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Kronwall and Weber as a top 2 pairings? IMAGINE getting hit by those guys on the blue line with your head down? actually imagine getting hit by their playoff beards for the next 20 years?

I only played high school hockey but I'd put myself down for at least 25 points if I played with Pavel all year. Jonathan Cheechoo had 50+ goals playing next to Thornton and rides buses in the AHL when he isn't. Colby Armstrong looked like an offensive force next to Crosby and an offensive farce next to anyone else. My point, that isn't a great measuring stick for Fil, he probably wont play with Pavel all year anyway, and even if he did I'm not convinced he gets 70 points.

So...he's only useful when playing with the best player in the world? I'm not going to say Flip sucks, because he doesn't, but he doesn't bring enough to the table to justify NOT being traded for a defenseman or a winger.

Filppula was tied for second in team playoff scoring and you have him under the bad section? I'd put him under the "Always comes through in the playoffs" section.

Couple of very interesting things to be found in this article... My link Geez Ericsson, how good do you think you are mate? You have size but don't use it, you skate well but don't really utilise it. You don't have great hockey sense which results in too many turnovers. As for Draper, I know everything in our past suggests Holland will re-sign him for one more year, but is it time we start making the tough call, without emotions playing a part?

Not trying to be funny I despise #52, He scored 1 time in the playoffs and was completely worthless in the regular season. He is a traffic hazard. Hes best at watching not playing and heaven forbid he does anything close to sacrificial like blocking a shot. Hes soft on the boards, his lack of movement ends up setting picks on our own guys or screens Howie. He has cost us numerous games. Oh and how bout those blind drop passes he loves to do for a chasing forward FROM THE OTHER TEAM ?!?!?! Hes had enough time to get comfortable and thank god hes a UFA.

Am I the only one in favor of bringing back Miller? Sure, he doesn't score much, but I like his defensive game. I still like him as our 13th forward, which would give Mursak and whoever else more playing time.

Ericsson needs to go. Plain and simple. If he gets re-signed, I will begin to start having serious doubts about Holland. How many years do we have to wait for this guy who was never a defenseman in the first place to develop? It's getting ridiculous, the amount of golden opportunities this kid gets to stink up the ice.

I guess I was just kind of hoping people would let their bitterness go in other threads (AKA "What should we do in the offseason?"), but this one is getting a good taste of sour grapes too. Maybe I'm getting a little more seasoned or more mature. My frustrations don't stick around as long as they used to, and they're not as violent.

If the NHL were as popular as the NFL in this country, the league would share the same view. With the NHL still trying to establish itself in the a place where it has more regional appeal, ratings are key. Besides, I would bet none of us would have a problem if it were the Redwings hosting the game. I know I wouldn't.

Might as well get used to it because there are only a handful of teams that will draw a decent audience. In the States, that means Canadian teams and markets such as Atlanta, Nashville, Columbus, etc are out of luck in terms of getting a game. I expect it will be the large, traditional markets of the north east and midwest playing in most of the WC games.

With as much as Ericsson loves to pinch they should put him on the 3rd or 4th line and stick him in front of the net. At least this way he would be utilizing his size more often.

Maybe Mursak will surprise us in training camp, secure a spot on a scoring line (2nd or 3rd) and do a solid job over 82 games. Mule-Pav-Homie Bear-Z-Mursak Huds-Fil-Bert Abby-Helm-Eaves

Why would any team give us anything but a bag of peanuts for Hudler?

I think you're being too hard on Franzen as well. He did lead the team in goals during the season, and while he did have some cold spots, in the NHL he's making about the right money for a 30-goal scorer. Plus, he started well in the playoffs before his ankle was messed up. I definitely agree with your defensive reading. Kronwall has really stepped up and finally become a bit of the "Nick Jr" he was advertised as. Preferably, I'd like the team to get a youngish 3/4 defenseman with some physicality and match him with Rafalski. I would like to see the Fil we got in the last two games for the whole season. Maybe the answer is putting him with Datsyuk. They both seem seem to play off of each other really well and can both be creative. Those two with Cleary or Franzen might be really entertaining. Ericsson is about what I expect out of a bottom pairing guy. I don't want to give up on him quite yet, but if they can bring in a new 3/4 guy, I wouldn't mind having Ericsson and Kindl fight it out for that last spot. Keep them honest and working.

This is what I've been saying all year long. Jonathon Ericsson sucks donkey balls. He's slow. He's big, but he doesn't hit. He's below-average in the defensive zone and even worse in center ice and on offense. He constantly gives away the puck. He doesn't know how to dump the puck into the zone. He's afraid to shoot, and when he doesn't it's always a wimpy shot the couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Someone else said it best on this board: Jonathon Ericsson is the world's largest traffic cone.

GO YZERBOLTS.

going back to my first round vancouver/chicago series strategy of cheering for random catastrophic meteor.

Trade Hudler. Kick Ericsson down the street. Those would be the main two. Other than that, I feel like we could do better than Salei and Filppula. I really want to keep Filppula, but he did exactly what he always does: wakes up for a couple of games and then goes back to sleep. We just don't get to see the sleep part this time. Draper and Osgood have earned the right to do whatever the F they want. As much as I think it's time for Ozzie to retire (and I really hate saying that), Detroit's known for its loyalty, and this is the part where he gets that gift and makes everybody else glad that they're playing for the Wings, too. Pretty sure Mo's done, so I doubt we have to worry about that. Pretty sure Lids isn't done...or at least I want to believe that, so I'm not going to think about it at any rate. I WISH we could get rid of Rafalski...I'm not completely unhappy with him on the whole, but I AM unhappy with his play for the amount of money we pay him. I don't know who to fill in...gotta think about that for a while. Bringing up Mursak would probably be a good start. I'd definitely like to add some size. EDIT: Wait, I meant physicality. We don't need any more "Big Rigs"; we need some tough suckers.

Any guy who massacres the name of the greatest player of all time shouldn't be taken very seriously . Yea blame Holland, 100 pt seasons, 50 win seasons, Stanley Cups...I mean what the f*** is going on around here? The irony in that post is well....ironic coming from the biggest douch nozzle on these boards !

I hope both teams lose.

pfffff. you're kidding right? im mailing a broom to Vancouver

Go Canucks!! I want 4 straight shutouts!! LOL

That's a big negative ghost rider. So you're telling me Emmerton could go over to Finaland and win Player of the year? False.

Stopped reading and laughed my ass off at the bolded part. Very position dependent. I sincerely doubt that there are many if any NHL players who are faster at running than a top nfl receiver, or stronger relative for weight. You mean Shaun Rogers.