evilzyme

he's not.scheduled to start but i won't be surprised to see him play this season.

When he ran Conner-Helm-Cleary that line was insane!!!!!!!!! I loved it... then he threw bert in there when conner got sent down. Babcock will switch up lines like Bowman, even when there doesn't need to be a change. I think he just likes a new environment to keep the opponent on their feet, because we've had some insane lines with awesome chemistry only for them to get disassembled due to other lacking areas or injuries and then never thrown back together.

makes me feel a thousand times better about the situation. atleast he got the green-light from the franchise and went about it the right way. good on you pasha, now sign a 2-yr extension.

Because when you run a franchise you need to set standards. When you represent your franchise and you're wearing the "A" you need to be the role model. It can go both ways, should the franchise allow him to play in the all-star game in front of his country? Absolutely! Unfortunately, if they did that, then they would have to allow any player that wanted to do something that weekend also. He's an leader on this team, and he needs to project a character that should be emulated by all. It wouldn't be fair for the franchise to give exceptions to one player, regardless if there were a superstar or not, and not give the exception to another. Also, they have a 5-6 day training camp, in which this franchise especially needs the time to get adjusted with one another and set up. Oh, and the fact that he's been playing on international ice along with many of our other players for the past 3 months, there will be an adjustment period regardless of skill, no doubt about it.

WOWZERRRRRRRR

You're acting like the Red Wings organization personally was responsible for the lockout and what happened during the lockout. The Wings is simply one of the thirty franchises that were apart of the lockout, it wasn't anything that personally the Red Wings organization did to Pavel. Would I be mad as hell at Pavel if he didn't come back? Hell yeah, I love the man and want to see more of him, but then there's the actual reality side of it. He gets to see his daughter and wife daily now, he gets to be apart of their lives all while still playing the game he loves. His wife and daughter get to see the magic he displays on the ice live, his daughter gets to see her daddy play in front of their home country. He wanted his wife and daughter to stay in Russia so his daughter still got to grow up with the culture of Russia... so the family wouldn't lose it's heritage. I think that's amazing, and quite frankly it would be hard to pull me away from my family, unfortunately i've already gone through that enough with deployments. It blows, but then it comes down to the business of it. You signed that contract, just as I signed mine. When you're told to go somewhere, or you're expected to do something, you fulfill it.

I'm still anxiously awaiting this picture of hank and some brewskis. I'm jealous of anyone whom's gotten the chance to drink a few cold ones with any of the boys.

@SlavaMalamud: KHL Prez Medvedev to SportsDaily.ru: New CBA may be basis for terminating existing contracts, some players will stay. @SlavaMalamud: More Medvedev. "NHL's opinion of itself is so high... OK, let them get drunk on their greatness. We'll see how many Euros look our way" @SlavaMalamud: And more Medvedev. "Our league will act according to our own and international rules. If players decide to stay, we will help them." @SlavaMalamud: And more Medvedev, who is winning the internet tonight: "There is no reason to fear (IIHF's sanctions against players who decide to stay)" @TGfireandice: On Medvedev comments of KHL possibly challenging NHL contracts, Bill Daly said "We have no response. We will see what happens." Edit: New quotes @SlavaMalamud: "Number of players have either decided to stay or are looking into it.. Can't divulge their names, will cause speculation" - Medvedev, again @SlavaMalamud: "Some players asked their NHL teams to stay for the (KHL) All-Star Game, but were denied. The selfishness is understandable" - Medvedev

I love throwing Brunner with Zett AND pasha. Are we putting too many eggs in a basket? Possibly. But we do what we always do, rely on our role players. We always have, and will continue to do that. Our bottom 6 looks very nice to me honestly, and I think they will produce going against most other 3rd/4th lines. Zett-Pash-Brun throws a big threat on the ice and allows for Brunner to really showcase his shot. He has two amazing play makers, both that can convert when given the chance always. Brunner showed that he can throw his body infront of the net and make the noise, although I would rather him playing the perimeter for shots. I feel like that will be a workhorse lineup and they'll most likely tire out some lines with their cycles. Fran-Filp-Sammy could work... but it's not the best. I agree that Cleary-Helmer-Bert could do some damage together. All three of them are workhorses, helmer 24/7, bert when he wants to be, and sammy can just continue throw pucks into non-existent shooting lanes. Finish off with a rough bottom 4th line and you can quickly tire out a group. EDIT: added quote About Mike Babcock

Pavel Lysenkov @plysenkov Originally Posted by Ilya Kovalchuk will play KHL All Stars game in Chelyabinsk (12-13 Jan). It's official: http://www.khl.ru/news/2013/1/9/57152.html Pavel Lysenkov @plysenkov Originally Posted by Now my bet - Kovalchuk will stay in KHL. Minimum - till the end of this season. Big war with NHL? Pavel Lysenkov @plysenkov Shalaev: "The CBA will not be signed until Sunday. So Kovalchuk no employment relationship with the NHL, and he is going to Chelyabinsk". Pavel Lysenkov @plysenkov Shalaev: "We are disappointed that all the other NHL stars were quick to go to North America". Tom Gulitti @TGfireandice Lou Lamoriello said Ilya Kovalchuk did not ask Devils for permission to play in KHL all-star game. Tom Gulitti @TGfireandice Lamoriello said start date of camp (almost definitely Sunday) is not official yet, so "I'm not getting into anything." Tom Gulitti @TGfireandice Lamoriello on whether he expects Kovalchuk to be at 1st day of camp: "I have no knowledge of him not being here." Tom Gulitti @TGfireandice Lamoriello on Kovalchuk: “I’m just going with the same that I have no reason to believe he won’t be here.”

Slava Malamud @SlavaMalamud KHL has published the new, revised All Star lineups. None of the NHLers are on them. Except Ilya Kovalchuk. #NJDevils

From what I've been hearing lately it seems both want.to play for the all-star game. They may be pushing to play in the all-star game and then heading back to their respective team.

apparently khl pushing for dats too. i know his agent said he'll be back. sucks having this happened. i feel like dats would've signed another 1-2 yrs if it wasn't for the.lockout and getting.to play in the homeland. anyways here's from hfb Slava Malamud @SlavaMalamud Hearing talk from Russia, that oil and natural gas magnates who own SKA and CSKA will look into ways of keeping Kovalchuk, Datsyuk. in the same sense though bill daly also said the khl stated they would honor all nhl contracts

http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/topic/73448-2013-blueadams-where-are-you-line-thread/

You can't hate on the guy, he's made it known that he doesn't want to finish his career in Detroit but rather in the mother land. If anything, he'll sign 1-2 years after this current contract then he'll retire in the KHL. I heard filp will be ready to play once the season starts, colo will be out due to his recent injury and eaves was still having concussion symptoms which will lead to him probably out this season also. Other than that, we're looking good and have no runaway kids.

First, Helmer doesn't have stone hands, quite frankly he's far from stone hands. Does he have mitts made of silk? No. That doesn't qualify and make a captain though. The boys work ethic is unreal, he isn't scared of throwing his body around, he's easily one the best pk'ers on this team, he works the corners with the best of them, and each year he brings more improvement to the table.

Yes, you can always have your offense help to relieve the blow/workload on the defense but to what extent you're able to do it relies on your players and system. Currently, if we were an offensive powerhouse I wouldn't see any problems with pushing a winger back and playing another left wing lock system but we're not that offensively talented or a threat (at least in my eyes, we certainly still don't have a reliable shooter). When we rely on role players to help put up points and win games, we can't afford to throw offensive players on the back end. I trust babs, and I know he'll know how to work with this team more than I can possibly imagine because he has that experience. Luckily, we have plenty of two way players that are dedicated to both sides of the ice and normally play this way. It's just making sure that they stick with it and enforcing the style.

I also heard that Pasha puts on a show during interviews. He also seems like over the years, especially when he was a rookie, that he has gotten more comfortable within the eyes of the media. He can joke around and act like himself, his interviews are amazing and comical. I just think it took him sometime to get used to cameras in his face, and having being asked questions in a new language, which is expected. I personally think Zetterberg will be more of a outspoken captain unlike Nick. From what i've heard from the players, Nick didn't really raise his voice unless he really had to. I think Stevie and Zett will have a similar leading role in which he'll motivate the players in different ways. If they are going to continue with the 3 A's, it would be filp as Lidstrom said. Zett "C" - Pasha, Kronner, Filp "A"

If it's one person who would throw his body into harms way regardless of the outcome, it would be good ol demolition man. Homer put his body through hell this NHL career, and we can't thank him enough for what he has done for this franchise over the years. I'm happy to see him retire, and give his body some well deserved rest. We'll miss you like no other if we still get 24/7 Wings Leafs.

I don't see why Nyquist couldn't be top 6? Babcock already had him in the top 6 last season and unfortunately had to move him to the third line. Nyquist is a player that needs to play with bigger players, unfortunately his size is what made him go to the third line last year. He simply couldn't handle going against other teams top lines and top d pairings. He added some strength and handled himself nicely from what i've seen this season with GRR. I think he'll be given the shot at top 6 originally, along with Brunner. Where the hell did everyone get Brunnstrom from? Didn't he elect to go play in Europe? Colo may or may not be ready for the season, as he got injured recently. That'll lead to Kindl playing. Emdog will not crack the lineup this year due to just too many better players infront of him in the depth chart, sorry Axe or Cory as we like to say. Realistically, I like number9's lines. Filp and Pasha NEED to spend time together, they have AMAZING chemistry and are a deadly threat as a duo. Brunner and Zett already established chemistry and should start the season together. Add nyquist and give him the early chance to prove he can handle going against other top 6 players. This would give that line two good playmakers in zett and nyquist, with a deadly shot in brunner (zetts aint bad either). Third line would have helmer bringing the speed, a healthy cleary to bring the veteran sense along with good work ethic (don't even say it, the guys been working on a tore up knee) and sammy to miss shots and throw off our opponents. I love the idea of the fourth line just buckling down and grinding it out against other teams 3/4th line. Tootoo, big bert, and abby... you would get annoyed playing against that line. Our defense makes me want to cringe, but in all honesty I think we'll do OKAY this season. I really think we'll see some improvements again with big rig. Ground breaking? No. But it'll certainly help. He'll need to use his body more, but I almost sense that more physicality will be apart of the wings system these upcoming years. We don't have #5, but we have to look at his play and say it isn't going to hurt as much as we really think it may. We didn't lose a prime Lidstrom, we lost one that was declining in play. Was his declining in play still better than the majority of defensemen that lace up? Absolutely, but he was Lidstrom. Quincey came into our system half way through a system while we were on a big winning streak. He has no excuses this year, as he will be attending training camp and up to speed with the systems in place. Brendan smith we HAVE to see mistakes, but they'll expand and make him develop more. He is going to take those chances, and he will take chances when he certainly shouldn't. They'll result in turnovers, and possibly burn us a time or two. Colo is a big question mark, but it's an improvement over kindl. Okay, im done now.

that would leave us with like a single call-up. we wouldn't bind our hands that hardcore. didn't they already say they weren't touching the cap this season but would like to bring it down over the course of the next 7 years?

really happy to see he's okay, at first I started reading the title and my heart immediately sank

I like it since we would attract a lot of great UFA's and have free reign to roll another superstar team, but unfortunately it would DESTROY the smaller markets as previously said due to no one wanting to go play for a market that doesn't even have fans. This would cause some mad chaos as players would try to unite as duos and friendship lines, which in the terms of hockey, we would most likely be seeing some of the best hockey we've seen. the chemistry would be unreal and you would really see some dedication out of players because they would be playing whom they really wanted to. I think this is all a tatic, but it's a scary one

He said he's been having fun, but he misses Detroit.

The roster sucks, but you still will most likely be trading pieces for the new upgraded pieces. Cap space is removed and replaced.