Bren4Wings

The Preds are not going to trade someone they just signed and extended by 4 yrs.

Word is, that there is a press conference scheduled for noon announcing Dumont extension done---somewhere around 4 yrs 16 mil is being rumored.

Wow, I dont even know where to start. I have to say if the article itself didnt do enough to make my blood boil, you finished the job. I realize that may have been your objective in the 1st place. I have 1 question, are you a parent? Your comments lead me to believe the answer is no, but I dont want to jump to conclusions. I know first hand the heartache and heartbreak that goes along with a child battling cancer and fighting for their life. Until you are in those shoes, some don't and won't get it. If one did get it, they would never question, let alone lie about such a thing as this so called father did. The fear of losing a child, having absolutely no control and watch them slowly go through hell. Watching the daily battles against the pain, the weakness, the illness that treatments and disease cause. Not having the strength to even lift their head off their pillow. Dealing with the possibilty of losing the dreams a parent has for their children to grow up, to strive to achieve their dreams, to have a full, long life ahead of them. I'm a huge hockey fan, Wings first of course. Any hockey fan looks forward to a game 7. Back in 02, the day the Wings got ready to battle the AVS in game 7, I remember being totally detached, not caring about the game nor the outcome. It shocked some who knew me but didnt know the circumstances my family was in. My cousins 1.5 yr old son at the time, had flat lined and there was strong question whether he was going to make it through the night. Some here may know of who I am talking about. A big part of Blake's story was told in a 2 part segment on Red Wings live through the holidays. We are one of the lucky families because Blake is living life today. He is playing out his dreams that the drs told the family were never going to happen. He is afterall alive, walking, and actually playing hockey for the moment. The Wings have been a intergal part of his life, and for that, myself and my family will be forever grateful. The trips they make to childrens hospital help the kids and their families get their mind off things, if only for 5 minutes. Something that is not easily done if you are the one in those shoes. For them, its not "time wasted". You dont understand why make a wish is valuable??! Plain and simple, it gives a sick child a chance to experience one of their dreams because there is a strong chance they wont have the time to experience it later. Beyond that, it also gives the family good memories to hold on to. Many arent as lucky as my family. Make a Wish can leave those families with good, fun memories to counter act the nightmares that go along with dealing with cancer, treatments, etc. If you question it, to me, it says you don't get it, just as this father doesn't. IF he got it, he would never, ever lie about such a thing in regards to his child. Your comments about "wasted time" is heartless and cruel. I would be willing to bet that Shanny would argue on that point as well. Shanny became a very important part of a lil boys life, lil Brendan. He mailed him the puck after he scored his 400th goal in Colorado (it may have been his 500th). He showed time and time again that he cared with the time and love he gave lil Brendan. Sadly lil Brendan lost his life, after going into remission for awhile. Shanny was a pallbearer at his funeral. I seriously doubt that after he was buried, he thought to himself, man that was wasted time. As for those questioning Stevies comment, get over it. He has given up time, money, and feelings to many who have this battle. Props to him for not letting it affect him doing more in the future. As to this poster, I hope you, nor your family never have to experience what mine has to make you understand.

You bring up valid pts. I dont recall offhand what the Weight and Recchi deals involved. You are right, there will always be some desperate in one form or another. My bad on my wording I still don't believe that Holland falls under the category of desperate at this point in time. In regards to Sundin, remember he has a NTC. We still don't know whether or not he will actually waive it. All comments made thus far, leave it up in the air. However, if he decides to waive it, it will be to teams of his choice. I don't see him waiving it for teams that are just trying to make the playoffs, rather a team that has a real shot of doing something in the playoffs---so that would narrow the field down. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see Sundin in the winged wheel. I don't believe we will see it happen if the proposed trades that have been mentioned are true. I don't see the Wings giving up Kronwall, nor 2 out of the 3 in Fils, Hulder and da Mule plus a top pick.

Its a dream trade to help the Leafs. The same thing with Bergers claim recently. Berger claimed it would take 2 out of 3 in Hudler/Fils/Franzen along with a top pick. IF the Leafs are asking for either scenario we are not going to see Sundin in the winged wheel, its as plain as that. Does anyone remember that Holland for yrs said no to deals that involved Pavel, Hank and Krons --stating they were off limits. Why on earth would he change his mind on Krons now that he is really coming into his own? I also think that Holland may have shifted Fils under that category as well, unless there is something we don't know about. What's being said about Fils by people in the organization was the same thing we heard in regards to Hank and Pavel a few yrs ago. Just because some GMs are/were desperate enough to make deals like the Thrashers and Preds last yr, doesn't mean Holland is. Ohh speaking of which, how did those deals work out anyways? Yeah, crash and burn. It was noticed and won't be forgotten. No GM wants to put themselves in that type of situation.

Sepster, I understand your point on the idea I submitted. However, the current system is not working either. As I stated, this was a relatively new thought to me, because I have been all for bringing in a 3 pt system. After hearing others who oppose the idea, this idea came to mind. No matter what system is implented, there will be some factor(s) that some don't agree on. On the current system. Outside of the obvious that has already been stated.... The system is set up to reward teams who have shootout success or even make it past regulation. The perfect example is the Sabres last yr. They won the Pres Trophy and home ice advantage throughout the postseason because they had more "wins". The tiebreaker system currently set up as it is, the Sabres won, due to "more wins" but it was "shootout wins" not actual wins in regulation that was the deciding factor--they had 10 shootout wins. As a Wing fan, I didn't care, nor do most that I know, that the Wings didnt win the Pres Trophy. Now had it come down to the Sabres v Wings for the cup, and there was a game 7, can't say I would have felt the same. Bottomline, the current system rewarded the Sabres for being a great shootout team. No one can say they were a "great" regulation team when they had 22 of their games go past regulation. Just looking at that team alone, instead of dishing out 44 pts in those 22 games, there was 66 pts instead. Yet they were deemed the best regular season team. Can we say "flawed"? On my new thought I was trying to take into account all the different factors I've heard others discuss/argue. The idea would leave the shootout in, so there was a winner for every game for those who argue that point. It would make all games worth 2pts, for those who argue that all games should be worth the same amount of pts, while staying within the realm of 2 pts per game for the history or "purist" buffs. It would reward teams for playing and winning as a "team", rather than rewarding an individual skills competition and penalizing teams that aren't great at the skills competition aspect. On to your point. The same thing is happening now, as it did in the old system, in regards to the last 5 minutes of play when there is a tie. The thought is, lets make sure we get the 1 pt, the same as it was in the old system. The only difference is, they know a 2nd pt will be rewarded in 1 form or another. Teams who are good at the shootout, arent going all out in OT, they are trying to make it to a shootout instead. I personally don't see a team going into a "defensive shell" as such a bad thing. Come the postseason, teams need to be able "shut it down". It would actually give teams more practice at it before the playoffs start and be more "playoff ready" if you will.

I'll admit up front I am no fan of the shootout. I see it as this. It turns a team sport into a skills competition that right now is deciding pts and playoff positions. My newest thought on this subject is this. Regulation and OT win = 2 pts Regulation and OT losses = 0 pts IF after OT there is still a tie, divide the pts just as ties use to, 1 pt to each team. Continue on to the shootout to deem a "winner" but the only reward of winning a shootout would come into play as a tie breaker. This would make all games worth the same amount of pts. It would not reward "losers" a pt while playing as a team. At the same time, it doesn't reward teams for turning a team sport into a skills competition. Also it would not then screw up past stats/records by making games worth more pts, like making games worth more pts would. I agree with others, no way does a shootout get used to determine playoff games.