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My 75 yr old Mom.

I don't think anyone is arguing we don't have the pieces to make a big trade or two. But what teams are willing to give up "elite talent" for just prospects and picks? They're going to want young proven talent or an elite player back. Almost every team believes they have a shot at the playoffs and the ones who don't, don't have elite talent. Who are these "elite players" you see as potentially available who wouldn't cost an elite player in return?

There has been one elite level d hit the market recently. He went to the team willing to give his bff a ridiculous contract. Nobody else was close to a #1 d. Most of the 2-4 guys got overpaid by a lot. The Caps gave the Pens' second pair over $10 mil per between them. Unless you think trading several of Jurco, Mantha, Nyquist, Tatar, Mrazek, Sproul, Ouellet and first round picks is a good idea, plus guys like Pull, Sheahan, Marchenko, etc. there is no way to get elite players anymore, unless you have the exact situation that a free agent is looking for. I don't understand why people can't understand that top players are few and far between on the market now.

That plaque put 15 years onto him. Still cool honor, though.

Things like this will often occur when you sell your soul to the Devil.

At first, I thought it was filmed in front of his summer cottage. The better news, from CBC:

Well... he was discussing the concept of us tanking and who the "competition" might be and stressed people to keep in mind that even settling for the 2nd pick would be a win.

Why does it seem like everyone here thinks McKee is going to make it? Have any of you watched him play? He's brutally bad right now.

Well we have Bertuzzi, Callahan, and McKee on the way. Though I wouldn't a few more grinders than just just those 3.

I completely agree but we need those guys in the top 6/9 not the on 4th line playing 6min a night.

I had a chance to go the HHOF when I was about 22. Back then, I was a much bigger hockey fan than I am today (I watched every game televised), but I didn't know as much about the game's history and its players. Sure, I knew Gretzky, Howe, Richard, etc, but not that much otherwise. Nine years later, I don't watch as much hockey anymore (thanks Bettman), but I'd love to go back to the HHOF, because I know more about the game's history and the players who are enshrined there. I would appreciate it more. Anyway, that's what I thought when I saw Lidstrom's plaque. That and the fact that it looks more like Clint Eastwood than Lidstrom.

I cringe at every lineup you guys are posting, because of how obviously soft this team looks on paper. Other than Sheahan or Abby, this team has very little grit at forward. Glenfiddich is gritty, but not sure how much he'll play this season. I understand that we're not the 1987 Flyers, but we need to be a little tougher to play against physically. That whole "team speed" garbage didn't help us against Boston last year. And yeah, Boston is bigger than we could ever be, but that didn't help them against Montreal much.

I think Z-D-Alfie could be huge if they're healthy. The two kids and a mule line idea intrigues me, and it could actually spark Franzen. Kr, I get your point about pairing Ericsson with Kronwall and Smith with DeKeyser makes sense, and eventually I'd go that way as well, but I really liked the chemistry Smith was showing with Kronwall towards the end of last season, and having a vet with DeKeyser in case of a sophomore slump makes sense to me to at least start the season. On the plus side, I think the top four of Kronwall, Ericsson, Smith, and DeKeyser would work well in any combo, and we may see that on the PP.

Checking is something a player need to learn too and especially the Wings could use a forward with some grit. Mantha got the tools so yeah if he doesn't make the top 6, let him try a bottom 6 role and then send him down after 9 games.there is really no harm in that.

Z-Pav-Gus (Euro Triplets? Z-pav is an amazing duo and Z-gus was also) Franzen-Weiss-Tatar (Remember when Mule and Tats played together last year? It was good. Alfie-Sheahan-Jurco (2 kids and a goat v2.0) Miller-Helm-Abdelkader (because it might be the best shut down line we can make) Kronner-E DK-Q Smith-Marchenko/Backman (Hopefully Backman. I see Marchenko topping out at poor mans Brad Stuart and Backman topping out a little worse than Kronner is now.) The D pairings were hard. Our D sucks.

With Alfredsson... Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Alfredsson Nyquist - Franzen - Tatar Helm - Weiss - Sheahan Miller - Glendening - Abdelkader Cleary - Callahan That top line may be up there in age, but when healthy (and I expect a much healthier year out of all three) they would be extremely effective. I actually love Franzen playing center, that along with playing with two balls of energy is exactly what could get this old mule going. (Two Kids and a Mule Line?...) I realize having Weiss on the third line isn't exactly ideal, however, I do think this could possibly be one of the best third lines in the league... I really want Callahan to get action on the forth line, but who comes out? Glendening? And slot Abby in at center? Or move one of the three centers on the third line (Sheahan) down and move Abby up?... Without Alfredsson... Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Franzen Nyquist - Weiss - Tatar Helm - Sheahan - Abdelkader Miller - Glendening - Cleary Callahan - Andersson I don't like these lines nearly as much as the ones with Alfie on the team, but still not terrible. I still think it is very likely that Alfredsson comes back for one more season. Before anyone says it, no Jurco, Mantha, or Pulkkinen are not on my opening night roster. They are down where they should be, in the minors, getting huge minutes, playing in all situations, gaining experience and confidence before they make the Wings full time. Whether that's in November or to start the 2015-16 season depends on injuries and how well they do down in Grand Rapids... On Defense... Kronwall - Ericsson DeKeyser - Smith Quincey - Kindl Lashoff I still really like Kronwall and Ericsson paired together. I think they complement each other quite well. Same goes for DeKeyser and Smith. There are so many people swapping those pairs to have Kronwall - Smith and DeKeyser and Ericsson and I just don't get that. Why pair your two best offensive defensemen and your two best defensive defensemen? Why not balance them out with one of each?... If there is any way to trade Kindl away for a mid to late round draft pick, we do it and let one of the kids play on the third pairing.

Rogaine.

Zetterberg will slot in as #2 if Weiss can't perform. Homer school let out 2 years ago. Abdelkader is who he is. A good 3rd line checker. Would you play Zetterberg on the 3rd line bc he has had injury problems? Weiss has had injury problems, yet you slot him into the #2 no matter what. Why is Helm for some reason a special case where he can only play 8 minutes a night?

It's probably worth noting that legwand was demoted to the fourth line due to poor performance. I don't see why Babcock wouldn't demote Weiss if he doesn't play well as the 2C

Thanks to you, T. Your attitude is amazing. I got involved with ALS charities two years ago after a close friend was diagnosed. If you have a favorite charity near your home, by all means, don't be shy. Let us know. I'm in Michigan and do the ALS walks here. But if there's a local chapter or a specific charity that you'd prefer, post the info on it. Think of all the money that'd be raised if the posters here had to donate a dollar for every time they bashed Cleary, criticized Holland, complained about Franzen, etc

This is such a surreal position to be in. Thanks PlayMaker and everyone.

I HATE the signing, but after watching tons of Wings videos this summer, I must say if Cleary was as good a player as he is a person, he would win the Hart Trophy this season. I truly hope he proves us all wrong and has a bounce back season. Bettman is still the Anti-Christ. Nothing that man does at this point can undo the wrongs that happened under his rule.

Lately I've been on a big Muse binge, learning some of Chris Wostenholme's bass lines. Hysteria (live) Knights of Cydonia (live) Supermassive Black Hole (live)

Dan Cleary accepted the challenge. I like that he put up the info for donating online. I haven't seen anyone do that yet.