vangvace

According to Philly sports radio. If he returns he wants to play for a team that he has already played for in the past. Also that he's looking to be starting the season as a FA.

Just say no.

Blues and Blackhawks should be better next season. Nashville isn't dead, but they may be the toughest team in the Central to predict how they will do for next season. Columbus will prob be worse because everyone else has gotten better.

I'm starting to think that the reason he's not signed yet is that he has some sort of deal worked out that he gets a percentage of what's leftover. Esp. since he's been more than fair money wise in the past with the Wings.

Rumor on Philly Sports Radio is that Forsberg is considering pulling a Roger Clemens this year... if he decides to play.

With that group, I could see them waiting till the trade deadline to add a vet D-man... but that's just what I'd do.

Nashville

This actually kinda sucks for me. Philly is the closest team and I was hoping to get tickets on the cheap this year

And had a showing too. 2.83mil people watched on Univision alone. Soccer Ratings Side note: Go Ipswich Go Kaiserslautern (My clubs have to get better)

Off topic but congrats on the Wolfs returning. It felt weird being down there and not going to see them play...

Silly question for everyone leaving <$2mil in cap room... What about the GR players that we need to resign? or our Euro-prospects? Just a reminder

This years not looking good for us picking up an enforcer... neither is next year. Enforcers are too passionate and unpredictable for the current Wings organization and style of play. Should the instigator bonus penalty disappear that may change but until then... at least more lower leagues are dumping the rule. They tried a third tier, AHL regular in Norton. Then they hit a scoring slump and dumped him like garbage. I like Bertuzzi because he reminds me of the early 90s, but an enforcer he is not. As far as "We proved we're tough/physical. Just look at the 2007 playoffs." One postseason does not a tough team make. It may be a start, but I'm not holding my breath that it'll continue through next season. Oh, and if we did get an enforcer most fans wouldn't like him because he's a "goon" no matter how many points he puts up. Unrestricted Fighters Trevor Gillies Shawn Thornton Eric Boulton Jeremy Reich Jesse Boulerice Darren McCarty Reed Low Matthew Barnaby Aaron Downey Sheldon Brookbank Chris Simon Todd Fedoruk Martin Grenier Eric Cairns Matt Carkner Wade Brookbank Brad Brown Peter Vandermeer Brad Norton Arron Asham Darryl Bootland

Thank you for admitting that equipment has become inflated over the years. Giguere has no doubt become a better positional goalie over the years. However, you also cannot deny that his pads have inflated also since coming to the Ducks. Throw in the fact that he is as listed smaller than Kiprusoff, Brodeur, Biron, Emery, Lalime, Luongo, and Turek. Yet wears Luongo sized pads and has shoulders that cover his ears... Goalies equipment shouldn't double as bomb squad safety gear. Yes players are bigger. With more goalies being over 6' either the butterfly will go away or nets are going to have to get bigger. Goalies will be fine because they have more skill and much better coaching than even a decade ago. I don't think it's just goalies pads that need to shrink to either. I also have a serious problem with skaters wearing plastic above the waist and below the neck

Signing him to a league min contract with performance bonuses might be worth the gamble even if he doesn't make it past training camp.

Yup 'cause paddy's pads never grew. Care to provide some sources to the increased injuries due to smaller pads? To continue this reality check... Have you watched hockey before 1995? You know, back when there was scoring and excitement to the game and not the soccer game on skates that we are dwindling down to.

Unless he gets outvoted by the committee

The Todd Bertuzzi award - most bodyslams in a season The Eddie Belfour award - biggest meltdown of the season The Donald Brashear award aka the huggy bear- most hugs and noogies in a season The Caddyshack Award - most bizzare goal of the season The Gerry Cheevers - best goaltender mask

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha :rotflmao: End of childish now... If it's true than dips*** is part of Lord Stanley's Lore forever :puke: Return to inner child: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I read somewhere. (I think here or Detnews) that the ceiling has finally been hit for Playoff tickets but not yet for the regular season.

So that owners and GMs can be protected from themselves... and line thier pockets with treasure! When the cap drops it's gonna be ugly...

Since it would prob cost me my marriage I will say no From what I understand it's center ice for games, NHL network for pre-,post-game analysis and everything else NHL related.

From what I understand it'll be available in the super-ginormous billion channel line-up for only the cost your arm and leg. Seriously nothings in concrete but I'm hoping that it'll be in the same package as the NFL network. It runs me about $60 for that cable package right now.

Latest info: New league promises tough hockey K’s, four Michigan teams form IHL with eye on geographical proximity, quality ownership. By Pete DiPrimio pdiprimio@news-sentinel.com The International Hockey League is back. The United Hockey League is out. The result: an emphasis on bruising, entertaining hockey. What does that mean for the Fort Wayne Komets? For starters, they’ll play in a revamped six-team league that also consists of fellow former UHL franchises Bloomington, Ill., and Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Flint and Port Huron, Mich. No longer around from the start of last season are Chicago, Elmira, Quad City and UHL champion Rockford. The reason for restructuring the UHL into the new IHL, league president and Kalamazoo General Manager Paul Pickard said, is simple: to create a league that emphasizes close geographical proximity and quality ownership, as well as the physical hockey the old IHL was known for, with this caveat: “Physical play without the goonery,â€Â Pickard said Wednesday night via a live Internet broadcast from Las Vegas. “We are bringing back tough, physical hockey,â€Â he said. “We’re bringing our own rules that will create an atmosphere of energy and excitement. We’ll have our own officiating staff, and they will enforce our edicts, not those of the National Hockey League or American Hockey League. Our philosophy is to create a better minor- league hockey model and provide intense rivalries.â€Â And one other thing. “We agreed we need better diligence of our ownership groups,â€Â he said. Consider that the UHL had 14 teams in seven states in 2006. Then Danbury, Conn., owner James Galante was arrested on charges of racketeering, extortion and witness tampering. Plus, he exceeded the UHL salary cap by $750,000. The team eventually folded, as did franchises in Adirondack, N.Y.; Fraser, Mich.; Roanoke, Va.; St. Charles, Mo.; and Richmond, Va. This year Rockford and Moline moved to the American Hockey League. Elmira, N.Y., moved to the ECHL. Hoffman Estates, Ill., folded. Komets General Manager David Franke has talked about the advantages of physical play because that’s what interests fans and sells tickets. That was a big reason last season’s Komets emphasized physical play. The Komets’ Michael Franke, Pickard and Muskegon owner Tony Lisman were the driving forces behind restructuring and renaming the UHL. Michael Franke is the chairman of the board of governors for the new league. It took two years of study and development, Pickard said, to decide to “recapture the glory of the IHL.â€Â The Komets played in the IHL for 47 years before switching to the UHL in 1999. “We recognize the challenges of minor league hockey,â€Â Pickard said, “and we wanted a model that would win. It was time to rethink and bring entertainment back to the game.â€Â Pickard said keeping the teams close geographically will reduce travel expenses, encourage fans and media to travel to road games, and improve the quality of play. It also will give team owners a better opportunity to “run solid business franchisesâ€Â even with the salary cap increased by an undisclosed amount. “This was a long and excruciating process,â€Â Pickard said. “We have taken our time and done our research.â€Â A 76-game schedule will be played between Oct. 19 and April 6, 2008. Rule changes include the elimination of the instigator penalty except for the final five minutes of a game, increasing the game lineup to 17 skaters and two goaltenders, a 10-minute misconduct penalty for secondary altercations and tighter officiating standards in the neutral zone but looser standards in the attacking zone. Also, if the score is tied at the end of regulation, there will be a five-minute, four-on-four sudden death period. If the score remains tied, a three-skater shootout will take place. The new IHL office will be relocated from Missouri to Rochester, Mich. http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/...ts/17399401.htm

To answer your question: By dumping as much payroll as we can and dressing players at the league minimum even if they're not ready? Another interesting thought is what is going to happen to the cap over the next couple seasons. How screwed could we be if the cap takes a swan dive? Especially in the scenario you described.

If I remember right, didn't he say the same thing about Detroit before coming here?