boomer

Look your right that we have a work horse in Lils , Meech I'm not convinced; Erricson why is not up already to give him that valualble experience; Chelly I love him but he's up there can't put too much demands on him. Stuart and Kronwall have not had a good season thus far. But my main Idea, is look were not not going for a goaltender, probability it's going to be Conklin unless Osgood makes a major turnaround, then why not get the D over the top- its not offense we need.

The thing is there's too much emphasis on whether Osgood turns around or not. I think you have to deal with what is and has been all season, a cloud over our goaltending. So I'm not exspecting great changes there. If you settle on that then you have to say how can we reduce our vulnerabilty with who ever starts. And to me that means getting that defenseman who can take a hit to make the play and give the major hit. I think the strategy of teams like the Sharks and the Bruins if we ever encounter them will be to try to wear down our veteran defensmen; particularly Lindstrom and Rafalski. This is not an area that we can afford to be vulnerable in the playoffs. Remember a couple years when we went against the Ducks- the Pronger goon squad hit on Holmstrom ; we also lost Matthew Schneider and that really hurt us that series.

I'm totally with you but Holland's patterns unfortunately point to that not happening. Look he wants both Hossa and Franzen which I think is shortsighed. Hossa would be more than enough considering our offensive depth all around. Our defensive game needs some shoring up, and we got give some of our veterans on the D a break by adding some physical presence- especially if the goaltending situation remains as it.

It won't happen but I would do it tomorrow. We have plenty of offense.

If were not getting another goaltender and Conklin is going to get the nod, then I have to disagree with you about our your contentions about the depth of defense for the playoffs. Are guys are great , but if that's going to be the case I think we have to bolster the D in a big way. To my mind were loaded with offense, we need a stay at home hitting D and I would trade for that workhorse type player big time.

Could you elaborate on these problem areas?

No way we have to keep Leino he's part of the here now and the future.

I could go for that in terms of Neil. However, if were not gonna get another goaltender, I do believe we need more than just a tweak with the defense. I would trade in a big way within our core to get a big name defenseman; then I'd feel better about going with Conklin, as I'm sure he would.

It's about time he was lousy coach and the Rangers are in a destitute state. Lundqvist 40 shot nights turns out on the losing side more often than not says it all. House cleaning coming, I want Colton Orr in a Wings Uniform.

Exactly, especially with offseason this year potentially providing a whole slew of quality goaltenders up for grabs.

Please don't depress me your making to much sense, I could definitely see this scenario if Holland keeps locking in all the big names. Which I believe he shouldn't. Ufa as I see it is a buyers market in the offseason, there's a lot of franchises hurting in the league. That aside I throw up my hands in the air regarding the goaltending issue it should have been addressd quite somtime ago; that it remains a nagging doubt at this point is is due to Holland list of priorities -- I'll repeat it again goaltending on the cheap in Detroit; oodles of money for putting the puck in the net not much for keeping it out. Now as far as your suggestion of trading a roster player for a goalie, I would be interested in hearing some names that you think could be moved in a deal? Let tell you from my perspective their are only a small few that are untouchable, I believe you have to wheel and deal no matter who if you have areas of vulnerability in your game and goaltending is our weakest link.

I don't see a trade happening for him unless someone is desperate for a back- up - Calgary?

That's been my feeling all year. I think we need someone to help Conklin. I doubt they would give up Anderson- he's got potential. I know that Kari Lehtonen Is up for grabs.

Listen I respect all those guys you've mentioned for their various contributions over the years. But I'm the type of armchair GM that believes the circumstances of the day dictate the needs of the present formation on the ice. If their are certain areas that are lacking in the overall team set-up I think you got to make whatever moves are necessary to calibrate the team to optimum capabilities. I guess I'm more from the Lou Lamoriello Devils anybody can be dealt if need be. But not on a whim but on the requirements of the team. On our team right now I see 3 untouchables as does management- Lindstrom, Datz, Zetteberg. That's not saying that there are others that I would be reluctant to let go- I wouldn't let Cleary go but Holmstrom I would if were keeping Franzen. I know it sounds simple and bland but I do think there are areas of our game that need bolstering. And you have to give somthing inorder to get something, or stand pat which I don't suscribe to. By the way wether I'm right or wrong is not ultimately important the teams success is, as I'm sure it is for you.

Again I won't take you to task on some of your finer point ,such as enforcer effectiveness in the season vs. the playoofs. True the playoffs in general have less fighting, though I have a feeling that this year is going to be different. That aside, when we were playing the Ducks who that year were rather physically intimidating the way Brian Burke likes his teams to be we had no option to respond Immediately after the play. Downie wasn't dressed for the game as shouldn't have been, he' s got no playing skills -right. Now if something like that would occur to say the current Bruins you can be sure a response is coming. Probably Sean Thornton will be the guy , after that its maybe Lucic or Chiarra and there's others.And what that response does is send the message you wanna play eye for an eye we can play to. You want to run one of our stars ,well yours is going down next. The Canadian dynasty of the 70's understood this well when they had to face The Broad Street Bullies. Let me tell you Shultz was scared to fight Larry Robinson cuz he knew Robinson a classy guy and a great defenseman could get his hands dirty if he had too ; and he did pummell Shultz good. Never underestimate what a fight response can do for the morale of a club in a tesion filled situation. Anyhow the Duck eliminated us that year on that turning point. I don't want to see that type of scenario repeated it's hard too watch , therefore we should be ready that is all. Colton Orr or a Chris Neil will do they both know how to play as well.

Ya got it right guy, the wings are missing oveall toughness in all departments. Look at the Bruins up front and defense - Lucic , Thornton , Wheeler, Chiarra, Ference a host of others ; there a tough bunch if you have to play them night after night in the playoffs. Look up the Sean Thornton against the so -called heayweight Laraque in MTL , he didn't do to bad and this guy can play as well. Just like Lucic who destroyed Komisarek of Mtl. Plus the Sharks are a tough bunch as well and chances are we will meet them, and they got a score to settle with us. I'm with you were a tad wimpy we could use a Colton Orr or two.

I think your right were lacking that threat in the line-up. That to me was clear how this weakness could be exploited back in the playoffs against Anaheim a couple of years ago with the double team goon hit by cheap shot Pronger and co. He got one game suspension Homer was out for 2 and that was the turning point in the series. It made cringe that we couldn't reply. I always loved Probert and Kocur I wish we had an enforcer type now- especially since we might meet the Sharks with cheap shot Lemieux and the new bruising Bruins potentially in the finals; its gonna be war all the way.

I get your main points and I don't necessarily dissagree with the gist of them. However it doesn't remove any possibilty of trading someone like Holmstom despite his attributes, that's what makes him attractive. Not to sound callous the power play is fine without him; we have depth up front. I'm using him as an example of a player we could move if of course if we were getting a quality aquisition that could bolster our play off run. Example our D could use a good stay at home hitting type. We have plenty of offense I woudn't say the same about our defense condidering the age of our veteran core. Believe it, it will be war against the Sharks this year, and if we are ever to get to the finals possibly against the Bruins that wiil also be hard fought. Let's face it we got it last year things fell nicely into place for us, including playing an inexperieced Penguin team that lacked depth; this year is a whole other ball of wax. And were not even talking about the goaltending factor that's still up[ in the air! I like to keep our options open as the deadline looms.

Just to tell you Kari Lehtonen from the Thrashers is officially on the trading block.

What the hell am I talking about; what do you think the Wings are a charitable foundation, these players who I admire also have been very fortunate to have such a run in their careers, and I'm sure most of them would tell you that. With your logic the team would end up stacked with players in theie late 30's with their good legs behind them,sorry you can't have a team composed soley on the merits of the past when the present places certain demands. I'm all for having veterans in the mix if they are the one's you need , but not because hey we owe it to them that we keep them. Why shouldn't other teams benefit from a Holmstrom for example if we can acquire somebody in exchange that will bolster us in areas that are lacking. The art of trading is part of the game and its exciting also. When Brad Park rival to Bobby Orr became a Bruin and Phil Esposito went to the Rangers just shows you teams make moves that they esteem to be in their interest. And both these players hated the teams they were being sent too, they had been bitter rivals for years. But it happened despite how Park had been a great Ranger or Espo a great Bruin. And it was a beauty to see Park on the same blue line with Orr.

Yes the team is winning , aqain tonight against the Ducks, your happy I'm happy we all are. But playoffs is diiferent beast. I did not in any way put forward drastic changes, but we need some size on the D and and an enforcer who can skate up front- think Colton Orr. If and when we face the Sharks in a series night in and night out its gonna be a war. Why do you think they got that scum bag Lemieux, and their a physical team all around with good goaltending; and they got a score to settle with us. They see us standing in the way of their shot at the Cup again, and their right we are. Second team to consider in the same light but from the East are the Bruins. If we ever get to the Finals this year its them we could be facing; and their back to playing tough grinding Bruin style hockey. they got size and meaness up front and at the blue line. And they like to indimidate on all levels;Milan Lucic totaled Komisarek of the Canadians and he's not been the same since. And Pronger by the way only got a one game suspension; didn't we lose Homer for two , and we were elimanated by them any way. No I don't like wholesale changes but I don't like being caught off guard either . Let's remember this little interchange and where the team is at if and when should we ever face these said rivals in the playoffs.

Hey I don't believe in a knee jerk just for the hell of it. If there was no Franzen or Cleary around Homer is the Man. But when you got depth as we do it affords us this luxury. I'll ask you a question when Holmstrom was hit by malicious Pronger with his buddy's help in Anaheim how did you feel? I'll tell you it made me sick that we had no one to take to them, and that was the turning point in the series and we were gone. You need all types of components in a team and the circumstances at the time accentuate which one's are imperative. If your goaltending is questionable you have to address it . If your defense lacks grit in taking a hit in the corner to make a play- hey your lacking there too. If somebody can come and take out Hossa without reprisal ya you got weakneeses that can be exploited. There's a lot of areas to cover to me that's why very few are untouchable.

I'm sorry but that's not how things work in the era of salary caps and clauses and free agency. If so we wouldn't have gotten Stuart when we needed too or Hossa now or Larry Murphy or Dino Ciccerelli blah blah blah. Come on you don't want a Cup again! You gotta do what you gotta do. And this loyalty thing ,then Vernon should have gotten the money he deserved when he helped us get the Cup fighting Roy and Colorado. Oh we had a cheaper alternative in the Wings with Osgood. Ya that was real loyalty. And prospects gone in a flash- Knuble, Aaron Ward, Kyle Quincey....

Look I think highly of Holmstom and surely people around the league still do, sometimes you have to be pragmatic in these matters .Your telling me that if we couldn't secure a hard hitting stay at home defenseman or guality goalie in some kind of multiple player deal that would't benefit the team for the playoff run. Then why sign Franzen also to a long term deal? Is there anyone on this team that's not untouchable?