Opie

Not to get into semantics here but he called them projects, Dan Cleary was a project, reviving Patrick Eaves career, is a project, Janik is a career AHLer, him on the Wings roster has got to be a complete surprise to Doug and the Wings, making him at age 30 an NHL d-man is a project. Bert was definitely a project, "Lets see what he can do the second time around". Even Miller when picked up was headed nowhere before the wings grabbed him. The point here was that these players he listed are not guys that were signed to make an impact they were all signed to see if they could even skate with the big club. So basically I think they were all projects except May, but you may see the word project as a kid they drafted or picked up real young and are molding them, analogy: Model airplane, you have a plan for it, you have the parts, you just need to take the time and patience to put all of it together. Either way, I think these guys should be called saviors not projects. How in the hell this team is not in dead last. You know in nhl 2k10 at this point in time I reset the season, screw these injuries the computer is out to get me! (explanations are not calling people dumb as I have been accused of in the past, it is to make sure my point is understood, I get wordy sometimes!)

I think as long as it is set up as a double header and keeping it to one day a year it should be fine. The problem arises when it becomes 4 games t4 different days. Then the owners who haven't had a share in the WC will want one. My solution: Each year Jan 1, 3 outdoor games. Rotating schedule only involving O6 teams! Each year have a O6 day outdoors. First game 11:00am Eastern, 2nd Game 2Pm Eastern time, 3rd game 5Pm Eastern (would have to be somewhere with great lighting!) The only problem I see here is time frame, all O6 teams are eastern time zone, if one were central or Pacific it would help dramatically! Think of it though: Year one: Det v Tor in Tor Bos v Mon in Mon Chi v NYR in NY The year after Tor v Bos in Bos Mon V Chi in Chi NYR v Det in Big House year 3 Det v Mon in Mon Tor v NYR in NY Bos v Chi in Chi EDIT: DEETROIT DARIO: I like your idea even though you were joking, have it be the O6 cup, whichever team has the best stats (win, gf, ga, what other stats could be used!) and the O6 cup is a patch that after a couple of years could be put on the team with the best standings jersey. Each year after say year 3 the patch is awarded in a preseason O6 tourney, but it would be a badge of honor to be considered the best of the original im! Again all on one day should have no impact on the success of this activity, two a year probably would be fine. The problem (which started the minute there was one WC) is all owners are now going to want in on it. This will ruin the event, not too many of them. Because soon regardless of standings or home attendance the owners in TBL, Pho, Dal, SJS, ANA, and Fla are going to want to be part of this. Well that is all well in good if we are talking about teams like SJS, ANA, or Dal who have been perenial playoff teams who have filled buildings. You put FLA in the Winter classic against say Min and I ask you outside of MIN where is the draw! The problem is going to happen when the league starts to throw non big draw teams into the mix. Det, Ana, Dal, SJS, Mon, Tor, Cal, Van, Bos, NYR, will all draw even if their team is doing poorly that year. Starting to through in most (SJS, ANA being the exception) expansion teams that do not have the depth of fan base will start to diminish the draw of the game and then the luster and then the game is gone!

While I agree Abs has earned himself a spot, Ericsson and Helm did the same last year and went down just the same (until injuries). I just don't see the Wings keeping him up and exposing another player to the Wire. Abs should be a beast when he goes back down. I guarentee you he knows how Babs, Holland, etc.. all think of him and they have all assured him he has a roster spot, and he seems to be the type of kid that will take this for what it is. Not a slight or a dig, just the fact that hey we can't fit you under the cap right now. And he has to look no further than Helm and Ericsson to see that they mean what they say. It will be too bad to see him go down, but now he knows he can play in the NHL and do it well. This trip (while he was up) most likely has done wonders for Abs confidence and overall hockey ability. I really expect him to be sent down and shine down there! EDIT: Oh, Krause I love that idea, I really like Janik (again former uMainer), not that he is destined for the top 4, but he seems to realize that and play more within his game and skill set than Lebda or Meech. Whom always seem to me like they are trying to prove the deserve more minutes/money/respect/not sure what! While they are indeed playing for those things, it takes a player out of their element. Janik is a #6 guy and knows it, plays like it, is much more a stay at home guy. I am not dogging Lebda or Meech and screaming for their trade like others, but I like your scenario!

My nickname in little league was Special K! Carman nice new Avatar! That is all carry on, sorry to interrupt!

I agree, no way do I want Howie in for the post season, the vet needs to be ready, but Howie has been SWEET as of late! Has played like a number one though, his stats are on par with starters throughout the league. Now is on par with the rest of the league gonna cut it in the post season or carry them to the post season, highly unlikely unless the O surges when healthy. The vet needs to be ready for the post season and it would be nice if they got up 3-0 in the first round and could give Howie a look at a post season game, but that too is highly unlikely! As odds are the Wings will be a lower seed.

Pretty sure that part was intended for me! EDIT: Ezbake already took care of this!

WOW talk about late to the party, go read my post about how all of those things were said both before and after the accident! hahah insults good way to back up your argument, but if you are agreeing with his actions or even supporting them you in some way shape or form see them as legit actionsI infered you would act the same. Sorry I infered you would do it. But that does raise a question, why are you offended I assumed you would do what he did? If his actions (based off of family and other reasons you stated) are legit why would you doing them be a bad thing, or me saying you would be offensive? Again read the quote were I stated everything I said about him was stated before and after the accident. I empathize with the guy, the accident did end his chances, but before the accident ever happened he was considered light in the effort and heart departments and that is what I questioned. Yet my reading skills need help? Virgin, hahaha, please, any how insults never help your argument, they only make it look like you are frustrated from losing an argument. I stand by my eval, he was before the accident and after not the most dedicated or hard working hockey player. First comparing professional athletes to regular working people is laughable. Because so much that professional athletes deal with on a daily basis relates to the working folks. How many people quit their jobs 2 steps away from their dream job. How many of them volunteer to leave their home to go that far away, only to bail (my assessment of Dick here) when times get tough. One of my best friends quit college a semester away from graduating you know what I call him when we talk about it, a chump. Doesn't mean I hate the guy, hell I love him like a brother. But now he ******* about not be able to get jobs in that field, how none of the jobs he gets are fulfilling, blah, blah, blah and I say the same thing to him, you quit on it, you deal with it! My bad! LOL! Is this the best you had, calling me retarded, a virgin, and pointing out my spelling mistakes (I have enough of them on here daily to keep you busy if you really want!) really strong arguments. Now if I had dogged on Grigs for the way he should up to GR, then you all could have said something. But that was not my reference you all assumed it was, Grigs coming over and not living up to expectations would be the fault of the accident, having a poor work ethic from the jump has nothing to do with the accident! Now I am done derailing this thread with bad jokes/insults about my virginity, mental capabilities, spelling and grigs. If you want to go back to talking about Axelsson fine, but I am done defending what was a known opinion of the kid before he ever got in the car accident, just because he had a horrific ordeal doesn't mean his back story changed any!

So let me get this straight, if you were presented with the opportunity to play hockey in the NHL for one of the original, and best teams, and playing for them would mean you would have to work to earn it, you would rather stay where you are comfortable. There are two ways to achieve your goals, have them handed to you and work for them! If his lifelong dream was to play in Russia then why sign with Detroit. (Edit:) Iif he needed to stay there he should have not signed the contract, contrary to what you think once he signed the contract he did in deed owe something to Detroit! Sorry I offended you Grigs, won't let it happen again! (I know you are not him, I am being sarcastic!)

Grigs had a poor work ethic and lack the heart to come to the US and compete before the accident, his work ethic was never his biggest attribute. I said nothing about his accident, but before and after the accident there was much said about the Wings desire for him to play in NA and him only playing in NA for Detroit, and about his lack of effort. Watch out for that ledge there is another conclusion at the end of that one too!

Hey Dick, these guys have the right answers for you! Own up to your agreement, or eat a di.. wait, screw you!

Man, opportunity wasted, adversity breeds champions or chumps, Dick made his choice of which group he belonged to. Say hi grigs for me on the chump side!

YEAH! Jimmy say thank you to the team!

Both Goalies cancel each other out with bad goals!

Sweet Jebus!

WOW this is getting bad!

So I guess this means no Wings in the accuracy contest at the All star weekend!

Why not one more to bail out Jimmy!

Kharma!

HOLY s***! PP goal!

OH no Jimmy, You can not do that right now!

I used to look forward to the Rahmani commercials!

OUCH!

There are more top 10 busts than success stories. What makes a strong draft class? 5 of the top ten being good? 7 of the top 10? Look at most draft classes and picks 1-5 usually have 1 or 2 complete busts that never see NHL ice or only see a handful of games. And on the other hand, what does Ericsson have to due to not exceed expectations. Don't get me wrong I would rather have him than say Jessiman, he is playing unreal for the last pick. But seriously, all he really needed to due was play regularly in the league. Where as a top 5 guy has to establish himself in this league!

What major award has Broduer not won, just the MVP right? Did he get a Conn Smythe? I was right, still can't believe Lemieux got that Smythe! Not that his play didn't deserve it, it is just what he became to me in the years that came to follow make it hard to see him as a Conn Smythe type guy!

Done, Well if my press-board desk counts? Oh s***, where is the door!