mmamolo

I believe this is the last season that Cleary has a full No Trade Clause. I think next year it becomes a limited No Trade Clause where 30 days before the deadline it becomes lifted and the Wings are free to trade him. Just thought I'd point out that his NTC isn't full for his entire contract

As unfair as it is teams play differently in front of different goalies. Goalies instill confidence in players and maybe Hasek gave the team the ability to go out and produce offensively while when Cujo was in net they had to play a more defensive style. Whether that's true or not I don't know - Im speculating. But it's similar to this past season. When Osgood was in net and letting in goals the D would have to tighten up. WHen Howard was in net and making the saves he should the Wings could go out and do what they had to in the offensive zone. It's not always about quantity of saves - it's more about quality sometims.

That is absolutely nuts. No way Holland moves players to make room for really young, undeveloped guys who have minor league options. If by some chance Tatar and Smith really are that ready to play on the Wings it they'll get their chances as injuries happen throughout the year. No way is Kindl bumped. He'll be given his chances (he'll have his hurdles to get over) and that's why Holland signed Salei so that Kindl wouldnt have to be depended on every single game. Both Tatar and Smith need seasoning and developing in GR. Even if they show some amazing progress in training camp it'll be similar to Kindl a few years ago

There is always a lot of debate over 1 and 2 way deals. Yes, a 2 way deal means that a players gets paid an NHL salary while with the NHL club and an AHL salary with the AHL club. However, on top of that if a player who is out of minor league options is on a 1 way deal he must go through waivers each and every time he is sent down and re-entry waivers each and every time he is called up. Players on 2 way deals only need to clear waivers *once* in the season and then can be called up and sent down without the possibility of being claimed through waiver. The way it would work for the Wings and Maltby is after camp the Wings would send Maltby down when every other teams roster is all but set and the chances of anyone picking him up are all but zero. He'd clear waivers and then the Wigns would be free to make use of him whenever they'd want.

Thats absolutely the way it will be. Kindl and Ericsson will battle for ice time all year long while players are healthy. When ppl get hurt they'll both get a chance to play. I think some ppl around here are disappointed with this signing more because it means we don't get Mitchell than actually with Salei himself. I like Salei and think he brings a lot to this team and will work out great. But that doesnt mean when I first saw the news that I didn't get a little pissed. As unrealistic as the cap situation may have been to get Willie Mitchell it still seemed so much more enticing than Ruslan Salei especially with the possibility of retaining Mitchell beyond this year if the inevitable happens with Lidstrom retiring. If the Mitchell rumors had never been around I would have been pumped to read about the Salei signing. Now that it's had some time to set it I'm feeling that way. He rounds out our D corps very well and will surprise a lot of ppl on this board come this season.

With all of the rumors surrounding Willie Mitchell I know everyone would love to see that (despite the money not really making sense). Personally, I'd like to see a guy like Jay McKee. He's cheap, block shots and has accepted his role as a 6th/7th guy. Plus he's got the experience we'd want.

I wanted Lidstrom back no matter what and the fact we had to pay $6.2M to get him I am fine with that. But at the end of the day, even getting him at $6M would have made this much easier.

Problem is some ppl just skim the thread and post responses without bothering to actually take in any information. Ppl need to understand that the Wings are lookign to sign another forward and a defenseman. If they find who they want for the mney they want they'll get signed. If that happens ppl will be moved/waived to make the roster spots. If those players aren't found Holland has stated he's comfortable with who we have. He's basically posturing and not giving up any leverage to anyone. Let's face facts, we all know Holland wants either a scoring 3rd line centre or a ruggid 4th line winger. It's that simple. Plus a 6th d. He seems to like Janik and ultimately he may end up on the roster but if you can sign a McKee for $1M you take it and Janik gets bumped back to GR.

Everyone seems to be getting hung up on the number of players we have or will have signed once Helm, Abdelkader and Meech re-sign. Everyone should realize that the re-signing of Meech (and depending on what happens maybe even Miller) will be done to retain assets. If Modano, or another forward, can be signed at the moment we'd have 15 forwards going into camp. But that doesn't matter because someone would be moved. If Modano signs that most likely means Miller is moved/waived. It's the same for a defenseman. If we pick up someone like McKee then Meech will be moved/waived. Even when looking at our cap number ppl should realize there is wiggle room. You have to be cap complaint at the start of the season but while we attempt to sign another forward and a d-man I believe we can go over the cap by 10% in the summer. So say Modano is signed for $1M and then we move Miller our current cap number only increases by 350k. So don't get hung up by roster size and the cap number. They're not true numbers until everything is set in stone - which isn't until opening day of the season.

Anyone else think Jay McKee would be a decent pick up if he were to sign for a similar amount as last year (850k)? Not sure if he'd do it as he was collecting his buyout money from St. Louis but as a shot blocking 6th d-man - thoughts?

I absolutly do see the need to add some grit as most everyone on this board seems to say and Ken Holland has mentioned in a few articles but personally I think Modano would work pretty nicely here as an alternative. It would keep Abdelkader on the 4th line and force the Wings to most likely ship out either Miller or Ritola (most likely Miller). If you could sign Modano for $1M (I dont know if that's possible or not - if it's not then forget it) then you're really only spending an additional say 400k over Miller's potential salary of say ~600k. I think lines like the following would work really well. Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom Bertuzzi - Filppula - Franzen Hudler - Modano - Cleary Abdelkader - Helm - Eaves Draper, Ritola It also gives you the opportunity to shift Bertuzzi, Cleary, and Hudler around based on how those lines are all working at any given time. Modano could also see some PP time on the second unit. I think when Abdelkader and Helm are skating, crashing and banging they make up a very good 4th line tandem. They aren't the biggest guys in the world and aren't going to strike fear but they can be very effective. Add Eaves into the mix, when he is playing well, and I think we have a pretty dynamic 4th line that can skate, forecheck, and chip in some goals.

I'll conceed that potentially COliacovo has evolved a little bit but hoenstly, watching Exelby play in the bottom pair in Toronto was a nightmare. When he took the body it was good but honestly, it was pretty rare. This guy turned the puck over constantly when there was zero pressure on him. Despite playing for a s*** team like the Leafs he could barely stay in the line up. Not to mention he was overpaid. Honestly, I can't tell you how painful as a fan of hockey it was to watch this guy struggle as badly as he did. It was like getting kicked in the nuts repeatedly

Reasons not to have SPezza in Detroit: 1. Grossly overpaid 2. Good regular season stats but poor playoff performer. He's basically a s***tier, even less physical version of Joe THornton 3. No Heart 4. No Defensive Ability 5. 5 years left on his insane deal 6. Huge wuss - everyone on this site complains that the Wings are soft...this guy would make us WAY softer

I live in Toronto so I've had a chance to watch both Coliacovo and Exelby play...obviously COliacovo has since moved on but I don't understand the love for these two guys. THey are both overrated and trust me, within a month of them being here everyone would snap. THey turn the puck over constantly. If you think Ericsson was a turnover machine last year you'd be blown away at what these guys would do.

While there's nothing wrong with your salary estimates (and they very well could end up being right) in my opinion they're a little high - except fo Lidstrom. We just saw Ritola signing a 3 year deal @ 525k/yr. Honestly, I used to think LIdstrom would be at that $4.5-5M/yr range but now I really dont know so in my mind it's a crap shoot. But now way does Bertuzzi get $2.5M/yr. I think it's $1.75/yr tops. IF Lilja returns you're probably spot on with your $1M/yr estimate. As for Helm and Eaves I'm not entirely sold on them getting $1M/yr each but this one really could end up being right but I'd imagine it's more in the 800-850k/yr ball park.

ALthough both would be tough to get my top two ideal choices would be Ladd and Clarkson - even though they're probably pretty unrealistic. Although the Hawks may be forced to let Ladd go - just doubt they'd let the Wings have him. I'd imagine the Hawks qualify all of their RFAs and then either waive or trade them as their cap situation moves forward.

Like Detroit having to go to Phoenix...or San Jose Is it me or shouldn't the cumulative East vs. West record equally reflect the West vs. East record? Persaonlly I think there's parity in this league but that doesnt mean the conferences are balanced. No one can say that the Eastern Conference is anywhere near as good as the West. Even if the East were able to end up with a cumulative winning record in the regular season against the west I still wouldn't necessarily be sold - but that clearly wasnt the case. Look at the point totals from this season and look at the rosters of the teams. The West is a powerhouse compared to the East. You may end up with an Eastern SC Champ and that's all fine and good. Anything can happen in a SC finals series but that doesn't prove superiority despite what a lot of jackasses may say (in terms of conference superiority). THe problem is the NHL, as a league, can't really do much to control the balance of power between conferences. General Managers sign, trade and manage their teams how they desire. At the end of the day, it's almost kind of sad (from the NHL's perspective) that the West is so much stronger. The fact that so much of the NHL's audience base is out of the East it would be so much more beneficial to have more stars and better teams in the Eastern conference. That would create more exposure, more merchandise sales, more ticket sales, etc. etc.

I think eventually Abdelkader will be our 3rd line centre (ahead of Helm) but I kind of see Helm starting ahead (on the depth chart) jsut based on the fact he played all season with the Wings last year. During Abdelkader's stint last season he didn't exactly thrive and his numbers were weak. I think you let him get his feet wet and let him embrace his role and move up at his own pace. That being said, there will be a lot of line juggling going on with the bottom six anyways that it really doesnt matter. Wellwood is a joke. He is soft as s***. I watched him in Toronto for years and saw enough Canucks games to know he is a waste of space despite what numbers he did put up. Ppl always cry about soft euros on this site and now ppl want to bring in a soft canadian? He's a joke. Now, Ladd I would go for in a second. He might make a bit more money than I'd like but I think he'd be an awesome fit for this team.

Yesterday I voted to stick with Howard and today my vote stays the same. I know most, or at least some, of you have said 'why not, throw Osgood in' and I get that. But to me, you've gone with Howard this whole time and this is where he gets his lumps. He knows as much as anyone that that 3rd goal last night essentially stopped the Wings from being back in this series. He's going to learn the hard way. Look at the bigger picture here. Either Hwoard goes out there in Game 4 and responds well, puts a solid game together when the chips are on the table or he stands there with his head up as the final buzzer goes and he learns what it feels like to be eliminated on home ice in the playoffs. He needs to be a man and take his lumps. This will be a major lesson in his career. It will drive him to work his ass off this summer and it will make him want it that much more. I don't think you let him off the hook that easily by sitting him. I also don't think you throw Osgood to the wolves now either. You've stuck with Howard all the time. You live by the sword and you die by the sword. This is where Howard becomes a man and officially learns how to be our goalie of the present, not of the future anymore.

Even though I don't think Zetterberg actually 'kicked' the puck, under the current rules that goal should not have counted. I think they need to ammend the rule - just as the media was saying here in Canada on TSN. The Holmstrom call was insane, just as the one late in the 3rd period was. I do not understand how any hockey fan watching this series can objectively say that the Wings aren't getting screwed a little. Obviously the Sharks are getting a few bad calls too but the Wings are getting terrible calls go against them at terrible times and way, way too often. The officiating is turning me off so much so (even in other non-red wings games) that it's becoming hard to watch.

I think ppl need to calm down and take a step back for a minute. Even if LIdstrom were to retire we still have an excellent core in place that in its prime with Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, and Filppula up front while Stuart and Kronwall man the point. It's true that Kronwall hasn't had the best POs this year but he is still a great d-man. Howard will be one year older with that much more experience. We'll add more pieces to the puzzle. This team has always been in the thick of things (for the last 20 odd years) and they aren't going anywhere soon. The media and other teams fans can talk all they want about the end of an era and the demise of the Red Wings but it's all fantasy b.s. It's just like 9 times out of 10 going into the POs ppl talk about how the Wings are too old and too slow and how Osgood could never get the job done. The Wings have been the envy of the league for 20 years and this year we've integrated more youth into our lineup and we'll continue to move forward. No team, no matter how dominate you are, can make it to the Conference Finals year after year without getting burnt out. In the last 3 post seasons the Wings have played approximately 70 games. That's almost a full extra season. We got our young guys some experience and we overcame a ton of adversity this year. We'll be stronger for it. Plus, despite the odds being against us, we're not out yet.

That may be the sneakiest/funniest thing I have ever heard. But we all know the Wings don't operate that way.

This is spot on. Completely, 100% accurate. Anyone who thinks Howard is @ fault for either of the last two goals is borderline handicapped.

If you, or anyone else, think that refs and the league don't try to have PP time end up roughly even at the end of the day you're dreaming. Take a look at the stats. They are almost always within a close proximity. It's jsut the way it's done. The thing you have to remember is that the way they achieve this isn't to create calls that aren't just happening when one team has taken far more penalties than the other. During the course of a game there are penalties happening constantly. There are some that the refs have no choice but to call (i.e. puck over the glass in the d-zone, drawing blood with a high stick etc.) but there are also the hooks, interference etc that the refs simply pick and choose when and where to call. Over the course of the game they'll decide based on the momentum and flow of the game when to pick out those offenses. Some plays will slide and others won't. That's why every now and then you'll see a ticky tack hooking penalty get called. That's also why you'll see games that are 5-1 with 10 mins in the 3rd have a parade of players go to the box even though the offenses aren't crazy. It's all a numbers game. They want to be able to say when the games and series' are done that things were fair. The refs will point to the stats and and hide behind the PP time and oppotunity. The problem is the stats don't show the how and when of these penalties and how they affect the flow and momentum of a game.

(Excerpted - cleaned up) (1) D Slashing - Howard - ticky tack call. If you want to make that call at the one minute mark of the game then make that call the next 150 times it happens throughout the game. They never continued to do so the rest of the night so that makes this call bogus. (2) D Goaltender Interference - Abdelkader -- Nabokov initiates contact and flops. Bogus (3) SJ Slashing - Heatley -- Not the hardest slash in the world but a slash none the less. Legit (4) D Cross check - Datsyuk -- cross check to the back without the puck. Legit (5) SJ Boarding - Marleau -- was a hit on the numbers but not nearly hard enough to earn a penalty. Bogus (6) D Goaltender Interference - Bertuzzi -- little to no contact was made between the players. All of the contact that was made in this case was initiated by the SJ defenseman. Bertuzzi was pushed in. Bogus. (7) D Interference - Stuart -- Nichol does a bit of a flop here (if you can call it that) but really he felt the stick and crashed hard because of what Stuart did. Legit (8) SJ Interference - Murray -- Stuart was crashing the crease and Murray creamed him into. Stuart did a bit of what Nichol did in drawing the attention of the ref but really he felt the pressure and hit pretty good. Legit (9) D Holding - Bertuzzi -- Slight nudge on the hip and the Vlasic flops like a jackass and the ref buys it. Terrible call. Bogus (10) D Slashing - Cleary --No choice but to make this call. Gets called every single time. Legit. (11) D Tripping - Filppula --Unfortunate timing but gets called each time. Legit (12) SJ Goaltender Interference - Stuart pushes Heatley into the goaltender. Heatley didn't do a ton to avoid the contact but I thought he made some effort. Point is Stuart initiated all of the contact, not Heatley. This was a joke of a call. bogus. (13) D Too many men on the ice - Bench -- Filppula was going for a change. He then saw the Sharks would have scored the empty net goal so he turned around, after Holmstrom already stepped on the ice, and he stopped Heatley (I think) from proceeding. Legit. Detroit penalties: Valid calls: 5, Bogus calls: 4 San Jose penalties: Valid calls: 2, Bogus calls: 2