GoWings1905

What? How are Pistons fans the most bandwagon of all time? Could you please explain that? I'm guessing your logic is that this five-year run of success that the Pistons have going has brought out the bandwagon fans. Not true. The Pistons are one of the most-storied franchises in NBA history. Just because they had some bad seasons during the 1990's and attendance was poor doesn't mean the fans now are on the bandwagon. By the way, the Pistons actually sold-out their home playoff games this past post-season. All excuses aside, your reasoning is off-base. Most teams don't go on 20-year runs of success like the Red Wings are currently doing. Before all that success, they were giving away cars for people just to show up at Red Wings games. The Tigers were getting 10,000 fans per night, in a brand new ballpark, just a few years ago. Are the Tigers the biggest bandwagon team now too? Please consider using some logic before you make outlandish claims that are completely false.

The NFL rules above all else in the United States. All it will take is 8-8 from the Lions for this to become their town again.

YES!!! My nightmare of Yashin in a Red Wing uniform is over. Go to Russia and please don't come back.

I love the Afflalo pick. I was hoping that he would be a Piston, regardless of where he was drafted at. Afflalo is a proven, established player at the mecca of college basketball. I think people were a bit down on him from his peformance against Florida, but Corey Brewer can make a lot of good offensive players look mediocre. If Afflalo can develop a more consistent jump shot, he will be a very good asset to the Pistons. I'm thrilled the Pistons got him.

To me, it is the Tigers. If the Lions were any resemblance of a real team, they would be first because the NFL rules in terms of popularity. I have never seen the city of Detroit rally around a team like it did for the Tigers last season. Everything about that was magical, and this season has the chance to provide the same or more excitement. As much as I love the Red Wings, Detroit is the Tigers town right now.

Happy Birthday Pav!

I like the white jersey a lot. I'm not crazy about the gold on the black jersey though. I have to say the Penguins fared much better in the uniform department than most teams this offseason.

Great post SWF

This was a very impressive series sweep against the Twins. Nice to see the bullpen finally starting to come around. The schedule for the Tigers has been brutal lately, and yet they find a way to keep winning. The best record in baseball, and they probably are only going to get better by the end of the season.

ESPN does not want or need the NHL back. Fact is, they can show poker, bowling, or MLS, and get comparable or better ratings from that garbage than they would from hockey. Putting the NHL on ESPN isn't going to make people watch hockey. Is the exposure better? Sure it is. ESPN won't magically change the dismal ratings that the NHL always has. There really is no such thing as a casual fan when it comes to hockey. Most people don't stop and watch it in the United States, like they do with football or baseball. The fans that love the game will watch it, regardless of what channel it is broadcast on. I could care less if the NHL ever comes back to ESPN. As long as the Red Wings are on some channel, I'm going to watch.

Those are ugly, but anything is better than the mustard jerseys. Those were the ugliest things ever created.

Eastern Conference: 1. Ottawa * 2. Pittsburgh * 3. Tampa Bay * 4. New York Rangers 5. Buffalo 6. New Jersey 7. Philadelphia 8. Toronto Western Conference: 1. Detroit * 2. San Jose * 3. Calgary * 4. Anaheim 5. Vancouver 6. Minnesota 7. Dallas 8. Colorado * Division Winners

I have to jump on this because you are so wrong it is laughable. Don't let your hate for Notre Dame blind you from the facts. First off, for the overrated claim, it is absurd. Who owns the most national championships in college football history? Who is tied for the most Heisman Trophy winners ever? Where is the college football hall-of-fame located? Who is the only team with their own TV station? Do I need to go on? Notre Dame is easily America's team in college football. Nobody's fan base spans as far around the country like Notre Dame's. The fact that they are easily the most hated team proves they are America's team. Look at the poll results and you will see no one even comes close in terms of popularity to Notre Dame. I'd like to hear who is more fitting in college football to be America's team if it isn't Notre Dame. Actually, I don't expect a real answer. Go ahead and throw the Charlie Weis fat jokes, or the bowl game losing streak at me. It's always the same rhetoric from people that can't stand Notre Dame.

Rodney coming back is by no stretch a good thing. I would prefer he stay on the DL ... forever.

Well that's a thought, but how do you know the guy we trade for in exchange for Lilja is going to be an upgrade anyways? Scapegoats on LGW are like hot days in the summer: there are a lot of them. Trading Lilja away isn't going to change that.

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like a jerk when I posted that, but trading Lilja still doesn't sound like a good move to me. Unless we know for sure that one of the young guys is ready to step-in and play full time on defense, Lilja is still needed as the 6th or 7th defensemen for next season. Lets assume Kronwall gets hurt, which is pretty certain. Then we would be left with Lidstrom, Rafalski, Chelios, and Lebda as the top four. No Lilja means that two of the four: Quincey, Meech, Kindl, and Ericsson, are going to be playing on a regular basis. Quincey may be able to handle it, but the other three might not. Besides, Chelios needs to play limited minutes in the regular season to keep him strong for the playoffs. As much as Lilja got ripped on here (myself included) before the playoff run last season, I think he proved that he is deserving of at least a chance to be in the Red Wings lineup every night. If they did trade Lilja, it would be imperative to get another depth defensemen in return, or to sign one of the remaining free agents. If Markov for some reason comes back, then trading Lilja would be more realistic, but at this point it doesn't seem to make much sense.

Even if Lilja's stock is high like you claim, what do you honestly think the Red Wings are going to get better in return? Lilja is a number six or seven defensemen, even with his solid playoff performance. That top six forward we need isn't coming in exchange for Lilja. I would be curious to know as why you think trading Lilja would accomplish anything.

There is no choice to be made between the two. One has already been signed. My point is that signing McCarty in addition to Drake makes no sense. Even if both were available and offered the same contract, I would still pick Drake. There's no reason to sign McCarty, his assumed role has already been filled. There are still better alternatives out there anyways, if another player truly needs to be signed.

You just beat me to it... I was reading this again, and then I caught the .460 winning percentage of the Devils, and knew there was no way. The Devils have to be close to .600 more likely.

Two of my teams on that list. Nice! The Red Wings and that college football team in South Bend. Anyways, I thought to myself what exactly all of these teams have in common. To me, they are all the most loved and also the most hated teams in their respective sport. No hockey team in America fills opposing arenas like the Red Wings do. People either live and die with the Red Wings, or hate them with a passion. The same is true with all of the other teams as well.

I'm not sure how not giving Markov a two-year deal last summer is a mistake. It wasn't like Danny was highly sought, or had a tremendous career prior to coming to Detroit. If Holland signs Markov to a two-year deal and he performs poorly last season, everyone would rip him endlessly. I don't think anybody expected for Markov to have as solid of a season as he had. If the Red Wings can sign Markov for a decent price, then I would have no problem seeing him return. However, I don't think it will hurt the Red Wings that much if he decides to leave. Remember Markov played with Lidstrom most of the time. Not to take away from Markov, but Lidstrom can make other guys look really good. I guess this is just another desperate attempt to pick at Holland's so-called failures. The guy can't catch a break for any move he makes or doesn't make around here. Markov didn't deserve a two-year contract last summer. Hindsight makes it easier now to say that he did.

No thank you. There is no point in signing McCarty. I'm not sure another depth forward is necessary at all at this point. Signing Drake virtually fills the same role that McCarty would take. As much as people say Drake has slowed down, Mac is even a step worse. The memories Mac brought to the Red Wings will always be remembered, but unfortunately nostalgia does not win championships.

Agree. The offense and starting pitching on this team is too good to get wasted by the bullpen. I don't really care much for Otsuka and Gagne from Texas, and their names keep coming up quite a bit. Getting Lidge would be nice, but his price tag is going to be the highest out of all the "available" relievers. Above all else, Zumaya needs to come back, because no trade can replace his value.

I read it on Pistons.com. The editor of the website, Keith Langlois, does a mailbag each week answering questions from the fans. Here is the part regarding Blalock's departure: Charlita: While watching the NBA Summer League, I saw Will Blalock playing for the Denver Nuggets. How is this possible when he is a Piston? Langlois: He’s not a Piston any more, Charlita. He signed a two-year contract last summer with the second year at the team’s option, and the Pistons chose not to exercise the option. With veterans Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Flip Murray and Lindsey Hunter in the fold and rookies Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo on board, there simply was no more room. Will needs to develop something approaching a consistent mid-range and perimeter jumper to have an NBA future. Sounds like Blalock was just a victim of an abundance of guards. When I saw that Afflalo was wearing number eight in the summer league, I knew Blalock was history.

Brad Lidge would be sweet. The problem is everyone is looking for bullpen help at the trade deadline, and the demands in return start to get pretty high. That being said, hopefully Houston's season continues to spiral and they decide to sell at the deadline. Unfortunately, we will likely be blessed by the return of the ever-terrible Fernando Rodney.