jroc86

If Weber ends up in Philly and gets the C does he assume the kiss of death Lindros, Primeau, and Pronger all have with careers ended via concussions? Hes already had 2 ... one or two more good bell ringers and he could be counting to potatoe as well. Just saying.

f*** me. Well, lets hope he goes to Philly and Nashvilles 4 first rounders bust hard. I dont blame Holland for anything up to this point - but man, this crushes the pipedream.

Then watching the gold medal game vs Sweden we got to see whats in my oppinion the best brand of hockey going. They made the Russian team look like total amateurs inregards to their puck possesion and team play. Going into overtime the shots were something like 50-8.

I think that Russians appear lazy for a few reasons. Firstly, they grow up playing a different brand of hockey - pure a simple. More emphasis is placed on creativity and offence and less is placed on structure and defensive play. In regards to Russian sniper type players (ie, Kovalchuk, Ovie, Bure, Semin, etc) their speed is what separates them and gives them scoring chances. Those quick 5-7 second bursts to beat a checker and get a breakaway and get the goal are predominatly supplied by the creatine phsophate system within our muscles - and lactate system also plays a role. If your humming around all shift at 85% pursuing the puck and sticking with your check odds are youll be less likely to with footraces towards the mid/end of your shift. But if you come out and float/wait high in the zone and then bury the pedal you going to be faster and provide yourself more time and space when you do in fact get the puck. You might get more goals and points over a season playing like this - but odds are more will end up in your net and youll leave teammates out to dry allot. Note: Ovies lack of production playing more defensivley minded. This is why many around the league beleive that if Datsyuk didnt play so disciplined he could score 100points a year. how many times do we see Pavel back-check, battle in the corner, break the puck out and finally get an odd man break but be skating 60% speed because hes already been going for 40 seconds? It happens allot - but I have no problem with it because hes so good on the defensive side of the puck.

Dom either; 1) Still loses sleep over Ozzy taking over for him in 2008 and getting the job done and doesnt like hows thats his NHL career ended. 2) Is finding any excuse to get away from a s***ty marriage. lol ... best of luck. If he makes a comeback and is a decent backup for 20 or so games good for him. Hell be the Randy Couture of hockey.

I think our defense very well "could" be much better off than were all giving them credit for right now. Kronwall is our guy - and he would be a top pairing guy on any other team in the league right now aside from Chicago. White - hes serviceable, competes hard, and is a better player than he gets credit with. Hes good - not great, hence why hes always the peice going to other way in trades to sweeten a deal. Ericsson - despite the constant flaming he gets on here has come along way. Defensivley hes vastly under-rated and uses that big body pretty effectively while remaining more mobile than most his size. His penchant for turnovers on the first breakout pass have also gone way down. Its time for him to earn his contract and I think with a bigger role he will. Smith - well, Schultz is being heralded as the next Paul Coffey already. Jake Gardiner as a rookie threw up 30 points for the leafs and is the biggest untouchable on their team now ... meanwhile Smitty is tougher, more physical, and put home more points at Wisconsin than either of them ever did. Hes a huge piece and very well could be looked upon as our 2nd dman by christmas. Quincey- offensive upside is there, if healthy a 30-40 pts campaign is probably were hell land which is pretty good for a 4/5 dman in the NHL. If he makes simple plays on the breakout and improves his coverage he could be a pleasant suprise. (I dont like his face or his style period. I hope he canchange that). Kindl- weve all heard by now, he had more apples than Lids at even strength last year. Well, I stilldont see a guy who is tough, mobile, smart, or physically strong enough to be a full-time NHL player. Id much rather him be our number 7 and only play when someone is hurt or needs a rest. Our defence is mid pack - but not awful. If we can swing a deal for a Boumeester or Yandle that would be huge - but Im not totally counting on it. Until the new cap-hit is established I dont think Kenny is going to make a trade (espeiclaly for JBo) because he knows whos probably going to be getting a visit next July 1st. If we get Weber next summer - we will all be thanking god for our unasnwered prayers over the last few months. 11 Months ago the big guy said he wanted to come here and from a few conversations I've had with people around him it seems his agent is steering him this way as well. Not going to drop sources or anything - and if we have an awful year combined with last years poor end things might totally change in his mind if they havent already. But know this - were on his radar, and if this team can tread water and at least make the playoffs again we have a really good shot at getting Weber next summer.

Lets give it a rest with the Holland bashing ... he went all in on Parise and Suter. Parise got 3 more points than Filp last year and and now a cap hit of 7.5 mill for the rest of his career. And Ryan Suter despite being a very good player is a somewhat unproven commodity without the leagues biggest/best dman beside him. Trades dont happen overnight. Theres a plan in place and this "rebuild on the fly" might not come full circle until next off season. Do you think other GMs really want to help out the NHL Gold-standard Red Wings that much to keep our winning tradition alive? Hell no.

MASSIVE NO! to Cam Barker ... this guy does not take his trade of being a professional hockey player nearly serious enough to be a Red Wing. He peaked at 21 and is just going through the motions right now. I'm not going to throw the kid under the bus and say anything that can hurt his repuation but I will say he is not a student of the game and his dedication to the sport off the ice are nowhere near what Id expect out of a Red Wing. end/

I agree for the most part. A big bodied steady veteran on D is key. Semin or Doan would be fantastic. This is a lineup that would leave us with capspace, trade options, and a very competitive team imo. Nyquist Datsyuk Semin/Doan Franzen Zetterberg Samulsen Bertuzzi Filpula Cleary (Brunner) Adbelkader Helm Tootoo Miller Anderson Tatar Kronwall White Ericsson Quincey Smith Rosival/Kubina/Jurcina Kindl (NOT a dependable NHL dman IMO!! slow, soft, and gets scared on the forecheck) Jimmy Monster **ps. Andersson really made strides last year. If he impresses in camp and earns a spot if Filp and Abby play wing I think he could slot into the 4th line with Abs and Tootoo and add some hands and finish to a fast, physical, youthful line. I only put Filpula as the 3rd line center because if Brunner turns out to be the real deal having three lines with a legitimate scoring threat could be great (or neccesary lol ... with our questionable defense outscoring our mistakes could become our MO - again).

After this weekend Doan will have been given insight to the Yotes future - if he hits the market they are moving. And the Wings have expressed interest - and yes, Doans agent did contact Holland. It theres a guy I wouldnt be averse to overpaying 500k to a mill per year for its Doan because this motherf*cker competes every shift like its his last. His presence would be great in our room and if we inked him for 3 years I'd put an A on him (Z captain, Kronner, Dats, Doan assistants). This team goes from a fairly ho-hum group to a sure fire contender this year of we can sign Doan and Semin. Id like to sign a Kubina or Rosival to shore up or top 6 asap because Kindl IMO is never going to be better than a 7th dman. He is a weak skater and doesnt have to skill/brains/toughness to make up for it. ps. IF the Yotes are headed to Quebec - or folding, Yandle becomes easier to acquire by us. With us handing them their asses in 2 of their last 3 playoffs I think management would feel heat from their 14 person fanbase if they gave up their star dman for less than an unreal package.

This guy called the Roy/Ott trade, Prust to Habs, and and Carle to Tampa 2 days before it happened. Theres a few others - this goof at least has a few sources that have tipped him off on legit information.

If a young Sean Averys personality was kept in check in the Wings room - I think Semin will be fine. Yeah, he'll have slow patches and off nights. Guess what? 40 goal scorers dont grow on trees. Sign him for 4 years - if theres chemistry and hes around after 2013-2014 hell probably help us re-up Datsyuk. If I'm holland I sign Semin for 5.5 x 4 years. Give him a 4 million$ signing bonus now to get it done. A 3 year dealwith Doanwould also be great. 35 is only a number - Doan is a tank/workhorse with crazy legs. Just like Drapes even approaching 40 hell still be the stronger/faster alpha male than most 25 year olds. Getting a few UFAs take the pressure off Kenny, gives the fans something to get excited for next year, and opens up more trade options to give us leverage to get a Yandle or Boumeester without hurting our offense too badly.

Hindsights a beautiful thing ...

Schultz, Parise, and Suter all went to the teams they were rumored to for MONTHS. We never had a bead on Schultz or Parise - and Suters agent is in bed with the Wild brass. A year from now we could all be laughing that Ryan Suter got paid 12 million to put up 25 points and Brendan Smith got paid 800k and put up 30. Seriously ... chill out. Our forward group is still elite, our goaltending situation has been shored up as well. We NEED a top 4 defensemen and could USE another forward that can either snipe or add grit. Octobers a long way off. Semin would be a good start - IF he isn't demanding a long term contract. Yandle or Boumeester are both in play and Filp + extras would likely get either. Doan would be Great - and Id be happy to overpay him for a 2-3 year deal if the Yotes are headed to Quebec.

Dont forget - theres the 10% overage rule for the cap in the offseason which gives us an additional 7 million to spend. If anyone isnt connecting the dots its likely that a forward or two will be dealt either one way or another. We are still competitive and above average if we stand pat on forward now - but if we can package a deal for Nash or sign Parise/Semin and send a few of our boys elsewhere for a few picks I wont be suprised.

Great day so far. -Inked a potential masked assasin in Brunner for peanuts - the monster has a ton of untapped potential and with Bedard and our Swedish room, and limited playing time I think hell do great -Sammy takes alllot of flack around here ... hes still got game. He had a terrible start last year because he had a severe adductor tear repaired. Big body, decent wheels, heavy shot ... yeah hes streaky, but what euro isnt? -Tootoo - bargain of the day IMO. Imagine him and Adbelkader smashing dmen on the forecheck? Oh, and no more tootoo whistles in Nashville - thank f***! If there was any question that Detroit was serious this off-season management has shown the fanbase and the free-agent pool that they arentf****** around. If Suter comes Ill be happy with what we've got BUT have a sneaking suspicion another big name top 6 fwd will follow him. Pretty pumped right now.

On TSN their saying Illitch, Babs, and Holland are in talks with Parise's people in Mississauga. Just Chelios going to visit Suter today?

'Twas the night before Free Agency, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even Bob Rouse; The jerseys were hung by the locker stalls with care, In hopes that St. Nicklas soon would be there; The Euro-twins were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of dangles and cross and drops danced in their heads; And Holland in his 'kerchief, and Babs in his cap, Had just settled down for a long summer's chat, When out on the phone there arose such a clatter, They sprang from their beds to see what was the matter. Away to Madison Wisconsin Babs flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The sun on the breast of the freshly ploughed farms It was now Babcocks time to turn on his charms, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a #1 dman, and Poile shaking with fear, With little old Illitch, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment this deal would stick. After Illitch had inked Suter and met his family they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; "Now, Parise! now, Prust! now, Doan and Salvador! On, Datsyuk! on Zetterberg! on, Kronwall and Franzen! To the top of the league! It starts this fall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" Happy Free Agency Folks ...

With Brunner apparently coming into the fold next year and being given top 6 minutes to begin with what do you guys think of possibily putting Filpula at center full-time? This is assuming of course that we can land a stud free agent (Parise/Semin ideally ... or even a Doan, Jagr) who would likely slot in the top 6. Theres also some speculation that Kenny will try and bring back Samulssen - which I wouldnt mind in the least. Hes a big body, that knows the system, and can blast the puck. If his injury issues from Vancouver are behind him I say throw him a short deal. Heres some line combos that are pretty versatile and I think would give us possibly the most skilled top-9 in the league ... allot of this is based on my gut feeling that Brunners speed will really be a big factor in allowing him for a smoother transition to the NHL than most people think. So ... 1) Nyquist Datsyuk Semin 2) Brunner Zetterberg Franzen 3) Bertuzzi Filpula Samulssen 4) Cleary Helm Abdelkader Miller/Eaves If we dont acquire a depth forward a "healthy" Cleary with wheels would fit in great on the 3rd line. If Brunner is a wash Filp goes back to the 2nd line and Abby centers the 4th line again. Millers productive season last year and consistent effort last year really endeared him to me and Id like to see him in the lineup as he deserves a spot. If we get 2 forwards in free agency though and Brunner sticks - hes gona be watching from the press box allot Im afraid.

Gota say this ... Abby at center - is a joke. He a workhorse thats is only effective at the NHL level as a winger. What he brings to the table as a center (faceoff % and fighting) can be bought in Paul Gaustad, but better and we can put Abby back on the 4th line wing where he can charge dmen till the cows come home and rattled brain cells. As a center hes the last to enter the zone way to much and he is a player (much like myself) who plays on speed, power, and adrenaline way too much. He's not a thinker at the NHL level, hes a Max Lapierre thats slightly better at fighting.

His skillset is useless to be buried on gthe 4th line dump and chasing - and at 26 its sink or swim time. We cant afford to "groom" him in the AHL for a year or two just to bring him up to ride pine. This guy the the skillset of an NHL players and very well could succeed and put up respectable numbers playing with Pav or Z. At the same time he could get crushed into dust and lose his confidence inside of the first month. Hell be given enough rope to hang himself - and if he doesnt fit, hell be snipped by December. Give the guy a shot, I like what I see. Nyquist-Datsyuk-Franzen Filpula-Zetterberg-Brunner *if we get a Parise or Semin then bump Franzen or Nyquist back to the 3rd line with Helm and Bert.

Im pretty optomistic.