Dimaline312000

Last night while watching Round 1 of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft one of the Vs Commentators was talking about Pittsburgh as they were making their selection (23rd). I forget who it was but one of them said that the Pens like to do what the Red Wings do and keep their prospects over-ripe. I took a little offense to that however I couldn't really dispute it to much. The Wings like to bring their young guys up early that's for sure and I do think that's the right thing to do but do we leave them down in Juniors or Minors to long making them Over-Ripe? Like I said I agree with it but I also believe the Wings are doing the right thing by leaving them down their to develop their skills and it gives the roster depth throught the organization. What is everyone's thoughts??

Yeah it's the 7th through the 14th. If I had money I would be going for sure but have to save up for the actual Training Camp. You work at the Resort they are staying at wow that's pretty cool I really wish I could find a job in TC I would move there. If you can dig up some stuff let me know I'd definetly be interested in it just let me know the cost and I'll see what I can do. Thanks.

I think it's a fine line to know when a player is ready to make the jump from Junior or College into Minors into the NHL. I think the Wings walk that line a lot but they know where it is and are able to recognize when to bring a player up. I'll admit I'm one of the people that LOVES to play Coach or GM and that's why I play Be A GM Mode on the EA Sports NHL Games, but that's why I'm a fan and not working in the orgainzation. Being able to watch a player grow and develop really is the best way to tell when they are ready to make the jump to the NHL Roster. You can call it over-ripe or not but for the Red Wings I think it's the best possible choice for this team. It's up to other teams what they do with their players; Wings do what's best for the Organization and I support it Fully. I may not always agree with it but I do Support it.

Looks like all quality players with a lot of potential drafted by Detroit today. It only makes me that more excited for September and the Red Wings Training Camp. If I had money I'd be going up to Traverse City July 7-14th for the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp. This camp is usually held in Detroit but this year it's going to be held in Traverse City and will feature Detroit Red Wings Prospects and Draft Picks. It should be really good to see. I hear th tickets are only $5 per event per day but I don't know. If you look on the Detroit Red Wings Training Camp Facebook Page it has more details. All in all it was a great day of Drafting and should be a very good upcoming season. Up next Free Agency and than nothing really to look forward to as far as hockey goes until September. After July 1 Depression will sit in until the day I leave for the NHL Prospect Camp and Detroit Red Wings Training Camp.

Looks like it was a good deal for the Wings to get 2 extra picks plus their own in the 2nd giving the team 3 picks in that round. It makes sense that Detroit would do something like that. They are really good and drafting quality players late in the Draft and as Jim Nill said they felt the players they wanted would still be there when it came time for them to pick so I defintley agree with the trade.

See for the most part that is how I feel. By other teams standards maybe our prospects are over-ripe but in my honest opnion this is the type of system that we have had for a long time and it works for us. I'm not worried about what they said I just wanted to know what everyone thought. I do think the Wings need to start looking at the prospects more for call-ups and players that have been down for a while to make the NHL team but I think this is the best system for us and that is what the Wings should stick with doing.

I don't blame Babsy for being pissed; it would have been nice to get Burns but I also agree we didn't really have that much to trade for him. I think the Wings can find a good repalcement for Raf. I have faith in this team.

I'm just excited to see what's going to happen at the draft. I always enjoy watching it on the TV and really wished they did full coverage of all 7 rounds. Can't wait to see what trades happen. While I don't think Detroit will do anything major at the Draft it would be kinda cool to see them do something. Wings are masters of the draft and are able to find the Diamonds in the Rough but it would be nice to see the Wings get a higher rated draft pick even though they don't need that type of immediate help.

I'm just glad to see the Wings Open and Close the Regular Season at Home!! I'd don't know why but I'm very supersticious about that. Didn't that happen in 07/08 or am I mistaken??

That's great news to me. I'm glad Salei is going as far as MacDonald I think we could find a decent free agent goalie if we don't keep Ozzie either. I'd rater go after a UFA Goalie than bring back Ozzie with all the troubles he's had latley. That's great news to me. I'm glad Salei is going as far as MacDonald I think we could find a decent free agent goalie if we don't keep Ozzie either. I'd rater go after a UFA Goalie than bring back Ozzie with all the troubles he's had latley.

Well I'm really glad that the CHL isn't going down at least not right now. This keeps quite a bit of Minor League Hockey going strong. Not having a league in between the SPHL and the ECHL probably would have ment that a lot o players that play Minor Pro Hockey here in the US off to Europe to get more money while developing skills to be able to come to the ECHL or AHL. A Luxury Tax could be a good thing or a bad thing, I think it's more important to keep all teams in the league on a level playing feild. Because one team is doing better financially than another team shouldn't mean that they could spend more for any type or reason; the one reason that comes to mind is to get better players attracted to that team instead of a team not doing so well. I think the most important thing is like the articl I post said is that the Minor League Hockey Model be fixed. That may or may not happen and if it does it may be a while. It's a shame that the Economy has such an effect on Hockey but I think that's the biggest reason why all Hockey and Sports are in trouble. I look to the Muskegon team that I've supported for past 12 - 14 Seasons. The Muskegon Fury they were the best team in the UHL. They won 4 League Championships in 7 seasons and by the time they had won their 2nd and was going for their 3rd and 4th in Back to Back Seasons they were already named Best Minor League Hockey Team. If you look in old Issues of the Hockey News and other Hockey Magazines and Articles you can see that. Than after the 06/07 the UHL Ceased Operations and the New IHL came to be the 3 Seasons that the League was alive saw the Fort Wayne Komets win all 3 League Championships each season; They may as well have called it the Fort Wayne Hockey League but the Komets were in a good market with a good fan-base and good ownership. After the IHL went away in the 09/10 season we saw a good number of teams go to the CHL and In My Honest Opnion they were the teams in better financial shape. If you look at the Michigan teams from the UHL/IHL There was Kalamazoo which seems do be doing well in the ECHL and that's great Flint, Port Huron and Muskegon all either went to a Junior League or ceased operations. I think that is a direct result of the Economy here in Michigan. Muskegon Lost it's 50 years of Pro Hockey as 09/10 was it's last season. Muskegon a team that was deemed the best in all Minor Pro Hockey stopped playing pro hockey and was forced to go to the USHL. Muskegon I do believe is one of if not the worst Counties in Muskegon as far as jobless people and economic decline over the years so that is certainly going to affect any type of sports no matter what league. The main point I'm trying to make is that Minor League Hockey is suffering dearly and it is a result of the Economy, now the Economy may not be the only result but I feel that it is one of the biggest ones. That is why I the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs have ceased operatoins at least to my understanding. As I said previously as a fan with no job and limited potential in this economy I don't see much I can do to help Minor League Hockey but I definetly would if I could and that is why I encourage all of you no matter what type of Hockey is in your area support it the best you can becasue if you're an avid fan like me you'd rather see some hockey than none at all and be forced to go even farthe and spend more gas to see hockey. That is one of the biggest reasons I support Junior Hockey in Muskegon because if I didn't it would go away and I'd be forced to go to more Griffins games which wouldn't be a problem if gas wasn't so expensive. So in all that rambling my message is the Economy has done a number on our sport and if you want to save it support it in any way you can.

I know this is a Red Wings forum and most of you don't really care about Minor League Hockey especially a team all the way in Louisiana but this is another one of my teams. At one point between the Western Pro Hockey League and the East Coast Hockey League there were about 7 or 8 teams in Louisiana. Through the years the teams have vanished one by one. When the WPHL and the Central Hockey League Merged the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs were the only team to survive the merger. I was born in Louisiana and lived there for 13 years. Now there is 2 teams in Louisiana the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs and the Louisiana IceGators. In the WPHL the MudBugs won 3 Championships in a Row and the last one they won was ten years ago. Last night in Game 7 of the CHL Ray Miron President's Cup Finals the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs defeated the Colorado Eagles by the final score of 2-1 to win their first Championship in ten years. I really cannot express how I feel right now. The only thing that could make me feel any better than the way I do right now is if the Detroit Red Wings would have Won the Stanley Cup as well. I know most of you don't care about this but I really had to post this becasue this means so much to me becasue at the time I lived in Louisiana there were no hockey teams and I've been following this team since Day 1. It is interesting to note that there are at least 3 or more players from Michigan on the team. So I guess if there is any way to associate this thread with what this forum is it would be that. But I just wanted to create this thread and say Congratulations to the Bossier-Shreveport MudBugs for winning the 2010-2011 Central Hockey League Ray Miron Presidnt's Cup Championship!!!!

This is such great news. I don't even want to think about what we would have had to do to replace Rafalski and Lidstrom in one off-season and now we don't have to worry about that. Great to have you back Captian Liddy!!

Check this link out. Hopefully it will work it has some very interesting reading. If it doesn't work I'll just post the article on here so let me know if you can access it or not. Thanks. http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110616/SPORTS/106160315/1002

It was great to see Tim win the Conn Smythe and the Cup!! He definetly deserves it. I'm thrilled the Bruins won the Cup there is at least 3 players on th Bruins that has a Michigan Connection. Tim Thomas being From Flint Michigan. Mark Recchi played for the old Muskegon Lumberjacks in the old IHL and Chris Kelly played for the Muskegon Fury in the UHL so it was definetly great to see all of them get the Cup. Nice work Timmy Thomas and the Boston Bruins Congrats!!

I think Kenny could find someone better for just as much or maybe even less $$$$. I see the point you're making but in my opnion the Wings need to start getting younger. Fine if we need another Vet but let's go after one in the Free Agent Market other than him. Let's not forget he played in Russia last season so it would be the same type of deal like Nabokov wouldn't it? He would have to be open to all the other teams to pick up before he could actually come to Detroit or is that wrong? Either way I think we can fill a Vet spot with someone a little bit better. AMEN!!!! I couln't agree more!!!!

All of this is disgusting. I know they were in Canada and Hockey was born there and the Cup too but there is no call for any of this. It reminds me of a few years ago when Montreal won it's first playoff series in some time and some Habs fans were rioting. That is sheer stupdidity on a platter it's not passion for the game it's stupid and uncalled for. I have no respect for any Candian fans who do that kind of stuff. I'm so glad the Bruins won the Cup Canada and it's fans don't deserve it.

I hope that the Wings don't resign Osgood or Draper. Let's use that Cap and Roster space for someone else. Bring Emmerton up this coming season and go after a couple new free agents. Resign MacDonald or even a Free Agent Goalie or something Say bye to Miller and Eaves and let's go after some new blood; something that could give us a little spark on the roster to get the guys going and ready to chase another Cup.

If Jagr comes to Detroit I will VOMIT repeatedly. If Holland is a smart GM he will say Piss Off Jaromir go back to Russia.

I get what you mean. I didn't hear about a new Casino but it doesn't suprise me. In Southern states like Louisiana a sport like Hockey will be one of the first sports to suffer any type of loss of team. You should go to the ECHL website and maybe that can tell you what type of restrictions that league has for players. I know that the CHL has done real well as far as teams selling out games and that's great but as you say it's that type of market. The way I see it is if teams are leaving the CHL where does that put the league?? It's great to see teams like Colorado and other teams move up to the ECHL but it really makes me wonder after all these seasons of being in the CHL why the change now? It makes me wonder if the CHL is in trouble. Let's look at it a minute. MudBugs are gone. Quad City Mallard were going to be gone as well but at the last minute got new ownership and stays. Colorado to the ECHL, I haven't heard anything officail on the Mavericks but they may be another team leaving for the ECHL. RiverKings I hear are going to the SPHL. Odessa to the NAHL next season so that's like 4 or 5 teams that the CHL has lost in one season. If the IHL wouldn't have been such a bust than the IHL and CHL would have never mergd and you could take away Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Quad City, and Dayton come next season that leaves maybe 8 or 10 teams after all is said and done. Now of course all the IHL teams aren't going anywhere as of right now but it does make me wonder if something is going to happen to the CHL and if it does what happens to those other teams? Sure I think some of them could go to ECHL becasue they are also in a Good Hockey Market but for some other teams it could mean going to the SPHL or becoming a Junior League team like Odessa is doing. The economy is not always to blame for teams going under but in certain markets the economy is a big factor in all of this. Remember there used to be 6 or 8 Minor Hockey Leagues here in the us now there's what 4 and if the CHL does go belly up 3, and where does that put a lot of players that have to come up the hard way? So while the Economy can't always be blamed it has a big factor on Minor League Hockey over the years. Ownership and a good fanbase can only go so far Market is everything now-a-days. I just don't want to see something like that happen. Having the CHL up and going I think is really important for Hockey here in the USA. I know I'm repeating a lof of what I've said but I'm just wondering what's going on and how it could affect Hockey here. I think it could have a huge negative impact if the CHL can't stay afloat.

Well as far as the MudBugs go I hope they do come back even if they are in the SPHL at least they will be back so I really hope that happens. Mavericks switching to the ECHL migt be a good thing even if they have to change systems a big I imagine that player siginings will consist of a little bit better talent on the roster. I've heard great things about the ECHL but I've never been to a game. I can't see them going under or anything I think if the CHL is sinking than it would be best if as many teams as possible can jump ship now. Like I've said before I'd hate to lose a league like the CHL becasue it really does consist of a different level of players as far as skill goes and it would suck for those players to not have anywhere to play here in the US and forcing them to go overseas to play hockey. It would be a HUGE Jump from SPHL all the way to ECHL if there was no CHL in between for players to progress through their careers and develop the skills needed to maybe one day get to the NHL. For all those Junior Players that don't get drafted or even do get drafted that don't develop their skills that quick and have to come up the hard way. People underestimate the importance of Minor League Hockey, it's often over looked or not followed. However I do believe that Minor League Hockey is very important to the sport and the higer levels of the sport. I'd love nothing more than to go back to the days were there were the SPHL, UHL, WCHL, WPHL, CHL, ECHL, IHL, AHL and NHL. I know people may say that having more league doesn't necessarily mean more strength for the sport of Hockey but I believe it does and being able to have teams that you can go see when you can't afford to go to NHL Games makes for more enjoyment of the sport. In this Economy it would help to have more teams and leagues but it's this economy as to why so many teams and leagues are going under and it's a ******* Crying Shame. My apologize for my language at the end.

That was a great Montreal team but I can't stand the Habs so good for them but GO DETROIT RED WINGS!!!!

I think that Memphis was the team that former Flint Genearls Coach Robbie Nicholls coached for a few seasons in the CHL but I'm not sure. Wow the RiverKings are leaving the CHL too. Perhaps someting is going to happen to the CHL. I hope not I thought years ago when the WPHL and the CHL merged it would help the league. Granted that was like 10 years ago and times can definetly change things but it would just be a shame to lose the CHL. Hopefully something can be done to keep Minor-Pro Hockey strong here in the States. All I know for sure is that the MudBugs will be missed ALOT.

Major Bummer for us. He will be missed. Best of luck to you Paul and Go Mallards!!

The first thing I remember about this entire season started in the summer of 01 of course. I just got back home from a day on Lake Michigan on my boat and my cousin who I used to play hockey with left me a Message on my Phone asking if I had heard that the Wings had traded Chris Osgood and got Dominik Hasek. I knew than that the 01/02 Season was going to be special and I really have do admit I did expect a Stanley Cup that season. Of course the addistion of Lucky Luck and Hullsy along with some other top notch players just further cemented that feeling. When Detroit went down 3-2 in the West Finals to the Colorado Avalanche I started feeling sick and that lasted up until Game 7 even though Detroit won and tied up the series 3-3 by the final of 2-0. At the start of Game 7 I was not home. On the way home I stopped by my local Meijer Store and bought a CCM Detroit Red Wings Jersey that was Red and Gray colored for good luck. On the way home I kept chanting to myself Let's Go Red Wings all the way home. When I got home I got out of the car and checked the mail my mom had headed into the house and turned on the TV and all I could hear was Wooo Hooo and I ran I think the fastest I had ever ran up to that point into the house to see the Red Wings were up 4-0!!!! After seeing the Wings Win Game 7 7-0. I knew it was our year and even though the Wings dropped Game 1 of the Finals to the Canes in OT I didn't get discouraged I knew the Wings were gonna take it. Sure enough 4 games later.... WE GOT THE CUP!!!! I still have a ton of great memories from that season. It had to be in my mind the best Cup we ever won until 08 when my two favorite goalies were on the same team won the Cup. I can only imagine tha the Canucks are thinking about tonight like crazy I know they are staying focused but something like this has to stick in your head. I think I said this before but before the Cup Finals began I told one of my TeamMates that I would cheer for Vancouver becasue he was even though I HATE Canadian teams. Unfortunately I've changed my mind after the Bite, Head Shot, and the Comments I cannot Cheer for the Canucks even though I believe they will win I hope that Boston can overcome this deficit and Win the Cup in Game 7.