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It seems I am marginally more optimistic than the majority. Possibly because my philosphical stance is that if you can't apply hope to sport, then you may as well just watch the news about Gaza, Russia the economy etc... Anyway: 1) The team will be healthier than last year, particularly our top 6 ; partly a lack of Olympics, partly less issues entering the season (gotta love those early playoff exits for healing), and partly because Weiss will be able to play and if clearly can't skate he'll be beaten out in camp. Having no trade value makes him easier for KH to waive. Inevitably Dats, Zatta, Ericsson, Franzen, Alfredsson and Kronwall will all miss a few games, but I think all will pass 60 having been rested. 2) While Nyquist won't get as hot and there will be more attention on Sheahan and Tatar, I still think the kids will take a step forward as a whole, and the 3 will combine for comfortably over 100 points. 3) Weiss will play most of the year and be underwhelmingly solid for 40 points. 4) The D will be a little better, partly because Quincey & Smith will be kept apart more and because both will start the year considerably better than they started last year. Dekeyser will produce a little more offence and Ericsson will play more down the stretch. Kindl will still infuriate but will put up 5-10 more points (or at least in terms of pace) due to a forward core more able to take advantage of his longer outlet passes.He'll occasionally be bumped out for Oullett/Marchenko/Sproul, but with either largely hold onto his spot or be packaged in a trade. 5) Howard will be a little better, Gus will be a little less lucky, but they'll be a solid tandom. Mrazek will put up great %'s in a few games against bad teams. 6) Helm's improved scoring touch will stay, and his PPG will increase again. Same to a lesser extent with Abdelkader, despite less top 6 ice-time. 7) Miller will continue to quietly effective in his role, never exciting anyone, but never letting anyone down and will get slightly higher point totals. 8) Glendenning will play less or on the wing. 9) If alfie comes back, his play will be remarkably similar to this year, but a lack of Olympics will stop him being useless down the stretch. 10) Franzen will get more time with Nyquist, and as a result will put up more than 0.75PPG and will get 25 goals+ despite going on a run of 5 points in 20 games at some stage. Mantha will be out-played by Jurco (before he sticks in the big club) in the Minors but will finish with 30+ goals in GR. The Grand Rapids PP will miss Almquist, but Sproul will get much improved points totals. Babcock will continue to get half the team to over-perform, despite line combinations that make no sense in half the games. Holland will continue to get blamed by fans for things beyond his control, while journalists try to give him credit for things equally beyond his control. The Wings to finish 5-7 in the conference but with a bit more breathing room and to get a better playoff match-up before losing in the ECSF in a blackhawks style tight series. Babcock to ride off into the sunset to much mixed opinions, and the team to do better in FA next summer as the wings splash out to get the 1 last shot for D & Z. These predictions are dependent on Alfie re-signing.

Agreed. All shin pad assassin jokes aside, Sammy was a bargain during his first stay here in Detroit. He had good size, was irritating to play against, and put up good numbers for his salary. It's just unfortunate that Holland keeps repeating the mistake of bringing back former players, but I hold no ill will for Sammy.

Now the glass and boards at the JLA can sleep easy knowing that Sammy won't be around to hurt them anymore.

1. the wings come out of nowhere and win the super bowl on feb. 3rd. get cocky...and slack the rest of the season finishing 28th....missing mcdavid & rychel. 2. followed by a game 7 world series where cleary hits the bottom 9th run...straight to the pitcher. 3. the NFL starts using their waterboys and moneyball analytics and the whole league crashes. 4. XFL returns with a vengence...some punter re-names himself..."the real" done. book it.

Penner benefitted from who he played with Setoguchi just isn't that good. Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Jurco, Tatar, Nyquist, Weiss, Franzen, Sheahan, and one of Alfredsson, Helm, or Abdelkader on the first 3 lines. Last spots Abdelkader, Helm, Miller are set, Cleary, Andersson, Glendening, Callahan, Ferraro fighting for a spot. That works for me without adding the garbage left in free agency. The only other move I want is Kindl for a pick to make room for a rookie, or a package to get a top end right handed d.

I would pass on Setoguchi. Hate that guy, probably the biggest diver I've ever seen. Penner I also don't see working out too well on the wings. Big, slow, lazy.... We have enough Franzens. Not to shoot down your suggestions on these players lol, I would like to see some fresh blood on the team especially via tryout.

I agree with most people on here Sammy was the perfect whipping boy especially since he was clutch in the playoffs He was a good role player when we had such a stacked team, and was one of the few players willing to shoot. Its too bad Holland decided to bring him back because now he'll always be placed into williams territory. His playoff goal against the pens, for me is still one of my favorite goals. Something about that celly as he skated around the net pumping his fist after the wraparound just stuck in my head forever. Forgot about the Chicago goal, although i completely remember it now. Classic Huds / Fil refusing to shoot the puck lol

I know we still have some issues to deal with, but having Tatar and Nyquist on the roster from day 1 is a positive compared to last year. We still have Cleary, Kindl, Quincey and Andersson, but with the season starting with a healthy Z, Dats, Helm and Weiss along with Tatar and Nyquist guaranteed roster spots, you have to at least have a shred of hope that this team can do more than just suck. Hopefully Smith is given a larger role as well and Kindl finds himself in GR and not on the PP. Point is, with a healthy roster to start the year, I'll remain positive until I'm given a reason to be negative.

Exactly, HS. I liked the guy a lot. Quite frankly, if someone offered me big money to return to an old job that I liked but couldn't do as well as I once did it, and I knew they knew all about my physical state, I'd sure give it a go, especially if I was unemployed and looking for work. I just wish he could have played one more game (not necessarily for us) to hit the 700 mark. Best wishes, Sammy!

As fun as it is to bash on Sammy, I'll never forget him for starting and finishing this play: Also the two opening goals in Game 1 of the 2008 Finals against the Pens. And the hundreds of logo shots.

52 if I recall correctly.

Got to think with the kids starting to mature that the power play will improve. Having a capable power play nets us like 35+ extra goals at least a year. Tatar, Sheahan and Jurco's numbers can only go up at this point ( assuming they stay relatively healthy) The team has to stress the importance of having a consistent power play. It was one of our major causes for losing games last year.

Well three puts him right into his prime, and if he were to get low-balled, he has an arbitrator to fall back on. I see the appeal of a 3 year deal. This signing is a solid one in my book as I think Tatar will turn out to be very consistent and solid for the team.

My prediction Dats and Z both stay hurt all season after a total meltdown failure this season where we end up last place in all of the league. The whole plan to make Detroit a better place is abandoned by Mr I and he and the wings are moved to Vegas...But I totally hope I'm wrong......... My real prediction....I think...I hope we can stay healthy. I think if we do like what was said on a previous post we end up in the middle of the east getting into the playoffs a bit easier. I still don't think we are there yet to even consider competing for the cup but hey who am I. I hope they totally surprise me and we win it all.

Where's the loyalty, Kenny?

Two things I noticed when I watched that video that Hockeytown posted: 1) Almost all of Tatar's goals came within 6 feet of the net. Tatar may have Hudler's size, but he has Helm's heart. 2) Several of those goals came in the third period, during a tie game or the Wings down by a goal. I wasn't sure whether there was any statistical significance so I rewatched the vid and came up with these numbers: Tatar scored 4 first period goals, 7 second period goals, and 8 third period goals. This is especially impressive because the Wings only scored 8 third period goals all year (joke). Anyway, of those 8 goals in the third, the Wings were down or tied in 6 of those occasions (more specifically meaning his goal either tied the game or put the Wings in the lead. The one exception was when the Wings were down 3-1 to the Habs, when Tatar scored to make it 3-2. Then again to make it 3-3. I originally wasnt going to include the first goal, but because he scored the second one to tie it as well I decided to keep it in.) I didn't do any actual statistical analyses so take what you want from these values, but at the very least there may to be a trend that this kid gets better as the game progresses. I don't know how to statistically analyze "clutchness", or more specifically what the actual definition of clutch is. Scoring anytime in the third? Last 10 minutes? Down by 1? By 2? Anyway, someone with a better grasp of stats and clutchness can tackle this one.

Impossible for you maybe..yes..Not for me. Sorry buddy. I would never like him. EVER. I would be happy if the wings won more with him sure but there is no way I like him as a player. I guess being older your feelings stick a bit easier because you start to get the "I don't give a crap" attitude.

So 30 goal scorers make less than $3million? I understand the sentiment but your argument is invalid. If he scores 20 goals he is worth the contract. If he scores 30 he is performing way higher than his contract.

I could honestly say I would never EVER like crosby. Yes he is a very skilled player but there just is no way I like him even if he was on the wings.

Your lips to YFMB's ears... Minus the whole whining about being left off the Canadian Olympic team and daring to give lip to my lord and-er, captain the honorable Pope Yzerman the 1st.

So long as disney.com stays, I'm a happy camper.

Do you honestly see Kronwall's reduction in hits as a lack of "bravery?" As the Wings' #1 Dman, the onus is on him to be defensively responsible at all times. He can't afford to take himself out of the play (who's going to cover-Smith?) in order to deliver a soul-crushing hit, the very type the league seems intent on cracking down on, especially if someone's hurt on the play. I don't see that as a lack of bravery, I see that as Kronner recognizing that he is now a leader on this team and adjusting his game accordingly. As for predictions, I can't wait to see how a pain-free Z plays. If he truly feels better than he has in years, he's going to rep that C beyond our wildest dreams. *lady boner* Same with Pav and The Knee of Infinite Sorrow. The kids are going to continue to play with swag and light a fire under everyone's ball sack. I love the smell of burnt pubes in the morning. Particularly if that morning is hosting a nationally televised NBC game. Suck it, Edzo. I lost a lot of confidence in Howard last year, and from interviews I've read it sounds like he understands that his play was unacceptable. He's the big question mark for me this year--when he's on, the Wings are a machine. When he's off we're a bunch of monkeys humping various footballs all over the ice whilst pinching uncontrollably at the wrong times and firing off slappers over the glass resulting in ill-timed penalties and a growing sense of ennui. It's horrible. #resurrectionofweiss2k15 Anyway, while I'm certainly not counting poultry, I do see that there could be some positive things to look forward to this season, despite some of the glaring holes remaining unaddressed.

That's pretty advanced analysis. Did you use corsi for this?

Comments like these make me want to cancel my subscription to LGWs. Holland is now all of a sudden a bad GM because he didn't sign David friggin Booth? Please.

Great pic. Jealous. You'll have a great view of the construction and then an incredible spot once everything is up and running. If I didn't have kids, I'd be right there with you.