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Bob Probert is so beloved because Bob Probert was worth the price of admission all by himself.

Done.

This hurts our chances at landing a big grinding forward and a physical defenseman. When healthy, scoring is the last of our concerns, so I'm not so sure if he gives us anything we don't already have. Doesn't exactly make us a younger team either.

Booya! He'd immediately make the 2nd PP more dangerous and the 3rd line a legit scoring threat. I hate that it will take some playing time from the younger kids but if you can make the team better with a signing without hurting the long-term viability of the team you do it.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100705/COL01/100705037/1318/Bob-Proberts-tough-story-ended-far-too-soon What is a man? Is he the worst he’s ever done? If so, Bob Probert will be remembered for a night he dropped his pants at the Canadian border and a packet of cocaine fell out. He’ll be remembered for handcuffs, for jail, for alcoholism, for wrapping a Monte Carlo around a utility pole, for crashing a motorcycle with his bloodstream laced with substances, and for year after year single-handedly exhausting the patience of the Red Wings’ front office. What is a man? Is he the best he’s ever done? If so, Bob Probert will be remembered for a good heart, a gentle soul, a giant’s body that on skates could do that rarest of combinations, speed, score and wallop. He’ll be remembered for the countless attempts he made at cleaning up instead of giving up, his loyalty to his teammates, his love for his kids, and his sincere desire, each time he said it, to get his life together and live out his days in peace. What is a man? Bob Probert, the son of a Windsor cop, was the most maddening athlete I have ever covered. Charming. Irresponsible. Repentant. Hard-headed. Lay down your arms, No. 24. A character from a video game “I’ve always thought, ‘I’m Bob. I’m big guy Bob. I don’t need anyone’s help,' " he once told me. It was the kind of bitter honesty that made you want to give him another chance. And he got a lot of them. Young kids won’t understand our fascination with Probert. They don’t make his kind anymore. They don’t encourage it and they don’t tolerate it. But there is a reason you still see people wearing his jersey at Joe Louis Arena, more than 15 years since he last played for Detroit. Coming up in the 1980s, Bob Probert was the sort of warrior they now model video game characters after. Relentless. Brutal. Single-minded. Unafraid of blood. He was an enforcer, a goon, a guy whose main purpose was to make sure nobody messed with his team’s stars. Someone touched Steve Yzerman? Bob Probert touched back hard. Someone ran the goalie? Probert ran him harder. His fights are legendary, and are no doubt being downloaded at a record clip this morning, after news of his sudden death today while boating with his family on Lake St. Clair. But Probert’s battles on the ice were small to the ones he fought within. I remember choking up when he told me about his childhood, the early death of his father, the way his teenaged hockey pals encouraged him to drink, drink, drink until he was wrapped around a streetlight or vomiting in the street. As the big guy, the tough guy, in some ways, he never stood a chance. He was entwined with alcohol before he ever became an NHL player. Once he had money, the parties were endless. Cocaine entered the picture, and with an addict’s personality, that was disaster for Probert. His border arrest was just the start of his high-profile troubles. This was a guy who, at times, couldn’t play away games because he wasn’t allowed out of the country, a guy who had to live within walking distance of the Joe because he wasn’t allowed to drive. I once did an interview at his place, and at the end he asked whether I could give him a lift to the rink. His time in Detroit ended badly “You see him even when he’s just gotten in trouble,” Jacques Demers once lamented, “and he has that look that says, ‘I’m sorry. Help me.' " You wanted to help. You wanted Probert to shake his demons. He had that ruddy face, that goofy grin, that tousled hair, the look of a man who could be so happy when he was happy. And he had such skill. So Demers, the coach, stuck out his neck, and Jimmy Devellano, the general manager, stuck out his neck, and Mike Ilitch, the owner, stuck out his neck, and in the end, they all got burned. Probert walked away after a motorcycle crash, signed a free-agent deal with Chicago and made millions more before retiring, finally, in 2002. By that point, he was a memory here, part of the Bruise Brothers days, a guy who averaged more than 3.5 penalty minutes a game. Ironically, he checked out before the Wings began winning Stanley Cups and he never did get a ring. He had several incidents with the law and alcohol in 2004 and 2005. Most of us don’t know what the last few years have held. He was 45 when he collapsed this afternoon. News spread quickly around here — “Bob Probert died?” — and we were stunned because he seemed so indestructible. But no one is indestructible. Who knows what finally took him, but it took him too soon. Even to the end, you wanted Probert to make it. He should not be remembered by the worst he did, and he cannot be whitewashed by the best. But whether an opponent, an image, an addiction or a past, Bob Probert was always fighting something. He can lay down his arms now. And finally be at peace.

I'd suggest they go with the number 24 on the helmets. "BP" aren't exactly the most beloved initials right now.

Well we all know which team he played for the longest. And he also had his greatest seasons here too.

Best enforcer of all time and will no doubt will live on as the most famous and most admired in the history of the sport. RIP Probie. At least Jesus knows someone has his back.

And even though he's dead, he could STILL kick Tie Domi's ass. RIP Probie.

There will never be another player like Probert.RIP Bob.I'd absolutely purchase a t-shirt in rememberance of Probie.

I don't usually wish bad on other teams, but the Chi Town trolls have me annoyed still. Let's hope they have to ride Huet and the Wings take the Central crown back

I usually can't stand Mitch Albom, but that article is poetry... and a lovely honest tribute. What is a man? Is he the best he’s ever done? If so, Bob Probert will be remembered for a good heart, a gentle soul, a giant’s body that on skates could do that rarest of combinations, speed, score and wallop. He’ll be remembered for the countless attempts he made at cleaning up instead of giving up, his loyalty to his teammates, his love for his kids, and his sincere desire, each time he said it, to get his life together and live out his days in peace. What is a man? Bob Probert, the son of a Windsor cop, was the most maddening athlete I have ever covered. Charming. Irresponsible. Repentant. Hard-headed. Lay down your arms, No. 24. this made me cry. He will be missed, so much. I think the 24 tribute is a great idea (Cheli would approve). edit: I forgot, but he's right - Probie has no ring. That is a shame...

What are you on? I talk about how Getzlaf is a solid player that I eouldn't trade Z for, then I say Z probably isn't a top 5 forward in the league and back it up with reasons. I think its funny how people on this board can never hear one bad thing about a red wing or else you hate the wings. Its pathetic. I said Z is a great player, you need to give your head a shake man, he got 70 points this year, he's a great player, not god. Find an example of me convincing everyone that other teams stars are better then the wings (which I didn't even do in this thread) and maybe you'll get a little bit of your credibility from me back. Until then you're just one of those homer fans on here who can't look at this team realistically.

I think I may fall over laughing if they lose Niemi.

I just found My "Bruise Brothers" puck that is signed by Probert and Kocur..... Rest In Peace fallen Wing.

Probie in Afghanistan.

damn right, he will forever be a wing. IF things didn't go down the way they did with the off ice stuff he would have been a wing his entire career.

hopefully they have a bob probert night at the joe with a nice tribute or something next season.

I think as a Chicago fan there is one thing we can both agree upon since he played for both teams...what a warrior for both orgs.

RIP Bob Probert Greatest enforcer of all time

Why not? 1. Scotty Bowman hated him as a player. 2. He's worse now than he ever was 3. No more washed up former Wings

He really really sucks nowadays

Statistically they are about the same: Getzlaf Regular Season GP:363 G: 107 A: 232 Points: 339 +/-: +64 GWG: 16 Post Season GP:56 G: 16 A: 31 Points: 47 +/-: -1 GWG: 4 Zetterberg Regular Season GP:506 G: 206 A: 269 Points: 475 +/-: +131 GWG: 43 Post Season GP:97 G: 46 A: 45 Points: 91 +/-: +35 GWG: 7 From this standpoint, the only real difference between the two is +/- in the playoffs. Zetterberg is far more defensively responsible, yet their point outputs thus far in relation are very similar. Getzlaf is a good player, yes, but you need to look at the intangibles too, and what that means to the TEAM. Zetterberg has more when it comes to that. Time will tell who is the better player when the careers come to a close 10-15 years from now.