rick zombo

Mmmmmmmmm. Thanks for that bite of your Grasping-At-Straws-Sandwhich

Winners of their last 5. Beat Buffalo last night. 6 back of Minnesota.

What the hell are you talking about. Samuelson and Lilja were signed before last year's playoffs began. Sammy hasn't played in months because of his foot yet the team has played great, and Lilja doesn't play much at all. Neither player fared well against Edmonton, especially Lilja. He'd be gone just like Legace if he hadn't signed before the playoffs. Both those guys are replacable. We'd still have a team. Sometimes I don't know about some of you people. Until Schneider's "career" numbers start carrying over to the post season then I'll have to call you stupid. Also, defense wins championships, even in the new NHL. Things like blocking shots (like Edmoton did last year) clearing out the areas in front of your own net., and playing a reliable, smart, physical game are all part of it. Schneider doesn't do any of this very well. Sure he has great offensive numbers, but his money should be spent on a guy like Corey Sarich or Aaron Miller in the summer. Let Lidstrom, Kronwall, Lebda, and even Kindl (if he plays) make up for the Schneider loss. Also, if the Wings had a legitimate scoring/sniper winger, and more of a down low presence, the power play could function without Schneider.

I don't get it. Everyone wants to get younger and grittier yet people here are actually hoping Lang, Maltby, and Schneider are re-signed. Unreal. The only one I'd make any effort to re-sign would be Pavel, and even then, only for 5.5 max. Maltby = Kopecky and Schneider money should be spent on a Sarich type player. Someone better defensively (edit: and more physical). Plus Quincey and (maybe) Kindl could be ready for some ice time. Save the Lang money for either Bertuzzi or another gritty winger.

Man, I'm squirming. Datsyuk, Lang, Schneider, and Maltby should NOT be signed until after the playoffs. (edit: some of them should not be re-signed period) Wait and see how they play in the post season.

Except for Dom. If his toenails aren't symetrically clipped he won't play

Well, last in yesterday's game there really is no mystery as to what happened. Schneider was stupid.

Between 97 and 2003 Anaheim bombed. Then again in 2004. Not being in contention makes you a seller rather than a buyer. Add a bunch of high draft picks to that. And you end up with a solid team eventually. Basically, you have to tank a bit to rebuild. The fact that Detroit seems to have avoided this (putting them in a class consisting of them and New Jersey) is a testament to the entire Wings mangement staff including Holland. Oh, also, like Holland, Burke inherited a pretty good core of players and assets when he took over the GM position in Anaheim less than 2 years ago. So he didn't really "build" the Ducks like you may think.

Interesting that he thought the price for Bert was too high, and that he was interested in Calder.

Interesting. Thanks for the info. I'd say Burke probably panicked. Getting a 1st for Blake would have made the Smyth deal less costly for NYI.

I used to feel sorry for Edmonton when there was no cap and they had to compete with larger markets and american dollars sign/re-sign their key players. But the cap made it harder on teams like Detroit and easier on teams like Edmonton to manage a team. Edit: The only way Lowe gets away with not looking ridiculous is if Smyth somehow comes back to Edmonton in July.

Not a suprising reaction from you. Typical. Maybe you should have stayed in Vegas.

Right. I thought Luongo was Borat.

Who fought?

Anyway, Lanfeld will be sent down to GR. And Hudler will be scratched on most nights. Unless there's an injury. It's the playoffs, there's NO WAY Maltby get's scratched. I think it will be: Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Homer Calder - Lang - Bertuzzi Maltby - Draper - Cleary Franzen - Filpulla - Samuelson Hudler Franzen on the fourth line to give it some muscle.

Definitely Langfeld. And when/if Bertuzzi plays, I imagine Hudler will be used for depth. And oh what depth Detroit will have. Quite a change from last week when it looked like he could reasonably fill put the 2nd line.

LOL @ Edmonton.

Very very very very fair.

Trade of the deadline in my opinion. Considering what Nashville, San Jose and Atlanta paid for their rentals. IF Bertuzzi stays healthy.

No link. No details. Sorry Edit: If you link the TSN Tradetracker you get an audio feed. They reported that Biron did not practice this morning with the Sabers, and TSN's Darren Dreger was informed by a source close to Biron that he has been traded.

Retard Rodeo

He's been moved. No details yet.

Laraque has a "no movement" clause. Not just a no trade. This means he can't be sent down to the minors, waived, looked at cock-eyed, etc. Pittsburgh are taking on some prime babysitting duties. That being said, the Pens got alot grittier adding Laraque and Roberts. Hopefully they can scare Fluery into stopping some pucks. The best part of this deal? He didn't go to Calgary.

Bob MacKenzie confirmed. Philly. Done. For a pick

Just heard this. Should defintely help the Flyers push for the playoffs.