VM1138

Even if the owners did have the ability to do so, they're the ones that locked out the players, so why would they start a rival league?

So if this is a partial lockout, how do those non-NHL contracts work? If the league comes back in a month or two, can they simply abandon their contracts, or is Datsyuk gone for the year now, regardless of what happens in the NHL?

It would be kind of fun of a rival hockey league started up, but in today's world in every industry and field from cars to politics to sports, the status quo reigns supreme, no matter what. No one would succeed at rocking that boat. And it's nice of the NHL to post on their website today that they are willing to negotiate. With two days left. Nothing like good old fashioned brinksmanship. Apparently the only way deals get done in America these days.

Solid, like others here are saying. What's important is that we add numbers to our defense. Let's face it, Kindl is a bust. He'll get playing time nonetheless, but he's not going to be developing into a solid #3 or #4 defenseman.

Emmerton being waived has to be likely. We just don't need him or have room for him, and no one would want him in a trade. But Babcock already said Brunner is starting in the Top 6, so no Grand Rapids for him. Mursak will be kept because he hasn't really had a chance to show what he's made of and could be good depth.

Me, too, I'm excited to see the variables in play. Sammy, Brunner, and Nyquist will make or break this offense. I don't think our offense will be markedly better than last year, but I'm thinking we may be less frustrated from a lack of work ethic out there.

As far as I can remember, the Wings have usually boasted a very good defense. I think what we're going to see this year is probably a first for most of us: a team with an average or sub-par defense.

It's not a bad lineup. Could be pretty good if Brunner turns into something special. But it's not, at this point, better than last year. About the same, I'd say. Still too many bottom 6 guys and not enough top line scorers.

Honestly, at this point anyone would help. We need warm bodies on defense or else we're in real trouble once injuries hit.

You don't need to know hockey to run a league. It's a business proposition. I really don't think any former player (except for Ken Dryden, like someone said already) would be the next comissioner. It would likely be some CEO or other corporate head because of their expertise. I know NHL profits have gone up under Bettman, but it's undermining the integrity of the league. At the very least we need a commissioner who can keep the league running every year. His labor relations are terrible.

I always thought he had no family left in Russia and liked living in the US, but realistically I guess he does want to go back to Russia. I worry a bit about him leaving, but whatever is best for his family, you know? If we've potentially only got two years of Datsyuk left, Holland better snap to building a better team now.

I hope there isn't a lockout. I'm so tired of brinksmanship in public life. Politics, sports, business, everything is about pretending like you're untouchable and beating the other guy into a bloody pulp.

Pretty impressed. Those stats are about spot on. The only one I'd change is to put Zetterberg above 90. Look at how terrible that defense is, though!

I just read NHL.com's 30 in 30 piece on the Wings and they included a prospective lineup. Kind of funny, we have so many freaking forwards. It really makes you wonder if Holland either A) was gearing up for a trade that never happened or B) just doesn't have much faith in some of these forwards. Either way I like depth, but I hope it doesn't force Eaves out of the regular lineup. Tootoo also should play regularly for what he brings (physicality, energy and points). I did like their third line of Nyquist-Helm-Samuellson though.

I'm usually a glass half full kind of fan, but there's just no getting around the fact that our defense is not very good. Kronwall, White, Ericsson, Smith, Kindl, Quincey. That's it. Kronwall is good, White is sort of an uneven or unknown commodity without Lidstrom around to play with, Ericsson has become a bit more solid but he's still not good, Quincey had a rough run with the Wings but maybe, just maybe he'll improve, and Smith is an unknown commodity. But realistically there's little chance he plays better than 5th d-man. Compare that to other defenses around the league, and we don't stack up well. We've got a #1 in Kronwall, a #3 in White, and two #4s in Quincey and Ericsson, and a #6 or 7 in Kindl. We still need a #1 or a #2 to even have a good defensive corps.

I got it you guys! Holland has been saving that $13 million for Holmstrom.

In all seriousness, a film about McCarty's career, done well, would be a really fine biopic. In a film about the Avs rivalry from....let's say 96-97, culminating with the Wings beating Philly would be amazing, especially if it focused mainly on Yzerman, McCarty and Bowman. From a storytelling point of view, you have Yzerman the every-man, McCarty the emotional driving force of the movie, and Bowman being the calculating boss who winds up getting involved himself in some of the unsavory bits.

MLive reports Wings are out of the running for Doan. Get this: other teams offered more than the Wings were willing to go. Holland was willing to offer 3 years 4.5-5 million. One Eastern team offered what looks like 7.5 million for 4 years. What the hell is wrong with GMs this year? I'd give him 7.5 for one year, but not for 4.

I always have high hopes, but I really feel like we're looking at a 7th or 8th seed struggle this year. Other teams have gotten better. We'll still have a period of 1st place in the league for a month or so, but over the grind I see us losing ground with our mediocre defense.

I wonder if Illitch is tightening the purse strings a bit. It's really unusual for the Wings to just sit on $13 million. I know there aren't many great players out there, but at this point it wouldn't hurt to increase our depth with some bottom players and hope someone has a lucky year and plays above their skill set. Since there doesn't seem to be any movement for a top defenseman or a top forward.

I get your logic. I've used it myself in the past. But realistically, waiting for the trade deadline is a disastrous policy. Nowadays the league is just too tight and by the trade deadeline only one or two teams are out of the race. There's very little chance someone you need is going to be tradeable. Then, even if they are tradeable, you have to put together a good package. No, nowadays you have to build through the draft and free agency. If you miss out of the off-season signings, there is very little chance of the team making any improvements at the trade deadline.

Well, since he's apparently not willing to spend any more money, and we still have $16 million, we might as well just offer Doan $16 million for one year.

Eh...we were supposed to "wait" for this off-season. I'd rather we just try to assemble a good team with all that cap space.

His fans had all said he lacked heart the last few seasons, and before his injury in Detroit he wasn't showing much of anything. I imagine he'd be even less of a factor on the ice than he was now. Let a team take him.

Surprising, really. With the defenseman UFA market so weak now, I thought for sure Holland would put everything he had into a trade for a defenseman and a UFA forward signing instead of the other way around. If we throw everything and the kitchen sink at a forward, we'll have nothing left to trade for a top defender.