Richdg

Again, our top 6 D is fine. You keep a vet like Huskins for the 7th spot. let all the others play in GR untill needed-injuries, FA's leave etc.... If Schultz can play half of the season in the AHL then so can dekeyser. Besides, he is coming here unless Holland screws up. Keep in mind E is a UFA after next year, so there is a spot opening up real soon. I don't see resigning E at 4.5 milliona sa good idea, even though I like him as a player.

Kindl is developing very nicely before our eyes. Same as Ericsson over the last 2 years. It seems like he has been around here forever, but he only has 120 or so career games. 1.5 seasons. Still has 2 more years before what should be his peak years. The hole D has been great for the last 10 games or so. Now that all 6 are healthy and playing in the same pairs every night. Good job by all of them and the staff for developing/drafting them.

Howard will and should get 4.5 to 5 million for 5 or 6 years. Putting in a 20/21 year old in net is a sure fire way to lose 50 games per year. he isn't ready. As for Golaies being over rated, please! What would the Preds be without Renni? How far would have the Kings got last year without Quick. G is the most important defensive player on the ice. many RW fans have a skewed idea about G's because we had Nicky here for 20+ years to cover up for average ones. Now we don't, and the chances of finding another one anythime soon isn't very good. I could go on about Miller carrying the sabers for years, or Thomas winning the SC for Boston, but most of you know that. You are just blindly believing a myth.

Ok, sign them all! You can never have enough depth or talent.

No need for J Bo. he is very expensive, weak on D but good on O. Just doesn't really upgrade us. Leave our top 6 D alone and sign more depth with dekeyser. We will soon be 12 deep on the blueline. We need forwards that can score, skate, and hit.

I fully understand it take 2 to dance. But there is plenty of work for Holland to do with the players we currently have. Here is a good list: 1. resign Howard. Start at 5 years/20 million and get it done. 2. resign Brunner. start at 3 years/7.5 million and get it done. 3. resign Smith. RFA this year. 4. Resign Kindl. RFA this year. Those 4 things should be done asap. It fills out your roster, keeps good young talent, and sets the amount you have to spend. Now you know how much can be added salary wise this year and in the upcoming off season. Now start clearing out those not needed. Several teams are rumored to be looking for D. move White and Cola-picking up draft picks is fine with me. There is a deep draft this year, and draft picks are always asked for in trades. Now if we need to spend a pick to pick up a player we can. Then do the same with the forward group. There are a few veteran guys that playoff bound teams always look for. Guys like sammy, bert, Cleary, eaves, etc.... None of those guys are going to get you 1st round picks, that is fine. But out of that group we should be able to add 3 picks between the 3rd and 5th round. Once that is done we have a younger roster, more athletic roster, cheaper roster, and a bunch of picks. Now you can add pieces as needed. All of this can be and should be done over the next 2 weeks. Hopefully at the same time, more teams fall out of the PO race and the chance to buy improves.

1 good game. No one on this thread or the hundreds before it have ever said Franzen doesn't have talent. That is the problem. he has great talent! he doesn't use it 75% of the time. 1 out of 4 games or 4 out of 16 just isn't enough.

Even if healthy, leave Cola on the bench. The D is playign well, and all of those guys are bigger and younger than he is except Kronwall. t forward it is a little more confusing. So many guys with such simliar skill sets. Or lack of skills in some cases. I would stay young. Really the only injuried forwards I miss are Fil and helm. neither of them are goal scorers however. But there is just enough you could put together 3 lines: Abby-Datsyuk-tatar, Andersson-Z-Brunner, and an out of the box thought: helm-Filppula-Franzen, then whatever is left as checkers/4th line. That would be 3 lines all with good checkers, play makers and a shooter on it. Strong defensively as well. Very good overall speed. 4th line then of: eaves-Emmerton-22. gets slow a$$ cleary off of the ice, leaves the old and injuried off the ice, feeds on the youth/speed/skill/with just a touch of grit. If more grit is needed, bring up Sheahan.

Clearly you don't know what the word "similier" means. Also Roy was known for wering oversized pads-same as JS, and the reduction in the size happened after him. Now if you want to talk about great goalies in a high scoring era, that would be Fuhr. he was awesome and I don't know if he ever had a GAA under 3 back in the 80's. back when guys would average 2 points per game. More scoring and more fights=better hockey!

In other words, Roy's number are very similier to Howards at the same ages..... 2.13 in 09/10, 2.79 in 10/11, and 2.26 in 11/12. The years Howard was 25, 26, and 27.

Aussies started playing baseball about 35 years ago. So they are expanding their range. But there is a decent population between the 2 countries, they have the wealth to play, and they do like contact sports.

Resigning Cleary? datsyuk a real threat to leave? Just rumors i know..... http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/matheson_weighs_in_on_red_wings_chances_of_re_signing_filppula_cleary/13047586

Wings Win!!!!!!!!

Nope. Nor will they let the tough guys handle that. 30 years ago you hit someone like that and you would get pounded by the teams enforcer, and then go sit in the box for a couple of minutes. Lot fewer hits from behind back then as well.

Canes are rumored to be looking for vet Dmen. Trade him for a 3 or 4th round pick.

all 3 pairs are playing well. we seem to have finally found the right mix to bring out the best in everyone.

Ok, I know it is breast cancer night, and who doesn't love the ta ta's, but man is brian elliots sweater ugly......

1 shift and Abby-dat-Cleary bask together

coming out of the break, now it is miller, emmer, and 22 again. Abby to Andersson's line?

No more CCHA after this year. TheBig ten is now a hockey conference with Penn State starting a team. The CCHA is disbanding.

Cleary ahs the puck, heads for the Avs zone, Datsyuk and tatar both stop at the blue line to chat with the Avs Dmen. Cleary now at the red line, tatar starts to kneel and datsyuk lays down to take a nap. tatar now falls over with a cramp in his up leg. Cleary now to the Abs blueline. What is wrong with datsyuk? he can't get off of the ice. Oh No! While napping he started to drool, and his face is stuck to the ice. Cleary decides to drive the puck in on the goal, he shoots..... JS waits for the puck.... and waits.........and waits.............. It is now 130am Wednesday morning, and JS decides to go take a shower. Finally the puck crosses the goal line and Cleary scores!!!!!!!!

Nice hit Abby! You should play pissed!

Babs took the wrong guy off the line........ Abby can skate with those 2, Cleary clearly can't......

Mule now at 1 million per goal this year....... Nice shot, he earned that one.

In 11/12 Howard was 6th in GAA at 21.3, for G's that played over 30 games. in 10/11 he was 31st with a GAA of 2.79. In 09/10 he was 5th with a GAA of 2.26. The number of G's that were better than Howard in all 3 years for GAA? 0 none nada. not one G in the NHL, that has played at least 30 games in each of the past 3 years has been better than Jimmy for all 3 years. Yes some guys have had a better year, and maybe even in 2 years. But no one has been better than Jimmy in all 3 years.