Doc Holliday

He was a +20 on a team that was at around an even goal differential for almost the entire season last year. He is a top 5 d-man. He deserves top-5 pay. Especially when there aren't that many elite defensemen in the league. Who would you take over him? Doughty? Keith? Pronger? The list pretty much ends there. Who is going to replace him when he is gone? You have to correctly understand the value of a player when discussing his cap hit. Supply and demand. Doesn't mean he isn't entitled to his money considering a much weaker Rafalski is being paid 6 mil. So you think he was overpaid in 08 whn he was being paid 7.4 mil and the team won a cup? Is it just me or is there something wrong with the logic of this man?

Keith is not and will never be more valuable than Lidstrom is in his career. That's called being one of the best defenseman to ever play the game.

Meh when it comes to the deal. Lidstrom is worth a lot but I was hoping for like a 4 mil deal. I can dream, can't I?

Hossa scored and I missed it? UGH

Kane's ******* mullet makes it so hard to cheer for the Hawks. BLECH

Guerin looks like a ******* assassin there. Jeebus.

Hossa is playing well as a role player, and considering how deep Chicago is I can't say that is a problem. But at the same time the Franzen contract seems to be looking good considering the great disparity in goal scoring between the two. Either way, I would have no problem with Hossa scoring a goal in each game and winning the cup. I am really pulling for him which is the only reason I am giving Chicago any support.

Does anyone miss Gary Thorne? Games like these would really be more electric for me if he was screaming after each goal.

I can't believe I'm getting excited over Hawks goals. I think I'm going to be sick.

The Maple Leafs have always played better toward the end of the season. Then they go back to ******* things up at the beginning of the season.

Just a lazy money grab. Nothing more to take from this move.

Lidstrom didn't have to be captain.

We were walking towards the ice at Novi (where one of Nick's sons played/plays) and Nick passed all of us on the way and even tapped our goaltender's pads and said good luck to him. The guy is a ******* inspiration.

The fewer points he scores the better the Franzen contract looks.

I hate it when people talk like they know the game like NHL players by talking about their own credentials. Give me a break.

Who says Jimmy D wanted the GM job? Holland isn't 75 years old. He is not even close to "overripe".

Holland had every right to keep that job. Yzerman had every right to take the job in Tampa. You would do the same thing if you preferred the lower job over the other. The only reason you say its selfish is because of the sentiment towards Yzerman.

My point Frozen is the Hawks did what every team does. The draft is the life-blood of hockey teams. The Hawks just were able to get it done quicker because they had more high draft picks, but their method was the same as the Wings, Pens, or whoever else.

How so?

I didn't change what you said. I said that teams have to suck to get important players. It takes good management however to get other players in the system to create a contender. The Hawks did that which is why their team is so deep. The analogy was fine. Teams that suck have a greater chance to get high draft picks and a greater chance to get important players. Yzerman was Detroit's. And Detroit built off that, albeit at a much slower pace. Chicago had important picks. And they built off that at a much faster pace due to the fact they had a greater propensity of high picks. However they still plugged in players who could get the job done. Adam Burish: 282nd overall Troy Brouwer: 214th overall Dustin Byfuglien: 245th overall Patrick Sharp: 95th overall Duncan Keith: 54th overall Brent Seabrook: 14th overall And don't forget the FA signings that are also on the team. They may not be a "model" franchise but they took the picks they had (without superstars like Malkin and Crosby) and were able to create a bonafide Stanley Cup team within only a few years.

Please no.

That must be really disheartening as a Leafs fan, considering how highly he was considered as a prospect.

Good for Stevie! I know who I'm rooting for in the East now.

Hossa. I want him to win it, and will personally be sporting an avatar of him with the chalice above his head if he ends up getting it.