Opie

Contracts have seemed to calm down a bit now that a lot of big names are off of the table. Wait I take that back, Vanek, Penner, Roy. Nevermind must have mixed up the Cocaine for sugar on my cheerios this am!

Vladinator, This is why I like a guy like Crosby, he has a ton of skill and seems to exhibit the same kind of work ethic that Stevie had. I love Yzerman, but without his work ethic he was a career 2nd or 3rd liner. The fact that he went out there and busted his ass, or knees as it was, made him better than he was. If Feds had that kind of drive like you mentioned he would have been one of the best in the world. Don't get me wrong he was still pretty damn great as a wing.

Lets just hope Cammalleri and the Kings can't reach an agreement. Not that other teams wouldn't be jumping all over him too, but he may want to go to a contender. Anyone know what a team would have to give back to an RFA's team after arbitration. If it is the same as before, then don't bother posting it I know what the stipulations are for that.

Great point, look at how much the Red Sox and Yankees are on ESPN, compared to how many times the Brewers or D-rays are on there. Detroit would get a lot more coverage than a smaller market team who is struggling (Florida), and I bet they would do whatever they could to show more Crosby, like they do with Lebron. If you notice their commercials they have characters from every sport do a spot, well that is except hockey. I do fear that it will still be the whipping boy of their coverage but national coverage is better than coverage on a network that not everyone gets.

This is why I don't understand why people had an issue with Pirate talk. Half of the people on here on skim the thread and the rip off on someone, with out understanding the topic. So if it is in pirate, do they really understand any less. But then again are the poor souls who come on here and actually want to discuss what is going on so I guess we have to account for the minority.

The Bonds issue is complicated because by the MLB CBA he can only be tested twice a year. This happened to Giambi last year. He struggled up until the all star break, which btw was his second test date, then tore it up in the second half. Bonds' best years were definitely after his alleged steroid use. I was a pirates fan when he came up through their organization. He was a doubles hitter who hit for average and played gold glove defense. Between him and Andy Van Slyke anything from the left field wall all the way to Bonilla in right was almost a sure out. Then his body mass nearly doubled at the age or 35, huh. He started destroying the ball. I know steroids doesn't make you a better hitter, but you take a guy who hit the ball and saw the ball as well as Barry does and you juice him up all of the sudden he goes from hitting 50-60 doubles a year to 50-60 homers a year. And no matter what he says about his hat size staying the same, his dome has enlarged in the last 6-8 years. But I blame MLB as much as Barry or Balco. The steroid induced home run rage was what "saved" baseball according to experts. So they willingly hid steroids from the public. Tony LaRussa, one of the supposed good guys of the game, was letting and depending on who you read was encouraging his players to use them. It is unfair that Bonds is the one being hit the hardest with this, but he is the biggest name attached to it. I find it funny that all of the sudden Bud Selig is taking a stance against roids, but in the 90's had no issue with it. And in Lance Armstrong's defense, he never tested positive, but since he is out of the race, look at how many people have tested positive. So did their testing get more advanced in 2 years, or was he really that good. I don't have those answers.

Yeah add me to the Vladdy wagon. This man was taken out in his prime. He was a physical d-man and the word responsible doesn't even began to explain his play in his own zone, but I am lacking a better word.

Read the new sig Osgod, people on this board have become so self righteous. Don't get me wrong there are some really solid posters out there that can discuss and debate. But for the most part this place has become one big pissing contest and if you are not careful it will consume you. It did me a couple of times.

David, I think his grading system is based on the team making improvements to its roster. Remember this is a reporter, some of them have less insight into the game than my tape dispenser on my desk. Having said that he also probably should have been able to get Timmo Kimmonen's (hahahahahahahaha) name right.

Crymson, I remember lots of times in the postseason where the players behind the desk where saying there is no one better in front of the net than Homer. At one point I don't remember if it was Hully on NBC or Engblom on Vs but they showed Bert in front of the net. Pause: I am not dogging on Bert here making a point about Homer: They showed him wince and turn away from the puck, which is exactly what I would do if Schnieds unleashed a bomb at me!!!!!! BTW. And this is why I think it was Hully, he mentioned that if it were Homer he would have stayed there and tried to deflect the puck. Which as Hully pointed out, screens the goalie and gives Homer a chance to change the pucks direction, because his eyes were open and he wasn't moving. He went on to say that by turning away from the puck Bert gave away to the goalie where the puck was headed so he just had to move to that side and not worry about 5 hole or the other side of the net as much. Edit: I think Clement then said Smyth is pretty good there too, and Hully retorted with a s*** eating grin (you know you can picture it on his face right now) not as good as Homer. The reason I think it is Hully is because as I recall he actually called him Homer.

Dude, seriously, you quoted my post about Uwe Krupp and then went on a rant about being done with Uwe and when can we let this go. Someone else explained the point to my post and then you said it didn't matter. You called me out by quoting me and then going off on the fact that I mentioned his name. I never said I didn't call you a juvenile prick, that post is merely a couple back. What I was talking about when I said you were overreacting it was not to my name callign it was to the fact that you had a conniption fit when I mentioned Uwe's name. Then I said you were saying things I never said when you posted something completely unrelated to my posts or anything I had said. Goodnight and may tomorrow bring you more happiness than today!

First off, this is my last post in regards to you not the thread. Secondly, I was not saying anything about other trades being the same as the UWE KRUPP (shutters) trade. I answered the question has anyone played for both the Avs and the Wings. Since he came to mind I posted. Now did I need to insult his abilities no. But where did I ever say that he was a bust so everyone else would be. You are overreacting and telling me things that have nothing to do with what I posted. Thirdly my opinion of the Forsberg to Detroit topic, is that no I would not want him, because he is too injury prone. See how my opinion of this signing has nothing to do with UWE KRUPP (shutters), however my post had everything to do with Uwe, because the question was asked. Done with you. Move on, or you may develop a headache.

Whatever helps you sleep at night. I am not the one who tweaks a synapse gap everytime I read a certain players name! I would say it however I am afraid you may develop a permant tick from it.

Read the thread you juvenile prick, someone asked if anyone had played for both teams I reminded him of who it was. You can't handle it and have a coronary and some how I am the bad guy. Please son, get over yourself. Did Uwe Krupp eat your family or something why is it that the meer sight of his name gives you convulsions. If you don't like it don't read it, or add me to the ignore list. I realy don't give a s***, but do not call me out for responding to a post that some one asked an honest question. KP-wings huh, must stand for Krupp Police-wings!!! BTW I used to be a 5th grade teacher and have no clue what that has to do with answering a question someone asked. Another poster replied with Jim Cummings did you crap you depends over that one too. edit spelling

OK so from now on no matter what question is asked I will email you to see if it is ok if I mention the players name, even if it means that the person could win millions of dollars on a radio contest. Just so you don't have to read a post you may not like.

The 4 mil was me throwing a number out don't be to set on that it is more like 2.5-3 mil

I just went cruising youtube for Avery fights. Man that was enough to make me puke. I forget what a POS this guy is. Opie's Exhibit one: TURTLE. I was going to keep giving you examples, but seriously there were maybe three fights and none of them were that impressive. This guy doesn't fight, well unless you consider squaring off with a guy and ducking and tackling until the refs break it up a fight. I love how the rags fans cheer because after getting hit in the face 4 times he drags the other player to the ice.

I love people who give themselves some arbitrary nickname. They call me Viper, oh really why is that. Because that is what I tell them to call me. OK your new nickname is toolbag!!!

I say bring him back only if he promise to do the ***** shooting celebration after every goal. That was friggin awesome!

Not tagging anyone in this thread with this, but I have to say it: $.5 mil for Drake was a horrible signing and did nothing to meet the needs of the team, however giving Avery a whopping overpayment of $4 mil would some how help this team. I must be thinking of the wrong Sean Avery. Not the foul mouthed always in the news paper trashing people and saying dumb s***, Sean Avery?

Wouldn't he first have to become a dependable player again for him to continue to be a dependable player. His back prevented him from being a dependable player last year, and his health and suspension issues have kept him from being a dependable player the last couple of years. As for a pretty good player, I would like to see what you consider a pretty good player, because if you are thinking Vancouver Bertuzzi, you are thinking about the wrong guy. This is a different player, as you saw in the playoffs he is hesitant to go into the boards and hesitant to go to the net. I realized in the playoffs last year that he meant no harm to Moore. You know how I know, because now he is afraid to use his body. That tells me that he thought he was going to hit Moore and have him turn around and get in a fight. Notice how Turtle never stopped playing his game, Darcy Tucker doesn't either. Because they have calculated the risk in what they are doing and know they could hurt some one. I honestly think he thought Moore would just get up and they would go at it. He is unsure what he would do to someone if he laid into them, he doesn't want another injury like that on his conscientious.

First off do not confuse my meaning of Heat of cold war with the height of cold war. When the Russians came over, the US as a society was very anti-russian, and still under the impression that they (not the players themselves) were a major threat to "our way of life." I know what you're thinking, the US society hold a grudge against a country long after it's demise has started, never!!!!! So my point being that this post Which you reacted to, was just to point out that American society would have looked upon the Wings differently because of the nationality of the players.

True, but if they do bring in Avery doesn't that mean another agitator would have to go. The beauty of Avery in NY was that if he was agitating and people were distracted by him his linemates would be able to go almost unnoticed. If he came to the wings in order to replicate that success, he would have to be with Z and Dats, and then the rest of the team is a bunch of 3rd liners. I am a little biased because I do not want his mouth in Detroit, I wouldn't mind his play, but his mouth is the exact opposite of what Stevie and the others have built as the reputation in motor city.

I think the original posters point was that society's view of the wings changed for taking all of these russians in the heat of cold war. Not anything more. Damn people get touchy on these boards.

I would cream my pants if the wings picked up "patty" Bergeron!!!