SwedeLundin77

I'm pretty sure I just heard the voice of God narrating that link that Lidstrom is returning. Hallelujah!!!!

Any news on if we regular folk can listen in on this conference call?

Easy, there isn't even any official news hitting the net yet about there actually being a presser... I wouldn't freak out just yet.

I don't know that a press conference is exactly good news... This could be a retirement announcement... just playing devil's advocate...

But we are in need of scoring depth on the wing... Franzen is spotty at times, Holmstrom is good for maybe 20 goals at this point, Cleary is good for 25 goals, Hudler is good for 20 goals (if he plays well), Bertuzzi is good for 15-20 goals.... The point being that we don't have a lot of goals coming out of our wingers, and it would be nice to have that Hossa type scorer on the wing. I'm not saying Jagr is that guy, but to say we don't need depth at the wing position is really false.

Umm... me thinks if Babcock has personally spoken with Jagr, that any "bad attitude" would be perceived or discussed. I think some are overblowing the idea that Jagr is a "lockerroom cancer." Any by the way, if Jagr doesn't fit into the lockerroom, how does Zherdev? Doesn't he have a bad attitude and is lazy at times? I'd rather have someone who is proven and 39 for one season than possibly sign someone for a multi-year contract that could potentially just be a more skilled Hudler with a bad attitude and lazy worth ethic. Don't forget that there is supposed to be a better UFA class next off-season and that we will need to work in Kronwall and Stuart's new contracts, so a 1 year deal may not be a bad thing. I'd say if Babcock vets the guy and all is well, I trust the signing (if it happens). Well, of course. If the guy is looking for more than 1.5 million, it's not happening in Detroit. So maybe the Zherdev lovers will get their wish?

At the end of the day, it's a business. If Holland and CO. feel that Jagr gives them a little offensive punch and helps the team over Draper, then so be it. Draper will still be a part of the organization, as he and the Wings have stated. This has no effect on Osgood either. Osgood is a matter of not playing very much over the past 2 seasons and Holland being concerned about his backup goalie's durability. I completely understand them possibly moving on from Ozzie. Ozzie will more than likely have a place in the front office as well. I don't know if Jagr will help, hinder, or be status quo... No one truly knows the answer to this question. The haters and fans alike will have their arguments for both sides, but the fact is that no one knows how much he can contribute. I think the organization owes it to themselves and the fans to consider any and all options, which is what Holland is doing in this case. It would be silly to just say, "he's too old, forget about it." If that were the case, bye bye Lidstrom. Jagr has been an older playing in a weaker league, but has consistently put up numbers in both regular season and playoffs over there. He has been reliable. If we can sign him for 1-1.5 million on a 1 year deal and he comes in and puts up 40 points +, then it's a success. If not, it'll be just like Modano, and we have guys to step in (Emmerton, Miller). I personally, would like to see it happen, only for the contract I listed above.

You sir, are an idiot.

I'm listening to CTV and apparently one of their reporters had to go the hospital.... ridiculous. This is NOT fun... or awesome. This is pitiful and it's a black eye on Vancouver. I'm disgusted.

Are you honestly backing the behavior or am I reading your acronym wrong? I hate Bettman as much as the next fan, but again, it's not about him, it's about the Bruins victory.

I don't care how much you hate the Commish.... have a little class when he's announcing the Stanley Cup Champs. This moment isn't about him, it's about Boston.

The guy is in his late 30's and has been racking up near a point per game since playing over there. I know it's not as hard as the NHL necessarily, but who's to say he wouldn't be fine playing one season here on the third line and on the powerplay?!? I think it's not a bad decision if the money is right and Hudler gets moved. Hell, even if Huds stays, maybe Jagr can teach him a few things about offense...

He could potentially play on all of the top three lines, but would more than likely be relegated to the third line with PP time as well. Why not if it's 1.5 million or less.

I love how "locker room cancer" is thrown around these boards quite often. I'm not saying your necessarily wrong, but cite sources where this information is obtained and so on. Fedorov was a primadonna, too. Maybe not to the extreme, but he was.

I kind of like the idea of Gallant for Offense and Hitchcock or Boughner for Defense... Although I saw a quote from Babcock stating the idea of getting guys who actually have less experience coaching for his assistants. He wants guys who will counter his personality and that of MacLean, McCrimmon, and McClellan. Sounds like he wants to shock the players into being less relaxed and working harder overall. He wants new ideas and energy.

I think this kind of signing will come down to the negotiations with Eaves and Miller.... If we cannot sign either one or maybe even just one of them - I can see us making a push to sign Drury to a 1 year, 1.5 million contract. I personally wouldn't mind it, but some will cite is ineffectiveness with NYR as a reason to say No. I just don't see it as that cut and dry.

Gallant and Hitchcock.... bring it on!

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=368780 Ruh Roh! Looks like this is happening. I wonder if this will have any influence on Lidstrom's decision to come back... This could be rough. Gallant and Boughner... Maybe we can get Gretzky to assistant coach the offense. Haha.

Is it just me, or does EVERYTHING eva says get inflated and overblown? Hulder 80+ points?!?! Zherdev to command over 3 million?!?! Connolly to command around 5 million?!?! You, my friend, are off your rocker if you think any of the above three are possible.

What if? That's what I want to know. I truly hope he returns one more season, but what if? Do we make a harder drive for some UFA's that we'd otherwise assume their current team would not let slip away? Ehrhoff? Bieksa? Markov? Would we maybe push for Yandle, considering the situation in Phoenix and needing to fill a very very large void with both Lids and Raffi gone? I know i've been attacked regarding RFA situations in the past here, but do you really think we wouldn't try, in this kind of scenario?

I like this lineup you proposed. I think you need to give Hudler every opportunity to succeed. Who knows, stranger things have happened. I think Bertuzzi is a guy you can shift up and down, same with Filppula (those two could switch spots as you have it). You did forget Abdelkader, as he'll be our 4th line center, making Emmerton the 13th forward. I like your defensive pairings too. I honestly think Wiz will be a wing next season and Pitkanen could follow as well (his ex-teammate Eaves is already here!) I could even see us landing Jokinen with Pitkanen if Holland thinks he could fit in. This would make Emmerton the 14th forward at that point and push Mursak into a part-time role. Competitition is good for these young guys. I honestly do not think MacDonald will be or should be our full-time backup 'tender. He was okay filling in last season, but I'm not confident in him being "the guy" if Howard gets hurt at all. You'd be much better off trying to trade for Nabokov at league minimum, Conklin, Hedberg, Boucher, etc... There is a plethora of backups available this season, so why not go and get one, unless Ozzie has one more season in him.

I'll eat crow on that one. My point still stands that anything is possible and all the naysayers who want to say that it CAN'T can go stick their heads in the sand.

For the last flipping time, I never said "offer sheet" in my original post. It was meant that we would obtain them by some means, and that means could be a trade, which is POSSIBLE. Not grasping at straws, I only mentioned offer sheet after the first unobservant person decided to interpret that out of my post. Holland does not always do what he says he will. He is a smart GM, and will consider ALL AVENUES when the need arises or the opportunity presents itself.

Classic example of blowing up my original point. You're saying trying to trade for an RFA or send an offer sheet is equal to a ridiculous trade? Come on now.

Careful on the generalization. Nashville's GM, David Poile, stated that he would match any offer sheet for Shea Weber. It could be assumed that a lot of GM's would do this, but let's not assume anything's impossible like some LGW'ers do. There is a difference between impossible and improbable. Being unrealistic is stating that we will trade Hudler for Ovechkin.... Unrealistic is not saying there is a chance (even if it is minimal) that an offer sheet is submitted if we lose Lidstrom as well. And also, classic to many arguments of this nature, people immediately put words in my mouth as I never directly stated we would send offer sheets to these players. Is it impossible to trade for the rights to Bogo or so on? No. Especially in the case of my original post on this topic... I stated that with Atlanta moving, some of their RFA's may not want to move with the team to icy Winnipeg and the uncertainty that lies within the organization (management, coaching, etc). People seem to just bounce back to the Shea Webber scenario.