Jacksoni

I placed a 50 dollar bet to win 50 recently that we will not make the playoffs. A good investment.

Yes he is. I presume he even took a small discount. About 10 per year rings well in my ears. Seems to high for you? He would change our team in one stride. Moreso than Stamkos would in my opinion.

Any chance of of old boy Daniel Cleary making the lineup? Could use the grit. ^^

I believe Mrazek will go to arbitration. Which can be done for 1 or 2 years. It makes sense if we look at Howard's contract and that KH is looking for a defensive trade. A sort of forced bridge deal if you will.

So Nielsen at age 32,33,34,35,36 (I'll be overly nice) will defend against the top players. I would assume he would get offensive objectives as well. I'll have that in mind when watching us play.

I don't like defending Glendening's contract since I would have liked to see it a little bit lower, perhaps 1.5million x 3 years. But I will defend it. He is entering his prime and will on a nighly basis be asked to defend against Crosby, Kopitar, McJesus, Benn, Stamkos and on and on. Who would you put against them instead of Glendog. Zetterberg? Larkin? Nielsen? Helm? He's too small. Shehan could I suppose but other than that, I can't see anyone. And I personally want Sheahan on a more offensive line. He's ready to move up. To regurgitate, it's an ok signing in my opinion. Not great but certainly not bad.

First, I don't subscribe to the Swedish mafia theory. It is ridiculous. I loved seing Zetterbergs face when he was mentioned that rumor in an interview though, it was hilarious. However, Ken Holland has said in multiple interviews lately that the coach has the say on who gets called up/down. He'll just have a short chitchat about calls if they stand out. So I would assume that theoretically there might be a glitch for that to somehow happen. Still as I said I don't buy it.

I agree Andersson did play well in the playoffs, especially when he initially got called up. But still a weird call-up as he hardly played in the regular season. I think that both Holland and Blashill doesn't believe the kids are the answer. Which is serious because they (must) have a keen eye. In their mind they simply don't think they are good enough. Larkin being the big exception and a stuttering AA (as in moving up&down). Troubled times ahead.

Yep they joke with the Swedish mafia connection that detroitsportsrag.net disclosed a few months ago. Still, that Andersson call-up in the playoffs has made me wonder if there is something to this. Who in his right mind calls up Joakim Andersson in that situation...

Henrik Zetterberg was named as a top 10 coach in the NHL in a locally well-known Swedish podcast named svenskafans (swedish fans). Any thoughts? Here's the URL if you are fluent in that language. http://www.svenskafans.com/nhl/nhl-podcast-en-sa-underlig-off-season--555368.aspx

I am ok with this signing. Not great, not bad. He is a good 4th liner. Cizikas (NYI) is the best I've seen in a while and he landed over 4 million, massive overpayment but still.

He's short, hurt, but he Is worth that money. It's a good signing. He does have trade value or can pan out. I have heard he's a gymrat - his chances of improving his skillset goes up by that fact.

Price for this midgety person?

I'm just pulling your leg, I agree with your points. But Hronek at 163 pounds as a defenseman picked in the second round is.. (shakes head) set for an uphill climb of weight gaining that is not feasible. This is coming from someone who's been lifting since dinosaurs walked on earth. Unless he's the second coming of Shayne Gostisbehere (PHI) it's a bad pick in my opinion. Softer rule changes and all. Edit: Givani Smith a solid pick imo. He'll play with the big club.

We picked Alfons Malmström in the 4th, a defenseman who's 6'2 190 pounds, 18 years old. Why are you accusing our backoffice of picking 5'11 midgets? ;-)

I don't want anyone up on the rafters yet. If anyone, it's #91 because of his just awesome talent, he is generational despite what some here thinks but ultimately I say no to him as well because of the debacle with leaving. It should be a very exclusive club.

They did indeed cut him a deal which was: you can't leave after year 1, we'll sue/harass etc. We will let you go after year 2 if you are doubly sure you want out. Which is what happened of course. And I don't mind, he's not just hurt, he's crippled (ankle) and wouldn't even be close to what he was. You can find the details about the deal in the latest Ken Holland press conference which he held right after Datsyuk's announcement that he's retiring from the NHL.

This driving business being mentioned is ridiculous. Reminds me of people claiming we can't explore the solar system/nearby stars because we should only use chemical rockets. On top of that, I am pretty sure his daughter won't mind getting on a first class flight and stay in S:t Petersburg over many weekends, where her ultra rich superstar dad most likely won't mind taking her out on town flashing his Amex gold credit card for his only daughter.

Haven't checked it up but I think Lapointe was the last 1st rounder that played right away. I could be wrong but think not.

Cholowski. Barring a minor miracle. Which happened last year with Larkin. I agree though, it is most unlikely. Should probably add that it's practically impossible so I don't get flak. Cholowski is a defenseman and won't be in the lineup for years.

A lot of teams like Jimmy. For half price or possibly 75% of his salary if injuries are rampant. That's what it'll come down to next season if he doesn't get picked up by the Las Vegas "something".

I'd put him up there right after Fedorov, if he were to be chosen. A folk hero that paid for his services with blood and a permanently destroyed lower back. Pivotal in getting us the cups in my opinion, albeit not obviously so for some.

Damn right. This isn't the "NHL welfare & good wishes to everyone" forum. "Every ill on your opponent is a gain upon you." -Sun Tzu

I don't. But I do hope he does better in Nashville than Weber does in Montreal. As low a performance for both as possible, please.

The morale of the story is that we need to get the Captain back somehow. He's just as skilled in his GM role as he was a captain. Hardly possible right now but the Ilitch family should start massaging him slowly, who knows in a year or two.