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After reading the comments that some of you have left regarding Lidstrom re-signing for next year I'am actually embarrassed to be associated with you. Have you been so spoiled over the past 15 years that the fact that Holland signed our best player to a $1.2 mill discount is hurting the team? The way i see it the only way our team could be worse next year is if Lidstrom retired or asked for more than he made last year. He could have demanded the league max and forced Holland to tear the team apart to sign him, because he is worth the league max. He could have retired and the wings could hope that they find his replacement in the draft sometime in the next....30 years, players like him come around once every generation or so and the fact that he played for the wings his entire career is a blessing. If you guys don't want the best player of the past 20 years there are 29 other teams that will gladly take him off our hands even at 40 y/o. Had he retired could we had a shot a getting Kovi? sure, but last time i checked Kovi doesn't play 28 min/game and wont shut down the other teams best players every game. Lidstrom has the kind of impact on games that Crosby and Ovechkin have and Holland signed him for close to $3 mill less than those guys are getting. I'am thanking the Hockey gods everyday(alot today)for allowing the wings to have players like Lidstrom, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk because every other team had a shot at drafting these guy and the wings could have the success that the Florida Panthers has had. Those of you that are complaining I want you to go root for the Panthers or the Thrashers next year so you can be humbled and because you don't deserve to be associated with the Red Wings. You are the reason that every other fan base can't stand us thinks we are entitled to everything. Could he have signed for 4 or 5 million? yes, but the fact that he still want to play and still wants to play for the wings is worth 6.2 million dollars. If you want to call him up and pay him 2 million out of your own pocket so he could sign for 4 mill im sure he would take you up on it. Thank you for reading my rant and if you are very happy that Lids is just coming back and that you think Holland will work his magic and the wings will be a cup contender next year then this was not about you, i still have respect for you and if you are ever in Wyoming you are welcome to come watch a wings game at my house. <-- in 2011

YES LET'S PAY LIDSTROM A HALF-EATEN HOTDOG IN HIS (MAYBE) LAST SEASON OF HIS LEGENDARY CAREER WHEN HE'S STILL ONE OF THE TOP 5 D-MEN IN THE LEAGUE GOOD IDEA

Notre Dame hockey has forever been cursed for me because of one brett lebda. Never again guys, never again.

You know of some better, more traditional way that a hockey player could send a message to an opposing hockey player about his behavior? Pronger is oretty awesome at what he does. He is a troll on the ice, without a doubt. He's a great player and he's a dick to play against. He also makes hinmself available for ass-kicking to similarily-skilled opponents, but almost without exception they cower in fear. That's awesome, and that's how hockey players should be.

Yeah, he should definitely take a lower salary than Rafalski??? You guys really just need to take a step back and maybe re-hash this whole thing. Its Nick effing Lidstrom. He is a top 5 dman. Saying 'above average' is just startling. I have a feeling this is coming from trolls or people who just don't understand the business. He took a huge pay cut his whole career. It just can't sink in anymore than that I suppose. f***'S SAKE!!!

The implication being that Nick has no character? Well isn't that a nice thing to say about our captain and future Hall of Famer. "f*** that Lidstrom, he's a greedy prick." I love how I say I'm rooting for the Hawks to win the Stanley Cup because it would mean something to my dad and that means I'm a traitor but saying Nick Lidstrom has no character and is essentially a money-hungry ******* is the mark of a "true" fan.

One of them will have a Norris Trophy and a one of them will most likely have a Stanley Cup ring. The most recent Norris Trophy and most recent Stanley Cup, which are the most important in determining their current value. If you think that Lidstrom is still worth over 10 million dollars a year, fine. I won't ever be able to change your mind. But from where I'm sitting, the best defenseman this year and probably most years from this point forward, a 25 year old kid, just signed a contract that will take him into and throughout the prime of his career for a 5.5 million dollar cap hit. He did it because he loves the city and his team and because he wants to compete for the championship as often as is possible with the current salary cap. Duncan Keith will undoubtedly sacrifice more salary throughout his career than Lidstrom has. That's called character.

Oh agreed I have them both much higher then those numbers. I was merely making an example. Both are part of the elite of their positions.

If he wasn't stealing them from the Blackhawks I might care. EDIT: Even better, love the quote "Where's the puck, Pronger was asked. "It's in the garbage," Pronger replied. "Where it belongs."

Pronger is acting like a dumb ass, but maybe that annoying song the Hawks always play just finally got to him. And this place is starting to look like letsgohawks.com already. Sick of it! I hate this whole damn matchup. Like Jersey and Colorado back in 2001.

So . . . because Pronger spit on the indian head, we supposed to feel sympathy for the same fanbase that screams "Detroit Sucks" during the start of every home game? Color me unimpressed by your rationalizing. Pronger might be a jackass but he wasn't the only one in the building that night (ahem, Kane and Buff).

Maybe he didn't want to kick the guy most responsible for the Wings' success the past 15 years in the balls. $6.2 is beyond fair for the organization and its something Lids can live with. That's most likely where that number came from....not some personal need to be the highest paid. It never was. Besides, if that were the case he'd be making $6.7+ next season given Datsyuk's salary. The "Lidstrom Cap" was awarded to him from Kenny for his financial sacrifices, not something Lids enforced.

we're trading all of our draft picks for kaberle

Well aren't you a nice little ray of sunshine today...

Thank you Chicken Little.

Instead of whining after the game, maybe Chicago's players should have done something about it when he was going to pick the puck up?

Give him time man. He's not Lidstrom-- he will struggle a bit as he adjusts to the NHL. This isn't an easy league to play defense in! But he showed glimpses of being top pairing quality in some games last season (though not as many as he did the year before). He also played well in the worlds-- where he was the Swede's leader in ice time (although he had a bad game against the Czechs).

I wouldn't go that far. I'm not too optimistic about next year right now. We don't have close to the depth up front that we had in 2008, and 2009. Zetterberg and Datysuk are both getting older, and it may have showed last year. Franzen blew a knee, who knows how he plays next year.... This team with Lidstrom playing for 6+ million will not be a cup contender next year. I can guarantee. Hudler will not be the difference. I'm gonna get in trouble for saying this, but I think Holland is vastly overrated by Wings fans and deals like this prove it. Holland hasn't done a single thing besides sign long term deals with players exiting their prime that may have possibly neglected the future of the Red Wings.

They apply if player is over 35 (or 34) years old.

Actually I do think the Red Wings have enough talent for a championship. Kronwall will need to take a big leap and hopefully our roster can stay healthier. Red Wings showed that they can still be dominate when healthy(key word). I really think we have better odds if we just make small editions rather then completely turning over the roster and essentially guess that Babcock can create chemistry with free agents( which doesn't usually pan out).

Keep in mind that the plethora of rookies will now have a year of experience under their belts. Ericcson, Helm, and Howard should (theoretically) all be more reliable on the ice, and we'll also have Abby the whole year instead of Williams. And don't underestimate what adding Hudler can do to the team. Especially if Babs wants to roll three "scoring lines". Its not the top six that wins a playoff series, but the bottom six. Next year we may also have a bit of money at the deadline to pick up someone who can add a bit of depth. Don't count next year as a lost cause before this year's playoffs are even over.

Look how easy that is to say when its someone else's money.

Yzerman was not a top 10 player in the league his last (or even last 2) years in the league... nor was he playing top minutes - not the same

Yes, everyone who roots for the Hawks for any reason aside from life and death is being a bit of a traitor. I wish I could say otherwise to appease you, but I have to be honest first and foremost as to my feelings.

joe louis was finished in 79 ... 60+ years after those venues were