kipwinger

I'd check out too if I were getting punished physically each and every night and had zero space to do anything because of non-stop double teams. Screw it, you're their meal ticket and they won't give you somebody better to play with than Justin f'n Abdelkader and Johan Franzen.

Dave Bing ought to know how much money Illitch has, or at least he knows Illitch has the 60 or 70 million dollars in taxes that he hasn't felt like paying.

Hmmm...my prediction? They'll double team Datsyuk and Zetterberg and effectively shut down our already abhorrent offense. But they're worse so we'll probably win. Junk goal by Miller, one by a defenseman not named Kronwall, and a PP goal by whoever.

I hope so too, but to be honest the points game began on January, 19th.

I was going to say the exact same thing. Glad I looked through past posts. Anytime you offer two guys twin 13 year 90+ million dollar contracts you're not exactly pinching pennies. The fact that they chose a different place to play says nothing about Illitch's willingness to spend money. FYI to everyone else who thinks otherwise...the Motor City Casino last year alone made enough money to pay for the duration of Prince Fielder's contract. Illitch has PLENTY of money for both the Wings and the Tigers. Fact.

Well a few days ago they said he'd be ready in a week and a half. So unless something changes, yes he is expected back.

What are you talking about, we've won three whole games in a row twice this season!

You know, they sort of remind me of a poor man's LA Kings from last season. A lot of tough, scrappy, opportunistic scorers, and solid defensive core, and one really elite skilled player. Plus good goaltending. If this team makes the playoffs they'll really do well in the tight checking, physically grinding sort of game. I can see them being a spoiler.

I think you're misunderstanding me, I'm not knocking the guy. What I'm saying is that Nyquist, like Brunner, is a good player but who doesn't currently have the ability to create offense alone. There's a place on teams for guys like that, but to defend them, all you have to do is shut down the workhorse. By stopping Zetterberg you also stop Brunner. Same goes for Nyquist, he doesn't create offense himself, and therefore putting him with Datsyuk would do the same as putting Brunner with Z. Stop the main guy and you stop the other guy too. Think about other good lines in hockey, or good players and you'll understand what I'm saying. Double team Ryan Getzlaf and see if Corey Perry doens't tear you up, or Bobby Ryan or whoever. They create offense all by themselves. Nyquist is just young, that part of his game will develop, but it hasn't yet at the NHL level. By having two guys on a line that can "do it themselves" when necessary, you open ice up for everyone because it becomes too dangerous to double team anyone and leave the other guy open. Right now nobody is afraid to leave Nyquist, Brunner, Franzen, Cleary or Abby open by double teaming Z or Dats. They figure "if the other guys can beat us then let them". Obviously they can't. Edit: Actually now that I think about it, they should put Tatar with Datsyuk. That kid has shown that he can, and will, beat you if you give him space and time. Nyquist, not so much.

I hate to say this, but Nyquist isn't going to make one iota of difference this season. He's a good player, but not good enough to create/capitalize on offensive chances by himself. Right now the only two people on our team that can do that are Datsyuk and Zetterberg and teams just double team the living s*** out of them every night. It's pretty clear at this point that if Dats and Z are shut down, the Wings can't beat you because while they've got A LOT of players, they've got no depth. Remember in years past when we'd lead the league in guys with 15 or more goals? Currently we've only got two in double digits and none with more than 11. That's not depth. This is why getting a goal scorer would have made a HUGE difference, imagine double teaming Datsyuk if Gaborik is on his wing. Gabby would eat teams alive with that much space. But alas. You can't beat teams if you can't match up against them, and at this point in his career Gustav Nyquist isn't capable of exploiting a mismatch. Simple as that.

Yeah I agree. I think the cumulative grind, night in and night out, will have an effect over the course of 82 games. But I think the learning curve is short on these types of things so I don't expect it to be an issue for longer than a season.

Except that didn't happen. Minnesota gave two prospects. One who wasn't as good as Jarnkrok in the SEL and a goalie prospect coming off a losing record in the AHL. Pretty sure we could have topped that without "selling the farm".

He's an UFA (as noted below), and you can't take a UFA to salary arbitration. Only RFA.

There's the list back to 2000. There's a lot of really impressive rookie seasons. Year Winner Runner-up 2012 Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton 2011 Jeff Skinner, Carolina Logan Couture, San Jose 2010 Tyler Myers, Buffalo Jimmy Howard, Detroit 2009 Steve Mason, Columbus Bobby Ryan, Anaheim 2008 Patrick Kane, Chicago Nicklas Backstrom, Washington 2007 Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Paul Stastny, Colorado 2006 Alex Ovechkin, Washington Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh 2004 Andrew Raycroft, Boston Michael Ryder, Montreal 2003 Barrett Jackman, St. Louis Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit 2002 Dany Heatley, Atlanta Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta 2001 Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Brad Richards, Tampa Bay 2000 Scott Gomez, New Jersey Brad Stuart, San Jose

In 3-4 years Datsyuk and Flip will probably be gone, and Zetterberg, Kronwall, and Franzen will be on the decline. So I hope those "solid, young, talents" are better than projected because that's a lot of leadership, scoring, defense, and consistency that we're about to lose.

It's not an overpayment. It's the going rate in today's NHL. Ken Holland has to get with the times. If you want a high end player (he said he did) and you're not currently developing one (we aren't), then you've got to pay market value (he doesn't). There's a reason we haven't been getting anybody of note recently, and I know this is a surprise, but it's because KH isn't willing to pay what competitors in the market place are willing to pay. It's simple supply and demand, there is a small supply of high end players and everyone wants them, so the price is high. Apparently KH doesn't want them bad enough. Simple as that.

What are you talking about, of course Holland locked up his core. You know how I know that? Because none of them have ever played for another team or even tested free agency. Holland drafted and signed his core. The Hawks did the same long before Scotty Bowman ever got there. What I said was, "it doesn't take a genius to sign role players and Hossa to a discount". Holland signs role players, and signed Hossa to a discount too. Why are you knocking him and making it seem like Bowman's the second coming of Christ?

Not smart huh? Dumber than letting him walk and seeing your top six gutted the year after having your top two defensive pairs gutted? Flip will get a big pay day real soon. Mark my words. If Holland is really, REALLY, lucky Flip will agree to a year extension at the same or a little more money and then give him his raise once the cap goes back up the following season. But I wouldn't count on that type of shrewd management around here.

Maybe Tatar could, but we don't know. As it is, he played pretty well this season but had the advantage of EXTREMELY sheltered minutes. Filppula is twice the puckhandler and MUCH stronger on his feet then Tatar is. We have yet to see if he can put up consistent offense against top lines and top defensive pairings. It's a big gamble to take.

It doesn't take a genius to bring in role players and sign Hossa to a discount. If it took getting Scotty to do that then I hope the Blackhawks sign me up to take his place for half the price. Fact is, their entire core was in place before Bowman took a job there.

I've posted this elsewhere but am going to post here too: If I'm Filppula's agent I'm pumped right now. There are no quality wingers available in the upcoming UFA class. Detroit already doesn't have enough top flight wingers. AND they didn't bother to go get one at the trade deadline. So now I'm going to get him a maximum contract. If 5 million was the starting point, I'll probably go up to 5.5 because what are they going to do, let Flip walk and go into the season with what they've got plus Nyquist and Tatar? Best of luck boys, pay up or go into next season with a barely adequate top six. Zero chance of getting this guy on the low end of negotiations now. Awesome.

Two things... 1. Take a look at this year's free agent class, there aren't any top sixer or top four defensemen. 2. If I'm Filppula's agent I'm happy as hell right now. The Wings already don't have enough quality top sixers, there are none in this years UFA class, and the team didn't acquire one at the deadline. I can now drive the hardest bargain ever and get my client a maximum contract because what are they going to do, let him walk and replace him with Tatar or Nyquist?

With the exception of like four guys our entire team is "the fat". Anybody remember, "how well the team plays over the next six games will determine how active we are during the trade deadline"? That was Ken Holland, a week and a half ago, treating his fans like they are idiots. Awesome.

Wow, that's pretty much just a list of 3rd and 4th liners and 5th and 6th defensemen. Awesome. Can't wait to not acquire a scoring winger in the offseason as well. Thank god Nyquist is the answer to that problem...oh wait...nevermind.

Give me a break, Scotty didn't become affiliated with the Black Hawks until 2008, at which point they had already drafted or acquired Toews, Bfuglien, Versteeg, Ladd, Brouwer, Kane, Sharp, Seabrook, and Keith. To say Scotty had anything to do with their rise is absurd.