Datsyerberger

Alright, here's my take on it. The Wings top 6 before UFA signings: Datsyuk Zetterberg Franzen Filppula Hudler ? The Wings bottom 6 (plus 13th forward): Cleary Helm Abdelkader Eaves Miller Draper Ritola Definitely no need to go out and grab grinders. We've got a good blend of grit and grind in that bottom 6 for sure. Realistically, then, all we need to do is resign one of Homer or Bert. Depth is never a bad thing, though. I think Bert will be back as long as he wants to be back. Homer is simply a matter of whether he wants to hang them up or keep going. If only one is back, I could see Holland moving for a 2nd/3rd 'tweener, possibly a large body. Someone in the price range of Williams, but with less suck Datsyuk Zetterberg Franzen Filppula Hudler Bertuzzi, Homer, UFA (Pick 2) Cleary Helm Eaves Abdelkader Miller Ritola Draper That's 14, one over standard. If both Bert and Homer are back (or one and a UFA), perhaps a bottom 6er is traded. All in all, the shape of the Wings at forward looks very good. Defense for next year: - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart - Ericsson Meech (Kindl) Obviously, what happens here depends on whether Lidstrom is back. If he is, no significant changes. If not, Holland makes a major move for Volchenkov or a d-man of 2nd pairing quality. I think Lilja will be back if he wants it. With Kindl still being AHL eligible, I could see the Wings running with 14 forwards as per the above and 7 d-men rather than the usual 13/8, with Kindl (or others) being called up as necessary. Here's an odd question: are any of those 14 forwards capable of subbing for a d-man? My biggest worry by far for next year is Lidstrom. Beyond that, I'm not too concerned. If he returns, I don't see any major moves.

Oh yea, Nostradamus? Well, I think the Sharks will go on to the WCF if the Wings lose game 5.

If the Yotes were to move to Kansas City? There's a reasonable chance KC rather than Winnipeg is a destination if Phoenix doesn't make the cut in the coming months. Such a move could really screw with the divisional structure. First off, who gets moved to the Pacific? Secondly, Detroit, Columbus, Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis, and Kansas City would make a logical division geographically, but there's one too many. I think it's reasonable to say that one option involves Detroit moving east. Option 1 (Detroit goes east, Atlanta goes west): Central (aka expansion fail division) Atlanta Nashville St. Louis Kansas City Columbus Northwest (Raging Chicago fans division) Chicago Minnesota Edmonton Calgary Vancouver Pacific (Youch, tough division) San Jose Anaheim Los Angeles Dallas Colorado Northeast (aka half the Stanley cups division) Montreal Toronto Buffalo Detroit Ottawa New England (These cities hate eachothers' guts division) NYR NYI Boston New Jersey Washington Atlantic (aka Pennsylvania fights over the scraps division0 Pittsburgh Philadelphia Carolina Florida Tampa Bay Option 2 resembles Option 1, but with some slightly different movement Central (aka expansion fail division) Atlanta Nashville St. Louis Kansas City Columbus Northwest (Raging Chicago fans division) Chicago Minnesota Edmonton Calgary Colorado Pacific San Jose Anaheim Los Angeles Dallas Vancouver Northeast Montreal Toronto Buffalo Detroit/Boston Ottawa Atlantic NYR NYI Boston/Detroit Pittsburgh Philadelphia Southeast New Jersey Washington Carolina Florida Tampa Bay And now on to the options with no conference switching Option 3. This is built around the fact the NHL would be insane not to exploit KC vs STL: Central Minnesota Detroit Chicago Columbus Nashville Middle of Nowhere Dallas/Colorado St. Louis Kansas City Calgary Edmonton Pacific Vancouver San Jose Los Angeles Anaheim Colorado/Dallas Option 4, similar to 3, but keeping NW canadian: Central Detroit Minnesota Chicago Columbus Nashville Northwest St Louis Kansas City Edmonton Vancouver Calgary Pacific San Jose Anaheim Los Angeles Dallas Colorado Option 5, a bit more radical: Northwest Minnesota/Columbus Edmonton Calgary Chicago Detroit Pacific Vancouver Los Angeles Anaheim Colorado San Jose Central Columbus/Minnesota Nashville St Louis Kansas City Dallas You can see how a western team moving to Kansas City could really screw with the divisions and/or conferences. It almost seems to me it'd be Detroit's ticket east, as it'd be easier to manage the western divisions with that move. You've got to wonder if that difficulty would make KC an undesirable move for a west coastish team (Nashville or Atlanta would work out better for the league in that case). Perhaps Winnipeg is the more desirable option to the NHL if Phoenix must move. Then later, if Nashville or Atlanta you need to move, you toss them in KC... the divisional changes would be much easier.

Then you get divisions like this: Northwest Minnesota Winnipeg Calgary Edmonton Vancouver Pacific Phoenix Seattle/Portland/Vegas San Jose Anaheim LA Central Dallas St Louis Columbus Nashville/Atlanta Colorado Great Lakes Chicago Detroit Buffalo Toronto Ottawa Atlantic Tampa Bay Washington Carolina Pittsburgh Philadelphia Northeast Montreal NYR NYI Boston New Jersey (Alternatively, swap Buffalo and Montreal in their divisions, but that's the only change I'd possibly make to that) And then the divisions and conferences are a lot less dumb in general and travel is a lot more evenly spread as compared to now, and everyone is happy.. Cbus fans would complain about still being in the West until they realized they were rid of both Detroit and Chicago as divisional rivals. Also, we never have to hear bitching about a 'southeast' division again because 3/5 of the SE becomes the Atlantic and 'southeast' gets replaced with 'great lakes', a much more fitting name for a hockey division.

I'd rather see Phoenix stay in place and Atlanta move to the Peg, then the Wings could finally come home to the east. Then we move Florida or Nashville or something to Seattle or Portland or Las Vegas and move Chicago to the east, too.

Every single Pens game has been on VS. Every single Pens game will be on VS. Might as well get used to that.

Ozzie more or less is a lifer. The only reason he was traded (to the celebration of Isles fans, where he did quite well) was because the Wings had a shot at landing the #1 goaltender of all time.. not because they didn't feel Ozzie couldn't be backup to him, but because it would have been unfair to Ozzie, a very successful starting goaltender who was in the midst of his prime. I think it's obvious how the organization feels about Ozzie, both for giving him that trade, later on bringing him back despite questions about his continued ability, and from how the players constantly talk about him and seem to show him the utmost respect. I know most goalies get respect from their players to some degree, but he seems genuinely and universally liked in the locker room.

Just think of this, guys: Stevie Y the GM for Stamkos.

O'Rourke's name always reminds me of that ******* cop from Road Rash.

I would like this, as after having grown up in Florida, TB is sorta my 'second team'.

It's really mentally confusing to feel bad for the guy and be pleased with this news at the same time.

Hawks and Nucks still have to win their series. I could see either team collapsing under the right conditions.

Seriously, though, great period, just one really bad goal. Damned Bryzwallov.

JMFJ, Eva? That's a bold statement. He's still got the potential there, but he's also still got lots of ground to make up on defense (though you're right, I'd probably take him over Green defensively, too.)

That was pretty much my exact reaction XD

This is a league rule. The first time objects are thrown on the ice, an announcement must be made (and the thrower ejected). All further incidents result in minor a penalty to the team. This came about due to the whole Florida rat thing. The only exception is hats for the hat trick.

Agreeing with Carman isn't a.. usual.. thing for me, but he's absolutely right here. The spirit of this rule is to stop message sending, and in cases where the fight has clearly been the result of intensity and not gooning it up, the NHL has consistently overturned the suspension.

Do you think it's possible that (should Lidstrom resign) he'll turn over the captaincy to Zetterberg before retiring and become an alternate in his final year(s)?

That was a really unnecessary hit given the position Raffi was in. Really, really stupid penalty by Fiddler.

Dude, if I got snowed by Ovechkin I'd be like the happiest little kid on the planet.

No surprises here. Top 3 in points as well. Ho-hum. I don't like Pronger, but he got snubbed this year. He's been better than 2 of those guys and imo you could make a case for him being #1.

This guy is like the hockey forum poster version of Messier.

That's just how LGW builds up karma.

I have to admit, I didn't expect Bertuzzi to negate an icing. Even if he does float sometimes.