Opie

Downey HANDS DOWN!!!!

Not to pick sides but your argument is a little over the top: Reason 1: Where in the rule book does it state you can hit he goaltender at all, when were the "Good Ole Days" of non-Ballerina contests were they allowed to be hit. Reason 2: No one is saying make it ballerina class, that is you not being able to have a grown up debate without going to extremes to prove your point. Was it Ballerina class just a few months ago when Kronwall leveled Havlat? Going to extremes like that to prove your point more often than not does you more damage than good. Hockey is about as far away from Ballerina class as you can get, even the Big Bad NFL has put in rules to protect players (granted they are only protecting what they see as Key positions like QB and WR), so hits will change over time. However contrary to your non ballerina theory running goaltenders has never been a part of hockey, it may happen once in a while, however that doesn't make it a part of the game. Big hits like the Kronwall one I mentioned or Stuart's against Umberger are committed by what the "Goon Squad" call the softest team in the history of the NHL, yet if we don't like Aaron Downey running the netminder, well then we like Ballet don't we! Your argument is paper thin at best and you are throwing the Ballerina argument out there like you just cured cancer. Easy buddy you apparently like hockey a little on the dirty side, no problems, but the times they are a changing and hits like that are not being tolerated in the NHL. The reason why some one like myself (correctly last year by the way) stated that Downey wouldn't get much playing time with the big club (after saying I thought his decision making made him the perfect enforcer for this team) was the dumb s*** he did starting at camp. He ran Flip, the player the Wings just handed a load of money to be the 2nd line center for a while to come. His decision making process made him a good fit on the ice the first year, while his personality made him a smash hit in the locker room, his on ice experience and knowledge made him a great fit in GR, almost another coach. But if he comes out and does runs a goalie or boards a player in a playoff game in the NHL, I can guarantee you that would have been the last game in a Wings sweater ever! For those of you who want the Wings to play the Broad Street Bully type of Hockey or even the Mighty Ducks brand of hockey, it won't happen until Ken Holland retires and the Wings overlook everyone in their own org that deserves his job and then they hire Brian Burke, which would suck, because in 3 years the team will have 6 players on the roster. Get used to it, good, bad, or indifferent, this is the team you CHOOSE to root for!

Can't remember the details but I believe he took a run at the other teams goalie, correct?

I wish nothing but the best for him, wasn't a good on ice fit here, from what I heard was a great fit in the locker room though. Sounds like another guy who will be a great prospect coach in the future. Good Luck Downey!

Link Searched forum and didn't see this oddly! Thoughts. I think this is just the owners worrying about their wallets! EDIT: Sorry Olympic camps, forgot to end that sentence in the title!

I am torn really, I loved Olympic sports pre-dream team like I loved college sports. With Pro Athletes there is no more Miracle On Ice. However without Pros it is an amateur competition, you do not have the best in the world. But man do I miss the old days when it was a bunch of fresh faced young kids busting their asses.

Excuse me? An idiot huh? Anything to add to the conversation except insults? Probably not expecting you to have any intelligent insight would be like expecting my dog to stop liking the taste of his own @$$! Are you a particularly large fan of the name Thunder? You probably like Wild as a team name as well right. Next they should have the Kansas City People or maybe Kansas City Citizens! That last one rolls right of the tongue!

As far as all of these Yzerman to where ever rumors, I will believe it when it comes out of the mouth of the MAN himself. Until then, unsubstantiated rumors!

We also signed Z and Franzen, they were during the season but when you talk about what detroit had for FAs going into the season Z, Franzen, Leino is not too shabby considering all you really lost (Hossa wasn't lost, he was given away, if Det had anywhere up to 6 mil in cap space he would have been a wing) is Sammy and Kopecky so far. IMO Z, Mule > Hossa, Sammy, and Kopecky Z, Mule, Leino > Hudler, Hossa, Sammy, and Kopecky(I have defended both Kopy and Sammy, but Z is better than Hossa, Mule is the best of any remaining names after Hossa) But that is just me. I think the team will stay loyal as that is what gave them a chance at a player like Hossa for the year. It pays dividends in the contracts of Z, Dats, Lids, Mule, Flip, Kronner, Stuart and Ralf. In a year or two Draper, Maltby, Homer will be gone, hopefully their loyalty can get a top forward or a great young guy signed here long term. But if you look at it in the short term as in the last couple of weeks, yeah it has put them in a pinch and could cost them a good young player in Hudler. But when I think of this years signings I will look at Z and Mule as two of the biggest signings in the league. Either of those guys hits the market and Hossa ( or stayed in the case of Z) still left I would have been bulls***.

If no one was going to give him an offer sheet, what makes anyone want to touch him now! Hudler will be in Det or KHL

Great Story, Thank you, Got a little choked up reading that, gotta admit!

You trade Flip who plays the forward spot vacated? Or are you assuming Hudler is back, which at that point there is no way Flip alone covers Kessel, if not including Huds being back you are still short a forward? Right or am I missing something here?

That and the fact that you trade 2 players to sign one and this team is already short one forward. So now you would be either in the same boat, or down two forward with Homer, and have less cap space than you started with. Makes no sense to go after Kessel, none, all it does is put you further in cap trouble.

Ok since it is so obvious to you and complete impossible to me, go ahead and tell me how they clear up another 3.5 at least?

You mean other than the fact it would probably take 5 million that he Wings don't have? Again I say: ME, they should sign a 32 year old who is now almost 3 years removed from surgery to repair a smashed Tibial Platuea, torn meniscus, and torn PCL, with chronic shoulder and back problems I have a horrible shot, can't skate to worth a hill of beans and am probably the most uncoordinated white guy you have ever seen. However the I have Red Hair and soon the Wings are going to need another Red head. Edit: Super bonus, I will play for league minimum!

That is why I said goals from him are like sprinkles on top of whip cream, extra. Not counted on. He cannot agitate anymore, he cannot score anymore, he is a PK specialist of which there are at least 4 on the team currently better than him. The discussion was about Oulahen and his ability to score, some one said Maltby can not score that many how would Ole. I simply stated Maltby has a hard time getting out of his own zone. Meaning Oulahen can get up and down the ice faster and would be in better spots to score.

My confusion exists with, why were Leino and others due a certain raise and not Hudler, different FA grouping?? Must be a different group, right like group 1 RFA and Group 2 would have different parameters on their next contract!

Nothing personal man but you started duplicate threads all day yesterday, please stick to the threads already existing! To the mod that moved this, thank you for removing my unnecessary vulgarity!

I didn't hate on him. The fact is he is old and can not pot goals like he used, he is a defensive specialist now. Offense from him was like offense from Downey, rainbow sprinkles on top of the whip cream. It was nice to have. Did I say he sucks, no. But very rarely is he seen in the O zone. And he needs to retire, which I am sure he will after this contract. Love the guy, but he is not potting 5-7 goals this year not because of his role, and if Ole can get into the old Maltby role he could pot 5-10 goals, 10 being the extreme I would expect from him.

Malts can bare leave the zone anymore!

Read the OP again please!

Need an Agent, lets say 12%?

Like I said Fun Hockey! LOL

Lucic is not available, Kessel is. Toronto is in the east, Red Wings will not play them enough for a hatred/rivalry to be born. I wouldn't say the leafs are bad ass as much as I would Philly! That should be some fun hockey though!

I like the bolded too!!! Look at a guy like Lids, this allows the teams to keep their aging vets while being able to sign players in their prime!