The Big Red Machine

This season will be the first in a while in which the Wings will be legitimately challenged for first in the Central.

I heard Rich Winter was the best man for both of them.

The Hawks will be able to add this to their pile of fail where it will be accompanied by the octopus playoff commercials for this past playoff run. There is no way in hell Kopecky is a top free agent signee. Biggest joke ever.

I doubt anyone wants Huet at $5.625 million.

Bingo.

Not on NHL 09.

As we all know, Wikipedia is the be all end all of sources.

The Leafs should be looking for a goalie too. Awesome goalie coach aside, Toskala is shaky at best.

Agreed. Makes me happy to have CBC. Hockey Night in Canada is going to be fun to watch and Don Cherry is going to be happy as hell.

The Wings don't need any of these big name players with their inflated contracts. Kenny is playing it smart by sitting and waiting. The type of players that the Wings need to fill holes are not first day free agent type players. If Hudler comes back, this team isn't very different from the team that won the Cup in '08.

Why? Because he didn't screw the future of our team to sign Hossa, lost broken face Kopecky and he isn't willing to over pay for marginal players on free agent day?

If by physical edge you mean getting his face broken, then yes, you're right.

It might be a little bit different for Maltby and Homer. Both will retire after this season, as their contracts are up, and I'm sure they would love to go out on top. Who knows with those guys though.

Will they even have the cap space to sign all 3? The Hawks might be able to unload Huet, but Campbell's contract seems almost impossible to off load.

I'm pretty indifferent about Hossa leaving. This leaves the Wings in better position next off season when the cap drops and we have some contracts coming off of the books. Blackhawks just created a lot of cap problems following this coming season. Their chance at a Cup is this coming season.

I'm not surprised that Kopecky followed Hossa. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Kopecky being signed was a condition to signing Hossa. We all know how buddy, buddy they are. The Blackhawks are making a run for the Cup this year and are going to implode under the cap next year.

I can't wait to see what this deal is.

Rumored that the deal involves Colby Armstrong. Hockey Buzz

The only way any of this makes sense is if the Hawks are signing Hossa to a short term contract. It just doesn't make sense.

Don't ruin everyone's NHL 09 fantasy world.

The Hawks are going to blow up their team if they sign Hossa. The cap is going to go down next year and there is no way they resign Toews and Kane with Hossa. They will have a 1 year shot at the Cup. After that, enjoy Hossa.

Z had an off year this past season and I expect him to pick it up in the point production area, so that cuts into Hudler's point production. Franzen seems to out do himself every season and I think Datsyuk will break 100 points this season. It's going to be nice to see what Helm can do with a full regular season too.

No one is expecting him to do that. I'd be more hopeful for around 20-30 points as I expect him to get some 3rd line time. The simple fact is that Leino is cheaper and the Wings have the ability to make up for any offense lost with the possible departure of Hudler.

It's better than getting absolutely nothing for him, as is the case with Hossa. There is no doubt that Hudler is a bargain priced player right now, but the salary cap makes it extremely difficult for the Wings to commit so much money to a player of Hudler's type when they can sign Leino, who has a very similar style, to a much cheaper contract. If Lilja goes on LTIR, the Wings can make some moves, but what are they going to do once he is healthy and ready to play? Our best option at defense with Lilja out is Lebda. The roster and cap can get real mess if you start trading and signing players based on LTIR players. At that point, teams know that you need to clear some room and you will get very little in return. Any move at this point cares a big risk.

Did he even say anything about North American players? We get it, you love enforcers. Stop trying to start meaningless arguments about nationality.