RockyMountainWingGal

I'm not sure what Vancouver has to gain by losing alot of draft picks for Flip. They are a team that is going nowhere for the forseeable future - they need those picks more than they need Flip. I would be shocked if they even make the playoffs. Their captain just bolted for the Rangers all-star graveyard. The Sedin twins as your top forwards? Not impressed. Either the Nucks or the Avs will find the NW division basement. There were rumors at one time of Sakic maybe going there since he's from BC, but I really doubt he would do that since they play in the same division as the Avs...

Some of you must not remember Sharks in '94, Devils in '95, Avs in '96, Kings in '01. It happens to great teams. There are no "locks" in the NHL - it's a long season and in the POs anything can happen. The Wings have put themselves in the best possible to position to win - every fan should be proud of this organization. Personally, I kind of liked that all the attention was on the Sharks and Ducks this year - not sure I like the Wings being the favs from the getgo - but we're stuck with that now - and let's hope for the best - but not get too haughty!

Wound up being a blessing. Raffi rocked in Schneider's place and Hudler was a better depth player than Bert was last year. I was annoyed too when they bolted - but the Wings are pretty savvy at not overpaying for the product and it paid off. Pens fans have a right to be angry at Hossa - he turned down a pretty good long term offer from a good young club. But he was a trade deadline rent-a-player and you always gamble with that. They should certainly not blame the Wings for "stealing Hossa" as the one writer put it. Holland basically got a phone call and offer from Hossa's agent - one only a fool would turn down.

I would vote for Florida and Atlanta gone also - if this were a poll - gauging from the responses they would be voted off the island first. Although there are several others on the list that would come close.... Two teams in Fla is ridiculous. Atlanta is just a terrible sports market. In fact, save for the Caps I cannot stand the whole SE division. But Tampa and Carolina have somewhat of a fanbase by virtue of their winning Cups (Bettman conspiracy ). I disagree with the hate for the California teams. Huge population, lots of transplants, hey even tons of Wings fans in Cali. Plus for those of us out West, it means games at reasonable times in the evening. I am certainly against the expansion idea floating around - moving franchises should be the first solution to having an NHL team in a new city....

Sorry I just couldn't resist! lol

I'd gladly buy some kind of package if I lived in the Detroit area. Sadly I'm stuck with the Avs - I'll be paying to watch the opposition....

:rotflmao: at those comments. I actually like the Leafs - I bought a t-shirt when in Toronto last year just to be different - they're in the East now anyways. Really sucks for them - I had to suffer through Finger living in Denver watching the Avs - sh%& he couldn't even crack their pathetic defensive core lineup. Don't we play the Leafs the first game of the season potentially??? This ought to be GOOD.

lol me neither - or still rotting away with the Blues. There are certain teams you never hear on the radar in the offseason - the Blues are one of them - don't do big off season signings I guess....

Because when he was born it was Czechloslovakia. I was confused too - small country divided in two after the cold war (just went there last month myself). However, I have both Czech and Slovak friends and I have to be very careful not to confuse the two - they notice.

Yeah cause signing someone like Darcy Tucker would be so much more exciting than Hossa. We have plenty of grit as outlined above ^^^ Let teams like the Avs have all the Lappy's and Tuckers they want - they can't catch our guys, they cannot score - and they have no GT. Wow Babcock must be just freaking out - Stu staying then this! Will be very interesting to see what he comes up with lines-wise.

I believe he is Slovakian....

Flip had a great year - solid playoffs and I really enjoy watching him play. I'm pretty confident the Wings will get it done - he fits this team well - but I wouldn't go too crazy on the salary - I'll be sad if he leaves but it won't be the worst thing that could happen....

Heh WOW! Didn't see that coming! The boys must have really impressed him in the Finals - he wanted to switch sides! And to think he was the one with the last shot there on Oz - very strange and fortuitous. I actually feel bad for the Pens - thought they'd resign him and they lost several good players. At least our GM rocks!

They were airing this panel/story on NHLnetwork today - they had TSN coverage of free agency. I saw it - but don't know if there is an internet link.... Yes they were roltlmao at the Finger signing.... and McGuire actually was complimenting the Wings.

I love Shanny and I'd much rather see him stick with the Rangers. As far as the Wings I have to agree with Foster on the Ticket "I'm looking for the next Shanahan, not the old Shanahan at this point"

That's exactly how I was looking at it. Campbell is not even on the same planet as Nick and he gets near the money - and for 8 years? And people sometimes complain about Holland... lol

A journeyman player for the Avs last season. He did play in two of the Wings-Avs PO games -unnoticebable like all of their Dmen in that series. The fact that he couldn't crack their pathetic defensive core lineup consistently doesn't speak 3.5 mill if you ask me - wtf? This is akin to us giving Lebda 3.5 mill. The best thing he's got going for him is he's a native of Houghton, MI. This is why the Leafs organization sucks.......

Dang - I like the Capitals - why would they go and do something like that??? Now the Wings won't get to light up Theo 4x - preferably 8x - per year! Guess we'll have to shell Raycroft instead

Wow - I'm surprised and ecstatic. Thought there was no way it could work with Stuart. What a great experience for him though - goes from the Kings to the Wings, from the cellar to the Cup all in a few months. Good job Kenny. And now I get to hear the NBC guys announce "the SCARY guys are out on the ice for Detroit again" loved that quote....

Exactly. Foote belongs on the Avs - expected (although I still think he should have stuck it out in Columbus and been their "C"). Their defense is bad any way you put it - Foote is a decent mid-level Dman - but he's now their elite defenseman and he got burned something awful over and over in the Wings series.

The Panthers are a bad franchise - a place for players to go play for a few years and be near the beach - until they get traded somewhere better....Likely this guy will get traded in a few years. One team is Florida is enough - mistake to put two there - but Betts$$ will never admit his mistakes...

If the stories are true that he cannot and won't play outside of Cali/West coast because his stepkids have to remain in Cali - then that pretty much leaves 4 teams: back to Kings, Ducks, Sharks, or maybe Phoenix. Ducks have too many salary problems already, Sharks will go for Campbell first, back to dungeon Kings or maybe up-and-coming Coyotes???

Good job Holland letting him walk last year. WTF Ducks 4 million ! Why would any of you want him back? He didn't fit in here - I'd take small Jiri Hudler with the big heart after showing how he will play if given the chance in the line-up over washed up, slowed up Big Bert. Even at cheap I wouldn't like the fit on our team. No thanks - suck it up Ducks!!! Will Schneids be next??

Which is why he probably should have just stuck with the Cup Win, MVP, and retirement. Asking to go out on top a second time might be asking too much... Kind of reminds me of the Dom thing. Retired after winning - came back a year later - left - went to another team - came back... It wound up working out OK for us in the 2007 POs, but honestly things have never really been the same with Dom on the Wings since 02. Good season this year - but he got replaced and won the Cup as the back-up. Good for him still, but I'm sure it's not what he was banking on.... Could be the same for the Ducks - sounds great on paper to have an elite player back - but I bet it will never be the same as 06-07 for Nieds....

Ah, I didn't know he had step-children, so yeah that makes sense. If that is the case, then clearly Holland knew of that situation when he traded for him. This makes it pretty clear that Holland figured Stu was here just for the POs. Explains the decent offer of 3 mill but not much room to budge. I will say that he probably does WANT to come back to Detroit, but probably knew it wouldn't work from the get-go....