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not really. maybe from North American point of view it looks like this, but for European players this event, played almost always in Europe, is a big deal. mind you... it's normal time for people here, we can watch the game without losing sleep, and for a big number of fans it's a chance to see home grown talent. and for those players its a big chance to represent their country which at this side of the pond is still important. in short: just because it is outside US/North America doesn't mean that it is worse...

No more Hudler. Please.

Man, imagine if Holland somehow snagged that pick. 1st overall.... We'd probably draft Lilja or something.

Wondering why he still hasn't seen his team play a Finals game in his life.

2011-12 Blues Sweepology

You must play alot of NHL on xbox? I understand where you are coming from, but bottom line is.. Lidstrom at 3 mil = insult Trading Datsyuk and/or Zetterberg = insult. As a respectable, classy organization, why would we treat our top 3 guys in such manner? Datsyuk and Zetterberg need players to play around them, we need not to replace them. I'm all for shopping Franzen, Filpulla, and at the most extreme, maybe even Kronwall or Nyquist...But I don't understand how you can honestly think Lidstrom is going to sign for 3 mil max, and Datsyuk and Zetterberg could be shopped. I saw the moon last night, maybe this has something to do with you're thinking methods.

Decent referees? Just kidding...

f***in' sweet.

WOW. Thanks a lot for posting that link. If anyone here hasn't listened to it yet, you need to. Lots of information. I'll do my best here to summarize what I took from it. ...I'm guessing that we'll want to look something like this next season: *Parise(hopefully)-Datsyuk-Franzen Nyquist-Zetterberg-Filppula *???*(someone bigger)-Helm-Bertuzzi Cleary-Abdelkader-*???*(someone bigger) Miller/Eaves Emmerton Lidstrom-*Wideman Kronwall-White Ericsson-Quincey Smith Howard *???* ---------- Point #1: First and foremost - seems to be his #1 priority for the off-season as a whole - Babcock said he wants to add more DEPTH to the forward lines. Talked a lot about how the third lines of other teams still in the playoffs (including Nashville against us) are scoring a lot of goals; and how ours was -5 in the series. He singled that third line difference as the biggest reason we lost the series (all the one goal games). He said that Helm would've helped a lot, and that he's one of the best third-line centers in the league; so I guess that we won't be looking to bring someone in and move him to the fourth line. Point #2: He said that he wants to bring in a top six forward to replace Bertuzzi on the top line and help out Pav. He also said that he doesn't forsee any trades being made; so I guess this will be a free agency signing. It sounds like Parise is the ideal, but he didn't sound overly optimistic about being able to lure him away from his own team, or in being able to beat out the league-wide competition for him (along with Suter). He also talked a lot about the importance of accountability (wrt to Ovechkin), so I'm guessing that Semin won't be considered. Point #3: He said that he wants to add a defenseman as well. And he talked a lot about the importance of adding another right handed shot to the PP, which makes me think that maybe we aren't targeting Suter? Maybe Wideman instead? He also said that he expects Smith to be on the team...specifying that he'd be in the top 7, not a top six player unless he earned it. Point #4: He said that he really liked the second line (Huds-Hank-Val) in the series, and that makes me think that we might want to bring Huds back (which might move Bertuzzi to the third line, improving depth). But I think in the end it ends up being unfeasible, and we simply replace him in the lineup with Nyquist. Point #5: He said that he expects Nyquist to be on the team next year. But him and Smith are it. Mentioned that he's heard Jarnkrok might end up being an elite player though. Mentioned Tatar too, but not much about him. Point #6: He said that he wants to his non-very skilled (of which Nyquist is one) players to be much bigger. Talked about how that's important in a series. Makes me think that we may be considering replacing Miller or Eaves? I guess Sheahan or Andersson won't be the added size either, as he said he only expects Smith and Nyquist to make the team. Point #7: Sounds like we'll be bringing in another new #2 goalie. Doesn't trust Joey-Mac's back. This certainly didn't sound like it would be a high-profile signing either...as he'd be competing with Mac for a job in training camp.

If you are going to attack someone's intelligence you might want to reword (or at least properly punctuate) that sentence.

Control yes, fix no. He is truly a weasel, but I am not giving up one game for him, let alone a season.

The joke about Howe and the veiled joke about Vladdy are classless. I know it's a "roast" but at the expense of former players battling dementia and permanent paralysis it's not particularly funny. There's a whole team of players that could have been better utilized for hilarity's sake... Oh wait, that would have required better writers.

I have watched plenty of kings games, Dustin Brown has been known as one of the top 3 worst divers for years now. Justin Williams is also awful. He drops the gloves every once in a while but then again do you think Matt Cooke is tough? I don't think you pay much attention to diving or toughness. I am not doubting his play but a guy who is that much of an actor does not deserve a conn smythe. I don't see how quick wouldn't get it anyways. edit: yes, I never condoned divers like Hudler, Maltby, Franzen ect...

Agreed. I have said that I'm not a fan of the prospect pool, I think it's pretty shallow and pretty average IMO.. But I think there are ways we could swing a deal for a top end scorer with a package of prospects/picks/current players in a way that could work out well for both teams. Will Ken Holland do that when/if we miss out on Parise and Suter? I don't know. I suppose we'll find out after July 1

If Ovi was on my team and we were still in the playoffs, and I heard that he "was going to the worlds no matter what" I would demand him take off that C. Let's worry whats at hand, especially as a captain he isn't setting the pace or notion with remarks like that. I know he's getting less ice time because he's a huge defensive liability but still.... you're in the playoffs and a captain none the less. And thanks for the clear up on Kindl. Appreciate it bud!

I don't care how much they make and I think Bettman lucked out because hockey was getting more popular in the U.S. anyway because of the "Miracle on Ice" and International success the U.S has had since then. And as is evidenced by their spending before the Cap the board of governors aren't exactly the brightest bunch

Me too

wen txtn or postn on forums such as this I prefer to spel lyk this but for som it is even more incomprehensible for som I don't know how old you are but some of us have already missed a season and a half because of him

Wait a sec... your argument is that while Hudler was tied for the most goals scored on the team in the playoffs, he didn't "show up" as a goal scorer because they were net-front goals (see: playoff goals). So there's three options: 1) In your mind two dirty goals is worth less than two 'sniped' goals 2) You hate Hudler on a fundamental level and have spit on him at every opertunity for his entire career here because he's small and not physical. 3) He banged your Mom and you hate him because of that (which is totally fair, I can finally understand your hate for him if this is true).

I never once said Bettman is the worst thing to happen for the business of the NHL or even the NHL itself. I can't believe all the love and admiration for Bettman here.

I'm not getting good goaltending

First of all, Howdy fellow Wingnuts! Now that that is out of the way, I am going to take a risk. I am going to disagree with a HOF in Jimmy D. It is time for the Wings to make major changes. So here are my thoughts. 1. The Wings should be thinking 10 new players over the next 2 off seasons. I understand that our overall team age is mid pack, but our stars and leaders are all 30+. Add in all the extra games they have played in the playoffs, most of them need to be considered 2 years older than the calender says they are. If you look at our core group: Datsyk, Z, Burt, franzen, Fillpula, Cleary, Hommer, Lidstrom, Stuart, and Kronwall, they are all over 30, play fewer games each year due to injuries, and have declining numbers. Some of these guys are UFA's and should walk. Others are already to old to have much trade value. Others are on the edge of losing value. 2. I would look to change out 5 this off season and 5 next year. Good news is, we have money to spend. Most would agree we need to get bigger, faster, younger, and grittyer. No not one demensional fighters, but guys that check and work the boards. If they also drop the gloves from time to time, great! But that is not the priority. 3. Let's start with G. We are set with Howard and if Mac is healthy, we are good at the backup position. No real need to spend any money here. 4. Defense. Currently we have the following under contract: Kronwall, Erickson, Kindl, White, Quincy, and Smith. That is 6. But there are some good UFA Dmen available, and let's not forget the captain. if Nick wants to return, GREAT! But not at more than 3 million per year. There are of course a couple UFA's that we should take a strong run at. Everyone know Suter. He is a 27 year old American Dman, and very good at both end of the ice. Throw him a 7 year, 42 million offer. But there is another guy that we shoudl also strongly consider: Carle with the Flyers. he is also a 27 year old American Dman. Not quite as good on the D end, but better than Suter on O. Might-key word-might be cheaper. I would offer and make a play for both. But why? That makes 9 on the D if Nick comes back??? true. But it gives us the option of sending Smith back to the minors for one more year to over rippen, and then makes some D avilable to trade. I would love to see a D that lined up like this: Lidstrom-White Suter-Carle Erikson-Quincy Kindl Smith in the minors to replace Nicky next season Kronwall as trade bait. 5. Forwards. This is the area that we need to do the most work. we need to add 3+ new forwards this year and another 3-5 next year. We have to get bigger, faster, stronger, and tougher. We have plenty of good young forwards for the 3rd and 4th lines, plus the 2 spare forwards. Emmerton, Abdelkater, Muarsk, Helm, Miller, Eaves-if healthy, Sheahan, Cleary-he really belongs in one of these 2 lines, plus any number of other guys from GR. all have speed, most are young and cheap. If we decide to add another via FA, I am a fan of Dave Jones with Colorado. he has good size: 6-2/210, young 27 IIRC, and plays both ways. He is a bigger younger faster and healthier version of Cleary. Now for the harder part. The top 2 lines. This is where the problems start. this is where the "big names" are, the big money, and the fan fav's are found. Let's start with Burtuzzi. Big, old, declining production, and signed. has almost 0 trade value. Franzen-big, fast, strong, signed long term, and completely disappears for long stretches of the season. He is cap friendly and does have some trde value. Datsyk. One of the best in the game. has great trade value, but moving him might cause riots in the streets. Long story short......hold onto all 3 for at least 1 more season. They are the top line, at least on paper. That brings us to the second line. As of today it is Zetterberg, Nyquist, and Filppula. That group has some talent. but it is very small. This is were i look to make at least 2 moves. Just thinking out loud...... What would it take to get Staal from the pens? kronwall and...... How much would it take to get van Reimsdyk from the Flyers? Filppula and........ or How much to get Pacioretty from the Habs? Or a Ryan from the Ducks? Point is, now we have some pieces we can trade with and get bigger, younger and faster. Even if it took moving Zetterberg, I would do it. a second line of Nyquist, Staal and Ryan looks a lot better to me than a line of Z, filppula and Nyquist. 6. The for 2013 we replace nicky with smith, and look at moves for the top line. Ok, there they are. Go ahead flame away!!!! LOL!