BringHomeTheCup!

Give me good 5 reasons I shouldn't hate him. You mean SCF? I'm not sure what SFF means...

If Chicago can get someone to take on his contract, I believe they'd do it as long as the return was very low-risk for them. Something like the Samsonov deal. There is potential for Samsonov to do well, but if he doesn't, he is a FA after this season anyhow. If this move is made, I am surious to see what and who comes Chicago's way. Maybe it's a deal of Aucoin and some picks/prospects for Tanguay?

Here is something to chew on. Datsyuk, and Lidstrom eat up more than $14 in cap, throw in the likely signing of Matty say for $3, that's $17. Now here is where it gets intersting. Within 2 years, Hank will get a new deal, from the Wings or someone else. He will get $6 at least. Figure on Nick hanging around for a few more years, even at a 'hometown discount' he could easily get $6. In two years, we will need a starting goaltender. Howard is a FA next in 08, so if he is the guy he could be fairly reasonable. Liv is a RFA this year, he actually is signed in Sweden. Getting him over here to start for the Wings could also be at a reasonable price. Let's just go with $2 per. That leaves the Wings with about $22 tied up in 4 guys. Consider Homer, and Kronwall, that is another $5.25 taking the cap up to $27.25 or so on 6 guys. My point? The Wings just don't have the long-term cap space to sign anyone big this offseason. Now if the cap continues to rise, the cap space will as well. But are you willing to risk losing Hank because the cap kept status quo for a few years? Or even went down? Hank will be with this team for years to come as long as Kenny doesn't make any foolish moves, which I'm sure he won't.

I'm not sure if DV is the best option, but I'm certian he fits the bill and would be the most affordable option. He isn't a long-term stay, which would give guys like Lebda, Quincey, Meech & co. more development time (which they DO need), while also proving a great teacher who's seen it all. Sutton is just going to cost too much. I think you'd see Markov back before Kenny paid for Sutton.

I keep hearing the theme song from 'The Twilight Zone'.....hmmm.....odd

Not to argue, but I think your memory is a little foggy. He never missed more than 15 games in a season with the Avs, and as far as the books say, he has never actually missed any significant time due to injury. TSN records even minor injuries that lead to games missed in the regular season. They show nothing missed for DV. I'd have to pass on Vishnevski, he will get paid too much.

There is a difference between being able throw your weight around, and hitting. I'm not talking about bone crunching hits. I'm talking about steady hits. Hard hits. The hits that grind down the opposing forwards. And no, Krowwall can't hit. Every now and again he catches someone with their head down. Scott Stevens, Vladdy, Rob Blake, those guys can/could hit. Kronwall dose hit. But he doesn't do it nearly effectively or often enough to be considered any real threat. You think opposing forwards really worry about him? They worry more about getting lit up by Mule than Kronwall.

Wow, I think we might actually see eye to eye on something! What Shanny did, IMO, was worse than what Sergei did. Sergei left because he couldn't get along with Stevie, ect.. Shanny left because he wasn't going to be a focal point here anymore. I rooted against the NYR's for two reasons. 1. I didn't want to see Shanny win anything. 2. I never want to see Jags win anything.

The kid is on his 3rd team in as many years. That says two things. 1. There is some truth to trouble following him around. 2. He is talented enough that teams are willing to try to work with him. If any team in the NHL can straighten this kid out, it's Detroit. But the questions remains, is he worth it.

Injury riddled? Are you sure you aren't thinking about Kronwall? Over the past 6 season, his has missed 19 regular season games. How is that injury riddled? The guy is a warrior, with a ton of playoff experience. He'd be a tremendous help to the young dmen. Show them how to hit in the NHL (something Kronwall just can't grasp), how to block shots, and just be more mean.

If you are looking for any marquee UFA's to come to Detroit - don't hold your breath. Detroit doesn't have the cap room to sign a big name, and still properly fill out the roster. Especially if Matty comes back. Without thinking about re-signing Hank, sure maybe you could squeeze in $5 or $6 for a guy like Smyth or Drury. But personally, I'd rather stick with Hank.

I was hoping that someone out in the EC would sign him. Oh well, here's to a few more years of trying ot get the puck past one of the best.

Sutton made $2 last season. He is a solid, young dman. No way he signs for less than $3.5, especially with the lack of dmen of his caliber available this offseason. I've said it before, De Vries.

I could be wrong, but I remember it being a 'conditionial 1st round pick'. From what I've read, I understand that the conditional part of that pick is it's a 1st round this years draft if they re-sign him before the draft, or in next years draft if they sign him after it. If this is the case, and Bert is going to be re-signed, you gotta think that Kenny wants to get it done before the draft, as this draft class is considered by many to be one of the weakest ever. Despite there being no clear cut number one pick, the talent level really drops off after the first 10 or so picks. IMO, if Bert isn't coming back, I try to send the pick somewhere for someone that can help the Wings out now. I'd take my chances on some young forwards who have talent but just haven't been able to get things going. As much as people don't like him, I think Zherdev would be a good fit. However, I'm not sure he is worth a 1st rounder. On that token, I'm not sure there is anyone who the Wings could realisticly get that I would give up a 1st rounder for. So maybe deal it for two 2nd's, and send a 2nd and a prospect for someone like Zherdev.

Directly from your original post about numbers, here is what it works out to Apart: Thornton - .62 PPG Samsonov - .68 PPG Together: Thornton - 1.1 PPG Samsonov - .86 PPG So what am I missing? I was wrong about Thornton have a better PPG when they were apart, but not by much, less than a tenth of a point. I think it is safe to say Thornton has become a star, while Samsonov has peaked, and all signs point his career declining. In his two season with the Bruins, Guerin had 63 and 66 points respectively, those two years (00-02) Samsonov had his two best years putting up 70 and 75 points respectively. So the argument that Samsonov didn't produce because Geurin was, just isn't true. Samsonov was the number one option for Joey, his points reflect that. What Samsonov couldn't and will never be able to handle, is being a number one option without a solid number two option on the same line, regardless if he is on the first line or the fourth line. He is only good when he isn't being pressured hard core.

Head.....going....to......explode.....

Not as much as you would think.

I think what he needs is a fresh start, and the right coach. Is that fresh start and right coach Babs? Who knows. But there is now doubt that Zherdev is just plain scary in the offensive zone.

I don't know if as and NHL GM, I would really care if the other GM's were upset with me about doing what Clarke did. It was a very savvy move. It happens all the time in baseball. It's smart business. The time will come when Kenny pays more than he wants to in order to retain a RFA. Oh wait, that already happened with Sergei way back when....

Compensation sucks, here is what it is: $0-$551,076 - No comp $551,076 - $757,729 - 3rd round $775,729 - $895,498 - 2nd round $895,498 - $1,102,152 - 1st round $1,102,152 - $1,377,689 - 1st and a 3rd round $1,377,689 - 1,653,277 - 1st and a 2nd round $1,653,277 - $1,928,765 - two 1st round $1,928,765 - $2,342,071 - two 1st round, one 2nd round $ 2,342,071 - three 1st round Each additional $1,377,689 - One additional 1st round pick, to a max of five. This means that any contract that pays more than $5,097,448 would cost a team five 1st round picks.

Anyone who has played hockey at any remotely high level knows that fighting is an important part of the game. It allows players to police themselves. Does it get out of hand sometimes? Yes. But that's the nature of sports. Fights happen in EVERY sport. Hockey is different because it's rarely an ugly event. I can't ever remember anything happening in a professional hockey game that was as ugly as what happened at the Palace a few years ago. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the fans (you know Mr. Bettman, the people who pay to keep this league running?) love it. And at some point, someone is going to have to realize that, and get fighting back into the game. As much as people on this board hate the Ducks, and anything to do with them, you have to admire Brian Burke. His stance on fighting, and having a tough team that plays hard-nosed hockey is quite evident. Sometimes I wish the Wings would go out and get a guy like Pronger. We haven't had a guy who can hit like that on a consistant basis since Vladdy. I miss fighting, and good hockey. I wish Bettman would stop trying to turn hockey into basketball. I am afraid to think of what is coming next from Bettmans office...

This is most ridiculous thing I've read in quite some time. First, the Sabers would need to sign Drury, and he wants to test the market. There is no way San Jose would trade Marleau for the rights to talk to Drury for 2 weeks. If something like this were to go down, it would have already happened. Speaking of Buffalo, they aren't getting anything? I'm assuming that Montreal is in the mix someone other than recieving. So what are they giving up? It isn't Alex K, and the only real trade bait they have is between the pipes. Both San Jose and Buffalo are pretty set there. Your 'friend' should stop making up stories to get you all worked up. BTW, Drury would have put a few teams 'over the top', Detroit included.

Let's not forget the re-signing Bert would not only cost us his salary, but also a first round pick. IMO, that is just too much to give up. I like what he brings, but I just think tht first round pick could be put to better use. As for singing Smyth, I'd LOVE it. He brings a lot of what the Wings lost when Stevie called it quits. Players like him don't come around very often. I think Kenny is racking his brain to find a way to make it work. However, given the fact that the Wings have about $34 tied up, and still need a top 4 dman, a starting goalie, and 2 top 4 forwards, even if the cap gets raised to $52, it would be quite the stretch to fit in Smyth at anything more than $4 per. And remember Hank is due for a new contract. I'd take Hank over Smyth any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

Everything I have read says Buffalo will keep him. If it comes down to Danny or Vanek, it seems Buffalo would take Vanek. Not a bad move, he is younger, and has a lot more potential. He will get at least $3.5

Taking out offsides would kill hockey. It would turn the NHL into a circus league. It wouldn't increase scoring, in fact you'd have teams sitting back more, and pressing less. What makes you think that coaches would be any more or less upset at a player cherry picking in your senario, than a coach would be or not be in the current setup? All taking out offsides would do is force coaches to come up with a different system. At least with current rules, the players are kept honest, and forced to play the game. If I want to see the game played without offsides, go watch some shinny. See how entertaining that stuff is. If you've ever played it, you know what I'm talking about. The first 15 minutes are fun. But after that it just gets old, and there is no challange to it. The NHL has a great product. It needs to be marketed more wisely. If that means giving ESPN a sweetheart deal, then do it. The best way to increase scoring isn't to make nets bigger, take out offsides, or any other rule changes for that matter. All you would have to do is get some refs who have the balls to make a call. Regardless if it's a preseason game, or game 7 of the SCF. A penalty is a penalty, and hockey like no other sport, changes it's rules for playoffs. And just a tidbit, get rid of the instigator rule. I won't even argue any points on why I think it should be gone. I just want to see some more fights!