MadMan Mark

I don't think Bettman is AGAINST the Wings, but I do think he is FOR the Pens. You have to laugh at the change in scheduling, rules, etc once the Cup Finals were set. I didn't want to wait 8 days for the Finals to start, but it's about time Bettman told NBC to go screw Conan and either broadcast the games or lose the free rights you have. Give the Wings 8 days rest before Game 1 and tell me who benefits. I know it's a moot point now, but something smelled pretty bad after we dispatched the Hawks in 5.

Remember Holland is running things. . . with that said, IF Lidstrom is finished after next year, Holmer not back, and Maltby done, you have to think this all figures in to how Hossa gets his money (about $10M according to my cap figures). If Hossa signs, for whatever the price tag, we keep a 40 goal scorer. If he doesn't sign, we keep players that helped us win a Cup in 2008. Win-win for the Wings. The "D" is all signed for next year, now let's get the scoring machine working again. Also, keep in mind that if some team offers Hudler an obscene Dustin Penner contract, Wings get compensated with draft picks. . . many players locked up in long-term deals AND draft picks, talk about your highway robbery. Hudler is good in the Wings system, just like Sammy excelled. . . I don't see them having the same success elsewhere. Anyone remember Martin LaPointe? Where is he now? How about Sergei Federov after he left Detroit?

Was it Letang or Kennedy that scored the 2nd goal in Game 6? Regardless, if Sammy checks the player instead of skating off to the left, no shot is ever attempted. He looked lethargic in the Finals and pissed me off in Game 6 almost as much as Stuart in Game 7. Those brain farts along with posts in each game had me almost throwing my puck through the TV. Oh well, glad I got that out of my system. I figured Sammy was gone, too, once I heard how much Hossa wanted to stay. . . just hope there is a way to keep Hossa and Huds.

The game will have lots of hitting (Boston finishes every check) and not much scoring. . . 3-2 Boston, IMO

I'm as pissed as Snazzy abou the result of the Finals. I can't help but think something was in the works regarding Game 3, the rescinded suspension, the BS intereference on Ericsson in the 3rd, etc. Wings played through a lot on the ice, but many things that occurred off the ice, as well. There should not have been a Game 6 or 7, but there were and the Wings played identical games for the identical scores and results. Pens won, big deal. I don't think Pitt realizes the responsibility night in and night out of being the defending champs. I don't expect much from the Pens next year. They may make the playoffs, but their are hungrier teams in the East and the Pens can't fill the holes the have with the quality they want. I look for a first round exit for the Pens if they are lower than a 4 seed and a second if they are 4th. I do not see them winning their division. Hopefully, this loss lit a fire under the Wings. They get their off-season rest and begin the march for another Cup. Watch how they play in Oct and Nov. I have firmly believed this is when you dictate your readiness and qualify for the playoffs. Wings need to rattle off 16-20 wins in those 2 months. In the Central, I still don't think Chi is ready to compete with Detroit, nor any other team for that matter. I hate the Pens because they are shoved down our throat by the NHL, VS, NBC (McGuire wears kneepads with #87 and #71). Go Wings! Lidstrom hoists the Cup in June 2010 and calls it a career.

It's time Howard started to shine. He has had more than enough time to "develop" in GR. He needs to be, IMO, better than a Conklin to satisfy my backup needs in training camp. I just haven't been sold on the guy yet.

Fair enough. . . I think he'll go to NYR. It's amazing the money they throw around year in/year out and never really improve. I thought they were going to be much better after their start last year, but they ended up underachieving as always. . . kind of like the Sharks

I can't imagine the Wings wasting a roster spot for a 3rd goalie.

Free Candy - I think Pens have many holes to fill and very limited resources to do it with. I can't take anything away from the Pens. . . they won, Wings did not (as much as I hate it). Perhaps Wings have a fire lit under them similar to 2007. Regardless, I think the Pens road back to the Finals will be much more difficult than the Wings. Whether Wings sign Hossa or not, they are in a win-win situation. . . I expect the Wings to be back in the Finals next year. Lidstrom hoists the Cup in June 2010 and calls it a career.

I just took the time to get caught up on the thread. . . Just my 2 cents, but Pens SHOULD make the playoffs, but I do not see them back in the Finals. IMO, the Pens have holes to fill and not enough money to fill them. In addition, when Crosby, Malkin, and MAF contracts are up, look for one of them to be moved. I'm guessing MAF because I don't feel he is that good. There just isn't enough money to go around especially when Crosby and Malkin's cap hits are $8M+/yr. MAF played average and was blessed with a couple of posts in Games 6 and 7. Wings, on the other hand, are essentially the same team that went to WCF in 07 and Cup Finals in 08 and 09. They are getting incredible contributions from young players and have the core locked in for the rest of their careers. Lidstrom's cap hit is gone after next year, so is Holmstrom and Maltby's. Right there is $10+M. I expect the Wings to make the Finals next year. I don't see the Pens returning for quite a while. . . maybe in the last year of Crosby and Malkin's current contracts. Lidstrom hoists the Cup in June 2010 and calls it a career.

It's fun to speculate where he might end up. No way Chicago, they don't have the bucks especially with who they have to sign now and over the next 2 years. SJ would be funny. After underachieving again in the playoffs, that team will be competitive but nowhere near what they did last year in the regular season. No room in Detroit, and I wouldn't want him. Wings have a great core of players that has them in WCF in 07 and Cup Finals the next 2 years. There is no reason to think they won't be back in the Finals next year. I just do not see any team in the West with as much depth and skil as Detroit. Holland has this team positioned for deep playoff runs for a number of years to come. . . the envy of every other NHL team out there. Just a dig to all the Pens fans, maybe they can start the trend of not getting out of the first round as Cup champs the next year again. Ha ha

In the past, I have been bitching about Lilja's turnovers more than any other D-man

I like our D pairings. Yes, Stuart had the brain farts that turned into the Cup winner, but he was solid during Lidstrom's absence. I believe we have the depth to offer a roster spot to Abdelkader and not sacrifice anything. I would love to keep Hossa and Hudler. There are many combinations, but the great thing is that we are w/o Hossa the same team that won the Cup in 2008 (minus Drake) or with Hossa the same team that was the Cup runner-up in 2009 (minus Sammy and possibly Hudler). Not a bad position to be in. Perhaps this loss lights a fire similar to 2007 and the Wings come out on fire. I love the fact that Babcock always has the team ready and establishes his tone in Oct and Nov. Winning 16-20 games in those months virtually assures a lead in the division and has division opponents on their heels early in the season. The other divisions will take care of themselves. Lidstrom hoists the Cup in June 2010 and calls it a career.

I'm not sold on Howard yet, and I know time has run out. If we can keep a veteran like Conklin, then so be it. It's easier to platoon to vets than to overplay your starter in the reg season like SJ does with Nabokov only to see him fizzle in the post-season. I hope we can keep Hossa and Huds. To me, Sammy is gone. I'm anxious to find out the cap number and for July 1 to arrive. . . hell, I'm ready for next season. The Cup was ours. Now it will be fun to watch the Pens be just another Cup champ that doesn't make the playoffs next year. . . yeah, I know, wishful thinking, but maybe that would shut NBC up about their man-crush with 87 and 71. Lidstrom hoists the Cup in June 2010 and calls it a career.

OK, I'll throw my two cents in. . . Dats -Z- Cleary Mule-Filp-Hossa Holmer-Huds-Helm Drapes-Leino-Kopecky Maltby Lids-Raf Ericsson-Kronwall Stuart-Lebda Meech Osgood Larsson I'm not sure if it will work due to the cap restrictions. I haven't been sold on Howard and would really like to see what Larsson can do. However, if the Wings can ink Cinklin to about the same money as last year, why not keep him? Regardless, Dats and Z need to be together, and I did like the chemistry of Filp and Hossa. I don't know, I'm still pissed we lost the Cup. . . we were the better team, but I'm a Wings fan and see it through my Wing-Wheeled glasses. Either way, Lidstrom calls it a career by hoisting the Cup in June 2010.

With or without Hossa, we remain pretty much the team that won the Cup last year. Without Hossa, we keep Hudler and possibly Sammy. The money remains to sign Kopecky and Leino. The "D"is set and money will free up once Holmstrom, Maltby, and Draper hang up the skates over the next couple of years, not to mention Lidstrom's salary ending next year. With Hossa, we keep a 40-goal scorer and lose Huds (most likely) and Sammy (definitely). The upside to losing Huds is we will get compensated if he signs elsewhere. I'm not sure if Wings go after Conklin as Howard is a use him or lose him, if I'm not mistaken, for next year. I'm anxious for July 1 to arrive so we know the answer to Hossa. We may have lost the Cup, but I still believe Detroit was the best team. The injury bug bit hard at just the wrong time. If you go back and watch the last 2 games of the Finals, you essentially saw the same game twice. We needed better starts and didn't get them and ran out of time when we tried to come back. I just don't see any other team in the West or East as deep as the Wings. Lidstrom lifts the Cup one last time in 2010.