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I just got some popcorn and beer...just waiting for the fireworks.

I rooted for Robinson primarily because we had the same name. I'm not sure if his presence promoted more interests from the black community, but I'm damn sure he did influence a lot of Nathan's...? Okay not really. I also don't believe that the fans of Park, Paek, Kariyas, Setoguchi, Fukufuji and now Raymond Sawada were gained because of their asian heritage, but because they play the game of Hockey. However, I'm sure we'll see their influences from their culture in many years to come.

I remembered reading this the day he left DET and why he's a true classy player. I think this is the quote we should remember the most. Truly showed that he cared about the Wings welfare in the long run compared to him merely cashing in.

I know that we all want to take the high road and be civil about Hoss' expected departure. I'm also sure there's many of you, like myself, still respect him as an individual and a player. With that said, I admit that I winced at his comment and I merely put that into perspective that the Wings will prevail without him. I applaud xtrememachine1 that at least he verbally spoke his emotions and I have no ill words towards a fellow Wings fan. We as fans have to really put this behind us and place our efforts into the team that we have. You can all blast me with what you feel, but I feel all of us had gotten our point across. Even though I minimize my comments on this board because of the many negative topics, I do read them daily in hopes of something truly positive. With that, cheers to all my fellow Wings fans and I can't f'n wait until October.

You want a rivalry? Get Claude Lemieux to sign a long contract with you guys. I know he's got a few more years before he re... ...Wha?! He retired?! Again?! ~sigh~

So, so true... Bring on the Hawks!

Please clarify "Day One" in regards to when people gave Hossa his title. Was it when Kopy was in our farm system in '02 when people were calling him that? (Couldn't be then, cause Hossa was with the Senators) Was it when Hossa signed with us last year? (Nah, we embraced the fact that Marcel, Marian, and Thomas were chums growing up cause it gave Hoss a bit of 'home' in DET, we had nothing negative to say about either of them.) Was it when they both became free agents in July (16 days ago)? (Has to be, because well...the Wings weren't resigning Kopy and they couldn't afford Hoss, so CHI they went) I'm glad that Kopy's gone, and I'm glad that a lot of other players will have ample opportunities to step up this coming year. I've closed the book on Hoss' departure, and so should you. I'm more focused on what the Wings have groomed for the future. Simple, huh?

The "strangeness" is...why are people only pointing this out now? Is it because they are no longer in the winged wheel uniform. Childhood friends having an opportunity to make money and play a sport that they love is remarkable. Try not to be so butt-hurt about the petty stuff and just remember that the Hawks are envious of the Wings organization and success. They know that the only way to beat the best, is to emulate the best by inheriting our staff and players. Hoss and Kopy deserve nothing more than great success with their careers and I'll tip my hat at those two. With that said, I've always substantially disliked the Hawks organization and anyone that supports that jersey. Good riddance.

all I have to say is... ...at least you guys get to go the Joe to see the game. I would kill to see the Wings at the Joe...

After watching Lebda's injury, I started to think about our prospect D-men. I'm sure that if Ericcson wasn't hurt, he'd be taking a shot tomorrow instead of Meech. And then I started to become curious to know how Quincey's been doing in LA. I just checked out his stats, and he's playing extremely well. He's ranked 25th out of all D men in Points (29), 14th in Assists (26), and 77th in Goals (3). He even has a +/- 2! I seriously think that when he was picked off of waivers, it was probably the best thing for him. With how deep our D lines are, I know that he wouldn't have had that opportunity to perform like he has, and I'm just very glad to see that he has an opportunity to shine. With that being said, I can't wait to see how great our prospects truly are (hopefully during the playoffs where the salary cap doesn't factor in). Leino's and Helm have been on Fuego, and s***'s only going to get better!

Exactly my point. I mentioned about Quincey not because we need him, just very happy for the guy. Since he was the "expendable" one at the beginning of the season, it just gives me great confidence in the guys we got in the up and coming.

I just read something that I had no clue...and maybe someone could enlighten me. Jiri Hudler is from the Czech Republic...and Devin Setoguchi, which is his half-brother may play for Canada?

Yeah, that whole fiasco was scary. Vegas does have that strange element. Thank God Plaxico wasn't in Vegas when he shot himself, cause they'd probably pin that on us too.

The whole purpose to start a business is to make profit?!? OF COURSE! But the first priority for any business model is customer retention. Can't have retention without an opportunity. History lesson - Illitch's bought the Red Wings in summer of '82. That same years was the first NHL Draft they ever did. Jim Devellano (General Manager at the time Senior Vice President now) wanted Pat LaFontaine in '83 but he went 3rd to the Islanders. Devellano "settled" on Yzerman as the 4th pick. That's how much they knew. As we all know, when your team picks early, you're not a power house. So from '83 to the early '90's was pure developmental for the Wings (attendance retention and so forth). The rest is history. Isn't Detroit a blue collar city? Where everyone is living check to check? I think the bottom line is, we're gonna debate this just to debate. I know for a fact we agree on a lot, and our disagreement is truly to a minimal. I admit that my view is purely bias and I truly do have fears of having a pro sports team here and it tanking. That would leave a nasty taste in the city of Las Vegas. But...if it succeeded...if it were given the chance and was able to hold its own....that's the variable I wish I could simply bet on. Cheers to you Miller76.

You speak business, yet you overlook the fundamentals. The reason why I say this is because, when an owner buys a franchise (Mike Illitch - baseball player, pizza owner, Tigers owner) they hire key members to run their business (Devellano, Murray, Bowman, and Holland) to build the franchise. So for the Stiffs in Vegas to count their chips and the Illitch's to toss the dough, per say, would be their role. It's the talent that they surround themselves with, or am I wrong on the business standpoint? For the most part, expansion teams do suffer during their building stage (just like most business models). Granted, the Illitch's purchased the Wings after the "Dead Wings" era and had Yzerman in '83. But it was the people that Mike Illitch had around him that made the Wings who they are today. I'm sure, that the future owners of any professional team that may or may not come here would do the same if given the opportunity. In regars to the economy, we are hurting. Tourism isn't at it's highest. But that will change. Again, your perspective on filling the arena is solely on "VACATIONERS". What about the million plus people that call this place home? I do agree, that Vegas may be a long shot. But for you to say that a basketball team would prosper and a hockey team would fail doesn't make much sense. Whether it fails or succeeds is not for you or I to say because it's unknown, because Vegas has NEVER had a professional team, period. We have nothing to gauge against. The other cities that you've mentioned ALSO have more than one sports team. Vegas is a transient state. People move here from all over the states. You can't tell me that there are people here that would kill to see their home teams play, and to have something that they can claim as their own. If Vegas is a non traditional place for Hockey...then why have they moved the NHL Awards from Toronto to the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas? Why would the likes of Pat LaFontaine and Luc Robitaille have a celebrity charity game on the 18th of June which is shortly after the playoffs and right before the draft in Montreal? Why would the NHL place so much effort into "Sin City" if it weren't an ideal spot?

Something is in the midst for Vegas in 2010. I wanted to address Jon Weaver's perspective of his criticism of having an arena on the strip, because he plans on building an arena downtown as well. So this statement is not that it's a bad idea to have an arena, it's about where they should have it. The Mayor feels...no matter, it's a win/win situation. - Edit I just read that Harrah's is bowing out of the projected project because other property owners wouldn't support it. None the less, they will continue with the production on it, which I understand is tight lipped.

I think Toots is out or questionable for this game. I think he's still bitching about a laceration on his palm and can't feel the puck. When did he ever touch the puck is my question. Either way, we should bring the stretcher just in case, cause I'm sure that tool will need it regardless if he plays or not.

You do have some valid points with Vegas...and then again...you're off the mark. David Bonderman, Harry Sloan, and Jerry Bruckheimer (amongst other companies) have approached the NHL about purchasing a team in Las Vegas. Bonderman's company TPG is an owner of the MGM Studios, which TPG and Apollo management acquired the Harrah's Corporation for $17B(which owns Harrah's, Caesar's, Horseshoe, Bally's, Flamingo's, Imperial Palace, Paris, The Rio, and numerous others) and they would all be equal partners in an NHL team. I'm sure...with all of these properties, it would be in their best interests to promote their NHL product the best way that they know how. Now...with that being said, this is just accompanying the tourist industry. As far as the locals and the transients that have relocated to Vegas, it provides an opportunity for those NHL fans who had to move from their struggling economy (Michigan included) to watch their favorite teams as well. Granted, the entire country's economy is at a hit...but Las Vegas still has more jobs available than people, and we're still growing. So your 3 1/2 hour ride to Vegas on a Friday night may be a possibility. But are you just counting the drive from California? We still receive tourism from all over the world. Next time you come to Vegas, I'd be happy to show you how much support Vegas has. Seriously, all its going to take is to have one professional team to bite, and you'll soon see other sports following suit. So in response to your comment about Vegas being similar to PHX, ATL, NSH, and FLA...true...not a traditional market. However, IMO Vegas was never given the chance to thrive with a Professional team like the others. Unless you count the XFL, which the Outlaws had the biggest support out of all the teams.

I agree! Cheers! It was sort of unreal reading their posts for the most part. Over all, they truly acknowledged the Wings as a better team, and completely tore apart each other and their star players (i.e. Fire Therrien, trade Staal, Whitney, etc.) I never understood, or encourage anyone ripping apart players wearing the winged wheel because it is a TEAM sport. I think that's what makes the Wings special, they go through adversity but apply themselves that much more. Go Wings!

Thanks for the welcome! I figure that if people from Canada were migrating here by the millions to see Celine Dion,~puke~ they would now have a greater reasons to Viva Las Vegas...eh? On another note: For a couple of years now, the movie producer, Jerry Bruckheimer (a native of Detroit), has been named as one of the investors of a new sports arena in Las Vegas. This new sports arena is rumored to be where a future NHL team would play. Now I'm sure a lot of you may think that a movie producer owning a NHL team would surely fail. But I'm sure someone thought Mike Illitch to be crazy when he, a former Detroit Tiger and now owner, and pizza entrepreneur, bought the Red Wings in '82. Okay so...I may be comparing apples and oranges, but I do know that as far as the financial side of it goes, Vegas would be more than fine. Seriously, the "Pirates of the Carribean" parts 1-3 and soon to be 4 hedge fund alone would surely pay for all the expenses needed. If not....then there's always "Top Gun"? ~cheezy theme song playing in the background to draw you in~ People, all I'm saying is...yes, the other places are probably ideal places for a Hockey team, but Vegas is THE ideal place, period. Proof? Pre-season games, and the NHL Awards are now both in Vegas. Thank you, come again!

Soooooo....I spent some time on the LetsGoPens board and checked out (GDT: Red Wings (Hossa) v. Penguins). I wanted to read their views on how the game went against us today...and I can't get rid of this cheezy ass grin I have going on. I wanted to see how they built themselves up and I couldn't wait to get to the part where Hossa scored, and Conks blanked them out. They do miss both of them dearly. They also made Whitney (Whiffney, as they mentioned so eloquently) their whipping boy. They couldn't wait for him to return from his injury and now they want his head. I had to add this...it's sad in so many ways, but it kinda explains the cheezy grin. "When Detroit signs him (Hossa) long term, this board will fall apart." and at least a Penguin fan did state this: "Dude I know the Pens offense is fun to watch but already three pens games on NBC? I'm starting to think that the hockey world has TOO big a boner for Crosby. He's a great player no doubt, but it's a little over the top. As a Pens fan I love it but if I wasn't I'd want a turn to see the Iginla's and Parise's and the others every once in a while." If someone already posted this sooner, I apologize for the reprint.

Glad that Helm and Leino are back in the lineup. I'm sure if it wasn't for his wrist, Ericsson would've been called up as well.

Hi everyone, this is my very first post, but I'd like to comment about my thoughts of a team in Vegas...since Vegas is my home. First and foremost, I have been an avid Wings fan since the early '90's. Not a bandwagon jumper, I just have great ******* taste. Seriously, I cried and "believe"d along with all of you when the cup was won for Kons in '98, my fists tend to clench when I'm around Av's fans (well not so much anymore...it's more like...feeling sympathy for seeing a beat down hooker with a broken stiletto). Side note - Illegal in Las Vegas (Clark County)...legal outside of it. The slutty girls that you see in Vegas are in training...the pros hang out in Casinos...hope that clears the confusion. Albeit, Las Vegas is normally the last place people would ever think of having any professional team, let alone a hockey team. However, Vegas actually has a following for sports...well farm teams (baseball and hockey), any way. From the early 90's, there was an IHL team in Vegas (Las Vegas Thunder). I'm sure a lot of you could care less of what an IHL team has to offer, but the following that this team had was truly amazing. We had the the talents of Radek Bonk, Pavol Demitra, Paul DiPietro, Curtis Joseph, Petr Nedved, Ruslan Salei, Alexei Yashin and many more. But, the scary part...it shut down in '99. We now have an ECHL team (Las Vegas Wranglers), similar to the Thunder team, they do pretty well in games and attendance. The part that kills me, is that it's a farm team for the f'n Flames, which produces the likes of Dany Sabourin (need I say more?). All in all, I do feel Vegas is due a professional sport (other than Arena Football, oh wait, we have one of those), I just think that the majors don't want to be the guinea pigs if they invest in a team and it ultimately fails. But hey...who would've thunk...Oklahoma City has a basketball team (Thunder ... how original), so anything's possible. Besides, if Vegas does have a team...you just earned yourself another "excuse" on your next vacation!