kipwinger

You've strengthened each team and considering it looks like we were going to go after an elite winger in the off season you can avoid that and just add secondary scoring at the July 1, deadline. If you added Nash you wouldn't have to chase Parise July 1 as it seems likely we'll try to do. Plus, I'm not really worried about strengthening a terrible team, that is, if you consider losing Nash and gaining Franzen an improvement. Note: Now that I think about it you wouldn't even have to chase secondary scoring in the off season if you already had Nash. Just promote from within. Holmstrom is likely leaving, so Nyquist will likely go up. So... Bertuzzi-Pav-Nash Flippula-Zetterberg-Hudler/Nyquist and so on. I like it.

ESPN has been reporting Nash to NYR for a package including Dubinsky. As much as I think the Rangers are born losers with no hope of consistency, they would be lethal with the addition of Nash...as would any playoff bound team. Here's hoping he narrows his list down to Detroit and Detroit. I'd give Franzen and pick/prospect for him yesterday if I could. Agreed on pretty much every point. Plus, rumors I've seen suggest Burke is VERY interested in making a really big deadline deal. Nash is about as big as it gets.

ESPN rumors Nash to NYR for a package including Dubinsky. Obviously, there's no telling how accurate it is, but I have only seen NYR rumors with Nash, nothing about Vancouver.

Barring any significant trades which drastically alter the teams, I'd add St. Louis and remove Chicago from the original list of Cup Contenders. Obviously Chicago is loaded up front but their defense and goaltending have been issues all season. I like St. Louis in the playoffs for a couple of reasons. As mentioned, Hitchcock, Arnott, and Langenbrunner are huge additions to any young team when it comes to playoff hockey, each is obviously proven out over time. Chances are this will be the last/best opportunity that either Arnott or Langenbrunner will have at another cup. Secondly, the remainder of the team are young (but not newbies by any stretch) and hungry. Plus, I think that every game they're growing more and more confident as they learn that they can play with anybody in the league. Finally, I like the way they win close games. When the playoffs start, and games become closer and tighter checking, a team that is used to scrapping out 1-0 or 2-1 games is very scary. Until proven otherwise, St. Louis is obviously a dark horse. Yet, a dark horse I'd hope to avoid at all costs, no matter what round it was.

In all seriousness I'm not trying to be a smart ass or passive aggressive when I ask this. What's the difference between leaving your feet in this case, and leaving your feet like Kronwall does on a lot of his hits? I don't know the rule so I don't understand the suspension here. Is it because he took the long run at Big E, or because he jumped upward and into Ericsson? Shanny didn't say anything about the head so it couldn't be any targeting issue. Does the intent matter here? Like if you intend to leave your feet it's suspension worthy but if you just happen to come off your feet because of the speed/force of a legal hit it's ok? Seriously, if anybody knows the rule on this and how it's interpreted I'd love to know it. Here's a link to the Kronwall hit on Kesler earlier this season. If you pause it at :39 seconds you'll see Kronwall way up off the ice. This is why I'm confused about the leaving your feet thing.

In general I agree with the assessment here, but go easy on Kindl. It's only the kid's first full season. I honestly don't care if they trade him or not because we've got Smith in the pipeline, but I think he'll improve. Hell, he had a real nice game the other night and even set up the Abdelkader goal with a really heads up play. I think he ended the night with two or three shots on goal. If he plays like that, with more confidence, he'll continue to improve. Again, don't think he'll be what we pry Selanne out of Anaheim with, but I do like his game and still think he deserves some development time on the third pair.

Why do you want Filppula delivering big hits? He's a finesse player on a scoring line? That said, I do agree that we need another top six forward to play on the second line, not because Filppula or Hudler have been bad, but for depth.

Fair enough, excluding October (slow start) and February (one game played) he's got 32 pts in 40 games. I still don't think it's the end of the world, hyperbole aside.

This really bums me out. He's one of our better PK guys, and one of only a few forwards on the team that Babs doesn't have to beg to shoot the puck on net. Hopefully Patty gets it together before the playoffs roll around.

and put up 80 pts. a year ago, and averaging a point a game right now after his slow start.

Franzen and Kindl would get Nash out of Columbus, everything else being equal. It will never happen, but they'd take it and so would I.

Question: How open would you be to trading Hank? Answer: None at all.

Well said. Question: do you ever get tired of being reasonable and considerate when you respond to this stuff? Seems like having to sift through ten tons of reactionary bulls*** everyday would begin to take it's toll. Either way, keep up the good work.

Never really understood the whole point of hating another team. I am happy when the Wings win, I'm irritated when they lose. Their winning implies that whoever we play has to lose, so in that regard I'd like to see other teams lose, but if they aren't playing the Wings then who gives a s***? Seems kind of pathetic to be overcome with sheer delight when a team wins or loses and it's not even the team you'r a fan of. The Chicago Blackhawks, or the Blues, or Rangers or whoever, are not Al Qaeda for Christ's sake. In my opinion this is some obnoxious thing "macho" sports fans do to make a bigger deal out of a game then it really is. Celebrate when we win, be bummed for about two minutes when we lose, and then go read to your kids or something.

It was a good hit, and a bad call. Nuff said. Seems like every time a call gets blown there's always a bunch of people screaming referee conspiracy or the end of the game as we know it. The game's still physical and always will be, I don't think anyone actually believes that they didn't blow calls in years past.

Good on Big Bert. Can't wait to see Lidstrom hand him the cup first.

It seems pretty obvious that the article was written tongue in cheek. I take it as more of a compliment than anything.

He's a new member and probably wanted to get involved and start his own post. Why be a dick about it?

Also, the argument that you should trade a guy just because better players are on the trading block is dumb. Unless you have the best player in the world at every position, there is always a better player out there, which according to this rationale means you should always be trading...constantly...until somehow you create a dream team consisting of hybrids made from the DNA of Datsyuk, Weber, Rick Nash, and Lidstrom. But then you'd have to trade for a goalie. Saying that you should trade a guy for someone better means that the only two untouchable Wings are Lidstrom and Datsyuk and everybody else should be traded or considered trade bait. I'm sure they'd play real well with that hanging over their heads.

I'm really sort of flabbergasted. I never, in a million years, thought I'd ever be in a position where I'd have to defend Cleary against charges like these. I guess if you really, honestly, feel this way about Cleary then you win. There is probably no reasoning with you, as your viewpoint is obviously extreme to the point of absurdity. So you just win. Cleary is a worthless, pathetic, non-player who has only made the team through sheer happenstance, and should be regarded as an aberration who fluked his way onto an NHL team when a washing machine is worth more to that same team. He is most definitely not a solid third line Winger with average offensive ability and situational value. Most definitely not that. You win. And your argument is perfectly reasonable too.

I'm sorry, I'm must be having trouble seeing, because it looks to me like the big tough Blues have pissy pants when the Wings hit too hard.

Well reports from Khan at Mlive.com suggest the Wings are interested in trading for a top 6 winger and a bottom 6 grit guy. Doesn't specify if the bottom 6 guy will be a center or not, but considering Emmerton's limitations it's not unrealistic to think that's where the addition would come in to play. Also, I agree with pretty much everyone's frustration about Abby's lack of production, but as he plays good defense, finishes his checks, and has good size, I think he's a valuable asset for any playoff bound team. When the games become tighter, guys like Abby increase in utility.

ESPN is reporting today that the going rate for Bobby Ryan is two top prospects and a top pick. A few weeks ago they wanted roster players for roster players. I'm still not sure EXACTLY what it's going to take to land him but considering he's young, proven, and under contract, I don't know why the Wings wouldn't take a long hard look at him and try to make something happen if the new ESPN report is accurate.

Why would they move Bertuzzi down?

Danny Briere just got a concussion, wonder if we'll see any stories in print about his doctor's appointment? Like a few others have said, who gives a s*** about this guy's doctor visits?