kipwinger

So as to not be too disappointed, I'm going to say that I'd be happy with Ehrhoff and Radim Vrbata. I wouldn't be thrilled, but I could live with it. Chances are that's asking too much as well. We'll get Boyle and Alfie. I don't know why I bother pretending otherwise.

What's the over/under on how many games Boyle will play this year?

How is it that Holland seems totally against overpaying for Niskanen but doesn't seem bothered at all by the idea of overpaying for Boyle?

Sweet, as long as they keep the salary down I have no problem signing a good player in his prime to a long deal. Seven years should keep his cap hit well south of 6 million too.

When did Ansar say the Wings were willing to give Niskanen a 7 year deal. I hadn't heard that. Can you link me by any chance?

I'd agree he'll make at least 5 million. He should. That would put him in the same salary range as guys who have comparable stats.

I know you didn't say any of this. Your source did, you made that clear. I'm not criticizing you, I'm criticizing your source. Like I said, I think your leg is being pulled. Also, it wasn't about winning any game. I was trying to make things light hearted so that we didn't have to get in a row about it. That was my way of attacking the idea without attacking the person, not some clever opening gambit in an elaborate scheme to make you look bad.

Nobody asks this much in a trade. Ever. Either your source is pulling your leg or he made this up. Edmonton didn't even ask that much for Gretzky. So, since I have a feeling you're going to get all bent out of shape about my post I'll make some fun of it. I'll donate money to a charity of your choice if either of the following happens. 1. Keith Yandle gets traded to any team for a package consisting of their top four young forwards, all of whom project as top sixers. Nevermind the first round pick, we already know that didn't happen. 2. Matt Niskanen signs with Detroit for 7 years, 6 million per.

Lol. LGW is the only place where every free agent is going to get 6 million per year, and the starting point for every trade is Mantha + 1st. Christian Ehrhoff will not get 6 million dollars. Not happening.

I think you should make this a four or five way poll and add in Dan Boyle, Tom Gilbert, Stephane Robidas, etc. That might be more illuminating. As it is, I had to pick between two guys who are better than every other defenseman on our team aside from Kronwall.

Anecdotes aside, the point was to suggest that the cold weather is likely not a determining factor when you consider their entire lives have revolved, to a great extent, around winter activities. The state of the city, crime, schools, etc. are all valid reason why someone might want to stay away from Detroit, but not the weather. Half these guys are from Quebec or Saskatchewan. Detroit probably seems like the French Riviera. Edit: Oh, and there's a ton of reason to want to play for the Wings too. Ya know, like our quality organization, youth hockey programs, closeness to home (for the Ontario guys, who surely would rather play in Detroit than Toronto). So here again, I'm guessing a little cold weather is the least of their concerns.

Jovanovski said that in 2011 just before signing with Florida. We haven't made it past the second round in that time. He wouldn't have been competing for a cup either way.

I'm not sure if I'm following the conversation correctly, but it seems like some of you are suggesting that CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS would be averse to living in the cold. Really?

Here's the article. It's part of a larger article about Johnson. Feel free to dig into it more at your own leisure. http://frozenroyalty.net/2010/01/20/dean-lombardi-jack-johnson-is-learning-his-craft-belatedly/

I like your attitude.

Well I definitely don't want to make it seem like Holland can't, and hasn't, made mistakes. We know he does. Particularly when it comes to player acquisition post 2005 lockout. But I'd agree with Rick in saying that despite his shortcomings, the draft is one area in which Holland has almost universally excelled.

You're a glutton for punishment eh?

If Holland's scouts are responsible for the picks he made as GM, then' he's responsible for the pics that happened when he was the head of scouting under other GMs. You know, guys like Fedorov, Osgood, Holmstrom, Lidstrom, Konstantinov, Primeau, Kozlov, Sillinger, Lapointe, Knuble, and McCarty. What a bum.

You should check out Dean Lombardi's thoughts on Red Berensen in his interview about Jack Johnson. I've got a lot of respect for Lombardi (obviously), and I'm not at all sure that "learning" under Red really does give these kids a leg up.

Well at least nobody can say KH is afraid to pull the trigger on a deal.

Carl Hagelin? I heard he stinks on the powerplay and he's a jitterbug. I can't remember where I heard it, but I did. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J0ZKwLCLXE

According to TSN hockey guru Darren Dreger, even if James Neal never takes a single shift for the Nashville Predators, he'll still be the third leading scorer in franchise history behind David Legwand and Steve Sullivan.

I'm totally fine with the Larkin pick. I think given our organizational needs that it was smart. That said, how bad does it suck that the earliest draft pick since 1991 comes in a year where the draft pool is this shallow? Larkin would probably have been a second rounder a year ago. Imagine trading down to get Mantha and then grabbing Larkin with your extra second instead of Bertuzzi.

It was probably a combination of wanting to look like they were "shaking things up" for the fan base, as well as some blowback from Neal being the dirtiest player on earth and making the team look bad. They basically sacrificed 15 goals a season to keep up appearances. And honestly, they had 15 goals a year to give. Their offense will still be one of the best in the league with Hornqvist instead of Neal.

Just more proof that we got the wrong Smith. Typical Holland