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If true, thanks for the memories Kris...the best thing ever bought for a dollar....

He's been a Wing since I was in grade school. It'll feel weird not seeing him out there.

What a career turn around, what a career, what an absolute gem of a guy.

As a Rush fan, I have to do this.... A modern day warrior, mean mean stride. Today's Kris Draper, mean mean pride...

Hi everyone, I am a psychologist at the University of Glamorgan in the UK. I am currently doing some research on the addictive nature of being a sports fan and how it impacts on peoples lives. My research team and I have created a survey looking at some of these ideas and now we need some proper fans to have a go at it!! It takes about 5-10 minutes to complete and will hopefully make you think about how big a fan you actually are! If you follow the link below it will take you to the survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7GLB5YY I'd be really grateful if you could have a go! Cheers!!

Belfour was one of the 3 or 4 best goalies in the world for about 10 years. Ozzie was never in that class, period.

I actually have a weird feeling that Hudler is going to have a good year this year with 25 goals and 50+ points...but thats just me. Helm is a no brainer to bring back. Hopefully Abdelkader can get his game going this year. Wouldnt mind having Bertuzzi back on a year to year basis. Not sure about Holmstrom yet. Kronwall is a must. Hopefully Stuart will be back as well. I have a feeling that Lidstrom and Holmstrom may retire together. (definately if they win the Cup)

A-effing-men. Yep, he's still paying - the high price of being the best net-front presence in the league. I'm glad that he's still playing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4s9jbW3JhY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTE6IihYY-A

thats one thing one can never forget,draper scoring a goal with his beard.lol good times!!

Hell of a career by Kris Draper. It'll be sad to see him go. Only one guy left from the 90's era now...sad off-season in many ways, but I'm excited for the future of this team. I'm also glad that we keep guys like Draper, Osgood, Maltby, etc. in the organization. Congratulations on receiving the first negative I have ever bothered to give out.

Much like the Ozzy thread, it's more about not being an ******* than the actual truth of the statement. I think it's best for the Wings to give young guys a chance and for Drapes to hang 'em up. But he's been a warrior for the Wings and no matter what's best for the team, it's at the same time a little sad to see him go. So there's a time and a place to dance a little jig about him retiring. Unless you're doing it just to bait people and troll, this pretty clearly isn't the place.

I love Drapes. He was a class act and a force with Maltby on the PK. Unfortunately, there is a logjam of players waiting to get into the lineup, and Draper was increasingly being sat last season. Not one single bad word will be said about Draper, but unfortunately careers end when you don't really want them to with the young guys needing to get into the game. He was a key part of the Wings for many years during our glory years winning 4 cups, and he will forever be known as a champion.

Just give Drapes his due first, then say you're happy with the move.

Not really sure why this is getting neg'd so much. Draper has always been great but at this point he is baggage and is just taking up a roster spot. He's had a good career, but it's time for him to go. Let the younger kids step up.

1137 GP in the Winged Wheel. 158 goals. 203 assists. 1 Selke Trophy. 4 Stanley Cups. Hard to find a better return for $1. Best dollar the Ilitch's ever spent. Thanks for the memories, Kris!

Yea, Abs is replaceable! Everyone knows that 24 year olds with size and speed grow on trees and since all players tap out on their potential and we know what they'll be by 23, there's no chance of him getting better either, he's got to go! /sarcasm

Abby didn't do s*** last year in the regular season, and especially in the playoffs. I don't see much improvement in his game and he hardly seems indispensable. The stupid penalties and lack of fighting doesn't help either. We can find better 4th liners all around the league.

Absolutely yes. While Hasek put on an excellent goaltending performance, he had the best roster of any Wings team to visit the finals in recent history, and the only performance it could be argued as better than of the six would be Osgood's 1998 performance.

It's so odd. Every time this comes up on the forum home, it only shows a certain number of characters in the thread title, and it reads "pat kane in rehab for being" If only.

Umm... no I didn't. That's because you're wrong. Hasek/Osgood won the Jennings in 07-08 and Brodeur won the Vezina. Thomas won the Vezina this season, while Luongo / Schneider won the Jennings. The Jennings is an award that wasn't in existence during Sawchuk's time, meanwhile the Vezina is STILL awarded.

I disagree with the author's premise, but he does make some valid points. Every fan base has armchair GMs, fair-weather fans, and those who simply embarrass themselves, but like a vast majority of Wings fans, including most on LGW, I acknowledge that sports are just sports, not the end of the world but something I am passionate about and enjoy watching, talking about, reading about, etc. As a fan of the Red Wings, do I have the right to disagree with a decision that Ken Holland makes about a certain player? Yes. Does my opinion (key word here) have any effect on the outcome? No. Do I have the right to express my displeasure if the Wings lose a game in which they did not appear to give 100% effort (especially if I paid good money to see it in person)? Yes. Again, is my opinion going to have any effect on the outcome? No. So, I shake my head and hope that the mistakes the organization makes will not lead to a lesser degree of success than I have come to expect, I turn off the TV or boo from my seat in the stands, I throw my hat on the ground and storm out of the room, occasionally I kick the table and break a toe or two (ala 95 SCF), but life carries on, and so do I. I am proud to be a Red Wings fan, I am proud to be from Michigan, but I do not expect to be held accountable for how every fan of the Red Wings chooses to conduct themselves, neither do I make any apologies for their choice of expression, nor do I seek to impose my standards on anyone or seek to conform to anyone else's standards. \rant

I'm likely in the minority here, but I like Doc. He's a bit repetitive, but to me he's that guy that's been calling games as long as you've been alive, and you'd like to see him stick around just because he's got so much experience. If I had it my way, Gary Thorne would be back doing NHL games. That guy was great.

I actually have to agree with the writer of that, for the most part. And I've seen develop what he suggests: It's not like there isn't room for "other" type of fans. It's that those of us who've been around a while have seen the type of "entitled" fans that the writer takes issue with far too much take a piece of enjoyment out of something we're supposed to be supporting as fans by the constant yammering and bitching about every little f-ing detail of the team. It's one thing to talk, to express disappointment in a loss, be a critical of a signing or a lack of signing, to be critical of a team after years of disappointments, but the sense of spoiled entitlement reeks heavily, and indeed like the writer of that I do wonder if these people actually do even enjoy watching hockey and the Red Wings. They shouldn't be surprised when more tempered fans get irritated at those entitled fans (mindfly was one of the biggest here) who flip the f*** out after any single event and do little else other than whine and spew negativity about something they (and others they're around) are supposed to enjoy. It is certainly going to be interesting to see how these fans fare when the team isn't nearly as successful. I saw the same s*** develop with 49ers fans from the 90s and on. It's like watching the same thing happen in a different league and decade.

Seems like the the story was written about Detroit Sports as a whole! most of you taking it that he did not like just the Wings? I don't understand how one guy gets his thoughts published and some take major offense like he was talking to you... oh wait! maybe he was! I am not saying he is totally right, But he has a couple of valid thoughts in there.

Since we'll never know, I say yes.