GMRwings1983

Keep Lilja, and then trade Lebda for Erskine. Then we have a team to be reckoned with.

I was under the impression that the Sharks wanted to hire Tim Hunter as their head coach. I guess they changed their minds for some reason.

Bob Probert.

Apparently it is a good topic, since it's generated 4 pages of debate, most of it going in Lidstrom's favor. Yzerman was better than all those guys you listed, other than Gretzky, Lemieux and Messier.

That was embarassing. I'd rather see Hudler come out in a bowtie and strip than see that s***. Why should our stars cater to Justin Timberlake of all people? That guy's acting ability makes Ben Affleck look like Marlon Brando.

There's people here who claim that him skating around in circles is somehow useful, but I fail to see it so far. If he was moved somehow, I wouldn't blink an eye, considering how many fan favorites have left this team in the last 5 years or so.

Let's merge the Wings with the Ducks. Look at our defense then.

I was just reading over the topic about whether Lidstrom and Osgood should have their numbers retired, and then I thought of something interesting about Europeans having their numbers retired, and the fact that I could only think of a few who might have been retired, but I wasn't entirely sure. So does anyone know offhand how many Europeans have ever had their numbers retired, especially by original six teams? Also, I was thinking more of guys who were trained in Europe, so guys like Mikita and Bob Nystrom aren't what I am looking for, even though they were born overseas.

Neither were Gretzky, Hull, Howe or Richard. Being a great defensive forward is fairly new in hockey compared to what was once expected out of forwards. Besides, Lemieux had all those SH goals, thus he could have easily been considered a threat on both ends of the ice, although I admit a lot of that is due to breakaways. Yzerman didn't really become great defensively until the 90's.

So that would defeat your argument of Yzerman having the greatest season ever for a forward, since Lemieux had a better year.

Jack Johnson can't fight the way Lilja can. Unless you're talking about Jack Johnson the boxer.

I was waiting for your post Eva, although you didn't seem to give Lidstrom enough credit in the comparisons. Also, how did Yzerman have the greatest season ever by a forward? Yeah I know he put up 150 points with minimal talent around him, but based on that, Lemieux's performance the season before would be better, since he didn't have much around him in Pittsburgh either in his earlier years, and he put up 199 points once in a season.

Demitra always seems hurt, so I'd pass on him. I wouldnt' be surprised if Naslund could sort of revive his career in Detroit, especially with the Swedish players and the talent around him. Also, the pressure of being a captain in Canada would be off his back. Sundin and Hossa will probably be too pricy, hampering our chances of paying Hank the money he'll want.

As I've said before, they're going to appear for 20 seconds, Leno will mispronounce their names, and then he'll make some idiotic typical American joke about hockey players all having missing team or some s*** like that.

I think there will be more Euros in the future, but at this point, not that many have had their jerseys retired. Also, I just thought of Peter Stastny, and I bet the Nordiques/divealanche retired his jersey, althouth I could be wrong.

Lilja should have been invited so that he could destroy Justin Timberlake on national television, with all those stupid girls screaming in terror as Andreas pounds poor Justin over and over again into a bloody pulp.

However, Lidstrom has had to face a lot bigger forwards than Orr, Harvey, Robinson, or Potivn ever had to face. Despite that, he's never been overmatched once against any of those physical forwards on a consistent basis. Thus, his lack of physicality is not a weakness in the least bit. In fact, it's probably a benefit, since it keeps him out of the box.

Just a year ago, everyone was talking about wanting him to play until he's surpassed Gordie Howe as the oldest ever to play the game.

I'm actually surprised so many people picked Lidstrom, because I thought it would be more even, with Yzerman possibly getting the slight nod. However, I'm pleased that this hasn't turned into a popularity contest yet. Also, I think if this was asked 2 years ago, or even last year, most people would pick Yzerman.

I take one exception to your post. Bobby Orr was amazing defensively as well as offensively. Just look at his plus/minus rating.

Top 35? Geez, are you sure he should be in the top 100?

I think consistency, dominance, and longevity have more to do with it than numbers. It's difficult to compare a forward and defenseman statistically.

Should we retire Uwe Krupp's number also?

Does anyone know if Chelli has stated that he's willing to play anywhere else?

No, it has all to do with personality. A lot of people hate Fedorov for the way he left, while no one hates Osgood. It's purely a popularity contest, because Fedorov had a better career as a Wing than Osgood.