P. Marlowe

Perhaps Babcock didn't want to put the two most unexperienced ones Smith and Kindl together?

TSN.ca: A little video at NHL.com ("My middle name is 'One More'.") Ducks' website:

Wikipedia says this:

Awesome idea for a thread. Can't wait for eva to jump in. Hudler has now joined the rest of the team says Freep and Detnews.

"bug hits"

Yeah, I guess you're right. They won't change a million times. But it's been a long time since Wings had this many new guys, so nobody knows how these pairing will work out. It will take some time until they settle down and find out who has chemistry with whom.

It's not like these won't be mixed up a million times during the season. I predict that when Wings play Leafs in the Cup finals next summer Lidström will be paired with Commodore.

Must be Canucks fans who set the table up.

It should just have his own face in it, grinning like in that picture. Would confuse the opposing team.

My brains confused me. I thought that all these autographs were from the same training camp.

C2 - Jiri Hudler ("26") J - Brett Lebda ("22") There's a problem here. T really looks like Ellis and Q looks like Stuart, but Ellis left the team before Brad Stuart got here. This could be summer 2005 or 2006 with Ellis and Williams, but that would mean Q is not Stuart. This could also be summer 2009 with Williams and Stuart, but that would mean T is not Ellis. If this was summer 2005 then P could be Manny Legace ("29"). He wasn't in the team during summer 2006 anymore. Notable players still missing: Lidström, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Kronwall, Franzén.

"Please, Don't Stop Believing"

I'm quite sure Larionov always played center when he was with Wings. Fedorov played wing on this line as he was very versatile.

I'm sure newfy knows that. It's just that one-way deals usually aren't offered to depth players who fight for the last roster spots. Conner having a one-way deal makes it sound like he's been assured a roster spot. Him having a two-way deal makes much more sense. I just hope that Wings won't lose anyone in the waivers this year.

Me too. Too bad it had to end like this.

Leave it to Glen Sather to give $7 millions/year to a player who never scored 70 points in his career.

He was bought out from his contract, so he could've played for cheap. I think his injuries were the main reason.

I would say "can't".

He's a great example that in the playoffs skill can take you only that far. He just hearts the puck in on so many of these goals. Much like Draper once teethed the puck in once in '08.

I was expecting that too and before I read the thread I was wondering why this had to be brought up again. I actually didn't know about this Datsyuk-Gomez trade. Funny how their careers have gone to different directions. I wonder if Gomez regrets leaving New Jersey. He get more money now, but back then he was productive and won a Cup.

The title was sarcasm of course. I do agree that Holmström is more useful player. Eva's comparison was based on numbers and numbers only and that's fine because numbers are concrete unlike for example defensive awareness. I think that there are better third liners in the league than Hudler, but he's fine. It would be nice if no-one attacked eva for defending him. Eva seems to be a bit number-crazy, but there have been wackier people here. Hudler's become too much of a scapegoat here and eva brings nice colour to the conversation.

Calm down. Eva's point was that Hudler's producing OK for a third liner.

You shouldn't be using words like "nobody" and "everybody". I don't have a problem with Hudler. I don't follow fashions. Although I understand that during the long hockeyless summer months the ancient God of LGW get restless and demands sacrifices.