GoWings1905

He loves to drop "real good" in there a bunch too.

I think Pavel and/or Homer should be required to have a Twitter account solely for the entertainment value that would result.

Boston would never take just Cleary in a deal for Savard.

I would love Savard here. One of the best passers in the league, imagine him setting up Mule on the second line. Then we could put Pavel and Z back together with Holmstrom on the top line. It would take Filppula at least to get Savard, but I would still do it in a heartbeat.

Good luck San Jose with no goalie now and a defense with no depth beyond Boyle. Maybe the refs can step in and help the situation.

I knew this would be the case from the moment Chicago won it all. Hopefully Versus will show all of 32 seconds of the actual ceremony like they did with the Red Wings in 2008. I probably just won't turn it on until puck drop.

Looks great to me, especially seeing Franzen on a line with Zetterberg. No more of this Franzen with Datsyuk combination -- Mule has always shown great chemistry with Z and they should play together. The only potential thing I could see is possibly putting Hudler down on Filppula's wing as the two have played well together previously. Move Bertuzzi up with Datsyuk and Holmstrom, reunite Cleary with Franzen and Zetterberg.

Yeah, remember those nine playoff goals Cleary had in one run? Eaves and Miller have five career playoff goals combined. This is like the third "trade Cleary" thread already this summer. It's not happening, nor should it. Thankfully the Red Wings brass doesn't have short-term memories like many fans.

I recall a third line of Hudler-Filppula-Samuelsson in the 2008 SCF. Granted, we will never be able to get that kind of depth again but I think the addition of Hudler adds more balance to the Red Wings. The problem in the playoffs was our bottom two lines stunk. Two energy lines doesn't cut it, even when the top six forwards carried the team like they did. We need a third line next season that is an offensive threat. Whether that means going with Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Filppula each centering their own line or Helm developing more of a scoring touch, something has to happen if the Red Wings want to contend for a championship next season. I think Bertuzzi will be back with the Red Wings, but in doing so they almost have to play him with Datsyuk or Zetterberg to make the signing worthwhile. A healthy and productive Cleary will go a long way to bolstering some offense on the third line.

I like Drew Miller, but he's redundant. I would rather have Eaves out of the two.

I agree completely. Mule has shown way more chemistry playing on a line with Z than he has with Pavel. Taking Franzen off Zetterberg's wing bothers me more than when Pavel and Z got split up. At least there was some decent logic behind that move. Holmstrom always plays with Datsyuk, Franzen should always be with Zetterberg. There are so many line combos possible that I am not going to speculate this early, but I would love to see the Franzen-Zetterberg-Cleary line reunited.

Last summer, I would have said yes because he fit the Red Wings needs and anyone would have been better than Jason Williams. With Hudler back, I don't see the need for Afinogenov. I agree with other people here who have stated the Red Wings top six forwards are set already for next season. I hope Holland makes good on his word and improves the bottom six when free agency starts.

The Tigers are so average. That may even be a slightly generous description considering the competition in their division. I can't wait until these lousy contracts come off the books and the Tigers can get a catcher, shortstop, and third baseman worth a damn.

Fair enough. I just feel the Red Wings depth is much better now with Hudler back. We'll never have three lines like 2009 again, but the Red Wings are already more balanced than last season especially if Bertuzzi sticks around. I do agree with you - I thought our bottom six was the biggest downfall of the playoffs. Two energy lines, neither did anything offensively. That can't happen again if the Red Wings want to be successful next season.

First line? On the Detroit Red Wings, no less? Once again, I see a parallel between Williams and Zherdev. I did state that Zherdev has more offensive talent, but he isn't better than what the Red Wings have right now in the top six. More or less, I don't believe Zherdev addresses what the Red Wings need this summer.

No thanks on Zherdev. He would be in Babcock's doghouse more than Hudler ever was. The top six is fine for the Red Wings. We need a hard-working, gritty player for the bottom six. Zherdev is like Williams with way more offensive upside. However, both players fill a very defined role and look completely useless outside of that niche. Zherdev just wouldn't fit with the Red Wings. I hope Holland sticks to his word and gets someone with an edge for the 4th line.

What does anyone want to bet the Red Wings will open in Chicago next season for the banner raising ceremony? This night sucks. I hate the Blackhawks.

I will have to turn it off like last season at the end if Chicago wins. I can't watch the Blackhawks skate around with the Stanley Cup. 49 more years would be just fine with me. Anaheim, Pittsburgh, maybe Chicago now. Why can't a neutral team win the cup if it isn't the Red Wings?

Cleary wasn't very inconsistent in the playoffs in 2009. I think the injuries were a huge factor in Cleary's production this past season. I would say Cleary goes through far more dry stretches in the regular season and then ramps it up for the playoffs with his energy and goal scoring. As far as Stuart, he's even more of a bargain than Cleary. Stuart has been an absolute beast three straight years in Detroit during the playoffs - what more does he have to do to prove his value around here? Not to mention, Stuart was easily the Red Wings best defenseman before the Olympics and during all of the injuries. I'm thrilled Stuart decided to stay with the Red Wings - he's our most reliable player on the back end after Nick.

That '97 team had a 42-year drought pushing them on too. What "dead weight" veterans are you referring to?

Damn, your team would seriously have like 4 players. You hate everyone.

I like the first option quite a bit. I also agree with the sentiment that both Eaves and Miller aren't necessary. I like both of them, but they are redundant. Keep Eaves for his potential, let Miller go.

I'm not really interested as much in getting a "potential scorer" through free agency especially Tanguay because I think you are shooting way high with those estimates. I think the Red Wings top six is fine as is right now. I don't think Bertuzzi really fits in a third line role (assuming Hudler is mostly playing in the top six), so I wouldn't be opposed to using that money on a gritty player that has some scoring upside. Someone like Raffi Torres on a third line with Helm and Cleary would be nice. Come back with the energy of Abdelkader, Eaves and whomever on the fourth line.

Agreed. I wouldn't be opposed to another option if the fit is right over keeping Bertuzzi, but I don't want that joke Tanguay here. There are FAR better options out there in the same price range for the Red Wings should Holland go a different route than keeping Bert.

Agreed completely. I would rather see Pronger win the Conn Smythe - he isn't in Lidstrom's class no matter what anyways. There is nothing I want to see less than the Chicago Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup. I hate that franchise and their fans.