Opie

To quote Red Auberbach, It is only a rivalry if both teams win once and a while! He was specifically referring to the post season, but his point is true here as well, if the hawks don't beat the wings in the post season it is a one way rivalry. That was what made Col - Det such a heated Rivalry, each year whomever won that series pretty much won the cup unless NJ got in the way!!!

What you can't do is have the contract peak in the middle and go way back down again like: 2.5 3.5 5.0 2.0 1.5

I just thought of this, The Yankees steal players by paying them way more than anyone else would, and that is why people hate their success. The Red Wings get the best players to say sure I will take a 2-3 million dollar pay cut to come to Detroit!!!!

Luckily (or not) she is out of town for the week, marathon, so I won't be shouting until next week and by then it will probably be out of my system. BTW how does a chubby computer geek end up with a hot runner? I still have no clue, maybe she is slightly blind and keeping it from me!!

Well have you gotten laid yet today, had a nooner last week and got to tell you it definitely made a very good day better!!!

Brett Hull let his man love get in the way of this one!

I asked this in the Drake thread, does this change Dallas Drake's opinion on retiring? Does he come back to a better team than he joined last year for league min?

I also think this speaks volumes about his motives, like you said he could have gone to any number of teams for 8 years and 9 mil, this move will only make the character of this team as well as the skill of the team better!!!

Also how do we know that Flip hasn't instructed his agent to not entertain any offer outside of the wings, with the fact that it is now after July 1 and we haven't heard a thing about an offer sheet, maybe when teams call his agent says nope he is all set where he is. Holland while trying to win now always has an eye on the future he wouldn't let this kid dangle without a plan, not saying he may not be gone, but I bet it would be in Holland's plan!

So the question now becomes, does Mats think there is a team out there that can beat the wings or does he take the loot from Vancouver!

I see this as Ken Holland's next priority, then an enforcer, then Z!

Does the recent signing of Hossa change Drake's mind at all?

1:00PM Calgary Flames sign UFA defenceman Jim Vandermeer (undisclosed) and UFA forward Curtis Glencross (undisclosed). 12:45PM Vancouver Canucks sign UFA goaltender Curtis Sanford. (Undisclosed) 12:35PM Detroit Red Wings sign UFA forward Marian Hossa to a one-year contract worth $7.4 million.

I see Sammy and one of Meech Quincey Lebda for an enforcer.

WOW Those lines are very very good looking I love the third line, speed and youth!!!!!

What holes, this by far the best defensive team in the league, one of the deepest teams in the league, and is now set up to be one the most potent offensive teams. And that doesn't even cover special teams. PP1 ZDH_LR Flip Franzen Hudler Hossa Kronwall Pk, well there are only about 7 forwards (including hossa) and 5 d-men that can penalty kill. This team healthy has no need for a splash at the deadline, even if one of the top forwards goes down there are still 2 others, no team in the league can say that they have 3 legit #1 scoring options. Plus all three of those options are very very good in their own end!

If he accepts, he has said publicly (take it for what it is worth) he wants to stay. So Lowe could offer him 5 mil and he could say thanks but no thanks I would rather win another cup and enjoy another parade!!!

Actually Flip is an RFA this season, I am sure you meant Franzen though. I see Flip getting a 3 year deal for all but about 1.5 of the remaining cap room. That way Holland has his cushion and Flip can get 2 m this year 3 the year after and potentially 3.5 or 4 after that and the hit would remain under 3 mil.

No Matt, this is real, or we are all having the same very wet dream!!!!

I see it this way: ZDH - Homer has very little to offer an other line. Mule Flip Hossa (Holy s***, this isn't a fantasy) talk about a badass line Cleary Draper Maltby/Sammy (Not so sure this is a good place for Sammy) Hudler Helm Maltby/Sammy/enforcer

He can sign Hank today or tomorrow or 3 months from now his contract doesn't hit the books until next season. Therefore the only potential snag would be tagging room, however seeing as Hossa's deal is one year that comes off of the books and is a non factor!

Regardless if Hank signs tomorrow or today or next season his figures don't hit the books until the contract starts the only precaution would be tagging room. And since Hossa is a one year deal they don't need tagging room for him next year. In other words no problem!! Me thinks part of Holland being able to delay flip's signing was saying to him, hey let us play this out and you could be playing next to Hossa, just give me your word I won't have to deal with offer sheets!

Sources tell TSN that free agent Marian Hossa has signed a one-year, $7.4 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

I think the cujo signing was to take heat away from the Finger signing!

12:01PM Vancouver Canucks sign UFA forward Ryan Johnson (undisclosed) 11:13AM Carolina Hurricanes sign RFA defenceman Joni Pitkanen to a three-year contract worth $12 million. 11:13AM Carolina Hurricanes sign UFA defenceman Josef Melichar to a one-year contract worth $1 million. 10:20AM Tampa Bay Lightning re-sign RFA defenceman Janne Niskala, to a one-year deal. 9:18AM Tampa Bay Lightning re-sign RFA forward Ryan Craig to a two-year contract worth $1.575-million.