VM1138

You make the case for the '02 team, though. It was a foregone conclusion that they would win. The only points in the entire season where there were serious doubts were after Game 2 in Round 1, and then the battle with Colorado. They were most likely to win, and no one really posed a significant threat to them. They just steamrolled everybody. If I recall correctly their only bad stretch was the end of the season when it didn't matter anymore and they were just resting everyone.

Like people have said, the money isn't so bad, but the length is questionable. But then again, he's got a lot of potential so it's probably a smart investment.

'02 was hailed as one of the greatest teams all time even before they stepped on the ice. To me, it's not really an argument. As for that fan bracket on Sporting News, I'm not surprised that it comes down to the '70s Canadiens and '02 Wings. However, I remember a lot of experts at the time saying Montreal was better so I'm betting that is the team that will win that particular vote. I think an interesting debate would be the '52 or '02 Wings, though. Had the team not been dismantled the Wings could've gone on to challenge or even beat Montreal in total Cups won. Those 50's Wings teams were among the greatest ever in my mind. EDIT: Some people are mixing up "best team" with "best storyline" I think. '97 was great, but there's no way it can stack up to the '02 team in talent, which is what "best" generally means in my mind.

It's hard but doable. If the Wings play consistently it'll probably happen in two or three weeks.

That's exactly my point. The Wings handle transition eras well. We had rough years in '03 and '04 kind of, mostly because of playoff exits, but other than that the transition from the Yzerman era to the Lidstrom era has been seamless. People talk as if we're never going to get new people. Lidstrom will be hard to replace, no doubt, but his departure also leaves a lot of room to go out and sign a big defensive name. Also, we've got some firepower coming up through the ranks. It's harder to win in the Cap era for most teams, but the Wings have been in the Conference finals 3 of the last 4 years, and the Cup Finals in 2 of the last 3. I honestly don't see why the Wings can't win 3. So few teams in the league are capable of putting together capable playoff teams. The NHL probably has an abnormally high level of bone-headed GMs, which narrows the field of actual competitors down to a handful of teams. So I say it again, 3 Cups in the next 10 years. I can predict the storyline, too. One while everyone is still in their primes, one when Zetterberg and Datsyuk are aging, and then one toward the end when the new era officially takes over and makes a name for themselves.

Neither do they.

Yes. We did 4 in 11, why not 3 in 10? What's so ridiculous about that? Especially considering this is the most battle-tested team playoffs-wise in the league, which makes them uniquely prepared for long runs. Even better, the team won 3 Cups in 6 years. No other team in the league has shown the sort of consistency needed to win multiple cups, which opens the field quite a bit.

Honestly? I see at least 3 Cups in the future. The Wings are just too talented, and the team and management handle transitions pretty well. I see the Wings winning at least one in the twilight of Datsyuk and Zetterberg's careers, plus one or two in the nearer term. EDIT: And no, I don't see Howard as the future of the team's goaltending, though I see him sticking around as a backup for a few years. He CAN win the Cup, but he's too inconsistent. He'll remain until the Wings find someone better, likely a free agent signing this off-season.

This made me so angry until I read a little bit about the story. I never understood all the ragging Salei gets on here. Kindl has very little upside and is the definition of a plug right now. The mere thought of him playing over a benched Salei boggles my mind. Glad it's not the case.

Kindl is definitely trade bait. The kid's potential will probably peak at a #5 defenseman. Easily replaceable. He's played well overall but doesn't add anything to the team. Honestly, I don't see why we couldn't offer big money for someone to replace Lidstrom. We'll have the money. Especially with how vital replacing him is, I see the Wings in competition for the cream of the crop. The only thing I worry about is that Zetterberg and Datsyuk's contract represent the top end of what we are willing to offer. Seems kind of crappy to bring someone in from the outside and pay them more than your team leaders.

I just hope that when Modano returns he will be worth the wait. He was pretty lackluster in the games he played, though he started to get it together in the last few games he played. One can only imagine such a long absence will force him to start over. I like the idea of him playing a second season with the Wings to get the "full experience" though. Sort of like Bertuzzi, maybe this year won't be so great but by next year he'd be comfortable and know what is expected of him.

Well, I figured it'd be an injury after two games, but retirement works the same, I guess. How can you give up so fast, though? I don't see how you can go from thinking you can play in the NHL to giving up after two games. If you were that close to retiring anyway, why even bother with the comeback? Kind of a ****** move. You'd think if you are so unable to play that you give up after two games you would've known a week ago you couldn't do it.

I think certainly Holland offers Weber a contract. Like people have said, he'll probably go for an insane amount, but there's a chance he would take 6.5 or whatever Datsyuk and Zetterberg make to play on a contender. But then again, Nashville isn't that far away from being a contender themselves so that lure might not be as strong. Honestly, I think he stays in Nashville, it's not like a train-wreck team. They're always good even without top-line talent and I think he probably wants to stick around to see if the team can make it to the Finals in coming years.

My only complaint this game is that there was way too much Kindl out there. He was terrible. I really think we're looking at a career 5th or 6th defenseman in Kindl. Can't wait for Stuart to get back.

I see the Wings-Avs fights as different. There was genuinely bad blood. This just seems to be a couple of goons wanting to fight, avenging a borderline hit from a game ago. It was a lot more random than the Wings-Avs epicness.

THIS is what Red Wings hockey should look like. Boston looked like they got hit with a sledgehammer and never got going. This is what we are used to, puck control and pressure. Awesome game, all involved. Excited to see Hudler continue to improve and gain more confidence and poise out there. Can't wait for Sunday, let's hope this isn't a fluke.

What the hell even caused that? I wish the video showed more. All we saw were a couple fights and a lot of people laying on the ground. I didn't see who started it, but whoever it was was a ******. Laid out a colossal hit on a guy and then immediately get up and start punching him before he even recovers? There's no history of bad blood between these teams, is there? Why the hell would it be such a HUGE event? Because one player was injured?

Because said goalie won't actually play for the Islanders. Might as well get one that will.

I don't see why people think Stuart coming back is going to save the defense, it was terrible when he was in it, too.

Holland doesn't hold anything against Snow because it was a legal move. However, I don't think the Isles would be stupid enough to think that we would let them steal Nabakov AND a second round pick for anyone on their team. I find it interesting that only Carolina would expect a defenseman in return? I recognize the names being tossed around, but don't know much about them. Can anyone sum up Corvo and Pitkanen?

No, my point with Byfuglien was that weird-looking names are already a part of the NHL, I was disagreeing with those who say this will make things weird or more difficult. Basically, I have yet to see a Russian name correctly written that is as bizarre as the spelling to pronunciation variation in Byfuglien's name.

Even though I'm frustrated and have doubts, I have a hard time predicting losses. If Howard is in net: 5-4 Wings. If MacDonald is in net, 4-2 Wings.

It may not be 100% his fault, but not only did the numbers tank after McCrimmon got here, he was also renowned for being a terrible defensive coach in Atlanta. Those are two HUGE coincidences. It wouldn't hurt to replace him. Also, for all our talk about complacency among the D-core, is that not one of the signs of a weak coach? They set the tone for the players.

Maybe he pushed them 30 minutes straight without a rest, doing something really intensive? I agree, though, 30 minutes hardly seems like enough, I had longer basketball practices in middle school.

Honestly, this could be a good thing. For instance, how many times have you seen a name and not known how to pronounce it? The Russian spellings make it a little more obvious "Yevgeni" instead of "Evgeni" for instance. I can imagine some names are going to be impossible to decipher, but we already have a guy named Byufiglien which is actually pronounced "Bufflin." Honestly, Fyodorov and the like is not all that hard to read or say, and at least it'll be said accurately now.