Lee is the one in the press box.

Maybe they're hoping some up close observation of Lidstrom will do Rudnblad good.

If there is one thing I won't question it's the lineup MacLean feels he needs to beat Detroit. If there is one person in hockey that knows what he needs and wants, it's MacLean.

Konopka will 100% be in tomorrow.

On another note, people might look at that 4th line and say why are Butler and Da Costa doing on the 4th line... well if they are together it kind of makes sense.

Da lil Guy wrote:A little shocked to see Lee is the one in the press box.

Maybe they're hoping some up close observation of Lidstrom will do Rudnblad good.

Well Rundblad shouldn't be sitting if he is up in Ottawa, if that's the case why would he even be here and not in the AHL?

Lee right now is a 5th/6th D man that is caught in a numbers game. If you don't sit Lee, than who? Kuba? Say what you want about the guy but he has a decade in the league and deserves the benefit of the doubt and the chance to gain some confidence. Good Kuba > than great Lee.

It's a casualty of numbers in the end... MacLean is using his knowledge of Detroit's game based in his experience and putting out a lineup he feels has the best chance to win. Lee may be back in tomorrow.

I'm sure Konopka will be in tomorrow to provide some added toughness vs the Leaves.

I don't like Lee sitting. Rundblad is a rookie and looks like he's getting a free pass despite his lacklustre preseason performance.

I'll give Maclean the benefit of the doubt since this is the first game...

Michallica wrote:I don't like Lee sitting. Rundblad is a rookie and looks like he's getting a free pass despite his lacklustre preseason performance.

I'll give Maclean the benefit of the doubt since this is the first game...

No question he's getting a free pass. Or maybe he actually won the annual "battle for jobs?"

Michallica wrote:I don't like Lee sitting. Rundblad is a rookie and looks like he's getting a free pass despite his lacklustre preseason performance.

I'll give Maclean the benefit of the doubt since this is the first game...

I agree with the others though…you can't really have Rundblad sitting. He needs to be playing, whether it's in the NHL, AHL, or SEL…he needs to be playing. It's too bad Kuba's not benched, but I guess that’s to be expected as well. Lee has shown that he has thick skin and can handle this kind of situation.

Michallica wrote:I don't like Lee sitting. Rundblad is a rookie and looks like he's getting a free pass despite his lacklustre preseason performance.

Once he gets used to NHL ice, Rundblad will be 10x the D-man Lee is, Lee is a #5/6 D-man, if we have him in our top pairing it shows how bad our defence is. It's early in the season they might as well see how he does in the NHL, he was getting better with every game.

I am shocked at the Brian Lee fan club on hfboards, it's like we have a potential Norris winner in Lee according to the hype.

Hoags wrote:

Michallica wrote:I don't like Lee sitting. Rundblad is a rookie and looks like he's getting a free pass despite his lacklustre preseason performance.

Once he gets used to NHL ice, Rundblad will be 10x the D-man Lee is, Lee is a #5/6 D-man, if we have him in our top pairing it shows how bad our defence is. It's early in the season they might as well see how he does in the NHL, he was getting better with every game.

I am shocked at the Brian Lee fan club on hfboards, it's like we have a potential Norris winner in Lee according to the hype.

You know where else they have NHL ice? The AHL. He should be playing there, period. Like I said before, St. Louis probably figured out his deal was NHL or bust so they got rid of him.

SeawaySensFan wrote:
You know where else they have NHL ice? The AHL. He should be playing there, period. Like I said before, St. Louis probably figured out his deal was NHL or bust so they got rid of him.

Yeah, he should be in the AHL. I think management realizes that they kinda need to treat him with kid-gloves, so as to not alienate him and send him back to Sweden. I think they'll give him several NHL games, hoping that he'll come to the realization himself that he's not quite ready yet...and then willingly accept a trip to Bingo.

I suppose...but he should be playing in the AHL. Carkner is out for a month. The only thing I can see is a constant shuffling between rundblad and lee, and/or Cowen.

I agree that rundblad can use some games, but is it right to choose him over Lee against the RedWings of all teams? That's a team you want to be your best defensively against. Last time, Franzen went nuts on our asses with 4 goals. Rundblad should play, but I question whether this was the right game to start him off with, especially over Lee who was solid in preseason.

sigh, the politics rightfully or wrongfully continues