rick zombo

What about the Jason Williams deal last year? A Vandermeer trade seems more unlikely due to the fact that I see him as a player Chicago would like to hang on to. But it's at least a possibilty.

Some players that could "realistically come here" All are UFAs next year and are on non-playoff, or bubble teams right now. Forwards: Radim Vrbata, RW, PHX Trent Hunter, RW, NYI Vaclav Prospal, C, TBL David Legwand, C, NAS JP Dumont, R, NAS Defense: Jim Vandermeer, CHI Nolan Pratt, Buf Hal Gill, TOR * *Don't laugh. He may be slow, He has the size missing on Detroit's blueline. He'd be easy to accquire, and Detroit have a steep history of turning washed up Leafs' defencemen into key role players)

We "need" to get Hasek going right now so that, at the very least, he'll be a reliable back-up when/if Ozzie cools off or gets hurt. Also, I don't think that hasek playing 4 of the next 6 or 7 games will cause Chris any problems. There are two goalies in Detroit right now. One has shown a history of needing alot of starts to be at his best, and one has shown a history of being able to come in cold and under-worked and put up wins. What would be ideal for the Wings, from a totally non-partisan point of view, would be to have both goalies playing well.

In my opinion, Detroit needs Hasek to get going. The only way he's going to do that is to play 2 games for every one that Osgood plays for the next stretch of games. Not taking anything away from Osgood's performance. If Friday night was a must-win game I'd feel much more comfortable with Chris in net. But it's not a must-win, and Hasek needs to establish a rythym. Why not give him a shot while the team is 19-6-2?

that was a little ridiculous.

Yeah, me too. Poor guy.

Alot of this depends on Leafs' management. I doubt anyone in T.O. would be happy seeing Sundin traded unless the Leafs got a great return. If Ferguson (or his replacement) traded Sundin for Hudler, Kindl, and a 2nd rounder I think the media would have his head. I'd like to think that a team as desperate to win as San Jose, for instance, would offer up an Ehrhoff + prospect/picks or evan a Michalek + prospects/picks package that would trump the Hudler + Kindl + picks deal. The only players the Leafs would take (excluding Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Datsyuk, Lidstrom) would be either Filpulla or Kronwall. And I don't see this happening. Holland won't be stupid, and the Leafs aren't going to trade away the face of their franchise over the last 10 years for nothing. Something would have to give, no?

I agree with this. But I agree with what Lou says as well. Detroit needs a power forward type on that 2nd line. But I'd like to see this next year: Hudler - Filpulla - Big Scoring Winger Then you and Lou would both be happy.

What I like about Hudler is that he got smashed by Phaneuf vs The Flames which could have messed with his head and his game. He answers by playing terrific hockey against the Bolts. He's not big, but I feel like he's tough but in a resilient way.

fixed it In 2004 when Detroit were the Grand Rapid Griffins. Remember Matt's Band-aid? In 2005 for a small stretch. And last year as well. More than once.

The TSN crew discussed Bert's situation last night. Bob MacKenzie had some interesting points. He said Bertuzzi's job right now is to try and make himself "relevant" again in the NHL. And also, that he's only played 26 games since being traded out of Vancouver. MacKenzie believes that if Bertuzzi can play the way he did against LA on the weekend ( 2A and some physical play) that he may succeed in his "quest for relevance". MacKenzie also added that Burke has "put himself on the line a bit here" $4M/year for 2 years on a salary capped team. If Neidermayer comes back, trades will have to be made, etc. Bottom line: I'm glad Burke made this deal because he looks foolish right now, but I'm dissapointed that the Wings lost Matthais in the process of aquiring Bert.

ahahaahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd love to see Phoenix make the playoffs and beat Anaheim in round 1. That's what I'd like.

Re-sign Lidstrom 7M, Filpulla 1.5M, Cleary 2M, Osgood 1.5M, Chelios (0.8) Lilja (1M) in that order. Time to upgrade the 2nd line. And improve the defense. Say goodbye to Sammy, Lebda, Hudler and Meech. Go out and get: -Brian Rolston (PERFECT FIT!!! good shot, good speed, defensively reliable, stays healthy, Flint boy) 3.5M - Bryzgalov 3M -ONE of Vandermeer 2.5M, Carney 2.5M, or Commodore 1.8M. - Arron Asham 0.7M Zetterberg(2.9) - Datsyuk(6.7) - Homer(2.25) Rolston(3.5) - Filpulla(1.5) - Cleary(2) Maltby(.95) - Draper(1.85) - Franzen (1.15) Ellis (.475) - Kopecky(0.525) - Asham(.7) Downey (.475) Lidstrom(7) - Rafalski(6.5) Kronwall(3) - Vandermeer(2.5) Lilja(1) - Chelios(.8) Quincey (.5) Brzgalov(3) Osgood (1.5) approx 50M

Here's an idea. Don't overpay for a player. Then you'll have an easier time trading them.

I don't know. I like the energy Downey brings. But do you guys actually think people fear him? Does anyone think that Shelley changed his game on Saturday because of Downey? It was 0-0 when Downey and Shelley fought. Which wasn't much of a tilt at all. The Wings went down 2-0. It wasn't until afther they tied it 2-2 that Downey fought. My point? I really like Downey. But I don't think he's enough of a heavyweight to really change the way a team plays the Red Wings, or the way the Wings play their game.

worst trade ever?????? I barf in my head everytime I think of this happening.

bingo. what's that story?: one year while playing for the Wings early in his career he got a team jacket as a bonus and he was all excited. something like that. pretty funny and ridiculous at the same time.

Shouldn't we be just as concerned that the GR defence is terrible. I mean it's made up of promising prospects like Kindl, Ericsson, and Quincey right? Maybe we should be in a panic over their play as well. In which case the Wing's future from the blueline back is doomed. I think not.

All I can say is that I'm really glad Homer's signed until the end of the 09/10 season at 2.25 M. He and Zetterberg combined only make 5.15 M this season and next. So awesome for the team. Except Hank's shots > than Sammy's shots.

should have done that with Penner last season for 2.5 M/yr. LOL at stupid Burke.

For a 2nd round pick. Sutherby is a gritty, 6'-3", 215 lb agitating, defensively repsonsible forward who can play both center and wing. The Ducks get bigger and tougher.

I think Downey adds alot to the Wings line-up. Last night was a perfect game from him. Great stuff. But I'd like to add, that people have been talking twice as much about Downey's play than about Datsyuk's goal. Which was clutch and beautiful. I dunno, maybe people are used to Datsyuk's brilliance. But maybe it also speaks to the hockey mentality of some LGWers that they would get more excited about Downey's play than Datsyuk's.

They are responsible for 100% of that players wagers aren't they? If the player clears waivers and gets sent to the minors he can still be claimed by another team when he gets called up, then that team only pays 50%. Right?

A few notes on the game: - scrappy character win by the Wings - loved Downey going hard to the net - the Wings need to upgrade the D. Like I said in a thread yesterday, they miss a guy like Markov BAD people made too much of the Chicago loss. But what people have to realize is that all these central teams play Detroit so hard. The game last night and today were probably the best games Chicago and Columbus played all year. Detroit could have won both. Good times lay ahead. But the roster should be tweaked a bit.