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My biggest complaint since 2005 would be the shootout, but I won't go into all that again. As for the cap, I don't know that parity necessary equals a healthier league. The NHL apparently thinks so and I'm sure it makes a lot of small markets happy, but people still talk about the Avs-Wings rivalry. That happened in great part because they were two great teams who had to get past the other one to win the Cup year after year. Plus when the teams become successful for years, they usually achieve popularity that transcends just their local market. I also think a soft cap/luxury tax might be better as well. At the very least in principal it would reward great owners like Ilitch who turned around a franchise and know how to run a business. I'm guessing he'd happily pay extra revenue sharing if he could spend above the cap. And with the cap and contract limits, we'll likely start to see more teams having a couple star players and a whole lot of scrubs on the bottom two lines. Owners will always pay top dollar for the star players, there's just not a lot to go around for everyone else. The more they ratchet down the cap and contract restrictions, it'll only get worse. But honestly a part of waining interest is also just getting older and having more things compete for my time. I love hockey, but I could never love it as much as I did when I was 12 years old, going to nearly every home game and watching as many games as I could, even though the team was pretty awful then except for this guy Yzerman.

lets just say hes my 3rd reason to watch the games this year 1. datsyuk 2. zetterberg 3. dekeyser

I think the 90s and early 00s was the glory age of hockey.

A rare opportunity to watch two great teams IN PERSON on the same day. Tigers at 1:30 then the Wings at 7:30. Coming up from Fort Wayne. It'll be sweet to enjoy the atmosphere's of two great sports venues and awesome teams. Hoping for a Verlander vs. Morrow (haven't looked at the projected battery yet) duel followed by some Datsyuk magic. It would be a nice drive home with two V's.

Interesting point, but this would fit well in one of at least 3 other threads.

I hate the shootout personally, I think it was brought in as a gimmick to attract more fans but isn't a proper way to decide the outcome of the game. If they ever introduce it to the playoffs and discontinue sudden death overtime it may be enough to turn me away completely. I didn't mind ties as much as I mind a team being able to gain an extra point for winning a mini all-star event at the end of the game. I also miss the fierce rivalries, we may never see anything like Colorado/Detroit in the 90's ever again. I hate the fact that they are in a continuous battle to push fighting out of the sport, and yes as much as I dislike hits to the head and concussions, I think a lot of players are afraid to lay out heavy hits anymore which takes away from the physical aspect of the game. And my god do I miss Yzerman and the days of watching him play. I try not to live in the past but i'm not sure we will see another generation of hockey like it used to be.

You can see it as a giant hugfest for sure, but I for one felt it was more intense, meaner and the overall product was a lot better than todays event-NHL. Detroit wasn't the only top-team there were are lot of top-teams like someone mentioned the Avalanche under Sakic, Roy for example. Sure as we are getting older, we are focusssing on more important things than a game, but obviously watching hockey should be a thrill and not something to despise but the lockout has changed a lot for me. 8 more years of this stupid parity crap are for sure not something I am going to watch, so yes give me pre 2005 hockey back and this is not just nostalgia. I am just learning about the MLB (getting better but still) from what I've read, the have-nots and the league itself should kiss the Yankees, Red Sox because the more the spend, the more these teams are getting in hard $, the difference in the NHL is Ilitch doesn't gain anything from feeding the "have-nots". Now even UFA players are under contract limits and only their "own" team can offer them more, this is just turning into a joke sorry. Please note, I am not against the cap per se I am against the fact, that the teams who are paying the most aren't getting a reward for it. It should be a give-get kind of thing which it is not, if Ilitch is paying 5 % of the teams revenue on other teams Wings should be allowed to be 5 % over the cap, you get the idea?

when have i ever said i expect a successful playoff run? enjoy the doom and gloom attitude. im sure glad i can just enjoy watching red wings hockey without getting stressed out about it. They could get swept in the first round, or not make the playoffs at all. whatever happens, im gonna watch the games and enjoy it.

I loathe the salary cap. Not only because it supposedly prevents the "buying championships" either. That tactic doesn't always or even usually work. The Wings didn't win every year and neither do the Yankees. To this point, neither have the Tigers. The salary cap in hockey is a method to ensure competitiveness among teams that really should fold. It's a way to dictate to incompetent owners/front offices, to tell them how much they should spend on a team, on players, and how much to invest. The league has expanded into small/bad markets. The salary cap keeps those teams on the ice. I don't want to see the NHL turn into the NBA where 2-3 players surrounded by scrubs can bring home a championship. But that seems like the way of the future. Teams will continue to pay top dollar for stars (Minnesota) and then fill their rosters with 3rd and 4th liners playing on the 2nd.

As much as it pains me, I gotta give it to the Blues; in spite of the chippy s*** they constantly pull, they still played a better overall game. And the Wings make an average goalie look like an All Star once again.

Love the jersey, will definitely have to pick one up. I hope Stevie agrees to play, and I hope Feds is still coming over. I need to see him end his career in the Winged Wheel.

DD plaued a great game, and got better as the game moved along. He played on the PK late in the 3rd. By the end of the game he was even joining the rush a couple of times. yes he didn knock a couple of guys down in front of the net. But being the new kid he helped them back up after the whistle. Overall, great 1st game. Should be a long time star on the D.

Good read about the trade that happend a few days ago.. http://bluejacketsxtra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2013/04/06/former-jackets-together-when-trade-news-broke.html

^ I don't think he's being misused. Sure he's spent most of the year in GR, but it hasn't hurt his development or the organization. Think about it. Has Nyquist look like a poorly developed prospect? Also, he's dominated the AHL and is a big reason why GR have done so well this year, and now he's here helping the big club. Double win IMO. Seems like they've actually done well with bringing Goose along. This is me being positive and optimistic. But whatevs.

Did anyone else notice how nice he was...just like his sports idol Lids? I wouldnt mind a mean nasty dude like Weber but if DD turns out even 1/2 as good as Lids and is kind and respectful to the game and fellow players I am all in with the kid..

Well, you know the old saying, you gotta dance with those who brung ya.

He's only played 40 games in the NHL, only 26 of which have been this season. And he's playing with a defensive corps that is very hit or miss from night to night. I think it's early to give up on his career as a defenseman.

I wouldn't mind Bert's big body in the playoffs. Sammy can stay on the bench.

The first thought that went through my head when I read the topic title was "What an ungrateful ******* ***** ** ****." First, the money that was earmarked for certain players was never necessary; second, there were no viable back up plans; third, the cap was expected to shrink. Spending up to the cap at that point would have put us in a bad salary dump position; why sign some players only to have to buy them or others out? Just because the Wings are going through a few speed bumps is no reason to turn on the man who lost millions of his own money for YEARS to keep this team here; spent millions of his own dollars to sign the best talent available and has given back more to his players and this town than any other NHL owner. I think you owe Mr. I an abject apology.

There is no truth whatsoever to the OP's allegation. Ilitch gave Holland the OK to offer massive contracts to Suter and Parise last season. The reason that the Wings aren't at the cap is that there weren't exactly a ton of players to spend money on last offseason.

You know, they sort of remind me of a poor man's LA Kings from last season. A lot of tough, scrappy, opportunistic scorers, and solid defensive core, and one really elite skilled player. Plus good goaltending. If this team makes the playoffs they'll really do well in the tight checking, physically grinding sort of game. I can see them being a spoiler.

Kindl has been "garbage" the past 2 games. Other than that he's actually transformed into a good Dman for the Wings. The main problems on our blue line are the odd rookie mistake, but we're in a transition so those are excusable, and guys like White, Coliacovo and Quincey being "garbage".

I tried hitting on everything, but this whole post just makes me want to implode. If they weren't competitive they wouldn't have continued talks. Holland just wouldn't extend further when they took the price too high. The Rangers wanted Brunner apart of a package for Gaborik. Pominville would've costed us Mrazek, Jarnkrok, a 1st, and 2nd; LGW would've IMPLODED if that had gone down. Iggy didn't want to come to us. What else did you want him to get? Another depth player? I'm sorry but Holland is 100% right when he says, my injuried players are better than any depth player that was on the market. WHY trade away a prospect, pick, ANYTHING when you already have a player of that skill within your system, they're just injured? We need to seriously take a step back and see the smartness in not pulling the trigger on these dumb trades. So what if Holland didn't do s*** this trade deadline, he was smart for not doing so. That rebuild you don't want us to experience... we would've been experiencing if we wanted to start trading away picks and prospects at this point. At this point and time, Wings fans just want a new toy, some change, something. You know it's bad when you consider fighting for a playoff spot for the first time within 22 years, "a horrible thing." MY GOD HOW COULD HOLLAND ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN? FRONT OFFICE. UNACCEPTABLE CONTINUED SUCCESS. Oh and final note: we have enough of these "I hate my life and the Red Wings life" threads. Stop making separate threads to simply ***** about something. This easily could've been included within another "I ******* hate Holland and this team" threads. /rant

Holland was said to be involved in multiple players, how is that standing pat? Do you consider what he did this summer standing pat as well? I guess I think standing pat and not getting the players are two different things.

I've always liked Filppula. Great potential when playing with the right players, in the right circumstances, which he proved last season, and he's always been a solid two-way player. That said, he has really disappeared this season, partially due to injury, partially due to everyone around him disappearing for stretches. Things have not gone as planned following last season's breakout performance. From the sounds of it, Filppula's camp wants money/term indicative of last seasons production and the Wings are a ways off. Expecting him to sign around Franzen's cap-hit without the "circumvention" of his ridiculous term is unrealistic, even with the drop in cap-space and his production. However, if the Wings lose him to free agency after refusing to trade him over the last season or so, I'm going to be pretty pissed.