mmamolo

Well, the way I understood the situation (if I'm remembering correctly) was that entering training camp Quincey wanted a full time spot and Holland said that by the end of camp and all the competition whoever (between him, chelios, lebda, and meech) least deserved would be waived. obviously they weren't waiving Chelios so it came down to one of the other three. I remember hearing that Meech out played him in camp and that could potentially be the case with Quincey failing his physical with Dallas. Maybe being waived and failing his phsyical woke him up. Who knows, maybe he wasn't approaching the game when in Detroit the same way he is now. But from what I remember Quincey didn't flat out ask to be released. I think Holland knew Quincey wanted to play and thus waived him because Babcock and the coaching staff didnt think he earned his spot on the roster.

ha well yeah. It seems like every time Lebda takes a step forward in his development two seconds later he takes two steps backwards. I feel like when Quincey was getting some time with the Wings he was already ahead then compared to where Meech is now. I'll just never understand why we'd hold onto Meech when he is so similar to Lebda when we had a very different and capable guy like Quincey as our other option.

ha yeah, well it's probably more a case of not caring compared to not knowing. I think Meech has been given ample opportunity (and Lebda for that matter) to grow into a more complete player and he hasn't. With the strides that Quincey has made with his opportunities in LA and Colorado I'd liek to believe he'd have made similar, or at least strong, strides had he still been in Detroit and gotten the opportunities Meech has gotten over the last year and a half.

I think he'll be back but I also think his price tag could have a lot to do with what happens with Lidstrom. If Nick returns at a discounted rate I could see Holmstrom following suit. It will be tough for any Wing looking for a new contract with the team to demand too much if Nick takes a big pay cut.

That is absolutely a very valid point. Obvisouly a change in scenario breeds new opportunities and challenges and Quincey answered the call in LA and Colorado. That being said, when Quincey did get playing time in Detroit at a young age he performed pretty well (all thigns considered) and I just felt as though keepign Meech over him was a mistake since Meech was such a similar defender to Lebda. Even if Quincey didnt develop into the player he is now I was more comfortable with him in our line up years ago at a very young age than I am today with either Meech or Lebda.

Even though Meech isn't very good it'll sting to lose him for nothing on waivers (if that's what happens) after chosing to keep him over Quincey who we also waived. I knew that one would come back and bite us in the ass.

Personally, I agree. But that doesnt mean that would happen. Lebda has the experience of playing consistently with this team for a few years now and he has been along for the ride on the last three deep playoff drives. Meech on the other hand has been paying his dues in this organization. He has seniority over Janik and maybe some feel for that fact alone he simply deserves it more than a journeyman defenseman like Janik. From strictly a hockey perspective, and from what I've seen so far this season, I can't udnerstand how Janik wouldn't get time over Lebda and Meech. For me, I think Janik fits a very similar role as Lilja did and if Lilja can't play then I think Janik rounds out our d-core so much better than Lebda and/or Meech just based on playing style. If we had Janik, Ericsson, Stuart, Kronwall, Lidstrom and Rafalski as our starting six we'd have three offensive minded puck moving guys with three steady, strong PK styled defenders. It just makes so much more sense in my mind.

That is something I truly don't understand. Why on earth would they have those two guys out there together for any reason. Not only would I rank them behind Lidstrom, Stuart, Kronwall, Rafalski, Ericsson, Lilja, and Janik on the depth chart but the biggest problem is they are too similar to play together. They share very similar weakness. Worst part is they share the same strengths - none. Even if we some how had two d-men in the box and had to have two pairings on the PK there is no reason to put them together. I would rather double shift someone any day of the week than have them on the ice at the same time.

Same here. I'd be far more comfortable with a top six of lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart, Kronwall, Janik, and Ericsson than anything with Lebda. I will say this though, I think Meech has done decently. I just think that Janik makes our d pairings that much more versatile.

Although I like that Ritola has been getting a good shot at soem time I probably would have sat him in favour of Leino. I think Leino looked better and scored a good goal for us. Although he was quiet against the Avs. I dont know, it's tough to say. Either way, May deserved to be in the line up tonight and it just makes sense.

Well, before Kronwall got hurt he was putting up very solid offensive numbers (5 goals, 8 assists, for 13 pts in 21 games). I think if one of the d-men in your top pairing is putting up approx 50 pts, you should be pretty pumped. But I do know what you're saying

I think this is exactly right. If Howard continues his play throughout the remainder of the season Osgood will have him breathing down his neck in the playoffs. As good as Conklin was last year Howard has really inspired confidence in his play.

For me he is easily one of the top 5 coaches in the game today. He's direct and rewards ppl for the right things. I think his view on rewarding the hardest working players in his line up is a formula for success, regardless of who is in the lineup at that particular time. I think he has done an unbelievable job this season with all of the injuries. I think the best part about him is that he is a no non-sense guy who is firm in the media and demands the most out of his players. He is the polar opposite of Lewis and I think his attitude and personality rubs off on our players and how they approach games.

It's true that Howard has played about 10 games more. Even with how impressed I have been by Howard I'd find it tough to say he's been better than Raask or Varlamov. Actually, it's kind of hard for me to say any one of the three have been completely better than the other two. Either way, with how good some of the other rookies have been in the league this season I doubt any of these three win the Calder. Hell, they may not even garner a nomination.

I think it's fair to say that Holmstrom is a consistent 20 goal scorer with the potential to reach the high 20's or even 30. It's true that you don't find many mid 20's goal scorers on the open market for around $2M/yr but I don't think that is really goign to be a factor in determining a new contract for Holmstrom in Detroit. A lot of ppl like to argue about players being on pace for goals and points but due to an injury they never made it. Although I do understand what is being said the fact is that player did get hurt and if he is prone to injuries that is something that should be noteworthy in contract negotations - as I think it was in the Todd Bertuzzi signing this summer. For me Holmstrom is absolutely worth every penny of his contract (this year) and I beleive he will be resigned at season's end. Also, with a guy like Holmstrom, who has spent his entire career with the Wings, I don't think we have to worry too much about him looking around on the open market. I think that Holland and Holmstrom will sit down and agree on a fair one or two year contract - my preference would be for one. I am a big fan of players, towards the end of their careers, working on one year deals. I think Holland and YZerman set a very smart precedent for this. In my mind Holmstrom resigns for one year at $1.6-1.8M. I also think we see the same idea happen for Lidstrom. One year deals here on out.

To get this thread's focus back on Jimmy Howard... Through 41 Red Wings games Howard's numbers are: 14 Wins, 8 Losses, 2 OTL 2.20 GAA .923 Save % 1 SO Also, through Howard's last 4 games: Detroit 4 Phoenix 1 - Howard W, 35 Saves on 36 Shots Detroit 4 Colorado 2 - Howard W, 20 Saves on 22 Shots Columbus 1 Detroit 0 - Howard OTL, 39 Saves on 40 Shots Detroit 2 Columbus 1 - Howard W, 28 Saves on 29 Shots

Apparently CapGeek.com has listed Alexander Semin as having resigned with the Washington Capitals for the 2010/2011 season. It's listed as a 1 year deal worth $6M and he'll become an Unrestricted Free Agent at the conclusion of next season. From my experience Capgeek.com has been a pretty reliable source but I found it strange that I hadn't heard about this extension any where else yet. Thoughts?

I'd say the Caps and Sharks. ANy caps game I watch seems to be wide open and free flowing. It's not like they can't play defense but the flow of their games seems to be geared towards offence first.

I'm really surprised Hudler didn't get the nod over some of those other choices

I wasn't trying to say that the Wings never let hoem grown talent go. Maybe I didn't word it too well but I was tryign to get across the fact that normally the Wings don't let talent go unless there is a significant reason. I think Kozlov is the only real example (in recent history) I can think of that goes against this. But as far as Primeau, Federov, Lapointe and Kopecky go there were significant reasons to say good-bye to each. Either way, you got the point. The Wings are a loyal organization. They are also one that rarely give up roster players for a potential rental player. Either way, I doubt Kovalchuk comes here.

Kopecky on the team is unny but for anyone who thinks Palffy can't still play may be wrong. Check out his stats: Zigmund Palffy - Hockeydb.com It may only be the Slovak league but those are big numbers none the less.

First, I realyl don't see LIdstrom retiring. Two, even if he did there is no way Kovalchuk comes to Detroit. Would I like it? Yeah sure, who wouldn't like it if we were simply talking the guy on yoru team and things like money, contract duration, and team depth didn't matter. For me, I would rather have the money spent in other ways and I think we've seen that historically with the Wings (post-cap). Secondly, the Wings don't give up on home grown talent. Very rarely in the last decade or two have we shipped out a home grown talent, with Slava Kozlov being the exception. Despite how well he has done in Atlanta that Scott Stevens hit really changed him and truth be told he had expired in Detroit. The Wings just aren't in the business of developing players like Filppula or Ericsson and shipping them out of town. Not to mention they aren't in the business of resurrecting careers of players like Cleary to also ship them out of town as one poster suggested. The Wings reward players who stick with them. They reward home grown talent who paid their dues in the AHL and who have worked their way into spots on their roster. With the exception of Hossa last year, who basically loved us off, I don't really expect to see any major free agent signings or trades coming to the Wings in the foreseeable future. The best we can hope for is a forward who can play alongside Datsyuk and a depth defensement to replace Lilja as his return from injury looks less and less likely as time goes on. I know that a lot of ppl aren't that fond of him but I wouldn't mind a guy like Frolov coming in to play with Datsyuk. I also wouldn't mind Hudler returning to the Wings. The way Bertuzzi has turned out thus far I definitely wouldn't mind him being brough back either. If he wasn't snake bitten in the goal department early this year his goal total would be even more impressive than it already is. Obviously it all depends on what some other forwards do. Hudler's return is a queston mark. Holmstrom returning is some what of a question mark. Whether we can get a guy like frolov to want to come is a question mark. I'd assume we'd have 2 of 3 work out for us and have a line up like: Frolov/Bertuzzi - Datsuk - Holmstrom Franzen - Zetterberg - Hudler/Bertuzzi Cleary - Filppula - Leino/Abdelkader Draper - Helm - Eaves Miller Something along those lines

That's definitely true. Both Flip and Franzen were expected to break out but had Hudler been resigned and played for the Wings this year I think the same expectations would have been placed on him. He had improved each year and it was also his turn to break out. Personally I think this comparison is a little ridiculous. Two totally different players, filling different needs, who play different styles. That being said, I think ppl over bash Hudler and don't give him the respect he deserved. That's not to say I liked what he did last summer but for ppl to say he had little to no impact on the team last year is just flat out wrong. He was a key cog in our 2nd PP unit and was a huge depth scorer for us. Hell, I wouldnt even call him a depth scorer (despite playing on the third line). He was 7th in team scoring and 5th among forwards behind only Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Hossa and Franzen.

Bertuzzi is definitely streaky but right now he heated up at the right time. As players filter back into the line up, if he goes cold, that will be fine. He has done a lot more than score some timely goals for us this season. He has shown no injjury problems as he hasn't missed a game yet, he's skated well, back checked well and created chances. Personally, at $1.5M I don't think there are many better around the league. Everyone, especially in the media, had a hard on for Samuelsson at the beginning of the season because he started so well. At this stage of the year I'd rather Bertuzzi. The point difference is basicalyl negligable. Samuelsson rarely uses his size to his advantage and at least we don;t have to see those god awful point shots from Samuelsson. We do have to give credit where credit is due though. Samuelsson is on pace for a career year right now in Vancouver. He is on pace for 22 goals and 30 assists. Is that worth $2.5M/yr? I don't know, I guess it depends on who you ask. I dont think that's even really a fair comparison. One makes $1.5M/yr while they other would have a cap hit of $2.85M/yr. One is 34 and the other is 25. One guy is a big(ger) body who can grind it out and also finish with a good set up man while the other is a skilled guy who can produce with few minutes. For me, I've always been a huge Hudler fan from when we drafted him. Last off season sucked the way things worked out. But to compare the two is really tough because they are two entirely different players at two entirely different stages of their careers. The simple fact that Hudler is younger and is continuing to improve would suggest he'd be the easy choice. That being said, would Hudler be excelling if he were on this team and healthy with all of these injuries? I dont know. Look what he did with top line minutes early last year. It's all apples and oranges and a big guessing game.

It sounds like ppl would have wanted what they didnt have in any case. Had Mursak been called up there would have been ppl saying he didn't deserve it and they may as well have called up Ritola. At the end of the day it's a pretty lateral move and they're doing it to get a different look at a different player. They've always done things like this. They want each of their prospects to get a couple of games udner their belt when they can. Personally, I dont think there were many ppl who were absolutely 100% against an enforcer. I think they just wanted an enforcer who could actually play a little bit and that's why when May was signed ppl haven't had a problem with him. I like skilled guys as much as the next but I wasn't and am not opposed to having guys with grit and a willingness to fight in our line up - so long as they can skate and move the puck a little bit. This is how the Wings have been for the better part of the last say 15 years or so. THe Shanahan's, McCarty's etc were guys who could fight when they wanted/needed to but they could also play too.