South Dakota wings fan

I live in Sioux Falls, SD, and we have a team in the USHL called the Stampede. I have season tickets, but was unable to go last Saturday night when they played the Chicago Steel and Red Wings draft pick Max Nicastro. I will be going the next time they play in November. Max had a goal and an assist and 4 PIM. My wife's friend from college dates the radio "voice of the stampede" and he tells me this about Max's performance: "Nicastro does look pretty solid. He is definitely there top defenseman and looked like a leader on the ice. He also took a stick to the mouth at the end of the game which resulted in a 4 minute powerplay for Chicago that we were luckily able to hold off and held on for the win. It’s probably too early to say, but I would think he’s got a good shot at making it to the big show. He is going to Boston University next year too so he will get some good experience there as well. " Just thought I would pass that along, I am very excited to see him play in person.

Honestly, for the strength of the whole league, I would prefer to see Detroit and Columbus move to the eastern time zone division(s). Columbus has good players, and their natural rival is the penguins. They should be playing in the same division with them, not the Wings. Detroit also belongs in the east. This may leave two 8 team divisions in the east, and two 7 team divisions in the west. You can't have your cake and eat it too. So do you want to be in an eight team division in the east? Or stay in the west? As far as EJ Hradek's comments in the earlier post, I don't see how Detroit would fit into the Southeast divison. Nasvhille yes, Detroit no.

I wouldn't have a problem with a Erhoff like contract. The cap hit was only $4 million, and the player gets paid. Protects against any roll back of salary in new CBA, and utilizes these loopholes before they are closed up. 10 years may be a bit much, but 6 isn't bad.

Bang, bang play, but I have a hard time beleiving he won't get some suspension.

This really hit me hard this morning when I first read it. I've been in shock all day. Very tragic for everyone involved. I don't know if it is because I am a new father, but I couldn't help but get a sinking feeling. It made me think of how Salei had taken some time away in March when his last child was born. Now that child, and so many other children, have lost their father's. I just don't know how to describe how I feel.

Z-Dats-Cleary Mule-Flip-Bert Homer-Abby-Mursak Miller-Helm-Eaves Huds-Emmerton ???

Last year when that survey from the hockey news, CBC, or SI came out, wasn't Babs rated as the coach most players would like to play for? Torts was the most demanding, Babs was second. It is a double edged sword. Not all humans like being told what they do wrong, and then many times blame their boss for their ineptitude.

I think the D corps will be better for many of the reasons people have mentioned. They replace McRimmon. I think Commodore provides a "shut down" element we have lacked recently. I do feel bad for Kindl. He looked to be slated for that #6 spot, but now I think he ends up stuck at #7 because he is left handed. I keep scratching my head trying to figure out pairings. They say Kronwall is now the #2 guy, but does that mean he plays the right side with Lidstrom on the top pairing? Does Stuart continue to be Lids partner? Lids-Kronner Stuart-White E-Commie Kindl or Lids-Stuart Kronner-White E-Commie Kindl or Lids-Stuart Kronner-Commie E-White or Lids-E Kronner-Commie Stuart-White Lots of possibilites and time to figure it out. The problem last year wasn't goal scoring, the problem was shutting teams down in the third when they got a lead. I think this defense looks more capable of doing that.

I'm not going to get my underwear in a bundle about the comment. I heard it live on tv. My first thought though was Rafalski's contract. That was market value. I would say it wasn't the classy thing to do by saying that. I don't blame him for wanting the most money he could get on his chance for a long-term deal. He's almost gone to arbitration two years in a row and ended up with one year deals. In this market, I don't blame him for taking the term, money, and chance at ice time in Columbus.

I would say it is the nature of a coach to be upset when he watches his competitors improve. The West has gotten much better in the last few days. SJ simply had better assets to give the Wild in exchange for Burns. Plain and simple. The Wild needed scoring, and they got it. The Sharks wanted a right handed D who could try to replace Rob Blake. They got it. Detroit didn't really have that to offer.

I tip my hat to the Blackhawks for their moves. They had to get out from under that Campbell contract and the Panthers had to add salary to get to the floor. Not to mention Florida just got better. Note to all UFA, you may get a payday, but you might end up playing somewhere very un-sexy. "Don't try to get happier than happy," Colin Cowherd. Did you hear that Big E?

If they trade a 2nd round pick for the rights to Wiz, it may make me scratch my head a little. But, on the other hand they may want to get a possible negotiation done so they know how much they have left to spend on a forward??

Looks like Wisniewski is probably a goner.

Colombus can't afford to wait for any more draft picks to develop. They need to sell tickets and start winning ASAP. I think this trade makes them better and keeps them competetive while improving their horrible power play. I wonder if the CBJ wishes they hadn't passed on Cam Fowler last year in the draft after seeing how well he played in Anaheim this season. Could have been the PP point man they need on the back end. I think the western conference and central division just got a lot stronger today. Can we move East now?

My first thought was who will be their 2nd line center as well, but then when I read somewhere Giroux would be slotted there, I remembered that he is a natural center. Looks like Voracek and Simmonds are RFA who need to be re-signed, but this might give them the flexibility to re-sing Leino. Richards and Carter must have really been a problem in the dressing room. I'm not excited by the fact that the Western conference and Central division just got a lot stronger.

I like Cobie Smulders...but not for saying "Lindstrom".

It would probably have to be conditional draft picks. I don't think the NHL does the "player to be named later" like the MLB does. Also, I think you could get permission to speak with the player about possible contract expectations. I remember Holland saying that he had allowed Hossa permission to speak with teams about contracts as a courtesy when they knew they wouldn't be re-signing him. If this were to happen, it any trade would probably have to be completed after July 1 when he would technically be in his contract year. To me, if the Red Wings decided that they thought Burns was heads and shoulders above any UFA, making a trade that requires giving up assets may not be a bad idea.

Don't feel bad, Crymson shut me down for suggesting that the Wild were interested in possibly trading Burns this summer. Then I was also told by someone I didn't understand the business side of the NHL. I'm not sure where the litmus test is on this site to qualify to post something you read on reputable sources (not Ecklund) without being called stupid for suggesting it. I do think Brent Burns would be a good addition to the Red Wings. It would be nice to think we could package one of our under achieving forwards with smaller cap hits than Burns (Hudler or Filppula) has to replace Rafalski. This would then allow them the money and roster spot to possibly add a top six forward to the lineup. To me, the question becomes whether or not you think Burns is better than any option on this year's UFA list (Wiesniewski, Bieksa, Pitkanen) and if it is worth trading now to get him or try to wait a year and hope someone else hasn't locked him up for the future. I don't know the answer, but it is a fun question to ask.

Sucks for us, good for him. Best of Luck Paul.

Point of information: He was selected by the Indiana Ice in the USHL futures draft this spring. So, he claimed he would go to the USHL before Michigan. (Mike Babcock's son was drafted by Cedar Rapids in the same draft)

I really hope Jamie Oleksiak falls to Detroit. I watched this kid play for a half a season with the Sioux Falls Stampede in 2010. If you want size and a stay at home defensmen, this is your guy. 6'7" and around 240 lbs. He has a bit of a mean streak. Not afraid to drop the gloves with that long reach of his. He plays at Northeastern, and everything I read says his game continues to improve. Could be that element they have sought since Jiri Fischer and Derian Hatcher have been gone.

I understand that Burns is under contract for one more year, at a reasonable price. But I believe he is a free agent after that. There has been speculation this summer that Burns may be traded by the Wild while they can still get something in return for him because they are afraid they cannot afford him when he becomes a free agent. No, it wasn't Ecklund either. I didn't say they would acquire him, but I believe I said he would be a nice addition. I think we will most likely see a UFA signing. Wouldn't be opposed to going conservative with said signing and waiting until 2012.

The only thing is, the Wild are in a bit of a salary cap crunch. Burns name has come up in trade rumors because they don't know if they can afford him after next year. They also struggled to score this year. Maybe they would take another Finn to go with Koivu in a trade for Burns? I think the biggest factor might be the fact the Wild wouldn't want to trade him within the conference. Which is one reason I could see the Caps and Wings making a trade including Green because of seperate conferences.

The nice thing is they can give Smith a taste of the big time if they want to and still send him down for more seasoning without fear of losing him on waivers. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get some spot duty in case of injuries.