hokike

I love my team and I don't care what other think.

4th line is playing well and I do not care who's name is on the back.

calling to KH to make "4th liner for fists" was already dead plan. Why? Put yourself to some other GMs position....What he should to do with received "4th liner from RW"? In short term he might have been helpful but in longterm he would have been for rebuilding team totally useless. Reality is that rebuilding team asks picks, prospects or salary cap relief for their players and for KH it was too much. I'm sure that here are some who can explain better how bargaining works but deals are not based on "what is the honest price for "grit" but "how much you are willing to pay ? How desperate is your situation in selling or buying?" for sellers there was no reason to lower their prices b/c most of them were not selling desperately anyway.

things may be on the contrary as well. All this "they try to rough up RW players and this is a sign of disrespect. Enforcer. please." may be flawed theory. How? Opponents try to demonstrate their"handsomness" not b/c of lacking respect but b/c of they try to catch RW attention. What RW thinks of you is IMPORTANT and therefore better look like as "tough" as possible. But adversaries have usually swallow the bittest pill: champs does not care of you, regardless of what you're trying to do. RW prefers to play game according to their own rules not to those what opponents try to set.

(Probably) Babcock has simplified both Lilja's and Sammy's game, now Lilja does what he does best and does not try to make plays or fancy passes. Same with Sammy: give puck to somebody who actually can do something and only try to score when look is good.

Calling this team "soft" b/c of they are missing one guy from previously mentioned post is way too much IMO. But if Kenny can make a trade for fists w/o giving up more than 1 fourth liner, fine.

1.What I meant was gone for game ( like Hossa had to leave to lockerroom after fight) not gone forever. 2. Aaron downey sits in AHL and most probably do not dress for Red Wings game in this season . He even before the season admitted openly that his actual playing skills need seriuos developement. 3. AND you are this one who determines who is worthy of Red Wings roster spot? 4. I'm not against of fighting but I'm against of position like "ship is sinking b/c no serius enforcres there" or "my life sucks, Joe Louis arena sucks, game sucks, I want to see some fight" 5. Ken Holland is not "antifighter", he has said (at least once) fighter yes but with skill and RIGHT pricetag. Now add salary cap issues too. consider this: for Holland's view fight has to be far more important before he is ready to sacrifice skill for fists. 6. Hockey is strong contact sport. If you can not tolerate "dirty" hits and nasty slashes, there are other sports too. Among of many things good athletes are taught to swallow provocations and other forms of "testing" It is childish to shout after already mentioned hit to Hudler "revenge , revenge, oh why nobody sticks up for teammates!!!!Cowards!!!!" Both hitter and Hudler knew that it was nothing personal, that is a part of testing. It has nothing to do with "pride" or something like that. It is a GAME, GAME, dude, A GAME. In real life, yes not sticking up toyour mates even after "minor fight" can be shameful, but we're talking about a GAME here. For me it is more childish to conclude "why they do not fight, they have so soft hearts" Strong is not this who reacts to every provocation strong is who chooses when fight when not. If allowed to play to game like during seventies, ( I've seen some clips) then yes, bring me as many fighters as you can. I'm 100% sure that it has been discussed in lockerroom where their "tolerance limits" are. Coaching staff has seen everything and I'm sure they have their tactic ready when opponent chooses to "play as dirty as possible".

Good that we agreed on something. One enforcer do not rise toughness lever if he is not capable of playing more than 4 min per game ( read: is not able to offer more than fists). They are not "tough" not because of lack of enforcers but because of regular season has become pretty dull for them. And one minor role palayer surely is not capable of making reg season more "interesting" for bored vets via fights. Vets are pros and thos pros know pretty well that fights in hockey are mostly "shows".

Lidström has seen in his long career various injury causes - mostly on other guys,I'm pretty sure that one "illegal" hit did notshake his confidence. He has probably already forgotten this incident. focus on more important things. The same with Hudler. It is typical fan mistake to higlight one scene and based on this scene to analyze the "whole" thing. If they win or lose cup, then not because of enforcer. Comparably with goalie and focus ( do they "flip switch" when POs begin?) issues, is "enforcer" for me very minor problem.

RW players are not afraid of other teams and therefore do not feel they need to "send messages". and since they( RW players) do not care what others are thinking of them, it is futile to "send messages" to RW players too.

instigation rule. Headhunters will be gone. http://www.nhl.com/rules/rule56.html Goon does not not save Red Wings. Skilled goons cost too much and cheap goons a la Downey are useless. Red Wings players do not care what other teams think of them and therefore do not feel that they need fight to prove their "handsomness". Described action is teenage level behavior and I'm glad that RW players act like adults not teens.

other GMs surely KNOW why Holland might want a "goon" and when Holland is asking desperately - ask from him even higher price.

do not forgrt that Leino , Helm and etc, are waiting their payday as well and red wings may be in position not to afford them in longterm. The Cap is projected to decrease by $9M in two summers. Especially with this scenario.

red wing WILL lose some players anyway, so it is better to trade one or two "losers" even for just PO rental t and better hope that received rental patches some bugs...

Your "smoke" is even stronger than OP-er.

trade whole red wings b/c of they did not win tonight and, oh fire assistant coach too... I'm not worried, one stupid post among of many remains unnoticed.

sitting in 2015 with age 35+ pair of forwards, peaked already, but cap hit still 6+6 mil is surely a recipe for stagnation in terms of team development, so 4 yr for hossa is reasonable. But it also means very remarkable discount ( salary can't exceed Lidstrom's annual salary) and that is unlikely to happen.

get real, there is no room to add somebody, on the contrary. And after Bertuzzi fiasco Holland is not ready to give away picks for half year rental.

to make cap hit smaller than Zetterberg's actual salary, Holland had no choice than offer insanely long contract. Is Holland willing to take risk and try to sign Hossa and or Franzen similar dangerously long contracts?

Holland did not keep "cheap" GRers in reserve in case of need to pay well to someone.

Osgood and Howard ( both suck now) as goalies next year? Are you kidding me???? Holland won't replace 1/3 of team with "grand rapiders" in one year because of hossa needs to be signed, you can count on it.

Nobody asked from crosby whether he likes to be "hockey face" or not, he has to carry this burden because of (media) corporations have decided so.

If hossa won't agree with 6mil, then from Red Wings perspective, further negotiations are pointless.

Red Wings plays when it matters. No need to complain over "useless" season therefore, especially make gloomy predictions for POs based on one or two games. Relax. They know their stuff. No assistant coach firing required.

how much salary you had for Hossa in your considerations? ( those hossa 6-7 mil per year chanters hope too big discount by hossa, IMO)