VM1138

That was a great ceremony. The tribute on FSD was really cool, too. Very well done.

Didn't see this anywhere, and just heard it on ESPN radio: Gary Bettman has tried to sell the Coyotes three separate times, but each time the interested parties backed off when they got a look at the profit losses for this year (I think they said it was something like $45 million). Gonna be a tough team to unload. Does this make it more likely the Coyotes will simply fold at the end of the year, or are there other options?

Look, Flip was going to be "our next guy." In fact, he's still hugely talented. He very well could be "the next guy" but right now our "next guy" is Hossa and maybe Hudler and Franzen. We like Flip (at least I do), but we have to lose someone. I'd rather it be him that Hudler or Franzen simply because while he is doing slightly better than last season he's still not doing as great as we thought he would be doing. I'd hate to lose him, and I'm not one of thsoe guys who is impatient and tries to throw a player under the bus when he struggles, but Flip's development has either stalled or greatly slowed down. That wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that we have two players (Hudler and Franzen) who's development is skyrocketing (or has). Flip's major upside is that he's a big playoff performer, but can we really save room on the roster for that when Franzen and Hudler are as well? It's not that I WANT to get rid of Flip, but that we might have to.

Don't forget, Rafalski would body slam him or something. Seriously, for a guy who never fights, Raffy's got some moves when the scrums get serious.

Look, I like Flip as much as the next guy, but this whole "getting defensive so I have to make Flip out to be a god" thing is getting old. He is not the 4th best forward. Simple as that. He's trade bait. If we can keep him, good, but if we have to lose someone big, it has to be him.

I'd also note that during that period the better teams in the West often had bizarre meltdowns that allowed weak teams to make it to the finals. EDIT: Meaning that crappy teams like Edmonton made it to the finals.

Trying to sign Franzen first seems a little backwards. The article doesn't come out and say that, but it seems Franzen is getting priority over Hossa? Or did Holland mean he had basically gotten a deal with Hossa, they just haven't hammered out the details?

Detroit seems like it would be logical. Close to Toronto, winning team culture. Not saying it would be good or bad, just that it'd be logical if Detroit and maybe even Chicago were on his list.

Haha, yes! Someone said we'd stand pat like last year, but we didn't stand pat last year. We swung for Stuart and he was huge in our Cup run. I predict something like that. Judging from our cap sitaution it would have to be a full-on trade, but it'll happen, probably for a defensive defender. Not earth-shattering, but someone with a mean streak and responsibility in their own zone. That is my prediction.

What is this about it being a good thing to get picks for Hudler? We're not in rebuilding mode, why would we gut our skill now for youth to develop? I'd also be leery of getting Conklin, the only goalie playing reliably well, though I bet we'd have to if we get a new goalie.

I see your point. I guess if Ozzie doesn't get it together we'll just grab a goalie for the rest of this year, hopefully with some playoff experience, who lets in less than 3 goals a game. I really don't think it will help though, unless we get someone like Brodeur. Of course, I never would have expected we'd get Hasek, Hossa, and Stuart, while not the great player like those two, was still one that had 0% chance of re-signing and Holland wrangled it. If there was anyone in the league who could snag Brodeur and make it work, it'd be Holland. Still don't think it would happen, but it is sort of in Holland's track record... Ah, wishful dreaming.

You have a really bizarre obsession with our "loyal" players. Do you have pictures of Maltby on your wall that you light on fire every morning before crying yourself to sleep? The Wings teams since the Cap was in place have been dominant. They didn't always win the Cup but they had amazing players and teams. You need to shut up once in a while and think before you post. Who would you rather replace Maltby, Draper, McCarty, Holmstrom, Osgood with for the same cost and value? Yeah, let's get rid of our tried-and-true, hard working players for a bunch of 4th liners making too much money with no work ethic.

What's scary is that without Marian Hossa, we might be battling for one of the last playoff spots. With a mostly intact team from a Cup-winning year. That tells you a lot. But overall I agree, we have to be more optimistic and realistic. I still have faith the Wings will turn it up a notch come playoffs.

Brodeur is the only one on that list worth getting, and there's no way in hell we ever would. Besides, do teams who trade goalies 2/3 through the season generally do well in the playoffs? Our goaltending situation may not be great, but enough with thinking any other goalie in the league would be an upgrade. I said it before and I'll say it again, there are only maybe 3 goalies in the league worth taking a risk on. Otherwise it's best to stand pat with what you have in net.

I think that's too many, but maybe "unofficially" retiring them, like #6?

Can someone pull up how many 3+ goal games Conklin and Osgood have allowed, respectively, compared to total games played? And then perhaps games played/goals allowed for each? I still stand by my statement that playing Ozzie "until he gets going" only creates a goalie with a confidence problem going into the playoffs, forcing us to rely on the unproven goalie some of you seem to hate so much despite his superior play. I have a feeling though that Ozzie, if allowed to rest, will come strong in the playoffs and steal us some crucial games on the way to back-to-back Cups!

Missed the game, but I think the argument is missing the point: Whether or not Ozzie picks up his game, he's the playoff starter. This is a repeat of last year. If he doesn't do well, he gets pulled. I really don't understand the philosophy some people have that to "get a goalie going" you throw him to the wolves every night. Ozzie has had nothign to build his confidence off of all season. He needs a break to clear his head, which is all important for a goalie. Let him come back in a few weeks with a chip on his shoulder to prove people wrong, that's the only way Ozzie plays lights-out. I have faith in him, but to keep throwing him to the wolves doesn't help anyone. Get Conklin the experience he needs, Ozzie can clear his head, and come playoff time we'll have two experienced goalies and, barring any incident, a confident goalie (Conklin) and one with something to prove (Osgood). That's a recipe for a win right there.

Agreed. We've had some damngood teams the past few years, but it's hard to beat 2002, except maybe with one of the teams from the 1950s.

Meh, it's not just the publicity, he's a whiner and he hasn't yet grown into his big-boy leadership britches. Oh, and he's overrated.

Nobody hates Flip that I've seen, just that if we have to lose somebody, his has SEEMINGLY stopped developing and so would be a good choice. He's still a solid player.

Yes. I think he is Holland's ace in the hole in negotiations with these or in replacing Flip.

The reflecting pool is out there. I'm not sure the nation would allow a professional sports game to take place on one of the American "holy sites." It's pretty clear to me that if it's not another Wings game at the Big House it has to be in Boston or NY. Big markets, lots of people, intense rivalries, it's what the league needs. After this year, I'd bet money it'll be Boston v. NYR.

I wouldn't bank on it. I bet we make one move. It won't be a deadline-buster, but a small, key role playing move might work. I think we need to make a move just by virtue of getting another person hungry for the Cup. Every year we scramble to demand Kennyt o take action, but I've always had faith with him. I know he will do the right thing, whether he trades or not, but I really think we'll make at least one small move.

Hey, at least he would stay in the franchise, right?

That will happen anyways. But Flip and Hudler, being comparable, means one of them leaves. I'd prefer it to be Flip, as much as I like him. Lebda will be gone, Meech will replace him because of his past experience on the Wings. Ericcson might be brought up full-time, but I doubt it. Howard is not what we all hoped he would be, from what I'm reading, so I'd rather lose him and shift to grooming one of our other goalie prospects who seem to have higher career potential.