Carman

52% of 420 F/O's isn't good enough? He was better than Filpulla.

I really like him, he deserves a shot on an NHL club. We got an upgrade though. Hope Mac can stay healthy.

We still have ~17 million in cap space, and the big fish are still out there. Why are people freaking out? The Wings aren't going to go into the season with 17 million in cap space.

Huh? what?

No he's usually the one to commit the penalities. He's a 4th line energy player/agitator, that has the potential to score 30+ points. He will help offensively and physically.

I think this might be a little dramatic. Tootoo has potential to be a very very good 4th line player for the Red Wings.

We have 15 under contract right now without Abdelkader.

Is Matt Cooke avaiiable by chance?

So many forwards, not enough lines. I really think a trade is coming out of this. Or at least I hope so, because right now if we don't get Parise or Suter which is far from a sure thing we are going to be a worse team than we were last season, and that's just unnacceptable with the money we have to spend.

Ugh, don't really like this. Babcock should be able to get the best out of him though, and it's a bottom 6 move not going to throw a fit.

He's an improvement over Hudler in my opinion, uses his body better. We needed shooters, it makes sense to me. My only concern is health.

Good move, signing a more than capable backup, with potential to be something more.

I wonder how much of an impact Chelios's relationship with Gary will be.

So with that line of thinking, Babcock is considered a LGW troll? I agree it's difficult to please everyone especially on an internet forum, but when your own coach is asking for a more consistent effort then you know it's not just irrational fans.

Hockey isn't just about scoring goals, I'm sure Howard would love not having the puck in his zone 70% of the game. Franzen is just not consistently winning battles along the boards, using his body, and backchecking. I don't see why people are trying to defend Frazen, it's clear as day that his effort level is not always there.

Most of us are waiting for him to play hard 100% of the time. He could be so much better than what he is, and it's not a skill issue, it's a mental issue and it's something that is very frusterating for fans.

If we get Doan he needs to be out there with Helm. Throw Brunner/Nyquist on the second line that 3rd line /drool

I'm tempted to quote this for later in the year I liked it!, so excited for tonight.

Yes, yes it would. Howard was a top 5 goalie in every category in 09-10. In a injured season last year he was 6th in wins, 6th in GAA and top 10 in SV% Most importantly he's not getting paid much, and won't demand much. We need all the money/prospects we can spend to better the team in front of the goalie.

Man Edmonton is just loaded with potential, going to be real interesting to see how that team grows.

Yeah but other players provide a two way game. Filpulla goes into a scoring slump? You can at least throw him out their on the PK and he can be reliable defensively. Same with Cleary. Not even going to bring up Zetter/Dats Fact is when Franzen isn't producing he's not providing anything for this team, he is a terrible forecheck/backchecker, he doesn't hit(Drew Miller has more), he just isn't consistent winning battles. Now sure this is all my opinion on watching games, but it's what I see. Babcock sums it up well, People that complain about Franzen's consistency are not crazy.

Umm, not sure what to add. No way the Wings should be interested, Jimmy Howard is an elite goalie and we need a backup, not another starter. I like Bernier, it makes sense that he wants out, he's got talent, he just couldn't beat Quick who emerged as one of the best goalies in the league. I don't even know if the Wings need to add another goalie, Joey Mac played well enough last season. Wouldn't mind Clemmenson though just for competition sake.

Franzen has too much potential to be cut, and not enough to be traded.

Why exactly? Abdelkader is already a younger, faster better version of Prust? I mean I'd like to add Prust, but he's not going to make a gigantic impact on the team, especially over some of the other names out there.