Wing Across The Pond

As ogreslayer mentioned, there would be no re-signing phase as there were technically no contracts. If they had said 'contracts will be terminated' then fine. But they're not, they're VOID. Which, like a warrantee for something, becomes non-existent when it becomes VOID. The league simply wouldn't acknowledge that they existed, hence the 'unenforceable' bit. Most players would still sign for their clubs I'd imagine as they don't want to relocate/love the team/etc, etc but there is absolutely no reason why any team couldn't go after Crosby, Stamkos, Weber, Miller, etc, etc, etc EDIT: Not to mention, they wouldn't have gone through all of this (especially if it comes to making all players UFAs) just to let it all go back to how it was before. The league would most likely WANT a reshuffle to show that they're the ones calling the shots. If there is no effect on the players who opposed them then we'll keep seeing things like this. It's like filing for divorce, WINNING, and then saying 'don't worry you can have the house actually, I don't mind...'

And whilst you overlook a guy you've drafted, developed, seen fit to make your next captain (most likely) and DON'T look to re-sign him before people elsewhere, what does that say to the guy who's now being overlooked for someone else? He goes back to Sweden and we don't see him again. Why would he want to play for you if you don't put the effort in to sign him before a younger guy from another team? After all he's the one who's put in all the hard work over the years, won cups here, helped develop other players in one way or another. I think that's the point in signing him way before players like Stamkos or Crosby. Because you know what? Their respective teams will do the same thing. Do you think a team like Tampa would try going after Crosby before St. Louis? Because I don't. Maybe some will call it loyalty, others will see it as a way of not pissing off/insulting the guys who've given their career to a team only to overlook them the FIRST chance you get.

We would be a lot higher up that list if Drapes was still going though But it shows our depth through Dats, Z, Flip, Hudler when he was here a bit, Franzen can take a draw, down to Helm, Abby, Emmerton took a lot, Miller could, Cleary could. They weren't all awesome, but they could take a draw when called upon. Didn't Mule have the best numbers on Faceoffs for the Wings a few years ago? Primarily because he muscled forward and then played the puck with his hand

Pistons = crappy economy/high personal debt + crappy product not in a downtown area Then again (apart from the downtown area bit) the same can be said of most of those teams. The Mariners baffle me though, not because they've massively dropped off in success, but because they've lost over half of their fan base according to those stats. Also agree with chances14's flippant comment Phoenix aren't on the list because they probably haven't lost any fans. They don't get many, but the ones they do probably go to most games. Which unfortunately means the league will use this as further justification that the experiment is proving successful.

Him and Kane was probably the best moment for all of that season. It was a moment where no one would have ever thought about doing it until they were off the ice, or would have actually carried out if they had had the idea. Mule just thought, 'meh, I'll take his mouth guard, that'll teach him a lesson'...

Might be unpopular to say so, but I don't hate Crosby... maybe a few years ago but not so much now. Think the guy has calmed down a bit since his head got knocked around. He passes for me. Plus he has the level of skill that I can't really hate him for any reason other than not being on my team, but that's like any star player. However... Ovie, Thornton, Kesler, James Neal for charging and leaving his feet on Sean Couturier last year, Ribeiro, Torres, Chara, Kane, Clowe, Thornton, Boston. And yes, I know Thornton is in there twice, they're both Joe, because I hate him. Can't think who else off the top of my head. Weird seeing half these lists and thinking, 'what? I like that guy!' such as Iginla, Perry, Getzlaf (basically I don't mind the Ducks anymore) but I guess it's all just opinion really. Lol to say that Franzen doesn't run his mouth is like saying Lance Armstrong should chair the honesty commission. He's going to become the new Homer and just aggravate people

Should be on the slide talking about Bowman bringing a defensive mindset to the team. Lidstrom was integral to that moving forward.

Lol that has nothing to do with hockey, and everything to do with the fact that a lot of announcers are incredibly biased... take this for example: These two guys are jokes. Plus you should get to know that no one is allowed to hit a player in Boston... they're exempt...

First thing I thought was... man the benches in that building are SPACIOUS see that atrium behind them?! Man you can tell they were built in the last 10 years and not in the 50s. Still, good to see Brunner getting goals and answering for himself when he jams away. It's not really the fact he got rough, but that he put in the stick work first, then answered when someone tried to intimidate him. Good show. BULLY!

Get Dirks higher up the order. The boy hits everything, even if it goes foul he still keeps himself at the plate and doesn't allow balls passed him. Jackson seems to just take the mandatory first pitch strike every at bat. Fielder looks rattled and appears to be trying to chop a tree down every time he's up, just get some contact on it, get to first and the guys before you will run it in (hopefully). He doesn't need the big shot every time. Plus he was in at the plate in Game 2 to get the go-ahead run if not for a perfect throw. Just little things all going the Giants way which add up and make it look like a domination.

Well someone on Facebook commented that Fielder should be allowed to bat first in order to get some runs for the Tigers, even though he couldn't hit a barn door this Post Season. Facebook numbers can't really be trusted. I guess a lot of the people "voting" on that one would have been more casual fans, not all I'll admit, so they'll go with the "more obvious" choice. But again, much like this it's an opinion and most are different. I don't really see Stevie as the face of this organisation anymore because he's moved on. Perhaps Lids will become it now, but being back in Sweden probably not. Gordie really is the face of the Wings as far as greats go. But that's another tale for another day

I think it's a harder decision than a lot of people think. Stevie was all about team and it's well documented how he trained hard and changed his game for the better of the team away from his personal stats. I think Lids is exactly the same yet far from the public eye. He did make mistakes, all players do, but once he did he made damn sure no one would ever see it again. Man probably thought about every little play so much and worked on it in practice that he couldn't mess it up again. Tough choice but I saw more of Lids than Stevie. That being said I never noticed Lids as much because I was entirely confident and comfortable with him being out there each night. Was more concerned by players like Lebda lol

Lol oh yeah... perhaps it's better to say career? In any instance, Flip will be due a renewal soon

I'd prefer him to shuffle the lines more than not. I'd want all the players able to play with anyone on that roster rather than only have certain combinations we can roll out. I don't care if Babs throws someone like Abby up on the first for the final period or for a non-essential game if it meant getting a goal or two that we needed. Wont happen but I wouldn't really mind.

Dats would be the ideal choice but he doesn't want it as far as I know. Which means he's guaranteed not to be offered. That's the first thing. Secondly Z has always been groomed as this organisation's next captain, yet for some reason I feel that with Lids going on for a few seasons longer than people may have expected, and now this lockout threatening to lose another year perhaps Z isn't the top choice. With a few contracts running out in the next few years players like Z and Dats will re-sign in order to stay here till the end (even though Dats will go back to Russia eventually but not in 2014). Players like Val who seems to be more integral with each year may need a nice little reward for sticking with this team for so long. As a younger player who is sensible, extremely hard-working, and who always seems to lead by example (a la Lids, Stevie, etc) I wouldn't be surprised or upset if they offered it to him. If he could become a real franchise player and give his all to this team, dedicate the rest of his career to the Wings and lead them in that quiet, understated way we've come to be famous for, then he could do a really good job. I also say as a lot of people, fans and players/coaches, have thrown his name into the mix and they've been giving him a lot more face time in interviews and pressers. Could make sense to give it to him now with Z's blessing and have them work together, rather than give Z 2 years or so then have to change it again. That being said It'd be a real shame if Z didn't get it and didn't have that distinction to his great Red Wings career. But I guess if I was looking to appointing a long-term captain I'd give it to Flip and help him spend his career here. After what happened with Hudler, putting up some solid numbers and still being allowed to go, we shouldn't take guys like Flip for granted. Much like the article though, it's just an opinion and probably one that no one will agree with.

So you basically admit that this topic is irrelevant? Insomuch as it's based entirely on your prejudice against a man that you simply don't like? You'd give Z the benefit of the doubt for much the same offense because he's not, as you put it, a POS... a man fiercely proud of his heritage which is slowly dying out, who is employed to play a role and has the added baggage of the hassle that comes with it, namely people saying he's a POS when they don't know him. I say let him play and then criticise dude. Yeah, we really need to get playing again... getting way too political on here these days

Interesting tweet, even if he usually is full of you-know-what. I think even before the lockout most knew the owners who weren't really in it for a work shortage, mainly the people who don't mind spending money on their teams... He then went on to say... ...which I take as being the aforementioned 'you-know-what' as NHL sources would never release a list of owners against the lockout... you know... the whole, making them look bad thing? But hey, interesting points nonetheless.

I think they're quite tight financially, they seem like a wise enough organisation that doesn't p*ss money away but that's probably why they haven't had a whole lot of success recently, but saying that, they're probably losing a good deal of money now without any hockey on so they'll probably want the season to start. That's what I'd imagine anyway, but then again I have about as much insider info as HockeyyInsiderr

Man. I have never seen that before lol how did they not catch that first goal to begin with?!

I agree completely, and it's a better way of making the argument but just to clarify, wasn't saying lack of fans wasn't an issue, just that fan money didn't pay players. If anything I was being picky and pedantic But yes totally agree without the fans there is no sponsorship which WOULD pay wages. It also has to do with the fact that the league probably doesn't do very much market research when it comes to expansion teams, but probably looks more at geography and at locations where there aren't any teams for a good distance (Phoenix for example), trying to spread the wealth almost, when any idiot would know that Winnipeg had been wanting a team since the original Jets left and some other cities would really benefit from a good sports team (perhaps Seattle which would be close enough for a big US/Canadian rivalry with Vancouver and has dedicated sports fans already). I have nothing against Bettman trying to boost teams and help them survive in the league, but I don't want him basically running them to save face from them folding in poor markets. Move to another city and try again. Yeah I admit it was just something I threw in as was one of the only corporate sponsors I could think up off the top of my head Beer does retail at a ridiculous profit margin. Yet said profit still wouldn't pay for players salaries.

Fans rarely give money to owners. Large chunks of that cash you gave for your jersey goes to Reebok, a large chunk of the ten buck you buy a beer with goes to Miller, etc. You think the Wings organisation get these things for free? Of course not. They buy them at wholesale prices and sell them for a bit of a profit. That's just consumer business. Tickets are similar in that a large chunk of revenue will go towards upkeep of the Joe, casual staff such as security and refreshment vendors, and rarely on player wages. If you want to make a big fuss about who pays the players salary then cry for all the investors like Little Caesars, or Fox, or Amway, or any of the other corporate sponsors who pump money into this team which the organisation can freely spend on player acquisitions. Fan money goes so far as paying for an organisations retail division if you will, so cry when someone doesn't smile when they give you a beer or a pretzel, that's fine. But it can't really be claimed that fan money pays players as there really isn't enough fan money to do that. Case in point: if fans start to stay away from games, there is less of a need for retail staff - take in less money but spend less as well, it balances out. The problem with teams losing money isn't the fan base or teams like New Jersey wouldn't be in that situation. It's BIG money they have problems with.

Can't remember where I saw it, but apparently players going to the SEL can't come back if the season starts again half-way through. So anyone who signs in the SEL is there for the year, unlike other European countries where they could come back to their teams. Hence why Kronner and Ericsson aren't going for a big Swedish league but going to smaller teams that they have history with. Wonder if this is actually true though as again, can't remember where I saw that?!

I'm sure Mr I. would start one. I always get the feeling he's one of these owners who's not on the same page as most of the others, he doesn't care how much he pays players as long as he can get the best team possible. Dude wants to win

That's because he is this organisation's next captain. He'll be staying here like Toews, Crosby, etc will...

Babcock has said Brunner will start Top 6 so he'll be there.