VM1138

They are going out of their way to get rid of their defense, it's incredible.

When the season starts, I will return to my neutral "Nothing is for certain", but right now our team just won the Cup and wiped the floor with the competition. Nothing wrong with enjoying it and having a little fan bravado right now. With limits. Karma is a ***** and we shouldn't go out of our way to rub it in.

His washed up-ness still nets more points than Downey, and he is by far the better hockey player. He may not be what he once was, but if we're going to be true and objective, he's a better player than Downey.

Didn't they have worse attendance than Nashville does? I'd like to see Florida (what the hell is the point of this franchise? Florida can't handle two teams, especially one that never does anything), Nasvhille (just a boring place for a boring hockey team), Atlanta, Anaheim.

Those two guys combined don't come close to Hossa. Fedotenko I'm not as familiar with, but Satan is a good all around player. He'll help them but they're still worse off than last season.

You guys haven't heard the half of it (unless someone posted this). Pittsburgh fans were calling for Hossa to be murdered. They want someone on their team to intentionally break his neck. Freaking lunatics.

I think they'll play like that, but maybe not all season. Being physical, positional D-men is what they do, and having a whole year of that is going to be pure awesomeness. But what do we know abuot the Wings? They coast through the regular season only to kick it up ten notches come playoff time.

I lost track of Doug Weight a long time ago. I hear his name popped up but I'm not ashamed to say that as a massive hockey fan, I have no idea what teams he's played since St. Louis years ago.

I read a comment on another board that had me rolling. It went something like this: "Well, it looks like Detroit might have a decent team again next year." Decent? Decent doesn't begin to describe it!

Guys, guys....we have an enforcer. His name is Pavel Datsyuk.

I'd say with the addition of Hossa, Sammy probably isn't needed anymore. Quincey will be gone. Lebda will be gone. Downey will probably be gone, depending. I don't see them dumping Mac, but maybe they will run with both of them, which is fine with me. Then I figure the off-season moves will be over. Everyone else will be resigned and we end up steamrolling the competition.

I love that Sauer article. It truly seems like Wilson was going from a faulty memory when he signed Finger, which is perfectly possible. It's not like the Avs were going to correct him when they had a chance to unload a crappy player. I still can't believe this, I feel so bad for Leafs fans. This has to be one of the worst signings in sports hitsory. Will they ever be decent again?

It's because we generally go after character guys. Every other team in the league generally goes after point guys. So long as they're trying to drag in the trash, the class will continue to cut deals with Detroit.

I don't know how much cap space it'd free up, but I really don't see Samuellson, Lebda, Kopecky, Chelios here for season after next. In fact, I don't really see Kopecky and Lebda finishing up this year with the Wings. That's bound to free up some cash. Add to that that we don't know how much Z could be making. He deserves a lot but for all we know he could match Datsyuk instead of the 7.5 or whatever we're expecting him to go for. I mean, to a team player like him, I can't imagine 6 million is that much different than 7. Or 6.5 to 7.5 or whatever. So there's another million opened up maybe. Add to that any unexpected retirements or trades, and I think it's way too early to be saying we absolutely cannot have Hossa and Franzen. For all we know FIlpulla could suck it up this year, or Hudler, and continue to sort of flat line development wise. Then one of them will be gone, too.

To be fair, it was Malkin himself who had previously said he wouldn't give Pittsburgh any kind of discount, and was "going for the max."

Yeah, I'd take a draft pick for Lebda. Meech, like some have said, is similar to Lebda in style of play, but with more potential. So we keep Meech, unload Lebda. We don't have room for a straight-up trade, or else the trade wouldn't be happening in the first place. So unless we trade two D for one player, it'll be for draft picks.

I think this proves that Hossa genuinely wants to go to a Contender. He could've easily stayed with the Pens for more money.

The only way a Wings fan can sum this deal us this: ! Man, how pissed are other fans in the league today? They already thought it was unfair we have Dats and Z, but now Hossa added in the mix?

I'm uncomfortable with all this "log-jam" speak. I love that our young guys have great potential but I'm not sure if they're ready yet. And Lebda and Lilja seem to each be half a player. Together they're great, but I'm not sure I can pick one over the other, they each bring something to the table.

My money would be on Z and Franzen taking discounts before Hossa does. If Hossa wins the Cup this year with us, look for him to look for big bucks, long-term. I don't want to call him a prima-donna, but he knows what he's worth and has no emotional connection to the Wings. Z and Franzen on the other hand, owe their entire careers on Ken Holland, and would be more likely to take hits for the team, I think.

Filpulla would be crazy to turn down this opportunity. I bet he'll sign a short-term contract. He's got to expect his production to skyrocket this season, thus increasing his value. So he'll take less money this season and stay, but after his numbers go up, watch for him to make demands in the next season or two.

Well, I think even objectively the Wings' defense is second to none. Anaheim is close, but I think our depth helps us in the long run. Offense after signing Hossa? We have 4 of the top what, 6 point getters in the playoffs last year now? Our first and second lines are both capable first lines. What would be more amazing is if we keep Hossa long-term next season. I'm still in shock. There's no team in the league with an offense even close to what the Wings have now. Objectively. There are great teams out there, to be sure, but man...I really don't see many hanging with us. We've only improved since last season. And we still have cap space for 1 year, don't we? So we can still sign another role player if needed.

Excuse me, but UN ******* BELIEVABLE. Datsyuk Zetterberg Hossa Franzen. This time is freaking stacked. No team can compare to them! We already had the best defense, now we have, hands down, the best offense. I never, never, never, never, never even THOUGHT Hossa was a possibility. Never.

I think he's just biding his time, considering all the offers. Like you said, he's a patient man, so I doubt he's made a decision or has turned the Wings down. He's probably in negotiations to get another year added on the contract or get another million added on, and is seeing which team will give him the most balanced deal (i.e. not the Nucks).

It was in an article referencing Bertuzzi, people just read WAY too ******* much into it.