Shaman

I decided to be nice and softball it, but I also did other math, over the last 4 seasons the wings averaged 53.25 win per season giving them a 64.9% winning percent, meaning that if the Wings are about as good as they have been in the last 4 years (and despite the 2 losses early I believe the wings are as good as they have been over the last 4 seasons) if may gives them a 15% boost in wins, over 82 games we should win about 66 games. Now if the wings finish at or below the 53 wins mark for the season, despite the boost that May gives them that either means that the wings are a .500 team or that May really isn't the game breaking player you keep trying to say he is. Even if he plays only in 27-28 games the wings should, based on past performance win atleast 22 of those games and be 36 of 55 without him (if the wings are still in the same general form as the last 4 seasons) or win 18-19 games during that period and without him go 31 of 55 (if they finish with similar numbers as the last 4 season despite the amazing addition of may) to prove that your wild prediction is true.

You heard it here first, E_S_A_D thinks May is the final piece of the puzzle for Wings to finally win 63 in a season (realistically the Wings should win about 60-62% of games this season, so theoretically if he gives the Wings a 77% winning percentage for the season with his 15% bump in winning percentage if he plays 82 games this season). Excuse me if i think that you're unrealistic in youre expectations that makes you believe this 5 minute a night player will have such a huge inpact.

So you think Brad May will play 28 games and the Wings will win about 22 of them because of May, thats a +4.2 game swing from how you believe they will play with out him (in the same period of 28 games), I dont even think that adding a first line all star would cause that kind of swing, but if youre willing to eat crow if youre wrong, I will be too. (I base it on last years winning % of 62% which I believe will be about the same this year (minor deviations are to be expected, but nothing more than 2% +/-)). I just dont see a 5 min a game player making that kind of impact.

Kane or Toews could easily gone next season due to cap problems...

too bad, I liked him as a player

you beat me to it...

Calgary- Mike Vernon

Wow....just wow

Somewhere where i can play the wings a lot, score a lot only against them, knowing id get a new contract with the wings will come

Before or after Ohalleran disallows 1/3 of them?

I keep saying this and no one addresses this.... He is consistently inconsistent in the AHL, right now we don't have the starting goalie in the next who can let this team cut Howard's teeth slowly. If we had Hasek 10 years ago, or Mason (either) or Miller or Lundqvist or someone who is a bonafied starting goalie then this would be a different thread altogehter, but what if Osgood has another meltdown this season and he needs to take a few games to clear his mind do we have someone who can make 5 starts in a row and could steal a game or even keep the wings in a game that they would otherwise be out of? The answer is no, Howard at this point will be only in 1 game at a time and finish games we are being blown out in or we are up 5-1 in. I think this is just a bad situation for both the Wings and for Howard, if we had a top teir goalie or if we had a couple more years to send him down and bring him up then there wouldnt be so many questions, but right now hes either gunna have to put up or shut up. Until hes proven himself, I dont see why I should have any confidence in him, if the team, the coaches, and Holland do, great for them, but, that doesnt mean i wont cringe everytime I see him between the pipes.

thats was the point of that, it gives each line a big guy who can throw his weight around, and a guy who can put the puck on the net, and it also puts a vet and a younger kid on the same pairing which hopefully would help the younger players devolpment while also providing all pairings with energy and youth.

Chicago has a retarded GM who wants to win it all now, but that arent that bad...

Val will not score more than 50 points this year, hes gunna spend atleast 50% of the season on the 3rd line. If he ever cracks 75 points ill be the first to laud him as a great player, but hes never shown the ability to take his level up from good player (50-75 pt a season, carrer second liner) to a great player (75+ first line player). He has a good set of skills but I still dont see anything that makes him look like our next 80 point guy.

I didnt predict everyone, and I only projected how I saw via their stats and playing styles how I think a good season would be reflected in their stats. Goals 272 Assists 364 last year in the top 11 There was 246 Goals in the top 11 players and 356 assists in those same 11 players. Now my prediction is bold, but the G/A ratio is almost the same (my prediction 1 assist for every .74 goals vs 1 Assist for every .69 goals scored). My prediction isnt scientific just me having fun and taking what I do know about hockey, the players on the team, and what they could produce in a perfect world. And food for thought, people are predicting Flip gets 10 to 30 more points, I dont believe he will, and I do believe that some players wont hit those marks, but again these are bold predictions. I am thinking that we will have about 295 goals for the wings this year because, while I think the D is better this year, I think goaltending is worse this year. Take my numbers as you will, they were just for fun and hopefully i get some close to the mark.

This is how I see it Lids-Ericsson Kronner-Raffy Kindl-Stuart this would be sweet

Miach it wasnt Downey that won the wings the cup in 08 nor did his presence mean a lick of anything in the playoffs, Id say the following things are much higher on the list Less injuries Less 7.45 Million dollars of the best Playoffs choke money can buy Less Bettmans rushing the finals for many weird and conflicting reasons Less Defensive gaffs at the worst time More Drake in the line up, real grit not a boxer on ice. (Drake style players are what the Wings need, not Aaron Downey). More Dats showing up (though you could say his injury stiffled him this last campign). ALOT more hunger on the part of the wings. I am sure there are a lot more, but these are the ones that come to my mind.

Howard will not make transition to the NHL and will be traded. Flip will not score more than 55 points. Leino will out score Flipper. Z will score more than 40 goals

No one has yet adressed 2 things 1: Why the hell do I have to see adds on this site with Penguins Cup victory merchandise? 2: Howard's inconsistent play in the AHL. There is a real issue here with him not playing well at a lower level, atleast not well consistently. He really is a boom bust goalie in the AHL, whats changed since last season?

What about his time in the AHL hes consistently inconsistent. Hes never been able to shake the stigma that he has great runs, then s***ty runs. While I am 100% for trading him away, I think itd be better to do it after we see him a couple more times, just to be absolutely sure hes just not jiving in the NHL.

It looks like for now itll be Tonight Show-Flipper-J-will for the third line, and honestly until anyone of them can prove they deserve to be top 6, I say this line is a good third line.

Dats-Z-Cleary Leino-Flip-Franzen (god I hope this) Bert-Helm-Williams Eaves-Draper-Homer

Ok my turn for more predictions, this time pts Dats: 35-66-101 Z: 45-53-98 Mule: 43-33-76 Lids: 15-43-58 Raffy: 17-40-57 Leino: 28-24-52 Kronwall 10-42-52 Flip: 17-32-49 Bert: 25-22-47 Williams 24-22-46 Cleary 23-20-43 Thats my extreme prediction, Leino will do better then Flip, Dats over 100 points and Z and Mule both break 40 goals

I am in 3 fantasy leagues and picked Dats everytime despite the fact he was ranked 10th and i had 4-8 picks

Hes pointing out the fact that one of the biggest flaws that San Jose has is that their reliance on Nabby by the time the playoffs rolls around causes him to be over worked and not as sharp as other goalies who are better rested.