brandon27

It better get cancelled today. I've got tickets, which of course I haven't received yet, and the Wings/NHL have my 800 bucks that it cost me for 4, and those aren't very good seats either. So, really what it comes down to now for me, is im disgusted with the NHL, its owners, and its players at this point. I don't want any part of any of those three groups to get a damn dollar from me at this point. They can shove it. It's ridiculous that for the second time, we're missing part of the regular season. It's a damn joke what all of these fools have done to the league. At this point, whether the game goes on or not, I just want my money back. Which of course, won't happen unless they cancel the damn game. So, cancel away Bettman. You, and the owners, and the players have already ruined this great event, and this great game for everyone... so just scrap this too, it just won't be the same anyways even if you started playing games again next week. If the game does go on, my tickets will be on StubHub so fast anyways. I can't even thinkin about contributing a dollar any more to the HRR that these greedy owners and players are fighting over.

14 years? Ridiculous. Revisions to the CBA can't come soon enough. Too bad alot of the damage is already done with 3 premiere players getting ridiculous deals this year, and several others seasons past...

Id take him for 4 years at 20m. Bit of a gamble on the length, but... I think he'd be a good offensive help here.

Nice hire. I like it.

Only one way to find out... Bring them up! Let them play, let them get their feet wet and figure it out. You can't just throw them in to live action for 3-5 games and go... OK... not showing enough, back to the AHL you go. You've got to get them up there, leave them for a while. Let them get the experience, give them the time to adjust to the difference in speed and size and talent around them. Let them develop some chemistry with new team mates and line mates. You've got to give them a serious shot, not just 3 or so games here and there because someone got hurt and you brought them up in an emergency situation. If during that time, they're completely lost, and ineffective, then back down they go to work on the issues you notice at the NHL level. Without them playing some legit NHL time, its tough to tell what areas of their game they need help with. The way the team is shaping up so far, this year seems like a good year to see what we've got.

Ericsson worries me. I think he has the potential to be a top 4 D man, i just dont see it happening. If it hasnt yet, what's going to make it happen now, other than the fact he's forced into the position now by necessity. I want to see him explode and have a breakout year and become the player we all want to trade for right now, I just don't see it. I'm not scout or talent evaluator, but when I watch E play, he always looks so slow, physically, and mentally on the ice. He just seems a step behind alot. Is it a lack of work ethic? Lack of ability? I don't know... but I' hoping he figures it out. He's got ideal size, and obviously skill and potential. Hopefully he has a breakout year.

Problem with that though, the players in a sense force the owners hands in giving out those big contracts. Afterall, if Detroit, Nashville, and Pittsburgh all said Suter... Parise... We're giving you 5 mil a year, for 5 years (which probably would have been an ideal deal for them), you'd still have a GM like Minnesotta, who goes... hmm.. I'll overpay. I need to make a splash to boost our teams awareness through the community, and league, and help revenue streams. You're always going to have that happen. There's no doubt in my mind too, that these players, get these offers, and their agent immediately goes to the next owner/gm in line who's interested and leverage one team/deal against the others, continuing to drive up the salary. Every day that went by since July 1, I guarantee the offers for Parise and Suter were increasing in millions daily. In that CBA, they've got to set max contract lengths, and make the penalties for trading/cutting a player more severe to a teams current salary cap if they cut, or move a guy. I'm sure it works similar to the NFL where that signing bonus that gets pro-rated over the length becomes a penalty if a player is cut, released, or traded that counts against your cap. It's obvious whats going on with these deals, there's no intent probably for Suter, or Parise to play out those 13 year deals. It's that long simply to spread out the signing bonus over a longer period of time to reduce that annual salary. It's got to change IMO.

Honestly, we need help on D, everyone knows that. We've got alot of talented prospects in the system. They've been allowed to sit there, and ripen and gain experience before being thrown to the wolves in the NHL, whether that's the right approach or not, who knows. I think it is, seeing as these kids need time to develop their strength, size and speed to be capable of playing in the NHL. That being said, we've got quite a few "kids" down there now, that I think deserve a look. Not just a preseason game look, but a full blown turn in the NHL. It's time to see what theyve got. I'd hate to trade away a prospect, in search of filling some holes with more vets that we're going to need to replace in a few years anyways. Lets see what we've got down there, see if we can fill our own holes for once in the last few years. I know we're going to have to move someone to help us fill a hole on D, but to move guys in a trade for Nash, and Yandle, would just be crazy. You'd be looking at probably giving up at least two prospects and a pick for each. You can't leave the pantry completely bare, just to pick up a player or two. Then you're in the same position in 3-5 years when its time to replace them. Only then, you'd have given up your picks, and you have nobody to bring up and fill the holes. In a cap world, I believe you have to grow stronger from within, with your draft picks, rather than over pay for guys like Suter, and Parise like Minny just did. You can only carry two 7.5m salaries for so long. Now we were in a unique situation where we needed to fill a #1 D position. I wish we had a better plan, someone ready to come up, or something. Unfortunately we dont. So its not as easy right now as saying Kenny... go get a #1 D man, because as the GM, he's got to think about the future as well. You can't just keep shipping off your young prospects. I understand we may have to right now, but you've got to be careful what you give up. Especially with how high demands from other teams are going to be right now given the deal Suter just got. That being said, I'd love to see Nyquist fulltime this year, probably Tatar and Pulkinnen as well. I think its a given that Smith will be fulltime this year. I'd get Mrazek up the the AHL if possible. Lets see what we can do to speed up his development, his play at the WJHC was crazy good. Get the development of these guys moving. I think signing a guy like Doan is just a stopgap on the progression of your younger players. Theyre only going to grow so much in the AHL... you've got to get them on the ice in the NHL to keep them growing. I'd be more inclined to move a vet, and a high draft pick and a mid level prospect for another proved D-man, before I'd trade guys like helm, filpula, jurco, pulkinnen, tatar, mrazek, etc, etc.

I think we should give him a serious shot to play in the NHL this year. We've got these prospects, highly talented ones at that just sitting around. Lets see what theyre made of, instead of just trading them away.

No way that's the case. The media is ridiculous. Babcock is one of the most respected coaches in hockey. Jeez... people need to relax

I never said he should sign here because we're Detroit. I'd have been happy to have Suter, but not for 13 years. Would I take it... sure, I suppose. Doesn't mean I have to agree with the fact that a 13 year contract in any sport is ridiculous. It's done only to fit things under the cap, and it shouldn't be allowed in my opinion. I've said just as much already in regards to our own players who have been signed to ridiculously long term deals. Anyways...

LOL!! That's too funny. I couldnt care less we didn't get Suter. I'm assuming you're a minny fan, so I'm glad they overpaid for him rather than us. Do we need help, did we need him? Absolutely. To be tied to a ridiculous contract though for 13 years, at probably 7.5 million or so a year... nobody needs that. It's ridiculous. It's not about not getting my way... i dont care. It's about teams, using 13 year deals, that will never been seen through, simply to pay a guy a massive signing bonus to lure him to the team, and spread it over a stupid long contract, a contract that will never see the end of its term. As I said, its not right IMO, we've done it in Detroit, and I'm still complaining about it. So... your post is worthless. Thanks.

Congrats Lebron of the NHL! Awesome to think these these two actually thing theyre going to win something there. It was all about playing with each other, and big bucks for both of them. Not the kind of guys we want on this team IMO.

Probably because they are stupid, and more willing to put their franchise into cap hell than we are? Listen, I wanted Suter here, but... he's not elite. The cash he's going to get is far more than he's worth.

13 years? Give me a break... The NHL has to do something with these ridiculous deals. It's obvious it's just circumventing the cap. Lots of teams have done it, sure. It's just ridiculous though. To think anyone is going to play out these 13 year deals is ridiculous. As for Suter... congratulations picking yourself a new home where you will never see the Cup. Apparently thats what he wanted though, stay isolated, away from all the spotlight and attention, collect the big fat paycheck, and never live up to its potential. If we see Minnesotta paid him more in cash too, then its obvious Suter wasn't focused on winning, but more so on cash. He's got a far greater chance of winning here, or Pittsburgh, or hell, even Nashville than he does in Minny. With a deal like that I'm glad he's not here. Our D is going to suck, no doubt, but 13 years, and what I'd assume is over $100 million... its just stupidity I think.

This isn't looking good anymore. If we don't get Suter, we're in trouble on the back end. Yikes.

lol that's the craziest thing I've ever herad. I'd move out Franzen... but Zetterberg? Datsyuk? Give me a break. We do need a more reliable backup though. Howard is the future in net, but a more reliable backup would be nice. Holmstrom should be gone too though.

Even at only 50% he's been playing better than most of our guys who are at 100% healthwise... ridiculous.

How anyone can blame Howard for this most recent loss, and these losses in general is beyond me. Sure, look at the stats, shots against and goals against, and its not pretty, but instead of using stats, use your eyes. He didnt have a chance on any of the 3 goals tonight due to the sloppy play in front of him. Much the same as in the other games. He's made alot of big saves through these games, but christ, when three defenders chase erat into the corner and there is NOBODY to take Klein out front, what do you think is going to happen? When cleary turns it over in front of the net, guess what? It's just ridiculous. Nasvhille is taking it to us, taking away time and space, getting after the puck and this team is just standing around and watching in awe. It's ridiculous. It's even more ridiculous to blame the goaltending for all the ridiculous breakdowns and turnovers.

great, a PP with 1:37 left... down 2. who cares.

lol and just who do you suggest they replace a guy like Filpulla with? lol

Howard shoulda had that one.

game.. f***!

Can't buy a goal with all those juicy rebounds... jeez..

Yikes. When are they going to start taking precautions to prevent this type of injury with some extra paddin/equipment. We've seen alot of it recently. Shame for Helm, and the Wings. He's a key part of this team IMO.