JPT

I don't like this deal and its not the money. Its that when you watch Bertuzzi play he doesn't seem to fit on this team and makes too many boneheaded plays. He certainly shouldn't be playing on our top 2 lines and he isn't good enough defensively or hit enough for the 3rd line. I understand the price per points based on last season works out but I would rather see Filpulla play in the top 2 and have Ritola take a forward spot. Bertuzzi is only going to decline.

In an interview with Puck Daddy Brendan Shanahan stated that if he had to choose a jersey to go in to the Hockey Hall of Fame with it would be the Winged Wheel. Not surprising but made me happy to read it. He also shares his thoughts on Lost and the improvements in the game. Just a short interview with a great guy. Puck Daddy

I see your point but Howard is not a young guy making his way into the league. He's 26 and had a lot of chances to prove himself. He was good during the regular season but lets too many soft goals and he is unable to control his rebounds so much that I don't know if its something he can fix at this point. We can't pin these losses on him alone but I don't see him being an elite goaltender in the NHL.

Yes, please come back 1997 Maltby, Draper and McCarty. I think Maltby and Draper are both done at this point. Wonderful careers for these amazing Red Wings but neither can contribute effectively to a Stanley Cup Champion anymore.

A better team would have locked it down in the 3rd. They sat back and let the Sharks take the game to them and Howard didn't do us any favors. Too many rebounds and soft goals during this whole series. Why didn't Rafalski try to take away the pass on the 2 on 1???? I'm not trying to pin the series on any individual player but not happy right now with those 2. I would love to try and be optimistic about the Wings chances at turning this series around but I can't.

Why the hell is this game blacked out on VS HD so I have to watch on regular VS? Oh..and Go Wings!

I'm glad to hear a "Let's go Red Wings" chant. We may have lost today but still another game to play.

I thought the Wings overall played a good game through the 1st and most of the 2nd. A couple bounces here and there makes all the difference. This 3rd period though....ugh. Howard needs to be better. Night and day with the PK.....

Any discussions about a long term deal are premature at this point. As others have said lets see what he does in the playoffs and then again next season. If towards the end of next season he's proven himself to be a starting goalie going forward then maybe a 3-4 yr deal for around 3 mil a season sounds reasonable.

According to NHL.com(http://www.nhl.com/stats/shootout_report.pdf) Zetterberg: 2 for 10 on the season - 20% 11 for 36 lifetime - 30.6 % Bertuzzi: 2 for 5 on the season - 40% 7 for 23 lifetime - 30.4% Franzen wasn't on the list - likely because he has no shootout attempts this year. I saw another site that said he was 2 for 4 lifetime. Is it really the case he has only participated in 4 shootouts? To me the biggest problem with the shootout is Jimmy Howard. He is cover your eyes awful! His lifetime save percentage is 66.7%

I agree that the shootout is gimicky but do we really want the NHL to go back to a tie after OT? I went to BU vs Cornell at Madison Square Garden not too long ago and what was a very exciting game that included a late comeback by BU ended up in a tie. It was very dissatisfying. Is the shootout gimicky? Yes. Is it exciting? Yes. Does it produce some nice highlights? Yes.

I live in NY and only get to see the Wings so often. Against the Rangers they were terrible and only the Rangers being equally as awful prevented a loss there. This was a terrible loss and there are no excuses for such an abysmal effort regardless of injuries. Seeing it up close was godawful. That being said this team is too good to play like this for long.

I'm sure its not just the AHL which is causing his issues. Maybe he's having a hard time adjusting to life in the USA away from Sweden. Hopefully he gets his head straightened out.

What kind of evidence or proof can the league have of this? Waste of time for the NHL. No way Z plays to 40. He already has back issues and isn't the smoothest of skaters.

If I understand correctly - Hudler, by initiating arbitration, is legally obligated to sign for whatever dollar amount the arbitrator decides on? I know the Wings have the ability to walk away from it. If Hudler is obligated then the KHL seems to be in the wrong here as Hudler himself intended to play for the Red Wings by going to arbitration and is bound to accept their contract so essentially he would be under an NHL contract. Did Hudler sign the KHL deal before or after he files for arbitration? The KHL RFA process is insanely restricting so its no wonder the NHL chooses to poach players....

Stuart was definitely one of our best defensemen in the playoffs but his gaffe's in SCF game 7 were atrocious.... Its either Lilja or Lebda being moved and I suspect it will be Lebda. Lilja played very well last year and logged important PK minutes and brought size and some toughness. He's come a long way and I hope he recovers to play on our 3rd D pair next year. I honestly don't know what to make of Kronwall. He has great upside - smooth skater, good shot, good passer, big hits from time to time. However he makes some boneheaded plays and takes some bad penalties. He should have outgrown these by now...

I thought the Ericsson penalty was very weak considering how the game was being called but I credit the Penguins on a good game and as always calls were missed on both sides. I was disappointed the too many men call was missed thats a no brainer.

As usual the ref's missed calls on both sides. In particular I saw 2 occasions when the Wing attempting to play the puck was checked into the boards before he was within a few feet of the puck which should be an interference call. The Wings got away with a few as well. It usually evens out....

I'd like to think that would be the case but there are plenty of examples of formerly great players overstaying their welcomes to the detriment of a team....Messier anyone?

He's not being paid $4 mil a year in his new contract. Thats just the cap hit. He's making the same money as he would on another team or at least in the same ballpark.

Oh please who in their right mind would think Draper should have his jersey retired? Good player who filled his niche but to get your number in the rafters you have to be special, almost define the organization. Thats why Osgood, Chelios and Shanahan should not have their numbers retired either. As for Federov he was one of my all time favorite Wings, a scary talent and a dominant force(most of the time). However I just have a feeling that he shouldn't have his jersey up there....

Its too bad Lilja seems done for the year. He had a good season and really would have helped against a tough Anaheim team. Lebda has performed ok though. Cheli should not play over him!

Whoa wait. I'm in NY and have Center Ice. Will I not see the game????

I hate when people throw around the word discount here like Franzen isn't making as much money as he would elsewhere. Structuring the contract so the cap hit is manageable is important to keeping the team intact but should Franzen decide to play well into his late 30's when his production will decline this deal will be a drag on the team. I don't disagree with the deal but there is a downside. This deal is a huge win for Franzen. Big money(he deserved the payday) and security through the NTC and a lengthy deal. Wings take a risk on the contract to keep the team intact as much as possible. But NO DISCOUNT.

Get a prime rib sandwich they only sell them on the concourse outside of section 335. Its worth it!