VM1138

It's been a rough summer and even I have been upset about some of it, but calmly and honestly, this is what I see happening: OFFENSE: Still among the top 5 in the league. I actually think with Hossa gone we have a better balance of shooters and passers. Not as many "cooks in the kitchen" plus young kids, all with scoring touches, eager to prove something. Solid defensively. Will be the same story as 08 and 09. DEFENSE: On paper, best in the league. But so was last year's. This is the wild card. Will they return to form or will they continue to falter? GOALTENDING: Osgood will perform well all season. Howard is a wild card but I kind of have a feeling he won't be as good as Conklin. But since our defense will (hopefully) improve, I think Ozzie and Howard will both have relatively easy seasons. RESULT 1st Place in the Western Conference, 2nd in NHL. I know people are all about Chicago, but really, they weren't on the same level as us last year, and they haven't really done anything to make them leaps and bounds better. They will be better and more experienced, but I expect a similar result as last year, Chicago running close to us but still not able to hang. San Jose: Has done nothing to fix their annual problem. Their core remains, and this is why they will never have playoff success. Anaheim: Has gotten worse. Calgary: Wild Card. I think they are poised to be most dangerous this year next to the Wings. Like someone else mentioned, injuries will define how far we go. Every year we get hit bad around February and I'm afraid that'll happen again this year. With the younger guys hopefully performing ewll we can rely on them more than Lidstrom and our other stars and be relatively healthy come playoffs.

It'd be fun to steal away one of their stars, but in all honestly I have a feeling we might be pursuing Keith. Mostly because Toews is an RFA but I also just have a gut feeling.

Well, were their rosters completely the same? Sometimes they were separate teams, but I'm not sure if this is the case with the St. Pats and Arenas and Leafs. Sometimes there's really no continuity.

Lidstrom is still really the best defenseman in the league. I don't expect him to become unable to play the game in a mere year. He'll be around for at least 2 more years.

Homer already said this is likely to be his last season. Lidstrom has already said he'll sign a new contract and keep playing. Maltby has said nothing. My vote would be that Maltby and Homer retire, but that's it.

Brodeur wasn't always at the top of his game. Lidstrom was, up until a few games last year. That, to me, puts Brodeur at #2 and Lidstrom at the top spot.

Sammy was clutch. I ripped on him a lot and he could be frustrating, but we'll miss him on the team I think.

I know it's just a game, but in NHL 09 I paired Ericsson and Lilja as my #3 guys and they absolutely dominated. We need both of them. Also, my line of Helm, Abdelkader and Eaves is better than my #1 line of Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom. Go figure, but it sure makes me excited to see them play next year.

I agree. I heard someone say they'd sell their season tickets if they signed Williams. Of course that guy was exaggerating, but it still shocked me. I've liked every single player on the Wings, despite my frustration with some I've always supported them. However, I hate Williams at this point. The guy is a prima donna without a reason to be, it seems. I also have a feeling he may cause a problem in the locker room this year. But I will always bleed red and white, no matter what.

Hm...that's a tough choice if I'm Prospal. Young, exciting, up and coming team, a chance to be integral to their success vs Established, successful, consistent, professional team that is the envy of the league but where he would play a less significant role for less money? I'm lukewarm on Prospal (not for it, not against it) but I hope he signs just so we don't have to go with Williams.

As some already mentioned, we've already tied the Leafs. We can beat Toronot well before they win another Cup, I'm certain. Nobody else is really even close to us and Toronto. Montreal's record will never be beaten, though. Unless the league shrinks considerably, that is.

Most of us expect the Wings to sign one more forward. So when will it be? I have a gut feeling it's going to be soon, maybe even tomorrow. I think it's clear that Holland has been negotiating all summer, but not committing to any one player (except Eaves and Williams, apparently). He was simply waiting for the Hudler situation to end before he made a move. Eaves came pretty quick after the Hudler decision, and it makes me think he has his options already lined up and on speed dial. So does he wait until training camp and hope someone is left, or does he sign someone he's already had his eye on soon?

If Williams signs for around $1 million he damn well better not be playing in GR. If we're going to sign someone we need to get value out of that wasted cap space.

You are right, but keep in mind Holland probably still intends to trade a defenseman (I don't see this signing affecting his previous statement of this) before training camp, he could also sign another forward relatively cheap and still come off (depending on the contract) with a million or so to spare. Add to that the possibility of Lilja going on LTIR and we may have a little wiggle room. My bet is though he signs another forward like we've been expecting, and then trades a defenseman for picks to offset the cost of the new player. Then again, I'm not sure if any team would give up a pick (even a low one) for the likes of Lebda or Meech.

The more I think about it, Helm and Bertuzzi on a line could be fun.

You know what else is highly embarassing? Tools running around apologizing to nations in the world far more guilty of arrogance and bad policy than we are. Jackass.

I really don't want the Wings to go East anymore. The competition is too entertaining in the West, the team doesn't seem as affected by the West Coast trips anymore. Moving to the East would just make the Wings lose their competitive edge. We'd dominate the East, but without any real challengers like the Central or Anaheim or anyone, it wouldn't be much fun.

It's not that Homer is a star. Where else is he going to play? When he plays with Datsyuk at least stuff happens (most of the time). The past few seasons they were awesome together. Imagine him playing with Draper and Malts? Yikes.

500,000 for (at worst) a 16 point season while being absolutely rock solid defensively? Very good signing. If Eaves breaks out like many think he might, since he'll be playing with a quality team and with a great team ethic, 500,000 for a defensively solid, offensive third liner? Absolute dynamite! Very cool signing, from what little I know about Eaves. There's really not much to complain about for that price. He has a LOT of potential, and even if he doesn't hit that potential it's not much of a loss, even in our cap-strained situation. Way to go Holland for making a great pick when so many were expecting us to settle for some craptastic "big name."

I guess as a third liner he would be alright, but you don't sign someone just because they're all that's left. I'd almost rather just go into training camp and hope for a couple hard working, talented guys than sign Williams. Plus there's still Grier and Prospal left. I might be able to live with Williams only if we sign someone else, too, namely Grier. I don't see Williams as giving us anything BUT offense, and we really need someone with more than one talent.

It looks nice, but it's not better than having Hossa would have been in my mind. Prospal wouldn't be a huge impact player I don't think, but he'd be good depth for us.

Grier for some hard working depth, Prospal to replace Sammy. Not gonna happen but that's about the only two players I would actually want to play for us. I could be convinced to like Bertuzzi again but I'm a bit nervous about his physical condition at this point.

Hurt. Didn't you notice him get considerably better as the year went on? That's the only reason I'm nervous about Bert coming here. It could either work out really well, or he could continue to be hurt and old and slow.

It'd be a good move for the Rangers. Chelios can still play. I think he would be a full-time guy on the Rangers, though it might be safe to make it a 2-way.

Success. I could totally take Probert with one arm and both feet tied behind my back, and you tell him I said that!