Wombat

Bill Simmons of ESPN.com made an offhand remark that a NBA executive predicted that 15 NHL franchises would fold in the next 2 years because of the economy. Clearly, it must be taken with a grain of salt, but there were franchises in big trouble BEFORE the economy went to hell. How are some of these teams going to actually survive with fewer people spending money on sports and fewer businesses able to give sponserships/advertising money? I could easily see 4-8 teams in the NHL changing ownership, moving, or folding because their current situations are not sustainable even in the short term. You're totally right that no one will want to commit to multiple years unless the player is a bona fide star that is willing to take a lower cap number than expected, and if that team has mega cap space already.

That is a very good point, and I also agree with everything GS&T has been saying. The instigator penalty is making it so that many fights are just heavy vs. heavy in a staged way. Lifting the instigator could solve some of these issues. I hope they do not eliminate fighting from hockey, but I don't mind one bit in eliminating staged fighting. Staged fighting is the sideshow that will always keep hockey from gaining true traction in growing the sport.

The question is interesting... this season, is Franzen worth $4 million? I'd say yes. Next season? Probably. The season after that? Well, that's what's burning me. The economy is going to make the cap come down significantly 2 seasons from now. A player worth $4 million today may not be worth that 2 years from now based on where the cap is going. The Wings absolutely must take the economy into account in signing these players. The only way we can "keep everyone" is if the FA players take home town discount 1-year deals. This isn't going to happen... a cap hit can only be lowered significantly if the player wants to stay and gets the guarantee of multiple years. IMO, the most prudent course to take is to let Hossa walk. The Wings simply cannot afford another long term deal in the $6 million + range with the cap coming down. He's worth every penny but the Wings can't do with without the worry of cap hell and not being able to keep future young/talented players. If Franzen took a 4 year, $3.5 million deal I think that would be adequate in not hamstringing the team for future years.

The important part of that article is about the cap. Because revenues for this year were mostly already paid for (season tickets, ad sales, corporate sales, etc) there won't be a big effect on next year's cap. But the year following, it's going to be bad. Next season most every team will experience fewer ticket sales, corporate sponserships, and less merchandise sales, even if they cut the prices on tickets and merch. I have a feeling that the Wings are not going to sign either Hossa or Franzen in the near future, not because of next year's cap, but because of the following year's cap. Hopefully I'm wrong and one signs, but it might be pretty bad in two years.

I know Osgood won the Cup last year, but this year I see it as foolish to not start Conklin when the playoffs start (unless Ozzie somehow starts playing out of his mind for the rest of the season).

Choreographed fights are stupid. I don't mind this potential new rule one bit. I don't think they should change anything about fighting that comes during the course of play though.

I've been trying to think about that as well... maybe it's just about the stick feeling "right"?

It's not like Lidstrom took only one hit last year and was injured, or that Hossa has been hit only twice all season and is hurt both times (and one was a freak thing anyways), or that Lilja get injured every time he fights. It's a physical game and injuries are bound to happen. I hope other teams try to pound the Wings because I think they will step up like last year and show that they are NOT intimidated and will give it back just as much, both with hitting and with outplaying/outscoring the opponent.

Yeah, you just can't switch alliances based on what style you prefer. You can like other teams but you're married to your 1 favorite team! I live out in Western NY so I like the Sabres too, but the Wings are definitely #1 and I don't think it'll ever be different. Hell, I'm a freaking Lions fan and they give me no reason to like anything they do, but I can't quit them! The Wings could dress 20 midgets and if they win, I love what they're doing. But we're talking about entertainment value here, and I think it's more fun to see the Wings play physical in addition to puck possession when they have the puck. The hitting and passion, strong forechecks, scrums after the whistle, and the occasional unscripted fight... that is an entertaining part of hockey. Hockey is so great because it's fast, skillful, aggressive, violent, and graceful at the same time. It's most entertaining with all those elements.

Yeah, I definitely agree with you. The key to putting together any team (or any group for that matter, regardless of the reason) is balance. The best of both worlds would be great to have. One problem I've had with this team is that it seems like lots of times they keep too many of the "same" player. That's the great thing about a team sport... there are so many roles to fill and great teams fill them all. I know that in the Wings they have the ability to fill all the roles but they are not playing to that way right now. The Wings don't need more fights to make it exciting; they just need more fight in them. Pace is what dictates entertainment in my mind, and a tenacious team that isn't afraid to mix it up physically improves the pace of the game. Couple that with skillful puck possession and scoring... that's a team I want to watch!

Another poster answered very well, but yes, Ericsson is faster. I don't see him as a burner, but he has at least decent enough speed to cover for a slower player.

I least want the Wings to play Nashville, followed closely by Columbus, and Edmonton is way down the list from there. I get nervous seeing the Wings play division opponents in the opening round, especially these hungry, low seeded teams. I'm also just really tired of seeing Nashville in the playoffs and both NSH and CBJ in general as opponents. I think Edmonton has the weakest team defensively of the 3.

This just seems like grasping for straws to me. It was 2-0 over halfway through the game. Even at 3-0 at that point, the game isn't out of reach. Nash gets the 4-0 goal on a bad shorthanded turnover and I don't know if I've ever seen a goalie pulled during a PP situation in the middle of a game. The game is 4-1 starting the 3rd when Nash gets a gift that would have needed a miraculous save for Osgood to stop. I think Babcock played it well. I know, Osgood needs to play better, there is no denying that, but still, you should never give up a hat trick to the oppositions' best player and have those 3 goals be unassisted. The defense and turnovers were the jokes in that game.

Probably Lebda. I think Babcock starts with the experienced player and if he's not doing what he needs to be done, Ericsson comes in.

The staggering idea is great. It'd be like bye weeks in the NFL. February is 4 weeks long, so on odd years let each team have one week of that off. You'd still have 22 or so teams active during every week so you could have hockey going but still give each team extra time to recouperate during the season.

I don't think it's necessary to fill out the lineup with more "big bad Canadians" because I think this team proved it can play a physical game when it wants to (ie: the playoffs). I'm not starving for more fights per se (and I think you say the same) but many people want to see body checks and other types of physical play to accompany the puck possession style. I'm really hoping that the team is saving itself for the playoffs and I think they are. Once they play that stronger game, they are going to be tons of fun to watch every night.

I don't think anything doing with the #8 defenseman could be considered a "huge mistake". This is not about the #6 guy, it was about being the #8 guy (behind Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart, Kronwall, Lilja, Lebda, and Chelios). Overall, I consider Ericsson the best of the 3 over Meech and Quincey, however, I don't think it was wrong to start him down in GR. If you keep Ericsson up, you lose both Meech and Quincey. Some might not see this as a big loss, but look at what has happened this season. With such a tight cap situation, Meech has been forced to play forward many times this season when the Wings could not afford to bring up another forward. Also, right now if there are injuries to the defensemen, Ericsson can be brought up from GR to fill in. If Ericsson was up already, the Wings would be bringing up guys that are not NHL caliber. Ericsson is a good player that is getting better because he is getting more playing time. As the #7 or #8 d-man in Detroit, he does not develop as well. It's the same situation Meech found himself in last year. If any hindsight should be made, it's that Chelios should not have been signed as he just does not come off as a legitimate NHLer often enough. Without Chelios, the Wings could have kept both Meech and Quincey, or at the very least probably could have traded one of them. Holland probably could not swing a trade since everyone knew one of those guys would be cut because of roster issues.

I can see their point sometimes. When the Wings play less physical with the puck possession, it seems slower. I think the Wings are GREAT to watch when they are skating hard, forechecking, playing physical (doesn't mean fighting) and using puck possession. Like last year's playoffs, they were simply beautiful to watch how they played. This year, when they aren't interested in playing moderately physical, it's not as fun to watch.

I disagree regarding Chelios and Lilja. They should never be paired together because they are both too slow. Each of those players needs to play with someone faster to make up for their slowness.

There are some people, like myself, that don't like that there are 3 points at stake for OT games, but only 2 for regulation games. A team losing twice in OT probably should not get as many points as a team that wins 1, loses 1 in regulation. I think anything that emphasizes winning in regulation is a good thing, whether it is making that a tiebreaker for playoff seeding or making regulation wins worth more points than OT/SO wins.

I hope Lilja gets healthy... the Wings need him for the playoffs. He's been playing very well. However, I am happy that a way was provided to keep Erickson in the lineup. I think if given a chance, he could provide a Helm-like presence to the team this coming playoff season.

I would much rather play the Oilers than the Preds, BJs, Ducks, Stars, or Wild. The travel sucks but I think the Wings match up best against the Oilers.

I completely agree. I'd like to see the Sharks be the "team to beat" #1 seed. They've struggled a lot in the playoffs when they are considered the team to beat. In all honesty there really isn't much of a difference between being #1 and #2 when it comes down to 1st round match-ups. The Wings will be playing a team that has been in playoff mode for the past month either way.

Hossa is not on LTIR so his cap number isn't replaceable by a call-up from the minors. Homer was on LTIR but once he is taken off the Wings must be under the cap. The only other call-up right now is Erickson.

It is too bad but this team still has cap issues and he's one of the guys that can be sent down without being waived. It had to be done.