Carman

The Lilja situation is more so that he didn't want to be here rather then anything else. He wanted more opportunity then the Wings could offer. He wants to be in the top 4, and that's just not going to happen on the Wings team.

I like this signing a lot. Lilja wasn't happy in his place on the team, he wanted more opportunity than anything else, and there was just no way he was going to crack the top 4 on a consistent basis. Salei is a solid cheap depth defenseman, I don't care how old someone is on a one year deal. If the Wings think he's good enough to play, then he's good enough to play. Can't wait for this season to start.

I've always loved how Forsberg played the game. It's a shame a foot held him back so much. He's 3 years younger then Lidstrom, he can definitely still contribute at a high level. Don't get the hate...

Small Catholic school called Gabriel Richard.

I remember playing against him at Mona the year I played high school. I remember I won a face off, and that's about it. You could definitely tell he was a step above everyone else. Nice story man, it's always fun to have a drink with anyone especially a pro athlete.

So you would like to see hits lose all hints of violence, and just turn the hitting into rub out or poke checks? The type of player that can hit like Stevens yet remain defensively sound is extremely rare, I really don't see the need to penalize part of the game that is entertaining, and effective not to mention completely subjective and excessively hard to make rulings unless you just ban hitting. I would agree that some of hits deserved more discipline, but I'd still love to see another Scott Stevens in the NHL today(especially if he's on the Wings). Also don't forget a lot of people say Kronwall's hits are intent to injure too and that he jumps, it's a very hard concept to make a general rule about.

This is awful, I really really like Koivu and think he is extremely underrated, but I cannot justify spending 7 million!!! on him. That's just mind numbing.

Yet they were 19th in attendance the year before the lock out? The people are there, they just need something to cheer about. Do you think it's just a coincidence that the teams in the bottom of the attendance also are usually in the bottom of the standings? Phoenix is a growing area, a lot of northern transplants that are just beginning to start their families. It would also help to actually have a stable owner that can market and gain sponsors. And Philadelphia was highly detested when the team was first brought there too, but it grew because the team actually you know, won games.

A healthy team is a team that has had a local fan base for a long time and has cemented itself within the households of the area. Phoenix is a brand new market, and the team has been AWFUL all 14 years. I can see you have no interest in growing and spreading this great game. Everything isn't going to be perfect when you first start in non-traditional markets(Philadelphia, San Jose, Anaheim etc.), but fans are fickle. Chicago is a perfect example, they went from the bottom of attendance to the top all based on the teams performance. Coyotes have been in the bottom half, but it's unfair to say they will never have a good fanbase when the fans have had barely anything to cheer about. The first time they've had a playoff caliber team the fans started to come. Let's see how they do from now on. The advantages of having a successful franchise in Arizona far out-weigh the negatives of just marketing to fans that already love the game. You have to take risks to grow, and I feel the risk is definitely worth it.

Did you not see the attendance numbers this year? October 9,999 November 9,843 December 11,122 January 12,195 February 15,078 March 14,730 April 17,140 As you can see, there is a steady rise in attendance throughout the season. While the final average attendance was just 11,989 (ranking dead last in the NHL), the Coyotes post-Christmas attendance averaged 13,870, which was better than the Thrashers or the Islanders and within a hundred of the Avalanche. Is it right to completely discount the first half of the season? Of course not; but it is clear that once the Coyotes started winning, and more and more news came out about the ownership probably being resolved, fans started to come out to Glendale.

Marketing and cross promotion of the league could be improved, although I do think that's a little petty. The TV ratings have been improving. Now this one I really have a problem with, the league needs hockey to grow in those areas. Proven they can't survive? How is that at all "proven". Phoenix will be success, they just need an owner that actually knows how to lead a franchise. It's hard to grow a franchise when you don't win. Don't punish the area for the short comings of the past ownership. And ESPN just doesn't make sense yet, it was too expensive at the time. I see this changing soon though. And the disciplinary rules definitely need refining, I'll agree that Bettman could put in some more suggestions then he currently is. The person I think you are describing would be a disaster unless he has the ability to manage a multi billion dollar league, that is the single most important thing in professional sports.

Fair enough, but still I think you are putting too much stock into what Bettman's job actually is. He's merely a puppet, you have to go after the BOG to actually change the rules of the game which I'm pretty sure is your issue with the current league correct? What are your actual concerns with the league currently?

Making money is the number one priority in today's age. You do actually want the NHL to be the best hockey league in the world right? Here's some good facts about Bettman that I found on the blog I linked earlier.

Bettman isn't as bad as most of you make him out to be. His job is to insure the financial stability of the league, and he's doing a good job of that. http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2010/7/12/1565848/commissioner-bettman-overpaid-an Here's an article comparing the pay of the other commissioners, it appears Bettman is right with the other 3.

Eh no biggie in my opinion. Fighting happens, it's too bad he got injured though.

27. Jaroslav Halak Montreal 79.00

He's not going to be a punishing defenseman, but he won't shy away from contact. Kinda one reason why I want him to play in GR to develop and learn a little more about the physical part of the game.

Every player is different. Smith is physically mature enough to step right in, so if he can beat the competition on the back end I don't mind. Although having watched a lot of him in college, he's going to have a rough time adjusting defensively, he was fantastic offensively, but other then being physical he wasn't anywhere near as defensively polished to step in at the NHL level and that has me worried a little. Although it very well could just be the system he was in, rather then his personal style. I have high hopes for him, although I do think it's far-fetched for him to bypass GR. Kindl is going to impress people, he plays a skilled game. I have a feel he's going to blossom when he's surrounded by skillful players.

Yes Rafalski has a NTC. Zetterberg and Lidstrom don't have a NTC though.

Eh, it's a very big decision. I don't mind it. Now if it goes on for another week I'll be right there with you.

Sorry about my typing, still getting used to my iPhone haha. alot could of happened in a couple years, hencould of lost motivation and wouldn't have been pushed. Not saying he wouldn't have, I'm just not so sure it was a definite possibilty that you make it out to be. Prospects develop differently under different circumstances and oppurtubmnity.

I don't believe that his ability would have been reached in Detroit as it did in Colorado. Same way we didn't see Sammy score a goal a game in a Wing uniform like he did as a Nuck.

Damn youmust rate Lidstrom real low if you judge defense by hits and shot blocks. I'm more or less seeing Quincy used in Colorado could not have been duplicated in Detroit.

You can never have enough leadeship. Modano has a much higher potential to put up points considering he as done it many times before. If he wants to play another year I have no doubt he would be an immediate improvemnt over any internal options. I'm not worried about losing a marginal prospect. Quincy would not be the same player if we kept him, and he's really just a good offensive defenseman, not exactly what the wings needed in a bottom pairing.

Awesome stuff. I have faith the cap hit is fair.