VM1138

A Florida fan on another board mentioned Florida might want in. Unsubstantiated rumor but it got me thinking: What if Florida grabbed Nabby, and then offered up Vokoun in a trade to the Wings? Circumvents the CBA and still gets the Wings a reliable veteran goalie. But I think he makes too much cap-wise. At any rate, something similar to this might be what Holland has up his sleeve. But then again...he could've just traded for Vokoun/Veteran Goalie without all the drama... Man, this really is mind-boggling. I'll be at work when the drama comes to a conclusion tomorrow, hope to get good news.

The "Starter Clause" isn't actually a clause in the sense that it carries any legal weight. He just told GMs not to be dicks and pick him off waivers to sit him on the bench. If Nabby doesn't play for the team that claims him, he sits out the remainder of the season for breach of contract. It's thuggish, but that is the way the NHL rolls these days.

Jesus, for the last time this isn't an anti-Howard move. It's insurance because Ozzie is out for a while, we have a chance to get a great goalie cheap, and aside from providing a reliable tandem he could push Howard or replace him if Howard falters. Howard may get all pissy, like any player has the right to, but there is absolutely no arguing this move doesn't make sense or isn't fair.

Easy, they could have offered him the same contract. I think what it comes down to is the rest of the GMs don't have the cojones Holland does, and so they follow his lead.

One thing is for sure, waivers is a really unfair process. Teams should be able to sign whoever the hell they want without interference from other teams. It's also pretty shady to force a player to play for a team they don't want to play for and owe no obligations to. This was my initial thought, but since some teams have expressed interest after the Wings signed him, we're worried some team will suddenly think that if the Wings want him, they should pick him up to bolster their own terrible goaltending.

So if we don't get Nabakov, Pearce and MacDonald are basically going to be rotated every 10 games or 30 days so neither has to go through waivers? Talk about a goalie rotation.

Actually, I pulled the segment I was reading from another message board regarding another player, but the more closely I read it I think it's not the whole section 11.8b, as it seems to only pertain to a player already owned by a team and said team waiving him. I don't think signing a Euro player and being forced to submit him to waivers is the same thing.

Okay, so I just got home from work, checked out the last few pages. It appears to me that Rule 11.8B is an open-shut case. It's very clearly worded, but the fact that so few people are picking up on it makes me wonder if I'm missing something obvious. Basically. Rule 11.8B says that if Nabakov wants to play for Detroit and no one else, no one else can claim him. Ergo...all the "ifs" have now been broken down to one: Does Nabakov want to play for Detroit and no one else?

Me, too. Reason tells me he won't go to the Wings. But my gut thinks he'll clear anyways, because I have so much faith that Holland wouldn't waste his time for nothing. It just seems too perfect for the Wings' situation right now for Holland to do it merely to get Nabby back in the league as a favor.

Bertuzzi had a great game but some fans just can't get over the cliche talking points.

Well, in the coming off-season we will have to unload one or two trusty role players...

If the Devils do this I will love them for the rest of the season, haha.

But that would essentially be the Islanders doing Detroit a favor. Something isn't adding up here. Either it's as simple as no team being able to take on Nabakov and his demands and out of fear of Holland, or else the crappy team that signs him and then waives him so the Wings can pick him up at the trade deadline needs to get something out of the deal. And what happens if the other team doesn't waive him? There's no reason for Holland to do this as a favor. 29 other teams could have brought Nabakov in. We get something out of this, and I have a feeling Nabakov will clear, but I'm an optimist. To present an even more complicated scenario: Holland didn't talk to teams to tell them not to take Nabakov, but instead Holland targeted the teams that would want him and be able to sign him, but would have to move a goalie (NJ), and convinced teams not to let them trade said goalie to make room for Nabakov... Haha, it's like Conspiracy Theory.

I agree. This is nothing more than a replacement for Osgood, not throwing Howard out. The Wings like Howard, but they know we need a veteran presence in net. Nabakov is that veteran presence, not to mention he's a great goalie who can have a great season with a team like Detroit in front of him. On top of that, it's only a 1 year deal, if Nabakov plays well he could price himself out of Detroit. Honestly, this signing as nothing to do with Howard, though I bet they're hoping Nabakov pushes Howard to be better. And, if Howard fails the test, he'll just play backup next year to Nabakov or some other goalie. And if he's terrible then, they move him. Nabakov would just be (initially) an insurance move, and then possibly later a replacement or a transitory move until the Wings find their real goalie of the future. Howard's spot is secure so long as he plays like its his. What other players does Nabakov's agent represent? If we don't get him, maybe it was a favor to get Nabby back in in exchange for "most favored team" status in negotiating rights for another player? Or maybe it's just to get in good with Nabby for next season?

I'd love to play, but I never learned to ice skate (and I rolleblade really terribly). I don't even think there are any clinics for adults to learn to skate around here, be nice if there were. I went once with my cousin and I could stay up and even skate (relatively) fast, but as soon as I tried to turn or change directions...well...it wasn't pretty. Also, skating backwards is way beyond even my wildest dreams, but I'm sure on local teams I could do without it.

This is exciting because the last mid-season Wings acquisition came three years ago. Roster changes are pretty unusual to Wings fans, haha.

Seriously, it's not forcing Ozzie out if Ozzie is going to be out the rest of the season. We need a backup. I doubt they're giving Nabby a multi-year deal. That would be forcing out Ozzie.

Can you imagine how good Nabakov could be with a team in front of him that doesn't choke in the playoffs? EDIT: I know he'd be coming in to replace Osgood as the backup, but part of me seriously believes he'll end up stealing the Number 1 spot from Howard unless Howard really picks up his play. Either way, a great 1-2 punch.

I don't think Holland was pissed that Ritola was claimed off waivers, honestly. It's not like we got screwed out of an all-star.

Sweet Jesus yes. Please do this!

I know this is subjective, but I honestly feel like 90% of the goals MacDonald let in couldn't have been stopped, whereas 70% of Howard's allowed goals SHOULD have been stopped. Howard has been letting weak goals in and until last night, MacDonald was just getting beat by ridiculous deflections.

I'm not even excited about this, to be honest. I'm tired of getting my hopes up with Howard. When he strings together a couple of good wins I'll get back board. Honestly, stats-wise, MacDonald wasn't any worse than Howard has been, so this feels like a lateral move until he proves it isn't.

Do other sports have such a hard time getting people to actually play in the game?

I could be wrong but I seem to remember Burke saying something about Lebda proving everyone wrong and becoming a top 3 D-man on the Leafs. Something about unshackling him from Detroit's system will unleash him on the league.

You know what, you're right, my memory just simplified McClellan's move I guess. Either way bringing McClellan back will allow MacLean to go back on D, right? So the logic is still there even if the middle part of the process was cut out, haha.