GoWings1905

If Jeff Finger can get 3.5 million, Brad Stuart is worth every penny of the deal he received. Comapred to the Finger contract, the Stuart re-signing is a bargain right now.

This is an amazing signing and a complete shock honestly. The Red Wings top four on defense is set for years to come. I'm very happy Stuart decided to stay in Detroit -- he was terrific with Kronwall during the playoffs. If nothing else significant happens for the Red Wings during free agency, I'm completely content with just getting Stuart back. We're basically going to see the same team that just won a championship on the ice in the fall. Great work again by Holland and company!

Of course they didn't boo Sheffield. It was his first productive game at the plate in almost a year. He'll be "hurt" again soon enough and everyone will jump ship again. Remember, fans are fickle (your words). Again, you accuse me of using hypothetical scenarios, but I'd love to see some evidence from you that proves people would love Avery here. I don't buy it for a second, even though you seem to think it's a fact. As much as you discredit me for saying Avery would be a joke with the Red Wings, you make-up some absurd story how fans would think he is great. However, nothing in Avery's career proves your theory. When you have some of the best team chemistry in the league, why would you want a jackass like Avery around? Oh I know, because he "agitates" and that's what the defending champions need.

Wrong. Rasheed is not the most popular player on the Pistons. Chauncey Billups is, and it's not even close really. That's beyond the point anyways. All three players were welcomed when they first came to Detroit, mostly because they were wearing the home team's uniform. Rasheed was the x-factor in the 2004 championship, but since then he has gone back to his Portland antics, and everyone in the Pistons organization is tired of it. Sheffield was getting booed because he is getting paid $13 million dollars and is batting .200. If you think one homerun in a loss changes that for fans, I feel sorry for you. Lastly, you claiming that Red Wings fans would love Avery is YOUR opinion. Calling me a blind/homer hater is absurd when a very large majority of posters in this thread feel the same way about Avery returning as I do. Almost every post in here has the same theme of Avery not being a good fit for the Red Wings. Therefore, I'm going to safely assume MOST Red Wings fans wouldn't love him here, contrary to what you say. The same holds true with Rasheed and Sheffield. I think most Pistons/Tigers fans would be fine without either of those two playing in Detroit, based on BOTH performance and attitude. Go back and read the entire thread. I think you'll find that you are one of the few that wants Avery back with the Red Wings. Or wait, that would ruin your "logic" wouldn't it?

Real hockey = four championships in 11 years. I don't think you can get much more "real" than that. Fights are great and all, but I'm perfectly satisfied seeing the Red Wings dominate the NHL with skill, puck-possession, and shutdown defense. I'm happy to see Downey and/or McCarty coming back because they do stick up for their teammates, but neither provides much to the game beyond that aspect. With the Red Wings current depth at forward, it's pretty likely neither would crack the lineup during the playoffs. I know people like to see fights (myself included), but to act like having an enforcer is a "must" or the reason teams win championships is just false. For entertainment value, Downey and McCarty are nice. To win hockey games, neither has much impact.

See: the Marc Denis thread. Same situation, same argument.

If the team that can never find a starting goaltender buys Denis out, what does that say about him? There are better alternatives available, should the Red Wings front office decide to bring in a veteran goalie this off-season. I don't really see why names like Joseph, Kolzig, Denis, etc. keep coming up when Jimmy Howard clearly has waited long enough for the chance to be a back-up. If it's not next season for Howard, it might as well be never. We don't need another aging, past-his-prime goalie to come in when Howard can and probably would outplay any of the names being mentioned. Howard at least deserves the opportunity to play before anyone passes judgment that he can't get the job done.

LMAO -- that was the worst analogy ever. You just named about the two most "hated" sports figures in Detroit right now. Rasheed's antics have worn everyone out in the Pistons organization, and Gary Sheffield got booed at Comerica Park (quite loudly) when he was actually playing and batting around .200. Actually, the analogy might be accurate with Avery in a way. Both Rasheed and Sheff were welcomed and cheered upon their arrival; then eventually everyone got fed up with their antics/personalties, and now most Detroit fans don't want anything to do with either. That's exactly how Avery would turn out with his dumb-ass penalties and constant immature acts on and off the ice. Consider as well that Avery is nowhere near the talent or impact player that Rasheed and Sheffield were/are in their respective sports.

Yeah, everyone loves a guy that takes dumb penalties and acts like a complete tool on the ice. That's exactly what the Red Wings need, because they didn't just win a championship or anything.

No thank you. I wouldn't even consider Avery for a second. Unless the Red Wings want to spend all of next season killing penalties, and trying to control Avery's immature antics, then keep him away from Detroit. If Avery would actually utilize his talent instead of being a jerk-off constantly, then it may be worth the investment. I want to see the Red Wings win, not watch Avery take a boatload of dumb penalties and act like a clown in the process. The Red Wings organization is too classy for Avery.

McGuire gets paid to write/voice his opinion guys. Just because he "slighted" the Red Wings doesn't make him wrong, a moron, or completely oblivious to hockey. It's really not that big of a deal -- the Red Wings have received plenty of real awards and accolades recently anyways. I'm not the biggest fan of McGuire, but I respect his opinion, and that's what he provided in the article. Not everything in the NHL has to revolve around the Red Wings.

For all intents and purposes, Brian Rolston is the leader, heart and soul player for the Wild. I know Minnesota uses the rotating captaincy, but Rolston is their best fit as captain. Therefore, my vote goes to Rolston. Realistically, I would prefer to see two things from the Red Wings this summer: re-signing Stuart, and getting Rolston to come play in Detroit. I understand the hype and buzz right now surrouding names like Hossa, Sundin, and Naslund, but I don't see it likely any of those three sign with the Red Wings. Rolston would be a perfect here. Leaving wannabe Hockeytown for the real one.

Samuelsson is under contract for starters. Secondly, Samuelsson is a more productive player than Fedorov at this point in their careers. I liked Fedorov when he was here, but lets move on already. Nostalgia doesn't win championships.

Oh no, another Samuelsson.

Ughhh ... Fernando Rodney is TERRIBLE. Two winnable games on the road trip, and Leyland goes to this bum twice in close games. I mean once was bad enough, but again tonight? Didn't Leyland say he was going to "ease" Rodney back in? Quit throwing away important games in the standings with this scrub Rodney. Send Rodney down with Willis. Maybe combined they can throw one strike.

Yes, I woud agree that Hudler would be one of the Red Wings more expendable forwards should the right deal come calling. The problem with Hudler is nobody quite knows what type of player he is yet. We've been hearing the "Hudler has potential" cries for years now. Hudler has improved without question -- I just doubt he'll ever be the consistent goal scorer that people expected, whether it's due to lack of playing time or not. For the role he plays with the Red Wings right now, however, Hudler has proven to be more than productive on the fourth line and powerplay. For the people who claim Hudler deserves second-line minutes, which player on the Red Wings are you going to take those minutes away from?

I think Babcock kept Hudler in a fourth line role because it worked throughout the playoffs. It's more of a credit to the depth the Red Wings have than it is a slight to Hudler. How many fourth line players do you know that put up 14 points in a playoff run? Not to mention, scoring timely goals like game three against Dallas, or game four in Pittsburgh. When you have players like Filppula, Franzen, Cleary, and Samuelsson all getting second line minutes, somebody has to take a hit in ice time. Calling Hudler "useless" is just false and completely off-base. You can dislike like the guy, but give him some credit for playing exceptionally well under the conditions he was dealt.

The "crazy" part in the title of the thread was spot-on. Kopecky, Hudler, and the 30th pick in the draft for Olli Jokinen? Kopecky may have trouble finding a spot on the Red Wings roster, Hudler is a third-line player, and a first round pick isn't all that valuable where the Red Wings choose from every season. To get value, you have to trade value. Kopecky has almost no value, and Hudler has very little compared to a player like Jokinen. It was a nice trade proposal, except for the whole realistic part.

If you needed any furth proof that NHL players and the league as a whole is better than the NBA and its players, check out Kevin Garnett's "interview/psycho moment" with Michelle Tafoya after the Celtics won the championship. Could you imagine Nick Lidstrom or ANY hockey player ever behaving in that manner? I hated Garnett before last night, but that "celebration" was just sickening. I wish the Pistons would have had their s*** together (again). Boston winning it all makes me want to puke.

No thanks. It didn't work the first time, and Joseph certainly isn't a better goalie now. Besides, with Dom retiring, this is the perfect chance to let Howard come in as a back-up and get a chance to play behind and learn from Ozzie. I don't quite get the obsession with signing another "veteran" goaltender. We have one already -- a damn good one, nonetheless. Now is the time for Howard to get an opportunity to prove his development. Curtis Joseph is done in the NHL. I don't care about the sentimental value whatsoever of him coming back, when he would provide nothing to the Red Wings. This would be a terrible idea, and hopefully Ken Holland will have nothing to do with it.

Congrats Z! Very well deserved.

To be honest, I have no idea where you came up with the assumption that Red Wings fans would root for the Lakers. I guess it's possible against the Celtics, but in general, I highly doubt it. Considering most Red Wings fans are Pistons fans as well, there is no way in hell we would root for the Lakers. As I said in my other post, I'm only hoping the Lakers win because the Celtics (Pierce and KG) are the worse of two evils. It's over anyways. The Lakers choked away the series last night.

Lakers. Kobe is the best player in the world, and he deserves a championship. Besides I will puke if I have to watch Pierce and KG celebrating again.

Sweet! Good work by Holland, as usual, to get Babcock signed. I think Babcock is the best coach in the NHL hands-down. How can you argue with three straight 50-win seasons, two Presidents Trophies (tied for a third), and now a championship? Babcock has really transformed the Red Wings into "his team" since taking over. Congrats to Babcock, you deserve it!

Oh well. If four championships (five including the Pistons) in eleven years is "rough", I'll gladly take it. The Red Wings and Pistons, despite some disappointments, have done nothing but spoil Detroit fans for a long time now. Biggest waste of an article ever written.