VM1138

With all the space we have, we can do better than that.

Press Conference isn't loading for me. This sucks.

Bettman's relationship with the NHLPA is abysmal. He doesn't value them and cuts them out of the loop whenever possible. Personal relationships often guide negotiations, so that's not a good sign. He never misses a chance to sleight the NHLPA, and the NHLPA has a more aggressive leader now. Basically, these two groups are going to go at it harder than before. They better not let this go to a lock-out, though, that would destroy the NHL.

I can see how the job might not be all that great, since you probably would never get to see the games, but at least you get to be in that environment. I'd love to work for the Wings, but I don't think they have any use for someone with an MA in History.

Good question. I bet he waits for a year, then maybe comes back in a Swedish league. Less competitive but still competitive, you know? On the other hand, he seems to be a very serious kind of guy, not the kind who "unretires" again and again. EDIT: Actually, scratch that. If he doesn't want to play in a lesser role in the NHL because he's so competitive and doesn't want to play if he's not among the best, I doubt he'll "settle" for another league.

C - Zetterberg A - Datsyuk A- Parise A- Kronwall I know Parise wouldn't have done anything yet, but we are asking him to leave his captaincy. He clearly has some leadership ability and I think it's a nice bone to toss him.

I think this year they probably are the best teams out there at the moment. Only because the best teams all collectively took a dive. I don't anticipate the Kings or the Devils contending over the next few years. Maybe the Kings will return, but they both have this Anaheim vs. Ottawa vibe going for them.

Shocking to me. The signs all pointed to returning. I wonder if this is him not having faith in the team next season? It seemed like they could make a run for the Cup if he returned and be competitive, guaranteed. At any rate, good luck to him when he returns to Sweden and all his future endeavors. The greatest defenseman to play the game.

Why wouldn't you try to get a top level prospect through free agency? Every team in the league is going to make him an offer, so it all depends on who puts together the best welcome package.

No team will take a chance on him as a starter. He was plagued with groin injuries at the end of his NHL career and I think he's still had some over in Europe. He's a competitor of the highest order, but at his age, skill or no, he's not someone you can bank on for carrying you through a season or playoff run. Which is why the best he can hope for is a backup spot if he wants to be in the NHL. He'd be an excellent motivator and mentor for the kids, but no way a team risks his injuries for a starting position.

LA is the center of every fad in the country. Los Angeles is Spanish for Trendy Bandwagoners in every category.

What about if Hasek signed a 2 way and agreed to compete with Joey Mac for the backup spot? That is, assuming Conklin is done.

I can't think of another goalie who was as competitive as Hasek. Having him on a team with Shanahan and Yzerman was unreal as far as heart went. And I'm with everyone else. I know this would be a bad move, but Hasek is just so great that I'd still want him back.

Every season this comes up. And every season I say: Get 'er done Kenny. I highly doubt he can play as a starter anywhere in the league, but he won a championship a season or two ago, did he not? I bet he could play a few as a backup, or maybe a backup backup. At any rate, who doesn't like the Dominator? I don't care if all he can do is play in practice, I'd sign him. No. The same thing came up last season. He thinks about it and it never goes anywhere.

Cap hit is what we're talking. We could fanagle a contract to get them both to 7 or 7.5 a year easily. And they'd take that over making 8, 8.5 separately I bet. Really? Unless you're a mercenary who doesn't care if you win or lose, it matters. For anyone who actually watches the Wings, it's obvious they had some pretty significant fluke seasons (injuries in '10, refs in the playoffs, injuries in '11, epic comeback in playoffs) and are only a few players away from the Cup again. And I can only speak for myself, but if I had the choice to go play for an Original 6 team over a team like Anaheim, all things considered equal, I go to the Original 6 team. Fact is, no other teams have been consistently better than the Wings the last 20 or even 5 years. A handful of teams are up there with the Wings (San Jose, Rangers, Boston) but that's about it. So yeah, a history of winning matters.

Until he goes to Columbus and we have to hear it 6 times a year.

Actually, a lot of realistic cap calculations have included both. The Wings could do it and it would greatly help solve two of our biggest problems for years to come. If it's an option, it's a no-brainer to pull the trigger. And the source was several officials, was it not? Not just one. Interesting. I'm getting my hopes up, but if they really want to play together, and it's between both in Detroit or them getting split up for a few million more, I'm betting they take the Wings. The problem is: can any other contender offer to sign both?

I worry about this, too. He wanted to leave to go to a contender. Now the Devils are a contender. The Rangers, goons or not, need to take them out.

My whole hockey world is upside down. What is it about these teams that back into the playoffs going deep every year? If history holds, they'll lose to the Rangers (assuming the Rangers make the finals), but with how crazy things have been all year, I just don't know. LA could very well win the Cup.

Exactly. In 2010 Rafalski was almost a household name in America thanks to his heroics in the Olympics.

More likely there is so much talent on the Wings Semin would think it was safe to slack off.

Uh...Osgood and Hasek used to fake helmet problems all the time to delay the game. EDIT: And I'm shocked they are having their way with Phoenix. I wonder if they'll win the Cup, or if they're just pulling an Edmonton, a magical run to the Finals only to be stopped by a more experienced team like the Rangers.

I'd like to keep Hudler if possible. He DOES score, even if he's not a difference maker. And since our problem is lack of scoring depth, I'd rather keep him and just plug him back on the 3rd line where he's had most of his success.

But he does. He solves the Top 6 problem. With a healthy Helm our 3rd line is dangerous again, and with Homer gone we can build a quality 4th line. Now, I'm all for getting more than just Parise, but he actually would push us over the edge and make us contenders, with only a few minor tweaks (4th line center) left to make.

Yes, I think so. As long as the player is outside of the league after the end of the NHL season he can be signed. I wonder how much Brunner would cost? Do they come in on entry level contracts? I forget what Brunnstrom and Leino came in on.