newfy

I've gotta agree too. Can he be worst then Sammy? He brings what Sammy attempted to bring sometimes, an edge, big hits and instead of throwing gloved punches from behind linesman Bert will step up if need be. I think he's the perfect Sammy replacement.

I don't know if maybe it was just me but it seemed like Kronwall didn't throw as many huge hits this year as he did last year. I think a player like Drake in the lineup made Kronwall step up more and play the body because he knew he wasn't gonig to be the opnly out there playnig like that.

Someone who makes a comment is either a 14 year old kid who wasn't old enough to remember 97 and 98, a bandwagon fan that just recently jumped on board or someone that has had their vision blurred by all this euro no toughness hockey the wings have been playing this year. So tell me, which one are you? 97 and 98 we iced some of the toughest teams in the league. Forget all this classy bulls*** you guys talk about now. Anyone remember Macarty jumping turtle or Lapointe sucker punching King? We had Shanny, Lapointe, Kocur, Macarty, Vladdy, Maltby threw his weight around, Pushor and Ward. Now I'm sure a huge fan like yourself couldn't have forgotten these players already but if you did that should serve as a reminder that this team used to be tough and everyone loved it. Not too mention that tough team that could play repeated something this team with a PP enforcer and no heart couldn't do.

I would actually like Simon on this team. I haven't watched him play for a while now but he used to keep up with the play and for how much he could absolutely hammer people he was a good player. He was probably the most intimidating player in the NHL because he was nuts and could fight to back it up.

I'm not even going to say anything about Fleury I thinkk everyone here has already said exactly what I was thinking. I'm not sure Thorton should be there, in my opinion Eric Staal is a better player then Thorton and both play a similiar game. Whoever it was that mentioned Mike Richards earlier I'm not sure about yet but in a year or two I'm sure you'll see him here on this list. I could try to make an argument for Brendan Morrow because of how complete a player he is but I don't think he quite cracks the list.

I don't think our team is hurting for offence nearly as much as it is for a bit of sand paper. Really we've only lost Hossa the rest weren't huge goal scorers. I would add some toughness to replace Kopecky because thats what Kopecky was supposed to provide for this team and then go from there. There isn't any good goal scorers in our price range to sign so why not sign the next thing we need? A gritty player that can PK and will scrap occasionally

But what would be wrong with gettnig another Drake type player? He didn't take alot of stupid penalties, hit, fought and played with heart. When I or another fight advocate says something about a player like Drake automatically we get burned and told to root for the Ducks. Drake didn't hurt the team at all but for some reason we suggest a player like him and we're suggesting we would rather our team go 0-82 as long as we fight.

Exactly Drake didn't fight that much, thats what I'm trying to say. He stuck up for himself and teammates, 5 fights isn't really a fighter its more a guy who can handle himself and still bring some game. Thats what I want more of on this team. And you're kidding right? Trying to down talk what Drake brought in the playoffs is ridiculous. You need more then goal scorers to win playoff games, its a physical game. Drake brought so much energy and laid out so many people. If you've played a game of hockey in your life you would know that having those grinders out there that can hit and scrap a bit makes a huge difference to the team

I never said that there wasn't more to hockey. I just don't think skating fast is a reason to call a a player tough. Mike Ribeiro is a fast skater so he's tough?

Good defence and skating fast do not make a hockey player tough. I'm not sure what your logic is there

People on this site will quickly jump to the defence of Maltby and his "antagonizing antics" but during the regular season they'll call Steve Ott a coward or even Avery a coward. If you take away the press statements Avery plays the same game as Maltby to an extent and does a better job of it and he'll occasionally throw down and hit. I also haven't seen anyone jump to Franzen's defence.. Seems like everyone agrees there

I've seen people say many times go watch UFC, the Flyers etc. All because I wouldn't mind the wings having a scrappy guy, I'm not even saying a heavyweight fighter. If all these posters would love to have this type of player they wouldn't say go watch MMA or the Ducks but they do. If these people would love having this type of player they would say, "I agree, we could use this type of player" or "Yeah its too bad we don't have a little grit on our bottim lines" instead I get " You should watch the Flyers, you're no wings fan." This too me makes you seem like a non fight fan, especially if you dont even want a guy like Drake back. I've never let not having a fighter ruin the experience of a winning team for me, I'm sure if you asked all the Leafs fans that I live around they would tell you the same.

I'm not complaining about the past decade or so. I'm complaing about the last 3 years or so. The wings were at one point just about the toughest team in the league and extremely successful. We've won with players who will stick up for themselves in the line up and didn't take stupid penalties or mess up our puck possession game. ( see 2008, drake, downey, Mac) If the wings could add one aspect to their game that they already don't have its toughness. What do non fight fans have against having a player that will go maybe take a liberty or 2 on another teams superstar, throw a huge hit, stick up for teammates but can still skate and keep up? Wouldn't be nice to have another Drake out there? And calling Franzen or Maltby a coward is not an exxageration at all, have you seen these guys play? Franzen could be a freight train out there instead he plays soft. I think it was against Calgary this year, Jimmy Vandermeer punched him and he dropped like he got shot and rolled on the ice for 5 minutes. Thats cowardly.

Anyone who doesn't think Maltby is a coward clearly hasn't watched many games the last decade. I'd say he's just behind Franzen for biggest coward on the team. I don't see what you non fight crowd have against the people that want fights. I for one am a proud Red Wings fan but wouldn't mind seeing a fight every now and then. Hockey was made to be a rough tough sport and anyone who says you can't have both a good team and a tough team is retarded. Having even one player with balls won't make us go 0-82 like some of you euro lovers seem to think. I'm not even saying some meathead goon is what we need on the 4th line but I'm sick of seeing players with no heart going into scrums throwing gloved punches while hiding behind linesman. Thats cowardly and if anyone tries to deny it theyre blind clearly. I wouldn't mind seeing another cleary type player he actually has a set and can play the game. He doesnt even fight but thats my point he's not a coward like the other half of the wings roster seems to be. Anyways now that thats off my chest I'll save some of you from having to say it.. No I'm not going to cheer for the flyers or ducks or flames. I'm going to continue cheering for the wings and just hope they get some more heart and soul type guys.

Same here. I don't want Shanny back at all but I would much rather have him then Williams.

My thoughts exactly

Have a sense of humour... And Sundin to the wings is not what we need, he's a shadow of what he used to be. Might as well sign Shanny if we're gonna bring back Sundin

I wouldn't want White at all. The best thing he would bring to this team is his mustache, he's small and I wouldn't say showed toughness at all. He fought Markus Naslund and Ilya Kovalchuk last year for God's sake. I would rather see Exelby, guy's a hammer.

I think Ericcson will be loved on these boards because he'll drop the gloves and actually do half decent while still playing good hockey. Clearys gonna rack 'em up this year. People will see that Helm is an amazing hitter and forechecker but can't score 20 goals like some people think and something not may people have mentioned but Howard will show he deserves back up duty.

I'm really starting to like the sounds of Bertuzzi coming here. Sure he takes bad penalties but the guy has put up solid point amount the last few years, is still a freight train and is willing to fight on occasion. I see him as an upgrade over Hudler really.

People forget that Ericcson hasn't been playing defence all that long. Now that he has teh coaching he does in Detroit and a full season watching Lids play his game could really take off. He has all the tools to be a poor man's Chara at this point. Booming shot, good puck mover, size and a bit of a nasty side. Hell if we're lucky he could end up just as good as Chara or pretty close

It was 1.7 million I'm pretty sure

Wouldn't love to have Grier here but would rather him then Eaves or Afinoganov.

We don't have cap space for a scorer like Tanguay or Kessel. Hossa we knew we wouldnt have back, Sammy is a 3rd liner, 40 points is easy to replace. Bert put up 44 last year while playing physical. He could be a good possible replacement. Hudler is a one way PP specialist who played 10 minutes a night. He is not a huge loss to this team if we can bring in a decent 2 way player that can still put up points but play both ends of the rink

Pyatt is kind of both of those guys. He could be a top 6 forward possibly. He's a big body, doesn't fight alot but when he does he can go and he can hit. If we could add Pyatt and he plays well it would be a great signing and exactly what the wings need.