LeftWinger

Oh, don't get me wrong, I really appreciate the updates and the views are awesome...It'll just take me some time to get over the whole stab in the gut...Thanks BTW for the updates and cool photos/vids!

Am I the only one who is not as excited about this anymore since the announcement? I should be, but I'm still just a little jaded over the roof...

Detroit sitting pretty then. No NMC's on the roster outside of Pav

So wait, NMC'S have to be protected but NTC'S dont?

Listen to Holland's presser again, he actually names Okposo as a player that could change the style of the team. Without guessing who won't be back, would you all be excited if he landed Radulov, Okposo and Yandle? Of course, trades would be needed to have the cap, but would that fill needs? Since Datsyuk says we need Radulov, maybe if Holland lands him, Datsyuk comes back for his year??

Another player coming full circle. Who's next? *cough cough* Yzerman *cough cough*

...and the summer of change begins! I'd say getting rid of an 18 year goaltending coach with 4 Cups a pretty bold move ton say the least...

Again, this term means that expecting less going in, can only be that much more exciting when those expectations are surpassed. IMO this is what Kenny meant. Remember a time when we had a lineup full of unproven, yet good players that created the Dynasty core? Lapointe, Draper, Maltby, McCarty, Brown, yes even Larionov, Fedorov and Yzerman had much to prove before they started winning. That core grew together, and learned to become winners together, all along they way losing in the 1st rounds of multiple playoff years. BUT, when they weren't "expected" to win Cups every year, don't you remember how exciting the season was when you just didn't know what was going to happen? Remember when making the playoffs was the thing you looked forward to when the season started? Sure, you had fantasies about winning a Cup, but when those expectations weren't automatically there, the regular season was so fun to watch, individual stats were more fun to follow, certain teams were more fun to play against just because of who they were, not if they were possibly a 1st round matchup or not. There was never "acquire this vet to win him a cup" attitude and "he could be our motivation," it was "none of us have been there before" and "win this for the fans." For sure, I want to win Cups, but I also want to enjoy the entire season to. When I look back, how lucky was I to "grow" with that core back then and watch them build from missing the playoffs in 1990 to what they became. We need to go back to that attitude with this young group, Larkin, Mantha, AA, Mrazek, Dekeyser, yes even Tatar and Nyquist, and watch them with unbridled excitment and grow with them. I do believe that if I watch the regular season with far less "expectations for a Cup" it can and will be a lot more exciting. Doesn't mean I won't be as upset when they get elimintated, but then there's always next year...rememeber having that attitude? That is what made Red Wings Hockey for me. I'm ready.

While I agree, its been a dry run for us, but if we're looking at the here and now, a lot of ships sank in the 1st round, and 14 ships didn't even make it out of harbor. Who's loss was worse? Detroit's or Chicago's? Or Boston who didn't even qualify by a ROW. How much fun do you think the fans of Toronto or Edmonton have been having? What about Montreal? They're arguably the best team in our division and due to injury didn't even sniff the playoffs. Look at Florida, you think they are happy about their "ship sinking?" Sure, you can say that when it comes to a lot of our star players that their ship has sailed, but only one team can put it together enough and keep it going long enough to win. A lot of ships have sunk, but we lost a dingy, Chicago, Anaheim, LA, Florida (soon to be Washington) all lost yachts and battleships. I for one am looking forward to see if there are, indeed, any needs that are addressed this summer (by addition AND subtraction) and then I will figure out if the ship has enough to sail into the playoffs, or if its taking on water from the start. Right now, we are bilging out the water, but a scorer, some pugnaciousness and a #1 D can right that in a hurry. Doesn't mean the ship won't sink again in April-June, because 15 ships sink in that span every year, 14 more before that. When we are getting #1's 4 out of 5 years, then we can talk about ships being lost at sea instead of the annual sinking that NHL powerhouses do every year, let alone teams that aren't expected to keep sailing through June.

I liked Dominski and Doyle when they were here.

Meh, never thought they were that good. If you're in Ottawa, why do you care who the President is? Yzerman is not coming. Sorry to buzz kill.

When I look at the site, it says 30 contracts for next season...where do you see 44?

Come on, it's Pit. No suspension.

Jakub Kindl was taken #19 and look how he.....oh nevermind...

Don't forget, he had that one night where he scored 3 goals, and that one goal that was end to end a deked a couple of guys. That stuff is never heard of in the NHL! The game is never going to be the same with the arrival of McSaviour.

Suter's career didn't take off in Minny. 2000-01 16 Culver Academy Eagles 2001-02 17 U.S. National Team Development Program 2001-02 17 U.S. National Team Development Program 2001-02 17 U.S. National Team Development Program 2001-02 17 United States 2002-03 18 U.S. National Team Development Program 2002-03 18 U.S. National Team Development Program 2002-03 18 United States 2002-03 18 United States Season Age Team 2003-04 19 University of Wisconsin 2003-04 19 United States 2004-05 20 Milwaukee Admirals His career took off in Ann Arbor and then Wisconsin. But it doesn't matter, family beat us out either way.

Word was he had a verbal agreement with Detroit. Wife, Parise and Heatley convinced him otherwise. That's when the "brass" got on the plane to meet him on his Wisconsin farm to try to convince him to still come here. People always say that we lost out to his hometown, yet he isn't from Minny, he's from Wisconsin. His wife is from Minny. Before his signing one could argue that during his youth he actually spent more time in Michigan (Ann Arbor) with the USDP than he ever did in Minny. We lost out on Suter due to Parise, his evil in-laws and Heatley, who he had phone called and he had asked him if he thinks the team can win it all, Heatley said yes, we can and within a couple of season's.

I'm not sure he can sign before July 1...I could be wrong though.

Now I'm confused.

We'll I wanted "Centre" so where's my free stuff?

Not to even mention the Bertuzzi incident.

As much as we could use 20-25 more goals, I think we need to find someone who can score 35+. BUT, that being hard to find, 25 more would help. He may choose to go elsewhere, but if he wants to go somewhere where he is going to be the #1 guy, he should come here. He will be top 3 and top PP.

Speaking of which, wonder what will happen to Steve Yzerman Drive? Makes no sense to keep it named that with no Arena to be found near it. Will they re-designate a road near the new Arena in his honor? Having a road named Steve Yzerman Drive just in the middle of nowhere after JLA is gone is just silly.

I am one of the BIGGEST Holland critic here, but I heard the excerps and then watched the entire presser. The quotes are for sure taken out of context. I think he means by "less is more exciting" and "if you expect Cups, you're in the wrong league" that when the fans realize they need to lower their yearly expectations, they may enjoy the seasom much more. Now, I am not saying its ok to NOT expect a Cup, but we all know you just cannot win it every year. He said we're here to win Cups not just make the playoffs, but the fans also need to realize that after 25 years of making the playoffs and winning 4 Cups in that span, you don't always get the best players in the draft. Plus, the fact that the Cap is here, and instead of 4-6 teams being favorites every season, there are 25 teams that can make the playoffs and compete for it, so not landing the top UFA's like those 4-6 teams used to (or even be on a players "accept a trade to" list) is something the fans need to get used to as well. Does anyone really think that if there wasn't a cap making virtually every team competitive that we'd have lost out on Suter/Parise or Niskanen? When the wallet is bottomless and payroll can be limitless, we'd still be favorites every year. I too, think that if all expectations to win a Cup every season, were lowered a bit, we may enjoy the competition to get to the playoffs. He said, he plans on being agressive with trades at the draft, he is going to move younger players up the roster and bring up more kids from GR. He said he needs to change the style and makeup of the team, and is already planing on NOT having Datsyuk. He will trade the contract if he can find a taker but he won't trade it if that taker wants to deplete out minors or draft picks. He is ok with taking the cap hit for one year to protect the likes of AA, Larkin, Bertuzzi, etc... and high draft picks. I think he means it this time. I think, even though ownership said that they support him 100%, that he was told, do something or we won't be so supportive in the near future... I like that he said he'd like to have Helm, but he understands that he needs to make a family decision because this is a very important contract for Helm and is prepared to move on without him. I really think we won't see any other re-siging of our UFA's outside of the possible Helm deal. Also, VERY excited about his opinion that Howard has to be traded (paraphrasing) because he cannot have so much money in a goalie combo. Something I've been saying for two seasons. Here is a link to the entire presser for those who haven't seen it... youtube.com/watch?v=SlkPQejiHCo

We all knew the name would be sold. I don't even think too many people are that mad about the name, but couple that together with the logo on the roof when it was supposed to be an LED of the Detroit Red Wings logo then people that are very upset. The name itself isn't really that bad we all knew would be a corporate name of some kind. I just think people are upset because they were shown and sold and helped pay for one product, and now the rug has been pulled out underneath them. Plus the logo looks like crap on top of the Arena. This franchise has slowly turned into an embarrassment since around 2009 and it seems every decision from top to bottom has become more and more embarrassing. What's funny is they talked about how they were able to spend Millions more money on expanding Suites and VIP sections then they cut the spending on the LED rooftop. It just goes to show that this is a corporation that cares about the bottom line first not its fans.