Z and D for the C

The pens are scary good? Or the flames?

Sharks will come back.

Cold. Previous to they're last win, I think they had a 5 game losing streak. I don't think they'll win. I think the Sharks will lose to the Preds tomorrow though so I think we'll only be one point behind them with the same number of games.

^ It seems to be like you're letting a lot of talent go just to give helm a spot. I haven't ever seen any evidence to think the team is better with Z&D split up.

The wings are by far the deepest team in the league. I think they can spare a bit of the depth. They'll still end up being one of the deepest teams in the league.

I don't think Hossa will ever play his best with either Z or Dats. Babbock will never do it but the best option is Z&D on the #1 line, then Flip/Hossa on the second. The line of Leino - flip - Hossa was awesome when it was together.

I disagree. Unless Franzen is will to take like 3 mil, I'll take Hossa for 6 mil over Franzen for 4 mil all day long. Franzen will never be the forward Hossa is in any aspect of the game, ever. It's pointless to enumeration the reasons as I'm sure you're aware of them. Also keep in mind hossa spent a good time transitioning into the team, where Franzen has been year for years. (and yes I read your last paragraph) ...and is 1 point behind Z in even strength scoring...while playing on the third line. Notice he plays on a top line for 5 seconds tonight and gets a goal.

Because most people on this forum think that saying "x is better than y" is the same as saying "y is trash" even if you specify otherwise explicitly.

This is something that has shown apparent this season. Z is an amazing player no doubt, but he'll never have the season he did last year without Datsyuk. I'd say Datsyuk >> Hossa > Zetterberg. Z is still a top 30 forward and top 10ish 2 way forward, but Datsyuk easily outshines him. Defensively Z is the best forward on the team, however. But all encompassing, Datsyuk is the better player. That said, I don't think 6mil for Z is that huge of a discount.

Thought the topic was that Hossa & the wings were talking and Franzen was on hold. D: Whether we only sign Hossa or only sign Franzen (and others), we're going to have a great team again next year. Just as long as we don't sign both.

It's doubtful he gets the hint.

As good as babcock may be in his playing philosophy, he is the worst at creating his lineup.

LOL. It's only game #72!

Why hasn't babcock realised his lines suck yet?

Well.

Keeping Franzen just to trade flip would be a stupid move, it's never going to happen. Ever. Who is going to center that second line? Helm? Plus, Hossa and Franzen just don't play well on the same line. Neither do Z and Hossa. After ZDH, the best line we can have is Hossa Flip Leino. That line was ripping it up when the were together. Guess who was centering Hossa when he had that 7 goal over 5 game streak? That was flip. Leino was on that line as well. Hossa will sign, Franzen won't, and flip is going to be wearing a wings uniform for the next 4 years, at least. Count on it.

Haha

We need this win. 4-2 wings.

And we get our assistant coach back.

I agree about your first statement but your second is simply false. The first 3/4 of the season osgood was not playing well regardless of the team's performance. It can't be hidden. If it was true then Conklin would have been the only goalie with worse stats than Osgood.

Ever heard of Ilya Kovalchuk? Slava Kozlov? They may be at the bottom of the standings but they have some good offensive talent. Osgood play great, there is no doubt. His best game of the year. Him letting that puck though for one of the goals where the atlanta player had an open net was kind of weak, but that's about it. My faith in osgood is nearly restored.

Datsyuk is the coolest person in the world.

Belle tire!

Ozzie is looking like a champ right now. A Stanly cup champ, to be precise.