Opie

Tampa continues to screw itself with large deals. 8 Forwards under contract for this upcoming season and they are at 36.6 this year. Forwards under contract: Vinny 7.1 this season St. Louis 5 --> 4 -->4 UFA Halpern 2 --> 2 UFA Jokinnen 1.8 RFA Ouellet 1.3 UFA Ward .7 UFA Tarnasky .525 --> .550 RFA Jones .510 RFA That is it folks no more no less, they still have the rights to Prospal and to sign him is not going to be cheap. Their D while there are enough bodies I wouldn't exactly call them a deep defensive team: Boyle 6.667 5years (holy overpayment) Kuba 3 UFA Lukowich 1.65 --> 1.8 UFA O'Brien 1.125 RFA Ranger .95 --> 1.1 RFA Picard .75 --> .85 RFA Lundin .738 RFA Smaby .825 RFA Smith .95 UFA Ramu .725 RFA While yes Vinny is a great player and extremely talented this was not a smart business move, this pretty much sinks them after this season. They will have him for roughly 8.5 mil St. Louis for 4 mil Halpern for 2 mil Tarnasky for .550 Boyle for 6.66 Lukowich for 1.8 Ranger for 1.1 and Picard for .85 and NO goaltender. That is 23.66 wrapped up in 8 players, no netminder 4 forwards 4 D. That is not a good situation, I am not saying walk away from an all world talent, but now the team is hamstrung. They will have two very talented players in Vinny and St. Louis and a bunch of mediocre talent. And that is not including Prospal and the players they will need to fill out this years roster.

Apparently they are all set with Smith being their netminder and not having anyone on defense. WOW they have some issues at the forward position http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?tea...amp;season=0809

I think the difference is, and correct me if I am wrong, Cleary was a training camp invitee and earned his spot, Ryder will want to have a spot, I don't think he would go to Traverse City and not have a job, unless like Cleary it is a desperation move to save his career.

I LOVE LEGOS!!!

I would not hold it against him if he wanted to make his money, considering he was one of the best players in the league he deserves his money, having said that, I hope he is willing to take a discount because he could command as much as a Hossa or a Malkin on the open market, his value couldn't be higher right now. I see him making more than Lids, some where near 8 for about 6 years, on the open market I wouldn't be surprised if he fetch a few offers of 9 or more. But I also see him as some one in the Steve Yzerman, Joe Sakic, Joe Thornton, Sidney Crosby (he did take a discount) mold. A guy who is willing to take less than what his open market value is to stay with his team. Boston, foolishly, thought Thornton would command lots of loot and they didn't want to pay him, cheap owners. He signed a deal for 7.2, I would hope Holland has done his homework and knows Z's magic number and if it is anywhere near or under 7.5 I will consider it a discount. Remember Lids at 7.45 is a huge discount, Dats at 6.7 turns out to be a substantial discount, IMO, 7.5 to me would be great for Z. But let us not also forget that 4 million dollars is a ton of money, so I don't want to hear anyone say that they feel bad for a guy who makes 6-7-8 million a year.

I love when people can admit that it is a personal preference for why they want a guy or like a style of play.

That last one was a joke, obviously not a good one, but I was trying to say that my opinion is usually not rock solid, so betting on it would be a waste of my money! Sorry again for the bad joke!!

What, no I won't bet, especially based on MY opinion.

Thinking the same thing, 2 years around a mil a year, not too bad for a defenseman who while does make his fair share of mistakes (what 4-6 dman doesn't) blocks shots, can hit, played well in the SCF. If the price is right, very good depth signing. Listen we are all hoping Ericsson and Kindl will be the BOMB, however they are not guaranteed, yes Babs said Ericsson was ready last year and I trust his opinion but having guys like Lilja and Cheli around proved useful last year when the top pairing was Lilja and Lebda for a stretch. The way this team is coached and set up, defenseman are like Starting pitchers in baseball, just when you think you have too many, you don't have enough.

Can you provide a link, last I heard he said he wasn't willing to take any pay cut, why would Malkin leave, I don't know maybe the same reason that all of the players this year are looking to go UFA instead of signing with them. Just because they have salary doesn't mean he wants to play there. And to that last part, sure I mean pro athletes never say they will stay with a team and that is where they feel at home only to walk away at the first chance they get, it happens every year. Maybe he wants to be the man, maybe he hates the city, maybe he hates the coach, maybe he hates Crosby. There are lots of reasons he would be willing to walk. BTW I am not saying he will walk, I am saying to me, in other words in my opinion, I see him walking away. It is not too often you see a guy being talked about in trades when they are not yet in their contract year if the team thinks they can sign him, think Zetterberg, how many Zetterberg to team x reports were there, none, why because it looks almost certain he will return to Detroit. Because you think Malkin will stay doesn't mean I have to.

Because for all intents and purposes and for what I know Pitt was shopping him, there are offers for him for Russian leagues. Sure Shero and Malkin may say on he intends on staying here, we want to keep him, but it doesn't look as though that is the case. Could he stay sure, maybe my statement that he has chosen the door was a little much but I will be highly surprised if he is in Pitt after this coming season.

You know I never thought of it that way, do you think guys just don't like playing with Crosby. When he was in the Q I was pretty sure his teammates spoke pretty Highly of him, I just assumed he would carry that persona over into the NHL, but I guess if you are the poster child for the league it can go to your head. I mean Dats and Z appear to get along great and that will only benefit the team and each player, you would think the Pens would do whatever they can to have Malkin and Crosby follow suit, but it looks like Malkin has choosen the door.

Can I ask why you want to trade two young, cheap, able, defenseman?

To tell you the truth I can't think of who else it would center on, if it was the GM the coach would more than likely still get his players to want to be there, same for owners. But with this kind of defection, and with the players that are leaving just walking away and not wanting anything to do with the Pens, that wreaks of player/coach issues.

http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?tea...amp;season=0809 3.00 mil for this upcoming season

The Wings don't need Hossa, could they use him, yes but a team like Montreal, Boston, Toronto, Vancouver, Florida, etc need a player like Hossa, they need a top line scoring threat, where as it would be great to have him on Detroit, however he is not needed with the line up the wings currently have. Need (Merriam Webster) Main Entry: Pronunciation: \ˈnēd\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English ned, from Old English nīed, nēd; akin to Old High German nōt distress, need, Old Prussian nautin need Date: before 12th century 1: necessary duty : obligation2 a: a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful b: a physiological or psychological requirement for the well-being of an organism3: a condition requiring supply or relief4: lack of the means of subsistence : poverty There is a difference between needing him, and having him making the team better, no one is saying he wouldn't make the team better, but he is not necessary. Not everything is Black and White or Wrong vs Right. This is one of those, the wings don't need him they have 2 players in Dats and Z that are IMO better than Hossa, but he would be a damn nice addition.

I can see your point he could fit in either situation, but what is the point, if Tampa who has severe goaltending issues is willing to part with him and not keep him as a back up, why would the wings want him as a back up. I am pretty sure the wings will start the season with an Ozzie/J-ho combo.

This guy seems to just reiterate other people's rumors, like who is living with whom on the blues. When you have to include where the 4th overall pick is going to live, you need to do more research and find more relevant info. I wouldn't be surprised if he was right on the Bowman front only because his son is there, it appears to be a little more valid than Bowman to Toronto, but I will believe Bowman is leaving when I hear the announcement from him or the Wings.

Sweet, I will volunteer to do the game that everyone else sees as the worst one to do, I don't care just give me the chance, I may f*** up and get kicked out after the drop of the puck, but it would be the coolest day ever!!!!!

Yeah I guess it would make more sense to make the big signing a Russian, I was more thinking of just a big name, but you bring up a great point about it being a native.

Sorry some how my RX's clouded my post I think, I am in no way shape or form suggesting the wings get him, this team strives on players working in a team first environment. I was just saying I think the meaning of his post was not go after soft players, but go after the best available, I don't suggest signing Wellwood, at all.

Yeah but this is the same GM who traded Andy MacDonald to make room, the same GM who watched Bryzzy walk out the door for free, the same GM who thought Bertuzzi was worth 4 mil but his second leading point getter the year before wasn't. I am not saying the move makes any logistical sense, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him try this, but you are right it would cost him Perry and Schneider and with the cap being at 56.3 losing those two would certainly give them room. 51.105 - 5.75 ______ 45.355 + 7.000 ______ 52.355 Granted it only leaves him 4 mil to fill out his roster, I am just saying I wouldn't put it passed him remember Teemu only cost him 1.5 against the cap last year so who says he doesn't wait again, or doesn't sign a home town discount to get Sundin there and a shot at the cup. And maybe Sundin thinks he has a great shot at the cup in Ana and takes 6 to play for them. Stranger things have happened.

http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=51907

You mean like last season?

I think what he is suggesting, I may be wrong, is that the wings go after the best talent and not worry about whether they are supposedly soft or gritty. But yes the we need more grit argument has been worn thin and has very little ground to stand on.