RWK23

Yeah, I don't remember if they were playing fourth line minutes or whatever, but I do remember Hull pairing up with Datsyuk and Devereaux during 5-on-5 matchups. However, on PPs, Hull played with Yzerman, Shanahan, Fedorov, and Lidstrom IIRC. Well, here's my best guess on the '97 lines, because I'm bored and have nothing better to do. I'm just looking at the playoff games played at Hockey-Database and combining what I know (Grind Line + Russian 5) with complete guesses. Shanahan - Yzerman - McCarty Kozlov - Larionov - Fedorov Maltby - Draper - Kocur Lapointe - Sandstrom - Brown Lidstrom - Murphy Fetisov - Konstantinov Rouse - Ward Vernon - Osgood

Wow, people's hate for a select few (Lilja, Hudler, Samuelsson, Lebda) is mind boggling. It's like you just want to complain about something. Lebda played extremely well, especially for a #6 defenseman, in the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals. He was late on a change once or twice, but overall, he made good decisions and good passes. His speed played a big factor as well. People need to stop hating. Yeah, the guy isn't the greatest defenseman in the world. He's a #6 guy who plays his role, IMO, very well. Now, I can understand the people who want Lebda gone, because they like the potential of a Meech or Quincey. That's different.

Interesting story. I had never heard this, but it fuels what I've always believed: that Hank was being groomed to be the next captain of the Detroit Red Wings.

1. Red Wings 2. Sharks 3. Stars 4. Habs 5. Pens 6. Flyers 7. Blackhawks 8. Capitals 9. Flames 10. Devils 11. Lightning 12. Sens 13. Ducks 14. Avs 15. Coyotes 16. Bruins 17. Rangers 18. Sabres 19. Wild 2o. Preds 21. Blue Jackets 22. Canucks 23. Blues 24. Hurricanes 25. Oilers 26. Islanders 27. Thrashers 28. Kings 29. Leafs 30. Panthers

Wow, I thought some of the Hudler hate would go away after 14 point postseason playing on the fourth line. I was wrong.

Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Hossa - Filppula - Franzen Maltby - Draper - Cleary Hudler - Kopecky - Samuelsson Extra(s): McCarty, Downey This set up would give us two dominant scoring lines, a real nice checking line with meshing styles of play, and a fourth line that could score. Dress McCarty/Downey when necessary (ie, playing a dirty team). I'm upset at the fact that Helm, who won me over with his outstanding playoff run, won't be on the team, but there really isn't a way to do it and keep everyone else. Ericsson is going to get the same treatment on the blue line, but that's the NHL. It's just the way it is. My blue line would look something like this: Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart Lilja - Lebda Extra: Chelios

You're right, I worded it incorrectly. Either way, if he fails to ever score 50 points, he would come pretty close to a bust considering how talented he really is. I don't disagree with you that he'll never be a 40 goal, 100 point player like Hossa is capable of being. My argument is the 50 points thing. What are you even basing that prediction on? Not really. I was using Datsyuk as an example who struggled points wise his first couple seasons as he began to adjust to the league and he had the same issues as Filppula his first couple seasons (afraid to take a hit, not very strong on his skates, etc.). It's stupid to say that a guy coming off a 19 goal, 36 point season at age 23 will be unable to break 50 points at any point of his career, especially considering he's very likely going to be playing with one of the league's best finishers in Hossa in the upcoming season.

This is unbelievably ignorant. We're talking about a 23-year old two-way center with a ton of tools who is coming off a season where he scored 36 points and he isn't going to improve at all? Really? Did you know that some little Russian kid named Pavel Datsyuk put up nearly identical numbers at the same age (11 goals, 35 points)? He turned out alright. I'm not saying that Filppula is going to develop into a world beater, all-star, Selke Trophy forward, but to say he's never going to get better than he is right now,well, that's just stupid.

My analysis of the Hossa deal: It was good. lol...I mean, at this point, what else can you say? Wow.

So, we have the best defense in the league and the best top-six in the league. Uh, not even fair...

Dude.....I am freakin' out right now. Holy crap. I LOVE YOU, KEN HOLLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't believe this. This is outrageous.

A lot of GMs probably figure that the down season has something to do with the fact that it was their walk year and that they were placing a lot of pressure on themselves to perform. I mean, you look at a guy like Redden and you have a guy who is a consistent 45-50 point guy who is responsible defensively and can move the puck. He has a down year. Which do you think is the real Redden: the one who struggled in his free agent season or the one who was one of the league's better defenseman in the nine seasons prior?

I'll be the first to admit that I haven't watched Ryder enough to make judgements, but just looking at the stats, I question his desire to work defensively. He's been a - player in every season but one. So, that may be part of it. Again, I've only watched him play a handful of times, but that could be part of it.

The more I think about it, the more I agree. I mean, I'm not crazy about the idea, but he would come cheap and he's still an effective player when healthy. I'm not a huge fan of the guy, mostly because of the Moore incident, but he can help this team. He doesn't really address the second line winger that I wanted coming into the offseason, but he can help. If we got him, I'd throw out something like this: Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Franzen - Filppula - Samuelsson Cleary - Draper - Maltby Bertuzzi - Helm - Hudler I'd consider it. I mean, I'm not as dead set against it as some people on this board -- whose opinion I understand.

To be fair, '07-'08 was a real off season for Ryder. He's normally good for 30 goals, 60 points. I think he'll rebound and he'll be alright. Still not a great deal by any means, but let's look at the bigger picture here.

As if his postseason production, notably in the SCF, and his KO of Sidney Crosby in Game 6 didn't endear him to the city of Detroit enough, well, he just got a lot more popular in this city. Everyone loves a guy who will take a discount to stay with a good team, a championship team. Everyone loves loyalty from their star athletes. As fans of this team, we are extremely lucky to have a lot of really good players who are very loyal to the fanbase. What a great signing. I'm very, very happy.

Jimmy Howard will start the season as the backup and he is going to surprise a lot of the doubters around here. He was very good in his brief stint this past season and had a pretty decent season at GR. Don't worry about him.

Naslund is a possibility, Rolston is part of a captain rotation in Minnesota, and Jason Smith has been talked about as a replacement to Stuart.

He would have been stupid not to test the market. I mean, he needs to at least see what he's worth. This offer will be on the table three weeks from now. There's no need to rush. He's making the right decision.

I would have like Deschamps there and I'm not in the love with the idea of a goalie in the first, but in Kenny I trust.

You'd get sick of Stamkos evantually. It's human nature. Unless said player is on your team or you have some type of connection with that player (you watched him play in juniors, from same area, etc.), you're going to sick of them.

lmao....That's good.

This list was made before last season. Just so everyone is aware. This is not a new list.

I probably would have said Huds as well, but I'll be creative and go in a different direction. Dan Cleary. He's an excellent PK man and two-way forward who was on pace for a 30 goal, 60 point season before the errant Samuelsson slap shot. The story behind his rise to the NHL is amazing and interesting as well. He was the golden boy, #13 overall draft pick out of the OHL. He struggled, worked hard, and became a stalwart on a Stanley Cup championship team. He struggled a little bit when he came back from injury and throughout the playoffs, but I have no doubt that he'll be alright.

Well, he was the assistant coach to start the year. When the Caps got off to a 6-14-1 start and were in the cellar, they fired the head coach and gave Boudreau the position. He went 37-17-7 and got them the division title and the #3 seed. I'm not terribly upset about it, but I do think Babs deserved it.