talex

It is in Roseville. Section 211 row 15

cap = welfare for teams that cannot support themseleves, sports are supposed to be about strongest getting to the top, it will eventually cause all teams to be equally crappy and despite what Bettman thinks, it will cause loss of interest in an already struggling product, may not be in the next year or 2, but it is coming. The luxury tax is the best way, but it needs to spread around to the lesser markets to aid them in competing, not forcing a market that cannot compete to be competitive. The draft discount idea is interesting, but it would damage free agency so I do not know if the NHLPA would approve of that... Who knows, I just hate the cap.

No matter which way it goes in the Franzen / Hossa debate, it's a winner, the team will be a top team either way... Whats the outlook for Lidstrom playing past his next contract? Any estimates on what he will play for if he does not retire?

All this talk about Depth, but I do not think it is realistic the way it is being depicted. Franzen and Hudler together will cost more than Hossa alone. Rumors put Franzen at anywhere from 4mil to 5 or even 5.5. Hudler at anywhere from 3 to 4 also depending on where you read. We also have several good forwards in GR. I think it hinges on what Hossa is willing to accept. Depth could be Franzen/Hudler or Hossa/Helm or Hossa/Leino, again if they can for sure get Jiri signed which I just do not feel is a much a given as it would seem other posters are willing to accept. Again we cannot go wrong either way and as much as I like Franzen and Hudler I would still rather have Hoss and either Jiri if possible or Hoss and Helm/Leino. I also know that unless they loose both, we will be in good shape.

With another Hossa show last night, I am not so sure that this should be the core. I like both players but would prefer to go long term with Hoss if at all possible. Hoss does not have the injury history Franzen has and Jiri is a tad small especially on this team which lacks size, not to mention no matter which of the 2 (Franzen or Hossa) gets signed Jiri is not a sure thing to sign depending on what other teams are willing to offer. I do not think we can loose either way and it will really boil down to which of the 2 wants to be in Detroit the most. No Franzen and No Jiri (and Flip for that matter) with a Hossa and Helm is just as good if not better than No Hossa with Franzen and Hudler... In a perfect no cap world we would have all 3 and cash for some better D men and a Goalie, but unfortunately that is not the world we live in... I cannot even imagine the jump this team would get if Kenny comes out (like he has hinted at) and annonces the long term signing of Hossa before the playoffs... it would be huge.

Zetterberg is out again tonight, expected to return on Weds (cool because I am going to that game). Zetterberg out tonight; several Wings injury updates It will be nice to see Leino and Abdelkader get some more ice time.

Since the question is players wings can afford to lose I say Franzen, Hossa Flip, Kronwall, Sammy, Cheli, Kop, Malts, Rafalski (for cap reasons), Ozzy or Conks (prefer to keep Conks). Even with those guys gone and the call ups from GR the wings will be a playoff caliber team for many seasons which is all we can ask for. Obviously we will not loose all of them so I am not going to hazard speculating a guess on specific players. The way I see it the rest of the cast left will put 2 or 3 goals in a game and if they solidify the D we should win most games, right now every one would like to keep Hoss and Franzen... myself included, but I hate these 5 to 4 wins, to many close high scoring games for my comfort zone even against non high power offensive teams, sure we can add more O, but not many seem concerned about D... I am very concerned about D.

I would not mind seeing Hoss signed long term like Z. You would then have Pav, Z and Hossa around during thier prime for at least 1/2 the contract, would even consider offering Franzen something simular. Hossa seems the type to me to be performing well late into his career baring injuries, not so sure about the mule on that one however. The most logical out look is that the cap would be higher in 5 years, hopefully at least enough to cover a long term deal. All that said, if neither signed we would have a great team with definite playoff chances every year, not to mention the D men you could pick up with the savings. I think we will be fine no matter what.

Of course many assume if Franzen stays over Hossa then Hudler would be able to stay as well. I did not want to muck this up with a Franzen and Hudler option because noone would know if Hudler would be staying in either case, so to keep it simple, knowing the ramifications to the cap either way... just the 2...

Yes an NHL team in Milwaukee!!!!!!!!!!!!! just make sure they are in the same division as the Wings so I do not have to drive for 8 hours to see a game... Admirals are fun to watch... but not as much as the Wings.

Why just 2, why not more? Any teams that cannot be supported by the local fans or outside sales. Why should Successful teams have to pitch into a pool that makes the league watered down and mediocre? I know all this has been talked about before, but eventually the cap which is to keep teams viable that cannot float on their own around and take away from teams and fans that want it more is going to wreck hockey. I used to love football, baseball etc... but those leagues do not even mildly interst me anymore, every year mostly a bunch of washed out teams who change players as often as a baby's diaper...

I hate to even think about what happens when Homer is gone...

Even though I am new to lgw.com, I would love to go, but unfortunately will not be in town then. I am going to wings games on 2/4 and 2/7 - 3/7 and 3/27 and 3/29. Since I coming from out of town, any of you guys have any suggestions on things to do during the off days? We were thinking HockeyTownCafe, possible HockeyTownAuthentics (although probably to expensive for my blood) and my usual trip to Gibraltor to look for Wings goodies. Is the Chelis on Clinton Twshp much different than the downtown one?

I think everyone should just take a deep breath on the Hudler, Hossa, Franzen soap opera, at this point even without any of the 3 the wings are still a playoff contending team, so doomsday is not coming no matter what happens and there is still alot of season left, not to mention Holland gave indications that something would probably be done with either Hossa or Franzen in the next 4 to 6 weeks. Sure some will have to go. I agree with those talking about Flip, but only if it means keeping both Hossa and Franzen and Hudler, other wise keep 2 of the 3 and Flip. If it was my personal choice I get divided between trying to sign all 3 and or looking for some better defense and possibly a goalie, right now I would say Conklin is as good or better than Osgood and noone seems to worry there, look at the points being scored against and this becomes more troubling than the wings ability to score, no matter what this scenario works out. I tend to think I would go with 1 of either 2 scenarios. 1. Go for more defense / goalie and not put anything major into any of the above listed, bringing up some of the guy from GR and getting some better D-men and a good goalie. 2. Make some tough decisions to keep both of them and even though difficult possibly dealing Flip, Hudler, Sammy, Kronwall and if a way Rafalski (only because he has a large cap hit) if need be in order to keep Hossa and Franzen, I know it sounds harsh... Flip and Hudler... but guys like Franzen and Hossa will make average players around them very good to above average players pretty much anyone around them, not to mention Flip and Huds deserve to move up in lines and ice time which they may not get here any time soon. I would never considering trading Homer... just a note for those who have brought him up, in hockey you have Centers, Forwards, Goalies, Dedencemen and then you have Homer... he has a position all his own and he is the best at it even with his age... he needs and will retire a wings. Ok, now to the Hossa / Franzen question specifically having a choice between the 2, tough... Franzen always a wing, Hossa... top 10, but new to the team... Franzen... better in front of the net, Hossa - faster better shot... tough , but I worry about Franzen staying healthy long term, I do not have this fear about Hossa... Hossa is better defensively... I would lean Hossa but I would be comfortble long terming both like Z if Holland can pull it off and he is confident that they both would stay hungry, between them honestly I could and would have to flip a coin if forced to choose. All that said, one of the things that has made detroit such a great team for so long is the ability to bring 4 good lines, look at the penguins to see what a couple good forwards only gets you... we have some good talent in GR just dying to come up to the big time, we also have Draper, Maltby, Lidstrom who will not be around much longer and I am sure Holland knows this better than we do and can work with some of that coming off the cap hit in the next year or 2. I also think Lidstrom will take some sort of home town deal if he does not retire, but I do not think it will be so much a cut as to make a huge difference, the one I would like to see do that is Rafalski which I do not see happening... In the end living in Wiscoinsin and seeing the packers go from Dominate to Docile makes this more clear for me than others I guess, I am very happy to know that even after 17 years successful years in a row... no matter what we will have a good team that has a better than average shot at the playoffs to root for next year and it looks like many years to come.

Hi, 1st... I just found this site awesone fan site, great job! My question is about cameras at Joe Louis Arena, I know you can take them but there are limits. I have a Canon SX10IS I would like to take and I am not sure if anyone else has had issue's with a point and shoot at JLA or not. This one has 10MP and a 20x zoom so I am not sure if they will allow it or not. I also have a fujifilm S8100fd which has 10MP and 18x zoom and a Kodak 6.1MP with a 3x, but I would much rather take in either the Canon or Fuji... Any help/ Advise is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tom

I do not know about Xcel center, seems like camera's like my Kodak Easy Share would pass even though it can take video, the video would be so poor there is no way it could count and most cell phones can do video now so I am sure they mean cam corders otherwise nothing could get in, but it never hurts to be sure. I started a new topic devoted to Camera's, Settings, Stadium rules and tips. If the subject takes off I will provide a means for people to upload their hockey images like I did so we can see the different camera's in action as well as share tips from our experiences and maybe even a little bragging rights for those lucky awesome shots! the topic can be viewed here

Thanks! I think I might start a topic on the best camera's and settings for those cameras to use at hockey games, I have website space I could use and set something up so people could upload images for examples. I am not a photographer obviously but I am very intersted in learning more from those willing to share....

For anyone interested: I got a chance to try both of my super zoom point and shoots tonight at the Milwaukee Admirals vs Chicago Wolves game at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. Canon SX10IS (10MP, 20x Optical Zoom) vs FujiFilm s81000fd (10MP, 18x Optical Zoom). I was suprised at how well the Fuji did, especially on the action shots, it has a fast frame mode which snaps images extremely fast although it drops to 5MP in this mode, it was excellent. Both camera's did pretty darn good for faceoffs and non action shots, but the Fuji won hands down on the fast action, capturing the puck in mid air and players charging the net with little to no blur in most shots, both were used in Auto mode for fair comparrison. I posted images online to compare if anyone thinking of picking up a super zoom point and shoot wants to compare the 2. View the photos here

I think it is partly success but... the fact that when they go to see a game they see so many Wings jerseys and then get drowned out by "Let go Red Wings" chants at thier own stadium, then they really get hacked off when they realize that the people in the Wings jerseys are their co-workers, brothers, sisters, parents or spouse... Goooooo Wings!

Agreed. This also may have something to do with the recent Zetterberg signing, Holland said he planned on having another player wrapped up before the playoffs (Most would assume Hossa or Franzen) and this may be a chance to see who they feel is ready in order to make a decision there.

Well maybe I will get lucky because of the non detachable lens, the s8100fd does not have anything printed on it and has a real fast 5MP mode where it snaps images faster than I could say the word "click", so even if I get that one in it will be great. Guess I will just have to go and see what happens, maybe without detachable lenses they will let it slide... going to 5 games in the next few weeks so I am hoping to get some decent shots.

It is a combo of all the reasons listed. That said with the recent Zetterberg signing, he is basically as local as anyone else now and has showed commitment and loyalty to the Wings and Detroit, so did Datsyuk and both are amazingly popular. If Wings fans cannot get behind Z after his signing, well no north american player is going to affect things very much. The Wings could use some more physical presence for sure and everyone loves to see them fight back, but to not watch a game because of that is silly. As far as the jerseys go... well I think the economy has alot to do with it, things were better back then they are now, plus you can find many of those jerseys used now on places like ebay for a song compared to new ones. I personally watch every game I possibly can and enjoy each and every minute, being in Milwaukee when the Griffins are in town I make sure to go to the Admirals games to see our young talent play. I am also going to 5 games in the next 2 month's, so maybe I am a little more than a casual fan, then again the redwings are about the only good thing left in my home state, so maybe it means a bit more to me than those who still live there... Oh yea... the rivalry thing is huge... Luke Skywalker w.o Darth Vader... Batman w/o Joker... A good bad guy (or team) always makes the hero more interesting and stronger... Watch how things heat up now with the Sharks... fear not new villians are coming, then you will be more vested!!! my 2 cents.

Well I hope they allow it, they do look alot like a D-SLR though and it says right on it 5.0 - 100.0mm and is 35mm film equivalent: 28-560mm.. here are links to both with specs if anyone can clarify further... Fuji s8100sd Canon will post if I have any issue's....

That's great, it would stink if I had to take it back to the car. Should be able to get some good pictures!