digitaljohn88

I read on another forum that his contract is specifically NHL or back to Finland for the year. He's an MVP there and doesn't want to spend any time playing in a second-tier league here. If that's true, he'll either make the Wings or go back to Finland.

3.5 for a #5/6 awesome.

Sundin I still see as possible. Hossa, if he would accept 1 year [don't think so]. We're cup favorites without either of them. If one of them signs for this year, holy s***.

We have the best GM in hockey. Hossa would have been great,... till 09' came and we're salary f***ed. Can't rely on the cap to go up. Good job Kenny.

They only signed him for $800k. Not a bad chance to take, especially if they still get a real starter. If they somehow got rookie-year Raycroft it will be the move of the year.

Whether they can stand up to the West or not, they won't be last place next year. Going from last place to playoffs is a good step no matter how you accomplish it. If, of course, their offense plays to potential and they make it.

A post from a goalie forum I read explains it fairly well... Basically, goalies were automatically given #1 back when there was only one goalie on a team. When teams expanded to two goalies, the second goalie was given a number at the end, usually in the 30's. Eventually, more goalies spread to the 30's because the #1's were taken, retired, and 30's just became associated with them. edit: eva beat me to it. Same idea.

I see where you're coming from, but the fact is that the 'Yotes would have been fourth in any other division this year. Using Anaheim, Dallas, and San Jose is a crutch. The Coyotes got half their wins from the Pacific. Their division didn't affect (maybe helped) their overall record. If the Coyotes can maintain success against the Pacific, and learn to play against the rest of the league, I could see a situation where they make the playoffs even if the big three in the division also do. It would be similar to the Atlantic last year, having four playoff teams. Or, the Ducks can crash and burn, leaving Phoenix to take their spot. On a sidenote, I don't know if more than one Northwest team is a lock for the playoffs next year: Minnesota Colorado Calgary Edmonton Vancouver Could leave a spot open for Phoenix to sneak in

Phoenix had a divisional record of 19-11-2 vs the other Pacific teams last year. Their division is no excuse. The Coyotes missed the playoffs because they went 19-26-5 against teams NOT in the Pacific. My buddy is a big Coyotes fan and said the same thing about the Pacific, but it's the Central and Northwest teams that are beating them. If anything, they might be worse off in another division, since they seem to play so well against the Pacific.

I don't think we'll re-sign Stuart, but we'll be just fine without him. We have the depth, but we could still pick up another free agent either before the season or at the deadline if it's a problem. Not sure about our goalie situation. The best possible thing for us is to have Howard backing up, but it might be better to have another guy to compete if that goes wrong. Also, Holland may be thinking of Ozzy as well. As good as he is, his best years in his career are when he was working in a good tandem. Maybe he's looking for a 1a 1b system, and doesn't think Howard is ready.

LOL yeah, we've got roughly the same team as we did last year, when Osgood was an all-star. What did Ozzy do with that team in the playoffs? Only win the cup. He's playing the best hockey of his career. Yeah, we definitely need to spend money on a free agent goaltender. Good move.

I think the higher amount of righties has to do with the influx of young American defensemen. I could be wrong though.

If he wants 4, they should give him 1.8. They're already paying him 2.2 per year for nothing, what does he expect?

You being a 6'2 goalie invalidates your objective opinion as much as me being a 5'9 goalie. Don't forget, that you've been a fan of "beefing up your height and weight" since I've known you. You're 6'2 already and you make more effort to increase the size of your gear than I do. Did you not put a Giguere setup on your own chest protector and pants? The best possible thing would be if they prevented those little cheats, and standardized the sizing on the chest protector and pants. Even if they size the pads by height, I don't think it will matter that much. The bigger difference would be in the chest and pants. Knee-pads could be also be looked at. Goalies like Giguere and Luongo use them primarily to plug up the five-hole, definitely moreso than their leg pads. And I love how everyone here is bitching about Legace's pads, but noone touches Osgood. Ozzy is using the max 38" pads too, and I'm sure he could lose a few inches if he wanted to without sacrificing any protection. Just like any other goalie in the league right now, but Legace gets all the s*** because he happens to be 5'7 instead of 5'10.

In my opinion, the Hart is more prestigious... but multiple Conn Smythes with no Harts beats out multiple Harts with no Conn Smythes.

As a goaltender myself, I am in support of smaller equipment overall. More form fitting, only what's necessarry, etc. But I am NOT in favor of sizing equipment based on body size. ie: Kolzig can have 40" pads but Legace can only have 32". The smaller goalies are already starting to fall out of favor in the draft, and this would only further that trend. Smaller goalies have to be faster and more reflexive, even when they are using the same size equipment as the big guys. I'd like to keep them around as opposed to a league full of 6'3 "blocking" goalies.

Lidstrom is the greater player, but Yzerman is the greater Red Wing. If that makes any sense.

It would be HUGE if the Wings played a game in Sweden....

Lidstrom will be retired. Osgood brings up an interesting argument, partly because of the history of Wings goalies. The last goalie the Red Wings had other than Ozzy that started more than 3 seasons was.... Greg Stefan from 84'-89'. Osgood has been a staple in the Wings goal compared to the circus of other goalies we've gone through. With 2 (3) cups already, and the possibility for more, he may have a case once he retires.

I believe Cheli has already said he wants to come back, and Holland already said he'd take him back. The real question, is will he crack the top 6 in the lineup?

anyone know if there will be a online feed of the press conference?

Thanks for nothing, you lousy son of a *****. just kidding! Way to go out classy this time.

What comes next? A GREAT goalie would have had a .940 instead of a .930 in the playoffs? Oh, s***... let's go spend 7 mil on a goalie who may or may not be as consistent as the one we have now. I think some of you are forgetting that a legend coming off a great year couldn't cut it behind the same D.

This guy broke the lineup with no training camp and a month of conditioning... Give the man a contract, see what he can do next year!

He's not a hall of famer right now, but a couple more great seasons would get him there. He has a couple of really strong arguments... 363 wins... when he eclipses 400 he'll be top 10 all time, maybe even top 5 at the end of his career 2nd goalie in history to win cups 10 years apart i believe... (Sawchuk the first) 2 Stanley Cups as a starter (could add more) Career 59 playoff wins 4 All Star appearances A Vezina would put him over the top. Damn you, Jim Carey... but it has to be considered that some of his stellar years he only played around 50 games. Perhaps he'd have two if it weren't for Vernon and Hasek in his two best seasons. REPEAT Oz, and guarantee that spot in the hall.