Lidstrom for life

The lines will be changing constantly, the one thing I really hope though is that Leino gets to play on the second line quite a bit. I would love a Franzen-Filpulla-Leino line.

This might be completely stupid and I know it won't happen but what if we split Draper and Maltby? They are both solid defensively but I feel like they might be better off playing with younger players than with each other. This would give us two good scoring lines and then make the bottom two lines fairly even. Holmstrom-Zetterberg-Datsyuk Frazen-Filpulla-Leino Cleary-Draper-Williams Maltby-Helm-Eaves

I'm gonna laugh when Williams has a 20 goal 50 point season, I wonder how many people will still complain about him?

Guess what all the free agents we lost have in common? None of them scored a single goal in the SCF!! Can we calm down please and stop acting like the wings are going to be bad next season?

My god what is the matter with you people? The whole time Sammy is here he is the town whipping boy and now everyone acts like we just lost Datsyuk or something. Sammy was clutch? Are you freaking serious? He scored the same number of goals as Hossa in the finals, the same number as Williams for that matter! Yes he scored an overtime winner against Chicago but that play happened because Campbell is a terrible defenseman and Flip made a great pass, all Sammy had to do was finish it which I am sure Williams could have managed just as well. Williams wasn't the free agent I was hoping for either but he will be an ok fit provided he plays on the third line with Helm. Edit: He also hit a post on a breakaway in the SCF in game 3 or 4 I dont remember which, had he scored there we probably would have won in 5. No I am not blaming Sammy for us losing, I am just asking how can he be considered clutch?

I agree with that 199%. Actually I agree with the entire post, Holmstrom will either be with Datsyuk and Zetterberg or Draper and Maltby. God the thought of a Maltby-Draper-Holmstrom line kind of scares me though, I love those guys but don't they have their AARP memberships by now

Whats this?! Someone who is making sense?! Didn't you get the memo that rational thought isn't allowed on LGW today?

Honestly our odds of winning are the same they were last year. I know we lost Hossa and omg Williams is back but once the playoffs start its just about who is healthy. There are probably 7-8 teams with a legit shot at winning the cup and we are one of them, I cant wait for the season to start.

Correct me if I am wrong, but in the interview that was posted wasn't he ASKED about playing in Detroit and then he commented on it. Its not like they asked "who would you like to play for?" and he said Detroit. To me that isn't exactly solid evidence that he would take a discount to play here.

I agree that he doesnt deserve the top line right now, but I feel like playing with Datsyuk and Zetterberg sort of "hides" him because they are so good he basically just needs to stand in front of the net. If hes on the third or fourth line he would actually need to play defense which could be a problem.

I think a Leino-Helm-Eaves line, while potentially awesome, is a little scary at least at the start of the season with two rookies and a redwing newbie playing together. Even though he deserves top 6 minutes I would rather have Cleary anchoring the third line. Plus an all Canadian line would be awesome! ZDH = Awesome Mule-Filpulla-Leino Frazen and the Fins = huge scoring potential Cleary-Helm-Eaves Oh Canada! Maltby-Draper-? Hopefully we sign at least a solid defensive foward to go here.

If that happens and he splits the Euro twins again this season then I will be joining.

from what I understand he is a solid defensive player. Likely 2nd or 3rd line unless we sign another scoring foward. Whether or not he regains his scoring touch....well we can speculate all we want but we are gonna have to wait and find out.

This makes me very happy! This guy sounds like exactly what we needed: solid defensively, goal scoring potential, and cheap. Also I am excited we signed a younger player and with the one year deal he will be looking to prove himself and increase his value. Very nice!

3 Michigan natives in the top 5! and Abdelkator will be joining them on that list in a couple years (we hope)

http://www.hockeywidgets.com/newblog/2007/...-geography.html This is from 2007 but it says Illinois actually had more than Wisconsin in the NHL that year so thats my guess for the 6th state.

I agree 100%. Lidstrom is my favorite player of all time but there is no question Yzerman means more to the franchise.

Actually maybe we should sign a guy that spends 10 minutes a night in the box because our PK needs some practice...

The only way you are going to stop that power play is to not take a penalty. That is scary.

alot of KHL invites, I wonder how many make the team.

I seriously doubt anything will actually come of this but still its very funny I also don't really think what Chicago did is very different from what we did but I think the biggest difference between Zetterberg's deal and Hossa's deal is that Z has 2 "discount" years thrown in at the end which drops his cap hit a little, Hossa has 4 discount years on the end of his contract which drops his cap hit a lot.

whatever, if it doesnt work out Abs can take his spot in the playoffs anyway.

I realize I am not exactly going out on a limb but I think Zetterberg will have the most goals with Franzen close behind. Datsyuk will have the most points and highest plus/minus. I realize he isnt a rookie but I think Filpulla is going to have a "break out" year with a career high in points by a lot.

I havent seen him so I have a question: do you think he is NHL ready now? I mean if they decide Howard isn't working out is bringing up Larsson a possibility this year? Or will they have to look for a free agent? I mean obviously I hope Howard does well but you never know.

Dude just stop. This is so dumb, read what you just said. We couldnt have the team we have if our goalie made 6 mil a year.