stevkrause

I haven't heard anything about it in quite some time and was wondering if anyone had any new info on it? With the Piston's sale now, the next arena should likely be a single occupancy arena (great in my mind, as arena's that are shared by basketball and hockey, never have as good of ice) and possible multimedia complex as well... The Joe is really dilapidated and on its last legs and I think they need to expedite this process, as it seems to have become stagnant and for them to stay in the Joe for another 5+ years, which it's starting to look like, seems ridiculous... in my mind, to stay in the Joe past 2009-2010 seemed ridiculous...

Meech has already stated that it's probably time for him to move on and he's a FA... Janik is already signed for another year and this year of his deal is a one way deal, it's not a matter of preference, it's a pretty cut and dry issue by the contract who is more likely to be the 7th dman this fall... I'd be ok with Hejda as well, but I, but out of that list, I think Montador is the best fir here...

Look what he's had to deal with and the crap teams he's been on... as I said in my original post, all the kid needs is some consistency and leadership around him and I think the Red Wings organization is exactly that... I think the kid would explode here... Also, I question how much you've watched him play if you think he's lazy... if anything, his scoring consistency is the only thing in question, never his effort...

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding

It was over 1.5 decades ago by this point... they haven't cared about that team down there since the early to mid 90's... It's not hard to believe that it MIGHT generate a glimmer of a spark, but just like clicking two rocks together in the middle of a downpour may generate a spark, that spark is short lived and you'll never start a fire... it'd be a sideshow if anything...

As you already touched on, Ian White will most likely be re-signed, but would be a good addition here, the only problem would be his price tag, he probably will get more than I'd be ok with us paying him, as for Wallin, also as you already touched on, he's a 3rd pairing at best and unless he came WAY down, he's not worth the money he'll want either... also, I'd much rather have Montador as our bottom pairing addition

at minimum, I'll bet the Wild offer him a deal, if for no other reason, PR... I still think he'll end up retired when all is said and done however

Cool wHip WHill WHeaten awHile

As I already mentioned, they have been causing problems in the locker room and management is fed up with their antics... one of them WILL be moved, especially now with Bryz brought in, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of who at this point...

I'd take Drury in a heartbeat if he's bought out and he takes a reasonable contract... he's still probably worth 3m+, he's just not in a situation, or role that fits him - he is a top 6 player, not a top 3 player as he was brought in to be in NY and could probably be had for even less than 3m, since he'll be getting a payday from NY as well... With that said, I wouldn't be ok with the Wings paying him anything over 1.5 with his recent question marks...

I was referring to Florida the market, as in the Panthers, not the state of Florida. TB is further north and has FAR more transplants than South beach does and, as you touched on, has done a tremendous job creating a viable franchise... In regards to your second point, I think it might create a spark in the sports world, but not in the market locally, they seriously could not care less about hockey in Miami... look up the article with the TV ratings and see how many households Florida Panther games were watched in, it's down right embarrassing...

It wouldn't... they need to move, hockey in Miami is about as bad of an idea as hockey in Arizona was... I can appreciate the southern expansion idea, but those were horrible ideas from day one and to be honest, Florida is probably a worse idea than Phoenix was...

We really only need 2 FA dmen, Janik is a perfectly serviceable 7th dman and this 2nd year of his deal was a 1 way contract, so I'm pretty sure they're going to carry him as their depth dman... I know the bigger names (Bieksa, Wisniewski, Ehrhoff, etc) are the ones everyone is really clamoring about, but I know Kenny will do the right thing about that 1-4 dman addition, it's the bottom pairing that I REALLY have my heart set on and that's Steve Montador - Shouldn't cost us more than 2m TOPS, is incredibly solid defensively, physical, good shot and kills penalties... not a whole lot of offensive upside and maybe isn't the fastest guy in the world, but makes good decisions and his positioning make up for it (once again, keep in mind, we're talking for the bottom pairing)... I also think he'd be the EXACT type of pairing partner to allow Kindl to really flourish, as they're styles really compliment each other well... (one stay at home, other offensive minded, one is smooth and moves the puck, not too physical, the other is more bruising, clears the crease and will get nasty when needed)

for all Finnish players that haven't played over here, I think you're usually very unbiased and give great analysis on, I'm just kinda messing with you Now, onto Finns that have played over here... sometimes I do think you pull for them a little too much and get a little skewed...

It just seems like it would be an effort in futility, as it's about the worst kept secret that this is their last year there... they'll be in Quebec by the start of the 2012-2013 season, mark my words...

I'm proud of you! You gave an unbiased evaluation on a Finn! With that said, even for the 3rd pairing, he'd have to come here at a discount I doubt he'd be willing to take (1.5 or so) before I'd consider it... he's just injured so damn much, that you essentially need to sign another dman, just to be ready for when he goes down... then again, many users here that have a hard-on for Smith could finally get to see him play when Salo misses at least half the season and we need to make a call up

I don't think there's any weight to this and I can't see any of those teams changing their branding without re-locating, unless SOMEHOW one of Florida or Carolina, take on a city name and completely re brand to go with it (ie. Raleigh D-Bags, Miami No-one-cares-about-hockey-down-here-why-do-we-still-play-in-this-swamp-cats) As to who said the Coyotes - there is ZERO chance of this, as long as they're still in Phoenix, they will be the Coyotes. They got a good name, logo and marketing backbone (howling at goals, mascot, etc)... they're just in a horrible spot for hockey, so, unless we're talking relocation again, take them out of the equation. Dallas - no way Anaheim - no way Tampa Bay - DEFINITELY not any other team doesn't make sense either... this is a fun thought and would be a wild story, but I just don't see it happening...

:beerbuddy: This part of your post - I don't see it happening, but I'd be all for it, as long as we didn't overpay to make it happen. Burns would be an amazing addition here, but I suspect that Minnesota will lock him up long term and he will never see FA, who knows though, stranger things have happened...

Well, that'd be a poor signing, considering he'd only be available for 41 games... sure as hell don't want him playing any home games as long as we're at the Joe... And how exactly are we getting screwed by Rafalski? and what does it have to do with long term deals???? If anything, he bowed out with dignity and gave us cap relief, since he was not worth what he was making anymore...part of the advantage of signing players long term before they're 35...

Downey was the only one of those 3 that was one dimensional and all 3 were on 2-way deals, so its a moot point... its not a cap risk, or roster spot sucker when its a 2 way deal, hell, you convince a useless pylon like McGratton to take a 2 way deal and I'll be all for him being here at league min and occassionally dressed...

I'd really like to see Kenny take a run at McCormick, he adds that element, but can kill penalties and give you defensively solid minutes as well, plus, he doesn't take too many bad penalties (loses his cool a little, but I think that can be coached) and is a damn good light-heavyweight. He'd be an everyday player that can still fill multiple roles, including the much coveted-by-many "tough guy" role for this team...

Well played... the Sherminator sure did one hell of a job destroying the Avs this past season...

Fair enough

I'm not sure why this reply was to my post, unless it was just out of convenience... I've stated since day one that a guy like McCormick is what is needed today and the Wings could use him... I just hate the enforcer debate, because pure enforcers are useless in todays game...

Wow... just, wow...