Chunkylover

I said scoring was the most immediate problem the team has. I don't really think there is much that could be done. Hank has probably been injured since the pre-season and putting the big line back together wouldn't help much. Plus Hossa and Franzen would be minus one consistently good center. Just let them keep playing and kicking them when necessary. A lot of the big names are off to slow starts, ours will be fine. Also, I believe Homer can hit 40 but he started out great last year and his style of play got him injured and limited his output. I said assists were more important because that means points all around, but I do love the takeaways statistic.

I'm not too sure I agree with that response. It's more like I as the customer demand perfection. That's not too much to ask. How pissed do you get when the checkout lady at Meijer or Wal-Mart gives you a bad attitude? Although it is right to be patient in troubling times and complimentary in good times, which most everyone is doing, it would be foolish though to come on a message board, talk about the recent games, and deny they are disorganized.

This is real tough to say. If Zetterberg signs for a similar $6.7M contract like Datsyuk then no. Individually I would definitely trade one for one. Crosby is a great player, will be a great, and I can't hate the guy for the media's self-serving sycophancy. If we can have both our guys for only 50% more than one Crosby though, there's no way a deal could be made. Plus, I'm like Holland is with the loyalty. I'd have a hard time trading Lilja, Samuelsson, Draper, Maltby, or Hudler for anyone else. Unless it was for Ovechkin, Crosby, or Luongo. Hmm..., maybe Ken should look into that. McPhee did sign Theodore.

The Wings did start slowly last season and it is way too early to truly panic, but I don't think we should mock fellow posters for being concerned about the team. They have played like crap and that is very disconcerting. Especially coming off the near flawlessness of the later rounds of the playoffs. If someone wants to rant about it this is the place to do it. As I said we started slow last season, and again in the first round. There were bad passes by Lidstrom and Rafalski, missed nets by Zetterberg and Datsyuk, and until Ozzie stepped in there was bad goaltending. In hindsight we know it would have been foolish to worry going into game five but who here wasn't nervous after game 3 and 4? I too believe that a slow, difficult start will serve them best. If we finish third in the Conference we'll look like underachievers but then the team will know it will be tough and bring their best effort into every game, like in '97. With that said, I hate bad goals from sloppy passes and defensive coverage. I hate seeing Datsyuk do anything other than pants-ing opposing defenders and I hate that we can't play air-tight defense. So yes, I am irritated by the "compete level" up to this point: nobody likes a loss, but there really is no reason to truly panic.

Eventually 14, 91, and maybe even 16, 24, and 30 will end up in the rafters. Illitch won't be around forever and the Wings could hit a low point and need things like retirement ceremonies to get interest. All these players will have had a positive impact on the team and while they aren't instant inductions like 5, 9, and 19 a solid argument can clearly be made for all of them. Additionally all of them except Vladdy will be Hall of Famers.

Friday: NY Islanders @ New Jersey Chicago @ NY Rangers Florida @ Carolina Montreal @ Buffalo Washington @ Atlanta Nashville @ St Louis Columbus @ Dallas Saturday: Montreal @ Toronto Detroit @ Ottawa St Louis @ NY Islanders NY Rangers @ Philadelphia Chicago @ Washington Atlanta @ Florida New Jersey @ Pittsburgh Carolina @ Tampa Bay Dallas @ Nashville Boston @ Minnesota Columbus @ Phoenix Los Angeles @ San Jose Vancouver @ Calgary Sunday: Phoenix @ Anaheim Colorado @ Edmonton San Jose @ Los Angeles

I think it's kind of lame. At least if he has a terrible year he'll have something to blame it on.

As with most of the third jerseys this one should be their primary jersey. Lots of good vintage looks with TO, Buffalo, and now Edmonton. St. Louis' is very nice and the emo jerseys in Boston and Carolina aren't bad either. Horcoff looks like he's auditioning for Clerks 3.

Actually I think it's Florida's turn in the rotation to represent the Southeast Division. It would be hilarious if Detroit was to beat Montreal in the Final because there is so much hype about them and the implosion after a defeat at the hands of the Evil Empire would be tremendous. Were Toronto to make it the collapse would be even greater. Too bad it couldn't have happened in '02. Rangers, Pens, Devils, and Flyers would be good match-ups but I only see Pitts and Philly as threats in that division. As for Washington, I think it would be an exciting series from a Wings standpoint (probably a sweep via four shutouts), but there would be lethal levels of buttsharking by the media all over Ovechkin.

He was on the '93 Canadiens.

Rafalski, Quincey, and I think Cleary were injured in the pre-season last year. The philosophy is that since the games don't mean anything it's best to bench someone for a minor injury which, during the regular season, they would otherwise play through.

According to NHLscap the Wings only need to start Quincey and Downey in GR to be under the cap (this assumes all waiver-exempt players start there as well). Both are unlikely to be claimed, especially Downey, but if they are would be entirely replaceable, especially Quincey. It'll be close though. It would be nice to see all these guys remain with the team.

I don't know... there might be chemistry issues....

They couldn't trade him? Is there something honorable about waiving a player rather than trading him which I don't understand?

I saw Sammy with his wife and kid(s?) at Twelve Oaks. Few people actually recognized him, which I'm sure was good for him. I didn't feel like being a ****** and attracting a lot of attention so I just gave him a "What's up?" greeting as I walked by. My brother didn't see him and almost ran into him. He's a pretty big dude too.

Chicago's actually under the cap now.

It's not that politicians are more corrupt or unseemly than you or I, it's just that no one cares enough to watch for us to screw up. Now, I personally want to keep this board from descending into the madness that was the 1000+ post Hossa hate-fest on the Pens board, so let's not get too excited about Hossa being here beyond June. Let's enjoy him for this season first.

I think that was the point: that a combination of players will need to be traded in order to get under the cap. Or as was mentioned earlier we could trade Lidstrom and have all sorts of room for the trading deadline.

TSN looks like they may have some video of Hossa practicing at their website. Here's the link to a story that sounds pretty much like everything we've already heard. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=248990&amp...s=headlines_nhl

That's kind of funny coming from the guy who admitted bias in his Norris predictions. And remember it's the media who votes on the Norris and they love a good story. Chicago is up-and-coming and Campbell will have a good offensive season there what with the assists off Toews, Sharp, Kane, et al. Those numbers (perhaps not +/-) will put him in the running. I actually considered Blake, as he will likely benefit from the system and talent on his new team. That's why I included Boyle. But in the end I looked at that as a prediction of the runners-up because I can't believe Nick won't continue to dominate.

There are a couple Hossa pictures up at http://redwings.nhl.com/ on the third image window accompanying a short story. The images aren't great but feature him alongside Draper and Osgood.

1. Who are some players that will hit 50 goals this season? Can't think of anyone not already mentioned. 2. Who are some players that will hit 100 points this season? Ditto 3. The rookie of the year will be...? Filatov could be a bright spot in depressing Columbus. 4. What will be the cup finals matchup? Detroit vs. Montréal is the hoped for matchup. 5. Will Martin Havlat finally stay healthy for good portion of the season? Sure, why not? 6. Who (other than Lidstrom) has the best chance of winning Norris? Campbell, Boyle. 7. Crosby or Ovechkin... Who will outnumber the other in total points? Crosby. Ovechkin can avoid injury only so long. 8. Datsyuk or Zetterberg... Who will outnumber the other in total points? The trend and line combination favors Datsyuk. 9. Zetterberg or Hossa... Who will outnumber the other in goals scored? Hossa 10. Can the Columbus Blue Jackets make their playoff debut? Unlikely

Olympic games are cool? Will there be a Cup-hangover? Interestingly: "Yes, they will stumble," and, "No they won't." Everyone suspects injuries to be the only thing capable of slowing us and there's no knowing when or who they will strike. Chemistry problems? I doubt it. Record shattering? Well, we were on pace last season and it was unpredictable injuries that prevented it, although they were a mixed blessing because it provided some adversity and culminated in a Cup.

Dang, and I just got a Bulgarian women's hockey jersey too....

Exactly. Hossa won't be here next year so we'll go back to our early '07-'08 line configurations.