T.Low

No doubt. What a bunch of thin skinned sensetive little boys we have around here, my God! He loved playing in Detroit. We knew it couldn't fit mathematically. Chicago is not Detroit, but you know what; its cool too. Yes, its a sports crazy town with a lot of history. I hope he has a good career there and doesn't beat us too badly in the process. If you guys are like this in your relationships with your sports figures, I'd hate to see you in a relationship with a girlfriend. Grow the f*** up, please!

Losing Hossa, Hudler, and Sammy in this off season has felt pretty bad for a lot of the fans. While I would go so far as to say I feel betrayed, some on LGW have. Many of us have talked about how we like that Detroit can be so loyal to its players, treating them like family. Yes, thats a great thing. We even expect players to take a hometown discount because of it. However, it can really back fire when the committment is not there from both sides. Did Detroit's trait of loyalty to its players turn around and bite us in the arse this off season, or are all the actions of the off season simply a product of the Cap Era? And i'm talking both sides of loyalty; because many here think that Detroit is being too loyal to Maltby and possibly Draper and Holmer, too. As in "because" of Malts, Drapes,Holmer, and trying to keep Huds that we couldn't sign Hossa or go after the big FAs. Just a thought that's been nagging at my brain for the last week or so, one that I've been trying to sort out and frame in a more cohesive pyschoanalytical way. Whattya think?

"BE FREE!" If he wants to be in Russia, I wouldn't want to kep him here. Let him go and lets move on.

I guess thats really the way I see it too. Short term sting, but long term gain. And not that the sting is that bad, but it stings a little nonetheless. Just somehting thats been bugging at me, so I thought I'd see what you guys think. Thanks

I guess I'm not sure of your post. I think most everyone knew Hossa was going to be a virtually impossible long shot, but you say 66% of the players you named that left was a bit of a suprise.

Yeah, I agree. I just can't help but think it sort of bit us a little this off season. But I guess that is part of the defininiton of "committment". We possibly sacrificed this year for the sake of loyalty, and in the long run, I agree, its for the best in regards to the organization.

Good stuff. I see and agree, thanks.

Well, actually, I do have quite an active life outside of being a Red Wing's fan and that may keep me from being able to foresee every aspect of the Wing's personnel movements. So no, I didn't really see Huds leaving, it was a bit of a suprise to me, I didn't see it coming. No need to be harsh about it. I'm not being negative, its just an observation. By the same token, I'll put you down for one who would never tell the Emporer that he has no clothes on. And why do you think the Wings would waste Nick Lidstrom's, Draper's, and Holmer's possible farewell years by not going for it all? Would you be that rude face to face, or do you prefer the internet so you can be a bit rude to people asking genuine questions?

Welcome to LGW! Definitely a debate worthy question. Personally, I think Dally ended the season with absolutely nothing left in the tank. I think he measured it out perfectly, that he would give it his absolute all at 100mph and leave it all on thei ice. It was a perfect storm for Dally, not so sure he could replicate it. On the other hand, Hossa's contribution in the playoffs was car pool gas money for a ride to the home games and that was about it. Drake would have been able to muster up a little more than that. Hmm. The world will never know.

Add to the mix that the Russky schedule is a helluva lot less grueling and the more time off between seasons allows for recovery and more fitness training. This, along with the bigger ice (= more room & contributes to less abuse) and the relatively softer nature of the euro game, could extend his playing years no matter if he decides to stay there or return the NHL.

x2. I see his crease position as a 3 fold benefit: the obvious goalie distraction which in itself is huge, and also that opens up a heck of a lotta ice for D & Z to manuever around on. Lastly, it adds to depth because someone who has more all round hockey skills than he, can be placed lower on the 2nd or 3rd line. Holmer has been a very valueable Red Wing.

Gillis will probably go after Campbell. Canucks need a puck moving defensemen so badly that I'm sick of listenning abowt it, eh.

My friend in Alaska has two Siberian Huskies from the same litter. He named them Saku and Koivu. True story. Edit: He's hates the Ducks, though.

Great idea, lets sign him so he can figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life. He may just need to find himself. He may just need to struggle thru an 82 game season, go thru the motions of the first couple of playoff rounds and maybe while karen Newman is singing at the start of the WCF, it will come to him that with his lifetime of hockey already, and his 100million dollars in the bank, and his new bride, he'd actually rather be chartering Tiger Woods' yacht in the Caribean right at that moment. Time for something different, you know. Detroit Red Wings therapy session? WTF? And most Canuck fans are not excited to see him back in 09.

Too true, too true. Poor Quince He was loving the room in LA, being one of the main up and coming youngsters. Would be cool to end up with him again somehow.

Link please. I think it was Pratt from the Team 1040 Vancouver was in Chicago for the Canucks/Hawks series and when asked if he thought certain things were a result of Bowman and Quennville teaming up, Pratt quickly and emphatically responded saying, " NO." When the radio guy in Vancouver responded asking "NO?", Pratt said, "All I'm going to say about it is NO." Radio guy says, "But Scotty Bowman is the consultant and wouldn't Quennville want to tap into all that hockey knowledge?" Pratt, again, "No., and thats all I'm gonna say about it". He obviously saw or heard things that he didn't want to repeat on the air regarding their situation. Pratts an old school hockey guy (for a radio personality anyway) and and feels discretion is the better part of valour, even in radio. He'll protect certain privacies of the players and coaches. The only thing I really saw was Bowman jumping out of his seat when Campbell got caught way down low and CLeary? or somebody got a break away and scored. You could see Bowman was furious and kept shouting at someone else in the booth and pointing to where Campbell was so far down low for a Dman on the ice. Edit: Or was that agianst Vancouver, hell, I can't remember. I can easily see Q having a lot of resentment for Bowman and them not getting along, or e ven communicating effectively for that matter. And Bowman is not the easiest guy to get along with anyway. I do kinda hope that experiment doesn't work out.

I've been thinking the sme thing. And correct me if I'm wroing, but doesn't Sammy have a Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold? The guy was a huge value and the reason Canuck fans are excited is that he already played on a line with the Sedins on their Olympic Gold run. I think he's going to light it up for them.

dude, watta ya think? They're millionaires and athletic. I liked sammy, he played his role well in Detroit. Listenning to Vancouver's team 1040 and a caller says its the best thing to ever happen to the knuckleheads. They think he's gonna be great on a line with the Sedins.

I think he farted a lot in the playoffs and no one seemed to notice him, so i'd have to say no.

WTF? Thats great! Is that an original or is everyone calling them the Heritage Line except me? Thats funny as hell!

All you guys whining about the regular season not meaning anything are the same guys that s*** the bed every time the Wings lose a game during the season or only get a 1 goal win. Don't bother responding to this because you got nothing. Nuh-thing!

Goddamot Blakky, you made me spit up beer all over my dang key board! If we could sign 2002 Bertuzzi for 1.?m...I'd think about it. But the guy is such a s***. Why doesn't Iginla want him back?

Even though i don't necessarily agree with some of your statements or line combos, thanks for a well thought out post. Many good points and theories, indeed. I do think, however, that I agree with your overall thesis: too much misaligned talent in general. Maybe thats why we looked lethargic at tmes last year. Abs, of course is said to be in GR next year, and i don't see Leino as a 3rd line energy guy... and I don't have time to respond to everything, but I like where you're going with this. Edit: I guess I do want to say this: 08-09 was a perfect storm year and it hurts real bad that we had the opportunity of a Cap Era lifetime and let it slip thru our gloved hands without winning the Stanley Cup. It was the perfect storm year as Zetterberg was an unbelievable value, Franzen was an unbelievable value, we had the luxury of being able to rent Marian Hossa, and we got the big push from the cheap young guys (Helm, Ericcson,Abdelkader) and 2 goalies for less than (help me out here) $3 or $4m for the two of them? Redonkulous values on that team. Will NEVER happen again.

Thats the funniest thing I've read in a long time.