Green Wing

750k, per LeBrun. Perfect.

Sounds like the boys are going to ply him with liquor and get him signed up.

I need my eyes tested, I read the sub-heading as 850k... and I was a little disappointed. 650k is great.

Columbus claim Ethan Moreau from waivers. http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/ The Blue Jackets have claimed veteran left winger Ethan Moreau on waivers from the Edmonton Oilers, The Dispatch has learned. Moreau, 34, was put on waivers by the Oilers on Tuesday with the intention of buying out the remaining one year and $1.75 million on his contract. The Blue Jackets wanted to claim Moreau rather than let him become a free agent on Thursday, sources said, where he'd be seeking a two- or three-year contract. He is seen as a perfect compliment on the Blue Jackets' third line with center Sammy Pahlsson. The Blue Jackets can certainly use his size, intensity and veteran presence in the dressing room.

^On his Twitter this morning. Interesting. Dreger usually knows what's going on. Can't see it happening myself, though.

Some people on here were talking about Ethan Moreau being an option a while back. Looks like he's been bought out. If he took close to the minimum, plus his buyout money, it might be an option? Or just another unnecessary oldie on the team?

The final is 11th of July. I agree entirely about the challenge system - I've been saying for ages what a good idea it is. IMO, there's always seemed to be a hidden agenda in FIFA's refusal to introduce any of these measures. Apparently, Blatter has now said they're finally going to 'look at' introducing the technology later on in the summer. Whoopee! Too late for many. England were pretty much a shambles all tournament. They could only 'play' in brief flurries. They had no pattern of play, no tempo, no control. Team spirit was suspect. They didn't play like a 'team', they were just a bunch of individuals. It's quite inexplicable, especially since Capello has a reputation of being such a good coach. I think most England fans were completely honest about the game and didn't use the non-goal as an excuse. As for Germany - they are a team. They've looked good going forward, but I still think they are a bit suspect at the back. And although their first 11 are good, I don't really rate their subs too much. I like them though. Argentina v Germany should be very interesting. Anyone but Brazil...

Afinogenov would have been the perfect signing LAST season, instead of Jason friggin Williams. I doubt he'd be affordable now though, and Frolov certainly won't. Armstrong looks to be on Cleary money, so he's out too. I get the impression the Wings are looking for a tough guy D-man, if one exists, rather than another forward.

What's a girl to do - Bat for Lashes

It's a joke sport, at the moment. I love the game, played it my whole life, but it's a complete joke with Sepp Blatter in charge. In tonight's Mexico v Argentina game, Argentina score an offside goal, and they show a replay in the stadium in seconds so that everybody can see that it should not count. But the officials, knowing that they're wrong, feel compelled to ignore it. "DURRR, we're not allowed to look at video technology! Sorry!" It's absolutely farcical. It'll continue to be a joke sport until that odious, greedy cretin Blatter goes. (although they'll probably replace him with someone equally as bad). The only positive from these terrible decisions is that it might mean pressure for him to resign. After France hand-balled their way to the World Cup in the playoff against Ireland, everybody said they must introduce Video Technology before it ruins a major tournament. He ignored it. Hope he reaps what he has sown. And people think Bettman and the NHL officiating is bad!

England were embarrassingly bad. And Sepp Blatter and the lack of video technology is the big issue again. The smug, arrogant idiot that he is. Even if England had got that goal today, Germany would have still beaten them. Much, much better team.

Maybe he's overdue a growth spurt.

Seems to be another guy who was ranked much higher at one time.

Brooks Macek. Tri City, WHL.

Cool, wonder why he dropped so far...

Wings get Pulkkinen?

I think Round 2 starts at 1pm ET. The time difference is worse this year because it's in LA.

Sounds like a real Red Wing type player to me.

Riley Sheahan. Pretty pleased about that.

Wow, the amount of typos in that piece was scandalous. There seems to be a lot of talent from 15 downwards that seems almost on a par. It'll be interesting.

I'm glad USA won today - they're so much more deserving to get to the next round than Slovenia. They have a great team spirit and play with pride - something that is actually lacking in some teams at the World Cup. (E.g., Les Bleus, who cheated their way to the WC and then couldn't be bothered...) Also, Donovan is levels above most of his teammates in terms of ability. He's a real good player.

It's primarily for Grand Rapids. If he impresses, it might be a different story, but he'll be in GR. It doesn't have an impact on the Wings prospective signing(s).

Not sure if this is posted elsewhere, but Martin has turned down Yzerman and Tampa Bay and is staying in Detroit as 'capologist'. Good news. http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2010/06/red_wings_capologist_ryan_mart.html Awesome news from the Free Press' Helene St. James: the Red Wings' quiet man in the front office, capologist and fantastic hockey executive Ryan Martin, has declined Steve Yzerman's offer to join the Tampa Bay Lightning: June 15, Detroit Free Press: “I decided last night, and I talked to Steve last night and told him I decided to stay,” Martin said today. “It was a difficult decision but also a good decision.” Martin, 40, has been with the Wings since 2005, when he was hired as their director of hockey operations, a title that encompasses making sure the Wings are salary-cap compliant. He is part of the team’s front-office brain trust, along with general manager Ken Holland and assistant general manager Jim Nill -- a group that, until last month, included Yzerman, who segued from retirement as a player into team vice presidency in 2006. Having spent four years side-by-side with Yzerman, Martin was Yzerman’s first choice to join him in Tampa Bay. Martin spent several weeks mulling his decision. “It was an outstanding professional opportunity for me, but at the end of the day, weighing all the professional and personal aspects and the family situation, we felt Detroit a better situation,” he said. “My wife has a career here that she really enjoys. It was just a little bit better fit here.”

I'm not sure Wings fans will be expecting great things to be honest. I've never been convinced in general of the Wings fans love for him. He had a real bad spell in Jan - Feb '10 for over a month or so. Other than that though, I'd suggest he was one of the best players last season. I notice my post from 24th April - ironically he made a couple of bad errors in the following game (against Phoenix) and I thought I'd jinxed him. But he came back to finish pretty strong, that being the only dodgy game for Brad in the playoffs. Otherwise, he was very good. I just think he'd be so much better if there was one or two more physical d-men in the team. As it stands, he almost has to do it all himself, in regards to clearing the crease and throwing the body along the boards, especially since Kronwall has never looked 100% since his knee injury. Gotta say I am a fan of Stuart though, all in all. Considering he was leading in ice-time on numerous occasions last season, I'm hoping for a general (if slight) improvement on his previous endeavors for the Wings. If the defense is healthy, and especially if Kronwall is back to his best and the third pairing is strong and solid, then I think the overall defense could form the platform for a SC-challenging team. I've always thought he's been a real good pick-up by Kenny Holland.

Gotta love a douchey heel.