frankgrimes

It is so funny the whole Crosby:Ovechkin thing was never a rivalry to begin with, just something the media tried to create and they've failed miserably to do so. One of the best rivalries will always be Pittsburgh versus Philadelphia and not Pittsburgh versus Washington. As far as Crosby competitors there are guys named Stamkos, Malkin, Toews (I hate to say it but this guy reminds me so much of Stevie) its not even funny

Back in the good old early nineties, I've seen highlights from guys named Lidström, Yzerman and boom there you have it. Then I've started to gain some information about this team, the history, the all time greats so basically I am a fan since then and always be. This organization has brought a lot of joy to my life, watchingso many alltime-greats, the best owner in sports and an over the top management working together is just a pleasure. People are allowed to critisicee things. Being critical means that fans are carring about this team, as a fan I want them to do well but I don't want them to half ass things (i.e retool instead of rebuild). Add to that how much I want to see another cup for the best owner in all of sports and then you also have the reason, why I am so critical of this joke of a league and their communism approach to things.

Today I thought about how I've adored hockey back in the good old days, couldn't stop watching the games was thrilled to see "my" Red Wings play, watching so many great players on the ice and fantastique season was just gorgeaus but for whatever reason, I heavily dislike the new NHL. I don't agree with the stupid rule-changes, how they are treatening the fans and all this CBA crap. To be honest for me as a fan, I am losing interest in the NHL fast, trade-deadlines and UFA days are not what they once were and tank to win teams are rising to the top or at least close to it every year. Speaking with some friends I am clearly not the only one, losing interest in the NHL. So what about you? Do you think this league can be fixed or will it continue to lose fans because of idiots running the show and by doing so, ruinning this great sport.

Holland should send out a big present to the Canucks and Ducks for keeping the Oilers and Coyotes of the Wings heels.

Oh yeah how poor they are, they are getting millions and millions of $ from these teams, because of the luxury tax. If their owners don't want to spend don't force them and save the crying poor after it. Thats the way to do it, the MLB has this right, the NHL is not even close to not and therefore the product is watered down and extremely boring to watch. I am still pissed at Fehr for not pushing for a luxury tax instead of CBA scene. It may seem like people are only pissed at the cap for me it is a combination of many things (boring trade-deadline, UFA days, forced parity, stupid rule changes keeping questionable people at their jobs paying them more than 80 % of the players who are the damn product). In 6 years this will happen again, good times ahead...not

While I will still be staying true to my goals (no money for anything NHL related for a long time), I also not jumping on the everything is great bandwagon. Never trust statistics you didn't fake on your own. Of course the league and their relative sponsors will try everything to tweak things, till they are looking good for them but the truth of the matter is, as normal fans we will never see the important information because it might not be good as the league wants fans and sponsors to believe. From a personal stance this season has been the most boring one in a long while, I don't like it and I am not even ticked off when I don't have time to watch the games. At least to me the lockout showed, that both the NHL and NHLPA don't care about the fans, so why should I care or support them? Also that a certain guy can survive 3 lockouts and continue to provide a watered down "product" is beyond ridiculous, statistics be damned show us the real data if you have the balls to do so NHL till then, get bent.

Took me a while to read the whole thing, because I am on my mobilephone. However you are bringing up some very good and well thought points: I really like the big fish/family company analogy, but truth of the matter is all teams are owned by billionaires and who is to say some of them didn't didn't expose smaller - note family companies - firms? If they did so, they don't deserve the benefit of the doubt in any way shape or form. Ilitch worked his way up to where he is now and now he should be punished, because he loves success more than a cheap, quick buck? No in my mind this is not fair at all! The MLB doesn't have lockouts, because the system is designed really well. Owners can spend whatever they want, but by doing so their penalty fees are used to support smaller franchises, which I really love. Now back to the analogy from before, where are those "even playing field rules" in the real world? Nowhere to be found but you'll find a lot of sweatshops, hostile take overs and outsourcing which destroys regions and family companies. The Isles owner had to change his company name a few times, because he was regarded and lead like an absolute tyrann and now he is a crying poor and at the same time killing a once proud franchise, this is not fair he shouldn't receive money from great owners. I couldn't care less how the rest of the league is thinking about Detroits best years,, there are 29 franchises or different businesses but thats hardly Wings related. The sport itself would do better without having the NHL as a roof organisation and just different teams working together. The final nail in the coffin for me will be once hitting, fighting is almost gone from the game and the whole mini-allstar called shootout being introduced into the playoffs. Sent from my BlackBerry

You can see it as a giant hugfest for sure, but I for one felt it was more intense, meaner and the overall product was a lot better than todays event-NHL. Detroit wasn't the only top-team there were are lot of top-teams like someone mentioned the Avalanche under Sakic, Roy for example. Sure as we are getting older, we are focusssing on more important things than a game, but obviously watching hockey should be a thrill and not something to despise but the lockout has changed a lot for me. 8 more years of this stupid parity crap are for sure not something I am going to watch, so yes give me pre 2005 hockey back and this is not just nostalgia. I am just learning about the MLB (getting better but still) from what I've read, the have-nots and the league itself should kiss the Yankees, Red Sox because the more the spend, the more these teams are getting in hard $, the difference in the NHL is Ilitch doesn't gain anything from feeding the "have-nots". Now even UFA players are under contract limits and only their "own" team can offer them more, this is just turning into a joke sorry. Please note, I am not against the cap per se I am against the fact, that the teams who are paying the most aren't getting a reward for it. It should be a give-get kind of thing which it is not, if Ilitch is paying 5 % of the teams revenue on other teams Wings should be allowed to be 5 % over the cap, you get the idea?

Blues are the superior team right now, they are younger, bigger, meaner and now even better in the standings but that was to be expected. As much as it pains me to say it, this is just a bubble playoffteam and the FORCED worst Wings edition since almost two decades. I enjoy watching the kids grow and learn together, but deep in my mind I know fully well that this is not the team the Wings would be icing, if hockey would at least take a page from the MLB.

Would be happy with a point here, Blues are having two games in hand right now this is going to be a very tough one.

Granted and it is sad, I've never met Ilitch but let me tell you what kind of owner I think this guy is: Ilitch is one of the only owners in this piss poor communism league, who stood up against the revenue-sharing, not happy with the lockout and guess he is the one, spending millions of his own money on the best available development coaches, over the top hotels and services (Wing Bird III anyone?!). Without the cap I'd bet my car Mr. I would spend whatever it takes to provide the team with near endless resources if it means another cup! Ilitch is a competitive guy, he wants all his teams to do well and therefore will be spending. Having said that, there is no point in overpaying for average-players just for the sake of spending money, this would be just stupid. So while everyone is entitled to his own opinion, I for one can't thank Mike enough for being the best owner in not only hockey but all of sports. An example of an owner playing it poor although filthy rich would be the guy who bought Manchester United (soccerclub), as his private toy.

I like that idea and it will be cheap and doable: Mcgrattan: 600k John Scott: 600k Patrick Bordeleau: 500k Throw them out against the tougher teams in the east and you can be sure, the opponents would quickly decide to bring a more cleaner game to the table only the Penguins with Engelland and MacIntyre would be able to somewhat stand a chance against this line.

Tomorrow is DDD Dann DeKeyser Day hope people aren't expecting too much from him, let him settle him and enjoy his first NHL game. Hopefully, the rest of the team decides to show up.

Some GMs I think it the latest was Burke were often quoted saying "whats the point of making the playoffs just get swept in the first round?" and I agree with that. Yes, the unbelievable streak is nice but if an ended streak will lead to a better draft pick and therefore a cornerstone to a rebuild, I'd say go for it. I mean do some guys here really want to see this team getting swept by the archnemesis Chicago Blackhawks? Personally I don't, their tank to win fanbase would brag about it endlessly and given that the Detroit Red Wings are moving to the east next year, there wouldn't even be a chance for revenge anytime soon. I am not trying to be overly pessimistic just a realist thinking longterm. At some point gotta face reality, the big 4 (Hawks, Kings, Blues, Ducks) + even Minnesotta are just superior teams this season.

I don't think the Wings should fear the east but one thing is for sure, they need to add grit and a top enforcer before joing the East. Using the Habs as an example is not a good one, because it is a .) a shorttened season and b.) when games are getting tough, the Habs won't be able to overcome playoff intensity so they are looking at a first round exit. I think O Byrne would have been a nice addition especially for such a low price.

This would have been the easy route out, but who is their to replace him? Mr. I would have to throw a lot of money at Chiarelli, Stevie or Shero in order to get them here and even then I am not sure Chia or Shero would like to be part of a rebuilding team. As for not shopping Filpulla and White I don't understand it either, the only explanation would be that no other teams were willing to pay a first rounder or a 2/3 for White, so maybe try again in the summer but the prices will never be that high again. So this is clearly a missed opportunity here but other than that, Hollands hands were pretty much tied going into the season, hence the not making the playoffs comment from Kenny.

Nice but I guess everyone expected it, also lately this winterclassic thing is getting way too overhyped for my liking.

Last time I've heard the Penguins bandwagon still isn't full, so I am sure the "I'll trade the farm for everyone" superb GM Shero has a place for some people. Have fun. Mentioning what Holland didn't do while also forgetting what he did (leading this team succesfully in the communism also known as CBA era) of the league, tons of other GMs failed to do so. Holland also came out and stated, that the Wings might not make the playoffs this season, at least at that point it should have been clear what the direction (*hint* big picture/longterm success) of this franchise would be going into the season including trade-deadline. I know it is hard to figure out for armchair-GMs.

This would be a lame excuse for not rading him. I find it hard to believe, but maybe no team was willing to offer a second? Which would be pretty much sum up his value to other teams

There are now 4 threads with basically the same content, wouldn't one doom/gloom thread be enough. Who cares if the Wings are making the playoffs, if you can't compete win the big price there is no point in doing so.

Rangers > Detroit Red Wings Rangers > Win Now Mode not built for the future Red Wings > re-tool/build-mode two complete different scenarios alongside different trade-deadline strategies.

All this whining about Holland standing pat and not selling the future, unbelievable. If I were Holland I'd have taken the easy road out last summer (- retiring with Lidas and moving up as president of hockey operations in the organization) and left my successor trying to fix a behind the pack team, going out as a GM legend! One at least has to love his will to fix it and leave (hopefully Stevie, Shero or Chiarelli) with a great roster to build from. Develano has pissed away his chance to ever GM the Detroit Red Wings, with his stupid and insanely offending comments. This organization from top to bottom is and always was about being classy and you can't tell me Mr. I was happy with this comment. You try your best to threat players well and then someone of your own organization is throwing the players under the bus like nothing? Doesn't fly with me. So of course people can critisize Holland all they want, but at least admire his will to fix things.

Wild fans are pissed about the trade so should they, they have given up a lot for a top 6 player, who will be an UFA after this year. I don't know why some teams are thinking, patchfixing things would lead to any longterm success?

Would have loved Ryan Clowe, the guy is a beast not afraid of anybody and will drop the gloves gives you 100 % everytime he is on ice.

It is to me like mentioned a two way street. Very happy and loving the fact, that Holland didn't gut our future but I am still pissed, he didn't trade Filpulla and White. If the rumours are true and his agent is asking for 5million + annually, he will be gone this summer for nothing. His trade-price will never be as high as yesterday again so in my mind a missed opportunity to gain another first rounder in a deep draft, damnit. O'Byrne would have been a shutdown defenseman, willing to drop the gloves not a bad pickup for the Leafs. Why should a team give up a second, third rounder for White? Just look at the prices and some of the trades, some GMs - sadly I have to include Stevie here - are getting unbelievable desperate and it shows.