kipwinger

So why don't you blame Hudler and Filppula for not being traded? Why does your ire fall on Franzen? He signed a sweetheart deal three months before Hossa left, and it's a "choice" between him and Hossa? Why don't you ever, EVER, present "the choice" as being between Hossa and Filppula, or Hossa and Hudler? I'll tell you why. Because it's not as easy an argument to make, that's why. Because, in hindsight, everyone agrees that Franzen has been underwhelming. Not worth his contract. So you parade yourself around here, acting like you "knew it all along", because saying "Franzen sucks" is easy. And people largely agree with you. But you didn't know it all along. Ooooooh no you didn't. Just like everybody else, you thought the signing was good. You advocated for it. And why not? Franzen had just had two MONSTER years. It WAS a good signing at the time. It all went sour AFTER he didn't perform up to snuff. Which is all you need to say. I'd kiss your ass right now if you'd just once tell the truth..."I, Leftwinger, liked the signing when it happened. However, in hindsight, it didn't work out for the team". That's the truth. But instead we'll hear endlessly about how "you knew better". You didn't. That point is fraudulent. You were just as fooled by Franzen's two good years as everyone else. If you're a prophet, you're a false one.

I don't really have a problem with Edwards' homerism. He's not a national announcer, there's no need for him to be unbiased. I do, however, have a problem with how blatantly, and non ironically, he panders to the lowest common denominator (read: Bruins fans). It's like he knows all the worst things about sports fans, and targets those things in the dumbest possible way. Fans don't like refs? He'll ***** about the officiating endlessly. Goal waived off? That's precisely the one that changed the course of hockey. Don't like rats? They're ruining the game (except the ones employed by the Bruins). He specifically targets the dumbest, most ill formed, laziest, points of view, and then repeats them back at a higher volume. In short, if you like Jack Edward's act, or agree with the things he says, you're stupid. And it's because you're stupid that he's saying those things.

Franzen signed first, to a sweetheart deal, well below market value. Given how Ken Holland works, you really think he would have traded Franzen three months after Franzen did management a favor and took a lower cap hit? C'mon.

We'll see. We will just see about that!

Would that work for Smith as well? Could we sell them as the next Weber-Suter?

Well, we'll see how much Mr. Rocket likes the ICU when I smash his face into next Tuesday. Bruin-bear strong! Rawr!

But surely a smaller guy could channel "the big bad bear" and board him, right? That would be sooooo cool and tough. I mean seriously, if Chara wants to go all big, bad, bear, bruin, on people, they should be allowed to injure and maim him in response, right bro? f*** yeah! I'll board the s*** out of him AND his widow right freakin' now! You think I'm afraid of a dead guy and an old woman? I'm Bruins' strong. Find a person smaller and weaker than I am and I'll smash their face into a wall anytime I feel like it. Punk.

Because "The Choice" single handedly destroyed Detroit hockey and created the Chicago dynasty. If not for Ken Hollands idiotic bumbling, Hossa would have brought at least two more Cups to Detroit instead. Just like he did in 2009, back when he was playing with a much younger, better, and more effective Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Lidstrom. Oh, and having Hossa, Zetterberg, AND Franzen on long term, front loaded, contracts wouldn't have screwed us at all. Nope. No way. It would have all been roses.

Good point. I guess we'll have to wait for Looooooooch to board someone and punch them with his glove on before we can celebrate the rebirth of ye olde tyme hockey.

To be clear, you're talking about buying out the EXACT contract that you were in favor of offering him in the first place right?

We draft really well. That second round pick is worth a lot to us. I can see Ken Holland using it in a trade, but not for a #5 defenseman. Plus, the rumors I'm reading now are saying that Holland wants someone "long term", and "not a rental". As such, I don't see them targeting Petry until the off season (if at all).

No doubt. If not for Chara's selflessness, honor, and decency, Gary Bettman would already have taken boarding and gloved punches out of the game. What's next, no more slashing or slew footing? Maurice Richard is turning over in his grave.

Awww, that makes this guy a saaaaaad panda. It's his own fault though, you've got to compete harder and be an "everydayer" if you want to be Mike Babcock's son. Lil' Michael Babcock just needs to steal somebody else's job that's all.

Infinity?

Dude what are you talking about? Boarding and gloved punches to little guys' faces are part of the game. Always have been, always will be. If you weren't on the soft, euro, pussified, nancy boy, bandwagon you'd realize Chara is just bringin' old time hockey back to the masses.

Everybody knows my feelings on Babcock, but this was pretty classy of him: http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/01/petr_mrazek_follows_meeting_wi.html

Oh sweet, the biggest guy in the league boarded someone and hit another guy with a gloved fist. What a tough dude he is. Puke.

He does. And he should. I agree, he's not great. Certainly not the right handed, puck moving, saving grace that Detroit is supposedly interested in. Which is why, if we're interested in him, we should wait until the offseason and sign him (rather than giving up assets in a trade).

Because he's a righty? That's like the holy grail of Detroit hockey. I agree though, neither score much. I wasn't trying to suggest that Petry was Mike Green or anything. Which is why I've said I don't want Holland to use assets on him.

Your overall point I agree with, but Smith isn't better. Even if they were equally bad defensively, which doesn't seem to be the case, at least Petry scores (more). I'd do Petry for Smith straight up.

Point taken, but it's not like Jeff Petry is winning them games.

Don't you think that if Petry could be had for Kindl, Backman's rights, and a mid rounder right now, wouldn't it have happened already? Holland's been shopping Kindl for a year and a half. I doubt that such a trade is available to him and he just hasn't pulled the trigger. Likely, Edmonton is waiting for a bigger purse.

I'd be ok with that too. Somebody (Pittsburgh) will give more though. And I'd hate to lose any decent prospects for a guy I can sign this offseason.

Jesus I hope we don't give up assets for Jeff Petry. I don't mind him as a player, but I don't see him helping our blue line THAT much. Why not wait and get him in the offseason. You're right, he's from Michigan so presumably we've got the inside track on him (if the endless talk of UFAs 'going home' has any validity to it).

I'm not so sure why you're so high on a guy that you described as being less valuable than Steve Duschene. Remember when you said that?