dirac

Received a call from the season ticket office...Nov 12. Van on Thursday night.

It is probably to do with his HOF induction. The major annoyance is that the Wings do not know (or will not say) when it is. Good marketing tactic. I guess that is what keeps stubhub in business. GO WINGS

@dawings 1905: "More important than the conspiracy talk though is.....what is the NHL going to do to reimburse the people that had already made travel plans based on their original schedule. My guess.....Nothing." All playoff games are listed as TBA. Also, the information that people may have purchased tickets upon was from the cbc not the NHL. I myself and totally screwed because I based my ticket purchase on some knob writer on yahoo.com. I have tickets for games 1 and 2 and do not return from Hong Kong until 6/1. [EXPLETIVE] [EXPLETIVE] [EXPLETIVE] "Just curious, why are you so quick to discredit some of these folks who discuss conspiracies? Do you have some overwhelming proof that disproves them?" Please tell me you are joking. That is the nice thing about conspiracy theorists is that you can come up with some crazy story but then say prove me wrong. This requires someone to prove a negative which, if you ever have had to do it, is almost impossible which is why conspiracy theory is the lowest common denominator. I just don't get what the rush is with a game on Sat and Sun. Why not start with game 1 on NBC on Sun and game 2 on Mon. Then game 3 on Wed, game 4 on Friday and the all important game 5 on Sunday, NBC again. Seriously, is the league run by non-super intelligent monkeys?

So when does the growth start? At the end of the regular season, on the night the playoffs begin, or at the drop of the puck of the Wings first game? I am leaning towards the Wings rule. Anyone know the official interpretation of this rule? GO WINGS

I am confused by Eklund. Just because he thinks something and types it, he calls it a rumor. I would have defined a rumor as something with some sort of source behind it, not just intuition, a flashlight and a gerbil which is about all the Ek goes upon.

Since Eklund said it, this must have a zero probability of happening. That guy is such a tool.

I am pretty sure what is illegal in Michigan is selling the tickets within X distance of the venue. That is scalping. The resale of tickets online or through a broker, I do not believe is illegal. As for having to go to a scalper for Wings tix??? I bought tix for every playoff game last year, including finals, from the box office. Though the fees online are insane, there are tix to be had. I am confused as to how anyone would 'have' to buy a ticket from a re-seller for the Wings. Maybe a few seasons ago but not anymore.

I think the Wings need a new arena but with caution. I go to a lot of games in Boston. The Fleet Shawmut TDBank...is awful. It has the personality of a wet noodle. Dull, dull, dull. I am also not a big fan of the United Center. In the corners, upper bowl, it is stunning how far away from the ice you are. Columbus...I was actually impressed by the arena. Great views from everywhere and I like the table seats at the top of the lower bowl. I really enjoyed it. My 'I don't get it' moment comes when we look at wat the fans want. Hockey fans like the old barns. Chicago was awesome. With the great overhang of the upper deck, you were on top of the ice. Same with Maple Leaf Gardens. Verticle is better. Why cannot architects and engineers build something classic with modern efficiency (i.e. lots of bath rooms and taps). Instead, everything seems modled after the Palace in one way or another. Someone on this forum needs to either become an architect or send their kid to school to be one. If the Wings announced today that they were building a new arena with the classic feel, all would welcome it. Just a thought. Sincerely, Art Vandelay

I don't know. 40 points in 68 games is not producing. He is a head case. He has not been nor will ever be the same as he was before the Moore incident. It is funny how GMs all think 'we can fix him'...nope. He is a good fit with Iginla? But he could not fit in with the talent on either Anaheim or Detroit? Wow. I was curious as to who would take the dive on this one. Good luck Calgary.

Holy crap. $3.75 for Avery. Sorry that is waaaay to much. I honestly don't follow Dallas that closely...were they in need of a pest in front of the net? I never imagined him getting more than 2 a year.

For ESPN to win that would require them to do something good. I pray that some day cable becomes a la carte. Then I can drop ESPN and miss nothing. I have vs., NHL network and center ice what on earth do I need ESPN for? Oh, and if a talking head on ESPN or any network says something, unless it is specifically prefaced with the legal disclaimer, the views and opinions of this person don't reflect the views of this station...then it is really quite safe to say that ESPN said something when it was one of the talking heads speaking. So IF (a big if because I would have to see this to believe they could be so stupid) a comentator on ESPN said the Wings will miss out on the playoffs, it is perfectly legitimate to then say, ESPN says X. Oh, and don't hate Barry for his mad on Wings hating. The Wings deserve it. After Jacques was fired, Barry was in line to be the next coach and he had had great success in Adirondak. But the Wings then go and hire Bryan "cannot win a playoff round" Murray. Melrose was passed over in favor of him. I would be pissed too.

How can anyone ***** about ESPN ignoring hockey when they have not paid attention to it in a decade or so? Even when the had the NHL contract, it was terrible coverage and NHL tonight was usually on after poker at 1am. Basically, it is nice what they say about the Wings but who cares? Their "magazine" pretty much rips hockey when it gets the chance and they do not cover it on the air so if they say the Wings did good I would assume their analysis was probably parroting a wire story or something. ESPN is pure EVIL. They put personality above content...I cannot even watch college game day in the falls anymore because it has gone from talking about the days games to a battle of egos. It stuns me that anyone who likes hockey and Wings would even still watch this 'network'. It kind of sucks that all the cable companies carry it in their "free" package because it usually accounts for the single largest charge out of the basic channels. I would gladly drop it in a heart beat. The NHL networks coverage of FA day was pretty cool. Not something that ESPN ever did.

HFS!!!! Kind of funny...tried to trade for him to win cup...they asked for too much in return...we win cup...now we get player without having to give anyone up! Sweeeeet.

Great. So the stupidest kid on the block thinks what we have done is good. I respect ESPN's views on hockey about as much as MTV's if they were to rank hockey deals.

Where on earth do you get the idea that he will score that many goals. It has been 5 years since he had over 30. I think the Moore incident really messed with his head. He has not been the same, nor will he ever be the same. Anaheim learned that last year. That team was (god I hate saying this) pretty talented and he only had 14 goals. He is not worth anything. I would not even want him using up a roster spot. As for Sundin, I think that is more of a pipe dream. Unless he really wants to come here at a discount, no chance. Rolston...maybe if he takes less to finish out his career at home? Doubtful but that I would no mind. He had a good year with the Wild last year. Fedorov...I know he is not mentioned in the article but if he could be gotten cheap (1 mill or less) I think he would be a great addition. I think he has matured since his Wings days and would be much more willing to play whatever role was given to him and you would not see quotes in the paper about him not wanting to play D or the like. I don't know. We still have the core group to make another run. I don't think the Wings should mortgage the future and tie up a lot of cap room during the FA feeding frenzy. Adding role players at low cost should be the goal. Bertuzzi does not fit the bill. Yes they could use a power forward but all teams covet this and as far as Bertuzzi goes, he simply is not a 'power' forward anymore. I am not sure who fits the bill but it certainly is not him.

Wow. I was wondering who was going to take this gamble. His play has been inconsistent at best and down right bad since he left Montreal. Funny how GMs think that 'maybe he will play better for us' when he has shown no signs of returning to his prior form. I think I would have stuck with Huet. Actually, if they had not embarassed Kolzig so much, they would have been better off keeping him than just renting Huet which cost them Kolzig. This is the same situation as Bertuzzi and Raycroft. Raycroft still gets signed based on a Calder he won many years ago now. He has never lived back up to that first season and Bertuzzi...as the Ducks and Wings know, he is not nearly the same player he was before the Moore incident. I don't think ever will be but I am sure there is some GM out there who believes he will change in their environment. Conklin is more consistent than Jose so I am glad the Wings went with him...oh yeah, and the fact that he will be making only $750K does not hurt either.

OK. Ozzy will be the starter. But is Conklin insurance? Howard has played very few NHL games in his career and I have not seen a one of them. If he is the 'goalie of the future' then he should remain with the team the entire season, starting about every fourth game. So what is this Conklin business. Yes, they did get a really good deal on him and he performed really well in Pittsburgh when Fleury was hurt but will he want to play in GR? If Conklin is going to be the backup, then they might as well deal Howard now to get some value from him due to his age and then, I would assume, McCollum would assume the mantle of 'goalie of the future'? Has anyone seen McCollum play or know much about him? I only know what I have read from draft reports and he sounds pretty good. Maybe Ozzie/Conklin, McCollum in GR and then move McCollum up after Conklin's contract is up in a year? I know, so many questions, so little insight but I want to know what everyone else thinks who may have better basis for opinions than I. Thanks.

Wow. Unless they can sign him for a mill or less I would not do it. He seems to be poison in the locker room unless he is the team leader. Look at how he acted when Mario returned and the team went from being his team, back to being Mario's. The current Pens are Sid's team. I really do not know why they would even consider this. They had a shot a veteran leader but let Roberts go...Jagr does not add any veteran style leadership quality. Unless he goes to a team where he is the number one hombre and can wear the C, he will be much more trouble than he is worth. This would be a huge waste of resources for the Pens and PLEASE don't let Holland even consider this guy. If they want a veteran I would rather see Fedorov back, so long as he comes at a greatly discounted price.

I don't think the Lightning will be getting the first pick overall in 09. The additions they have made should help them quite a bit. Sometimes when teams go on shopping sprees, is does not work so well but I think the pickups they made will indeed help them...except for the coach. He has been out of hockey for a long time. Since he last coached we have seen clutch-and-grab come and go, the Wings won 4 cups and Dom retired a couple of times. Will he be able to coach in a league that is quite different from the one he saw while in LA?

Just a note for those interested...Drapes is featured in a story on the front page of the Weekend section of today's Wall Street Journal. The story focuses on face-offs, their importance and his prowess. He gets a pic on the front page and another in the continuation of the story. Here is a link to the online version of the story: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1207275669...rnal_primary_hs

What is "the Magazine"? Please don't say ESPN. True that the NHL marketing is terrible but you have to remember what magazine you are talking about. On average, it has one article. It is nothing but blurbs and pics. I think it is for people who think SI is too intellectual for them with all the words. SI has actually had 2 pretty good hockey articles in the past month. One on Lidstrom and the other on Joe Juneau.

I am very glad that I am not the only person out there who feels that ESPN and hockey no longer mix. ESPN is to sports as MTV is to music. The network has become more important than the sport. The fact that they own an interest in one of the sports they broadcast (arena football) shows a complete lack of objectivity of the network. It has officially ceased to be a sports network. Don't get me started on ESPN's "original programming." Long live Vs. They need more games on it. On the bright side, Sidney was on the cover of a national magazine this month. Either Men's Health or Guy's Health, it was Syd on the cover. Seriously, when was the last time an NHL athlete was featured outside of the hockey realm for something other than trying to kill his opponent (Bertuzzi ref for those following at home). Hate him or love the kid, he is MARKETABLE! Much like Fedorov of the early 90's the league really needs to get these kids noticed. When was the last time (rehtorical) the league had such an amazing crop of youth? Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Stalls, Toews...could be a future yet. LONG LIVE HOCKEY, LONG LIVE THE WINGS

Actually, this may have been my fault...you see, I am a total die hard Wings fan who, because of the need for a job, moved to Boston. In the past 12 months, I have flown home to see 2 wings games. The first, conference finals v. Ducks and game ends with phantom call against Datsyuk, Ducks score and take momentum of series with an awful win. Now Sunday, I get tix to another game, redemption for my last one? Nope!! Thanks refs. So my apologies to all in Hockeytown. This is the last time I will attend a Ducks Wings game. Hopefully, this will have an impact (because we all know that if I forget to fly my Wings flag from my window in Boston, it causes the Wings to lose in San Jose). I am attending the Nashville game in March. If this happens again, I will NOT attend any playoff games. In short, if I am the jinx...my apologies all.

Wow...the Jackets were paying him $6M a year??? I would be for a return to Detroit on the conditions that it is a Larry Murphy transaction, i.e, the team simply wants him out so we give them some trinkets and poof, on our team. The teams seems to have a great group to make a good run. Can Kronwell remain healthy? W/ Ferdorov, the bonus is you can kick him back to the blue line and since his daddy does not seem to be running his career anymore, I don't think (hope) that he will not cry to the media.

The more I thought on this, the tougher it was but here goes: (in no order) - Ovechkin <-- Just exciting to watch and seems to just love the game. - Gary Roberts <-- Ah, the 'Dread Pirate'...the other Chelios. Lots of heart. - Joe Thornton <-- Big, strong, great passer, stands up for self. - Phaneuf <-- Classic checking D-man. - Milan Lucic <-- I live in Boston now so I have to have someone on this dreadful team to root for and this kid hits, fights and is great to watch. Honorable mention: Joe Sakic - For years the class of a classless team. I cannot call him a favorite but I have great respect for him and his quiet style of leadership reminds me so much of Stevie Y that I honestly could never bring myself to hate the guy (even in 1996-02).