Jesusberg

I play a lot of NHL games on X-box 360, and if I remember right he was on the Isles, they put him on waivers and then Phoenix picked him up. Then Phoenix placed him on waivers and the Isles took him back. It's kind of troublesome that he'd be tossed around like that, though.

To be fair Stuart took on a huge role at the beginning of the year, and I think it tired him out. Let's not forget that he's been a beast in the playoffs as well. As far as Meyer goes, I saw him when I was looking up suitable #6 defensemen for the team. I was discouraged by his size, but he really seems to hit like he's a bigger guy. Those are only two videos, though, and I wonder if his hits would be more punishing than some of the large "candidates". His added point production would be nice, though. Also, he's Freddy Meyer IV and he wears #44... he'd have to battle Bertuzzi (assuming he comes back) in a game of checkers for it.

I think the real impact forwards will be Tatar and Nyquist, with an honorable mention to Mursak if his hands catch up with his speed. Right now Smith and Lashoff look good on D, Pyett had a good year too. I think I'm over-hyping them, but I feel like Smith-Lashoff could be a huge pairing for Grand Rapids next year.

I disagree. I think when GM's could buy a team it was a lot easier to maintain the depth to just overpower a team. Luc Robataille on the 4th line didn't hurt. It seems to me that games are just getting tighter, but maybe that's just me.

I was thinking the same thing. For a guy who said money wasn't an object these negotiations are taking awhile.

Ok, then by that estimation every GM who's ever let a guy go who produce more with his new team is a bonehead too. Get real, some guys aren't fits in certain places or need a fresh start somewhere. Dan Cleary says hello... just not this past season.

With the way the league is now one little bounce can change everything.

Can anyone pay my bus fair to Atlanta? -- Lebda

Reporter: Burish also said he'd punch you the next time he saw you on the ice. Pronger: I don't see how... I don't play in the minors. There you go Progs, fixed it for you big guy.

Even so, don't you think that's bad business? It's not very appealing to go to a place that's willing to throw talent around like it's nothing. I think players would rather a better mix of talent and compassion from the management.

Regardless of how the 'Hawks handle this whole thing, it's going to look bad on them. It's hard to stay competitive with all the parity in the league right now but over-stacking your team, winning a cup and then having to resort to fire sales/waivers/buy-outs is not a very attractive way of doing business. Maybe it's just me, but the Wings look like a model organization because they treat players fairly (too fairly at times, I agree). I think it's going to come down to: A) Treat your players fairly, have a decent team and get everyone to buy into the team's philosophy. Several of your core players sign "discounts". This creates a decent team, but definitely not a stacked one that can stay competitive over time. B) Sign everything you can, put yourself in tons of cap trouble but win the cup. Suffer for a good while, because you're not good, but you're not bad either. Then re-build. In terms of who I'd want, I don't think we could really afford much of what they're going to lose. I think it'd be a miracle if they got someone to take Huet or Campbell of their hands. They'd have to attach some serious prospects and/or picks as well. Ideally I'd take a guy like Buttfugly or Versteeg, but I highly doubt we could afford either of them without a trade.

Brett Lebda's last, and only productive move as a member of the Red Wings.

If anything, when we won the last cup I was thinking, "F*** you Crosby!" if only for a brief moment. Not once did I even consider Chicago... or think of Kane with his mullet and steps. Like someone said, just wait until next year when the bulls-eye is on them.

I was 3... I didn't have much say in my favorite hockey team. But once I turned 8: game on.

It had to be Kane, didn't it... he's still a ******.

McIlrath is pretty obvious, as he addresses a pressing need for the Wings. I also wouldn't mind seeing the Wings draft Austin Watson if they don't go after a defenseman.

I wonder if a line of Bertuzzi-Abdelkader-Cleary would work... I think Abs would be better suited to play with them than Helm, and the other option would be if Ritola surprised the team and worked himself into the 3rd line center position. I don't know who out of Dats, Z, Mule, Homer, Hudler or Flip would be taken out of the Top 6. I would say Hudler, but Babcock's already stated that he's high on him. Maybe Flip if he doesn't produce? We have some solid depth, just not too sure of how some of it will mesh.

Huge win... lol

Cleary has a NTC and he's really committed to making up for this past season. I think he knows just as well as anyone that he didn't earn his contract. The Red Wings as an organization are very loyal and I can't see them shipping him off unless he continues his poor play 1/3 into next season. That being said, out of those four defenders listed: Michalek is one of the better shot blockers in the whole league, and I think there's no way that Phoenix let's him get away, even with their self-imposed cap. Sutton will command big bucks and someone will likely give it to him. He's in the Top 10 for most hits and he's 2nd overall in blocked shots. Making 3.5 last year I think he'd want at least that much again. Mitchell also made 3.5 last season, but I see him as much more likely to take a pay-cut. His season was plagued by injury and he didn't have the best year overall so who knows. Hamhuis I think would be the most likely candidate to land in Detroit. He had a pretty good season and made 2.5 last year. The only issue I could see is that he's a young guy and he might want the most money he can while he's still young. Some guys I think might be a little more likely to come to Detroit would be Brookbank, Exelby or Wallin. Aside from Wallin the numbers aren't overly impressive, but what the team is looking for here is a steady #5-6 guy for a lower cap hit. I just think the guys mentioned above would command too much money.

I'd be really psyched to see both Tatar and Mursak excel. Both players have great speed, and once their hands catch up too, watch out.

From the article: "Dynamo Minsk carried on negotiations with Detroit defenseman Brett Lebda. The American could become the fifth legionary defenseman on the Belorussian KHL club." I read that as "legendary" and water came out of my nose.

Isn't that smart hockey, though? I think it's better to be a pest and draw the ire of the other team than it is to just fight sometimes. Getting under the skin of skilled players who won't retaliate and ignoring the ones who will. While Downey couldn't put up points or skate very well, I liked his mentality when it came to fighting. He fought to stick up for his teammates more than anything else. I wasn't really a fan of Brad May's staged fights this season, but that's just my opinion.

He has bowed legs and trusts his eyes to Dr. Rahmani.

The more I think about it, the more I want Artyukhin. He won't fight a ton, but he's going to make guys keep their heads on a swivel. If he can fight 8-10 times in a season, while putting up 20-25 points (which he would have been on pace for this past year) and keep punishing guys... that's gold right there. Like I said before, last season he had like 249 hits with Tampa Bay. The Red Wings aren't (I'm guessing) going to sign a guy who will have 20ish fights, and not be able to do much else. A guy like Arty would be perfect, and Babcock could just have him tied to Datsyuk and have him growl at the opposition. It would also avoid any skating issues that Arty has, and with Datsyuk's bowed legs he's perfectly capable of bearing Arty's 250lbs.

Pronger by a landslide. If you're going to pick a ******, pick the most talented one.