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Lidstrom is still easily a top 5 defenseman in the league, and you expect him to take a $3 million paycut? You guys kill me sometimes. For the good of the team he should play another grueling season for millions less than his market value? If he signs for anything under 6 mill, he would officially be Saint Nick in Detroit.

Uh. We got Franzen back too. Did you forget that he was gone from the 3rd game until the middle of February. Franzen is a 40 goal scorer and Huds is a 20 goal scorer. That's 60 goals. They didn't suck from mid February to the endd of the season.

That's pretty much how I feel about it. He doesn't need to work another day in his life and he'll be fine money-wise. I love Lidstrom and want him back. Would I like for him to take a paycut to bring some other guys in? Sure. Is he worth every cent he's making now? Absolutely. I'll take him at $7.4. I'll take him at $1. It doesn't matter.

This team sucked? SUCKED? Let's review. Starting a true rookie goaltender who pulls off a record of 37-15-10, with GAA of 2.26, 0.924 save percentage. Over 300 games lost due to injury, including Franzen, Zetterberg and Filppula getting long stretches out. Despite losing a massive amount of scoring to free agency and injuries, they still made the playoffs and won round 1. There's 22 teams in the league who would kill for that shot at the second round. 14 would have loved a shot at the first. Room for improvement, sure. Sucked? Not a chance in hell.

You don't have to like him, but this thread has nothing to do with Jiri Hudler but your obsessive disliking of him somehow makes it a subject when there is no need for it to be a subject. Your soapbox rants about Hudler aren't necessary. That, along with your perception that Lidstrom should all of a sudden take an absurd paycut just for the better of the team is absurd or is a greedy idiot to possibly not do so or thinking he should retire is getting you negative posts. Life may go on after Lidstrom, but this team is a lot better with him, and I don't want to see him retire. I can understand taking a small paycut here/there, but I'm sorry, some of you thinking he should retire and kicking him rear end to the curb if he doesn't just sacrifice millions are out of your mind.

If he asks for 7 million, then he doesn't really care about a Cup. Just sayin'. He knows full well what this team needs and if he isn't willing to sacrifice some of his salary to help fill that need, then why bother? That's all I'm saying. Of course he is worth it. But giving him a huge salary just for the sake of watching him play another season would be a drag.

Probably because you are not a pro-athlete

Seriously, I don't understand Lidstrom's motivation. The guy has nothing more to prove, so why not take a paycut so the team has some cap space and a legit change at another cup run? Bringing back the same team as last year, minus Bertuzzi and plus Hudler isn't going to get the job done.

I do like this... Has some old school Wings in it too.

At least he's in the playoffs. Go, Hoss... hope you and Koko get to hoist the chalice.

He's paid to put up points - goals and assists and he's not doing it. He has 0.76 points/game which is 60th yes 60th in the playoffs. The 2 goals in 17 games is pitiful. The only thing that he is doing well is playing defense. His +/- is 2nd in the league just behind a guy whose last name begins with Z. I am glad that we didn't sign him. Some guys elevate their play in the playoffs - Franzen, Zetterberg, Lidstrom and some guys wither - Hossa, Joe Thorton... The Hawks are paying him alot of money and he isn't getting it done in the playoffs. To date he has had a total of 2 good playoffs and one of them was when he played wing with Sydney Crosby. Kenny is a very smart man.

If there wasn't a cap maybe, but I'm pretty confident in Kenny's decision to re-sign Franzen instead, then and especially now. I bet the Hawks were expecting more from him but I'm sure they're not really complaining, considering where they're at. And in any event, I think people get too hung up on the number of goals -- any play that helps create a goal is as good in my book, and Hossa did work in Game 1 with two deft passes to set up Brouwer goals.

Hes just sending a message to the rest of the league

Maybe he just wants to make sure his grandkids' grandkids' grandkids are set for life?

The Stanley Cup Final edition of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket wallpaper is now available! Click Here to Go to the Download Page Enjoy!

Its not that i think Lids will be willing to take less than 5 million; I just think Holland will not offer him anything less than that, out of respect for him.

Yes, because Yzerman did not make A LOT of money when he was a 3rd liner at best. But since there was no cap, it was no problem of course (except for maybe Illitch ). Lidstrom can easily command 6 or more million, it would still be a fair price. I think NHL PA would step in if he wanted to take 2 or so million a year.

Hudler would suck ass at center. A center is supposed to be responsible defensively, and he isn't.

Wow. I agree it's most likely blown out of the water… but unless the victim's dead, it's not big deal?

You cut Alfie out of that, and it's a pretty gangster pic.

I wouldn't have a problem with either.

Stop being modest Eva, like he isn't already.

As stated before it's all about the $$$$. Pittsburgh and Washington have the two fastest growing "New" fan bases out there right now. Their merchandise sales are sky rocketing, and when you're looking at Revenue the long term numbers involve getting new fair weather fans....and making them stay fans for the long haul. A team like Detroit has an already established fanbase, so it's not going to fluctuate up or down too much regardless. No point in catering to Detroit when there's hotter markets out there. Teams like say....the Wild....well nobody cares less....so you end up with three types of teams. 1) Those who have fan bases that won't change too much (Detroit, Toronto, etc) 2) Those who have little fan base...and simply aren't worth making a big ticket out of (Minn, Atlanta, etc) 3) Those with fresh new up and coming fan bases, willing to spend a ton of money to support their newfound passion. (pittsburgh, Washington) I Remember in 97-98....every single car in Detroit had a redwings flag (or 4) out the window. If you went to the mall 1/3rd of the shirts people were wearing were red and white, or a full out jersey. Hell, even I Had Detroit bumper stickers on my car, owned 3-4 Jersey's, and even a Redwings coffee mug. Back then 99% of us were just becoming Redwings fans because our team was doing well. Three finals appearances in a row, a record breaking 96 season....most of us were the lame fans that we now see springing up all over Pittsburgh and Washington. But we made the league a lot of money ;-p And while the fan craze surged during those years.....many of us remained fans over the long haul....and the 'Hockey' atmosphere that has been created in Michigan attracts new hockey fans with every generation. That's the NHL's goal with these up and coming teams right now.....to build a fanbase that will be self sufficient ten years from now, because god knows if they don't nurse the hell out of Washington and Pittsburgh.....most of their fans won't last through a bad year. Remember....the Caps became ultra popular in 98 as well, right up until Detroit swept them out of the finals. Suddenly....a bad year for them the following year...and poof, Caps fell off the planet for fan base. To get fans, you have to win. To keep a fan base....you have to take those fair weather fans, and make them into real hockey fans...and that takes years to accomplish. In Detroit we lucked out with a good team for about 20 years straight now, but I doubt we'll see Pittsburgh and Washington making the playoffs for the next 20 years, so from a marketing standpoint pitting Ovechkin against Crosby in a highly publicized game is kinda genius.....even if it is a little bit ***. Side thought: How funny would it be if both of them were injured for the Winter Classic, lol. What a kick in the balls that would be to Bettman.

i think the hurricanes logo looks more like a urinal cake than a rose