Wing Across The Pond

Yet you forget that the other teams in our division (bar the Blues and Chicago who haven't really got any better) have also got worse. We could still realistically get a 3rd seed by winning this division. Will be hard won but still very possible.

Who says he'd have mad chemistry with Dats? He might not. Could be a bust. People were all big on him coming here to play with Dats in the view that they would both tear up the league. That's not guaranteed. Also I don't quite agree that it's low risk as everyone says. Because although we've got the cap space, we could have been paying him $7m+ to do jack. He could have continued to waste his talent and then would have been out the door next year having got his money. Just the opposite side to the argument. At least we know from experience that a guy like Doan, even at 35, would give his all every shift. And yeah he's a lot older but it never stopped Lids or Rafalski or Ozzy (although his body gave up really), or all the other veteran guys we had when everyone said we were too old. I'm not really upset we didn't get Semin, but yeah would have been happy/wary/reserved judgement if we did. Just a little annoyed that nothing has been done to fill the biggest gaps. That being said Holland is probably trying to work something good that doesn't cripple us.

Man I want Ericsson to shoot more. Guy has a bomb but never uses it. I see him like Fulton Reed from the Mighty Ducks... huge shot... 1 out of 5 Was also waiting for someone to put up a vid of Craig Smith so thank you turbowhistle86

Didn't see this anywhere else so thought I'd post it. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=638073 Shame he didn't have the best of times with us but was really pleased when he joined. Just wish it could have gone better for him. Still think he might be able to give something to a team, especially with a few kids on it. Thoughts?

That aimed at me? Because if so I don't think it's justified. At no point did I say "Babcock is going to/should walk", I simply asked a question whether people see him being disillusioned at the lack of big moves considering we've lost big pieces. Like has been said, the offseason isn't over and we could still do something huge, and I for one think Babs is vital to our success, however I simply thought I would promote a debate on whether or not he could be gone when his contract is done? I'm a bit annoyed at the lack of moves we've made recently, but maybe I'm a bit spoilt after Rafalski and Stuart worked so well, then we landed Hossa, that some moves don't seem to live up to them, but I'm always going to stay with this team and support them with everything I have. Coaches may feel they're not being given the resources to do their job. AGAIN, not saying Babs thinks this, simply posing a question.

With the spate of Free Agents seemingly passing us by/the perceived inactivity by Holland RE: preparing for Lidstrom's departure, does anyone see Babcock walking? I doubt he does as he's been a big part of shaping this team and working with them to create pretty much HIS system here. But he's got to be pissed now. As far as I know from mainly rumour surrounding forums such as this one, he doesn't like it much when he says he needs a piece or two and the management say we're all good so can you see this, or another such situation soon, as being the final push towards the door? He is probably the premier head coach in the league and could walk into any other team, so maybe he does soon? Just what I happened to think of when I heard the Weber news, because if I'm pissed that we've once again missed out on a guy that was supposed to be at the top of our list, imagine how he feels having to coach...

Yeah Enstrom will be cheaper than Weber, and not to mention he's in a contract year so it's trade him, offer him the bank, or risk losing him. I say chances are most likely they lose him so a trade is best bets for them really. Then again I'm just saying that so we can have him

Yeah very true. This is his time to put his talent into the game and take a weakened team and keep them going. Yet as someone mentioned earlier do you think there's a chance that the players don't really respond to him as they used to? You know, same old Babs? He's a scary guy that's for sure but surely some players who have been around him for a while wont be as intimidated. That's why I like the Tootoo signing as he's going to give everything this year, that could well spark a lot of players on this team.

I agree... "overpaying" requires an initial value. For example if you go to a dollar store, or a Poundland over here, and pay $1.50 or £1.50 for something, you're overpaying as the product is worth a dollar/pound. To say a player is worth a certain amount (or as you mentioned a house) is entirely subjective. They're worth what you're willing to pay. Some will think Player A is worth $3m some will think $6.5m. They're worth what they get really.

Lol I thought you were making a push for Cheli to come back then?!

Quick question... if by some crazy sequence of events the CBA is altered in the next 7 days, does the offer sheet still count? I know it wont but say this situation happens later in the offseason and a team submits and offersheet then the CBA is changed, does the sheet become void as a contract isn't signed? Or would the league respect it and keep it?

Looking at my OP I can see how this seems shortsighted, and how it'll be taken as a doom-and-gloom fan thinking the sky is falling down, but it was never meant to be "Well, this team is a crapshoot and I bet Babcock walks and flips the bird as he does", it was purely meant as a question that will he resign here if we don't sign someone big over the next few years? I feel I need to clarify this as I agree with what's been said, I don't think he leaves. It's not just him though, extend it to ask will the other coaches decide to stay as they have more freedom when it comes to moving away? I personally think we're still in a fairly healthy position and effectively the Weber situation gives us a better chance at the postseason with divisional ranking, just would have preferred him here. Like I said above, it's a question that popped into my head and I thought I'd ask. I've seen a lot of other coaches in sport leave for less - for those that watch soccer look at Jose Mourinho leaving Chelsea. Just a debate that's all. Was sort of hoping someone would at least say something on the other side to really kick the debate off but never really happened. Ah well.

Yeah, this is big going in as really anything can happen, I agree with you there. He could get crocked in training camp for all we know. That being said, if you give a guy a contract till he's 41 you have to be willing to pay him till he's 41. Simple as. They can't sit there and think "Ah he'll most likely retire before then or something will come up so he doesn't play the last few years". I mean look at Modano contemplating a comeback at 42? It is true... anything can happen.

The worst bit about that contract for Philly, is that they could well be doing it again. Granted Weber is 27 not 35+ but they'll still be paying him till he's 41. Same with Minny paying two guys till they're 40. If the same thing happens they'll be sitting there thinking "Crap we could be in trouble here..."

The difficult word there is "replacing"... I have no idea what that means in the grand scheme of things?

True. Wonder what his last few years will be salary wise though? Because at the end of the day 41 is better than 44 yeah, but it's still not really a playable age. Only a handful of players do it really and a big bruising body like Weber might not last that long. Lids did, Selanne is as examples, but neither are incredibly physical players, more smart.

That would do nicely for me Iginla in there because I've always wanted him here hehe. But Enstrom could be huge for us. Getz goes without saying and despite building a bit of a rivalry with the Wings over the years, all the guys involved seem to enjoy playing against each other/have a good respect for each other. Not like other rivalries out there. I could see that happening. Perry would be nice as well and kind of highlights my point above. When Dats fought him there was a sort of look on Perry's face that suggested "heck I wasn't expecting that! Much respect" sort of thing

That's fair enough, I thought it was a legitimate question considering some people seem to think we're not a team that most want to deal with/we don't have that much of a draw for players as we used to (this was asked in a topic a few weeks ago so in a way it could well be a knock on of that). As I've said I don't think he walks but then again I guess I'm only using the forum for what it's supposed to be for, posing questions and prompting debate rather than simply giving my point of view. So I'd have to say that I too am sorry, but your comment sucks. If you don't like the thread, don't comment. And as for his contract, look at my post before this one and see what I really meant.

Agree with everything that's been said. To clarify what I guess I meant by the original question is that I don't think he throws his toys out the pram and leaves, but is it so far off the point to think he starts to assess his future when looking at the future of this team? I'm not sure when his contract is up but say he looks and it's at a point where nothing is happening here, do you think he'd renew it? Because obviously he's not just going to say he's had enough now. Really sorry, don't seem to put much coherent thought into posts these days And to set the record straight, I'm no Holland basher and so not blaming him for any of the way things panned out. Just thinking that, as has been mentioned, if we continue to be a place that not many people want to deal with, is this team as much of a draw for Babs in the future?

This is the most interest point made here you know... because say he had no intention of really resigning in NSH, this guarantees he will. HA! So Philly basically did the negotiating for them, found a contract he'd take, then just crossed out the name and wrote their own "Shea Weber signs with Philadelphia Flyer NAshWillE PredIITors"

So again what's the real difference? How much is Weber being paid in the last few years?

I feel like I've gone back in time.... back in time to 1984 Or the league investigates... which could actually force a lockout of the Flyers somehow don't get him and head off to the NHLPA

I do agree, but seriously that's our number 1 FA target gone. I'd have said Suter would have been high on the list but given the choice Weber would have been top. We were simply going to wait for him. This bones us, regardless of how much better it makes us in the Nash and Ryan sweepstakes. I don't know the Free Agent classes to know of any other #1/#2 Dmen available in the next few years. That means we trade or we find within. Not saying we got worse, just it got a hell of a lot harder for us. Best we can hope for at the moment is that the league investigate the deal. It'd be nice to have Nash or Ryan but we need a top line Dman, not even top 4... TOP LINE

Absolutely. Especially after a wrist injury. Be interesting to see who does take him on if he indeed comes back.

You reckon he'd go to a Canadian team? Will he be as well received as if he went to an American team? Could go to Minny, finish it where it all started?