Vladinator

I don't know if it was the last time it happened, but that is what the wings did in 97...Osgood started far more games in the regular season, but it was Vernon who got the nod for the playoffs...what was the result of that again? The "detrimental" effect on Osgood's progress from that move was really lacking the next year when Osgood was in net for a cup run... In the playoffs, when you have a proven veteran goalie...you go with him.

Either way, it's comcast... After MANY, MANY bad experiences with them, I swore years ago that they would never get any of my money again if I could help it...so far, I have stuck to that...

http://www.cjr.org/resources/index.php?c=comcast Comcast Corporation 1500 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 Voice 1-800-Comcast www.comcast.com * Holdings Cable Comcast Cable Programming E! Entertainment Style Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Comcast SportsNet Chicago Comcast SportsNet West SportsNet New York (partial) The Golf Channel Versus Network AZN Television PBS KIDS Sprout TV One G4 Sport Franchises Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Phantoms Philadelphia Charge Frederick Keys Delmarva Shorebirds Bowie Baysox Other Through Comcast Spectacor Wachovia Center Wachovia Spectrum Ovations Food Services New Era Tickets Front Row Marketing Services Comcast owns VS, which is a Mickey Mouse network. This doesn't mean that Disney is involved...it's like when Gretzky called the Devils a Mickey Mouse Franchise...

Lets not forget that Comcast owns the Mickey Mouse network that the NHL is currently under contract with... Comcast buying NBC will not get them off of VS...

Comcast is, in my opinion (based on my experiences dealing with them), one of the worst corporations in the world...so (again in my opinion) this can only end bad.

He was awful when he was here. He was awful when he left. Why bring him back, even if it is for Grand Rapids? I really see no benefit in this at all.

I don't see any reason to ever play Franzen and Holmstrom on the same line...they play the same role.

Nope...I think of this:

Tim Connolly...I don't think he can go a practice without some sort of injury...

Any defenseman with offensive ability playing alongside Lidstrom on the wings top line and top powerplay unit is going to be among the leading defense scorers... Moving rafalski would free up more salary room than moving any defenseman other than Lidstrom (which isn't going to happen). Lidstrom, Stuart, Kronwall, & Ericsson would be as good of a top 4 as any other team in the league can boast. Of our top 4, rafalski bring the least to the table in my opinion. Yes, he has some offensive upside, but once again any defenseman with offensive ability playing in that position is going to shine (look at Schnieder here and what he did since leaving here...and even before coming here, he put up some good numbers for some seasons but had just as many with bad numbers...here his numbers were consistant, mainly because of those that he was playing with...rafalski benefits the same way).

If the wings can get some sort of commitment from Lidstrom for beyond this season, then I would look to move Rafalski. If they can get someone to take his salary it would open up a top 4 spot for Ericsson and free up a lot more cap space than moving anyone else. Ericsson could then be paired with and learn from Lidstrom and we would have some wiggle room in case there are any injuries or if all of our projects (Eaves, Williams, Bertuzzi) fail. Plus, I would prefer to keep both Kronwall and Stuart. Ericsson is good enough for top 4 minutes, and of the top 4 Rafalski would be the one I would most like to see go...

Shootouts are a lazy way to end a game, therefore they suck... That being said, Datsyuk and Zetts are the obvious 1 & 2...as others have said, from there it boils down to who is having a good game or on a hot run...

Nobody else even offered Williams a contract. Lebda has no trade value (neither does Lils with him being hurt). Knowing this, you think that we are going to get Milan Hejduk for them! Step away from the crack pipe!!!

not me...Drapes still has a little left in the tank...plus he is a great mentor for Helm!!!

Maltby & Holmstrom - yes (unless someone other than the wings makes one of them an offer they can't refuse) Lidstrom & Draper - no

WEST: (1) Detroit OVER (8) Nashville (4-1) (2) San Jose OVER (7) Calgary (4-2) (3) Minnesota OVER (6) Colorado (4-3) (4) Anaheim OVER (5) Dallas (4-2) EAST: (1) Montreal OVER (8) Boston (4-2) (2) Pittsburgh OVER (7) Ottawa (4-3) (6) Philadelphia OVER (3) Washington (4-3) (4) New Jersey OVER (5) New York Rangers (4-3)

Friday: NY Islanders @ NY Rangers New Jersey @ Philadelphia Florida @ Carolina Boston @ Ottawa Nashville @ Chicago Phoenix @ Dallas Saturday: Anaheim @ Los Angeles Columbus @ St Louis Buffalo @ Boston Toronto @ Montreal Florida @ Washington Tampa Bay @ Atlanta Calgary @ Vancouver Sunday: Chicago @ Detroit Minnesota @ Colorado San Jose @ Dallas NY Rangers @ New Jersey Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia St Louis @ Columbus Phoenix @ Anaheim

Ack! For the 2nd time this year, I forgot about this...oh well, here are my picks for Saturday & Sunday... Saturday: Ottawa @ Boston Dallas @ Los Angeles Montreal @ Toronto Philadelphia @ NY Islanders Washington @ Florida Carolina @ Tampa Bay Chicago @ St Louis Edmonton @ Calgary Sunday: NY Rangers @ Pittsburgh Nashville @ Detroit Colorado @ Minnesota Boston @ Buffalo Columbus @ Chicago Dallas @ Anaheim Phoenix @ San Jose Calgary @ Vancouver

Friday: NY Islanders @ New Jersey NY Rangers @ Philadelphia Toronto @ Buffalo Washington @ Atlanta Minnesota @ Vancouver Anaheim @ San Jose Saturday: Colorado @ Edmonton Chicago @ Nashville Los Angeles @ Dallas Boston @ Montreal Toronto @ Ottawa Tampa Bay @ Florida Detroit @ Columbus New Jersey @ Pittsburgh Anaheim @ Phoenix Minnesota @ Calgary Sunday: St Louis @ Chicago NY Islanders @ Philadelphia

Friday: Atlanta @ Washington Chicago @ Columbus Carolina @ Buffalo NY Rangers @ Florida St Louis @ San Jose Saturday: Philadelphia @ Boston Nashville @ Detroit New Jersey @ Colorado Vancouver @ Dallas Buffalo @ Toronto NY Islanders @ Montreal NY Rangers @ Tampa Bay Los Angeles @ Minnesota Edmonton @ Phoenix St Louis @ Anaheim Sunday: Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh Calgary @ Chicago Boston @ Washington Ottawa @ Carolina Detroit @ Columbus Atlanta @ Florida Edmonton @ San Jose

Friday: Tampa Bay @ New Jersey Edmonton @ Columbus Minnesota @ Atlanta San Jose @ Chicago Nashville @ Calgary Saturday: Washington @ Boston Dallas @ Colorado Montreal @ Los Angeles Ottawa @ Phoenix New Jersey @ Toronto NY Islanders @ Philadelphia Buffalo @ Carolina Atlanta @ Florida St Louis @ Vancouver Sunday: Pittsburgh @ Washington Edmonton @ Chicago Boston @ NY Rangers Nashville @ Detroit Tampa Bay @ Columbus San Jose @ Minnesota Montreal @ Anaheim Colorado @ Dallas

Friday: Washington @ New Jersey Montreal @ Buffalo Minnesota @ Florida San Jose @ Detroit Toronto @ Tampa Bay Columbus @ Vancouver Calgary @ Anaheim Saturday: Atlanta @ Boston Philadelphia @ NY Islanders Pittsburgh @ Ottawa New Jersey @ Montreal Toronto @ Washington Tampa Bay @ Carolina Los Angeles @ Colorado Nashville @ Dallas San Jose @ St Louis Calgary @ Phoenix Sunday: Philadelphia @ NY Rangers Vancouver @ Chicago Atlanta @ Pittsburgh Florida @ NY Islanders Detroit @ Buffalo Los Angeles @ Minnesota Columbus @ Edmonton

I'd prefer to let Ericsson play quality minutes in the minors rather than have him get 5 minutes of ice time per night (if he's lucky) when everyone is healthy on the Wings...

Friday: Edmonton @ Dallas Detroit @ Calgary Colorado @ Phoenix St Louis @ Anaheim Saturday: NY Islanders @ New Jersey Ottawa @ Pittsburgh Chicago @ Los Angeles Washington @ Carolina NY Rangers @ Buffalo Atlanta @ Toronto Florida @ Philadelphia Columbus @ Montreal Boston @ Tampa Bay Dallas @ Nashville Detroit @ Vancouver Sunday: Calgary @ Minnesota San Jose @ Pittsburgh New Jersey @ Washington Florida @ NY Rangers Chicago @ Anaheim Colorado @ Edmonton St Louis @ Phoenix

Friday: Atlanta @ New Jersey Washington @ Florida Columbus @ Detroit Dallas @ Anaheim Calgary @ Los Angeles Saturday: Buffalo @ NY Rangers Boston @ Toronto Philadelphia @ Montreal New Jersey @ Ottawa Atlanta @ NY Islanders Florida @ Carolina Washington @ Tampa Bay St Louis @ Nashville Los Angeles @ Phoenix Edmonton @ Vancouver Sunday: Colorado @ Chicago San Jose @ NY Rangers Detroit @ Dallas Columbus @ St Louis Pittsburgh @ Buffalo Montreal @ Philadelphia Calgary @ Anaheim Nashville @ Minnesota