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I think it's posturing while technically being completely truthful. Would Holland like to re-sign these players? Yes. Does he intend to "step up discussions"? Yes. Does the fact that he intends to step up discussions mean he's going to fight tooth-and-nail to keep these guys in Detroit? Nah.

HYPE! [insert catchphrase] LGRW!

we are so kind, like that. "Knuckle-biting time..." Mickey-ism of the Day

He's from Michigan and Datsyuk scored a couple goals off his butt.

Apple (Fritter) Turnover... no bueno

It's been a while since I've seen a Detroit player set up a goal off a no-look, backhanded, shovel pass. Datsyuk maybe? But man did Abby ever deliver.

Sabres score on an astoundingly bad Abdelkader turnover. Cool, cool.

I had a massive Siamese kitty years ago.. He would sit and stare mournfully at his (full) food bowl. it just was not what he wanted? I would stir the Meow Mix with my finger and replace the bowl in front of him. Delicious... it was then acceptable. For some reason...

Ask him where all that food disappeared to. And don't believe him when he tells you I ate it.

Love the guy, but he is predictable. It makes the occasional flash of success all the sweeter...

Leave him alone, he scores a goal every few months!

Helm's always a consistent disappointment to me... why has he still not learned how to finish the chance? It is a cosmic mystery

Helm and Glendening on a two-on-one. God is cruel.

If a Wings game falls in a forest and no one is around to liveblog it, does it make a sound?

Prncess Bride. Pizza. Dads. We have all the ingredients for a win. DO IT! Sup loo. My cat's sleeping on my chest and he's so fat that I feel like I'm having a low-key heart attack. Other than that, I'm well. You?

Good morning, all. Noon game, on the road, dad trip game... Win? Inconceivable. Hey, ya never know, right? it's why we all watch, or why I do, anyway. LGRW!! PS - it is national Pizza Day. Yes, please....

Ansar Khan reports Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland intends to step up discussions with several of his pending UFA players in an effort to re-sign them before the trade deadline. Of their seven UFAs, the Wings would like to re-sign goaltender Jimmy Howard, winger Gustav Nyquist, and defenseman Nick Jensen. Khan speculates a two-year deal for Howard at around his current annual average value ($5.3 million) seems possible. Nyquist is set to surpass his career-high of 54 points this season while the Wings value Jensen’s skating and penalty killing. Let's hope this is just posturing... I'm okay with holding onto Howard, especially if there's no goalie market. I'm okay with holding onto Jensen, if we plan to re-sign him this offseason. But Nyquist has to be traded...

Holland, Howard (were never going to win w him) Vanek, Kronwall, Abby (I know) Nielsen (I know)

You're probably right... however I'm operating under the premise that Holland wanted Vanek here and Vanek wanted to be here. By all accounts that was the case. Holland's gets the limited term he wants, Vanek gets the trade protection he wants, everyone's happy and the deal is struck. 3rd round picks aren't very valuable btw. Chances of a 3rd rounder playing 100 games in the NHL are less than 30%, and chances of a 3rd rounder becoming a top 6 forward or top 4 Dman are less than 10%. Chances of a 3rd rounder becoming a 4th liner or worse hovers between 80% and 90%. Even 2nd rounders aren't very reliable picks these days.

No.

Yes.

I'm liking Ras's stat line tonight. 1-1-2