ogreslayer

I think they'll be on the outside looking in as well. It's not so much the health of players like Cleary, The Todd, or Sammy that concerns me, it's whether or not Pavs & Howie stay healthy for the entire 48.

Does that mean they can play the Swedish Chef theme every time one of the Swedes score?

I disagree. It all depends on the context in which you use the word "dope". For example: "One must be a dope to think that Emmerton is more than a healthy scratch when the Wings have their full compliment of forwards available." It works in that context right?

Brun-sen Burner

Try this one: http://betaplayer.radio.com/player/talk-radio-1270-wxyt

A few thoughts: To lose a player on waivers to bring in Redden would be a waste of resources. Use those resources instead (Emmerton, Mursak, or Kindl) to package with picks and/or prospects to bring in a proven NHL quality d-man to help the bottom pairing now. It's a 48 game season. Every game counts & if you get off to a slow start, your season my very well be over. Can you take the chance on giving regular ice time to a guy who hasn't proved he can hack it in the NHL since the 2007-08 season? Redden hasn't played since last season as he's not on the Whale's AHL roster this year. How many regular season games can you afford to give him to get into playing shape? At this point, Smith brings far greater value to the big club's lineup than Redden can. Hell, Mike Commodore would bring more value than Redden at this point. Two way deal? No, there will be some team (Islanders) that will give him a 1 way contract & a roster spot. Let him sign somewhere else.

And we have to one day realize that putting on a Wing jersey doesn't make any player automatically better. Look better? Yes, because it's the best looking jersey in all of sports. Play better? Hardly. If in any other year, where there was a full training camp, sure bring him in & see what he can do. If he can't hack it, send him packing to GR. There isn't that luxury this season so that means bringing him in to start the regular season. That would be at the risk of losing a roster player to make room for him or sending Smith back down to GR since he has 1 year of waiver exemption left. So, expose either Kindl, Emmerton, or Mursak to waivers and lose them (and the odds are very high they would get claimed) or start the season with Redden, who hasn't proven he's belonged in the NHL in years, or Smith who is considered more than NHL ready & the future linchpin of your D-core. Edit: I'm calling it right now. Redden ends up with the Islanders & Kenny does pull off a minor trade to bring in more help for the bottom pairing in the next week+ with a combination of either Mursak/Emmerton, a pick, and/or a low level prospect but it won't be a earth-shattering/break the internet trade...very minor.

And he hasn't had what would even be considered a mediocre season in what, 5 years? Low risk/low reward. Can Scott Gomez come along with him? Plus don't forget that someone would have to drop from the roster to make room. Willing to lose Kindl for nothing via waivers to bring in a guy who either because of lack of interest or drop in talent could barely play in the AHL when he got buried there? Wouldn't be worth it imo.

From what I understand, the issue starts with whether Edmonton had a written agreement to honor the NTC in his contract. He was traded from LA to Edmonton the day before his NTC kicked in. It was then up to Edmonton to either honor the NTC or not. If they did honor it, the NTC might have followed him to Anaheim if that was one of the teams on his approved list to be traded to but then again maybe not. Evidently, scenarios like that weren't addressed specifically in the last CBA so is pretty much up to interpretation. That interpretation came via an arbitrator though in September who ruled that he didn't have an NTC with the Ducks. Good trade so the Islanders are his rights holder whether he likes it or not as far as the NHL is concerned.

Sammy not on point? Thank you! Brunner on the point though....I don't know. Hope he won't be too much of a defensive liability back there.

Up the incentives then. Free season tickets for the 2013-14 season.

How about Strange Bru, eh?

I want to see them pull off a hot dog eating contest for the fans. If you can beat Larry Murphy, you get a free 9 game ticket package for 2.

Crossing my fingers that Kenny can somehow pull off a Iginla/J-Bo trade at the deadline if indications are that Jerome won't re-sign in Calgary.

Dirty Bastard? Or since he's already what 26, maybe ODB?

Can't see it unless the Wings lose some forwards in a trade.

I don't know where people get the impression that Pearce was a hyped prospect. He was undrafted coming out of Notre Dame & signed a contract with the Wings as a long shot. Was really just a depth signing for GR & Toledo.

All depends on Mrazek's development. If by the time a decision like that came up he's looking like the real deal, I probably would if the offer were for an elite d-man more so than a forward.

For everyone with dreams of Nyquist in the top 6 when the season starts, bad news for you: http://blogs.detroithockey.net/misconduct/2013/01/09/nyquist-the-odd-man-out-up-front.php?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

My concern is that Flip will regress offensively moving back to center. How long does it take Babs to split Z & Pavs if the 2nd line starts the season flat?

If Cleary get an A over Flip, I think that sends a pretty clear message that Kenny wants to re-sign Dan this summer. It will certainly be interesting to see who gets it, that is if they even continue rotating it.

I think it's pretty much a lock though that no inclusion in the HHoF means no number in the rafters where the Wings are concerned & Homer isn't getting into the HHoF. Edit: Well, not necessarily true. He can buy a ticket...

If there is enough Russian/Eastern European NHL talent, and the high end variety at that, who want to stay for the big rubles in the KHL, there's every bit of chance that the teams start dishing money out hand over fist. It would be up to the IIHF then to block transfer cards allowing those players to stay in the KHL, that is unless the KHL as a league decides to tell the IIHF "screw you" & leave the IIHF. They have threatened to do that before over smaller fish like Radulov. The stakes will be much higher if it's for the likes of Kovy & Ovie. Edit: The fly in the ointment if the KHL did go the route of dropping out of the IIHF like that might mean them blocking KHL players from the Olympics I would imagine. Wonder if that would be the same case though if they stayed in the IIHF for now & just failed to come to a transfer agreement with the NHL in June when the old one expires.

I'm about "this" close myself to canceling my Center Ice for the season. Even if I don't, I'm going to be watching far less NHL hockey than I have in the last couple of decades & the only live games I'll consider is when the Wings make the SC Finals in June....hopefully. I want to be there to see if I can boo Bettman the loudest.

40 goals would equate to 68 in a full season, so I think that's a pretty safe wager. The Rocket Richard Trophy's probably going to wind up with whoever can reach 30 goals this season.