redwinger4747

In leu of our great parade and some comments I've heard recently, I wanted to start a serious discussion about how our parade measured up to other teams' celebrations/parades. I heard Rafalski's comments about this beating the "parking lot celebrations" they had in Jersey and someone on this site said the Duck had only 15,000 people at their "celebration." Does anybody know the real facts about this? Just wondering if anyone knows for sure how these celebrations and others really went down, in detail. Because if these other celebrations were really as lame as they sound, then can anyone really still say we are not hockeytown? Can anyone really bash us anymore?

Which individual NHL award do you hold in the highest regard? It's easy to quickly say the Hart, but when I really think about it, I actually hold the Conn Smythe in the highest regard. Being the most valuable player in the playoffs while leading your team to playoff success is the greatest accomplishment in my opinion. I think its the hardest trophy to win. I know the Hart is great, but I think the Conn Smythe is the best. Here's a simply question to test your opinion: what is more impressive, Hasek's 2 straight Hart trophies, or Roy's 3 Conn Smythe's? I know we all hate Roy, but 3 Conn Smythe's is more impressive IMO. Thoughts?

Hey everybody, think about this in terms of getting just ONE SINGLE award. Of course Hasek's 6 Vezina's AND 2 Hart's are better than Cam Ward's 1 Smythe. And of course winning a Smythe does not automatically make you better than someone who hasn't won the Smythe. But imagine if a player only won ONE award, period. This is how I see it: 1 Smythe > 1 Hart 1 Smythe > 1 Pearson 1 Smythe > 1 Vezina 1 Smythe > 1 Norris I respect everyone who disagrees because I understand how others can see it differently.

We won our state too! Where are our state champs hats?

I happen to agree. Z's playoff performance was epic and I think he is the early favorite for next year's Selke. The voters will not forget his 2008 playoff performance when they are voting for the 2009 award.

Thanks for the info everyone, we are truly Hockeytown! Now does anyone know how many the Pistons had in 2004?

I agree. I would actually throw 4 mil at him and say "If you want the cup, you'll play for 4 mil, if not, bye." Thats it, no negotiation, no compromises. Put our money into Franzen and Zetterberg, keep the team together and give Sundin one chance at a one year deal. If he declines for more money or longer term, he doesn't really want the cup, he wants money. I'm not at all worried about other teams "passing us up" in the off season and I feel great about our roster going into next season without a single signing. That said, giving Sundin a one year deal at a huge discount couldn't hurt the team.

Are you forgetting that Babcock went OUT OF HIS WAY to praise Ericsson? As in, there was no prompt, no question about Ericsson, nothing. Babcock just said, out of no where, "and we've got this guy Ericsson who I can't believe we don't dress because he's going to be a monster in this league." Umm..yeah I think that says a lot.

Of the current Wings, Lidstrom only as of now. IF, and I mean IF, we happen to win a couple more cups in the next few years behind Osgood and he makes an All Star game or 2, we could be having a different conversation about him. TEN years from now, we MIGHT say something about Datsyuk and/or Zetterberg. But Jersey retirement is a very, VERY serious thing. As of now, Lidstrom, period.

It think Lilja is waiting on Stuart. If Stewie signs, Lilja walks because he is a #5 at best after that when he can be top 4 on another team (a bad team, I know). This is what I hope happens so we can bring in Ericsson, he's ready. No, he won't be a Kronwall his first year, but........neither was Kronwall. Remember that.

Is this a joke? Seriously. Of the current Wings, Lidstrom only as of now. IF, and I mean IF, we happen to win a couple more cups in the next few years behind Osgood, he could make a case. TEN years from now, we MIGHT say something about Datsyuk and/or Zetterberg. But Jersey retirement is a very, VERY serious thing. As of now, Lidstrom, period.

I think he is ready....to back up. You guys gotta remember, we're not asking him to start, he's going to back up. Maybe he's not ready to start, but what will get him ready, playing 30 NHL games or 60 AHL games? It's time for him to get some NHL games, there's no risk because we got Osgood.

This is the right thing to happen. I think Hasek's best was better than anyone else's best in history. Its the right time for him to walk away so we can get Howard some games. By the way, I have been disturbed by all the speculation about the Wings going after a starting goalie via free agency. Did you guys forget that Osgood had an All-Star season and led us to a Cup, with a near Conn Smythe-caliber playoffs? Seriously, Osgood is our man next year.

I just hope that Filppula gets signed BEFORE july 1st, so another team can't throw a 4 mil dollar contract at him and force us to overpay.

I know! As much as I wanted him to come down and raise the cup and as much as a think it would NOT have been classless at all to do so, he still gives way to the new players. What a guy, seriously.

Hey Matt, your wallpapers are so amazing, are you gunna make an official LGW Stanley Cup Champ Wallpaper? I would love it!! If not, you've done so much work already I understand. You rock.

Is Zetterberg, the 210th pick, the lowest ddraft pick to ever win the Conn Smythe?

Z for sure. Crosby has no chance if we win in 5.

Wow this is random, but those #1 picks are too tempting.

How GOOD do some of the Wing's long contracts look now?! Datsyuk 7 yrs at 6.7mil, Kronwall 4 more yrs at 3mil, and CHRIS OSGOOD for 3 yrs at 1.416mil!!! Go Holland, what can I honestly say that would do him and the rest of our organization proper justice?

Mike Babcock's press conference shows why he is a much better coach than Therrien. After a loss, Therrien just bitched about everything, blaming the game on the officiating, obstruction, communists, whatever. Babcock talks about what we did right, what we did wrong and gives the Penguins credit. He was calm, collected, straight forward, and took some blame himself about how much he played the top line. Babcock has class, Therrien does not. Go Wings.

I know Hasek and Chelios have earned contract bonuses based on where we are in the playoffs. I also know that last year, some contract bonuses got put on the following year's (this year) cap. I am wondering, since we have so much space this year, are we allowed to pile all of this year's bonuses on this year's cap? This would be very advantageous and would finally make use of all that extra space so we have more room on next year's cap. Does anyone know how this works?

I understand where you're coming from, but this would cost someone like Helm a spot, which is not fair since Helm has been the playoff player.

Didn't see this posted yet, so I had to put it up. It's not my work, its by Detroit Free Press illustrator Rick Nease. Amazing.

How could he possibly leave after this? He's gotta be having the most fun he's ever had playing hockey. The organization has treated him so well. He's got a firm role on the team, #4 D-man. I guess the only possible factor is his family but seriously, after this, how could he not make it work?