Nev

Summer of '92 my best mate Pez got Sega Hockey on his Megadrive and we spent all summer playing that thing which was when I first started to take an intrest in Hockey. That September I went to America to study at U of Toledo. Wings games were on TV a, winter was dark and cold, so I kinda found myself watching it and being drawn in without realising it. TBH the one player that stands out for me that year was Mario Lemiuex - it was the year of his cancer and I remember when he came back, it seemed like every morning I'd turn on ESPN and see some hightlight of him undressing the opposing D and making the goalie look like a moron. Despite missing 1/3 of the season he still won the scoring title by a country mile. Being in the states to watch him and Jordan in their prime was a treat. As for the Wings, that year they had the core of young players that would carry them to success - Fedorov, Kozlov, McCarty, Konstantinov, Lidstrom etc. That post-season was the year of the choke against Toronto, and *that* game 7. I guess it was best to be introduced to Redwings post-season heartbreak right fromthe start....

Which surprises me that he would even consider playing elsewhere. If family is more important than Hockey, he should be signing that contract quicker than you can say "thankyouKenHolland"

Beauty I remember being off work the day after this game and staying up till stupid-o-clock watching it That really was a terrific series, 2 great teams going at it hammer and tongs. Games 3 & 6 were two of the best performances I have ever seen the Wings give. BTW whatever happened to Olaufsson? He seemed to disappear off the face of the earth after we won the cup.

Never doubted him - always knew his not living up to the hype was entirely down to a succession of injuries. Anyone who saw him play in the Olympics or World Championships would know what he was capable of. Thankfully he's also lost the "Nick Jr" tag he was labelled with. Hopefully no-one expects him to be the next #5 He just needs to stay healthy now and work on the one weak area of his game - getting shots on net!

Good list. I'd probly put Niederwhiner over Pronger, and I'd definately put Fedorov above Shanahan.

That one. Especially in the neutral zone. And yeah, he had a 2 goal game in the finals, but go back and re-read that GDT, and check out all the "WTF SAMUELSSON????"s before he scored his first. I also agree that he needs to use his size more. Having said that, I thought he was pretty good when he was stuck on the 3rd line, a 3rd line of Cleary/Draper/Samuelsson is a pretty decent unit.

I'm sorry, did you watch the Stanley Cup finals? Y'know, where Flip completely outplayed Evgeni Malkin, on one knee? Unless by "Big-time" you mean another Pavel or Hank. Well, he's not being paid Pavel or Hank money, he's being paid 2nd line money, which is what he is. A good, young, 2nd line Centre.

You've misunderstood my point - I'm saying people are criticising a $3M salary for Flip based upon last seasons performance, not what he might put up in 08-09 and beyond.

Z-D-Hull was an incredible line. When I was watching them I used to think "if only Z & D were a few years older and Hull was a few years younger...." Watching the Euro twins play with the puck whilst Hull camped in the slot waiting for the one-timer was a thing of beauty. That Forsberg-Hedjuk-Tangay line used to scare me to death when they were on the ice. No mention yet of the Legion Of Doom? The young,healthy Eric Lindros was a beast (although no match for Nick and Vladdy mind )

I'm happy - very happy - with this deal. Everyone keeps saying how we've overpaid for him this season. Thats not true, we've overpaid for him last season, which was really his first full NHL season. For $3M we've got a solid 2-way centre - good on face-offs, good defensively, good skater, should put up 20 goals a year. As I said earlier, playing with Hossa and Mule (both in a contract year) he should put up career numbers. His biggest problem last year was consistancy. His streakiness is probly the biggest weakness in his game In 2013 I expect $3M will look like a bargain for him.

Because no-one on the Wings - not ever Homer - gets as many face washes as Hudler. And he always goes back for more. He's scrappy in a cute, I'm-not-actually-going-to-hurt-you kind of way.

Absolutely awesome video - thanks for posting. Watching it reminds me of Lionel Messi of Barcelona, team-mates call him the playstation footballer because of his incredible dribbling abilty. Pavel Datsyuk is surely the Playstation Hockey player? He came late to the NHL don't forget. He was 23 in his rookie season if my maths are correct.

Based purely upon points, Feds is being overpayed, but their is his face-offs and defensive play to factor in. You also have to remember the gushing praise he got from the Caps players and management for his leadership on and off the ice. With such a young team, a veteran forward who commands instant respect is highly valuable.

Its generally considered poor form to sign someone to a contract then trade them at the first opportunity. And the most we'd get for Lilja - especially when everyone knows we need to dump a Dman - would be 4th, maybe a 3rd.

My brother-in-law is good friends with a TOP soccer agent - good enough friends that he lent him his house in Marseille for his honeymoon He told me that most sports agents are little short of criminals in the way they control their clients. The standard agents fee in soccer is 10% plus other perks like a couple of season tickets etc. If its the same in the NHL, Winter just lost out on a LOT of money.

Go read the article again people and see who makes the comment *hint* its not Fedorov. But then again, when did Wings fans let the truth get in the way of their anti-Sergei predjudice?

Tell me Burkey, just how did your moves last season work out again?

Well, that would be pretty stupid of them if they do. Offer more than $3.9M and the Wings will not match, you'll gain a player you don't want, and it will cost you your 1st, 2nd and 3rd round draft picks. Honestly, why do people keep coming out with this "someone will offer Flip a contract to spite the Wings" rubbish?

Would you want to play for an overgrown baby like Therien? Or a MAN like Mike Babcock?

That's why they are 3rd pairing D-men Whoever loses out in camp, I doubt we'll get very much for them when the rest of the league knows the predicament we are in. Think Burke trying to trade Bryzgalov or dump Fedorov.

HOLY FRACKING MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never, NEVER, NEVER expected us to sign Hossa. I thought all those calling for Kenny to sign him weren't living in the real world. This is just unbelievable. What a team we have - but now, anything less than the cup is total failure with this roster. Damn straight. I'd like to see ANY agent argue against Kenny when he says that

If I'm Filpulla I would sign a 1 year deal with Detroit. On one wing, he has a beast in Marian Hossa, who incidentally is in a contract year On the other wing he has another beast in Johan Franzen, who also incidentally is also in a contract year If Flip doesn't put up career numbers he wants shooting. With Hossa and Franzenstein he should put up career highs in goals and assists, and wait for the big offers to come flooding in. And don't forget, if someone offers him $5M this year, they have to give up an insane amount of draft picks. The absolute most anyone will offer him is $3.9M which will cost them a 1st and a 3rd. I love Flip, but he's not worth $4M+ and he's not worth a 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Already exists

Fantastic job re-signing him. Money is on the high side, but still much less than he would get on the open markey. Are Meech & Quincy still on 2-way deals or would they have to clear waivers to be sent down?

My wife used to go out with a professional hockey player. He was as stupid as a plank of wood.