GoWings1905

Danny Markov. Playing with Lidstrom really inflated Markov's value of himself. Clearly, no team in the NHL thought Markov was worth four million per season either. I'm glad Markov left - the Red Wings defense was better without him.

I think returning players in this instance is a good thing for Notre Dame. If there was even one positive to come from last season it was that the underclassmen got plenty of playing experience. The talent is there - Weis has done wonders recruiting, compared to Willingham. I think we'll finally see major evidence of that fact moreso in 2009 than this year. Realistically, I expect about a 7-5 season (eight wins would be outstanding) and a win in a bowl game. I'm very biased to Notre Dame, but I believe Weis has the program on the right path, and we'll see the new and improved version of the Irish this fall. Not to go into great detail, but the level of improvement for ND depends mostly on the play of the offensive line. If they play like last season, it will be another disaster year. With the talent and depth the Irish have now at the skill positions, the o-line has to give those players a chance to perform. Giving up the most sacks in college football, having no running game, and letting Clausen get destroyed in the pocket is unacceptable. I'm thrilled with the addition of Jon Tenuta to the coaching staff. He will really help out the defense, especially in the pass-rush department, which was almost nonexistent last year. I'm looking forward to actually seeing some effective blitzing for once. The schedule is pretty favorable for Notre Dame. Overall, I see the results playing out something like this (hopefully): San Diego State - Win Michigan - Loss Michigan State - Win Purdue - Win Stanford - Win North Carolina - Loss Washington - Win Pittsburgh - Loss Boston College - Win Navy - Win Syracuse - Win USC - Loss by 50 points

You missed my point completely. The Red Wings didn't lose to Anaheim because they weren't "tough enough." They lost because Kronwall and Schneider were both out with injuries. If the Red Wings truly weren't tough enough that season they would have just lost to bigger, physical teams in Calgary or San Jose during the first two rounds. SWF pretty much summed up my point perfectly before-hand.

Greedy? If re-signing Filppula for five years means losing Downey and/or Mac, then so be it. That "no protection" garbage is nonsense. The Red Wings have proven two years in a row they are more than tough enough, and they don't shy away from any opponent team or player. How much winning do the Red Wings have to do to shed the "too soft" crap?

Whoa, this thread is intense already without a down of football even being played. College football brings out the passion in fans unlike any other sport, which is why Saturday's in the fall are the absolute best. With the preseason polls, I do think Georgia is the best team in the country. However, their schedule is brutal and they have a tough non-conference game at Arizona State early on. USC is a bit overrated IMO, and that number two ranking has more to do with reputation than anything. The talent is certainly there, but SC has questionable, unproven wide receivers and a somewhat weak defensive line. Joe McKnight is going to be a blast to watch though at running back. Just glancing at the rankings, I would choose Wisconsin as my "sleeper team." If Wisconsin gets decent play at quarterback, I think they'll make a run for the Big Ten Championship, and a BCS bowl. They get Ohio State at home too. As for my Fighting Irish, well it certainly can't get any worse. I really do think last season was a good learning experience for not only the players, but Weis and his coaching staff as well. Losing every weekend was horrible, but the underclassmen got a ton of playing time, which was very valuable heading into this year. Jon Tenuta is going to be great for the defense. Notre Dame was awful on the pass rush last season, so having Tenuta's agressive blitz packages will do wonders for the secondary, which is pretty solid. The biggest determining factor in how much ND improves depends on the offensive line. The Irish have to be able to utilize their talent and depth at running back. Giving up the most sacks in the country and leaving Clausen out to dry in the pocket is unacceptable. The offensive line has to do a complete 360 from last season for the Irish to be a success. Overall, the schedule is pretty favorable and Weis has no choice but to perform. Realistically, I expect about a 7-5 record and a win in a lower-tier bowl game. I'm very excited for the tradition to be restored at Notre Dame.

Sure, Pudge played a role in the trade. He was pissed when Leyland decided to start splitting his playing time with a scrub like Inge. I don't blame him for wanting the hell out to go to a team where he can start every night. Farnsworth is a free agent at season's end too. I doubt Pudge would have been back next season, but who is to say Farnsworth will be or the Tigers will even want him back? The Tigers are not a better team now than they were a week ago. I've seen Farnsworth's stats. It doesn't bring Pudge back or the value he brought to the team, which far exceeded Farnsworth's. Why would you suggest re-signing Farnsworth for cheap if he keeps pitching the way he has so far in Detroit? Yes, let's fix our bullpen by keeping a guy that blows games in the same fashion as Jones and Rodney. That makes a ton of sense. Why would you reward a player for being counter-productive? Farnsworth hasn't pitched like he did with the Yankees, so it makes the trade even worse at this point. Farnsworth has been all hype in his career for throwing hard with minimal results. He has a 4.45 career ERA, has blown more saves than he actually saved (30-27). For the immediate bullpen help he was supposed to provide to the Tigers, well the stats don't lie. He's already blown two leads in three appearances, given up three homeruns, and played a major role in costing the Tigers two wins in the standings. It was a bad trade by Dombrowski, which is getting common lately.

The Tigers are done. Everything the team did so well in 2006, they have gone completely away from the past two seasons. Dombrowski deserves tons of credit for the Pudge/Maggs signings and a great trade for Polanco, but he has messed up too much recently and the Tigers really have no future because of it. The Renteria trade was an epic failure. Jurrjens would sure be nice in the rotation right now. Sheffield has never done anything for the Tigers, except get hurt and not hit. Cabrera is a sensational player, so that portion of the deal worked out. However, losing both Maybin and Miller and getting nothing out of Willis hurts. The Tigers spent all kinds of money on offense, but ignored glaring weaknesses on defense, the starting pitching, and clearly the bullpen above all else. The Tigers are a below .500 baseball team since last July, and it's completely unacceptable. I'm a bit late on the Pudge trade because I have been gone, but are you serious? We traded a clubhouse leader, .295 hitter, and the best defensive catcher in baseball for a scrub reliever? Farnsworth is a joke. He'll fit in great with Rodney and Jones blowing games every night. The worst part of the trade: Brandon Inge is our frickin starting catcher. Nice .218 batting average there Brandon. No wonder no other team wanted the guy in the offseason. I hope Pudge gets a standing ovation when he comes back to Comerica with the Yankees. Thanks for the memories Pudge and for making the Tigers relevant again. It's a shame it had to end the way it did.

What? How can the Red Wings be "wrong" when every other team doesn't have what the Red Wings do (the Stanley Cup)? How exactly is this the year the Red Wings got "tough"? The only reason you used a completely false statement like that is to support your absurd theory that the Red Wings "enforcers" put the team over the top, when in fact they didn't by any stretch. The Red Wings are damn tough and have been since the day Mike Babcock became the head coach. Fighting less than other teams doesn't automatically make the Red Wings "soft" or "pansies". In fact, the Red Wings are indeed the toughest team to play against. I love how you act like throwing an enforcer in the lineup would actually be more beneficial to the team than players like Hudler and Samuelsson. If Downey and Mac really were that valuable, how come one guy didn't dress at all in the playoffs, and the other played about two minutes per game? It seems that about three people on this forum insist on making the same argument over-and-over and then labeling the majority that disagree as "anti-enforcer." The Red Wings are the class of the NHL, with or without an enforcer. If you can't accept the makeup of most Red Wing teams, quit bitching constantly and go watch the Flyers. They fight a lot, but never play in June. I've never seen so much whining from a team that just won a championship, and never at any point was too soft to compete. Who cares what the media/other fans think of the Red Wings? Maybe when their franchises win four cups in eleven years they can give the Red Wings some advice. I watch hockey to see my team win. Whether there are five fights or none doesn't bother me as long as the Red Wings win. I'm quite "entertained" watching the old, slow, sissy, too-European Red Wings dominate the rest of the league.

I voted for Detroit of course, but Boston is going to be Titletown.

...So "RuutuAndHavlatOwnZetterberg" can come on here and tell us how Chicago is going to win 7-0 and run away with the Central Division. Just like last season, no?

I think norrisnick was referring to the fact the Red Wings are an exception to the rest of the league in that the Red Wings are Stanley Cup Champions.

I'm by no means an Inge fan, but I actually like your idea. For starters, getting rid of Renteria would be the best reason to make this move. Is it bad to point out Jair Jurrjens is 9-4 with a 3.00 ERA in Atlanta, and the Tigers lack starting pitching depth? The Renteria trade has turned out horrible. The Tigers really need another starter or a left-handed bat at the deadline. If it were up to me, I would actually get rid of Renteria and start Santiago at shortstop. Santiago is outstanding defensively, and his range at shortstop would take some pressure off Guillen at third base. Not to mention, Santiago has hit pretty well in his limited playing time this season. The Tigers can afford to sacrifice a little offense in their lineup each night to shore up their lackluster defense. Lastly, quit playing Sheffield. The guy has had plenty of chances to perform, and he clearly can't hit the baseball like he used to. We keep waiting for the "break out", but it's time to just end it with Sheff. Keep Joyce in left field, and Thames as the designated hitter. I suppose the only time to use Sheff would be against lefties, as opposed to keeping Joyce in. This is what I would like to see on most nights... 1. CF - Granderson 2. 2B - Polanco 3. 3B - Guillen 4. RF - Maggs 5. 1B - Cabrera 6. LF - Joyce 7. DH - Thames 8. C - Pudge 9. SS - Santiago

Happy Birthday Pav!

Yup, that's a great reason. Of course, then Hudler went on to score 14 points in the playoffs (sixth overall on the Red Wings), including two game-winning goals. Not to mention, Hudler put up those stats playing mostly fourth-line minutes. I almost forgot that Hudler is too "small and not tough enough" though to produce when it matters most. I guess that theory is all but dead now. If by any stretch you are arguing that Downey was/is more valuable than Hudler, I feel really sorry for you. Jiri Hudler is a good hockey player. I just think sometimes Hudler has unrealistic expectations placed on him by the media and/or fans. Hudler is offensively gifted, despite his size. I wish all of the people on here that constantly bash Hudler would give him credit, because he certainly deserves it now.

I like the color scheme somewhat, but the logo/mess in the middle of the jersey pretty much ruins the whole thing.

Ozzie Marian Hossa or Dany Heatley?

If "softness" equates to four championships in 11 years, I'll gladly "suffer" through that. I'm not anti-enforcer for the record; I'm just tired of seeing the same rhetoric of "the Red Wings need to get tougher" when they are the best hockey team in the world. Enforcers serve a useful purpose, and I appreciate the role Downey and Mac played last season, but to suggest those two players were the difference or a major impact is just laughable. The Red Wings are the class of the NHL. If carrying an enforcer (or multiple) guaranteed success, then why does the best team in hockey almost every season traditionally fight the least? I have no problem with people that appreciate fighting, but every thread doesn't have to turn into how the Red Wings are "pansies" and how the rest of us that disagree with the pro-enforcer crowd support "soft hockey." I like winning, regardless of who is on the ice, and the Red Wings are doing damn fine in that department.

Once again, what exactly did Downey "enforce" during the playoffs?

What the hell? Why would anyone here be complaining about finishing first in the league EVERY year with those players you listed? Yes, let's get rid of Draper, Maltby, Hudler, and Samuelsson because none of those guys have any value. I'm glad Holland has some common sense and doesn't follow your theory of more fighting/enforcers over actual production. Seriously, give it up. The Red Wings just won a frickin championship and they still aren't tough enough? Refresh my memory on the impact Downey had during the playoffs. The Flyers logo in your avatar is fitting. I know most logical people would gladly trade Stanley Cups for more fights during the regular season. I think the rational fans on here will be doing the laughing at the "we need more enforcers" garbage in every thread.

It's a pretty safe bet the Red Wings are all but done signing players outside of the organization. Getting Filppula, Chelios, Quincey, Mac/Downey signed will pretty much put the Red Wings at or near the salary cap. The only potential free agent signing I could see is a replacement player in the mold of Dallas Drake. Hossa, Stuart, and Conklin is a damn good offseason regardless. I know the enforcer issue is beat like a drum on here, but the chances of Neil/Carcillo coming to Detroit are very unlikely.

The Tigers are going backwards now (again). They really needed to win, or at least split this series with the Twins. It's the middle of July and the Tigers are eight games out, while providing no evidence that they can consistently beat any teams in the Central Division. I've never seen a more frustrating baseball team to watch. At least we knew what was coming with the 119-loss teams. By the way, why the hell does Sheffield still play baseball? Where is that one "fan" on here who was going nuts over Sheff when he had one game-winning hit? I heard boos again today at Comerica Park for Sheff, and rightfully so. When your batting average is lower than Brandon Inge's, that is downright awful.

Refresh my memory on how long the Wild's playoff run lasted. Fedoruk and Voros on the powerplay speaks for itself. Carrying more enforcers doesn't translate into success by any stretch. I'll take skill players any day of the week on the fourth line.

Wrong on every level. Hossa had 26 points in the playoffs (third overall), and seven of those points came against Osgood who he evidently "owns." That means Hossa still had 19 points in the three playoff rounds prior to the finals. How in the hell is that a disappearing act? Hossa was BY FAR the Penguins best player against the Red Wings. I like Sundin and all, but there is no way he compares to Marian Hossa at this point. Hossa is a complete, two-way player, who also happens to be eight years younger than Sundin. If the rumors are true about Sundin getting offers for ten million dollars per season, why would you want a LESS productive player for MORE money? Lets say the Red Wings did sign Sundin for 9-10 million, you can pretty much say goodbye to Val Filppula this summer. With Hossa's contract, the Red Wings still have the cap space to keep Filppula, Chelios, Mac/Downey. This deal is all it is being made out to be and more. The best team in the NHL just signed the top free agent available for well-below market value. Hossa > Sundin every day of the week.

Wow, just wow. This is so incredibly amazing! Welcome to Hockeytown Marian Hossa!