mmamolo

SO what you're saying is that although in the last 5 games we've averaged 4 goals per game in the 5 games before that we only scored 13 (an average of 2.6). I'm much more comfortable only focusing on our previous 5. It gives me an inflated sense of confidence. Although I have to say that I am very happy with the points per game paces that Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Lidstrom, and Rafalski are on over the last 20 games. You need your stars to be your stars down the stretch.

yeah I would see Brown as being a younger vesion of Morrow with more offense. Yeah Kane wouldn't fit in the top 9 but in my eyes he'd fall in the same category as Stamkos and Carter. They've got great offensive upside and are worth considering. Since they are so young it would be great to get them that experience but right now there are guys that are producing the same (or better) that have more winning experience so they'd fall short. It's tough for guys like Carter and Stamkos to compete with captains and stanley cup winners. Personally, despite how they may have performed, I could have done without the likes of Marleau and Bergeron but that's just my opinion. Even Thornton isn't a big game performer in my eyes but hey, it worked out so what do I have to complain about?

I think Parise for sure. I also think Suter would have been given some thought over Seabrook. As good as Seabrook is I don't necessarily think he brought a different component to the team that wasn't already there. The fact you could dress all 13 forwards and all 7 defensemen every game made me think a guy like Mike Green would have made more sense over Seabrook even if he was used almost strictly on the PP. I also think Dustin Brown and Patrick Kane would have been given some thought but would have come up just short. There are just too many good Canadians who were already left off like Jeff Carter and Steven Stamkos.

Datsyuk has 21 pts (8g 13a) in his last 18 games Zetterberg has 21 pts (8 g 12a) in his last 20 games Franzen has 5 pts (4g 1a) in his last 7 games since returning since injury Lidstrom has 20 pts (7 g 13a) in his last 20 games Rafalski has 9 pts (1g 8a) in his last 10 games

The only knock I have against Lilja is sometimes I wish he'd protect himself a little bit better out there against some big hits. It seems like he leaves himself away from the boards a little bit and he ends up getting crushed. It happened in the 2nd period in the Chicago game. Not only is it s***ty for him but it's a momentum thing too. Other than that, the previous poster hit the nail on the head, since the 07 give away to Selanne he has turned into a great value. Sure he has his miscues and such but at the price he provides an awful lot of return. I would absolutely hate to see him leave this team.

Earlier in the season I would have agreed that I wouldnt think that either Kindl or Ericsson would have been used next year as a 7th defenseman but with the way things are going with Ericsson at the moment I wouldnt necessarily rule that option out. I think Ericsson's rookie season is going to open everyone's eyes a little bit and remind everyone of the struggles that an NHL rookie defenseman season brings. I think the stretch drive and any playoff games we may play will play a big role in determining what the Wings do in terms of bringing Lilja back. Ericsson has struggled big time and there is no guarentee that he turns it around in one off season and there is no guarentee that Kindl doesnt have the same struggles next season. Having a steady, veteran pressence on the back head that can kill penalties and block shots like Lilja would go a long way. Splitting time between Kindl and Ericsson next season wouldnt be the worst thing in the world. Especially considering they'll be making approx 900k each which isn't too insane for a 6th and 7th. It's more than you'd like but it's not crazy. Also, seeing as Lilja missed a year he certainly won't be getting a raise - he may even re-sign at $1M (although that could be wishful thinking).

Yaa!! Greenman!!!

The travel issue is a very good point to make and I think the Wings proved that Huet can be exposed. If the Wings continue to pull things together down the stretch, and we're seemingly on the right path right now, it would set the stage for a nice rematch of last year's WCF. The only problem is I really think the Hawks are the deepest and most well rounded team in the West. They have four lines they can roll and they can all chip in goals. I think a lot of it would depend on how our goaltending holds up. If Howard (or Osgood for that matter) plays like he has most of the season and provides a solid back end then we could end up doing well but if his rebound control falters and the Hawks score goals to get themselves back in games like they did on Sunday we could be in trouble. In a series against a deep team like the Hawks we couldn't afford to blow a game like we almost did on Sunday.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Butterscotch!

In this order: 1. San Jose - They have yet to prove anything in the playoffs and have perennial choke artists in Marleau and Thornton. Plus Nabakov has never really proven to be a big game goaltender either with his latest display being the Canada/Russia Olympic game. 2. Chicago - So far this season the Wings have a decent record against the Hawks and have played them closely. We all know about the Hawks goaltending situation. Personally I would fear the Hawks offense more than the Sharks and I think they have more to prove against the Wings as we beat them in the WCF last year. 3. Vancouver - Luongo. Simple as that. Everyone knows that a goaltender can steal a series. That fact should be even more present in all of our minds this season seeing as the Wings offense has had its fair share of struggles this year. Of these three teams Luongo is by far the strongest goaltender could give the Wings the hardest time. What would be more interesting to see, in my opinion, is COlorado overtaking Vancouver for the division and the Wings sneaking over Vancouver for 6th in the conference and setting up a Colorado/Detroit first round series. Not only woudl it revisit the old rivalry but I personally think these two teams match up pretty well and it would be an entertaining series to watch. It's possible...but unlikely.

That is an insult to pylons

Well, it's pretty tough to 'improve' on a Conference Final in '07, a Stanley Cup Championship in '08 and a Stanley Cup Appearance in '09. Even the Penguins who have a Championship and a SC appearance the last two years would still be jealous of the success we've had the last three years. I do agree, Holland is far from perfect, but damn how greedy can we get?

ha you said it. It's just annoying though, it seems like ppl think either you have to love Holland or hate Holland. Personally I tend to like him but that doesn't mean I agree with every single move he has or hasn't made over the years. You can agree and disagree with things he has done and will do. As I have said a couple times today, if I were him I would be looking to try to put something together to get a winger (with Afinoganov and Ponikarovsky as my targets) if the price is right. If not, I'd be comfortable moving forward. I'd be willing to consider a package made up of a combination of the following: Lebda, Meech, Williams, pick, mid level prospect. Burke is willing to take on salary (especially if it is expiring this summer) to get a pick that he likes so if coupled with a prospect that could work. If Holland thinks Ponikarovsky is worth that then so be it. Waddel may be willing to move Afinoganov, who is probably not too happy that Kovalchuk was moved, and at 800k it wouldn't take too much salary leaving to make that happen. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing a third line of Miller - Filppula - Afinoganov in Detroit.

It's a love/hate thing. They'll love you one second and hate you the next depending on what you do. For everyone screaming for him to make a move if he were to make a movie and mortgage part of future and he did it they'd lvoe him for the excitement today. Then if we got bounced in the first round they'd turn on him for mortgaging our future and hate him come May. Same thing works backwards. They'd hate him for not making a move and being boring today but if we went all the way and won the cup they'd love him in June for being boring in March.

tsn.ca SENATORS ACQUIRE DEFENCEMAN SUTTON FROM ISLANDERS

I think we're saying somethign similar here because in my post I flat out said I have not and am not saying Holland is god. The same way you are saying that you don't like how ppl only focus on the good that Holland does I don't like that some ppl only focus on the bad that Holland does. I do think Holland has made some mistakes as I outlined in a previous post. I even mentioned Cory Cross by name. All I was saying was that he doesn't deserve the slack some ppl give him. He is not god but he's still one of the best GMs in the game. Sometimes the best move to make is not making any move at all. That being said, I am with you, with our current situation I do think moving one of assets on the blueline for a winger makes sense. If it were me I would try to package Meech or Lebda with a pick and possibly even Williams for a winger. I would be targeting Afinoganov or Ponikarovsky

Ya absolutely. There's just no way to retain everyone. It's a product of the cap world. As you know it's why we had to replace Hossa, Samuelsson, Hudler, and Kopecky with Bertuzzi, Williams, Eaves, and Miller.

According to Capgeek.com if a trade goes down on March 3 (deadline day) there are 40 days left to be applied to a players salary of the year's total applicable days (193) in a season. Therefore, 40/193=20.725% So I would think 300k would equal closer to $1.5M but ya it's probably somewhere in between $1.4-$1.5M

Not trying to be rude but that's obvious. We'd have to move Williams + Lebda + 2nd + prospect to make it happen. Not sure if I'd make that move but that'd be what it would take from Burke's end I would think

I hear you....but compared to the seasons that Afinoganov (60GP 19G2 7A 46P) and Ponikarovsky (61 GP 19G 22A 41P) are having would you really rather keep Williams? Don't get me wrong, I wouldnt be too pumped to move a pick but player for player in my mind there's no question

Yeah I definitely agree with that. The Johnsson/Barker trade is a perfect example of what we're talking about. That trade was a lateral move for the present. It keeps them very competitive today but gives them flexibility this summer because Johnsson will walk and that'll give the Hawks some cap space. Plus the Hawks gave up a prospect in that deal. That deal instantly made their blueline weaker going into next season. Plain and simple. We're on the same page when it comes to the Hawks. Their core is in tact and they'll be a good team for the foreseeable future but this is their year - it's make or break time

Yeah I would tend to agree. I can understand why they'd want to move Huet - obvioulsy - but to with their attitude that this year is their best shot why go into the playoffs with Niemi and Toivinin. It jsut doesn't make sense to me. I can't imagine that's the plan. I think a plan that makes more sense would be to move Huet and get someone like Turco - someone with some playoff experience to even serve as the backup to Niemi or possibly even the starter who knows- who'll become a UFA this summer. To me that makes a hell of a lot more sense. You get a quality guy now and cap flexibility this summer.

As far as I know, cap wise it's not enough. Lebda ($650k) for Afinoganov ($800k) But ya I think Afinoganov is the more logical move

Agreed. I use this goal as my example any time this conversation comes up. There is zero consistency in this regard. It's a joke and too many times these phantom calls too bite teams in the ass. The intent to blow the whistle call, that cost Brad May a goal against Dallas, did in fact end up costing the Wings the game. or at least a chance at the game.

Would you prefer to see Jason Williams + pick or prospect sent to Atlanta for Afinoganov so that we could have Miller - Filppula - Afinoganov as our 3rd and then have May brought back up as our 13th forward? Or would you rather see Williams + Lebda + pick + prospect sent to Toronto for Ponikarovsky and then have our second lines be something like Franzen - Datsyuk - Holmstrom, Bertuzzi - Zetterberg - Ponikarovsky, Miller - Filppula - Cleary? Obviously this is assuming Waddel and Burke would go for these trades