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Largest philanthropic donation in Canadian history. Respect level just went through the roof for this guy. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=779258&navid=DL|NHL|home&cmpid=nhl-fb

Bettman translation - open up your check book, WOW me then we can talk.

The Hockey New's player reviews from Traverse City are in: http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/the-biggest-and-best-prospects-from-traverse-city/

pp goal cbj 4-1 Good News though George Malik ‏@georgemalik 33s33 seconds ago Mantha returns after Columbus makes it 4-1 on a bad penalty by Verrier. 3:25 left 2nd.

Saying "he's not defensively responsible" is most frequently just a vague way for most people to justify their own personal dislike for a player. The difference in defensively ability between guys like Keith, Subban, and Karlsson is miniscule. Nobody (whose job security involves winning hockey games) would put those guys on the ice as often as they do, and give them as much money as they do, if they only contribute on offense. A 50-60 point, offensive, forward doesn't make as much money as P.K. Subban or Erik Karlsson . They don't play as much either. Yet their detractors all seem to suggest that a 50-60 point forward is all they are. It's bogus.

I'll see what I can do.

That cocky bastard. Thinks he so swag throwing around his money like that. No wonder he's not a team player. Srsly though, what an amazing dude.

AA doing his best

Exactly and even if the NHL won't be the first league to do it - that's going to be the soccer league - that freaking worldcup is already proof enough of what we can expect, IF the companies are going to WOW Mr. grow the game...

Nashville was just a bad fit for him. When Trotz was the coach, he fit right in, because they played a different game. Laviolette's system isn't great for Franson because speed is so important. It's the same reason why I think Franson would have been a better choice for Detroit if we'd kept Babcock. Green would have been a disaster under Babs for the same reason that Trotz didn't use him much. The skills he brings to the table aren't valued in a system like that. This is also the same reason why Detroit wanted Phaneuf while Babs was here, and lost interest when Babs left (And why TO suddenly wanted to keep him when Babs was hired there). Franson, and Poile, were familiar with one another and that's why he want to Nash. But the presence of Laviolette, instead of Trotz, made it doomed from the start.

I agree with kip. Playing defense has changed a lot these last few years and most of the league has recognized it. The super elite like Doughty and Subban best skills aren't hitting and blocking shots but they play more minutes than anybody for their skating and puck movement. I do realize Subban and doughty do throw some big hits but it's not why their on the ice

I've always shied away from the Franson comparisons because for whatever reason people feel the need to denigrate one player, if they like another. But I don't think he's comparable to Quincey. Cody Franson is a good player. He's a legit top four defenseman on about any team in the league. That said, there are things he's good at, and things he isn't. When people say he's "physical" they seem to be talking about his body checking ability, which is true. But he's not particularly great on the boards, he doesn't block shots, he doesn't clear creases. He was considerably less physical than Phaneuf while in TO. Offensively, he doesn't have the handles that a guy like Green has, nor does he have the speed or the wrist shot. But he's got a really good slap shot/one timer, and he's an excellent passer with very good vision. Franson will score you some points, contribute on the powerplay, and occasionally lay a guy out in the open ice. But because his offense is limited to his slapper, and because he can't skate well, he's not going to be a strong possession guy. It doesn't make him a bad player, and he's certainly no Kyle Quincey (whom I love, but who is not comparable). I think the guy he most reminds me of is Sami Salo (minus all the injuries). But that's just my opinion.

Being really good offensively so that it reduces the amount of time you have to play defense is way different than being good at executing defensive plays, though they serve a similar purpose. Dekeyser is there to take the puck away, Green is there to keep the puck away.

Green's most important "defensive" attribute is his ability to gain control of the puck, and lead the breakout, either by skating the puck out of the zone or making an excellent first pass. People who haven't watched Washington much don't realize how physical Mike Green is. He is very good as separating opposition players from the puck. And when he does, it's going the other way in a hurry. I think one of the key differences between Blashill and Babcock centers around this exact concept. Babs did not let any of his defensemen (other than Kronwall on occasion) skate with the puck. Their job was to gain possession, and look to dump the puck off to a forward. This does a couple of things. A) Makes the team easier to defend because you know where the puck is going, B) Makes the defensemen more vulnerable to the forecheck, C) Means that when your d-men turn the puck over, it will probably be in your zone, and D) Curtails the effectiveness of your zone entries. Obviously it remains to be seen how Blash will handle D to O transitions. But I'm optimistic. Letting your d-men skate with the puck should play into Green's skillset, but also improve Smith and Kindl's games (as they're both weak against the forecheck, but really good skaters).

Didn't Downey injure Filppula once during a preseason scrimmage? I seem to remember something like that. I hope you realize that if we win the Cup this year, I'm totally giving Rechlicz credit for toughening us up during this time of the season.

Honestly, I think it's just a move to "keep the flies off" during training camp. Lot of young players and guys who play a heavy game trying to make a team - you see people take runs sometimes. Rechlicz hasn't played in the NHL since 2011-12, so I highly doubt it's anything more than keeping the other teams honest.

After the showing Nosek just had in TC (and the end of last year), I'm very optimistic about GR's depth down the middle. Yes, I would still prefer that AA-Larkin-Mantha line to stick, but really they are in good shape either way. As long as Larkin, Miele and Nosek are down the middle in the top nine, I think the team is going places.

For those that are worried about his defensive game, first of all, he had the highest +/- on the Caps last year with +15. That's also higher than anyone on our team. He'll also be partnered with DK, whom I sure is a better on the defensive side than anyone he might have been paired with last year.

Yes. He's in the wrong era. Still think it's odd we invite guys like him to camp. Who exactly is he going to fight? Then again, I thought that about Downey and May, and they both ended up on the roster. But even that was a different era, despite seemingly being only yesterday.

AA with a very late goal in the 2nd makes it 4-2

F**** sake... Another injury for Mantha in training camp?...

Hey guys season is getting closer thank god. Check out my season preview on scarecrowgrin.com http://scarecrowgrin.com/2015/09/15/2015-16-detroit-red-wings-preview/ ​ Thanks for the supports. Go Wings!!!

If Green pulls a Rafalski you don't need to admit error. Just be positively surprised.

Franson is a right-handed Kyle Quincey with a decent shot. I think Quincey is even more physical of the two. Green fills a much larger void on defense than Franson would have.

I'll dedicate my loyalty as a consumer for life...to any company that buys all the Wings jersey sponsorship slots and makes them blank, and matches the same color jersey as they are wearing on any given night. Unless feminine/lady products, I will swear my financial alliance to this company. God help me if the company that did this is a horrible tasting beer...I guess I'd be drinking many for the "the team".