Matt

This month's edition features superstar forward Marian Hossa! Click Here to Go to the Download Page Enjoy!

This month's edition features superstar forward Marian Hossa! Click Here to Go to the Download Page Enjoy!

Just watching this game early on was a good indicator the Wings weren't bringing it today. It took a spat of power-plays in the second period to even get the juices flowing. The effort today, from goal on out, was pathetically bad. The only guy that seemed to be giving a full effort today was Helm. Definitely a phone-it-in effort.

Apologies for the delay. I've been without internet access at home since the weekend due to a fault modem and the issue was just resolved this evening... Click Here to Go to the Download Page Enjoy!

Click Here to Go to the Download Page Enjoy!

(Updated) Post-game confirmed that the presser is to announce a long-term contract agreement with Zetterberg... Reportedly worth $7-million annually anywhere from 5-10 years. --- Mentioned early in the third period on Fox Sports Detroit... Daniels and Remond think it's a Zetterberg extension.

+1 Great post.

There's no way that Franzen signs for what Filppula got -- not a chance. I'm confident (though not happy) that Franzen will go UFA. He's won a Cup, this is his first shot at big-time money, etc. Hossa, on the other hand, has made his money but never played for a consistent winner. I think he's the easier play here, not to mention that the circumstances in which he signed here last summer would indicate his line of thinking. And Hudler... don't forget he's restricted. Barring a ridiculous offer sheet or a trade -- he'll be here.

Agreed.

Don't know. I'd have to look over the cap situation again, but Zetterberg's cap hit is a good $1-2 million what a lot of pundits were predicting he'd get. I think you would've seen shorter term and higher salary if Holland was resigned to losing Hossa, but I don't think he is. Regardless of who Holland sees as his No. 2 target I think Franzen is going to be a ***** to re-sign and would be shocked if he did so before July 1. Just can't see him doing it -- especially based on his playoff performance last year. Considering the Wings don't negotiate after the regular season I'd be willing to say it's a forgone conclusion he'll wait to July 1st. I think that legitimately opens the door for Hossa, but alas... the numbers have to make sense. Getting Datsyuk and Zetterberg, two premiere two-way stars, locked up together over the next several years at the bargain rate of $12.7M total should be good incentive to make some concessions to stay, right Marian?

Snap judgment* after seeing Zetterberg's deal: He's going to make a very strong pitch to retain Hossa. (* I'll have to take a good look at the cap page after some sleep and coffee before a I cement that.)

Why is his back a concern? I'm not understanding it. If his back does become a long-term issue, he goes on LTIR and his salary doesn't count toward the cap. If he retires before its conclusion it doesn't count against the cap then either. Even if it's a "replacement" type of issue where you're forced bring another player in, fitting someone in under that speculated $7-million figure isn't going to be a problem. The important thing is that the Red Wings just locked down one of the cornerstones of the franchise, a perennial Selke contender and Conn Smythe winner who is only going to get BETTER... and likely at around $7M/season, around $1.5-2 million less than what he could've gotten this summer. Am I missing something here?

Pat called me up Wednesday morning to let me know that the show had been cancelled. Pretty sad... those guys were fun to interview with and I hope they catch on quickly with another station.

Very disappointed with this. I was fortunate enough to do an NHL preview feature with Sean a few years back when Motor City Sports Magazine was still running and he's a great guy. Definitely knows his hockey, for sure. Hopefully he gets a gig here in the area. It was also unfortunate that the cuts affected other radio stations in the area, as 100.3 was also affected which resulted in a disappointing phone call from the morning show's procuder calling and informing me that their show had been cancelled (I had been doing a weekly interview with the station for almost two months.) Very sad.

It doesn't count against the cap unless he signed the contract after he turned 35.

When I watched it live I was screaming that it was offside, but after watching the replay I thought it was the right call. Complete horseshait that San Jose managed to get a pair of breakaways in the third period.

i'd have to see a replay of Babcock's post-game comments again, but it sounded as through that Franzen didn't just experience "tightness" during the second intermission but heading into tonight's game. In the 2nd intermission the trainers apparently couldn't get it to loosen up so the club opted to rest him. Status for Monday is unknown but at this point I'd say they're going to rest him and just let him come back after the break.

^ This.

The kicker here is that the Red Wings already have the skaters.

What are you talking about? I think you need to re-read the post you quoted. You do realize that 1) we're talking 2010 at the earliest and 2) that Conklin has a one-year deal? This just cements that you're certifably crazy. Having Luongo on this club would immediately supplant Osgood as Luongo would most certainly see 65 starts -- minimum. I don't buy that Kovalchuk would have that big of an impact. He's a top flight forward, for sure, but we're talking about the Red Wings' defensive game and that I think that since you're not going to replace an all-time great like Lidstrom with another defenseman and you're not going to do it with a forward, that you nab that franchise netminder. Kovalchuk isn't going to see 30+ a night (that said -- Lidstrom doesn't nowadays but he certainly has the capability). Luongo would obviously be a 60-minute addition and certainly one that makes a signifigant boost to the confidence of the forwards and defensemen in front of him. Definite +1 for the nude cats reference. Absolutely things will need to get sorted out in the A. The Wings definitely need to know what they've got in these kids, but I'm not really convinced they'll get a legitimate shot (both of them -- one should get a good look) before Luongo would, theoretically, go UFA. You're just saying that because it would end GOALIE WARS MMXIII... A man can dream, can't he? It beats the Samuelsson is lazy and he sucks drumbeat, right?

Scratch that (maybe)... the inclement weather around here may prevent them from making the drive. So I still may be able to come...

It looks like I've got a conflict for tonight. I've got friends I haven't seen in a while coming into town tonight (this happened within the last few days), so I'll be hopping around downtown Royal Oak this evening... I was really looking forward to this, too. Hopefully nothing pops up for the Washington game at the end of the month!

But you're just swapping Osgood out for Luongo here, where in reality -- if this scenario would play out -- you'd be swapping Osgood/Lidstrom for Luongo. I think we've all seen the signifigant impact that having Lidstrom out of the lineup causes and there's no reason to expect that Detroit's transition game and effectiveness won't take a hit when he retires. That's obvious. What makes more sense (assuming Lidstrom retires) -- theoretically replacing Lidstrom with Kovalchuk and having a 38-year old Osgood manning the net or using Osgood as a backup to a 30-year old Luongo? This I agree with. In all likelihood he'll re-sign. But it is fun to have some idle speculation...

I think that the style of play is more indicative of the coach's general coaching philosophy and the "horses in his stable" than anything to do with the goaltender between the pipes. Parity reigns supreme in the league now (except here, so far) and teams simply aren't going to out-gun you night in and night out... so coaches tend to lean toward to making less mistakes which in turn then leads to the "insomnia curing style of hockey." In Detroit, Babcock has those horses in the stable to play that kind of game and smart salary cap management has left a roster deep in talent. Though losing a caliber of defenseman in Lidstrom will impact the transition game mightily, I have strong confidence that Rafalski, Kronwall, et al (especially if Kindl and Ericsson turn out) will be able to pick up the slack when that time comes. And to have a goaltender like Luongo behind all that? The numbers, of course, would have to make financial sense, but -- Yikes.

I'd take that trade and laugh all the way to the (figurative) bank.