jroc86

unofficial source but... lol

Does anyone on this thread realize that 3 seasons ago Brendan Smith put up BETTER numbers (52 points) than Schultz ever has in the three seasons hes played (highest is 44). Smith is the one with more offensive upside - but Schultz seems to almost as offensivley inclined but seems to make the more low risk plays and not get caught as much. Smith I suppose you could liken more to a Phaneuf or Jack Johnson and Schultz to more of a Suter or Erhoff. As a pro nobody knows how good hell be ... that extra size/speed/roughness can turn a great prospect into a gunshy nobody pretty quickly. That said, if the money and terms reasonable if there has EVER been a time to stick our necks out there and take a chance on a kid its now. ESPECIALLY is Suter ends up resigning or going elsewhere early on July 1st.

I seem to remember he did an interview on the team 1040 (Vancouver sport station) a while back and was asked about being a Canuck someday - said he was a fan growing up and would be honored considering how elite they are right now but that he was very happy with Florida, their core, they gave him his start etc and is 100% focused on being a panther for the time being. Just saying, the Canucks will be fighting for him as hard as anyone if hes a UFA on July 1st. If its any consellation he sounded allot warmer to the idea of playing in Vancouver than Shea Weber did a few weeks ago.

I played against him a few times when he was on the Nanaimo Clippers back in 2003-2004 ... he was their best dman by a mile and they were perrenially one of the top Jr A programs in Canada but I NEVER would have pictured him at this level. Kudos to him for sticking it out, what a late bloomer story. Id be pumped to get him on the Wings but apparently he has his eye on Vancouver(hometown) if he doesn't resign with FLA.

I was hoping for 2 things this series. 1) a one sided drubbing from LA. 2) a poor showing from Parise to make the fanbase somewhat disdainful of him so he gets let go easier (ala, us with Hossa after 09). Looking good thusfar! 1 more loss then he can come over to the Dark Side...

Schultz is good and Ill be thrilled if we sign him. That being said, we already have a stud whos bigger, more physical, and put up more points than Schultz ever has 3 seasons ago ... Brendan Smith is the real deal and if he plays on the big club and his minutes are managed accordingly well see that this year.

Pavel is my favorite player (without Lids) but Zetterberg is the better captain. Speaks better english (good for media and refs) and despite cold stretches in the regular season hes our hardest working and most clutch playoff performer. Z has big shoes to fill - but I think hes up for it.

At this stage I say the only way he comes here is if they lose convincingly in the finals and Parise indivually plays terribly enough to be a primary scapegoat for their failure ... 0-goals, 1 assist, and a -5 in a 5 game series would likely accomplish that haha. Don't see it happening, but the only way he even looks elsewhere is if he somehow becomes the Devils Roberto Luongo and becomes the franchises whipping boy for an untimely beds***ting.

Hate him or love him - Semin fit like a glove on Pavs wing. If his pricetag is low enough (4.5) and the terms short I wouldnt be upset to see him on the Wings next year. Weve taken on projects/reclaimation projects before ... and hes probably the youngest and most talented renaissance man Hollands ever given a career 2nd life to.

With the CBA expiring on the 15th who cares what the cap "might" get lowered too. In 05/06 the Wings have to slice and dice from 75 mill to 39 mill after the fact. I say sign whoever we need by whatever means necessary and deal with the consequences after. In the offseason does it matter how fat your projected payroll is? If we are a few skaters and a few mill over the limit heading into the season with a stocked roster and a few guys need to be exposed to waivers or traded for picks so be it.

I played Jr A with Holtby in Lloydminster (he practiced with us all year and got called up a handful of times) when he was only a 15 year old. He was a great kid and its awesome to see what a beast this guys playing like. Im rooting for the Kings in the West, but id like to see the Caps come out of the east given all the s*** the team/Ovi has taken over the last few days. Ovechkin hoisting the cup would please me because it would sting Pens fans and Crosbaby would probably cry himself to sleep for a week.

Mike Smith is doing what the Red Wings could not - take out the Preds, crush their cup aspirations, hence eliminating the real only selling point the franchise had to play when it comes to signing their bigtime free agents this summer. Suter might not be a Red Wing next year, but I gurantee we wont have to play him 6 times a year next season because he wont be a Predator. That said, Im on the LA bandwagon. Way too many likeable guys and a better mix of grit and top-end skill than Pheonix. LA vs Philly would be great for the "who won the trade?" drama also.

What irks most people is that we just lost (handily) to the team that was the most aggressive on deadline and appears to be having success. Especially considering the rumors linking Gaustad to Detroit for weeks before the deadline only have have him he a faceoff monster and provide some timely offensive production for them as well. If our first went for Gaustad and Smith took our 6th or 7th spot Im not saying it would have solved all our problems - but it certainly would have helped. ******* hindsight always being 20/20 ... I hate that

Holland completely. Theres more to it than this but ill keep it simple: Before the deadline we were 3-1 against Nashville with 2 of those wins being 1 sided 4-1 drubbings. After the deadline we were 1-6 against Nashville. Our bottom 6 lacked the size/speed/grit to actually wear down the other teams defense and our top 6 really could have used another weapon to give Dats/Zett some support. They both had the puck on their sticks allot and tried to make plays but nobody could provide and option. Paul Gaustad IMO could have done wonders for this team instead of Kyle "footsteps" Quincey whodouble clutches the puck everytime he thinks a hits coming. CBA runs until September right? So that means the cap is projected to reach 69-72 million. He better get his hat in the ring with some of the other top bidders for a few keys peices - our core can still win, but they need some support. This leagues getting fuller and fuller of NHL ready young talent every year and Holland needs to realize that.

This will be Ken Hollands most aggressive off-season in years guranteed. We dont need to rebuild - we still have special players, most of whom still have a handful of good years left. What we need to do I reinforce that core of good players with a stud up front (Parise/Semin) and the best free agent available on D (not saying Suter because them beating us really makes him coming here unlikely IMO). A few young guns added to the lineup and one or two sandpaper guys that can bang the body and fight and well be good. Stuarts gone, Holmers gone, Emmertons gota go, need a backup goalie, and despite his scoring touch I think Hudlers might be let go because hell likely want a raise and Id rather take a bigger/tough more consistent presence if its available via trade or free agency. Holland can plently of capsapce and an easter basket of almost NHL ready B-level prospects to sweeten deals. This team needs to reload in a few areas and well be in better shape a year from now.

This is a wakeup call - Holland will be active this summer. With the cap already projected to be around 69-72 mill and these weaker markets getting deeper in the playoffs I think hes have a looser leash than most of us expect. Im proud of most of the boys - especially Hank, he was a warrior out there and left it all on the ice. Lids will be back healthy and rested. Kenny will get Datsyuk a stud to feeds pucks, hopefully snag a top tier dman for Lids to play with, hopefully a few of our young guns get a chance, and maybe we can shed some dead-weight for some 210lb+ good skating depth that can make us harder to play against. Deep breaths folks.

As everyone in BC already knows - it would appear the Roberto Luongo has started his last game as a Vancouver Canuck. We know Detroit has been a place where goalies have gone mid/late in their careers and had success (Vernon, Osgood, Hasek) ... given the praise that Babcock has heaped on Lou for years does anyone think theres a snowballs chance in hell that he ends up here if Gillis indeed looks to flog Luongos contract. 5.3/year wouldnt be THAT bad if he stays healthy and is in a hockey market that doesnt totally put goalies through the woodchipper. Hes been getting pig-roasted in Vancouver for a few years now and it looks like hes in 95/96 Patrick Roy territory. I know, Jimmys our boy and I sure like him more than Lou - but with his contract expiring next year and his ups and downs (injuries aside) I cant help think his window to for upside cant be for too much longer and he could be on a shorter leash than many of us would like to admit..

Pretty much what I expected here - most of which I thought myself. 5.3 million dollar cap hit for Lou isnt too bad if he maintains his ability for at least 5 years - then if he becomes injury prone or goes downhill 5.3 would require a buyout (which wouldnt be much cuz his last few years are only a million dollars a pop). And yes, Im fully aware of his post season meltdowns. 8 goals against in game 6 vs Chicago in 09 = gone, 7 goals against vs chicago in 10 = gone, 2 huge beds***tings against Chi last year, then 3 awful performances against Boston to lose the finals. I dont like the guy - never have, and like most of the Canucks fanbase (it seems) Ive always wanted to see him fail based on the team he plays for - the current incarnation of the Canucks has too many people I just cannot cheer for on any level . Going forward I really hope we can patch up the backup goaltender situation with a respectable tender so Jimmy can be spelled off more and only play 60 or so games. I think im just going stir crazy before game 5 - lets go get as ******* win Wings and shut all of our useless banter up for a few days! To quote my hero, role model, and guiding light in life Ric Flair - "woooo! woooo! woooooooooooooooo!"

Lets not forget what happened last year folks - this team is capable of putting together 3 in a row. Unlikely? Aboslutley, but impossible? Absolutley not. Its more evident than ever that changes need to be made to make Detroit stylistically capable of winning against the big bodied teams. At the end of the day its clear or lack of size/grit/phyiscality just makes this team too damn easy to play against. That said, weve got what weve got. Its up to those 2o guys in that room to get the job done and just get ONE win on Friday. Coming home for 6 and its a series again. Once again seeing fans at the Joe walking out with 5 minutes left while down 1 goal was disgusting. We have the most spoiled fanbase in pro sports with our continued success and competitiveness and yeah this year certainly isnt the best team we've ever iced - and Im sure weve all been hearing the "too old, too slow, too soft, no goaltending banter" from our friends/colleagues lately. That CANT be Lidstroms last game at JLA - ths teamplays best when their backs are against the wall, and I expect to see a great effort in a few days and a few bounces are bound to go our way.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab_lp4GFKGg <br class="Apple-interchange-newline">

Weber and Suter will never sign here if they beat us this series and ill take a sig bet for life if im proven otherwise. Poile will match whatever we offer them (unless that cap gets blown up in the CBA somehow then Illitich can start writing real cheques again) and they would look like assholes in front of the entire league if they jumped to the nearest divisional rival (whom theyve just beaten in the first round). We lose this series - we lose the big brother card temporarily and thats really the only card we have to play.

Before he got hurt he was looking 95% as good as the guy that won the Norris last year - hes earned whatever money he wants. Superficially id convince him to take a "hometown discount" of say 1.5-3 million and just agree to pay him the remaineder of what would be paid regularly for some half-assed job when he retired. Defenseman consultant, scout, etc - and give him his 2012/13 money while he makes a few appearances and stays with his wife in some 5 star hotel rooms to watch a bit of hockey. The cap doesn't take into consideration team staff, so thats what I would do to improve our ability to really throw some money around to reinforce this team with a few keys peices to push us over the top.

Bump (added another epic comeback vid). On Vancouver Island it seems many Canuck fans are hopping off their own sinking ship and joining the Preds bandwagon. After work Friday I plan on rocking my Lidstrom jersey, ballcap, and heading down to the local watering hole to crush a 16oz prime rib and throw back 3$ beers like its my day job. Figure ill be ready to celebrate bigtime if they win or ill be ripe for a REM=sleep passout if they lose. This organizations given my priceless memories since ive been a fan (since grade 2 ... im 25 now) and support the logo no matter what. A game 2010 game 4'esque performance from Bert and Mule would be nice to dent Rinne confidence a little. Oh, and Jimmy Howard circa 2011 please show up and compete with Rinne please.

Not gona happen ... our replacement for our 50 point Olympic calibre dman Rafalski was Ian "the suitcase" White. Stuart is preoccuppied with his wife's parole restriction and Howard hasnt been the same guy since he broke his finger in Vancouver. Id like to punch Ken Holland in the gut for standing pat at the deadline when it really looked like we had the opportunity to add a piece or two of dependable size/grit that would help this bunch. We havent been scoring but its not for lack of chances or shots - just bad luck and great goaltending. Defensive gaffes after stretches of dominating the play (as usual) is whats killing us. Im glad I had half a dozen beers with dinner/the game, I should be able to pass out quickly tonight.

Last season the NHLPA players poll voted Detroit as the most desirable team to play for... this year they slipped to #2 (behind Chicago). A first round exit this year would hurt the cause - but the legacy/playoff streak/overall professionalism of ownership and management remains so yeah - Detroit for the time being will continue to be a desirable place for free agents.

Thats a Pronger'esque move ... gutless and completely out of place in TODAYs game with the focus on head injuries.