stillwater

I agree that Lidstrom is easily the best of his era, whatever that means. How many Europeans could have actually played in the NHL during Orr's time? Goalies aren't exponentially better, that I'd argue ... their equipment is better.

I can't find where you said the "exact opposite" Mr. Costanza. Can you point that out to me?

It must have been extraordinarily difficult passing the puck up to Boom Boom Geoffrion, Jean Beliveau, Rocket Richard, et al right?

Why don't you enlighten me then? You know it all, go ahead.

Dude, I'm not knocking Harvey, but there were many before him.

Certainly. You can include Lionel Conacher, Hap Day, King Clancy and Dit Clapper ... old time hockey, whatever. I just don't see how the "defensive point" is less diluted now. There are more teams now than ever. The game is more defensive now, obviously, but that doesn't downplay Orr's achievements, or those of any of the other greats. It's just a different game now, what with all the great fighters and all ...

Oh, ok ... thanks for the heads up. Harvey never scored ten goals in any season in his career, Orr scored 46 (3 other years of 30+) one year. Is it ok to point that out boss?

Wait, a defenceman can be considered one of the best of all time without ever fighting? All of the other teams must think the Wings are "*******".

Recchi is so old that he reaches the "incentives" if he doesn't die of natural causes during the season.

So what you're saying is non-enforcers would disagree with him? It's one thing to drop the gloves now and again. It's another thing to be termed an "enforcer". Saku Koivu had more PIM's than 2 of those guys.

But, he can't fight.

Is anyone here really totally against fighting? I doubt there's many. What people are against are getting rid of decent hockey players only to replace with guys that have only talent to fight and nothing else. If you told me we could get Daniel Carcillo for player "X", now I'm interested. Wasting a roster spot and cap money on guys that only fight is going to doom any team.

Jeff Finger

If he is indeed an idiot, then why give him this particular stage?

"Holland already knows Hossa is ripe to take a hometown discount because if it had only been about the money, he would’ve never accepted the terms Holland presented. (Which, consequently, is the same deal he would have given Mats Sundin, which says a little something about Sundin’s real desire to play for a team under pressure to win, wouldn’t you say?)" This guy had me at hello until he wrote this, which is catagorically incorrect. No reason to read the rest if he can't get an important issue correct. Holland didn't present this deal to Hossa, Hossa suggested it. At least that's what Ken Holland has stated publically.

The article is from January and it discusses the Anaheim Ducks fighting their way to the Stanley Cup (which is untrue, of course).

WTF are you talking about? Kevin Lowe never played for the Red Wings!

Yes. As stated earlier in the thread, him filing for arbitratration is a mere formality. He will remain a Red Wing.

Downey must have scared teams to death from his playoff press box seat. Perhaps you're on to something here. A guy doesn't even have to play, yet gives "our stars more room to move and do what they do best". Genius, pure genius. Check please.

But that's precisely what your argument is, as you've presented it in numerous posts, even to the point of posting your "dream" roster, that did not include Filppula, but did include McCarty and Downey. Your lineup of forwards, (just scroll up the page): Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Cleary - Franzen - Hossa Maltby - Draper - McCarty Abdelkader - Helm - Downey No Filppula, but a Downey and a McCarty.

If Downey + McCarty > Flip, why doesn't Vancouver just sign them?

We're all going to die someday, have you considered that?

Umm, yeah. What recent history taught everyone is that without Downey making any contribution to the 2008 playoff run, and McCarty contributing very little, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. The idea that you can take Flip out of the mix and add McCarty and Downey, the Wings will be a better team is moronic. Do you want to watch hockey fight videos or win the Stanley Cup? Georges Laraque was a scratch for the majority of the Finals. Look, I loved Bob Probert on the Wings as much as anyone, maybe the greatest enforcer ever, but he ain't coming through that door anytime soon, ok? I also recall the season ending every year Probert was here without my favorite team hoisting the Stanley Cup. Unless you can find a fighter who can actually add something other than the ability to fight, he's redundant on this team. If Downey wants to accept a small, possibly two-way deal, he's probably not coming back. What's Lidstrom supposed to say about Downey? That he hated playing with him?

Yeah, it's already posted. http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...t=0&start=0

Perhaps it does, but it doesn't work the way you're trying to suggest.