NGKEIB

Spot on. In 08, the additions were Drake in the off-season and Stuart at the trade deadline. I'll be honest and say that I didn't know much about Stuart at all, and hadn't seen him play.

Some poster said that when Lidström retires, we'll have more cap space and will consequently be able to build an even better team. What is wrong with that statement? So we're losing a 40-goal scorer. We can get by without his services - we don't need our players to step up offensively this coming season, we need our defense to be better than it was last season. Then we'll be fine. Hopefully a summer of rest will sort Holmström out. Maltby was clearly saving his best play for the post-season, but it would be nice to see him make a bit more of an effort in the regular season (I imagine he doesn't want Abdelkader stealing his playoff spot). It will be interesting to see what Leino can do, and where he plays. If we keep him and Hudler, and play them on the 3rd line, they could put up decent numbers playing against opposing teams lower lines (Hudler's specialty). I'm not even sure that the Wings will make a FA signing this summer - I expect them to add a depth player at some point, but that could be through trade. Holland has said that he will trade a defenseman after training camp, once he evaluates Lilja's condition. I don't want to see Abdelkader in a Detroit uniform next year, except for call-ups due to injury, playoffs etc. He's got too much upside to be playing 6 minutes a night in Detroit. Let him play big line minutes in GR, and only bring him up when he's not going to develop anymore, or when there is room for him to play a bigger role. Correct me if I'm wrong, but would I be right in saying that while Helm's potential is to be a wicked 3rd line centre, doesn't Abdelkader have a higher offensive potential?

I'm happy we got this guy, and used a 6th round pick. Offensive upside is limited (in NHL terms) but I gather that he could make a solid 3rd or 4th liner. His checking/physical upside looks very solid. He's probably too young for this to happen, but imagine how good it would be to have Downey or McCarty take this guy under their wing.

Good point. I don't think that he played 6 minutes a night because of his age, I think that he played 6 minutes a night because he was damn rusty (though age may have been a factor). It would be interesting to see how he would perform with regular minutes.

Belfour was a great goalie, but his reputation will be tarnished by his run-ins with the law in Florida. I think that everyone you named are deserving candidates (talking to Eva here), but I think that it will go to Leetch (deserving or not). Howe is certainly underrated, and he was a great defenceman. However, 2 SCF appearances and 2 runners-up for the Norris can't compare to Leetch's credits. I'll stand by my statement of Yzerman, Hull, Leetch and Robitaille.

Leetch: 1 Stanley Cup, 1 Conn Smythe, 2 Norris trophies, 1 Calder, 2-time First All Star team (10 All Star appearances total) GP: 1205 Pts: 1028

Apparently there's some guy called Brian Leetch who's up for consideration. I don't know anything about him, personally. I'm sure he doesn't deserve to be in more than any of the people named above. I'd say that Yzerman, Hull, Leetch and Robitaille will get in.

I thought Lebda played well, and that one game against Chicago where he clocked the most even strength minutes of all of our defensemen was very impressive. With regard to Chelios - you'll probably laugh at me - but if we sign him, I actually want him to play. Experienced as he may be, it's useless if we let him rust all season and then expect him to be able to play when he's needed. I don't think he looked old in the playoffs, he looked rusty and out of place. Who knows, he might look better if he got regular minutes each night. But I don't think he's any good as a back-up.

Great clip. But I agree with the above poster. What kind of person is a Lidström 'hater'? There aren't many on this board...

I'm saying he's good in the Swedish League, which doesn't mean that much. He might be able to do something after a year or two in GR, but we've got a fair amount of goaltending prospects. He played on a decent team, but they faced a much better team in the finals, and he was a monster throughout the playoffs. His performance at the Worlds wasn't great, but if I recall correctly he only played a few games as he returned home to be with an ill family member - clearly had more important things on his mind.

Thanks for showing why you're not the GM! I agree that Abdelkader might make a decent 4th-liner, but you're insane if you want him in a Wings uniform next year. He has potential to be much better, and he's not going to improve much playing 4 minutes a night in Detroit. Keep him in GR where he can get closer to 20 minutes a night. I thought he played quite well in the playoffs. He's not meant to score goals, he's meant to kill penalties [check], irritate people [check] and throw his weight around. Let's not talk about his regular season...

Like I said, if Lidström wants to play, he obviously will - however, he may not want to. Sundin has already said that he will never play internationally again, and Forsberg probably won't play again period. Like I said, unless Ericsson has a monster season, I don't think he'll make it. In the last Olympics, I think that Kronwall played with Lidström, but I can't be sure. I like Holmström, but I don't think he'll play. Sweden will have such a large pool to draw on. I'm not projecting lines, I'm listing some of the forwards Sweden could take, and you can get a good group without Homer. Franzén-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Berglund-Bäckström-Eriksson Huselius-Mårtensson-Weinhandl Axelsson-Påhlsson-Alfredsson (in my opinion, Sweden's best line in the last Olympics, with Påhlsson being our best player) Sedin-Sedin-maybe you could put Holmström in here but you get my point... Net presence can be taken by Franzén, or someone else. Homer is great in the NHL, but I'm not sure he'll have a place in the Olympic squad. Last time he played with Zetterberg and Samuelsson, but Franzén will usurp his spot, and I think that there will be plenty of alternatives. He was only brought in last time because Näslund didn't want to play.

He was an absolute beast in the Elitserien playoffs. He beat Lundqvist's record for longest post-season shutout, and then eventually beat the longest shutout streak in regular season too.

Which other Red Wings do you reckon we will see? To avoid confusion, I'm using current Red Wings, who may or may not be playing for us then. My guess is: Canada: Yzerman, Babcock, maybe Osgood if he plays well next season. Brad Stuart? Czech Republic: Not convinced that Hudler will make the Czech team - he puts up points, but often against weaker players, and most of the big Olympic nations will have 4 solid lines. But not a long shot for him to make it. Finland: Filppula, possibly Leino if he has a good season. Russia: Datsyuk Slovakia: Hossa Sweden: Zetterberg, Kronwall, Franzén, Samuelsson. I don't think that Holmström will make the cut, and while Lidström will still be capable of being one of the best defensemen in the tournament, he may not want to come so that he can have ended his international career on a high (Gold in 2006). If Ericsson has a good season, I think that it would be good to have him. If Lilja is healthy, I would like to see him playing, but the organization doesn't like him (along with Tallinder and Huselius) because of an incident that happen a few years ago. However, Huselius did play in the Worlds this year, so his 'ban' might be lifted. USA: I don't think that Chelios or Lebda will play, but Conklin could conceivably make the team, if only as a back-up. Rafalski will probably play.

Hahaha! No you couldn't! I love Helm, but his offensive upside is limited. I don't think that he'll put up the points the other two have. Discussing Abdelkader is irrelevant as he won't be a Red Wing next year. Once again, if Helm somehow develops hands and a scoring/passing touch, he could. However, Filppula is much more gifted offensively.

I'd rather get Brian Campbell. He was such a huge part of our win over Chicago.

Another example of Holland doing the unexpected is Leino. There was so much talk about Brunnström, and then Holland got Leino instead - the top scorer in the Finnish league.

Not trying to insinuate that, it was just my drunken sarcasm at work. I love all three, and am sure you do too.

No way you could know, but I was laying on the sarcasm...

And, I've never understood why people don't like the fact that Maltby doesn't fight. They clearly don't realise that the best way to annoy some knuckle-dragging Neanderthal is to run your mouth off for a long period of time, and then weasel out of a fight. Love doing it myself

I just experienced a huge wave of nostalgia. I love Maltby... It's so great to see him instinctively diving to block shots with his face, and hitting other players. I thought he had a great post-season, and for the role he played in 97, 98 and 02 I will never ever push for him to be traded or not resigned. As far as I'm concerned, he's got a spot (albeit a possibly very diminished one) as long as he wants one. We're loyal to our players, and it's why people come to us. Had we dumped Malts and co., no Hossa. Cleary has grown so much. I wouldn't necessarily compare him with Maltby. Cleary was a junior stud who had to reinvent himself, and works really hard and produces points. Maltby has never been a big scorer, but in his day was one of the better physical players in the league and a huge pest. It says a lot that he is one of the players that Avery hates the most.

Useless player, let's dump him along with Ozzy and Stuart.

What's wrong with the Avs front office? I'd like Lappy. I don't like him, which in a weird way means I'd love to have him on my side. Lots of other candidates - Grier, NEIL, and what about Asham? As far as I'm concerned, much more effective than 'Rile. E Coyote'.

Harsh on Maltby. His regular season wasn't great, but what kind of impact did you want from him in the playoffs? This isn't 1997, we can't rely on our Grind Line for timely goals. As far as I'm concerned, he was throwing his weight around, trying to draw penalties, and irritating Crosby. Ranking system is tricky... Do you rank them by how good they were overall, or to what extent they performed better/worse than what you expected? Very different.

Then again, it may make sense to keep Meech, should we need to deal with injuries while Lilja is still out.