mmamolo

He absolutely is afraid to get hit. I've said this a million times on this board. I live in Toronto so I've had the displeasure of watching Leaf games since I was a kid which means I've seen Kaberle's entire career. He is, and always has been, extremely weak defensively. He's one of the softest players in the game. On top of that, despite the offense that he does produce, he turns the puck over way more often than people realize. He just flat out is not that good. I wouldn't even want him as the Wings' 6th D for $1M/yr. He can't QB his own powerplay. The Wings already have their PP QB's for each unit (assuming Lidstrom comes back for the first unit and Kronwall plays on the second unit) so the Wings should be looking for a much better Rafalski replacement.

I didn't vote on this because it's not that simple. It all depends on what UFA's are available and how the kids look in camp. Holland will want to sign Draper to a 2-way deal and Draper will have to fight for a roster spot in camp. I personally wouldn't hate having Draper as the 14th forward because I think he still brings a ton to the table even if his on ice play diminishes next season from where it was this season. The 2-way contract will ensure that he can be at camp fighting for a job but that if he ultimately retires the Wings aren't stuck with a cap hit. Draper won't be put in GR; he'll fight for the 14th forward spot on 2-way deal most likely 500k/105k.

I know that would be the popular choice around here but there are three problems I would see with this trade proposal: 1. Hudler's value is low right now so I don't see Holland moving him right now unless the deal would be overwhelming that he couldn't turn it down (meaning he'd be getting what the value he would think would be Hudler's ceiling) 2. Philly is looking for Cap relief for a goaltender, so I doubt they're looking for salary to come back. They want money for a goaltender or to re-sign Leino. They'll want picks/prospects or whatever; not another forward. I'm sure they'd rather the $2.85M Hudler is making to go towards Leino. 3. I really don't know that Philly would think that is fair market value for Carle. Cleary will be slotted into line 2 as he is signed. Mursak will 100% be the 13th forward and be in a bunch of games. Also, the Wings were the second highest scoring team in the league this year. If you're concerned about the loss of offence from the back end so you want to remedy that by getting an impact forward I can understand that but I don't see it happening.

Rafalski doesn't strike me as the kind of guy to do that. It sounded like this was a long, thought out decision and one he is going to stick to.

Obviously Philly needs to upgrade their goaltending this summer. Leighton and Bobrovsky are signed so Boucher is gone. They already have $58.97M comitted to next year's cap. So even if the cap rises by approximately $3M they'll only have about $3.5M in space. They currently have 18 players signed. Zherdev is gone for sure. They definitely want to keep Leino some how. Right now the Flyers have D-Corps looks like this: Kimmo Timmonen 2 years remaining $6,333,333/yr Chris Pronger 6 years remaining $4,921,429/yr Andrej Meszaros 3 years remaining $4,000,000/yr Matt Carle 1 year $3,437,500/yr Braydon Coburn 1 year $3,200,000/yr That's just too many defensemen making that kind of money. Jeff Carter's new, $5.275M/yr, contract just kicks in next year. He will not be traded. Mike Richards, their captain, will not be traded. What makes the most sense for Philly to free up some cash is to re-sign O'Donnell, after the year he had, since he can be signed for cheap (he made just $1.2M last year) and move any of Meszaros, Carle or Coburn. Based on how they feel about those players you'd imagine the most likely candidate would be Matt Carle. Maybe the Flyers could be trading partners for the Wings.

For the record, Ballard has a NTC (limits him to 7 teams he can restrict the Canucks to dealing him to)

I agree...for the most part. If the team does in fact move to Winnipeg True North will absolutely want to retain it's players. The only thing is I could potentially see some issues arising with some of the unsigned/RFAs who may not particularly want to play in Winnipeg. This could pose problems in retaining these players. If the contract negotiations get rough because of this trading or not signing these players may be the better route for Winnipeg.

If the price for Bogo may be high I don't even want to think of what the price for Enstrom would be

Yeah, I personally wouldn't really want Mike Green just because I would think Washington would want a fairly substantial return. I'm not saying he doesnt produce from the back end but there may be better fits for this team

Not only is this debatable, but assuming it's true, that's a sample size of 1 game and about half a period. Thank god some one else chimed in with this

Prices for defensemen don't go up every year. Teams do overpay for players in a lot of cases but the market dictates their prices just as often. This summer, based on the crop of available UFA defensemen, we may see teams overpay but that doesn't necessarily mean that Scott Hannan will be included. Although he is still a servicable defenseman his play is nowhere near the level it once was (when he signed his current contract that is set to expire). The only way he maintains his current salary, or gets a raise, is if a team becomes desperate.

I dont know if you've watched him or not so I'm not passing judgment on you. But I've watched him for years as I live in TOronto and the guy is god awful defensively. He is so weak on the puck and he gets pushed around all day long. It's pathetic. NMC I believe, or at a minimum NTC

I've always liked Josh Harding. He had an off year and then was out all of this passed season. He's only 26 and in 2008-09 in 19 appearances posted a 2.19 GAA and .929 SV%. Granted, that was in front of Minnesota's D but I think the guy could turn out all right. His last contract was a one year $1.2M deal and I woulg imagine Holland is looking for a goalie in the $6-800K range. But I could be wrong

I can't really see the Isles really keeping either. WIth DiPietro and Montoya what's the point really? I know he's better than those two (most likely) but he doesnt want to be there. I would imagine that the Isles just want him to be in game shape, play a few games and get some value to him so they can deal him. I would think the only way he stays an Islander is if the probable happens and that is DIPietro gets hurt...again

ALthough most people do think that way I don't. It takes a lot to change my opinion on people/players. It takes a lot for me to believe a player is awesome (more than just a flash in the pan) and it takes a lot for me to believe a player turns to s***. That being said I can definitely understand how confidence in players goes up and down like crazy.

Two pretty good reads. Sounds like it's done Atlanta Thrashers Sale to Winnipeg Done. Not So Fast Says TSN Atlanta Thrashers Sale to Winniped Done

Yeah, I mean there were definitely stretches of this year that I didn't like for him either. He had some decent and good stretches though that I don't think people on this board want to give him fair credit for. Obviously his had his 25ish game production streak where 11 of those games were played with Datsyuk. But he had other stretches where at least he competed. In an off year if you're not going to score you at least need to compete. I think what was frustrating about him was his inconsistency this year.

At least you're reasonable about - probably more so than I would have been had I been in your shoes. I get it though, I mean people rub me the wrong way all the time. Ultimately you're right though, the Wings only did agree to it because it benefitted them due to their cap problem. Had they had the room to fit Hudler under the cap there's no way they would have been as accomodating. I don't think any team would really be approving of that situation unless they ultimately had no choice. Really, the Wings had to do it and had to welcome him back with open arms so that they didn't lose the him as an asset. If they made it known they disapproved he maybe never would have come back or if he did come back they would have had to trade him and gotten nothing in return. When he was coming back he had value because he was coming off of a productive year in the KHL and before that a productive year in the NHL. It would have been tough to swallow to get a late round draft pick, or worse waiving him, because Wings Management publicly showed their displeasure with the move to the KHL.

I would imagine that the majority of people on this board are tied to the Wings emotionally. I know I am. However, I do think that you should be able to view situations, such as Hudler's, objectively despite your emotionally attachment. At the time I wanted him to stay as much as the next fan but when he left I found out the circumstances (mostly because I was emotionally invested in the team and I wanted to know what happened) but I based my opinion on the facts not my emotions. Having blind hatred for the guy because he didn't do what you wanted him to do is a little immature in my opinion. That's not meant as an insult but more as a description of how a lot of the Hudler Haters come across on these boards. At the end of the day I'm 'cherry picking' why people hate the guy because a lot of the time it's being presented as one thing when in actuality it's another. As I said in the previous post if you hate the guy for how he plays then so be it. Hell, I don't even care if you hate the guy for leaving for the KHL but don't try to justify it with all kinds of inaccurate facts about the situation. If you want to hate him simply because he left and you wanted him to stay, even though that's 100% an emotional reaction that's fine too, but when people start shooting out all kinds of garbage that misrepresent the situation and condratict the scenario that's not cool. Everyone can obviously have their opinions and those opinions can be based on whatever the hell they want. But if people are going to fill this board with opinions and contradictory justifications other posters (such as myself) are going to respond by calling them on it and I think that's fair. If I did that I would imagine someone would call me on my s***. If you're biggest reason for wanting him gone is his sub-par play then that's cool. That's just not what was said in the first place. If you hate the guy simply for leaving, regarless of the circumstances, that's fine too. I'm not here to try and change your mind. Personally I'm not trying to say he should stay. I never said he was some 'phenomenal player' in the first place. Im just saying that in terms of your emotional hatred for the guy maybe if you had all the facts you would have understood why it played out the way it did.

Interpreting comments is one thing but being completely off base with what someone says is another. People on this board have looked for a reason to hate him since he went to the KHL simply because he went to the KHL. Using these comments as fuel to that fire is just another example. I personally don't care if you hate the guy or not but if you're going to hate him you should do yourself the service of at least doing it for the right reasons. If you don't understand the business side of hockey or even how the situation unfolded between Hudler, the Wings and the KHL then maybe, just maybe, you're reacting inappropriately to the fact the Hudler went to the KHL and didn't play for the Wings because you obviously don't understand what really happened. The Wings couldnt fit him under the cap that year and Hudler left for the KHL with their blessing and the intent to honor the arbitrator's contract upon returning to the NHL. Had he stayed with the Wings that year Holland would have had to move other players from the roster in order to keep him. So many people on this board grasp at straws when looking for reasons to hate him. If you want to hate him for his streaky play, his slow foot speed, his size, his roster spot, his lack of production this season, his cap hit then so be it. But when a player exercises his right to arbitration, then with the blessing of his team's management goes to the KHL only to return to the NHL to honor the SPC he signed with the NHL team the only reason other reason people hate him is because they're being emotional. If you hate him for the hockey player he is and you don't think he fits on the Wings then cool, so be it.

You're hearing members on forums wanting Kaberle and presenting them as rumors. Or, at the very best, you're hearing Eklund. Kaberle isn't coming here

I dont understand your love for Meszaros and why you constantly want to trade Stuart for him. I have nothign against Meszaros and wouldn;t even be opposed to him being on the Wings but I wouldnt be so quick to trade Stuart for him when the D already has holes to fill. Thank God someone else sees how crap Kaberle is. I live in TOronto and had to watch that piece of crap for years. He is awful (defensively). THe people on this board that constantly suggest signing him seriously need to watch him play. Did anyone not see that give away in Game 1 against Tampa? That's a typical play by him. Kaberle is soft, uninspired, he doesnt shoot the puck, and is about the farthest thing from a leader you'll find.

You can have a difference of opinion all you want; no one will stop you or ever say you can't. But at the same time all the posters who are reading your ridiculous comment about Cleary being trash can be of the opinion that your initial opinion is just about the stupidest, most uninformed comment they've ever read. You saying that you watched every game this year as some sort of back up as to why Cleary has 'progressively gotten worse' is a load of crap. Personally, I hope this 'progression' continues because that means he'll continue to bust his ass every shift, fill any role he's asked, and have another career year in goals and points. Wow, talk about putting words into someone's mouth. This is a perfect example of people reacting emotionally to Hudler leaving for the KHL and projeting their anger on to him as opposed to being objective about the situation. Nothing in his comments even suggested your interpretation let alone did he actually say that. You sound like an angry, jealous girlfriend who saw her boyfriend innocently talking to another girl and is throwing a fit. 'Well, if you like her so much why don't you just go date her and have sex with her you ******* cause you're never gettin any of THIS again!' You guys need to get over this crap

you mean by having a career year in goals and points? Ahhh, now I finally see your logic

I honestly can't understand how so many members to this forum make posts that are so emotionally based. I'm not saying you have to have the same opinion as I do but I keep reading all kinds of posts/threads that go on these emotional rants about players that have no justification as to the hatred. It seems like so many people on here can't look at players and their play objectively. Persaonlly I would like to see the Wings step up and get a defensemen and a top six winger if the cap should enable them to do so. I think Bertuzzi is better suited on the 3rd line and when needed he can step up and fill a 2nd line spot. I'll never understand the blind hatred for Holmstrom and people need to learn how to give credit where credit is due. His puck retrival skills are huge.