TheOwl

Don't be a troll, it's true. Hossa isn't doing his job. Simple as that. He chucks the puck away everytime. Find a decent scoring chance Hossa has had this series. Those are the facts son.

Hossa is just along for the ride apparently. Unless he has a huge Game 4, don't even consider for a second re-signin him.

Hossa needs to step up and score. He's a bench warmer at 7 million a season.

Even still. The Wings only have around 5 million for next season, that's 4 forwards that need to be signed. Assume Helm and Abby become full time (1.5 combined), that gives you 3.5 million to sign 2 more forwards. So unless Hossa will take 3 million a season, he's a gonner. Or Holland would have to move someone with a significant salary, and at this point I'd rather have Flipulla over Hossa. If any team is screwed for next year, it's Pittsburgh. They have 10 million in cap space to sign 5 forwards, 3 D-men and a back-up goalie. 9 players, 10 million in cap space = 10 rookies. They can basically say good-bye to their 2nd D-pair and almost everyone not named Crosby or Malkin on their first/second lines. Penguins are screwed.

The Wings have 5 million of cap space open for next season, assuming the cap doesn't change. They need a goalie (Howard at 0.7) and 4 forwards. If Hossa took 4 million like Franzen did, the Wings will have no room to sign anyone else, and won't be able to fill a roster. That means Helm, Leino, Hudler, Sammy and Kopetsky all will be let go. It's impossible without a significant trade. The books open a lot though for the 2010-2011 season with Lidstrom, Homer, and Maltby all possibly retiring. The Wings are in good shape long-term, but I don't see how Hossa will stay since trading Flipulla, Cleary or anyone signed for a significant amount of money is out of the question. Getting rid of Rafalski is really the only way to keep Hossa.

I completely agree with everything you've said Shanafan. If the Penguins win the cup *throws up in mouth*give it to Crosby. But if they don't, he doesn't even deserve a nomination. The East is weak defensively, and certainly the teams the Penguins have played to this point. Maybe if the Penguins knocked out New Jersey and Boston, maybe I'd be impressed with what Crosby and Malkin have been doing. But they've been playing defensively weak teams, with goalies giving poor performances. If Detroit wins the cup, Crosby should only win the Conn Symthe if the series goes 7 games, and he out-scores every other forward in the series. Anything short of that, the Wing with the most points should win it, most likely Franzen or Zetterberg. Or if Lidstrom shuts down Crosby and Malkin, give it to him. The NHL will be a joke if they give it to Crosby and they lose the Cup. They shouldn't risk it.

OHHHH MULE! CONN SYMTHE FOR THE MULE!!

^ I don't know about that 2nd line their. Homer is near useless 5 on 5, Franzen kind of hovers and waits for things to happen quiet a bit, and Sammy just shoots. They need a set up guy like Flipulla to get Sammy and Mule the puck. Maybe Hossa-Leino-Helm might be interesting. The message needs to be sent to Hossa not to shoot the puck immediately , or at least make a move with it before shooting.

I have a horrible feeling deep inside my bones that the NHL will hand the Conn Symthe to Crosby even if the Wings win the Cup.

If Detroit can get Leino signed for next season, and obviously we'll have Ericcson and Helm at least, next years team may be a whole lot better then this seasons.

Their both chuckers. Get the puck, and shoot. But Sammy has proven he can show up when it counts. Obviously for next season Hossa will be too expensive, but if Sammy will sign for 1.5-2 million, why not re-sign him? He certainly deserves it the way he's been performing. Hossa earned his millions in the regular season, but honestly, who's earned the chance to stay? Sign Sammy over Hossa. We all know Hossa won't be back (cap issues), and unless he starts turning it up, why sign him anyways? This team doesn't need him.

Hossa is the finisher on that line. The problem isn't Datysuk, Pavel is getting Hossa the puck, but he just throws it away. Plus with Homer looking tired, I don't blame Datysuk. He's playing with a guy who never passes and misses the net half the time, and a 36 year old man. The point is, Datysuk is under contract, Hossa is not, and Hossa should be the one earning his 7.45 million, and fighting for a new contract.

Hossa thinks he's Ovechkin when he gets the puck, he shoots from everywhere and misses. He's a chucker. Rarely passes, rarely makes a fancy move. He's like an over-paid version of Sammy. BUT at least Sammy can score. Hossa = 7.45 million dollar chucker

You're 100% right. To be perfectly honest, Holland should sign Sammy over Hossa. Hossa is very over-rated. Good players are able to break out of funks, and at least contribute in some way. Hossa has been bad in all areas of the game these play-offs, minus one or two games. He should be let go for sure, espesically if he wants anywhere near Franzen. The Mule is a beast, Hossa is a bench warmer. That's a fact. This team doesn't need Hossa, and at this point, he's just wasting Datysuk's play making skills. Get Leino in their, at least he might be able to score every second game or so. It's all mental for Hossa really. The only chance in hell of resigning Hossa means trading Cleary, Flipulla or Stuart. And all 3 of those guys has far out performed Hossa in these play-offs. Hossa knows for a fact he won't get re-signed, and maybe he thinks this may be his last chance to win a cup. Hossa knows he won't be back, and it's completely ruined his confidence. It's kind of sad that Hossa can't step up. Z, Franzen, Hudler, Sammy, Conks etc have all been fighting for their new contracts. Now that Hossa knows he won't get one, he has given up.

Does anyone else think the reason Datysuk isn't scoring is because of Hossa and Homer? Neither look very good, Homer looks slow, Hossa can't finish, even after beautiful passes by Dats. Datysuk needs to be told to just shoot, because neither of his line mates can score to save their lives. It's also funny how all those people who wanted Hossa over the Mule or Zetterberg are being owned right now. Holland is the king, and TBH, I think this team without Hossa would be playing better at the moment. He's playing TERRIBLY!

He was a monster tonight on the penalty kill. He's being too fancy though, I think it's more of his matchup with Anaheim. Chicago's game will completment Datysuk's, more open ice, more run and gun etc.

I feel for the refs in some ways, hockey is so fast, so much going on, Bettman and the NHL hangs the refs out to dry. They have too much power. One thing could solve the entire problem, every call, reviewable (other then whistles of course). Make every goal, every penalty reviewable. Wouldn't be too hard really. Coach gets 3 challenges, if the challenge goes in his favor, he doesn't lose one. Like Tennis. Simple, doesn't solve every problem but if done quickly could create excitement, and refs can get the calls right.

How would that of ever happened? Montreal, Toronto and the Rangers would've never made it to the finals.

I never doubted him during the regular season. Not once. Chicago will be tough though, it will be a real test of the Detroit D and goaltending. Datysuk and Hossa hopefully will be lights out!

Franzen may win it, he's certainly the Detroit MVP so far! Amazing that the play-offs are only half over!

If that was true, we wouldn't need a Game 7.

go wings!

The simple fact is, even if you let Sammy, Hulder, Conklin, Chelios and Kopetky all leave, and replace them with Albekater, Ericcson, Helm, Leino and Howard, you gain almost no cap room. The 5 former players almost make the minimum, and you basically replace them with 5 guys making the minimum. Unless Hossa signs for under 3 million, you can't keep him unless you trade a guy with a significant cap hit. Stuart or Kronwall or Rafalski would have to be traded. Or Flipulla, or Cleary. The way Flipulla is improving it would be a huge mistake letting him go. Leino is basically a first round draft pick, no point in letting him go. Their is no cap room for Hossa. Now, perhaps, in a perfect world Hossa would sign a 1 year deal for like 2 million a season, wait for Lidstrom to retire or sign for less the following season, then give Hossa a long term, 5 million a season. But then you totally screw yourself if the cap decreases.

Bettman is such a moron. The team isn't working, move it to a market guaranteed to succeed, it won't hurt the American market by losing Phoenix. And the other plus of moving the team, the divisions can be re-structured so teams like Vancouver have an easier travel schedule. In a perfect world, Atlanta would move to Winnipeg, which makes the Northwest travel schedule easier, and the Avalanche can move to the Pacific. Preds can move to the Southeast, Sabres to the Central. Two bad markets, move to two good markets, and everyone gets an easier divisional travel. It'll be good for the NHL to mix up the divisions a little.

I completely agree, especially in the western final. If we would've gotten Vancouver in the semi's, I would be way more freaked. We should be scared of Bulin, he's done it before, like Ward versus Thomas in the Boston Carolina series. Osgood, Bulin, Ward, all great play-off goalies, who should be "feared". But if we can break Hiller and Mason, and pull off this series in 6 games, Chicago shouldn't be too much of a problem after two very tough opponents in Calgary and Vancouver.