VM1138

What makes this more astounding is that almost all of the injuries on the Wings were to key top-half players. The Wings should have been much worse than they were.

Man, I've never disliked both teams in a finals before, I don't think. Bleh.

We probably are, but like you said it's something fresh to talk about. I'd hate to see Ozzie go but he probably has the best reason to. I think he could have a great season next year. Last year was a fluke for everyone and one more shot (actually getting playing time) could bode well for him and give us a great tandem once again. If he has the attitude to stay we need to keep him. Draper...well...I'd hate to see him not retire a Wing but there's simply no room for everyone anymore. I'm not sure if he HAS to go, but with Helm coming into his own, is Draper's faceoff skill worth it? I'd have to go look to see his stats last year to know for sure.

Well it wasn't tampering when Holland chatted with Osgood all the time. A simple invite to hang out and help him get settled, even never discussing business, would send the message to those guys that they'd be welcome down there if they expressed interest. Business isn't always simple back and forth over a table, you know.

I don't know what day it was, it wasn't necessarily today. I was just told about it today. I think it may have been yesterday or the day before. I don't think the story is BS, because as I stated, they have no reason to make it up and probably didn't even know Yzerman got the job down there. So I'm sure it happened. The implications of it are what we should be debating. It probably was nothing but it's an odd coincidence. I only doubted their families were with them because Draper was next to the "source." But I could be misinterpreting. He could have been across the aisle with his wife or whatnot. Again, I'm sure it happened, just not sure if we should make anything of it.

I see why the NHL felt the need to do two, and I see the logic behind the Pens choice. That being said, why not just the Pens and Washington every year if it draws ratings? They've got to let other teams in on the action. I know a Nashville-Washington would be a snoozer, but how about New York Rangers vs. Washington? Big markets and exciting talent (on Washington's end anyway).

I just hope Tampa Bay's years of suck in the future won't destroy Yzerman's chances of becoming GM of a real team, haha. I have no problem with Tampa Bay, and I guess he needed an 'entry-level' job, but I hope the circus down there stops before it damages his pristine reputation. And yes, this means Yzerman is gone for good. The odds of Holland retiring at the exact same time that Yzerman's contract comes up and Tampa Bay being a terrible embarrassing mess at the time is highly unlikely.

I understand he has to leave, but that organization is a cluster-you-know-what and a career killer.

They really weren't. At best the Wings had the edge and more realistically it was even. It's hard to win when the game winning goals all come off of blown calls and you play half the series shorthanded. Think about it, remove the repeated s***ty calls against Detroit, and each one of those games (except for maybe one) goes to the Wings. All of them were literally taken away by the refs. And as much as I bash the refs I usually don't accept blaming the refs on a loss, but the San Jose-Detroit series was decided by calls and non-calls, not by anything done on the ice. This is proven when you look to see how game tying and game winning goals were scored.

Homer is vital to this team, but the physical style of his play and his age, combined with his inability to skate and his track record of only being able to play on the top line pretty much guarantees nothing longer than 2 years. A 3 year would be way too long. A two year could even be pushing it. If he retires at any point we're stuck with the bill and he should realize that. I'd rather give him a big one year deal. He has job security, he knows we'll never get rid of him, so really the only thing left for him is to agree to the money. A year by year would be best, but I wouldn't be mad if he signed a 2 year. But nothing longer, please Holland!

Kaberle is like Mike Green without the offensive skills. No thanks. Especially for what he'll cost.

Philly could beat Chicago theoretically, just because they're an opponent Chicago hasn't played (super physical). However, it's really irritating to see the lack of talent left in the playoffs. I know it sounds like sour grapes, but the Wings really got screwed by the refs in that series and they probably could have beaten any of the teams left (including San Jose, had they been allowed to play). God, lame finish to the playoffs.

Not familiar with all of them, but Asham and Torres are the only ones out of that group that can actually play hockey, right?

Multi-year? I like Bertuzzi but I'm not sure that's a good idea. Only if it's for under a mil after this next season. He was good for us, but could easily stop being good for us, especially in future years, what with his history and him not aging as well as other players. Maybe next year at his current rate (or less, always a bargain hunter I am), the year after that 1 mil?

It is kind of embarassing that the Sharks are getting manhandled, yet they got lucky in beating Detroit. Just enhances my "paranoid" belief that with half decent refs the Wings would have taken that series.

It is impossible for Hasek to retire.

Hey all, just thought I'd try and get creative with a discussion other than free agency or the playoffs going. In your opinion, what are the greatest stories of the NHL in its entire history, including things like: -Greatest comebacks in a playoff series -Greatest playoff series -Greatest personal comebacks after injury or sickness -Greatest turnarounds from one season to the other Just your personal opinion, not necessarily the greatest statistically speaking. Off the top of my head I'll get the '97 Wings Cup win out of the way for going such a long time without winning one an resurrecting a storied franchise. And who was it that came back from testicular cancer? One of the Koivu's, wasn't it? That's pretty impressive.

Kindl-Ericsson will make a whole team of Lebda's look good. Lidstrom-Rafalski Stuart-Kronwall Ericsson-Lilja Kindl That's how it's going to be.

The thing with Crosby and the handshake line is that he may not have intentionally ignored the line, but the fact that he's been so insulated by the press and the league that it never occurred to him to seek out the line or tell the media to hold on a second. It was just general oversight and arrogance of both the media and Crosby to not even consider there might be something more important to do. Both simply ignored the other team. And I concur with the argument that Crosby never gives other teams any credit.

You know, at first I wanted Chicago (despite my distaste for them) to go to the Finals, just so we could potentially have an original 6 matchup. But the more I think about it, Chicago hasn't earned this. San Jose has suffered for years with disappointment, being picked as favorites and choking. So I think of all the teams left, San Jose probably has done more over the years to truly earn the Cup, whereas Chicago just sucked, drafted two good players and made a bunch of ridiculous signings. That and San Jose is probably the only team left that doesn't have a huge hate following.

I kind of do, but then again being in the West keeps the Wings sharp. If we played in the East we could lose the grit we have and end up getting blown out like most Eastern teams. Either that or we'd simply dominate, but since anyone can beat Eastern teams it's that much more satisfying when the Wings make it through the ringer of the West.

Kind of sucks the Wings couldn't be the ones to pull that off...

I was kind of hoping Miller would stay and maybe be used as bait to lure Ryan Miller here when he decides he wants to play for a team with a chance at winning a Cup.

Aw heck, off the top of my head I'd go with: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Ovechkin (offense, defense, leadership and faceoff strength in one line) Lidstrom (slowing down but still the best in the league)-Doughty (This kid is amazing) Now, drumroll please for my goalie pick. This was the hardest position to pick because goalies are so freaking inconsistent. I can't pick Howard just yet because who knows what the future holds for him. So I have to go with... Miller. I was going to pick Bryz, but I'm more of a fan of Miller and obviously both are among the absolute best in the game.

He's still got game. And like someone else said, it's amazing he was still a great player as late as 2007. People joke about him hanging on too long, but why? He didn't exactly go out on top but he didn't exactly fizzle out, either. A hard worker who has set the bar, and quite possibly the best American to ever play the game.