soonboomer

My reasoning is that they have the best team in the west.....period......and logically.....now follow me closely here........the best team figures to win the most games. Osgood realizes he wasn't prepared at the start of last season so I doubt he makes the same mistake this year. I for one would have no problem scoring 60 less goals this season if we could give up 50 less. I think the defense reverts back to "normal" this year, Holland waits til the deadline to plug any minor leaks, and come playoffs the Wings are right back where they usually are.

It's not such an outrageous statement at all. Who in the west is so good they'd be favored over the Wings in a 7 game series? Chicago? lost their goaltender.....Ducks? losing Pronger is a bigger loss than losing Hossa......Calgary? better this year than last but always finds a way to lose......Vancouver? see Calgary.....and finally, San Jose? loser mentality. Fact is, the Wings are still favored in Las Vegas to win the west, and winning the west definitely makes you a President's trophy contender.

It's my understanding that Hoss and Franz both had open contract offers at the same time during the season. For discussion purposes, had Hossa signed the deal first, what would have happened with Franz before July 1? I'm thinking (to once again use that ole' tired ass pharse) the "hometown discount" would have been much more in play. What do you think?

I personally think there's nothing wrong with jeering players. Not because they didn't score any goals for us in the SCF the season before they left our team for another.........not because they didn't choose to continue to play for our team at the well known "hometown discount"........not because they left our team to play for a long time divisional rival......not because they've cheapshoted our star players in the past........how about, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE OPPOSITION.......THE ENEMY......THE GUYS WHO WANT TO END OUR SEASON......or maybe, just maybe, because getting on opposing players just might make the Joe an even tougher, more intimidating place to play. The toughest places in the league to play are usually the ones with the most hostile crowds (western Canada swings to Edmonton/Calgary/Vancouver always come to mind). Booing is really no different than the chants of a goalie's name after an opposition score and I'd think has a similar purpose.....to get under the player's skin. It's all part of the game, and it's here to stay. Get used to it.

The quality of sports franchises is always in a fluid state. Who knows who will be contenders and pretenders 2 years from now? Look at the Oakland Raiders......the Atlanta Braves......and gasp, the Detroit Pistons. A mere few years ago, all were playing or contending for championships, and now, the future doesn't look so bright. I think the psyche of a lot, if not most, professional athletes is that they can make a difference in any team they might go to, i.e."if I played there, we would instantly become a contender". For a guy to take a discount of accepting a contract of $2 million where he could get $3-$3.5 million somewhere else.......well, since an athlete has such a short timeframe to earn the big $$$, I would seriously question his judgment.

How typically easy to say. I wonder if you would actually make the same choice if actually presented with the opportunity.

Boo them all. They are the enemy.

What's Peter Worrell up to these days?

Lighten up Frances.....nobody actually thinks Huds could carry Igor's jock. I'm actually indifferent on Huds.....his statistical production warrants a slight raise, but because he doesn't really add anything "extra", I'd have no problem seeing him leave if we could get compensation. Either way, I'll put faith in Holland and whatever he chooses I'll gladly support. Under any scenario, this team isn't remotely in danger of not making the playoffs. I'm leaning to the idea that getting the GR boys a bunch of experience and fixing whatever issues don't work out at the deadline.

Only because Igor had such grit and was able to protect our star players.

My only ***** about Hudler (which was really exaggerated during the playoffs) is that he's just physically weak on the puck. Somebody give him Barry Bonds' phone number and maybe Barry could hook him up with a couple cycles of HGH. Seriously though, how can a guy like Helm, who is listed at only 4 ibs. heavier than Huds and whose weight is spread out over a longer frame, be so much stronger with the puck than Huds, who's more compact and appearance-wise looks like he should be the stouter of the two? Could be that inner drive thing, who knows?

Just noting the fact that so much more cap space will be tied up in Z and Franz this year than last makes it economically highly unlikely that the Wings will be able to put the firepower on the ice this year that they did last. We should expect marked improvement from Big Rig, Helm, Leino and Flip but will that be enough to equal what they had last year? I think not.

That pretty much says it all. I've had my differences with Shoreline in the past, but I have to agree with him that you're clueless about reality, and, living in the "what ifs" and "what was he thinking" scenarios is utter nonsense.

Downey didn't play in the playoffs last year, did he? And Drake, as valuable as he was last year, contributed as much if not in the intangible department than he did on the ice. I'd prefer to think injuries and the compacted playoff schedule had more to do with losing the SCF this year than the Wings "lack of grit".

Yea, if only we had the grit this year that we had in '08.........Man was that team way different than this one!!

A bodyguard would be cheaper and would give about as much production on the ice as well.

And just think, we could have had this stud and his 5 points/193 penalty minutes for only $1mm/year.

Lucic's a horrible example. He's been in the league 2 years, is 21 years old and the next contract he signs will be for more than $1mm/yr, and if I remember correctly, played in the young stars games in each of those seasons. This guy's on the way up. In what way does he resemble Dallas Drake other than in the effort he gives?

Sure, I've seen him play. He's no Dallas Drake.

Let me see, Dallas Drake, 1000 games in the league, former team captain, widely acknowledged as a great locker room guy........compared to a list of guys that includes Cal Clutterbuck who has played what, 1 full season in the league, and Rich Peverley, who has yet to play more than half of any one season in the league? Yea, thats a great comparison.....they certainly bring all the skill and intangibles that Dallas did.

Care to name a few? The only ones possible at that price are guys in the twilight of their career, cause if they had the qualities that Drake had and were younger, they sure as hell won't sigh for <$1mm.

I'd hardly call Helm a tough guy or an enforcer. I love his effort and grit, and if he's the type of player you're talking about, we have no argument. But, Downey is a different story, and apparently Holland agrees, because he's gone too.

Don't have a problem with North American players at all, but since the vast majority of guys whose only tie to the league is their ability of fight are North American, I'll let you decide for yourself. You think it's OK to have guys who "don't hurt the team" with their play, regardless if they contribute anything skill-wise at all. I just happen to disagree. (and I think Holland might disagree with you also)

Don't hate tough guys at all (as long as they can actually play the game and contribute to winning). You guys fail to realize that the game has evolved over the years to the point that guys who cant skate or pass the puck are becoming more and more irrelevant to winning. I guess you guys would be more happy if the Wings were more like every other team instead of sticking with what has worked for so long.

Is there anyone out there who can do anything at all other than take stupid penalties for less than $1mm? If Mac and Downey are out of the picture, perhaps you can shed some light on what great talent we might obtain at such a bargain price.