Hockeytown12

Leino will probably sign for around the league minimum which is definitely a lot cheaper than Hudler. Also, the Red Wings would not be losing a lot of depth if Hossa stayed. The Wings are gaining players like Leino, Helm and Abs and losing players like Hudler and Sammy. In many ways the Wings gain players that are similar or better than the players they are losing.

Leino will be cheaper for the Wings, which is big with the salary cap and the Wings will receive draft picks for letting Hudler except an offer sheet. All of these improvements that you say Hudler can make can also be made by Leino. As it stands right now, Leino is better defensively than Hudler which is an important factor in the Wings' current system. Also, Leino has shown flashes of offensive brilliance in his short stint with the Wings. It all comes down to a business decision and the Wings gain more by letting Hudler go and keeping Leino.

This was perhaps the worst sports article I have ever read. It made little sense and seems more like the ramblings of an 80 year old man than an actual story. There is already a topic discussing Crosby and the hand shake line, which seems to be the intent of this topic. It's time to move on because this obsession with attacking Crosby over the hand shake line is quickly becoming old. I don't like what Crosby did but get over it already. There are a lot of people on this site that are acting like Crosby just raped their mother.

The Wings with Hossa are pretty strong down the middle without Hudler. Z or Dats can be used as a center and Flip has been a man possessed these last two playoff runs. Also, Helm will be with the team full time next season and he is better defensively than Hudler and he is a strong checking center, something Hudler is not. Also, Draps has the faceoff ability, Hudler does not. If by some magic Hudler was able to stay as well as Hossa, then Hudler would be relegated to the wing on the 3rd or 4th line. Most of the time, Hudler plays on the wings because of the Wings' depth at center. Hudler saw very little time at center. I don't think that the Wings are going to "get rid of a good center and get one that isn't as godd w/ less pay." In many ways Helm is better than Hudler and equal to him in other categories. Hudler is a nice role player for this team but is not essential to winning. Also, 4th line center isn't really anything big, after all, it is the 4th line.

If the Wings are lucky enough to make it back to the Finals for a third consecutive time, I would really want to see them face another team. I know everyone wants the Wings to win the Cup back from them, but seeing the same SCF for 3 years in a row is pretty boring IMO. I would love to see the Wings take on the Bruins, Capitals, Rangers, or the Canadiens.

They could be department store ones but they are not going to be anything like the official RBK ones. My guess is that Helm will have one sooner rather than later. This older thread might be of some help, not really sure though. http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=58783

Simple reason is Hossa > Hudler. If you can get Hossa for the right money you have to let Hudler go. There is just no debating it. Hudler will never be close to the player that Hossa is. Also, Hudler is a solid enough player where many teams will offer him a nice offer sheet and it will allow the Wings to gain some draft picks.

Neither of those players have jersey t-shirts available. You would have to custom order one from a t-shirt shop.

If I had to choose, I would choose Balsillie and his bid to put a team in Hamilton. I would also like to see some of these failing Southern U.S teams, Florida, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, go to Western Canada or simply be dissolved. I would love to see a team back in Winnipeg and I would also be highly interested in having an NHL team in Seattle. I think a team would be successful there due to the closeness of Seattle to Canada, plus a team in Seattle would have an instant rivalry with the Canucks.

I see. My mistake. Sorry about that.

Any deal for Hossa that has a cap hit of around $4 million per is going to be 10-12 years long, probably closer to 12. You're crazy if you think you are going to get Hossa to take a contract that earns him $4 million per for under 6 years.

I think anything more than a $4 million per cap hit and you have to let Hossa walk.

The coach has already said he has a roster spot and Babs said that he would have a spot in the playoffs, which he did. Leino is ready and he is just telling everyone that he doesn't want to play in the AHL anymore. To me it shows that he is hungry for some NHL action and I for one like it a lot.

Abs had 2 goals, let's not get carried away. Leino is better defensively on the puck and has shown in the regular season that he is more than ready to play in the NHL full time. I wouldn't put too much into Leino's playoff performance. After all, he's still young and pretty much was thrown into the fire. I like Abs, but he is a year away. Abs 2 G 1 A 3 Pts +2 10 GP Leino 0 G 2 A 2 Pts +2 7 GP

Wings vs. Bruins would be awesome IMO.

I really think that Abs should stay in GR for one more year. He is close but I think one more year would serve him well. Use him as a call up in case of injury.