Yzersyukstromberg

You're right on almost everything there....but as for his trade value; I don't think he really has any. His stats are almost non-existent, and he takes plenty of needless penalties in his minimal ice time. I'd say our best bet is to just ride out the season with him and not offer him a contract when he becomes a UFA at season's end.

Fourth liner or not, he sucks...I'd take Darren Helm on the 4th line in his place all day long, once we're healthy and forced to make that decision.

For real though, Steve Yzerman Nicklas Lidstrom Gordie Howe Ted Lindsay and if there's room, then add Tomas Kopecky (lol)

Jeez man, this one is easy... 1) Jeff Sharples 2) Tony McKegney 3) Johan Garpenlov 4) John Chabot 5) Borje Salming 6) Mark Habscheid 7) Wes Walz 8) Bob Essensa 9) Yan Golubovsky 10) Torrie Robertson I know there's alot, but they're such a formidable group, we'll just have to use both sides of the mountain to make it happen.

Flip is lazy and he sucks. just kidding...but he's not the 4th best forward on the team either. I'd put the following in front of him: 1) Datsyuk 2) Zetterberg 3) Hossa 4) Franzen 5) Hudler Now, when it comes to Hudler, he's not great defensively, but he's SO much better offensively than Flip is that I have to put him in front. On top of these, there are easily a couple of other guys who could be rated above, simply because they're having a better season this year, but I won't count them.

Lidstrom's #5 will go up to the rafters just as quickly as Stevie's #19 did...right away...the season after he calls it quits.

Might have happened because Dallas will occasionally place players in Grand Rapids. Dallas doesn't have an exclusive affiliate in the AHL, so they spread their prospect around to a few different teams. The roster update on NHL 09 must have been done prior to them finding out exactly where Avery would land in the AHL. Dallas already called up one player they had playing in Grand Rapids earlier this season...Landon Wilson, if I'm not mistaken.

I completely understand what you're saying, but all I'm getting at is this...over the 83 years of Red Wings hockey there have been PLENTY of guys who have been involved in multiple Cup wins...go back to the 50's when the Wings were a dynasty; there were plenty of similar type players who won Cups but didn't walk away with their jersey # retired. If we just make it so that all you have to do is be on the team for multiple Cup wins, we're better off to honor the team, not the individuals. Jersey retirements are for the best of the best. None of these guys fit that category. On the note of Stevie Y, and how he doesn't even have 4 cups...that's only a matter of when he came in to the league. If Stevie wasn't the age he is, he'd have been a part of the 4th Cup as well...but unfortunately for him (and fortunately for us), Stevie paid the price from 1983-1993 helping build the Wings into the team they are now. He took his lumps for 10 or so years, with little chance of a Cup win, and was a big part of why the Wings finally made the leap to a serious contender starting in about '94. Long story short, I still don't feel the guys mentioned deserve a jersey retirement.

He could come close. Since he's already got 33 goals in 57 games, that puts him on a pace to score 47 goals...if he keep up that pace. I don't see any reason why he should slow down. If anything, there's lots of evidence to show that he might even increase the production a bit down the stretch, being more and more comfortable with the Wings' system. You never know, but asking him to score 17 more goals in the last 25 games of the regular season is quite a bit....I'd almost prefer he save some for the playoffs, but we'll see what happens!

I understand that it's your opinion...but, #18 - Not a chance #25 - Never #33 - Nope #96 - Best of the bunch, but no All of these guys played very important parts in the Wings' 4 Cup runs, but if we drop the 'standard' required to retire a jersey number, then we'll have no numbers left to wear on the ice in a matter of another 20 years. It just can't happen. In a franchise with 83 years of history, there are lots of players who will pass through the organization and have a very big impact, but to retire each of their numbers just isn't feasible. I respect how you appreciate each of these guys contributions, but none of them warrant a jersey retirement.

I agree with you, Kenny Holland and his posse are the best in the business, hands down. My suggestion however is that with the other UFAs the Wings are trying to sign, maybe the wait to realize Flip's potential just isn't worth it at the moment. Because of this potential that we all see that he has, he's a valuable trade commodity. Other teams will obviously see it, and because of that, he might just fetch us a solid return in a trade to a non-contender looking to build for the future. It's completely reasonable to think that Val might turn into a solid 2-way player in the future, but as for right now, it just seems like $3 mil/yr is alot to pay for a guy who's only contributing mainly on the defensive side of the puck, while we're sitting here trying to figure out ways to free up money so that we don't lose guys like Hossa, Mule, Huds or even Sammy. I guess my main point is that the timing for Val just seems to be wrong.

Understood, but not every player's potential is realized. ie; Anders Eriksson. They thought that guy was going to be a stud D-man....and it didn't happen. All I'm saying is that even Kenny Holland might just once make the slight mistake of overpaying for a player who he believes will realize his potential at a later date...while that's yet to be seen with Flip, it just gives us a possible option if we need to move salary in order to keep some more valuable parts of the team around.

Listen...first of all, I DO understand the concept of a $3 mil/yr signing...don't belittle me. Without elaborating much, since I already made my point in my post, and don't intend to change my opinion to try to match yours....you can say what you want about Filppula, but I just don't see the same potential in this guy as you obviously do. That's my opinion... I had the same opinion even before Holland made the 5-year extension happen. I don't argue that he's a decent player, but I still believe the money he's making right now is an overpayment, and it might remain an overpayment for a good portion of his 5-year extension. Just because I don't think Flip isn't worth the money he's signed for, doesn't mean I'm giving up on him....I'm suggesting that he'd be good trade bait, because obviously there are others on the team that can contribute more (ie; Hossa, Franzen, etc) in the next few years, and with a salary like Flip's on the books, we will have to move someone...why not Flip? Again, I'm entitled to my opinion, and you to yours. Trust me when I tell you that I understand the concept of signings, potential, development, etc....but just because you think one thing doesn't mean everyone else's opinion is wrong and would ruin the team if it happened that way.

You know, it's funny you mention that...I was saying the exact same thing to my friend at the game the other night. I've been to every single home game this year, and I could count Kronner's big hits on one hand. However, having said that, I really feel like Kronner has picked up his game on an overall basis, piling up the assists, and slowly cutting down on his giveaways. I'm more than confident that he's still got the big, bonecrushing hits in him, but I think that maybe the coaching staff and management have asked him to hold back the real big ones until the postseason...we already know he's battled injuries throughout his career, and the risk of him getting hurt is too high...notice how he's played 54 of 56 games this season, much more than usual. I'm thinking you're going to see Nik deliver the hits come playoff time, but during the regular season, when you're only playing a club once, there's really less of a need to deliver the monster hit. In a series, where you're playing the same team up to 7 times in a row, the big hit becomes more important, with the possibility of shaking guys up or knocking them out of a series.... In my opinion, this guy is a keeper...we'll want him around once Lidstrom decides to retire...

You'll have to put more into your post than that...what are you basing this bright future on??

I love how people try to candy-coat Flip's stats. Fact is, like stated above more than once, is that he's 12th on the team in points (behind 3 defencemen I might add), and he only has 6 goals, which is 11th on the team. You can make any stat look decent if you twist it the right way, but one thing is pretty clear.....$3 million cap hit/year isn't what you should be getting for 6-21-27 totals, through 56 games. That's just not good enough. Those kind of stats should earn a salary of around $1.5 million MAX. The raise he got was based on him ramping up the numbers and playing a more prominent role on the team...and he hasn't been able to do it. And for those who blame it on him being on the 3rd line, he's there for a reason. Babcock tries him out on the 2nd line here and there, but overall, he just simply hasn't earned a spot on any line better than the 3rd. I wish he would...Flip seems like a good guy and he works hard out there, but there's definitely questions (in my mind) about what exactly this guy is going to become in the NHL. I say, as of right now, the Flip signing was a bit of a slip-up on Holland's part, and that might be a reason to move him and his big salary...

I disagree on that...I think that shipping out Kronwall is a bad idea altogther. We'd be better off trying to find a way to get Jonathan Ericsson healthy and up in the NHL, rather than moving a solid D-man like Kronner. I'd hate to see him go... If I traded any of our D-men, it would be Lebda, but sadly, he doesn't carry any trade value. We'd more than likely be forced to deal a forward in order to shore up the D. My choice would be Filppula and Lebda packaged for a D-man, and maybe a draft pick, if that could be done. Not sure if that will happen, or who we realistically could get, considering the Wings' team salary, but I'd be interested to see what might happen at the deadline.

You would be surprised what price some of the lesser franchises in the NHL will pay for a player who has won a Stanley Cup, is still young (24 yrs), and is under contract for 5 seasons. Another team who isn't as focused on winning right now would possibly be more willing and able to eat up some salary and wait on his potential to play out.

Why do you say that? Are you privy to some sort of 'inside' knowledge that we don't have?? All I know is the Valtteri Filppula is a $3 mil/yr cap hit player who currently has 6-21-27 totals just months after signing a 5-year extension. Come on now....6 goals for $3 mil/yr, let's be honest here...that's just not good enough. I like Flip and wish he'd start to progress more quickly, but he's proven over and over that he's not willing to drive to the net, and that he's very easy to take off the puck...not to mention, he's got the Igor Larionov tendency of not wanting to shoot the puck (81 shots all year in 08/09). Like any fan, I hope that he'll start to turn it up and realize his potential, but not every guy is going to be our next Hank, Pav, etc. Kenny Holland may just see Flip as a way to move some salary in order to sign guys like Hossa, Franzen, Hudler, and maybe even Sammy. If he stays, great....but if he goes, it wouldn't surprise me whatsoever. He's highly paid, and continues to perform below his salary level.

I'm also happy for Quincey, glad to see him get his chance and make something of it...just unfortunate that we weren't able to fit him into the mix and enjoy his talents in Detroit, but that's the way it goes when you're deep. As for Leino, you're right, he's off to a great start, glad to see him producing. I think he's going to be a great player....Helm, however, has not been 'on fuego'. He's been OK, but still no points yet, and plenty of giveaways. I like this player alot, but lets not say he's on fuego until he puts up a point. One thing I am really liking out of him, however, is his energy...lots of hits, and good hustle around the puck. He's going to be good...

Oh, please...

Yeah I usually access the Cobo Roof from the Ambassador Bridge thought, that's why I use Fort.

If peer pressure won't make him stay, nothing will. Keep it up boys!

You need to get yourself to FORT STREET in downtown Detroit. Once you're there, assuming you're coming from the east, you'll need to look for THIRD STREET. You'll want to turn SOUTH on THIRD STREET, from whatever direction you're heading on FORT. Once you're on Third street, follow it for about a block, then it will make a 90 degree bend to your left. Once you've made the 90 degree turn, the spiral ramp to the Cobo Roof Parking Deck is located directly on your right side. You'll pay at the roof. It's usually cheaper if you arrive before 6 I think. Hope this helps.

Please quit with the Aaron Downey 'should be called up' stuff....the guy is useless. If Ken Holland saw ANYTHING whatsoever in him, he would have kept him up for more than 1 game this year. Barring major injuries, Downey's days in a Red Wings uniform are over (just my opinion though, so don't hang me for it!)