Rice

God, this has been a great game. Total playoff atmosphere. Dare I say the Wings are growing up tonight? The pressure by the Franzen line just now was great.

This is the dumbest rumor I've read since Zetterberg and Kronwall for Colaiacovo, Kaberle, and Belfour back in the summer of '05.

It's Grigorenko, notice the number 21. As for the picture, did you have to Photoshop in the Wings playing the Leafs, too?

It's too bad he's not going. Oh well, at least he'll get to rest the back and whatever else is hurting. I'd rather have him as healthy as possible for the stretch run than participate in a meaningless game.

It's not like the guy would play here immediately...he's still a while away, I think. I highly doubt he could jump right in and be effective on the smaller surface.

I don't think this has been discussed before. Oh wait...

Salary won't be a concern at that point in the season and after the season he's a free agent.

It makes me wonder if they would be more more inclined to get Hossa since he's likely the safer bet long-term.

This back injury is becoming really, really bad news for the Wings.

I think he would be a good addition and this is not based on sentiment. He's always had good size and he would fit right in with the Wings since he's great both ways. The best part is he can play anywhere if someone were to get hurt in the playoffs. The question with Sergei though, as it has always been, is his heart. Would coming back to Detroit for another run inspire his play? Who knows? Oh, and to answer your question: Fans would welcome him back no doubt. Look at Bertuzzi last year...I saw at least three or four jerseys and the guy was at one time really hated here.

I'm not really worried about the Ducks, but they're going to be a really tough opponent if the Wings meet them in the playoffs. I think if Selanne does end up coming back, it will force Holland's hand to make an impact move by the deadline. Think about it this way...the Wings nearly beat them (and were the better team, IMO) last year without Schneider and Kronwall. Lebda was hurt, too. This year the Wings are even hungrier and got a lot of valuable experience in their run last year. Kronwall is rounding into form (knock on wood) and it's very likely Holland will add some pieces before the deadline.

No, he's much better along the boards than Lebda is. Regardless, the point I was trying to make is that if Lidstrom and Rafalski were to be split up, Lilja is a better candidate to be placed alongside Rafalski than Lebda.

Lebda gets manhandled along the boards on a game-by-game basis. Lilja doesn't and is actually pretty physical in his own zone. It's the turnovers that are his problem.

When did I ever say the guy is a Lidstrom clone? Lilja is better in his own end than Lebda is, which is why I'd rather see Lilja with Rafalski if Rafalski and Lidstrom were to be split up. Lebda is a good number six defenseman. He's not a top-four guy. Yeah, he makes some mistakes. He's also adjusting to a new system and a new conference. He's shaky in his own zone, but there are very few defenseman that can produce like he can offensively that aren't shaky in their own zone. That's why he's worth $6 million. His market value was greater than Schneider's because he's five years younger. Fact of the matter is he's easily one of the best offensive defenseman in the game (as evidenced by the Wings' improved powerplay and Rafalski's numbers) who is good, but not perfect, defensively. Again, when you're taking salary into account you have to think about market value. Kronwall wasn't signed as an established veteran who won two Stanley Cups. He was drafted by the Wings and extended after not having done much at all to deserve such a deal. He was paid based on his potential; Rafalski was paid based on what he has done. That's the bottom line. I don't get why you're so hellbent on making Rafalski out to be overpaid. Who else were the Wings going to fill the gap with?

If Rafalski is as deficient in his own zone as you say he is, why in the world would you want to pair him with Lebda?

This is why he's in the echelon below Pronger, Niedermayer, and Lidstrom. He's a damn good defenseman...I think most of us are just spoiled after years of watching Lidstrom's flawless play night in and night out.

Here's some more info on Blake from MLive/Chelios:

How are the captains even chosen?

Matt's post is dead-on. People here are severely underrating Hossa and severely overrating this one mystical player that will turn the Red Wings into the 1973 Philadelphia Flyers. Hossa is a franchise player.

Yeah, I've never heard of anything that prevents it. He can agree to an extension that comes into effect when he's traded, as far as I know.

Detroit isn't going to have any interest if Hossa doesn't sign an extension immediately, IMO.

Here's an article I just uploaded summarizing the whole Hossa situation. Enjoy.

Maybe he does want to stay, but players always say that.

You have to give up a lot to get a lot. I'd be very very surprised if Hudler or Filppula became ever become as good as Hossa. I'd be much more reluctant to deal Filppula, but I really wouldn't have a problem dealing Hudler, high picks, and a couple prospects, if Hossa signs an extension, of course. The Wings can fit him under the cap right now, it's down the road that becomes tricky. I'm sure they would find a way. They were prepared to offer Luongo an $8.2 million offer sheet in the summer of '06 (according to Kahn). That's salary plus the compensation picks. I think they would be prepared to deal with a salary crunch. Here's a quote directly from Holland: That was in October or November, I think. Since then, they've signed Lidstrom, Osgood, and Draper to extensions. Cleary, Drake, Downey, Filppula, Chelios, and Hasek are impending UFA's. They're working with Cleary, Filppula is an RFA, Chelios isn't going anywhere, Hasek will retire after this season, and Downey and Drake are small pieces of the puzzle. Can't extend Zetterberg until July 1st.

Actually, the Wings would be able to acquire both cap-wise. The Wings have about $5.4 million in space right now which equates to around $12 million in full-season salary. By the time of the deadline, it will equate to even more. I think the figure is around $22 million in full-season salary. They can pick up anyone they want.