GMRwings1983

He's not half as attractive, and can't perform as well in the clutch.

And they would take Kopecky's roster spot. We couldn't allow that to happen.

I love those jerseys too, but it looks like a big rip-off of the Lakers jerseys. I'd also want them to go back to wearing the crest symbol that they wore when Gretzky played there, with the black and white colors.

Well, at least no one had a problem with me putting Lija and Downey as the two wingers in my hypothecial lineup. There's been too many flame wars and near flame wars about pointless stuff even before the season begins. It's not like these lines are going to stay together all year. We all know there will be injuries, and some guys will step up while others will drop off. No one knows what the lines will look like before the playoffs begin. My argument about Flip is still a good argument in my opinion. There's no reason he should have been signed to such a large contract unless he's expected to be a top 6 forward. If he's not a top 6 forward, we should have either paid him less, or if he complained, let him go since he obviously appears expendable. This will be even more problematic since guys like Hank and Mule will want more money in the future. We don't want to end up with salary problems like the Ducks had.

You missed the point with your usual over-analyzing. I'm saying Flip should have never been signed to that big contract, especially since Hank and Franzen are going to want a lot more money. No use signing a guy to that much cash and then making him a 3rd liner behind someone like Hudler. And your comparison with me to Babcock is rather childish, since I was just putting together my ideal lines as an example. I didn't say I was a better coach than Babcock.

So you don't think there's anything wrong with overpaying a 3rd liner who's going to play 3rd line minutes, which could be filled just as well by a guy who gets paid a lot less? That would be on Holland not on Babcock.

Not really since the 4th line hardly plays any minutes anyway. It's not going to put a big dent in the Wings armor. Oh and as I already posted, they're my ideal lines and not anyone elses. It's nothing for anyone to get worked up over.

Why would you even post that? Hank is going to make loads of money a year from now. That's a horrible example for a comparison. As I said last week, Hank's contract wasn't signed a month ago. Flip's was.

I still don't think Hudler should be on the 2nd line, namely because Flip would then become a gross overpayment as a 3rd liner. I'll admit that Hudler does have talent, and if you think he should be in the lineup, that's fine. I was just giving an example of the lines I'd start. There was no lack of talent in my ideal lineup, which had a bit of everything. I shouldn't have to apologize for not having the "Hudler crush" that everyone else has.

Tina is a hockey player who can't enforce. As far as Antropov goes, he's already had his breakout season. That was as good as it gets for him.

Hudler doesn't give us anything we don't already have. Mac at least gives us more grit. However, Hudler would be a great replacement if an injury occurred to someone else. Also, I was just having some fun with another "best lines" topic. No one has to take it so seriously. How does that statement you just wrote make me any different than any other member of LGW? We're all part of the same hypocrisy, and it's almost impossible for any poster to change any other's mind. Don't single me out for it.

He'd be a reserve along with Hudler.

Finally, a thread where we can talk about line combos. Fillpulla - Datsyuk - Hossa Franzen - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Maltby - Draper - Cleary Lilja - McCarty - Downey (this is a new line I thought up recently)

He became the best player in the league in my book around 2002 or so. His stats went down in 2003, but not his overall playing ability. It wasn't really a generic statement, unless you're willing to concede that the whole topic is generic, which it probably is.

Yes, and has been for at least the last 5 years.

I thought fighting in hockey was illegal overseas, but then again I could be wrong, since I don't know much about their rules except what I've heard.

I'm glad. This KHL bulls*** is getting on my nerves. Maybe nex time that punk Radulov will be a little more loyal to his organization.

Yeah, but can Quincey do this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUUAVuO9wKo

Great signing, despite what the haters say. Now if we can only trade Lebda for a draft pick, the logjam on defense will be a little clearer.

So was I right or wrong?

Wow, I wish I was here last night for all the carnage. F*** the world, eva! Let your feelings out! Release the dark side within you!

It's always hard to repeat. Just look to 2003 when we got swept by the Ducks even though we had a team on paper that could easily have won the Cup. It's all going to come down to hunger and passion. The top players will probably have the passion to win another Cup, but the role players and the lesser tiered guys are going to have to show the same kind of hunger that they had last year. If they don't, we won't repeat.

Tampa's defense is still very weak and lacks any kind of depth. That is, unless Melrose has plans of becoming a player/coach.

Lilja is not the kind of guy to pick on non-fighters. All the guys he's beaten up were guys accustomed to dropping the gloves.

It's hard to justify Flip's contract based on the fact that we have so much talent, since it's pointless to sign the guy to that kind of cash and not put him in the top 6? This should be particularly emphasized with Franzen and Hank coming up in their contract years. As for Cleary, he was signed last year before the Hossa signing and before Franzen's amazing play, so him moving down was not foreseeable.