stevkrause

At the same token, he already got a cup with Col and he got a huge payday... at the end of the day, it's a business too and he, and his family, are now in a MUCH better situation for their future because of it...

Nail - this is you getting hit square on the head.

I think a Babs-Hitch-Spuddy coaching team would be amazing... if that trio can't get its players to play at max level and give their best, I don't know what could...

Agreed... there's times where I just want us to cut bait and then there are moments like his 2nd half of the season last year where he shows flashes of brilliance and that shift back to the NHL from the KHL is BIG, so I kinda want to see what he can do in year 2 back... but at the same token, if we can get something decent in return for him and bring in someone else to fill his role, it's hard to argue against that, considering how he disappeared in the playoffs... he's a head scratcher for sure... With all that said, if Drury comes here in his place and puts up a real stinker and Hudler goes off for a career year elsewhere, how many people will be up in arms about that? It's a gamble either way in my mind...

If this were 5 years ago, I would love Jagr in the Winged Wheel, but after this much time away from NHL action AND his age - NO THANKS, even at a minimal salary... it'd just be taking away a roster spot from someone that deserves it more...

no kidding, he wasn't messing around there! well done bannedforlife!

Sorry, I should have made that clearer, I'm talking straight up, player to player, $$ not a factor - I'd take Hudler over Drury If Drury can be had for 1.5 or less and we can shed the additional 1.3+ AND get something in return in a trade for Hudler, I'd take Drury over Hudler, but only because of those additional factors...

I wouldn't get excited about this addition, but I wouldn't hate it either (assuming the price is right - 1.5, or less) Also, I hate to say it, but if Drury comes in, Hudler would have to go out and this is coming from a Hudler supporter... I personally, would actually prefer to have Hudler over Drury...

Who else thinks Tim Thomas' new mask is the best in the game right now? I think it looks amazing - Simple, yet complex and very well done... maybe I'm way off on this, but I LOVE it: Here's a link of an article with more pictures of it... they are protected from being embedded on other sites, but it has some better "color" shots and more angles - http://www.daysofyorr.com/2010-articles/october/white-is-the-new-blackgold-for-tim-thomas.html

I'm not sure where I said 4.5 was an overpayment? I said MORE than 4.5 was overpaying and even then, I said I'd be ok with it for what he brings to the table, hell, I even said I'd be fine with them going upwards of 5.5 for him (even though that would be the overpayment I was referring to)... there's no argument here, so.... ?

I could see Chelios and Babs working great together as coaches... in 5 years... Chelios needs some experience before he starts coaching at the NHL level and although(with his knowledge of the game) he may be an exception to the rule, guys need to work at lower leagues as coaches first... I'd like to see him take an asst role with GR and work with Fraser for a bit... Fraser would probably be a decent choice for an NHL asst role pretty soon too, the guy is a great coach...

Agreed completely... I think realistically what we will see, will be one big FA signing(hopefully Wiz), re-sign of Ericsson and re-sign of Miller... but in a hopeful world, all 3 above(or even 2 of 3) is what I'm still hoping for, even though I know it's a stretch and the reality of it actually happening is probably pretty slim...

We're basically on the same page, the only difference for me, is that I want Cody McCormick added for that sandpaper element up front and I'm not quite ready to give up on Hudler yet, unless we somehow can land Wolski, but that story still needs to play itself out, before that's even an option... my perfect off season would be to bring on Gallant as O coach, sign Wiz, Montador and McCormick and anything after that would be gravy...

I still think paying more than 4/4.5 for Wiz will be overpaying, but as long as we don't overpay too much, I'd be ok with us overpaying a little for him (maybe upwards of 5.5 at this point) and I think Wiz would be a great addition to the team... I also want them to let Ericsson walk and this is coming from an Ericsson supporter. He is worth 1.5, but no more and I'd much rather have Steve Montador, than Ericsson at this point, even if we overpay for him to and it's at the same caphit (in all reality, Montador should be able to be had for about 1.75 or less)

I think he will be exactly what they need to right the ship there, it's bittersweet to be sure, he deserved the shot, but it sucks to lose him...

That literally made me audibly laugh, I love that you blacked out Gordie's eyes in the process for anonymity of the innocent! Well done good sir, well done! :clap:

I find it pretty funny that I wasn't even one of the ones that negged you (I don't get into rating wars and save my neg ratings for trolls), yet, I was at a +1 and now I'm even on that post again and you clearly negged me, just because I was one of the ones to point out how off base you were... and to show you I'm being honest and to be a bigger man - Before: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/veinoffeeling/before_rating.jpg After: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v213/veinoffeeling/after_rating.jpg

I don't think Habs is even on the radar, he has a lot more to prove at the lower ranks and he JUST signed a contract as GM and Coach of a WHL squad, so I don't think he'd even be interviewing... I think the D coach will come down to one of Hitchcock or Boughner and I'd imagine Gallant HAS to be the front runner for the O coaching role, unless he doesn't want to be an assistant... As for Hitch bolting into the season, that would NEVER happen, if he's here, he'd be here through the season, now, if you're worried about him bolting after one season, that's a reasonable concern...

Great post - as you already said, Canuck is the same as Yankee and it's more of a slang term they've embraced.... and if the team and the nation they're in, embrace it... then there's no harm, no foul The Blackhawks is one of the only Native American depictions/names/logos in all of sports that ISN'T racist and is actually pretty honorable (and trust me, I hate admitting anything good about Chiocago)- The one main one that people SHOULD be up in arms about, is the blatantly racist Washington "Redskins", which is essentially the same as calling a team the (Insert city here) Ni**ers - It's appalling and abhorred and the fact that it is STILL used is a disgrace... The NFL should have stepped in and forced them to change it a LONG time ago... then there is the cartoon caricature in Cleveland and the racist tomahawk chop in Atlanta... so... I just don't care for the fact that they've sullied the name of one of my favorite animals with their d-bag hockey team...

Are you kidding?!?!?!?!? That is EXACTLY how a coaching staff should work... the unit has to work as one to be on the same page, so of course the head coach should choose who's on HIS coaching staff... also, I'm pretty sure Holland had more involvement in McCrimmon's hiring, whereas Babs chose MacClean and McClellan, so I think Holland appreciates and realizes Mike NEEDS to make this decision to be the most effective...

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/nyr110609.html This kid hasn't even scratched the surface and just needs some consitency and leadership around him, I think he would explode here... I would LOVE to see Kenny try and sign him if they do end up buying him out...

Gallant for the O, Hitch for the D and that will be the single best coaching squad in the NHL... This would make my off season if this happened... all things considered though, as long as they land Gallant for the O, I'll be pretty happy

For the record, my reply wasn't directly to you... but you're dead on about the fact that just coming to Detroit doesn't solve deeper issues, which is one of the reasons I don't think Zherdev would work here. I just see a lot more in Wolski's game and I see a player just waiting to break out, that unfortunately, to this point, hasn't had the opportunity to do so and has become disinterested in the process of playing for horrrible organizations... I think he would be one of the best steals of the last 20 some years in we scooped him up, that's how confident I am that he would thrive here

Its gonna suck losing him, but look at the bright side, this shake up could be good for us... I would love to see Gallant come on as O coach, the best offensive year Col had (when Nash scored 50) was when he was coaching them... even when he played, he made his offense by seeing the game well, not pure skill and he has a good offensive mind...

I feel like a broken record... the kid is only 25 and coming from VERY poor situations regarding leadership from upper management all the way down, you watch him play and you will see he's not lazy, and his attitude is nothing compared to most... also, he'd come on the cheap, so there's nothing to lose... anyone who is against him, is not looking at the bigger picture