South Dakota wings fan

There are some possibilities for new line combos, that is for sure. They shouldn't have to worry about salary cap problems now.

I don't want to sound like chicken little on this one, but a lot of the reporting on this story makes it sound like they want to bring in another hard-liner to head the union. This should make every hockey fan nervous for the prospects of another lockout. I think we all love this sport, but it is just not near popular enough to survive another work stoppage. I love the game, but if it happens again, it would be really hard to come back.

That would be my top line. I would put Leino as the 3rd guy on that second line though. I suppose he will grow into it as the season goes along though.

What about these: Z-D-Cleary Mule-Flip-Leino Bert-Helm-Willy Homer-Draper-Eaves Maltby This could allow Homer to play less minutes even strength, but still play on the top PP unit with Z & D and maybe try to keep him healthy.

Bertuzzi? I thought you said you wanted somebody who could fight?

I must say it is too bad if they can't bring Downey back...especially if he can be had for 500k. I realize he is a very one dimensional player, but I really got the sense he is a great locker room guy. Not to mention the fans love the energy he brought to the game. I think it was a home game against Dallas last year that he was the only thing worth cheering that night at the Joe.

I tend to agree. Let Homer be a 4th line banger and then park in front of the net on the power play. Maybe that will help keep him healthy for the full season. Cleary is more than capable of playing on the first line and I think Villie will get the chance, ala Hudler, to prove he can play on the 2nd line with Flip and Mule.

I have a hard time believing any team will trade for Jiri when he stated publicly that Detroit was the only NHL team he wanted to play for. When that didn't look possible, he decided to go to the KHL instead. I think I read in there that if the wings accept his arbitration decision, whether they intend to trade him or not, the KHL will not allow the contract. So maybe someone would want him, but it would only be a one or two year deal, so any other NHL team may be very reluctant to trade for him.

Get ready to see every Pitt v. Philly game on Vs and NBC next season. Can't say I wouldn't watch either.

I think getting some grinders that can chip in the occasional goal, and willing to drop the gloves occasionally would go a long way for them next season. I think it would also help players to better "know their role". We could use some McCarty/Lapointe from their prime type of guys on the 3rd and 4th line.

Agreed. Let him prove himself and see where to go from there. More cap room and more opportunities after the contract is up.

Agee on all points. Booing him would be silly. Time to stop living in your parents basement.

Yes. Money is more important than the team you were playing for. If you make 30k a year, it's easy to think there is no difference between making an average of 4 million versus 5 million over a 12 year contract. But that is 12 million dollars! He will need to live off of that money for the rest of his life. He has to pay an agent, TAXES, handlers, his family (assuming he has a wife and kids) to take care of. This is a job to them. They are not fans. Any wings fan who thought there wasn't a chance that he would be one and done, needs to take the blinders off. Was I surprised he went to Chicago? Yes. Am I mad at him? No.

I wouldn't mind seeing Huds on a one year contract so they can see where the cap goes next year, and have some added space to play with.

A rubber match would be awesome. Let's just hope both teams can be fully rested before the series starts. I think that really handicapped the wings later in the series.

You took the words right out of my...fingers? The Penguins fans and team feel like they were insulted by Hossa as he left last offseason. It's not like Hossa requested a trade last year, or said, "I'll only accept a trade to the Pens." The guys only played a handful of regular season games for them. This just goes to show why athletes don't tell the media the truth, it can come back to haunt them. As you said, if he stays in Pitt, there is no way the are able to make the deadline moves that they did, and probably don't win the cup. If anything, Pens fans should be thanking Hossa.

The problem with players like Drapes, Maltby, and/or Homer potentially retiring like some are calling for, is that I think they are all over 35. Depending on when they signed their contracts, the could still count against the salary cap, thus defeating the purpose.

If he's truly injured and can't play, his 1.2 million wouldn't count against the cap because he would go on LT IR.

Ty Conklin is now 0-3

I think the hardest thing for me is, this team had a chance to be something special. Granted, no one can take away their 4 cups in 11 years. But to go back to back for a second time, they could have become immortals. Now, this team is just another one and done when you look at the record books.

I would agree completely.

After the first 8 minutes of great play from the wings, they look like they gave up. Sure hope they can force OT in the 3rd. Would someone please make a play! This team should not be out of gas, so figure it out. I'm afraid it looks like Pierre might be right, the hockey gods don't look like they are with the Winged wheel tonight.

Doesn't seem like much of an upgrade to me.

It better be there best game, or they may not get a chance to recover. I sure don't want them to be only the second team to lose a series after winning the first two games of the finals.

I think the Pens have played better overall. Short of a few bounces in games 1 and 2, the Wings could be in a lot of trouble right now. The thing that concerns me, is after every game the wings say "Tonight we didn't play as well as we are capable of." This sounds like something the other team in the series usually says, not the wings. At some point, you aren't playing well because the other team is better. I just hope that is not what is happening this series.