detroit4life

Why is everyone so against having Mac or Downey in the lineup? Are you blind? did you not see how they affected the rest of the team when they played? Lidstrom for one, has said that he loved having Downey in the lineup because it gave the star players more room to move. He knew that he was protected from the goons in the league. Do you even remember the years without an enforcer? Jason Williams getting run? Had to be carried off the ice. Holmstrom gets double elbowed by Pronger and Niedermayer from behind? Cut wide open. Hasek gettin raped in the crease by every team we played. No one did a damn thing about it. Now insert Downey,Drake and McCarty into the lineup. Lidstrrom got ran by Laperriere, Downey beat his ass. No one else has ran a Wing all year. Before that or after. Anaheim tries to bully us this year like they did in the playoffs. Downey beats Parros' ass. Datsyuk got trained by Dallas Drake on how to throw a bodycheck, and he leads the team in hits during the playoffs. McCormick tries to make a name for himself in the playoffs by pickin on what he thought was an aging McCarty, and Darren went toe to toe with him. Your telling me they have no impact?? When was the last time Detroit won a Cup? Do you remember? 2002. Who was in the lineup that year?? Darren McCarty. Jiri Fischer, Sean Avery and to a lesser extent Brendan Shanahan. Tough players who can protect our stars. We need Mac and Downey playing next year. Or expect an early exit from the playoffs. Has history taught you nothing? tell me how this lineup would not succeed: Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Cleary - Franzen - Hossa Maltby - Draper - McCarty Abdelkader - Helm - Downey Lidstrom - Rafalski Kronwall - Stuart Quincey - Lilja Osgood Conklin that team would have speed, skill and toughness. We could trade Hudler, Lebda and Samuelsson for picks. Let Filppula go and collect more picks. The 08/09 draft could see Detroit with 2 or more picks in every single round. And trading those players away would free up money. Something Detroit likes to have near the deadline "just in case".

OK, first of all, Filppula is going to be a star in this league. When? Who knows. He is getting better every single game, and only time will tell. Lets not forget Datsyuk took four seasons to hit the "point per game" mark. Zetterberg took three seasons. So give Flipper two more seasons and you might be saying "damn, Vancouver locked him in at $4M per year for the next five years?? We were robbed!! So I personally hope they make the offer and he takes it. That would free up a roster spot for Mac or Downey. And we would get their draft picks. Which will be in a great position next year because they not only lost Naslund, but they announced that they will NOT be re signing Morrison as well. So if you think that Wellwood and Bernier are going to be suitable replacements for Naslund and Morrison, you are dreaming. If Van doesn't sign some big names soon, they are in a world of hurt. And if we would friggin trade away Hudler and Samuelsson we would be set for next year. God I hate those panty wastes.

Signing Stuart to next to nothing?? Are you kidding me? He is a good physical D man but $3.75M per year? Too much. Kronwall is making $3M so when his contract is up he is gonna demand $4M+. It just sets a bad precedent thats all. Otherwise, I like bringing Hossa in for 1 year. Lose him after we repeat. Then get Zetterberg and Franzen re signed ASAP.

As long as Lebda goes for someone more physical, I'll be happy.

Rolston would be nice, Hossa would be nice. But come on guys, of all the UFA's out there, lets add some grit to this team. I'd like to see Malone, Avery, Clowe, Shanahan, Backes or Orpik. With Drake retiring we are losing some much needed toughness.