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He. Never. Retired. Before. Today. He. Never. Quit. What don't you get? He battled injuries, should every player just end their career after battling an injury? Now if he tries a come back next year, you have all the right to start complaining, but to bash him for trying his best to see what he can contribute and if he can hold up one last time is just mind boggling to me. I hope you never have to face a decision in your life to move on when you still feel you can perform. I know it was hard as hell for me to finally just give up my dreams and go to school instead of battling for my chance to get a scholarship playing in the USHL, I couldn't imagine actually having the gifts that Forsberg does and having played at that high of level just to have your career ruined by a foot. It has to be an awful feeling, which was evident in the press conference.

We also had the second easiest schedule with weeks off between games. We need a physical, quick DMan who has a willingness to clear the front of the net.

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Steve Yzerman agrees with me, I can officially die a happy man now!

Mike Fisher and Versteeg are both worth first round picks and more eh? This is why I am happy Holland is our GM. Sometimes the deals he doesn't make are the best.

http://www.nesn.com/2011/02/islanders-zonon-konopka-defends-teams-actions-after-mario-lemieuxs-criticism.html I like Konopka.

I'm confused. Dean Lombardi rips the officiating and gets fined. Mario Lemieux does the same and gets nothing. Oh, I forgot who I was talking about and what team he controls. I get it now.

Not at all. One player doesn't make a team. If they Wings had Cooke (ewwww) and he continually was doing dirty stuff, the Wings wouldn't be known as goons, just for having a goon. Mario didn't call out goons, he called out a team playing with the intent to take a pound of flesh from their opponents during that night. If I had a problem child, there is no reason I shouldn't be able to call out a family of O'Doyles. It's hypocritical, but it doesn't invalidate my argument. Smokers are right when they say smoking is bad, alcoholics are right when they say alcoholism is wrong. I do agree, though, his comments were melodramtic. But having Cooke isn't the same thing and it isn't hypocritical since Cooke can pot you 40 points a season if he really tried. he does the same stuff OV does and same stuff Briere does, and hell, even Mike Richards throws those exact same hits. Mario was right, and Matt Cooke is completely irrelevant. Cooke has never tried to Bertuzzi anyone and never began to pummel a guy he just blindsided that was clearly hurt. All of Cooke's cheapshots, you can find identical hits delivered by highly reputable players, but again, he's never suckerpunched or hit a down opponent who was obviously injured. Plus, Cooke can continually pot at least 10 goals a season and put up 30 points. Gillies has 9 goals in his entire 12 year career. Matt Martin, thus far in his early early career is a goon. Cooke is a dirty version of Steve Ott basically. So no, it really doesn't pertain to what Mario was saying. Matt Cooke walks the line and crosses it sometimes, but what Mario is arguing is that an entire game shouldn't be all about cheap shots. So either you (not specifically you) cannot see that or your (not specifically you) pure unadulterated hate for everything Penguins and Crosby is getting in your way. I hate Crosby and the Penguins as the next person, but at least I can see it from mario's/an owners point of view.

I agree. I don't think we make any moves this season. Getting Stuart back is big and then getting Modano back before the playoffs will be very nice. This off season will be worth watching for the Wings.

Do you guys really think we can move Hudler without including someone or picks to sweeten the deal? Hudler has been playing great for a bit now, but not enough that other GMs would take a chance on him without getting a for-sure deal back. That said, with how the team has been playing recently, nothing will happen at the trade deadline. People seem to want a stay-at-home defender, but forget we're getting one in about a week: Stuart. We have all of the solutions to our problems in the system right now, as long as they play well.

Sorry to be pedantic, but what I think what you meant is: "What I believe would be best for the team in the long run is for Draper to retire." Draper "should" retire when Draper feels like he has no more hockey at a top level left in him, or when he decides to become a lover of the life of leisure. If this season is any indication, now isn't when he "should" retire. Personally, I'd welcome him back for another season or two if his play doesn't decline. Part of what has made this organization great is their dedication and loyalty to those that made this one of the most successful and respected franchises in all of sports. Illitch was clear from day one that he wanted to run his team like a family, and we've all enjoyed the fruits of this philosophy. I understand why many of you say that it's time to give the kids a chance, but, from where I sit, that's Kris' decision to make (with some help from Ken), and I'll support whichever decision he makes. Giving him the respect to go out on his own terms is what separates our team from, say, Dallas giving Modano the boot.

No. Draper should retire. He's played better this season than I thought, but there's younger and bigger guys we need on our 4th line. Draper is not going to be around for much longer anyway. He's been a staple of this organization longer than anyone but Lidstrom, however, it's time to move on.

This guy may be the hardest worker on the team. I am blown away by how well he's playing. He could be 27 years old and there wouldn't be a difference. Its a lot of fun to watch and my hats off to him. If I were Kenny, knowing how Kenny runs the Wings, Draper would be back next year and Emmerton would be traded at the deadline.

It absolutely pertains to Mario's comments. Mario releases a sanctimonious statement about protecting players and the integrity of the game, then he walks into his office and signs Cooke's paycheck. The Pens lead the league in major penalties. They lead the league in PIMs. It's not that his comments were wrong, they were just hypocritical and melodramatic ("I'm taking my puck and going home!"). If he wants to improve player safety and the integrity of the game, start by not giving dirty players like Matt Cooke a job. Use the Pens franchise as an example of how to improve the integrity and safety of the game, rather than sitting from on high and chastising the NHL for it and threatening to quit (again).

F.Michael you are absolutely right aboot hypocritsm. And before I get argues of including the penalties of the NYI-PEN game in my stats, hereby one without; 29th STL PIMs total of 862 30th PEN PIMs total of 970 NYI is not even second last anymore and difference of 108 minutes with STL is ridiculously high. So I think Mario better look into the Pens mirror before pointing to everyone.

I think holland will sign draper til the day he decides to retire. Draper still has a lot of jump left and I wouldnt mind it with a lower cap hit

+/- isn't a stupid stat. It does mean something. However like every other stat, you can't measure people based on one stat alone, but rather the combination of them all.

And he'll now get 10 more votes for the Norris, just because he's a + player.

I agree, great to see Nik at a plus. But, c'mon... Lets not dis Stuart now. If anything, everyone should now realize what a vital role Stuart played for our team... since he has been out, our defense has pretty much totally ******* sucked...

That would be a god aweful trade.

If the Wings keep playing like they did tonight, there's really no need for moves with Stuart looking at coming back in a week and Modano in 2-3 weeks. The main problem in trading is that you usually have to give up something of equal value at the time, regardless of the potential. Hudler has been in every damn thread we have proposing trades, yet he played a pivotal role in the win tonight with some very strong passing, forechecking, and scoring. I like every player we have on the team when they're playing their game like they were tonight. Even Rafalski who I usually rag on had a good game. Then again while I don't know Mr. Holland's take on most things, I'd assume that he and I are of pretty similar minds on this subject.

NHL getting fun again with these two brawls in one week, plus a goalie fight.

More fights in that one game than Detroit has in the entire season. Sigh.

Absolutely crazy game. Embarrassing for the pens getting tuned by the isles on the scoreboard and in fights. Cant say I mind seeing it though, too bad cindy wasn't on the receiving end of one of these

They didn't start on time again. No focus or intensity, poor passing, missed assignments, got forechecked and outworked. That about covers it.