kliq

Never said there was an asterisk next to it, they won fair and square. But like I said, when you spend roughly 100,000,000 million more the the second highest spending team, you are not going to earn the respect that other teams do. Wings never did that, while the Wings did at times spent the most or were in the top 5, they weren't double the payroll of the team in 2nd. I read back my comments, and it did sound like I was saying nobody respected the Yankees, I take that back as I should have said a lot of people didn't respect the Yankees.

Pavel Datsyuk and Nick Lidstrom. *note* sorry for posting 3 times in a row, it wasn't letting me copy and paste quotes into one window. Every time I pasted Playmakers quote, it was saying Frank wrote it.

If we are talking a non cap world, I think its pretty safe to say that "money helps a team win" is a fact. Having the ability to retain your star players is going to help you, having the ability to sign the top UFA's is going to help you, having the ability to not be hurt by a bust and being able to just send him down to the minors and sign someone else is going to help you. Money in no way guarantees a championship, but it helps. I also don't get your sour grapes argument, did you read my first post? The post was about a Wings fan I knew who was turned off with the Wings spending. Sour grapes would not apply here. I'm not even going to get into the Yankees, that's a whole different argument for a different place.

Never once did I say money was the only factor, I'm not sure where you got that from. Of course it isn't, spending money simply increases your probability of winning, and the more you spend, the higher the probability becomes.

You make some good points. I remember back in 2006 I was talking to a casual friend, and I brought up the Wings. He told me he was a HUGE fan back in the 90's, but when it seemed they started having their pick of whoever they wanted in the early-mid 2000's it really turned him off. He said that he couldn't respect a team that won just because its owner spent more money. At the time I really didn't listen to what he said and I completely disagreed, but looking back on it I can see how someone would have more respect for a team doing it the way its done now. Did anyone out side of Yankees fans really respect the Yankees back in 2009 when they won the world series and their payroll was around 200,000,000 while the second highest payroll was closer to 100,000,000? Now the Yankees were an extreme, but my point is I'm starting to get his train of thought.

I think you may have misinterpreted my comments. They have won 3 Cups, which is exactly my point. Chicago sacrificed their future a bit (not completely) to win in the moment and it 100% worked. BUT when you make the moves they made (ie. Hossa contract, Toews contract, Kane contract etc.) at some point when your young guys are due for a new contract (ie Saad) you wont be able to sign them. This is exactly why I have been against Holland signing vets to dumb contracts, because a bad contract in lets say 2012 could lead to losing Tatar, Nyquist etc. in 2014, 2015, or Jurco in 2017 etc. .

I cant speak for anyone else, but I'm not losing any sleep at the thought of Chicago being brought down a peg. I'm sick and tired of seeing them in the finals. This is a perfect example of why cap management is so important in today's NHL. Being reckless now can screw you later.

I thought Sharp played the Wing? Either way, like I said earlier, his moves look good on paper but lets see if it translates to the ice.

Pretty sure that was during Nyquist's absolutely insane stretch in early 2014.

Does this mean that fans are going to start chanting "Dan Cleary Sucks, Dan Cleary Sucks, Dan Clear Sucks"

Wasn't he paid 2.5 million last year?

Agreed. There is a reason why the Wings rarely have players jump ship, they treat their players well.

That's definitely debatable. He's done a great job on paper, the big question is can it translate on the ice.

This is very clear, you talk about him in pretty much EVERY post.

You're right, it doesn't necessarily mean that, and I really do hope I am wrong. That is just the vibe I have always got from him, and this latest incident unfortunately leads me to believe I am right. I fully acknowledge though, I am an outsider looking in and I very well could be wrong.

I cant say I am surprised. Everything about him screams gigantic ego and huge sense of entitlement. Its too bad Buffalo gave him that huge contract. When a person who already has an enhanced sense of self has that feeling validated, it can lead to bad things. Hopefully I'm wrong, or if not, hopefully he gets a reality check and wakes up.

Really not a spoiler.

Ya that I find annoying. Nothing against Mac, I loved him as a player, but 25 should be available to anyone.

I dont think they have to worry. The Wings have been around for as long as they have and and they only have 10% out. At that pace, in another 60 years they will be out 20%. That means they will still have 80 numbers left. Nothing that will effect the Wings in our life time. Plus, its harder and harder now to get your jersey retired.

Either retire a jersey or don't. I hate this middle ground of "we dont want to retire this number, but nobody else can use it". Unless you intend on retiring it, keep it in circulation. The only exception IMO is Vladdy, very unique circumstance.

If that's the case, I wouldn't call that a "comeback", more like a lateral move. They are just switching from one conference to another conference.

McGratton is not legally allowed to donate his blood as it would make any ordinary heart explode.

Which of these guys weren't under contract last year?

Usually I would agree, but if you read the other Nyquist thread, there was a pretty clear narrative that Nyquist would be paid at least 6mil a year, and there was definitely an understanding that he was an RFA.

Nice post. I was about to post pretty much the same thing. People forget that being an RFA and UFA are not the same thing.