Opie

See I read that as the opposite, I took that he was saying if he could get a Lucic type big body that also has skill he would, but there are very few legit Power Forwards in this league.

Wish I could have that 10 minutes of my life back. I almost stopped reading when I saw her use the word Douchenozzle. Watch that will be censored here on a forum where it has more right to be than in an article, even if only on a blog. What a waste, I mean I get the point, 29 teams to hate, she wasn't going to say nice things. But it is schtick, like Seinfeld or Foxworthy. Horrible piece, just horrible!

The thing that makes Edwards even worse than he already is, is the fact that he replaced Dale Arnold. Think Doc Emmerick with less catch phrases. The guy did an amazing job calling the game, after the whole NHL leaving ESPN fiasco the B's decided to grab Edwards from the ESPN ranks and get rid of Arnold. I guess the wanted more emotion less intelligence in the booth. I do think Brick does a real good job as the color guy though! Apparently they have a thing for announcers with First names for Last names!

I am not sure I get your point, are you saying Holland should have given Brunner a contract that NO ONE else would have or wants to, because he is better than those 4 combined? Holland offered Brunner longer term and more $$ than anyone else(that has been report/rumored), he turned it down. Is what you are saying is the Wings' should have upped their offer to get Brunner? Even though he was asking for apparently way more than he deserved? Should they have given him 4 years $14m and promised him a top 6 role? What I gather from your post is that it is Holland's fault they do not have Brunner, even though he does not kill penalties like Eaves and Miller, and is not willing to play on the 3rd or 4th line like Cleary, Eaves, Miller, and Sammy. My take, Brunner (more so his agent) put him in this spot, he should have taken the 3 years at 2.5 (rumored offering) and worked is way into the top 6. He had a great start to a shortened year, and played well in the post season, he should have continued to build on that. Instead he though he found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, turned out to be a bowl of shiny turds!

Wow the definition of balls: http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/7/16/4527990/maple-leafs-stanley-cup-parade-dave-nonis

Well seeing as he cannot go back to Grand Rapids, I am not sure why it is an issue or why he is even angry about it? The only way he goes to GR is to clear waivers, I highly doubt that happens!

This phenomenon has been going on for a while, and I wouldn't call them friendships. It is just the org philosophy to be loyal to the vets, as an effort to attract more free agents, knowing the Wings will be loyal. Not saying it is the best or only approach but it is definitely an org philosophy more than Holland and Player X being buddies!

Yeah, his agent was whispering sweet nothings into Brunner's ears. But his agent failed to calculate the Played with Z and Played a half season parts to the equation. I would be surprised if he gets what Cleary just got.

Now I would really like to see Franzen and Ericsson (or Kindl and Quincey) for Pietrangelo's rights. Maybe throw in Tootoo or Eaves to sweeten the deal! But this is just a pipe dream, I just want to see it because Alex is my fav non-Wing young D-man in the league.

He is an RFA, can the WIngs trade for his rights? Or does it have to be an offer sheet? Not that the Wings could fit him under the cap, but I would easily trade Ericsson and Kindl or Quincey just for the rights to try and work out a deal with him, if possible.

See, now these are the types of things that make me like Crosby less. NOT HIS FAULT, I get that, but when he is being thrown down my throat as the top Hockey story all the time, whether or not coffee gives him the runs, or is he allergic to poison ivy (Exaggerations I know) take precedent over legit stories. I just can't help but be annoyed and tired of hearing his name! I think 85% of the hate he gets would never had started had the league not rammed him down our collective throats. The summer of 11-12 was a devastating one for the Hockey World, I hope nothing of the like happens ever again.

I think this is a case of the sum being greater than it's parts. Homer on his own wasn't a top 6 forward, but what he did as far as net front presence and puck retrieval made that line very good for a number of years. While I think it will take Abby a few seasons ,if ever, to develop a net front presence (some guys never do). His puck retrieval skills are very good, I also think this is why Cleary saw so much time with Dats.

Yeah and she came in through the bathroom window!!!

My bad!

I have concluded that, yes sir you are correct!

While I agree with you, he is also the steadiest most dependable D-man the team has. So I don't really think of him as an X factor. But if he sucks ass this year, or gets injured, this team will suck. To me Kronner is more important than Dats or Z is, mainly because if Dats has a bad year, Z can step up or vice versa, but Kronner really has to be the anchor.

Dekeyser, after he left the Hawks series it was different Wings Defense.

I think he will be SOL (Shat outta luck), any team that really has cap room also has an internal cap. The teams that are willing to spend up to the cap for talent and a chance to win, already did so. I don't see a team like FLA signing him in an effort to fill seats or make the post season. They are at the cap floor and that is where they like to be.

Stan is handing out extension like they are Tootsie Rolls! Edit: Link maybe??? http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/extensions-everyone-niklas-hjalmarsson-gets-5-20-5-151252886--nhl.html

Speaking of defensemen and extensions/contracts wonder if STL and Pietrangelo will come to common ground. http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/9/5/4697440/alex-pietrangelo-rfa-contract-negotiation-st-louis-blues (Did I just hijack my own thread??) EDIT: To Hijack even further, Mac (Dang it, it is Mac and Andy strickland reporting it) is also reporting that they may bring in Ryan Whitney in case they are unable to reach a deal with Alex: http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/05/st-louis-making-plans-just-in-case-pietrangelo-isnt-signed/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs EDIT2: been a long few days, I can't even read the articles I am posting apparently!

Z Dats Abby (Dats and Babs seem to like Abby on this line) Alfie Weiss Mule Tatar Helm Nyquist Miller Andersson 1 of Bert, Sammy, Eaves, Tootoo Kronner Big Rig Dekeyser Smith (probably won't happen, but Smith needs a defensive D-man as a partner) Kindl Quincey Howard Where it gets interesting is the Power plays PP1 Z dats Mule Kron Alfie PP2?????? Abby Weiss Nyquist? Tatar? Ericsson Dekeyser? Quincey? I almost think that they may need to take Alfie off the point and play him as a forward and put Z on the second unit, but that second PP is going to be young if they don't?

This is a steal for him!

Franzen, if he is the Mule for a good part of the season with this line up he could post career highs. If not he could be relegated to 3rd line minutes and that will impact his production greatly. BUT... Hopefully he steps it up and brings high energy every night, I am not holding my breath though.

Yes, agree to disagree!

Again, your opinion of a player becomes a requirement for comparison, and you always find some reason to say a very comparable player does not count. What if Moulson was offered an 11 year deal (I know new CBA and all), do you know him well enough to know he would not take Franzen's contract?