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Good term, great money. Really like Smith, and hope he can mature, slow the game down and grow into what we all believe he can be. Oh and smashing some faces here and there isn't bad either

Datsyuk is (IMO) exactly the kind of player the Wings retire. The other names in the rafters were guys who embodied what it means to be a Red Wing and i think Pav fits the mold. He handles himself with class and he is respected league-wide. Besides that he has good numbers, some hardware, and he's a gifted player. Maybe Dats isn't a captain, maybe his numbers aren't as high but 50 years from now when I'm looking back, he's the man I'll remember the most. He's the guy who people will still talk about and say "wow, that guy was something special" and that makes him a future legend in my mind.

I kind of think Kronwall seems like a #2 D man, but frankly after having Lidstrom as the #1 for so long, it's hard for me to judge. Lidstrom gave a very warped sense of what a #1 D-man looks like (as in, superhuman).

You know what? I'm glad he did it. Him and Lou too. We lost a full season so that the league could get a cap and all of the stupid rules that went with it. Then when Holland figured a way around it and signed Z to a long-term deal, I was worried that Z might have issues with his back, and everyone reassured me that it was ok because if Z retired, it would come off the books. Those were the rules that Z signed the contract under. Retire and your team is off the hook. Then we get another lockout, miss another half of a season, and all of a sudden... "OOPSIES! We don't like how people figured out how to get around that. We're going to change the rules. Now if the guy retires before the end, there's a penalty. So what if we're changing the rules in the middle of the game? We're the league and if you don't let us do this, we won't let you play hockey." I can see them changing the rules for future contracts, but they have now changed the rules for existing ones. When teams and players sign contracts, they abide by the rules set by the league. If they find a loophole, we admire them for it. If you don't believe me, go back and find the thread where Z was signed. Kenny was a genius to the point of being a saint on this board. Lou and Kovy played by the old rules and got the carpet yanked out from under them. Instead of crying over the lack of carpet, they went with linoleum. Good for them. The league stuck out their tongue, and Lou and Kovy flipped them off. I feel some satisfaction knowing that Bettman is probably sitting in his office throwing a Rumplstiltskin-like tantrum yelling, "Curses! Foiled again!'

When your last name becomes synonymous with hard hits... <-------

It also takes offer sheets from other teams out of the picture.

What happened to helping the team? If you could be a part of the best third line in hockey AND a spot on the power play what the F? I don't like the thought of him more less demanding a spot in the top six...that being said I still feel Brunner is still a Red Wing until he's not

HELL YES. Love this guy. This is a STEAL. Holland got an F from me last year. A from me this year. A+ if he can untangle Sammy somehow. Stoked right now.

Now he can finally afford to feed his children.

Initial signing tweet: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/356856785073737729 Contract salary totals: https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/356857899286405122

They're all such different hitters. Pav is great because nobody sees it coming. E is strong (watching Bickell try to stand after that hit still makes me laugh) and Kronwall...well, he's Kronwall.

Pound for pound- tootoo

Anyone have the link where Bobby Ryan goes after Smith? After Ryan tries to run Smith and gets boiled over. Then picks a fight with Smitty and goes down first to the ice. Definitely wouldn't mind see more of that the next couple of seasons OH YEAH

Sad, but you can totally understand it. I wish him well whatever he decides to do.

Good for him. I like the kid a lot. He should be a bona fide top 4 D-man after 2 more years of experience.

Great contract. The most underrated part of this contract is that he will still be an RFA when it expires.

Works for me. Let's see what this kid can do with two full seasons.

Smart kid.

Great, love the kid, eventhoug he played like a 10 year old in the playoffs.

Glad to have it done. Now get Nyquist & Andersson taken care of, find a way to trim the roster of a couple of forwards, & let's get camp started.

$1.265m per year. I'll take it.

In the span of 2 years, the Devils lose Parise, Clarkson and Kovalchuk. That's a top line... With our D departures in the past few years, we know exactly how they feel, and it kinda sucks. Lots of ice time for Brunner if he goes there. And he'll either be flanking Zajac or Henrique likely.

Anyone going/already there? Anyone have a schedule? I'm going to bejust south of Traverse City tomorrow and I was thinking about stopping in on it...

By the definition that some have here of what constitutes a #1 defenseman, there are substantially less #1 defensemen than there are teams in the NHL.