The nature of watching hockey is highly involved in opinion. Especially for those who blog, those who frequent blogs, or those who like tweet during games, you've probably had a problem similar to this. You're convinced that Player A had a terrible game, but you go online and 85% of the stuff you read says Player A played well. Or, going the other way, you think Player B had his best game of the season, and your favorite blog (in this instance, BDS) says absolutely nothing about them. Well I've had enough of that, so I'm introducing The Definitive Guide for Talent Assessment (TDGTA).

Please note that nothing specifically happened to inspired this, it's to be taken lightly and for humorous purposes.

Instructions: Print one out before every game. Periodically, run through the list. If you can answer yes to all of these questions, that player had a good game. Additions to the list are always welcome.

Pavel Datsyuk

• Did he make a reasonable attempt to shoot the puck?
• Did he embarrass at least two defensive players?
• Did he embarrass at least two offensive players?
• Did he do something to make you giggle?

Henrik Zetterberg

• Did he play like the guy who wore the #40 jersey for any of the past four seasons?
• Did he carry the team on his back for any length of time?
• Did he at least look like he was trying?

Johan Franzen

• Did he make you say/think at least once "man, if he were just healthy..." ?
• Did he take a shot that made you wonder how bad that would hurt based on the last time you were hit with a puck?
• Did he absolutely manhandle another grown man at least once?
• Did he not get injured?

Nick Lidstrom

• Was he perfect?

Brian Rafalski

• Did you notice how awkwardly he skates (meaning you noticed him skating)?
• Was he playing a team that did not have Rick Nash?
• Can you watch the highlights and not see him on the wrong end of a spectacular goal?

Danny Cleary

• Did you even notice him out there?

Valtteri Filppula

• Did he screw up less than five glorious chances?
• Did he trick you into thinking that he's due for a breakout year?
• Did he look like he knew which net he was supposed to score on when he had the puck?

Jimmy Howard

• Did he stay in his net all game and make no attempt to play the puck?
• Did he control at least two rebounds properly?
• Did his voice freak you out when you heard him yelling to his defensemen?

Niklas Kronwall

• Did he try to kill somebody?
• Did he have at least one glorious scoring chance?
• Did he limit the amount of times Brad Stuart had to bail him out?

Brad Stuart

• Did the Wings win?

Tomas Holmstrom

• Did he not get injured?
• Did somebody try to kill him?
• Did the refs call him for goaltender interference or waive off a goal?

Todd Bertuzzi

• Did he stay out of the box?
• Did you see him in the defensive zone?
• Did he connect at least 25% of his passes?

Drew Miller

• Do you want to sign him to a long-term contract?
• Does he look any better than when he played for Michigan State?

Jason Williams

• Trick question, Williams did not play well.

Darren Helm

• Was he totally ridiculous on the penalty kill?
• Did he overskate the puck fewer than five times?
• Did he shoot directly into the crowd fewer than five times?

Patrick Eaves

• Were his locks flowing in the wind?
• Did he block at least one shot in an extremely awkward position?
• Did he get hurt? (Trust me, it needs to be worded that way.)

Jonathan Ericsson

• Did he not trip over his skates?

Andreas Lilja

• Did he not fight?
• Did he not ruin the game?
• Have you forgiven him for costing the Wings the Cup in 2007?

Brett Lebda

• Did he take a shift?

Derek Meech

• Could you tell what position he was playing?
• Did he make you think he's capable of staying in the lineup for more than one game?

Chris Osgood

• Was his handwriting legible?
• Did the Wings not take a too many men on the ice penalty?