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Many, many people have already posited how the contract could be traded. I don't know why you think it's so impossible and unlikely. Even some of the bloggers and hockey writers have posited the same scenarios. The one that pops up the most is Phoenix with the Pronger contract. It'd be a better deal for them because they would end up with a cap hit without paying out actual money.

The playoffs is where Darren Helm shines. I've been frustrated with Helm in the top six before but when he recognizes his role like he does in the playoffs and just plays high energy relentless puck pursuit he is a huge asset. Not to mention he's been one of our most productive forwards down the stretch Helm, Abby and Glendening are very important parts of this team come playoff time. Sure we may lose a game where we only score 1 or less goals but that's the chess game of hockey. One teams gameplan will prevail and one will fail. I'm sure the Caps or Penguins will get shut out sometime during these playoffs but it's not because their offense sucks, it's because they got beat

"When some wild-eyed, eight foot tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, looks you crooked in the eye and asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what old Jack Burton always says at a time like that: Have ya paid your dues, Jack? Yessir, the check is in the mail."

How about those Tampa fans?!

A 2nd new Wings fan in my family is on the way, though this time around we'll be looking for pink Wings gear! She's "officially" due on July 31st, though she'll actually be here a week or two before that. Parker (my First Wings fan) is ridiculously excited to be an older brother.

I thought they looked nice :shrugs:

I locked myself out of my mom's house once. I broke a window to get in because that seemed like the logical thing to do. My mom was not pleased when she got home-and reminded me that there was a spare key hidden outside. Needless to say I had to pay to have the window fixed

I always thought athletes lived in fancy mansions. That place in the background looks like an ordinary place a young college student would live in. Or a crack dealer.

Buppy, he looked really good to me because he was providing offense, he maybe didn't look so good to the coach because he wasn't / isn't a great two-way player. I don't see the need in having all 12 forwards in the lineup playing stellar defense. We have more than enough guys that play a great two-way game that we don't need to convert Mantha into a defensive stalwart. I want Mantha to continue playing his offensive game and line him up with two reliable forwards that can cover for him. I don't want him changing his game, in turn hurting his offensive game... I'm not acting or suggesting you're saying he sucks or will never do anything. I'm not sure where that came from... I'm not sure if you're confusing me saying he's been providing offense with meaning that he's producing points. It's clear he hasn't put up a huge number of points but he absolutely did provide offense, and no matter how many times you say he hasn't, it won't make it true. He absolutely did. Besides, the entire argument, for me anyway, is that we are scratching a player that is better now, and is / should be considered a much more important piece today and in the future, for a player (Andersson) that shouldn't even be in the NHL... Mantha should be playing with the Wings on this playoff run. Disagree if you like, but don't try to suggest that hasn't provided offense, because it simply isn't true...

This. Let Hank step back and become more of a role guy, have the kids start playing bigger minutes.

Pavel Datsyuk, AKA Nightcrawler! All we need is the word BAMF! to appear!

Hank would be fine if he played reduced minutes and not forced into trying to carry the team like Blash had him doing this season. Cut his minutes back and reduce his role and suddenly he can contribute for a full season instead of the first 2/3rds only. I'd say even have him play wing starting next season. Reduce the wear and tear on the guy.

2 goals in 10 games over the course of a season is 16 goals. How many current F's scored that many this year? 4. 16 goals would be tied for 5th with Datsyuk this year. For anyone that doesn't think he made a difference isn't watching the games. he did what he should do: get the loose pucks behind the net and along the boards, he scored goals in front of the net-which BTW isn't his game. Blashill used him wrong-mainly because he has no other choices. Mantha is a sniper and is great at driving the net-not camping in front of it. But that is another issue all together. Now he wasn't playing so yes send him down and let him play. But stop with the stupid statements. he wasn't a spare part in the PO's last year. he played every game for the Griffins.

Just saw this online.

Baseball is not a sport and the season just started. The early games aren't important. The NBA playoffs haven't started yet. The Pistons are sacrificial lambs for Lebron. No reason to waste time on them. Pretty easy choice as to who should be the televised team.

I still say let 13 year old daughter come to US for a one year immersion study ... of English and American history.

My two cents: The Wings need to grow, change, reinvent. Datsyuk's early retirement represents an opportunity -- and an excuse -- to do so. The Powers That Be (mainly Ken Holland) must embrace it. If losing the magical crutch called Pavel Datsyuk means the team must crawl on the ground and learn to walk again, so be it. The team must be allowed to crawl so that it can learn to walk again and allowed to walk so that it can learn to fly again. The team must be allowed to struggle, must be allowed and encouraged to find a new, post-Euro Twins identity. The team must get younger, faster, harder to play against. I firmly believe Larkin and Athanasiou are our new franchise centermen, that they can one day match the Euro Twins in greatness. I believe Mantha can be a force as early as next season -- hell, as early as these playoffs. I believe Svechnikov is going to be a beast, someone a bit like Tomas Holmstrom in that he'll allow us to get to our forechecking game (which, like many things, we're going to have to rebuild from the ground up) -- but owning better size and skill and and skating ability and an incredible shot. I don't believe Tatar and Nyquist have taken a step back this year, I think -- and the numbers bear this out -- they've seen a reduction in ice time this season and that this alone can explain the drop in their production. Similarly, I don't think Jurco and Pulkkinen's "struggles" are indicative of what they truly have to offer. All of this is to say, I think our head coach and/or general manager has/have to come to understand and appreciate what many fans already know: Joakim Andersson and Jonathan Ericsson are not The Answer. Limiting Athanasiou to five minutes of ice time in big games is profoundly foolish, especially with Datsyuk leaving in the summer and an enormous void opening up at the top of our depth chart. The priority this season and next season has to be transitioning to a younger core, not trying to squeeze one.more.playoff.berth. out of our veterans' butts. By all means, try to land a Martin Hanzal, someone who can play against the opposition's best players, allowing Larkin and Athanasiou to develop their game against weaker matchups. But don't cage creativity. Don't stifle scoring ability. Don't preach defense for the sake of "learning how to defend real well." I don't even want our defensemen worrying about defending. I want a precise, relentless quick-strike transition game. I want the game to be played on the opposition's half of the ice, because we always have the puck and we're always forcing the other team to play without the puck and "defend real well." Suggested Reading 1. Darryl Sutter: 2. Dave Tippett: 3. Ken Hitchcock and the Non-Stop Blues 4. Ken Hitchcock's Reliance on Rookies Is Paying Off

I'll give you an example. BoS posted this last year - probably one of my favs.

Flyers in 7, a tough 7.

For a team that is being built around youth and speed, I cannot for the life of me understand why guys like Mantha, Jurco, and Smith are being scratched every game. Along with guys like AA barely getting ice time. Blash is hampering any energy this team can generate by relying so heavily in old, slow players. He is neutering this teams strengths and it is frustrating to watch. For as stubborn as Babs was at times, he played the kids. When the kids showed they could contribute, they played. With Blash they are buried in the fourth line and barely played.