SouthernWingsFan

Because signing free agents is just that simple in 3-D land, just like in video games, right? Look I'm with you that it would've been nice that Hasek could've signed earlier, but these deals don't just "happen" overnight, it's called negotiating and you want to value what you think you are worth compare to other people who perform your job, just like in any career, hockey or computer programming or whatever else. That takes time to figure out.

Groovy cool. $2,000,000 is more than fair given that Hasek is still a health risk even though he passed all those tests last season along with all that he's accomplished over the years. Glad to have him back in a Wings uni for his one last shot at a Cup (I am assuming ).

Worst offseason in years? Don't be so dramatic. Last time I checked, most of the people on the Wings almost made it to the SCF last year. The panic factor in this thread is a wee bit ridiculous.

And on that note, why are there nudist beaches, and why are they legal, when most of the people that do that stuff are just so damn ugly? *shrugs* Why are people like me so weird? Why does Ernie always give Bert such a hard time, and why does Bert never smile?

Why don't more people pee in an ocean or large body of water? Why don't more people skinny dip?

No, he doesn't need to do something quick if he doesn't want to. I wouldn't sign somebody just for the sake of signing him or because a bunch of forum fans want player X or player Y to be signed. Again, most of the roster you see now almost made it to the SCF, it doesn't need to be overhauled or changed a whole lot. I understand not sitting on your hands, but let's be PATIENT and understand that some of the money offered in initial deals was pretty ridiculous.

As much as I liked Lang, somebody who has as much of a lack of work ethic? Who do you suggest then?

Because he played for peanuts last year and exceeded expectations given where he's at in his career, and whenever he's resigned this year, he'll still be playing for peanuts given all that he has accomplished in his career even with a decent raise. It's called negotiations. They very rarely get done in an hour, much less even a day. Hasek isn't going anywhere.

Holland made his buzz by signing Rafalski. Not the most popular name out there, but still a significant signing nevertheless. Why do we always have to sign players X, Y, and Z to 5-year contracts worth $40 million in the first two days, or the offseason be deemed a failure? Remember, this current roster is currently and will probably not be much different than the one that nearly made the SCF last year. Please, let's have a little patience for once. Lack of buzz with this team and roster isn't a bad thing.

Why is it that everything that happens because of lightning usually ends up bad? Why can't somebody get super-human powers from lightning or something? Why are small Volkswagen cars called "Bugs" or "Beetles" when they look nothing like bugs or beetles?

Same as the Jeff O'Neill thread for me. Not my preference if he comes here, but won't throw a fit if he comes here cheap. Definitely not the player he once was in Washington, but he could still light the lamp every now and then in a 2nd/3rd line role perhaps.

Hudler isn't supposed to "replace" Bertuzzi. And Hudler, in all likelihood I'm betting, was going to be re-signed regardless of if the Wings re-signed Bertuzzi or not.

Why do some women wear 2-piece bathing suits when they shouldn't wear them, and why do some men wear bathing suits/Speedos/are shirtless when they shouldn't be (although I don't have much room to talk )? How can Superman and Neo move faster than the speed of light when they are human and humans usually get tired and huff and puff after running 15 feet? Why do they call it the Bullet Train when a train is not shaped like a bullet and there probably aren't any bullets in the bullet train? Why do people talk about "stuff"? What is "stuff"? Where did "stuff" come from? Who has "stuff"? How did "stuff" get invented?

I'm definitely not completely against O'Neill coming to the Wings and won't throw a hissy fit if he was with them, who the heck knows what will happen this upcoming season, but I just think he's tailed off ever since leaving Carolina.

Damn straight, cause I know everything!!!!!! *shrugs*

TENSE?!?!!? WHAT THE F**K ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!!? I'M NOT TENSE!!!!!! *puts cup of coffee down and steps away, takes deep breaths*

No, they aren't. Holland could've easily signed Smyth? Sounds simple in theory but he can't know what all 29 other GMs are doing, plus he's got to consider cushion room for any possible trades during the season, as well as signing some of his other players. While I would've loved Smyth, he was going to be ridiculously expensive, which he was when Colorado signed him. Signing/trading players isn't as simple as it might be on NHL games on PlayStation2 or XBox.

And you know this how? Just based off just 1 playoff year when he was on the bottom of the depth chart as a rookie? We don't know what's going to happen in the 2008 playoffs let alone the regular season that is still months and months away. He's no all-star center in the NHL anytime soon, but he produced a good bit with extremely limited ice time, 15 goals in only 8, 9 minutes of ice time a game? And for minimal money as well. This is a decent signing. I guess people will find anything to get upset at though (not you specifically, generally speaking).

No thanks on O'Neill.

I can't wait to see how him considering retirement is going to give the perception to some posters in here that he is "overrated". Anyways, it's Devils or retirement for Brodeur I think. He'll be one of the few guys in any professional sport that will likely finish his career with just one team. Good for him.

Detroit keeps Osgood because he is the team's... (1) Ass-kicking bartender (2) Team prankster (a.k.a. class clown) Seriously, Osgood wants to remain in Detroit, the loyalty between the two seems mutual since he came back from St. Louis, he's no world beater by any stretch of the imagination but he could still start when needed, and is probably the best "insurance policy" out there if Hasek gets injured for a long stretch this upcoming season (and last season).

It's the REALITY of today's work world, whether it's run-of-the-mill jobs or sports jobs buddy. People either want new challenges or more money, and it doesn't matter if they've worked the same job for just 1 year or 10. Sometimes it's just simply wanting a change of scenery. This is nothing new in the world today and I don't get why people are so upset over this when they would, at the very least, consider doing the same thing at their job or their career, whether they are making $30,000 or $50,000 or $200,000 or $1,000,000. I can tell you I love my current job, been there for about 2 1/3 years, but I'm not kidding you, it's not a lot of money, and I want to stay at the company but I got to face the REALITY that I might eventually need to work somplace else to either (1) give myself a new challenge or (2) make more money. Players aren't tied to the Red Wings or any other team for 50+ years of their life just because we are big fans of a team. It's their life, their career, THEIR DECISIONS, not ours. You never know, could provide for their generations of families down the line. Whatever bit of money you have helps.

(1) Sign Hasek (2) Sign a depth-defensemen (3) Count my money and bask at how rich I am

The Wings roster last season nearly made it to the SCF when nobody expected them to make it that far. And the roster hasn't changed much, and I doubt the hunger/determination to try to win a Cup for most of the guys on the current roster isn't gone. It may not be completely sitting pretty but this roster is far from being a pile of junk. They are fine.

QFT Statts. Again... People want to work at another job or city to (1) give themselves a new challenge or (2) improve their or their families financial situation. And people here still think that once you play one or two seasons with the Red Wings, you pretty much have to sell your life and soul to this team until you die.