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Rafalski is one of the best offensive defensemen in the league. He might be overpaid, but it's not egregious. And overpayment tends to happen when you sign elite players when they are a free agent in their prime.

First we lose Downey, then we lose May, and now we're going to lose Lilja. This sucks.

I would love to see Modano sign here to finish his career; I think he can still be a productive 3rd line center. With that said, I can't see it happening. I posted something similar in another thread, but here's how I see things: Almost definitely, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Hudler, Filppula, Bertuzzi, Holmstrom, Cleary, Helm, Draper, and Eaves will be on the roster. Abdelkader and Ritola are both signed for next year and cannot play in the AHL, and Miller will likely be resigned. That is already 14 players, before signing the gritty 4th liner Holland is looking for, which would make 15 players. That also makes a whopping seven players listed as natural centers (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Flip, Hudler, Draper, Helm, and Ritola). Modano signing would give us 8 natural centers and 16 signed, non-AHL (without passing waivers) eligible forwards. It's likely Miller and maybe Ritola could be gone without a strong training camp, and Holland may not pick up a gritty 4th liner, but even so that still gives us 13 forwards with Modano after cutting three spots. I just don't see it happening. It would be cool though.

I wasn't really thinking about the lines with Savard. My mind was on the lines without FA signings. Sorry. Yeah, if we had Savard as the 3rd line centre I'd be more than happy to see Hudler as the recipient of his passes. Savard is a world class centre so that would make our 3rd line insane. Do you post about anything other than Hudler? I swear it's like he slept with your wife or something.

Needless to say, I'm pissed. For once, GET IT DONE, KENNY.

...top line?

You mean an objective view of the Rafalski signing? Not influenced by homerism and those who blame him for everything? MUST be wrong.

What's the skinny on this kid (pun intended) 5'10 @ 156ibs I'm going to look up some YT videos of him now. I never heard of him before Wings drafted him.

Why are we resigning Miller? We have Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Holmstrom, Bertuzzi, Hudler, Cleary, and Filppula as the top eight. Beyond that, we have Helm and Eaves who are far more impressive than Miller, as well as Abdelkader and this supposed gritty fourth line forward Holland is looking for. On top of that, we have Ritola, a center who can no longer play in the AHL without passing waivers, and Draper, who seems to have tremendous chemistry with Helm and Eaves. By my count, that is 14 players BEFORE adding Miller. Where does he fit in? Who else might be the odd man (men) out?

Clearly comparable to the defenseman who played 24:53 a game when we won the Cup. He was great for us. He also put up 14 points in 22 games. Not bad for a defenseman. Oh, and that's also more than Lidstrom.

Sadly, members will have "fun" with this thread.

Note when his post was, and when the article with the possible line combinations are. One month apart. Not really all that fair to rip him to shreds when the article/lines were written after the fact, and well after his post, and when there was absolutely no hint of whether Datsyuk and Zetterberg would definitely play together or apart. Regardless, line combinations are going to be constantly changing due to needs, hot/cold streaks, injuries, and so forth for every team. I'd definitely love to see Datsyuk and Zetterberg together consistently but they'll probably be split up at some point due to the nature of roster fluctuations of injuries and so forth.

In his face!!! All kidding aside... get this s*** started already! Pav and Hank amazingness on the horizon.

Drake whom are you refering to? You would put Hudler in the top 6 over Savard? Or Homer? (he is only useful there) or Mule? I won't bother making lines, but since it has been stated that Z and D will be paired together, most likely with Homer. That puts Flip, Mule and Savard, or I suppose Hud Mule Savard if you like. And a third line of Bert Abby/Flip Huds/Cleary something along those lines. I would rather have Flip in the top 6 than Hudler, myself. Instead you would rather have Hudler in the top six and Savard centering the third line? (this was what my comment was based on, Eva wanting Savard to center the third line) Edit: Since after all the premise of my post was that Savard would (He won't be so the point is moot) be a Wing next season, and I am not sure but the 4th not third line is the checking line IMO, the third line especially in Det is a scoring line.

Kelowna is trying to get pulkkinen http://kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=276204 how friggin sweet would this be. Really hope he comes over, he would play on the same team as our very own mitchy callahan! they could play on the same line and mitchy can watch his back.

If we lose Lilja, Holland better better ink a veteran to ease the blow. Not only that, locating a veteran that provides everything Lilja does for his price tag will be beyond tough.

Total classless move by the Stars organization.This guy has done nothing but play his heart out every game for 22 years in the organization,and they don't give him a contract to finish his career in Dallas?What a joke.He's been the face of the franchise forever.He's done incredible things for that organization and the city of Dallas.What a ******* joke.

Really? I think Witt is a shell of what he was, he is slow as hell and is a HUGE defensive liability at this point... I'd role with Ericsson-Kindl with Meech as the 7th before I'd want Witt at this stage in his career... physicality is GREAT, but it's not worth sacrificing goals...

If Holland went after Modano, this would be a great off season. He'd still be a great third line center and we'd have the best third line in the league. I'm pretty sure we have the space. DO IT HOLLAND!

I must admit I do not know anything about the Stars prospects and this is a new cap world but to me this is a slap in the face to Modano. Let him decide if this is it he has earned that right.

Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time!

Agreed. While I'm not very fond of Savards contract I've always viewed him as one of the most underrated players in the game. 97pts in 05/06 96pts in 06/07 78pts in 07/08 88pts in 08/09 Those kind of numbers are worthy of recognition but the guy never gets his credit. He's always been viewed as an afterthought, which is a damn shame. If this son of a ***** put up these kind of numbers in a Maple Leafs uniform he would be declared a national hero!

"I also would like to thank the management........for paying me"

Yyyeah, he was being sarcastic.

You're all lucky bastards. I'll be watching on AHL lives next season as me and Drumnj will stream every game live like last season. Even those that dont go to the games, you still get to watch for free whilst my wallet gets a pounding!