ttbrunke

I don't see why putting in Ozzie is such a bad Idea? What did Hasek do to earn the job in the first place? He was pulled in 2 of his last 8 starts. the goals scored by Suter and Arnott were very soft and should be saved escpecially given the timing. Ozzie earned the #1 job He played in more games had a better save % and a betterr GAA and a better finish to the season. Anywhere else that gets you the playoff start.

WHY HASEK? He has been pulled from 2 of his last 8 Starts why would we put him in, Osgood has a better save % and GAA. Hasek has had it!

We need to look at the future now, during the season Ozzie wasn't much of a step down from Hasek. If we really think Howard is our future franchise goaltender than we should give him a shot it may be a little rough at first but look how it worked for Ryan Miller in Buffalo. Plus the way we play now he will only face 20-25 shots a night that should make things easier on him. Dom isn't getting younger but our avg team age is, if Howard is allowed to develope we could have him at the top of his game in time for the playoffs next year. Sure we may not finish first again but what has that gotten us lately anyway. Dom will always be the same, he will be a guy you love one minute and hate the next (i.e. Loved him in game 5 but hated him in game 4 & 6). If there were any real good Free Agent goaltenders I would say we could give them a 1 or 2 year deal and let Howard play maybe 30 games, but there aren't any out there that aren't going to cost 5 mil plus.

I'm not too impressed with the FA that are available which got me to thinking about the draft and if there were any sure things. Cherepanov and Kane seem to be the standouts of the group. I like Cherepanov (we need to get back to the OV's anyway right) he broke all the record for rookies in the Russian Super League this past season that were set by Pavel Bure. This is of course where Alex Ovechkin played when he was seventeen. Would or Could the Red Wings move up? I'm not sure who they would part ways with that would garner first round pick status, maybe they sign Bertuzzi and trade him or something (just an example please don't turn this into an I love bertuzzi thread)

Re-sign DANNY Markov As for forwards stay away from O'neil he doesn't have the speed to play with dats and hank. Lupul will garner a good young player from us in a trade (i.e. Filpulla, Franzen) NO DEAL I live in Buffalo and like the Idea of Ales Kotalik (someone mentioned it). He is young has a rocket shot from just about anywhere, descent size and speed. Plus with all of the small speedy players that buffalo has he has had trouble fitting in on the top lines he has been on the 3rd line here. I think he has untapped potential, he can play the point on the Power Play (with the shot he has why not). Also Zubrus would fit nice Anyone you get cheap will not fit anywhere but on the second line Stay away from Gomes he is a playmaker not a finisher we already have plenty of playmakers on the team if we get him we may never actually shoot. If we let Bertuzzi go we could go for the big player like Smyth or Drury (if buffalo is dumb enough to let him go).

That may be but in the new NHL you need to have these young players to build your team. The cap makes it so we can't spend the way we used to, you saw it this year with Filpulla, Hudler, Kopecky, Lebda, Quincey. I agree that the DRW have done a great job at getting the most out of the picks they have but I would just love to see them be able to draft a player who scores 60 points in his first season at age 18. we have good youth in Zetts and Dats and Flip, just think it would be fun to get that hot prospect for once (I don't want to be bad enough to have that pick naturally though).

I doesn't take a Hockey Genius to know that you don't trade a Zetterberg or a Datsyuk to move up, Remember we have our #29 selection plus a player like Kindl or Hudler. Sure there is always a possibility for a bust but he is putting up #'s like Ovechkin and Bure so he could also be that kind of player. I agree I don't recall Holland ever moving up but there is a first time for everything and if we could get this kid it would be nice. I know they were scouting the Swedish Juniors and I think they may take Joakim Anderson with the #29 at least that is what I have seen projected.

He is definately a top 5 I think Kane will go #1 or maybe Turris

If during the 90's you added the letter "ov" to the end of your last name

That was just an example but you fo make sense that would make people a bit weary of our club. Have any ideas of how it would be done

All Time Wing: STEVE YZERMAN All Time Other: Ray Bourque Current Wing: Pavel Datsyuk Current Other: Marian Gaborik

If you read the whole thread (sorry to insult you if you happen to be illierate) instead of jumping in and shooting your mouth off. This thread was not about who will be better next year, clearly that will be hasek but how many years does he have left, and he couldn't play consistent enough to win the cup this year so why would he next year. If we are not going to win the cup next year I would like to at least take a step forward in our organization instead of putting it off another year and then we have 2 years where we know that we don't have the best chance to win the cup. The problem you fair weather fans have is you get attached to these big name guys like Hasek or Bertuzzi because they are sexy names, but the point is they don't help our future, and they are not enough help for our present (otherwise it would make a little sense). That is why "Dump Hasek" is not absurd at all.

Add some depth at wing bring in a couple of those mid line players like a Zubrus Make a splash with Smyth or Briere type player (preferably not briere he's small and soft) Get rid of dead weight Calder and Bertuzzi, nagging injuries will keep these guys from being useful plus i would like the wings to focus on more speed and these guys are slow. Lang can go too also slow and lack of motivation here. If you can work a deal sammuelson can be traded (too streaky) Either go with Howard next season or get another goalie in FA, it doesn't work with Hasek he's too inconsistent his SV% was .913 we can find someone who can do better than that. Resign your Dmen as is with Kronwall in the mix you have 4 good Dmen (Lids, Schneids, Kronwall, Markov). Lilja is a good #5 and Chelios will want 1 more year (If not Quincey and Lebda looked good)

I think Sykora would be nice for the price, he has Awesome talent and would be fairly cheap, put him with Dats and good things would happen Sopel would be a cheaper alternative to Schneiders spot, he has a good shot, maybe a little better defensively (I still say sign schneider)

That's the point we haven't seen enough of him he needs to get the shot and if we have Ozzie we still have stability. If it doesn't work then we have the trade deadline to try to improve the position.

Well next time before coming in here and throwing isults you might want to read the whole thread, I agree that there will be a learning curve but he hasn't seen the NHL game enough yet to judge him. Get him some starts and by the time the playoffs com around he will hopefully be in top NHL form. How many times did hasek face less than 20 shots and allow 3 goals or more during the season. Hasek had a .913 SV% and in the 4 games that Howard played he had a .908 SV%(not bad for only 4 scattered games of action). I don't think it will be that much of a drop off, but I think we have to see

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Franzen - Filpulla - FA? Cleary - Draper - Maltby Kopecky - Hudler - Sammuelson or Grigs Lidstrom - Markov Kronwall - Schneider Chelios - Lilja Howard Ozzie FA- with this line-up we may have enough to sign one of the big names (Smyth, Briere or Drury, etc)

I agree Hasek has let us down at times, he has also played great, so the person who said Howard was inconsistent shouldn't be too worried because that is what we have now. Plus coming up to play a game or two is no judge of Howards play he needs to get a chance to be a part of the team in practices and roadtrips. I say you give him a shot Hasek will want much more money to come back (probably 3-4mil) and we can't afford to get another FA goalie and still fill in other holes. i do agree that we have other gaps but the bottom line is I have seen Hasek fall on his back and lay on the ice while the other team skates around him and scores for teh last time (I hope). Both the Perry and Getzlaf goals were horrible he was looking right at perry and didn't see that he had the puck, The team did not play in front of him until the third but i think that if we are going to pay a goalie 3mil+ he better be able to keep us in games and make saves like that. Manny Legace had stats much like Hasek through the season (actually better I think). But like hasek made some very bonehead plays that cost us games.

Sign two mid level players (i.e. Hartnell, Perrault, Zubrus,Comrie, etc.) I only say this because that nice sniper isn't really out there, Kariya is past his prime and I don't think smith is the player we need, we have guys to drive the net. Gomez and Briere are set-up men which we already have enough of. Drury is not going anywhere, Buffalo will give him whatever he wants I like our D line, sign Schneider again and go with that Filpulla will be good next year Don't resign Calder or Bertuzzi Give Howard a chance in goal

As I have been watching the wings I'm not sure that babs has cought on to the NEW NHL yet. He needs to understand that a 1 goal lead may not be enough anymore. When he had the Draper line out on the Power PLay late in the 3rd it stood out to me. Also Bert Cleary and Lang, that line needs to go. I see he switched Lang for Draper that's a better Idea. We need someone who can play in the defensive zone. Lang and Bert are too bad back there. I like the Babs had the team playing all year but now it just seems he wants to try to sit on a 1 goal lead all the time and it hasn't worked.

You guys should know you can't say anything bad about Bert on here my God people will string you up. He's the best player to ever come into Detroit. He's Big he hits everything and he's got the softest hands in the NHL. Bring him back next year for whatever the cost $10mil if you have to, of course a 20 year deal. I mean even if he has struggled give him a break, he's such an upstanding gentlemen who wouldn't hurt a fly (or an Av for that matter). P.S. To all of the Bertuzzi lover since your blinded by his brilliance you might not have been able to tell that that wass SARCASM

Well it looks like if you picked the following you were right Detroit: Cleary or Bertuzzi (less the horrible giveaway) Ducks: Giguere or Selanne I think those were the big guys for each team. I was very wrong Zetterberg looked good at times but wasn't consistent and didn't net one. I also have been very impressed with Val Filpulla, when he gets the minutes with other good players he has been very good. What a move in the third to come in on giguere and ring it off the pipe, and good speed on the breakaway chance but he has to room that puck. Thanks for playing everyone and "don't forget to get you pets spayed or neutered"

OK, these are the ground rules Try to keep it to one or two players Give an explanation why It can be anybody pick babs or burke if you want Tommorow debate why you were right if you think you were _______________________________________________________ My pick Henrick Zetterberg I think that with the lack of pronger you will see the second line get more chances than in the previous games they will put Niedermayer/Beuchimin out against the the top line so the second line should be able to get some chances and I think Zetts will capitalize 2G-1A, +2 If I am Wrong then it will be Dats one of the lines needs to be good but I think it will be Zetts.

I would say C+ He has been out for a long time and needs to get the rhythm back, he also took some bad penalties. On the plus side he was more of a presence that Calder or Hudler. He used his size a bit and seemed to make a few nice moves on the rush. Its a C+ right now but I see a chance for serious improvement as we move forward.

Pronger, If we can't handle you 5on5 you might want to play 5on5 a bit during the game. they were shorthanded for like 15min in the 2nd. Also I belive we scored (4) 5on5 goals in this game and you have scored how many (and the two at the end of a powerplay don't count). Oh wait did you mean the 5 fingers on each of your hands on the back of Holmstroms head, if that is so than your still wrong because he was right back out there in the 3rd. Sincerely, Red Wings and thier Fans