titanium2

A game or two with 10-12 minutes? Sure. Can he handle what Ericsson had to step into when Lilja went down? Hells no.

Is it possible to sign and trade under the CBA? My hope is that they re-sign him. But if he asks for too much then maybe they can trade him for someone. Yes I know that the cap hit will be the same but the Wings are going to trade one defenseman anyways.

Lidstrom was one of a kind. The Red Wings won't replace him. However, no one knew Lidstrom would be the franchise defenseman he is today until he started winning Norris trophies. My hope is that someone on the Wings' depth chart will come out of the woodwork and surprise us the way Lidstrom did. If not, you all know that the Wings will find some way to acquire someone. So and so is unhappy in such and such city and can't save a dying franchise and so they trade him with one year left on his contract to the Wings for Kindl or some high-end prospect because something is better than nothing and the Wings get the kind of guy they're looking for to be THE man on the back end. Hopefully Tampa suddenly has crappy weather all day every day, the girls get uglier and the team gets stuck at rock bottom so that the Wings can acquire Victor Hedman in a few years.

His idea of elite involves players who've been hyped up since they were 14, Lindros, Crosby, etc. No, he didn't actually say that, but if you don't consider Pav and Z elite then that's probably how he thinks. The funny part is that Zetterberg actually came to Detroit with a ton of hype from Sweden and finished runner up to the Calder trophy, just like Yzerman and Lidstrom. Sure, Z may not be top-10 in scoring. However, when Stevie finally shed his old run and gun style that really racked up the points and chose to become the elite two-way player that set the example of how every Wings forward is supposed to play (which I think he completed in 98 or 99) and you look at his point totals the next set of years after, they're in the 60s and 70s and on average probably comparable to Z's stats when he began his prime. Zetterberg is everything the Red Wings look for in a franchise player today. Now if he were drafted to a crappy team would he be able to save that franchise? No one will ever know. But if you're a Wings fan, who the hell cares? He's a Wing. He's everything the Wings organization wants in a franchise player. And it's not hard for hockey fans in general to understand that unless they're caught up in the lame images by the NHL.

That's what made me stop. I thought I was having an intelligent discussion but he's just looking to bash the wings. Nothing new though. That's definitely on my list of some of the dumbest things opposing fans have said. Almost up there with that one Pens fan who cried that the Pens lost game 2 because the opposing home team supplies the sticks and equipment and obviously the Wings tampered with the Pens equipment.

No they're not great at drafting. They're just good at winning 4 cups in 11 years. Oh, and having the longest active playoff appearance streak in all of sports.

The though of putting Franzen with Pav and Z never occurred to me at first but it's a great idea. It could be the best line four weeks into the season. Pav-Z-Mule Leino-Fil-Cleary Helm and whoever Drapes and whoever or if the twins need time apart Mule-Z-Cleary Fil-Pav-Leino

No they won't replace Lidstrom but good thing they're getting a couple of legit goaltending prospects. Plus, Lidstrom wasn't a player that had the "franchise" label on him from the beginning. He developed into one. He's still here for now and probably 2 more years, which is enough time for someone to develop into that label.

You serious?

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/07/re...land_on_at.html Somewhat implies that he will be on the roster next year. "Leino, Abdelkader and Helm are ready. We think Valteri Filppula, at age 25, can take a step forward. Jiri Hudler can take a step forward. We have a power forward we like in Franzen and two elite players in Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. That's the cap world. The cap world is not designed for you to have these guys and go get a Hossa. The salary cap is working: It's a level playing field."

That's probably how I'd do it. Though can Abdelkader play RW? I thought he got benched because he was too used to playing center for GR. Well... actually, I guess it was the finals and not the best time for experimenting, but the question remains. But if so then yeah I'd like that 3rd line. Abby isn't shy about providing a net front presence. Oh Homer on the 4th line. Has he finally come full circle since his start in 96-97?

I'd say twelve with one shorthanded. If Abby plays full time next year I hope he's ready to play wing. Apparently that was the reason he got benched during the finals.

He never said that the Ducks weren't old. All he wanted to do was criticize the Wings so that he could feel better about his own crappy team.

In the end, let's just hope for the best. I'd rather invest faith and be disappointed than have little to no faith at all.

Poor Hossa.

It's not a bad idea. I hope he can play wing. He's not really an ideal player for the 4th line but he's serviceable.

Reeeeeeeee-Tolaaaaaaaaaaa

Let's say a cross between the two. Drake was a kamikaze hitter.

He looks like an infant sometimes.

They really should. I like Kronwall's shot but he's a better passer. Plus, pass Kronner the puck, he pulls that stutter step move, draws two men, dishes it off to Jonny who fires that rocket, deflects of three-four men, loose puck, open net, Franzen taps it in.

Not a fan of Chicago's version of whiny face?

Abby shouldn't be compared to Maltby. Abby's game doesn't involve him being a wuss by severe conscious choice. If you had to pick a Red Wing, it's McCarty because Abby has some potential for the top-6 but will probably just play on the 3rd/4th line.

I'd like for Abby to get a new number. 8 doesn't seem right.

He did have a goofy looking form to his skating. I supposed I am going to miss that. At least he always got to where he needed to be.

I reckon I talk good American.