FlashyG

One team "punked" Montreal out this year and it was the Leafs in 1 game. The Canadiens were also the ones who instigated those fights due to the fact that they were getting killed on the scoreboard. The best way to deal with a team carrying a goon, is to not carry one yourself, and to have a good powerplay. The Wings have faced several teams with those types of guys on them and have proven over and over again that you do not need to carry a fighter. Having one on your roster doesn't have any effect at all on teams taking liberty with your players, that will happen in a physical sport regardless...all the fighter does is allow you to get your "pound of flesh" in return.

If an opposing coach was stupid enough to put any of those guys (except Clarkson) out against Datsyuk or Zetterbergs lines it would be a huge bonus for the Wings. They can attempt to take runs at our guys all they want but they'll have to do it while the linesman is pulling the puck out of their net. Datsyuk would feast on those guys.

They're actually both smaller and lighter than the Wings based on their rosters at the end of the season. There are many teams in the east who play a more physical game than the Wings, but the WIngs aren't really that small or light compared to their new conference. I also think that size and "toughness" are extremely overrated as far as success in the league is concerned. No matter how big you are, skill is what will bring you success. Sure its better to be bigger and more skilled but if I have to choose one or the other I'd rather be the skilled team.

The Wings didn't pass on Ryan, they just weren't going to give up what Anaheim wanted for him. The Wings don't have a forward prospect that is as highly touted as Silferberg, we'd have to give up both Nyquist and Tatar to match that and even then probably another lower end prospect along with our 1st to get Ryan from Anaheim. Personally I think Anaheim got the better of that deal, especially if Ryan doesn't re-sign with them. I'd prefer Lecavalier to Weiss too, but its not like the Wings didn't try to get him, they just weren't willing to sign a long term deal with him. I would have done it, but I don't see the drop off from Lecavalier to Weiss being big enough for me to complain. Clarkson was the 2nd worst signing of the entire FA period with only Boyd Gordon's deal being worse and even thats debateable since its only a 3 year deal. It wasn't a perfect off-season but this was a positive

This is the best FA signing period the Wings have had in years. The Alfredsson signing is a great one, espeically with it being only 1 year with the potential to give the Wings 2 million in extra space next season should he not hit his performance bonuses. He gives us a top 6 forward with a RH shot who can also help out our struggling PP. I like Flip and I think he'll probably put up more pts next season than Weiss, but Weiss is a better center and fits the Wings needs better. Brunner leaving hurts a little, but someone had to go to free up a roster spots for Tatar and Nyquist, either of whom I think can provide his offence, while hopefully upgrading on him defensively. Now with a glut of forwards I fully expect a trade for a defenceman hopefully someone capable of playing on the 2nd pair at worst or 1st pairing at best.

I must have missed when he ripened. IMO He arrived rotten. When you're average to below average in the ECHL your hopes of becoming an NHL goalie are pretty slim.

They said they wouldn't do anything until yesterday (Monday) I hope they buyout or buyouts are completed today. I guess they wanted to see who they could trade before making a move.

Apparently Flip and his agent have said they will test the market so there is no market to trade his rights besides for a very late conditional pick we would never receive.

This must have been the guy who edited Bobby Ryan's Wiki page as well. At some point today it said that Ryan was traded to Detroit along with Anaheims 1st round pick for Tomas Tatar, Brian Lashoff, Adam Almqvist and our 3rd round pick. It was changed back pretty quickly though, and No GM in his right mind would give up Ryan and a 1st for that package.

that would be a HUMAANGAS BEEG signing. Good luck in your negotiations

haha As assistant GM I'm requesting that you at least get a back-up goalie to replace McCollum. Mrazek might surprise me, but at least then you'd have someone capable of giving him some nights off.

Even with all that added firepower I doubt we go anywhere with that goalie combo. It was only slightly above average in the AHL, and McCollum struggled even at the ECHL level. Mrazek might be able to carry the load in a few years, but he's not ready for an NHL starting job yet.

The one I was referring to is the one that allows teams to sign a Russian player away from the NHL and have it not count against the salary cap. It was worded by Malamud that it was for returning "Russian" players but its possible that it would be extended to Finnish or Swedish players as well, however the only teams that can afford to throw around such money are the Russian clubs backed by big money. Jokerit with its increased travel costs wouldn't be able to compete with an NHL contract so in essence that rule gives a huge advantage to the Russian clubs.

I may be remembering it wrong, but I believe Flip was playing the wing with Z playing Center. Flip is a good secondary part on a line, but he's had many chances to carry a line and he doesn't seem capable of doing it. Maybe he'll prove me wrong wherever he lands but I'd rather pay Lecavlier that money than I would Flip. (hopefully for a lot less years though, we don't need another 7 year contract on the books) Excellent post, I think this everytime I hear people talking like Mrazek should be our starting goalie.

Tatar is definitely going to be a part of the Wings next season. I also think that if they let Flip go and buyout Sammy they will absolutely add a center to play on the 2nd line.

There had to be someone who didn't like the deal 2.4 might be a hair too much right now, but in a year or 2 it will be considered a great deal for the Wings.

We'll get something for Flip's rights and Ericsson has gotten much better the past few years, if he continues that trend he might even be worth 5+

I'd guess it will be slightly less than Kind's but probably not for as long a term. He'll look to get paid in his 3rd contract.

I'm not sure this is a great move by Jokerit either. I don't think their attendance will suffer all that much, but I don't think they were turning much of a profit as it was, and now their travel costs will skyrocket. Combine that with them going from a top team in the FEL to an also ran in the KHL they will probably be losing a lot of money. I'm not sure what advantages there are to teams joining the KHL from outside Russia, the league seems to make its rules up as they go, and it seems that they are slanted in such a way that the Russian clubs get all the advantages. The further the league expands the more I wonder how long it can continue losing money like it does, but I guess most European Soccer/football clubs operate at massive losses as well and they are still operating strongly so maybe the KHL's model will work.

If their injuries are slowing them down past the point of being effective they can go on LTIR until their contracts expire. In Franzen's case we can always save a compliance buyout for next year just in case he shows signs of slipping, or in the case that Nyquist or Tatar turn into players able to replace his production. It will be a bit expensive to our cap in the last year or so of their deals, but who knows what the cap will be at that point. IMO It's not really anything worth worrying about at this point in time.

Player Team Length Amount Vincent Lecavalier Tampa Bay 14 $32,666,667 Ilya Bryzgalov Philadelphia 14 $23,000,000 Danny Briere Philadelphia 4 $3,333,333 Tomas Kaberle Montreal 2 $3,000,000 Rostislav Olesz Chicago 2 $2,833,333 Steve Montador Chicago 4 $2,733,333 Here is the list of all players that have currently been bought out and the terms of their buyouts. (From TSN.ca) 55 million for the top 2 alone...yikes.

Franzen barely effective? He's been the teams leading scorer in 2 of the last 3 years, and probably would have led the team this year too if he had played every game. Admittedly his effort level isn't very good, but he's still our 3 best forward without even trying very hard. They wouldn't have to pretend...If either are willing to hang them up and end their careers it will be because they are breaking down physically. They aren't going to quit out of boredom or because they feel they aren't making enough money. Rafalski is a perfect example of someone who if in Z or Mule's position would not have retired but would have claimed the pain from his back and his knee are too much, and he would have been on LTIR for the final year of his deal. Personally I think both will play out their contracts but I have absolutely no worries at all about either retiring early especially because they would never want to hurt the franchise based on this clause in the new CBA.

What makes you think either would retire early? Both are loyal Wings. They'd just claim they can no longer play due to injury, go on LTIR and their salaries wouldn't count against the cap. They'd remain there until their contracts expired getting their full pay while not playing.

It can be, but I think you'll find the 2 minute penalty is more likely. Just like the price for pummeling a player can be a criminal charge and possibly the end of your hockey career, but more likely just a suspension. This time the extreme in both seemed to happen. I have no problem with the guy exacting revenge...as long as he's willing to face the consequences for his .actions. In this case the consequences are a criminal assault charge.

I can agree to disagree but I would like to leave you with one question. If that doesn't warrant a criminal charge, how far would a player have to go before you'd feel criminal charges would be warranted?