chances14

15 games in february, which is the month that the wings have gotten injured the most the last few years. if they can get out of that month with only 5 major injuries it will be a miracle

howard and quick's career numbers are remarkably similar but you wouldn't know that judging by all the quick hype Regular Season Howard Gaa: 2.41....917 Sv% Quick: GAA: 2.31.... 916 sv% ----------------- Playoffs Howard: GAA 2.63... 915 sv% Quick: GAA 2.12... 9.26 sv% and quick's numbers are severely inflated by the cup run last year in which i think everyone can agree, it was waaaay more about the defense than him coming up with big saves. take last year out, and the numbers are even more similar. Let's also not forget that howard was a huge reason why the wings made the playoffs in 09-10 when the wings were also struggling to score earlier on in the season simliar to what the kings problems were early on last year at this point in time i'm not sure how someone can clearly say that quick has the "it" factor but howard does not.

i'm surprised we are ranked 7th tbh. according to this rankings, the central division will once again be the strongest division in the league

i fully expect the wings to come flying out of the gate because of all the players that have been playing overseas. the bigger question will come once all the teams settle into their grove and get back into game shape. i think we could very well see another 8 seed get on a run at the end of the season, sneak into the playoffs and go on a tear to win the cup again this year

yes i know that. i was referring to the torture part of the post. it was a terrible analogy. these players are set for life financially playing a game that they love, no matter how much the nhl screws them over.

except these players are being paid millions to play a game that most would play for free. such torture every player should know that their contract is likely to change when a new cba arrives. why do you think that parise and suter got a ton of signing bonus money? because signing bonus money isn't subject to a new cba and because they knew that their contracts were going to be changed. There is no way that datsyuk would have gotten "a lot more" on the open market in 2007 especially as he was considered a playoff choker up until that point. in fact, a lot of people thought that holland overpaid big time even on this board. http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/topic/41642-datsyuk-signs-7-year-469m-contract-extension/ although it's easy to say that he would have gotten more on the open market now that we have seen him play over the last 6 years

i disagree with that part. at the time the contract was signed back in 07-08 i think he was given a market value contract at the time it was signed. he was the second highest paid wing behind lidstrom at the time no they didn't. all standard player contracts are subject to any changes that a new cba brings

Center ice is controlled by a company called indemand and then handed out to all the major tv providers. It has nothing to do with what city you live in

there are several things the league and players could do -lower ticket prices by at least 20% -lower merchandise prices 30% -lower concessions prices 50% -open up practices to the public for free with free autograph sessions after practice -free center ice and gamecenter live packages -game worn jersey and stick giveaways after every home game -every player takes a 10% paycut and gives the money to charities, etc

bingoblues would match any offers anyways

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/28/report-columbus-and-winnipeg-trade-conferences-in-a-shortened-season/ it's all pure speculation at this point. we will know for sure once the schedule gets released this week

Probably wont see a schedule released until later this week after the board of governors ratifies a new cba

yes but the cap hit is the same for each year. Pus it's another roster spot that could be used to develop a younger player

Bob Duff ‏@asktheduffer #redwings were planning Feb. 5 pre-game ceremony to retire Lidstrom's No. 5. Wonder if there will be Feb. 5 home date on new #NHL sked?

the wings were near the top of the league in terms of the number of players playing overseas during the lockout. i think that is going to be a huge asset for them, especially early on when everyone else is still trying to get into gameshape

just because the wings are set salary cap wise does not mean that they won't buy anyone out. like i mentioned earlier, if you are given the chance to get out of a long term contract for an under performing player (aka franzen) with no consequences salary cap wise, you do take advantage of it. it's not like these amnesty buyouts come around every year. this is going to be a huge season for franzen.

well that pretty much confirms my suspicions that center ice won't be free but nhl gamecenter most likely will be

once it reached 3am and they were going on 14-15 hours straight of talking, i knew that a deal would be reached when i woke up today. you don't talk for that long into the night if you don't feel like a deal is within reach i think it's more likely that the gamecenter will be free. not sure how the center ice thing would work with all the different cable providers

simply amazing

it depends on how well franzen performs imo. if the rumors about holland offering franzen in a trade for rick nash are true, i think he will be willing to buy him out if he doesn't perform. holland would be dumb to pass up the opportunity to get rid of albatross long term contract without any repercussions on a guy who has played like he mentally checked out 2 years ago

how i understand it is that it's basically a one year exception so teams have some time to get down to the cap for next year. so for all pretense and purposes, the cap is $70.2 million for this season. i may be wrong but i think that's how it works at the end of the this season, teams have the option of buying out 2 players over the next 2 offseasons with their salary being wiped off of the cap.if i was franzen, i would working my ass off this season if he wants to stay with the wings. gotta imagine he is one of the leading candidates to get bought out this upcoming offseason

Agreed.This isn't a done deal yet. Stil some things to work out.

They must be getting somewhere if the mediator was willing to go at it for 12 hours and then wants to meet again tomorrow morning

This article nails it http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/01/04/nhl-lockout-talks-waylaid-by-anger-mistrust/

from lebrun all i can do is laugh and shake my head. if this isn't further proof that both sides need to clean house after this is over, then i don't know what is