Shaman

I really believe this was the Iphone's wonderful predictive spelling.

As with every year (3rd year I've done this thread) with the top performers locked up, and line combos looking pretty solid what do you believe season totals will be? Top ten scoring Forwards: Dats: 30-65-95 Z: 42-49-91 Franzen: 40-28-69 Hulder: 28-39-67 Flip: 21-41-62 (I may not like flipper as much as hudler, but this is his make or break season) Homer: 27-22-49 (better season than last year due to the ZDH line being together+healthier and more offensively capable team will take defensive pressure off him) Bert: 21-24-45 Defense: Lids 12-43-55 Raffi 14-40-54 Kronwall: 10-42-52 Now for where I always kill myself: Goaltending (assuming a healthy team of course) Howard 54 games started 39-13-2 2.25 GAA .923 Sv% Osgood 28 games started 14-9-5 2.55 GAA .901 Sv%

Even though theres zero chance he will ever see the hall that doesn't negate all the great accomplishments he has had over his career, a guy who was a tenth rounder has 4 cups could easily have 500 points in the NHL and has been masterful at what he does... and then there's always swinglish... but hes done nothing to put him in that category of legendary talent... though im sure he will have his picture in there a lot (as the on stage sitting behind Lidstrom, and then Zetterberg).

Thats a foot note, now most opponents sticks broken on you in a single NHL career may put him over the top.

Not even close, if there was a role players hall of fame he'd be a lock, but, other than his niche as a screener/deflector/PP specialist he really has nothing hall of fame worthy. I love homer as a player, but lets be realistic, hes just not in the tier of players who get in, hell hes not even in the tier next to that.

Because the Wings while they did do the same thing did it in a REASONABLE and REALISTIC way. What are the chances Hossa is worth his cap hit at 42? Astronomically low. What are the chances he will even still be a hawk at that age? Better get your lottery tickets cause those have better chances of hitting. Whereas Zetterberg, whats the chances hes going to play to 40? Not bad on most teams, and pretty good on the wings team. Will he be worth all of his cap hit? Id argue theres a chance he will be worth a good portion of it even after 35, but no, theres a trade off. The league isn't stupid, they understand since the chances of Zetterberg playing out his contract is good that the wings are essentially makings a trade off: Zetterberg worth more than his cap hit today for a Zetterberg who isn't worth as much down the road. The reason why Chicago, Vancouver, Boston are under investigation is because theres no realistic way the contracts are played out, therefore they are circumventing the CBA because unlike with the wings and Zetterberg the trade off is unlikely to be made and the teams get a great deal today, and no check for it tomorrow.

I don't think he has NHL level talent anymore, but he seems to still want to lace them up... with injuries a certainty next season he would be a stop gap for any fourth liners going down. I think he knows hes going to spend most of his time in the AHL and maybe thats what he wants. It never hurts to have a vet to mentor the young guns, hes been to the big show 5 times and has 4 rings show for it.

Ew Crosby touched THEN Pronger touched it, thats 2 generations of stink that won't go away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y524oYnSuqQ&feature=related

~30? Ritola is 23. I would rather have Ritola get his chance than let Downey watch from the presser 3/4 of the season. The wings need to find out if they are going to get any return on Ritola and if not trying to get something for him, and if they do pass on him theres still miller sitting ahead of him on the depth chart. Bringing Downey to camp I truly believe serves a three fold purpose #1 being that he can teach some toughness to the kids, #2 Provides some competition for ice time/roster spot (never hurts to lite a fire under kids' asses to get the best out of them) and finally #3 a nod to him as a person, I think both the Wings management and Downey know hes not going to make the team, but, being the class acts Downey and the wings are, hes been given an invite.

Biggest advantages of Salei over Hnidy or Sutton is hes a play off veteran and better career points and plus/minus stats. I don't care for any of the three if there was a younger choice (all are 35+) but, of the three Salei plays a better rounded game.

1-20 its one of the worst in 10 years, but I heard its pretty deep 20-50.

Will we all love probert... his number isn't sacred... while his death was tragic what he did on the ice wasn't so great that he deserve to have this honor.. sorry to tell you.

Its up to ilitch and after the whole 'will he won't he' season with carolina and detroit bidding for him, I really doubt Mr I will give Feds that distinction.

Love the idea, and if I had a vote in this matter I would be on board, but I really doubt it.

If Detroit moves Meech and one of Miller or Ritola they will over 2 million dollars for Mitchell, now due to is injury last year I think he would take 2 million for one year and come back in 11-12 with some more value.

Only player other than Lids I could see being retired is Zetterberg, and thats only if he as captain leads the team to atleast one cup (probably would take more than that, but I would say thats a minimum).

Most people take Kane as a fighter, I wasn't sure if you saw him as a gritty goal scorer. As for Callahan he really needs to put up some high point totals, as you mentioned, around a point per game if not more to make his case. Its possible, but USA is pretty deep this year.

Ever watch the World Juniors? Unless he puts up a lot of points I don't see it, International teams are more with the countries top scoring talent on forward not many future role players make it on the team. (Please bring up Evander Kane, because it was his 96 points on the WHL not his fighting that got him onto the team)

Its Crosby, no one embodies the douchebaggery of the Pens like he does, Lemieux before he let the boy wonder bunk bed in his house was a class act, which does not fit the city, the team or the fan base.

Hes the only coach ever to win a gold medal at the WC, Olympics, and the Stanley Cup, hes gone to the SCF 3 times, and hes done it only in 7 seasons.

Not to derail the original topic... but if Babcock retired today would he be a lock? I would say yes.

I guess I keep hearing ducks fans grumble that he asked for 5+ million (i've heard as much as 6.5) but I guess they don't understand you don't go in with a realistic number, you try to highball it, and the team/gm tries to lowball it, and they find the middle ground. My feeling is that its Anaheim not Ryan causing the stand still, as I think he knows he should expect 3-4 million.

my dream team Lebda-Lebda-Lebda Lebda-Lebda-Lebda Lebda-Lebda-Lebda Lebda-Lebda-Lebda Lebda-Lebda Lebda-Lebda Lebda-Chelios Meech