mmamolo

Williams has done really well for the Wings so far this season so I wouldnt say it was a wasted signing but I absolutely do agree that last night he looked really bad. He was slow, soft on the puck and caused some turnovers. I really didn't like his game last night. That being said, up until now he has done pretty well. He's gotten some points and skated well most nights. Everyone is entitled to an off game every now and then.

Last night we absolutely got some bounces. Osgood played very well too. Personally I think Meech and Lebda also had much strogner games than normal and that would make a difference. Also Janik played really well last night too. Our team defence was there and thigns came together. I don't think it was really much of a comment on Ericsson being out.

I know it's still obviously super early but I was just lookin gover some cap numbers and I know everyone has been saying how bad a shape Chicago is going to be in but I just sat down and actually looked at it and it is far, far more terrible than I had realized. The Hawks have $14.25M in cap space next summer with only 12 players signed. While the Wings have $16.1M in space with 13 players signed. Upcoming UFAS: Chicago: JOhn Madde, Adam Burrish, Andrew Ebbett Detroit:Tomas Holmstrom, Todd Bertuzzi, Jason Williams, Kirk Maltby, Brad May, Nicklas Lidstrom, Andreas Lilja, Brett Lebda Upcoming RFAS: Chicago: Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Colin Fraser, Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Jordan Hendry, Antti Niemi Detroit: Justin ABdelkader, Darren Helm, Patrick Eaves, Derek Meech The biggest difference between these two scenarios is obviously the expectged money the free agents are expected to get. While both teams will undoubtedly have to trim some ppl from their current roster it will be far more difficult for Chicago to resign their key free agents (Kane, Toews, Keith) and their second tier free agents (Burrish, Ladd, Eager, Fraser, Hjalmarsson, Niemi) than it will be for Detroit (Lidstrom) (Abdelkader, Helm).

I think we saw early indications of the lines in last night's games. This isn't necessarily what I would do but I think we'll see: Bertuzzi - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Cleary - Zetterberg - Williams Leino - Draper - Eaves Maltby - Helm - May/Abdelkader I think Eaves showed some good drive for the net last night and may get a chance to elevate his game by getting some extra minutes. Plus his speed and forecheckign skills will mix nicely with Draper and Leino. I also think we'll continue to see the D pairings changed up from the norm. Lidstrom - Kronwall Stuart - Rafalski Ericsson - Lebda With Ericsson getting some time with Lidstrom

I dont blame Babcock for his shootout lineup as each of Williams, Datyusk and Zetterberg have solid career % in shootouts. That being said I am all for going with the hot hand. I knwo a lot of ppl will disagree but with the game Eaves had I would have seriously considered putting him in. Bertuzzi also looked dangerous last night. Although Zetterberg had a strong game last night he didn't look as dangerous, goal scoring wise, as Eaves or Bertuzzi so I probably would have switched him out for one of them and then had Zetterberg in mind to go fourth if thigns went that far.

have to give credit where credit is due...it showed a lot of character to comeback again like this. Despite losing in the shootout we should be pleased with tonight considering how ti started

Howard was a beast in the last minute there

Eaves looked dangerous there

howard just came up big time

how huge of a game is Patrick Eaves having!?

how is that not goaltender interference?

we've been carrying the play the bulk of the game but edmonton was getting the bounces early on based on some poor rebound control by Howard and some sloppy turnover. This period we're taking it to them and we're being rewarded with some goals.

there we go Bertuzzi...he finally got what he deserved

my god, finally. How hard do we have to work to score some goals here. This game could easily be tied right now

we just cant buy a goal

the far post too...we cant buy it right now...it seems like we've hit a ridiculous number of posts so far this season

damn it...that was a filthy pass by Datsyuk. Leino is snake bitten lately too

That terrible pass to rafalski that caused the breakaway goal was not one of those minutes....but i would tend to agree

As good as Filppula has been thus far this season he has been weak on the puck on a few plays tonight. Hate to see him hurt though. He's looked great the majority of time. Plus, in all fairness everyone looks like s*** tonight.

I'll give back the Lions one victory to have the Wings actually show up and play hard two games in a row

finally Howard looked comfortable making a save Absolutely everyone looks out of sinc right now

It's not likely to happen but something has got to give. Our D hasn't been the same since Todd Mc left for San Jose

I have to tend to agree with that comment about the forwards. Especially about Bertuzzi being snake bitten. He's played very well on both sides of the puck (despite his -6 rating) and it's only a matter of time before the puck starts going in for him but so far he hasn't had any luck. Same can be said for a few guys. Leino has been quiet the last number of games as well. For me, I really thnk if they keep working hard and creating chances these guys will start putting up the numbers they are capable of. I still believe both Leino and Bertuzzi will end up with at least close to 20 a piece.

I cant realyl see that Huet situation panning out but I guess it is an option. As for Campbell, by no means do I think he is pure s***, but at that cap hit who do you think would be willing to take him? Let alone for soem picks or whatever.

Although I understand the Salary Cap was put in place to further create competition and to make it harder for the same teams to stay at the top year after year it does still bother me that succesful franchises are punished for being run properly. There were some very good points about how the Wings have managed to produce players from the draft while rarely, if ever, having a solid to high first round pick. It does make sense to increase competition in this league but it is unfair to simply punish teams for succeeded and to reward teams for failing (other than high draft picks). Personally, I thoguht from day 1 that if there was a cap that a luxury tax should be introduced. I know a lot of ppl dislike it because the rich teams can stay at the top and so on but at the end of the day if you introduce the luxury tax now that there is paridy in the league it would be more effective. Teams are rewarded financially with long playoff runs where they are able to gross well over a Million dollars per home playoff game. Considering Detroit's economy at the moment a luxury tax wouldn't even necessarily be that advantageous to them so I'm not being biased towards the Wings but it just makes sense. Plus, the league can spread the luxury tax money around the league to the other franchises or pocket it to make up for our weak tv deal. Either way, the league as a whole benefits financially. Finally, I absolutley like the idea of a drafted player salary reduction. Personally I think 50% is was too high but the idea is solid none the less. What this would also do is encourage players to remain with their drafted team as they would then be able to afford to pay them more than competing teams in the open market. It would encourage players to spend their careers with one team and allow fans to get attached, increasing merchandise sales etc. I think somewhere in between 5 and 50% would work. For me I'm thinking like 15% or something. The actual number doesnt really matter at this stage but I do like the idea.