LeftWinger

Here's a top line for you Okposo-Stamkos-Abby

IMO, if I'm paying someone $10M, he better score 50 goals and have 120 points. I know it's rare, but that would be my expectation.

To use a term coined by our dear friend Mike Commodore.... "Howard, pack your s***!"

A top line of Okposo - Larkin - Radulov.....Hmmmmm....

I Agree. Z on the 3rd. Larkin with Stamkos, AA as your #2 center.

I just may do that!

if that is the case, you protect Mantha and AA, leave Nyquist/Tatar unprotected, a team can only lose ONE player anyhow. so its not like they would lose all the players they leave unprotected. Protect AA, Mantha, Abby, Larkin, Sheahan, and whichever 2 top tier players they sign. If any of those listed can be exempt, then throw the protect on Z. On D you protect Dekeyeser, top defender they sign or acquire, one of the kids. Goalie of course Mrazek. That leave would leave (unless they are traded) Tatar, Nyquist, Pulkkinen, Jurco, Glendening and possibly Z all unprotected up front, Kronwall, Ericsson, Green and a few kids unprotected on D along with McCollum and Coreau at G. Holland will probably sign a BU goalie for Petr, but probably only 1 year deal. If he isn't traded, Smith will be a UFA after next season so I think he wouldn't need a protection.

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.