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I'd get rid of Holland for offering Hudler a $15 million dollar contract and keep both Pavs and Hank.

That's sad news. I dislike Crosby (Hate the Pens) as much as the next guy, but he is undeniably one of the most gifted players in the game. I always really thought he would mature as he got older and become an Yzerman,Sakic, Lidstrom type of personality. People often forget just how young he is, 24 or 25. I'm sure we were all such gentleman at that age. Ryan

It's getting mighty quiet round these parts and I was bored so lets see who people would rather keep if it came down to it. Say, just for a random example, Holland decided to give Hudler a $15 million a year contract for the next 10 years and the only option for clearing cap space was to trade Zetterberg or DJ Pavvy-D. Which one would yas rather keep?

Here is a topic for bragging rights, make your bold predictions here that you can later refer back to when/if you're right and claim your bragging rights, or eat your crow! Mine: - White will have a career year, putting up over 40pts and being very effective on the PP - Ericsson will steady his play and post another plus year, as well as play more physical - Franzen will stay healthy all year and have a 40+ goal season - Hudler will actually bounce back decently and will post a 50+ point season - Mursak will unseat Miller and will end up an everyday player by the end of the season, Miller being a healthy scratch most nights and... GO!

True, but the only reason this is going to hurt the league, is because, as you pointed out, they've dedicated like 90%+ of their player marketing soley to Crosby. I've always felt this was absolutely retarded, for this exact reason. What happens if he gets seriously injured and is out for a long period of time, or worse, his career is ended early? You screwed yourself. If they had decided to market a lot of great players instead of putting all their eggs in the Crosby basket, then if one of those players gets hurt, it doesn't have as adverse of an effect on the league. Hopefully they will learn from this, but honestly, they probably won't.

Datsyuk, he is the Wings most clutch player and showed it in the playoffs. But I agree with whoever said Holland would be fired first for offering Hudler the huge contract.

Karma for carrying Matt Cooke on their team. esteef

I agree. Also, victory is sweeter when you beat a worthy opponent.

That fight was soooo awesome.

Datsyuk. Z couldn't even beat up Malkin. esteef

Am I missing something? Do the Wings have to get rid of one?

Karen, sweetie... I was thinking more along the lines of lazing on a sunny beach with a good book vacation. But medication could be good, too. I assume you are not going to "transcend dental medication"? I have been to Arkansas on numerous occasions. I didn't stay long in any case. The person below me want to come over and help me sort my hockey memorabilia today.

Maybe so but the season before he deliberately "bulked up". I think his back problems are the issue. I honestly think Zetterberg was amazing when he used to have that first quick step. He's lost that.

Don't make us choose.

Bold prediction: Geography teachers will worry themselves silly about the confusion it will cause when the SCF involves Winnipeg from the East and Detroit from the West. Students will not notice anything ironic, despite the fact that Doc Emerick will explain the situation in dramatic, yet condescending fashion before, during, and after every single game of the Finals.

This is like someone asking you which of your children is your favorite. Honestly, I'd have to pick Pavs based on his level of play and the fact that he will have a longer career than Zetterberg. It's hard to fault Zetterberg for anything, he's still one of the best players in the league, and probably the best shut-down forward. And he still puts up points, but Datsyuk has wooed us with his dazzling stick-handling.

Datsyuk. He's a little older, but has elevated his game the last few years. Right now he's the best two-way player in the league and carried the team last year whenever he was in the lineup. Zetterberg is not as good as he was several years ago, imo. His accuracy and goal scoring is down, despite him still being one of the league leaders in shots taken.

I love it. But you do realize that you won't be coaching the Wings this season?

So in his 13 season career, you're going to use 25 games where he was returning from a devastating concussion to call Savard a third line forward? Makes perfect sense. Hudler was playing professional hockey in the KHL, while Savard was hoping headaches and other concussion symptoms would go away so he could start working out again. It's not nearly the same thing. And unlike your example with Hudler maybe being an all-star scorer, Savard has actually been just that. Twice. It's not speculation. It's happened. Before the 25 game sample you've cherrypicked between his concussions, Savard had 33 points in 41 games. Before that when he was playing pretty much full seasons his point totals were 88, 78, 96 and 97. In other words, take most of Hudler's stats and double them, and you'll be around Savard's totals. If you're trying to make a case to people that Hudler isn't as bad as people say he is compared to other third line players in the league (which is a relatively sound argument) you only weaken your case and credibility with crazy ass things like including Savard in the mix. And making threats about derailing this thread with your absurd Jason Williams argument doesn't exactly strengthen your case either. Unlike Williams, Savard has put up impressive points totals in one single season. Third? Who is he in front of? Zetterberg? Franzen? It's sure not Dats. Flip does get hate here, but even when he's underperforming offensively year after year, he's a solid two way center who can handle the second line. Hudler has zero other positive attributes other than scoring. So when he's not doing that, he's dead weight in the lineup. Especially when you consider that Flip only makes $125k more than Hudler, and they put up virtually the same point totals. Don't get me wrong, I think everyone is eagerly waiting for Flip to produce more offensively, but when he's not, he's at least still useful.

Karma for all the diving he did/does when he barely gets tapped....now he knows what a real hit feels like! ...besides, he come back and play half the season and they will "give" him another trophy, the Masterson Trophy. Then they will fill the NHL airwaves full of talk about what heart and dedication he has, and how he is the only "true champion" for coming back from his injury. I can see Eddie Olczyk (and Carmen) wiping the jizz off his face already. I have no sympathy for him as a player (as a person I do hope he is ok to live a nice life,) this is what happens when you start believing the hype and think you are bigger than the game...the game stands up at the blueline and knocks you out...Eric Lindros part II... If he comes back, great, but if he is done, I won't lose any sleep over it. They'll trade us Joe Morrow for Jiri Hudler and Jakub Kindl.... (only in my dreams)

I'd love nothing more than to see Sidney Crosby never play another hockey game for the rest of his professional career. However, not for this reason. I don't wish that on anyone, even someone I despise as much as him.

I'd pick Hudler 10 times out of 10... and twice on Sunday. No thanks to this Kostitsyn bum. As bad as Hudler was last year, I know he is a legit goal scorer. And with this being his contract year, I expect him to have a career year and score lots of big goals. Unless Kenny can trade Hudler for a gritty top6 goal scorer, I say keep him and enjoy his 2011 goal production. You'd have to be ignorant to think Hudler will have another this bad of season while entering his prime... (especially during a contract year).

hudler playing center... LOL

And if they don't, he'll only have his tens and tens of millions of dollars for succor.