Texas Wingnut

Who cares about predictions!!!! They don't ask how, just how many!!!! Go Wings X 11 and hopefully more to come!!!

O.K. so Downey clears waivers and plays in GR. He's there if needed for a call up, but seriously if someone to "keep the flies off" were that important to Babs then Downey would still be in Detroit.

I must be dreaming. What a perfect scenario. Doesn't mean that the cup is coming back in '09 but makes it much easier. Also demonstrates to some of the players what management will do to win. Should be helpful in resigning Fil this year and next year's FAs, especially Hank, Mule and Huds. Way to go Kenny!!!!!!

Tampa might be filling the roster but these guys have to play as a team. Where's the chemistry gonna come from?? On paper Kolzig looks like a good signing but I doubt that he's the piece that will put the Lightning into the ECF let alone the SCF.

Over rated and now over paid. Good luck Caps, kiss your season goodbye.

Great job finishing the deal right before he officially became a UFA. Like the D pairings. Four full years of Stewie and Kronner together means lots of black and blue for other teams. Now to sign Filpula and another forward. Looking good for 08-09.

Don't think that Jags is a good fit on the current roster. Too much $$$$$ given what he might bring to the table.

Please not Detroit. He is a punk who is only still standing because of the instigator rule. He has talent but he runs his mouth so much that his talent is overshadowed by his words.

Good coach, potentially good team. Still don't think that he'll be the difference in the Sharks going to the SCF. I have no doubt that Babs and the rest of the brain trust will find just the right guy to step in.

This makes as much sense as Colorado retiring Raymond Borque's number. Dom's got more cups so it works. Yeah Right!!!

Get the best player available. Position, nationality don't matter. Can he play the game or not? That's what matters.

But is it plural in Swenglish????

I was hoping for a little longer. How does the length stack up with other coaches??

I wonder if his eyes were buggin out of the socket when he got the news??? LOL

I doubt that there will be any big names signed by the Wings over the next few years, at least not until Lids retires or the Wings need to get a new #1 goalie. I see Kenny looking for a solid 2nd/3rd line winger or possibly a #4 D-man depending on who resigns. Some of the guys in GR are ready to make the move to the big club and show that they deserve to stay on either the 2nd or 3rd line. While some of the young guys need consistent minutes, some need to show what they can do and then earn more ice time (Bab's MO for all players, not just the young ones).

Everyone is forced to make choices about famliy and career. If he wants the $$$$$ and doesn't care about winning he won't be back with the Wings (see Dany Markov, Martin LaPointe, Sergei Fedorov). If his family doesn't want to leave California then it wouldn't matter how much was or wasn't offered as far as salary is concerned. But if he looks at how the players and their families are supported by the Wings organization, then things start to change. I have never heard anything bad about the way the player or families are treated, in fact it seems just the opposite. If he wants some security and doesn't like moving around take less and agree to a "no movement/no trade" clause in the contract. It would be great for him to resign for 2 - 5 years, but only if it makes sense if his salary fits within the cap now and infuture years. There are more guys that need to be resigned inthe next 3+ years that are more valuable in the long run.

Nobody just "gets a spot". The coaches and management do a great job of preparing a player for the NHL lineup. Let him show his stuff in GR and earn his roster spot. Helm (and others) have already shown what they can do. If Abdlekader is given a spot, even if some open up when people either retire or aren't resigned I would hope that Kenny will do something in free agency if at all possible. :battle:

Retire 39 because of Hasek, no way no how. I'd much rather see 91 in the rafters because love him or hate him Fedorov did more for the Wings than Hasek. More individual hardware as aWing, more Cups as a Wing, more seasons as a Wing. At least Fedorov didn't retire, spend a year away, unretire and disrupt the locker room when he came back from his pseudo retirement. Bye bye Dom. Thanks but let Buffalo retire your number.

No question, Stevie Y is the best of all time to don the winged wheel. Without a doubt Nick is the best defenseman and while I recognize the grace and skill he plays the game with is without equal today he didn't have to bring a team up from the depths like Stevie did. Stevie came in as an offensive star, gave hope to a franchise and then became the consumate leader and team player.

Resign Stuart and Fil. but definately not Hasek. Don't go after Sundin, but look to find an experienced back up goalie to help keep Ozzie fresh for the playoffs. Look bringing up some of the younger guys depending on who is resigned. If a second line forward can be had for a reasonable price then by all means sign him, if not rely on the guys in the system. Huds and Fil look ready to take the next step. Helm showed his speed and just needs some more seasoning. No need to overpay unless the coaches don't feel confident in the guys in the minors. Leave room for a move at or near the trading deadline like this year.

Would be great if he stays. Maybe having moved around so much in his career he's looking for a team where he is a good fit. Detroit seems to be a great fit for him. Of course his wife being from California (I think) may create problems with getting her to agree to move to Detroit.

Where to start?? Nick's bouncing goal from behind the red line against Nashville. Three different hat tricks during the run to the Cup. Killing over a minute of 5 on 3 not once but twice in the SCF. Watching a TEAM win it all.

Bad calls/non-calls for both sides. The trouble I have is I can't understand what is and isn't a penalty some times the way the games are called. I'm beginning to think the refs have been talking to the jokers who call basketball games. No way bad calls have cost the Wings a game, but it would be nice if there were some consistency from game to game and within a game. I'm sure its harder still for the players than the fans. :battle: :flamingmad:

That pretty much says it all. Best team = winning team.

No changes in the starters. As for the lines, I don't think it matters how they start the game. What will matter is the adjustments that are made during the game. Babs is a master at taking the pulse of the game and the team and putting the right combinations together. I wouldn't be surprised to see Z play with Fil and Sammy or Mule some time during the game as well as with Dats and Homer.