BringHomeTheCup!

I think the biggest factor was that this was his first year being 'The Guy'. In years past he was a guy. Behind guys like Sergie, Stevie, Shanny, and Hull, could you really expect him to do much? Lets not forget last year he was injured in the playoffs, and never really got it going. And I think, if nothing else, the contract added to the Pav's motivating fire. There is no way it was irrelevant. The simple fact that the media was asking him about it makes it a factor. It was somthing he had to deal with. Whether it helped, or hurt, who knows, but it was a factor.

Ummmmmm.....Matty is a UFA, how are going to sign him, then trade him to Boston, if Boston wants him, why wouldn't they sign him?

In this particular situation, I am torn. I hate Ottawa with more passion than any other NHL team. I don't hate the Ducks, but I do hate Pronger, and the Nieds twins. As far as Ottawa is concerned, I hate Alfredsson, Heatly, Emry, Comrie, McCammond, Fisher, Redden, ect... I do really like Corvo, and Spezza. With the Ducks, I actually like just about everyone but the aforementioned players, oh, and Marchment. I'm a huge Selanne fan, and Getz is just gunna be ridiculous in the next few years. I'm pulling for the Ducks. If for no other reason than it'll cost someone that much more to sign Giggy next year.

Well, I hate to crush everyone's hopes and dreams for next year so soon, but the Wings don't have the cap room to make these big signings you are all talking about. With about $32 already tied up to 15 players, and cap hits in the way of Dmacs buyout (btw whomever suggested going after him, please put down the bottle) and bonuses that need to be paid, such as Doms $900k, the Wings don't have a whole lot to work with. The cap is estimated to be $46-47, taking into account about $2 in cap hits, and the $32 already tied up, that leaves at most, $13 available to play with. With the way things work, Kenny has to leave himself room under the cap to make any trades he may wish to make before the deadline, and also leave enough for potential call-ups. So, realisticly speaking, Kenny may spend as $6-9 filling out the rest of the roster. Here is what we have for next year(NHL talent at least): 9 f 5 d 2 g So, to fill out the roster here is what we need: 3 f 1 d Now that is just to put a full squad on the ice. Odds are that the Wings will carry more than just the bare minimum. Expect to see this: 5 f 2 d 1 g Reading reaports, Cheli wants to come back, and Dom is still undecided. Let's hope Dom comes back, as he is the best possible option. Don't misunderstand, I hate how Dom plays. And I think a guy like Belfour would do just as well. But If Dom wants to come back, he will be a Red Wing. More than likely, Cheli and Dom would eat up nearly $2 of cap space, we are now down to $4-7 and have at least 3 more roster spots left. If Kenny does things wisely, which he will, we will need to sign more than the minimum 2 skaters. Another d and 5 forwards. That's 6 guys and not much to do it with. Kenny could use Grigorenko, and Kopecky, both are already signed, they would eat up about $1.3. So we are now down to $2.7-5.7 to spend, and 3 forwads and a d still left. I keep seeing the name Sarich come up. Let it go people. It isn't going to happen. He made $3 this year, and will get a raise. We'd be better off staying in house here. If Matty wants to come back, I would think Kenny would fit him in somehow. But I think Matty will have to accept the same type of pay, as Kenny doesn't have the room to pay him anything more. I don't think Kenny has the space to sign both Markov and Matty, Matty is more valuable to our team than Markov. However, Matty could get paid more by a team, like the Rangers, than Detroit can offer up. This team is in need of a top 4 d man, Markov isn't the answer, if Matty walks, there are a lot of options, but none fit as well as Matty. Without any real cap space, the Wings will have to look at 'depth guys' to fill out the roster. If Matty re-signs, that's at least $3 gone, leaving about $3 left for 3 forwards. That isn't very much, but a few guys like your Maltby's, Cleary's and Franzen's should be available. Don't expect any big signings. I'd love to see Ryan Smyth come here, and I wouldn't even mind seeing Bert re-up with us. But I don't think we have the cap room. But Kenny is a magician, I'm sure he's got a few tricks up his sleeve. Don't hold your breath, however, Kenny hasn't been known to make big UFA signings. Does anyone remember the last 'big name UFA' who came to Detroit? Yup, he is in the booth now, it's been that long! EDIT: Remember also, that if Bert re-signs here, we lose a first rounder too. Adding that into the equation, it's a lot to pay for an unknown result.

i thought that happened against new jersey in the finals, i remember ozzie was in net

Both guys are known for cheap shots.

I think it does. Look at the two players involved. Both wear an 'A' on thier shoulder. They are the team leaders. Moreso than any other individulas, they represent what the team is all about. I still respect the Ducks talent, but I've lost respect for then as a team.

I think it has more to do with Kopecky being ready to go than Hudler being any sort of liability. Huds is just as fast, if not faster than Lang, more defensivly responsibe, and he does make things happen. I love him, and I hope this isn't a sign that Babs would rather not have him back next season.

If anyone was out of position, it was Robby. Look where the hit was, hash marks. Again, not trying to say that it was good hit, or Pronger wasn't trying to hurt Homer (because I think he was) but you are making it sounds like Pronger was way out of position, he wasn't, he had his man covered. Where Robby was, at the hash, he left his point wide open.

Well if that's the case, why insinuate that you think that is what happened? At least watch the replay first.

Show me where I ever said you didn't know anything about hockey? That's right, I didn't. All I said, in reference to your post where you personally insulted me, was that with posts like that you sound like a typical Duckie. Take that as you will. It had nothing to do with your defense of Robby, in fact, if you read my posts on this thread, I've never said anything about him. So where do you get that from? I have played hockey at a higher level than most, I'm a dman, I know what I am talking about. We aren't talking about a quick mistake. Bertuzzi's hit on Moore wasn't a quick mistake. Pronger knew exactly what he was doing, he was trying to hurt Homer. The same with Bert, he was trying to hurt Moore. Now to what degree where they trying to hurt the other players? No one will ever really know. You can't sit there and honestly tell me that Pronger did that on accident. He drove Homers head into the glass with his forarm, elbow, and glove. That is malicious. He should get suspended. Take your homer lenses off and look at it as a fan of hockey. It was ugly. Pronger deserves at least a 2 game suspension, but again, I'd be surprised if he gets anything.

Are you saying you think Malts did that on purpose? If so, you missed my entire point. That is dirty, if Malts did that on purpose, I'd suspend him. There is no room for things like that in the NHL, he would then be no better than Pronger. I am talking about man to man, in your face. Not a cheap shot.

It doesn't have to be a fight, I would settle for someone just getting in his face. Franzen, Lebda, and now Homer all get cheapshotted, and no one even so much as try to get in the guys face. That really bothers me.

I don't think he can really be blamed on either penalty, the first one was pretty lame, no question. And on the second one, not only is about to get hit while he is flipping the puck, remember, he's been out for 6+ months, he is going ot be rusty. I think the simple fact that he didn't hurt us in our own zone should give him a C-, I'd go with a C+ becuase he had a strong phscial game.

Why is that? Because I expect players to have respect for each other? There is never a legit reason to hit someone from behind. You make yourself sound like a typical Cali Duck fan who knows nothing about hockey with posts like that.

It just isn't the same. That would happen reardless. I'm talking about someone on the Wings making a statement, 'You f*** with us, there are consequences.' Marchment is only good for cheap shots, and knee to knee hits, anyone else see him stick out it knee and trip Pavel in game 2? He got a penalty for it, but man, that could have ended Pav's career!

I don't understand the posts that say it's a good thing the Wings don't stand up for each other. If I am a player, I want to know someone has my back. If I get hit like Homer did, and no one does anything, INCLUDING NOT PRESSING FOR A GOAL ON THE 5 MINUTE PP, I am going to be pretty pissed. Maybe it's just me, but I play d, if someone puts a hit like that one my guy, I don't care how big, and ugly he is, I am gunne be in his face. I agree, fighting isn't always the best option, but I'll be damned if you could hold me back from at least getting in his face and letting him know what I had for lunch!

That hit was from behind, I've never seen a hit from behind and thought, "Yeah, that was clean." It's a drity hit, regardless of position of hands and elbows. He knows better. It's sad that you are, for thr most part right in your assesment of Homer coming back. Simply because he isn't seriously injured doesn't change the fact that he could have been killed. And no, that isn't an exageration. The way Homer was, Pronger could have killed him with that hit. It was a blantent attempt to injure, and he should sit for it. This shouldn't have any effect on the decision by the NHL brass. Pronger knew what he was doing. Would it hurt the Ducks to not have him? Hell yes. But why should that at all have any effect on what he did? Do you think it hurt Homer less because it was Pronger pushing him into the boards? No. It shouldn't matter who it is, the suspension should be multiple games. It's much worse than any hit I've seen in these playoffs, and whatshisface from Nashville got a game. Pronger should get 2 MINIMUM. A fine is irrelevant, 100k to him is a drop in the bucket.

I don't disagree that Pronger went out of his way to really give it to Homer, however, he was in position. On d, when a team is cycling, there are a few ways to stop it. One of them is pasting a guy into the boards, and taking him out of the cycle. I guess I can see your assesment. But again, I disagree. I've played d for sometime, not as long as you, but I did play at a fairly high level. One thing you learn is when Pronger vacates, someone else slides into that spot. The only free man would have been Robby's dman. The opposing winger would have had his d covered, Pronger partner would have his winger, and the centers could cancel each other out. I'm not saying is was a good play, but it wasn't as if Homer was at the blue line. No offence taken on the 'how to play d', i've been around the block enough times to realize different strokles for different folks.

IMO the suspension should be at least 5 games, how is what Pronger did any less worse than what Mclennan did? Remember, Mclennan is a backup, 5 games for him is nothing, and what he did couldn't be potentially life threatening. Pronger won't be suspended, I'd crap my pants if he was. As for Pronger being out of position, he was following his man, watch the replay, Pronger followed Homer while he was cycling they puck. That part of it was good play. Pronger chasing Homer was a solid defensive play, that's how you break up a cycle. However, the hit itself was dirty. Not that he hit Homer, just how he hit Homer.

Gotta be a first

You guys are right, it isn't Detroit's style, it hasn't been since DMac left. We need that grit. If Pronger knows there is someone on Detroits bench that he would have to contend with, maybe he thinks twice about that hit. Without a true tough guy, the Wings have gained this reputation that teams can physcially intimidate them. It hasn't happened so far, but what's it gunna take for someone to do something? No one stood up for Franzen, no one stood up for Lebda, no one stood up for Homer. I don't care who you are, you get in that guys face. It's hockey, you are much more than a team, you are a brethern. Something should have been done. I don't care if it was Pav that skated over to Pronger and started talking smack, someone do something. It makes me sick to see our guys laying on the ice, with the other 4 guys just looking at him. DO SOMEHTING!!

I haven't read all these posts, so if I'm beating a dead horse, sorry folks. Watching that hit live, and having the advantage of TiVo, it's clear that Robby shouldn't have been tossed. If Pronger had have hit Homer from behind, the hit from Robby would have been ok, at best a 2 minute minor. Pronger not only hit Homer from behind, but also drove his head into the glass with his elbow. He deserves to be suspended for at least one game. IMO what Pronger did was worse than what Mclennan did, and Mclennan got five games, which is NOTHING for a backup goalie. I'd be shocked if Campbell, and Bettman have the balls to suspend a marquee player during a playoff run. It should happen, rest assured if it were Crosby or Ovechkin getting hit, there would be a suspension. Sidenote: Good god did we had the Ducks some pie last night!! Is anyone else falling in love with lil' Flip?

I agree, the only problem is we need a top 4 winger. We just don't have that. It's a toss up with Bert, no one knows for sure what he will be able to bring. I think in adding a guy like Smyth, you could create to very lethal lines that put a guy in front of the goaltender. Taking that a step further, you could throw Franzen on that 3rd line and you have 3 guys who will be in the goalies face all night. I love it. Just wonder if Kenny could pull it off without mortgaging our future.