Opie

Good now hopefully he will still be playing when I see them on Sat!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deserve it yes without a doubt, problem being wings cannot afford that. Because fair market Value for him would be close 9 mil like a guy like AO, Crosby, Thornton, etc. deserve. But what did Crosby and Thornton take to stay with their teams and help their teams build? HUH!?!?!?!? They took less money, Z says he wants to stay and would take a home town discount, but I heard the same thing From Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon, Where are they now? That is right both are in NY!!

Here is the problem (GS&T if I misspeak on your behalf please feel free to say so) as I see it: If a poster runs around spewing incorrect information like, Selanne has no ethics because of this (correct me if I am wrong that is what most are saying), or Forsberg molests children (check the Forsberg thread), they are spreading misinformation and representing it as fact. So others read their posts and as NFM and others have mentioned it is because they do not understand hockey or know the ins and outs. Why is that a big deal, well because these people will not retract what they say, same people who claim Sammy can't pass, Lilja is a waste, Lang is lazy and sucks, so on and so forth. Then you have people come on here (newbies to the site and the sport) that read these posts and think it is the truth, then they perceive the game, players, management, league, teams in the wrong light. The only times things get heated is when you try to point out using logic that they are wrong and then suddenly you are a discussion board Nazi!!

Personally no I wouldn't but my opinion is all hindsight, but the wings almost traded Stevie to Ottawa so if the legend was worthy of trade speculation why not Z?

So for those of you responding to Jaytan, If I throw a worm with nice shiny hook in front of you will you bite on that too! This is disgusting and this is manipulating a person for personal gain, this should be a crime punishable by law. 6 months served, 2 years probation, 1000 hours community service in a children's cancer ward (preferably cleaning bed pans!)!

For the few games I have watched I would rather see Downey out there than I would Drake. In the beginning of the season that wasn't so because I thought Drake would at least be a viable option on the PK and could score a little. Well as it turns out the last place this team needs help on is the PK, this team has got to have the most defensive minded corp of forwards in the league (mad props to Babs). And he cannot score, he has been hurt, and his age appears to be showing. Downey offers at least a threat of physicality, appears to skate better and harder. Hell at this point I think Drake should be sat down and a youngster given a shot at his minutes to develop.

GS&T no matter what the disagreement we have always been able to talk or discuss it with out flaming out at each other. NFM: That is the only viable reason to be upset, the man took a wicked pay cut and is playing for well under his fair market value. But having said that aren't we (deep down inside) hoping Z does the same thing, and didn't Joe Thornton do the same. Joe T 7.2 for 3 years, the messed up part is that he was only making 6.67 before that. Just for comparison sake Ryan Smith 7.2 and 7.5 this year and next. Now I know Smith's salary drops considerably after next season, but if you look at next seasons numbers Smith is paid more than Thornton next year. Whom would you rather have. Thornton deserves more money than anyone in the league not named Lidstrom, Crosby or Ovechkin

Man you people have no patience or tolerance in one thread and then are begging for GS&T to have mercy on you and stop calling you Homers, yet when someone posts what is a legit concern, you all freak out and say they are using drugs, yet conspiracy theorist are all over this board about Burke's back alley tactics. This is a legit concern because: 1. Hank has had a bad back recently. 2. Salary cap always makes these things tricky. Having said that I see no reason for Holland to let him go nor do I see it happening. Hank and Dats are the future and the faces of this team, Z has been groomed to take over after Lids. While I don't see a trade or him not signing back up, the possibility is out there. I am not saying Detroit's front office is anything like Boston's but they did let Joe Thornton go, actually they pushed him out the door only to watch him sign for a steal in SJ!! So while this situation is highly unlikely, it could happen, and would suck a big ass rotten egg!!!!

Didn't one Michael Jordan leave the sport he was king of, only to realize he sucked at Baseball and came back. How many athletes in the past 10-15 years have decided to retire only to come back months or a year or two later. It is a new phenomenon that is sweeping the sports industry, if you will. Because athletes (Cheli for example) are playing longer than ever before and playing at a higher level for longer. When Teemu joined the league the average career was only slightly longer than 10 years. Do you want to know why it happened that two ducks did this, this year, oh that's right they won the Stanley cup, so they were probably weighing the option of whether to go out on top or not. You don't find it interesting that both players that contemplated retirement also hoisted the cup last year. Have any of you had to make a tough decision. These guys all truly believe that if they say they are retired they are not coming back, that may not be the end result, but that is the thought process. And I bet if you go back through the threads some of you that are bitching about the way this went down were also on here clambering for Kenny to get it done! And as I have said all along this is exactly what the Ducks needed, a Teemu Selanne type player, that is what pisses me off. They didn't trade anything to get either of these two back, and they just added who are now going to be their best players at their respective positions. Not second best forward, or third best defenseman top at both. But at least I can admit that I am pissed because they just got better, and not hide behind some thinly veiled attempted to be pissed at Bettman and the league or the Ducks and a Conspiracy theory (insert hollywood music here). Selanne was under contract to no one, and if he had signed with St. Louis to play with his pal Paulie would any of you have been upset. Based on the comments that some of you have made that would have been fine, it is the destination you have a problem with. Do you really think Burke would jeopardize his career and the team's season for this little experiment. They barely were holding on and struggling badly, if Neids comes back and they still struggle and then Teemu comes back and needs 2 months to get into shape this team misses the playoffs. I honestly don't think Burke had this planned, and I bet when the Ducks were sucking hind *** he was probably thinking were in the hell are my two star players, I need them. This conspiracy theory makes me giggle!

So after his round in the shootout, the Mic'ed up DiPietro said outloud "I fu*&ed up my hip again. I'm done, I fu*&ed up my hip again." Did he play Sunday? Does anyone know the story behind this or any info on his health? I have a feeling if this is severe the Islanders won't be too happy!! I couldn't find anything online about it, I did see a couple of forums where people were asking the same but no answer.

I like the mentality and the work ethic he brings to this team.

Thanks, So he must be fine then. Anyone know of a past history with Hip injuries, is it common with Goaltenders? I tweaked my hip flexor and I know how that hurts, so I am assuming it isn't that but I don't know.

It looks like the Mom may be trying to rectify what happened. Maybe she can be a source of right and wrong in this situation.

That was my initial reaction when reading it too, that Stevie meant the boy was telling lies and has the chance to redeem himself. But, the poor kid was manipulated by his "Dad". You are right though, Stevie has every right to say they are both complete asshats and he will never do anything like this again!

Shanahanman, I wonder what was the question that was asked in order to get that response because that seems uncharacteristic of Stevie. I wonder if he was talking about the Father and said Braxton is a wonderful boy. End of thought, It's not too late.... referring to the father? You know people give athletes s*** for not giving enough back to the little people, but you know what, I bet there are a ton of people out there that do this to get a stick or an autograph, that just never take it this far. If you did something like what Yzerman did and then got burnt, I would think it would make you a little less likely to do it again, I know I would.

Any male has the required equipment to be a father, it takes something else to be a "Dad"!!!

I am sure you know the start of the story, Yzerman went out of his way to help a little boy that he thought was dying/suffering from two terrible illnesses. The point to this story is that the father was lying the whole time. The son is apparently healthy and the man has been duping Yzerman and the Wings the whole time. To the point that he even had Stevie's cell phone. A phone number that shows up blocked when Yzerman calls a wing's personnel which tells you he gave his number out. The guy actually had the balls to ask Stevie to take him and his son to Stevie's cottage in Toronto.

That is absolutely crazy!! Some people! That poor kid!

Not to be too picky but isn't the expression "set Sail" as in to set a sail on a sail boat not "set sale"??? I wish those editors were my lit and writing Profs in college Other than that pretty good article.

Here is a thought for you: Last night during the Bruins game the announcers mentioned that a source from within the B's front office told him that with the B's being on the playoff fence that they may not make a move. If it looks like they are in they will stay with what they have, however (here is the interesting part for you) they said if they are not in, they will look to make a few moves and if they do, PHIL KESSEL will most likely be the player moved!! any thoughts on that?

Not sure how many of you have kept up with this kid, but last night he had another great game. Not so much on the stat sheet, yes he did have the game winner, but he was all over the ice. Hard hits, good defensive play, he is starting to show some real hockey smarts. It will be scary to see this guy in 5 years.

ESPN's Version http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/stor...&id=3213468 Loved this part:

There are about three threads that talk about this, however, Ralf opted out, he was asked and said he had family plans. I believe it was family plans, may have been something else, but I am almost positive it was!

Steve Downie = Claude Lemiuex part Duex!!

This is all Babcock's doing, there is an article in a similar thread on here (I didn't take the time to look) that says he knows it is coming but it still pisses him off that he has to sit. He isn't insulted by Babs decision but it is not something he is fond of. However, when April (hopefully June) rolls around and Cheli has a few extra games in his legs, that will be a very nice thing. I haven't had a chance to watch the Wings in a while he is still jumping up in the offense quite a bit?