VM1138

Gasp, I don't think I have that '08 one. I think I might, but I'm not 100% sure. How'd that (potentially) slip through the cracks? I love the Dominator one, though, one of my favorite possessions.

I'm all for it. These are pretty low-risk propositions. Brunnstrom could have been amazing, but he wasn't, so we dumped him in the AHL. Especially since he's a shooter, go for it, just don't hinge the success of the team on him. He looks amazing, but then again, everyone does in highlight clips. And those defensemen looked pretty terrible, too. But if his first instinct is to shoot, we need him.

Cup final: Rangers vs. Phoenix. Heard it here first.

I don't know about that. He took 3.3 million because no one knew how he would translate to the NHL after so many years in the KHL. Now that he had a hell of a season, I bet someone pays even more for him.

Well...some respect has to go out to the second wave of teams like the Flyers, Blues and Sabres...but I hope this doesn't become a marketing gimmick. The Original 6 is elite and WAY older than the extra teams that make up the "Original 12."

Quincey could be valuable in a package deal, but I don't see a team trading straight-up for him. Unless of course Yzerman trades for him in exchange for a 2nd or 3rd round draft pick.

If Jersey doesn't re-sign him then I say the Wings have an 80% chance of getting him. All signs point to him coming here, but I didn't want to jinx it and say 100%, haha.

That's what's going to happen. It's too storybook not to happen. And Jersey will win it all because they've won two series they shouldn't have already, and competition only gets weaker from here on out.

I get that people are pointing out that Parise only gets 60 points a season. But that just means he's a Franzen who works hard, on a team without much offensive strength. The Wings need scoring depth. Adding another Franzen, but one that actually works hard and goes to the net. That's a win.

I don't think Holland could possibly have known certain players would be available two or three years down the road. I'm sure he was generally aware of who MIGHT become available, but I think his strategy was just to keep the Wings competitive. We spent to the Cap up until this last season, so our flexibility was limited. This year we had some, but the names just weren't there. I don't think he had some grand multi-season scheme, but instead he just tried to keep all the contracts reasonable to keep the team from descending into cap hell.

After we sign Parise. I want Suter here as much as the next guy, but Parise is 1A on the priority list.

Could be, but for some reason I'm thinking Phoenix or Washington might have started it.

It really doesn't. I really don't think the Wings would have had trouble beating Phoenix. Each of the three teams plays differently and stacks up against each other differently.

I want Washington to win. Better to keep Semin away from us.

I know you guys are just trying to be realistic, but honestly, do you realize how much better this Wings team would have been if they had someone who could pot an extra goal every other game this season? A huge chunk of their games were one goal games. I think one forward, if he's the right player, absolutely would make this team a lock for a deep playoff run. And maybe a fourth line center.

We spent a 1st on him, he stays if only for the hope that he will round into form after a full season in the Wings playing system. Defense will look like: Lidstrom-White Kronwall-(Insert Acquisition here) Quincey-Ericsson Smith I imagine Quincey and Smith (for some reason Ericsson is untouchable) will have to compete for playing time. Ideally they'd have Smith play every game, so it's possible Quincey could be packaged. I just don't see him adding any real value to a trade deal, though.

The Wings aren't Edmonton. We're one top line forward and a fourth line center away from making Finals. I don't think their "decline" is such a deal breaker. Really? Because that's the one reason the Wings didn't dominate all year. If you get a top line forward who can go to the net, the Wings puck control style works much better and there's no team that can stop them. Assuming of course that Lidstrom returns.

Depends on their personalities, I guess. I know plenty of guys who would go out and party til 4 even if they had to get up at 5. And I know plenty of guys who would chill and watch a movie on TV 90% of the time to rest up for the game.

There's nothing wrong with subsidizing another team as an emergency measure. In order to ensure stability the league needs to protect teams. It gets out of hand with teams like Phoenix who seem to be operating in the red for the last 10 years. That's when people get pissed, when it seems like the very existence of a team depends on their teams spending money on the failing team through revenue sharing.

I think Smith will be, but I agree about Nyquist and the rest of our prospects. They're good but not amazing. Holland is going to have to go UFA hunting to really get some high end talent in their late 20s or look for some trade steals for early 20s reclamation projects.

No.

Rinne wasn't that great in the Detroit series, his weaknesses are obvious, Detroit just never capitalized on them. His size plays a factor although he is highly agile, but he very rarely had an amazing save that looked intentional. Nashville did a good job clogging the lanes and most of his saves were because Detroit took it straight to him or shot from the half boards or blue line.

How embarrassing. The Wings couldn't score, but Phoenix can? 8 goals (so far) in two games? That's what Detroit scored in 5 whole games is it not?

This is easily going to be the best series of the 2nd round. Either team could win, but it'll go a full 7 games. I'll say Lundqvist is the difference maker. Rangers in 7.

Philly can't win the Cup without goaltending, but they'll be NJ. Philly in 6.