Esquire

According to Cap Geek: 2009-10 Detroit Red Wings: Spending = $58,827,920 Cap Space = $0 2010-11 Detroit Red Wings: Spending = $59,497,095 Cap Space = $44,155 2011-12 Detroit Red Wings: Spending = $59,119,568 Cap Space = $4,730,432 Well ya, it isn't difficult to predict Holland being inactive at the deadline with a whopping $44k in the bank last year! We also had to sign Lidstrom, Ericsson, White, as well as plan for Kronwall's raise in that year/off-season. You're able to call them "trends" because there simply hasn't been money to spend on UFA's/RFA's without throwing in a player or pick in trade; now there is money. This isn't conjecture or speculation either, it's cold, hard numbers. Going into next season the Wings will have Pav, Hank, Mule, Flip, Cleary, Bert, Eaves, Miller, Mursak, Emmerton, Ericsson, White, Kronwall, Kindl, Howard, and MacDonald ALL locked up for at least one more year. And if Cap Geek is correct, the Wings will have $22 million in cap space to sign players. Assuming as you are, that Suter, Weber, Parise, or any other big name player won't be pursued, is just your opinion based on the dealings of a GM who hasn't had the money or roster spots available to him. Now he has both.

Patrick Eaves (concussion) unsure of if he'll play again this season; Pavel Datsyuk (knee) looking for tickets to Florida Terrible news for Eaves. Hope he beats this thing.

Heads up, he skated with Ericsson today at practice.

As per Bob McKenzie:

Teams can offer all the money they want. What they can't offer is playing with Hank/Pav/Howard and possibly Nick along with the treatment that being a Red Wings provides. And how is this news conjecture when the writer clearly states it's from a person with knowledge of the team's plans? Nowhere does it state that the source was Twitter or Bleacher Report? I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that a writer for SI isn't using message boards as their primary source. And if he was, I hope he's smart enough to site them. Regarding the Devils finances, this is an interesting read, and from the player himself no less: Parise doesn’t expect Devils’ financial troubles to impact his future with team So, money and winning? Wings can offer both. Again, refer to the post above. Neither of those teams can offer a higher potential for winning than the Wings. It's also pure assumption you're going on that there is "0% chance he'll be a Wing" and that "he will take that massive overpayment" unless you can site a direct quote.

Apparently, someone at Sports Illustrated has a different opinion than you. Taken from today's power rankings: And if you're questioning that part in brackets, someone in New York has more news for you:

It didn't prevent the Wings from acquiring Quincey, who is certainly an upgrade. I realize it's a defensive upgrade, but who's to say Kenny doesn't trim from the back end salary in order to compensate for this new deal? Or package an RFA in a deal for a higher end scorer? Besides, we're not talking millions of dollars difference, we're talking a few hundred thousand.

Good for him, glad to see him around for another 2 years. Bert is one of the last of a dying breed: a power forward with great hands and a ton of experience. He's proven himself to the organization in adapting to the Wings style of play and this is his payback from the organization. I'm not really shocked to hear a lot of "he plays with Datsyuk so he's lucky" which is fair, but in no way should this be considered a one-way benefit for Bert. Having a big body with great hands like Bert's makes Pav's job that much easier and allows him to have extra time and Bert has made some great passes to set up Pav as well. Bert has also netted 3 winning shootout goals this season, which require no help from Pav. Best case scenario; Wings just signed a 30-40pt top 6 player for less than 3 million a year for 2 years. Worst case scenario; Wings just signed a 3rd/4th line veteran for less than 3 million who is a bargin to other teams looking for depth or a body to fill a roster should the Wings be looking to get rid of him.

So, Milbury dipping into the cooler a little early I see. Going after his co-workers with a stick on national TV. Stay classy NBC.

The "stream" I'm referring to is urine. Sorry to get your hopes up.

I have a stream that look like the Wings game, but you may not like it...

You'd think the Wings were showcasing Jimmy. FFS

Oh man, missing Pav's entry on the PP

Forwards are looking Torres-esqe this period too.

Who didn't see THAT coming. Yikes.

What a ******* disaster! lol

CHRIST Mursak is fast

Textbook 1st period on the road. Hope the energy level keeps up in the 2nd.

Lol whut? Hudler?

Holy hot bat s***, the Wings look gooood so far.

Unless I can find the FSD feed for this game, I'll be watching the game on mute tonight. Wings 3 (Huds/Fil/Kronner) Hawks 1 (Sharp) GO WINGS GO!!!

I'm sure all 7000+ of your posts have each been pearls of unquestionable wisdom. PS. Hawks just won their 3rd straight now. Take care.

Awww you mad bro? So far, I'm 2/2 and you're still just the guy who started a bad karma thread. And, I care more about a team in the Wings division/conference than I do about a team in the East.

The team who has Jeff Carter at a cap hit of $5 million+ for the next 10 years is worried about Nash "haunting" them? The inmates are truely running the asylum in Columbus.

These threads need to be met with swift shutdowns.