MadMan Mark

"all fares, no matter how far, only 20 cents!"

That, my friend, is PRICELESS! I cannot stop laughing

Most recent newsflash: NHL Considering Moving Offices to Chicago Seeing as how they must now look into the Patrick Kane debacle along with the Hossa contract, makes sense to just move operations to Chicago. Kane's next stunt will be to come out with a rap cd under the name 20 Cent

Nice helmet, *****!

Somehow, regardless of the outcome, there will be a "Give 20 cents to Patrick Kane" display in every opposing rink this year. OK, maybe only outside the rink. Can you imagine the on-ice chatter this year? Maybe Pavs can teach Kane how to say "20 cents" in Russian or Z in Swedish. We know Franzen already showed him what happens when mouth-guards are chewed on a little too often.

Completely agree with you. Hawks have a dilemma, do you give Keith the money next year, or Seabrook the following year. Face it, they are stuck with Campbell.

I think Filp, especially if he'spaired with Franzen. Get Franzen to set up in front of the goalie a la Holmer, and Filp gets the screened goal or the deflected assist, provided he shoots more this year.

I'm not thrilled about the signing, but as others have said, it is a one-year deal. Hopefully, Williams treats it like a contract year and steps it up a few notches. If he sucks on this team, he won't get s*** from Detroit or anyone else next off-season.

A top 3 defenseman? Was he up for a Norris this year? I missed his name along with Lidstrom, Chara, and Green. I'm not trying to be too sarcastic. However, Seabrook will be there through next year and will be getting a raise on his $3.5M salary in 2011 and Hjalmarsson is RFA next year with Keith. I think Kane is the face of the Hawks, although I agree he is the weakest of the 3 (Toews, Kane and Keith). I agree about having a young D-man and Keith is improving. If we somehow get Keith, it keeps our D stocked for quite a while (Kindl moving up in the future) I don't see any team paying for Campbell. Huet, if he has a great yeara, will remain in Chi. If he sucks, like I expect him to, nobody will pick him up at his current salary. Hawks are stuck with both. Between Huet (average goaltender), Campbell (overpaid, overated) and Hossa (questionable shoulder), about 30% of next year's cap is already accounted for. If Hawks sign all 3, they may only be able to put 10 guys on the ice plus a goalie ha ha.

Keep in mind the old "captain gets paid the most". Toews is the better of the 3 and will sign in at $5.3M - $6M/yr. I think he is their top priority. Keep in mind that Ladd and Eager are also RFA's along with Hjalmarsson (I think). Seabrook goes RFA in 2011. I don't think ANY team is dumb enough to pick up Campbell's contract. I predict Keith is expendable first, although I would let Kane go, IMO. Kane is one-dimensional with very little D impact. The Wings are positioned very nicely. A core of Dats-Z-Mule signed with a good amount of money available for raises/extensions on some players and possibly a key free agent pickup. If Chicago manages to sign all (I don't see how), one or two key injuries destroys this team. All in all, IMO, the Hawks DID NOT improve their D or goaltending so I expect a 2nd place finish in Central and a 5 seed for the post-season, at best.

I like Sammy, but feel Van overpaid for his services. Would have liked Williams closer to $1M, but it is a one-year deal and, unless he shines really bright this year, will be gone next off-season. If both were available at the same price ($1.5M), I'd have to go with Sammy. (Neither at $2.5M, there are better options out there.

Amen to that!

Wings theme this year is DEFENSE. PK can do nothing but improve over last year. We may not generate as much offense, but neither will our opponents. Wings win Central by doubl-digits over Chicago, who turns out not to be as good as many thought (Huet blows and D still very average). Wings take out Anaheim in 5 games to go Finals and dispatch the Caps in 5. This year DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!

"I say the 5 most likely teams to be serious contenders are: Detroit Pittsburgh Philadelphia Washington Chicago" I think Pitt will be a flash in the pan. This isn't sour grapes, just an objective opinion. . . the Pens ran into a "hurt" Detroit team in the Finals, in addition to the "human" element favoring the Pens, that translated into a Cup. IMO, I don't think the Pens addressed their biggest need, defense. I am also of the opinion that Fleury played the way he had to for Games 6 and 7, and he got some lucky breaks. If I remember correctly, the Wings hit 5 posts in those 2 games. I do not see Pitt winning their division this year, maybe getting a 4 or 5 seed, and being knocked out in Round 2. Chicago is in a world of hurt due to ineptitude in the front office. They are stuck with Campbell and Huet's contracts, did not address their serious D needs, and have very little money to re-sign their youth core. IMO, Chicago is one and done after next year, barring some miraculous deals that frees up money and allows them to sign Toews, Keith, Kane, Seabrook, etc. . . I don't see it happening. Philly is, well Philly. They are almost as bad as the Sharks. High expectations and then crumble when they need to play their best. I'll save judgment on the Flyers until once the season gets going. Caps are hungry and they should be around along with Boston. In the West, of course the Wings, but the Ducks surprised me last year. Those are the 2 teams I see in the West. Sharks are in cap hell and need a facelift. Flames are about a second round exit and no better. Hawks this year CAN be good, but they got spanked by a hurt Wings team and Hossa was not the answer. Canucks will never win with Luongo. He gets touted every year how he will win a Cup, and fails. Plus, their D took a hit in the off-season. Of course, free agency can change anything, but this is how I see it as of right now. . . again, just my opinions.

It's my understanding that if he is placed on LTIR, his whole salary does not count against the cap. However, once (if) he returns, then I believe it gets re-applied to the cap. Does the whole salary get re-applied? I would say "no", but I am not 100% sure. I don't think Meech gets traded. . . I think it may be Lebda who will be odd-man-out. If Lilja goes on LTIR, I don't believe anyone will get traded. I don't think Holland is finished yet.

Keep in mind if Lilja can't go and is placed on LTIR, his salary does not count against the cap. We could be at $3.25M without trading anyone. . . yet.

I think the Hawks need a few more Asst GM's. I mean one to print the offer, one to put the offer in an envelope, one to fix the stamp to the envelope, one to mail the offers to the RFA's. One of those previous 4 Asst GM's can remind Stan Bowman to make sure any potential new UFA signing undergoes a physical BEFORE shelling out $62M+.

He did say he would only go back to SJ. . . and considering the fact that SJ is almost capped out wiht only 18 players signed and no backup goalie, he had to figure he wasn't going to be getting any kind of decent offer. . . or maybe SJ told him there would be no offer. . . welcome to Cap Hell, Sharks. Way to keep Marleau and Thornton and re-signing an aging Blake. Sounds like a recipe for another 1st Round Exit!

Beat me to it. . . I agree, too expensive at this point for the holes we need to fill

He wanted $4.75M and NYR topped out at $3.2M

He was awarded 1 yr $3.9M

I guess it's how and when you enforce rules that are on the books. . . kind of like instigator penalties on superstars in the Finals.

We are looking at 3rd and 4th liners. . . let's inject some new blood to go along with the energy from our youth (Helm, Leino, Ericsson). Even Williams was talking KHL BS. If you want to play there so bad, go. Bertuzzi has been passed around like some fat, drunk high school chick. Keep him away from the Wings. There are plenty of possibilities, and not bad ones out there. . . Prospal, Malhotra, Grier, etc to satisfy 3rd and 4th line.

No, I did not expect arbitration to result in $1M salary, get real. Bringing Williams back is a bigger mistake than throwing more than $3M/yr at Hudler. So what you're saying is Hudler really wants to be a Wing, but not right now and not because of the money in the KHL. According to your argument, he's going to the KHL to improve his skills so he can be a better Wing in 2 years. . . stop fooling yourself. . . it's COMPLETELY about the money. I think this dead horse has been beat enough. Bye bye, Jiri.

That's how I saw it. . . may Hudler go spend his rubles in a s***tier economy than ours. . . if he gets paid the whole contract