kickazz

Well I don't think he got stripped for being a diver. But with guys like Kopitar and Doughty on that roster I'm sure it was an easy choice. This team missed the playoffs last year and got embarrassed this year. I guess they are much quicker to make their moves rather than let things get from bad to worse.

Well Brown among other things is one of the biggest divers in the league. He really shouldn't be a captain leading the way unless it's meant to show the players how to dive.

I think this was speculated for a while by the Kings fan. Not surprised at all. They should give it to Kopitar.

I think they're still working on Pulkinnen, Tatar and Nyquist. Either our players are stubborn or our pro trainers suck.

I think your issue is you generalize posters a bit too much. No where in his post did he speak of Detroit Red Wings or Stamkos coming here. The fact that Stamkos didn't sign an extention and rejected the Lightnings first offer has caused speculation of him possibly moving on to another team for months now. This isn't a LGW thing, or a "universe revolving around Detroit" thing, this is a hockey media thing. Almost all team forums and general forums from HFboard to hockeyfights.com have people talking about where Stamkos will sign (whether it's Tampa or Toronto or some other team). I think majority of posters here have assumed Stamkos will either re-sign with Tampa or go back home to Toronto (because Stamkos happened to "like" a Tweet they made about him going there). Just because people are hoping he hits free agency and Holland makes an offer doesn't mean much will happen. But speculation is speculation, EVERYONE from the media, his teammates, the Wings management and players (even Henrik Zetterberg in a recent interview mentioned "many free agents available and it will be interesting to see how it plays out") are either thinking or talking about this. And until he signs somewhere, speculation will continue to happen. And even if he signs with Tampa - which he might as long as they offer him the max contract rather than the $8.5 million they offered (which he rejected) it wouldn't really be a "told you so" type of situation lol. Stamkos is one of the first big names out there that didn't sign right away with his team (unlike Kopitar, Toews, Kane, Corey Perry, Getzlaf) . This is sort of thing doesn't just happen. Also I'd like to think that fans (whether it's Detroit, Boston, Buffalo or whatever teams that need a superstar) are allowed to hope and be optimistic. It's okay.

Not going to lie- they way these two teams played thus far, this series is up for grabs. Not sure who will win but not rooting for either of them

Richards isn't an upgrade over Larkin. We'll have to see how they are on faceoffs come september. I'd assume a guy with Larkin's work ethic will do what he can to increase his faceoff %

We have those types of players even now. Two probably fit into the category. One averaged 18+ minutes a game. Do I think it would be nice to have more? Yeah.

In the words of Ken Holland "It takes two to tango". Just because St. Louis wants Backes doesn't mean he wants to continue to play for them. I'm not saying he won't stay with the Blues. But I'm surprised as a hockey fan you haven't noticed players leaving teams they've longed played for to join somewhere they felt was better suited for them OR where the offer was better for them as in the case of money. Jerome Iginla, Parise, Suter, Shanahan, Fedorov. Players around whom teams were built have left. It's not anything unusual. Something the St. Louis management knows and delusional fans might not is the fact that they only have $14 million in cap space with 5 UFA and 4 RFAs Tired and battered? He's looking to play in the KHL and had a hell of a time at the championships in Russia! Where have you been? He even said in his post Bronze medal game that he's got a ton of hockey left in him. If anything our early playoff exit likely made his decision easier. For one it gave him the opportunity to play for the Russian team and lead the way as their captain. Had we made a 20 game run none of that would have come to fruition.

I think you're missing the entire point. One that this isn't black and white. IF Stamkos hits the Free agent market. THEN Detroit will have the ability to make an offer. The fact that they haven't extended his contract just adds to the speculation that he may hit free agency. Had he signed an extension in January this conversation wouldn't be happening. The fact that he hasn't allows this conversation to happen. Will he free agency? Who knows. Won't he? Who knows? I'm not going to bet my right arm because I don't know and neither do you. The universe isn't black and white

Lol. It's not cynical if it's business. I cheer for my team and look to see how we can take advantage of free agency or trades. Don't kid yourself into thinking management doesn't think that way. Nobody is rooting for the other team to have a better roster than our own. This isn't a teletubbies marathon. It's no different than when some fans HFboards were hoping Doug Houda would be fired from Boston and be picked up by the Red Wings to coach the defense. And voila. Obviously the chances of Stamkos staying in Tampa are higher and no one is denying that. The chances of Backes re-signing is higher as well. But the chance of him moving on or St. Louis making some changes (another example being Shattenkirk) just got better. Another example is Datsyuk. With an early playoff exit, Pav is sure to leave Detroit. SKA in KHL just offered a contract. See how it works? SKA might be getting a magic man of their own this summer.

Many argue that Howard (and even Mrazek) were let down by our defense. The difference was Mrazek had the ability to bail out the defense for a 3 month stretch. Stars have a much better defense than we do. I think Howard can do better with the Stars. And from what I remember Jim Nill was a Howard fan. That's the reason why there was speculation that we could give them Howard for Neimi. But like you said it would be a gamble for them. Then again Stars know they won't make it far unless they have a better performance in goal. And even with Howards "bad" year, his numbers were pretty similar to Lehtonen and Neimi (neimi had a better GAA). Remember that the Stars are a much better team than the Wings are (they were the best team in the West).. so for Neimi and Lehtonen to have numbers as bad as they did is definitely not a good thing. Howard happened to have bad numbers on a team that finished number 8 in the conference. Put Howard on the best team in the western conference and he'd likely have better numbers than those two did.

We will as long as he can do other things besides that. And from what I'm seeing and hearing he can. Blashill is all about having players who can defend their teammates. Much moreso than Babcock was.

LOL you can't be serious.. Howard is a hell of A LOT better than Lehtonen is and a decently better than Neimi is. All the Stars need is a decent goalie. They have two s*** goalies at the moment. One is locked in for about $6million that other for $4.5 million. $10 in goalies who can't deliver in the playoffs.. Nill is screwed with his goalies (and a lot of people think we have it bad). We could likely swap Neimi for Howard and let Neimi's contract run out (2 more years) as Mrazek's backup. Stars could make another run with Jimmy Howard and probably do better than they did this year. That team doesn't need a Patrick Roy, they just need someone above average.

I don't think we lose anything either because we get Maple Leafs 3rd round pick next season if we don't get it this season..?

No but him and his family still live in Detroit half the year and still do charity work around here. Not to mention he's openly stated that he roots for the Red Wings as long as they don't play Tampa. Would rather cheer for his success (someone who is still loyal to the city and the team) than Sidney Crosby a guy who doesn't have any connection to this city or the Wings or gives a rats ass about us. Been an Yzerman fan for decades and still am. As for Backes, had St. Louis won the Stanley cup - he would have likely re-signed with them. Now that they are eliminated, it increases his chances of hitting free agency. Which is exactly why I was rooting for them to lose. And St. Louis losing may end up helping us acquire a free agent like Backes. Nothing is for certain but the probabilities are there. The same could be said for Tampa Bay. If they win the Stanley Cup without Stamkos his value will no longer be that high for them. He may end up hitting free agency. Which means Holland can offer him a contract. At the end of the day it all comes down to the Red Wings. Which team winning or losing benefits us the most? San Jose winning doesn't. Pittsburgh winning doesn't. Tampa Bay winning might. Blues losing (they already did) might. This isn't about the 3 teams left. It's about the possible free agents we could take a shot at acquiring. Here's another example. The fact that Dallas lost helps us as well. They need a goaltender since that was the biggest reason they got knocked out. We happen to have a goaltender to give.

David Backes is also an excellent centerman and can play RW as well. If we could get him for a short term deal while Larkin centers the 2nd line I'm okay with that.

Scores? Hits? Plays aggressively instead of getting swatted off the puck? A combination we need! Great sign.

Lmao cheering for Sidney Crosby to win as a Wings fan over Yzerman..... Glad Blues lost. Hopefully Backes wants out. And ends up here.

People still hurt about our losses to them in the playoffs. But I'm very happy that Blues got KO'd by Sharks. If it comes down to Sharks vs Pittsburgh I think I'll want Sharks to win. If It's Sharks vs Tampa obviously rooting for Yzerman.

They just need Kris Draper- the best faceoff cheater to show them the ways is all.

So Stamkos stays in Tampa?

He got $15 million out of his $22.5 million contract extension. Basically walking away from $7.5 million.

2009-2012 Abby played center on and off. He was a pretty damn good faceoff guy (around 53%). Much better than Sheahan is. Filpula became Zetterberg's linemate on second line sometime between 2010-2012, but primarily in the 2011/12 seasons. I don't think Abby would be a good top 6 centerman. Being is top 6 centerman is nothing like being a bottom 6 centerman. My first choice for centering 3rd line would be Darren Helm followed by Abby. But neither will happen. Ideally next season I'd like to see Larkin/AA get some 1st and 2nd line centering duties. I think Zetterberg is much more useful on the Wing if he's to stay top 6. And I think Abby would be a good winger up there as well. If Z stays first line center then hopefully Larkin gets 2C and AA gets 3C (he could share 3C duties with Sheahan).

Pav you gotta play this smart dude. Hold off on any talks or deals till you finish things off on a good note here. This s*** better not turn into Sergie Fedorov 2.0.