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Florida has better golf courses than Michigan

Please tell me that Williams was with them?

Knew something was wrong. People saying he needs to be traded and blah blah blah will be eating crow next season.

Interesting spin. I was just told a story by my future mother-in-law. For the record, no one involved in this story is a hockey fan so they have no interest in fabricating a story. Turns out, a friend of hers was on a flight returning from Florida and she sat next to Kris Draper. A few rows back was Osgood. My first thought was: Wow, that's a coincidence considering Yzerman's recent appointment. So, with what little information I have given you: Coincidence? Maybe returning from a vacation? Why weren't their families present then? Just going to help Yzerman get settled in? Paying an "official" visit? It seems strange considering that Osgood would likely want another starting job for a team needing a goalie to work for an old friend. Draper we all expected to stay, but with the new Tampa operation and Detroit not really needing him, perhaps Holland is agreeing to part with Draper to give Yzerman some veteran talent in exchange for a role player or draft pick? Or is it all nothing? Weird coincidence at the very least.

Cleary is a total badass. I think he's one of the hardest workers and toughest players in the league. He never gives anything less than 100% on any shift, and he doesn't seem to even for a second feel like the team is entitled to anything less than his full effort every game. He's a talented player who hit rock bottom but was able to resurrect his career with hard work and tenacity. I'll never forget a moment of his in a game in 2007 against the Blackhawks: he took a hit that busted a ligament in his knee, but still struggled up from the ice---in very obvious pain---to screen the goalie and try to deflect a shot into the net. Most players would likely have hugged the ice after getting hit that hard, but I doubt the thought of doing so ever occurred to Cleary. He's just a down-to-earth warrior-type with no ego and no quit in him. Hossa, as others have mentioned, was a rental who ate up cap space and did nothing during the playoffs. His $7.4m would have been better used elsewhere. Also, he admitted that his performance in the finals was as much influenced by nerves as by injury. And, in any event, he's nowhere near the hard worker that Cleary is.

Draper and Osgood are BFFs and most likely returning from a vacation. Stevie's not even in Florida now - he came home for a day yesterday then left for Toronto today for the NHL draft combine. But personally I wouldn't have a problem with either of them signing with Tampa. They would give that team strong veteran presence, and it would free up a couple of roster spots for younger players here in Detroit. However, the most likely Wing I could see signing with Tampa is Maltby. Draper and Homstrom are possibiities too. Maybe Lilja. But I don't think Ozzie would - he still has another year left on his contract and the Wings need him to back up Jimmy. Regarding the tampering issue - is it considered tampering if the players are UFA? If Stevie wants to talk to Maltby, for example, after July 1, he's UFA - he's not under contract to the Wings, and the Wings don't have to give permission to another team to talk to him nor does another team have to give the Wings compensation if he's signed.

Homer was our best offensive player for a little patch. His contribution early in the season helped us get very, very valuable points. And he will always be a major pest. And he is the best at what he does. You don't just let a player like that walk onto another team if you can help it. Get a clue.

And one more thing! If I were one of the many teams waiting for my turn in the Winter Classic (listen up New York), I would get together an old fashioned lynchin' staring your NHL poster boys Ovirated and Cindy Crybaby together and make sure they "couldn't make it" to the WC. Something along the lines of Nancy Kerrigan. You need knees to skate, right?! In all fairness, Washington hasn't been there yet. But this is just to wreck Bettman's wet dream like the Habs did in the playoffs. Thank you Habs.

He's in a holding pattern. Crossing his fingers and praying that Chicago forgets that they faced him a bunch of times this season. Or did they? He could have been benched I suppose.

F#@K the NHL. F#@K Bettman. I am going back to only watching minor league hockey. This has gotten way out of hand. AHL/ECHL here I come. Yzerman to the f#@king Bolts, Pens in another WC within 3 years time, Wings raise ticket prices by $10 a seat this year, just waiting on Satan to buy a Snuggie because it has had to freeze at this point.

..... Really? Homer is the reason we have won MANY games. He is the reason we have scored MANY goals. Why don't we just trade away homer and all of our goalies? That way, we can't score, and can be scored on easily.

Yeah, and they ended up 30th in the standings. The Wings didn't.

At best, it's a house of cards.

I dislike Bettman as much as the next person, but he didn't make Stevie take the job. That said, I hope Stevie Y comes back to Detroit when the time and situation permits. And I hope Bettman goes to Hell.

Like Bettman knows enough about hockey to make ANY kind of a suggestion.

in what sense is it classless? What is the difference when one nhl teams offers more money than another nhl team? In the case when its KHL over NHL its all of a sudden classles... this is so stupid...

I don't care if Bettman likes it or not, players are playing NHL games anyways and are under threat of getting injured. Fans would overwhelmingly agree they want to see their country's star players, fans of both the Olympics and NHL hockey. So Bettman can cram it up his ass, quit whining, and make a deal with the IIHF.

It's just that everyone ok with Cleary's bad season and playoffs because he was a warrior and played through an injury, yet there are a million people on this board who hate Hossa for the same reason. It just seems like a double standard to me is all.

We probably are, but like you said it's something fresh to talk about. I'd hate to see Ozzie go but he probably has the best reason to. I think he could have a great season next year. Last year was a fluke for everyone and one more shot (actually getting playing time) could bode well for him and give us a great tandem once again. If he has the attitude to stay we need to keep him. Draper...well...I'd hate to see him not retire a Wing but there's simply no room for everyone anymore. I'm not sure if he HAS to go, but with Helm coming into his own, is Draper's faceoff skill worth it? I'd have to go look to see his stats last year to know for sure.

Lidstrom's. By a mile. Yzerman, as great as he was, was replaceable. Lidstrom, not so much. More sad with Lids because I know the team is gonna be worse off than it was when Yzerman left. In terms of hardware, Lids. Obviously. Steve was a great leader and a warrior, but he had his flaws. Lidstrom was almost flawless in his prime. No. Yzerman was a great captain with a lot of heart and an amazing skill set. He deserved every bit of spotlight he's ever recieved, imo. In the end though, it's hard to make an accurate analysis until the repercussions of Lidstrom's retirement are felt.

God, the KHL is like some guy who offers your girlfriend/wife to sleep with him right in front of you. Classless.

after seeing how holmer played in the playoffs with his ablity to score 4 goals and rack almost all of the wings penaltys only to see us get scored on and kill us. trade him to tampa for a bag of pucks. we can replace him with speed since he is a pilon/.

Like someone said in some other thread about this a while ago: When Crosby raised the cup there he cursed it. burn the f***** down.

woah they did. i was never aware of this.

I'm disappointed the surgeon didn't tear all of his ligaments out. Jeez Cleary, don't come back please. Waive your NTC and go, you're of no value for your cap hit now.