LeftWinger

Here's a question: Babcock is great because of his winning in Detroit, but why isn't Osgood "great" then? They both were fortunate to have the Red Wings playing in front of them, so why is it that Babcock gets the credit and Osgood gets the average label? Bottom line is, this franchise makes them great. Credit Jimmy D, Ken Holland and Mr. I. Without Osgood, Babcock still doesn't have a Cup. So Babs is the genius who put Ozzie in instead of Hasek? I think Osgood along with others won Babcock that Cup, not that Babcock coached them to the Cup. Babcock was a good coach, did a good job here, but to give him all the credit for coaching this team to its success is a farce. He misused players all the time, benched players for personal reason's and refused to allow the influx of youth until injuries forced him to do so. Remember this is the guy who delegated Modano, Weiss and Legwand to 4th line minutes. He chose to play Samuelsson, Cleary and Bertuzzi over more deserving Sheahan, Tatar and Jurco or Nyquist. He misused Tootoo and Commodore even though they came in and did what they were signed to do each time they got a chance to play. I don't see the allure of Babcock. I appreciate his time and respect his knowledge, but when more than one player in the NHL says he won't play for Detroit because of him, something is wrong. A lot of players hated Bowman, but rarely no one ever gave up a chance to play for him.

I'd like to see Fedorov play one more game for us, just so he can officially play his last game at "home." Would've been nice if our former coach wasn't such an idiot when it came to Sergei, we could've possibly had him for that "one last season." Nice words on Lidstrom, but can anyone, anywhere write a story that isn't "nice" when it comes to Nick? I find it offensive though that ESPN is sticking their damn dirty hands on him or anything to do with the NHL since they turned their back on them before. I know there are some "hockey guys" at heart that work there, but I just cannot stand ESPN/ABC's "entitlement" attitude just because they are so big in America and the world. I'd listen to a janitor from TSN before I would someone from ESPN. But that is my opinion...

I agree somewhat KRSMITH, if that is the concern, how about 3 years $8M? Then see what goes from there? That could be advantageuous for both parties, if his play declines, then you could let him walk or re-sign him for much less, if he continues to be dominant then he could seek even more $$$ after the 3 years. JOESUFF, I understand also the scoring winger concern, but honestly we have the potential for multiple 30 goal scorer already playing for us. It is not out of the realm to think that each one of Tatar, Nyquist, Pulkkinen and Larkin can all be scoring 30-40 goals a year soon. AA seems to be ready and add to that Bertuzzi, Mantha and I am sure I am forgetting someone and we could be set for scoring for a long time. I think acquiring someone like Byf can address a couple issues. Like I said, picture him in front of the net on the PP, Boston does it with Lurch, Byf can be a dominant force there. He also could play an offensive role in the 3-3 OT format. Not saying he is the missing link to our Cup, but if you are throwing a huge amout of eggs in one basket, Byf is a great choice. Plus, the fact remains that we have an overage of players that need to be re-signed and/or are out of exemptions and we need to move these players for assets before they get exposed to waivers. With the news of Abby's eminent contract, there may not be much room to re-sign Helm, Andersson or Miller. I would think Richards is not going to be anyhow, heck, if Larkin continues his stellar play, Richards may end up being a deadline trade asset to someone looking to solidify a Cup run. I'd overpay a bit now to acquire Byf and then overpay him to hang around for a few years. It's time to do so. Having Green and Byf around for the next 2-3 years after this will help develope our younger D and also help us rid ourselves of less usefull ones: E, K, Smith, Q.

Ya, but, you know AS SOON as Holland acquires him, BAM! Upper/Lower body injury. It happens ALL the time....it's the Gambino Curse or better yet the KGB Curse. All kiddign aside, Byf is the way to go if you want to seriously upgrade your D. Like I said before in this thread, put in on the top pair and then in front of the net on the top PP. Problem is you HAVE to re-sign him. Kenny needs to have that already mapped out, trade for him and have his $8M package ready to offer him. 6 years. That'll allow you to dump Erection and whicheve one of Kindl/Smith is left over after this trade. I'd up my ante right now to WPG and offer Helm, Smith, Sproul and a 1st. Maybe even another prospect along the lines of Holmstrom, Turgeon, or Nastasiak. It's time to get serious. Next years D COULD resemble something like this: Kronner - Byf Danny D - Green XO - Marchy Jensen You let Q go, dump E and K for a pick(s)

Moves are going to have to be made! If Abby is projecting north of $4M, Danny D is projecting north of $4M, guarantee Mrazek gets at least $4M...that doesn't even include having to try and better our team via trade or UFA, or the players that are out of options next season. This is why you have to get rid of Erection, one of Smith/Kindl and don't even think about re-signing KFQ. Helm can be traded, Andersson can as well. These are UFA's that are redundant on this team and will waste cap space if re-signed. Hell, most of us knew Helm was tradable with the emergence of Glen and Sheahan. Speaking of Sheahan, he will get in the $2M's on his next deal too. We need to make this team better, and right now, we need to add by subtracting so we can do so. If we want to even sniff Byf, we need to clear tons of capspace, especially if we are going to overpay 30 point players.

The only thing to complain about, and rightfully so, is the skyrocketing salaries for average players. It seems you have the Elite ($8M-$10M) then the bottom ($2M or less) and then for some reason you have everyone else making $3M-$7M and most not really deservng it. I konw the market dictates it, but in no real world does Abby deserve the same amount of money as a Nyquist. Nyquist is a 50+ points per year scorer, I can never see Abby getting above 30 too many more times, if ever again, heck I even thought $4.75M was a bit much for Nyquist so soon, I was kind of hoping for a bit less for a couple of years, then the bigger money. If you ask me, $3.5M is the top of the heap for players like Abby, if not a bit less but no more. But, I digress because we are living in an NHL world that says KFQ and Erection are worth nearly $5M....that's my complaint, we've gone through 2 lockouts to get a reign on these contracts, but you sure cannot tell by looking at most of them.

Exansion draft? then I choose to protect Mrazek.

I am a huge Mrazek slappie, but for me, I say keep it going like this for as long as possible. I know we won't have the most expensive tandem next year, but if Petr doesn't take over, it'll still cost less to re-sign him than if he did. We need all the cap space we can muster for a run at a legit #1 defender next summer.

Well, trade for him or not I think the Wings shoud HIGHLY pursue him (or re-sign him if acquired) in the Summer. He will probably be the most sought after UFA defenseman and will probably cost a lot of money. BUT, since we haven't heard much about Franzen, I got a feeling that his $3.9M may be opening up and Richards probably won't be re-signed, so there $6.9M right there to start with, find about $2M or so more and we could be in the running!

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2015/11/04/report-cost-new-red-wings-arena-rises/75146516/ Seems​ The I's have added $177M in upgrades to Cadillac Centre© in order to make it the most fan friendly and event friendly Arena in the NHL and the country. I really love the practice/amateur Hockey facility concept. Sure that means the kids won't be playing on the NHL ice (like they do at the Joe) but I am sure it will still be just as exciting to play there! (and yes, I am sticking with my name until otherwise named something else! ) I just hope that the c​ity steps up protection in the surrounding area's for the fans and event goers. I know Brush Park is getting lots of "flippers" buying old mansions now in hopes to cash in later! Nicole Curtis owns a few of them. Going to be exciting times in the City...too bad it means the trash gets pushed to the burbs. Places like Ecorse, River Rouge and Lincoln Park have been going down for awhile now, but it's now extending into Wyandotte, Riverview, Woodhaven and Trenton. My poor Brownstown is even getting worse. I drive in every weekend to work and each time I do, I see things happening that just weren't 10 years ago.

Well, just think of it this way, Mcdavid was probably going to win the Calder by default, if indeed he is out long enough to only get 20 or so games in, Larkin can win it this year and then they can default to McDavid next year when he plays enough games to quaify for it. Hmmmm..... He can also win that award for perseverance to Hockey for battling back from injury and becomng ROY. Conspiracy? ​

Uh, no Bill...two horrible calls by the NHL, er I mean the refs lead to a goal.

why the f*** is Helm out there on the PP?

LOL! and a hot garbage make up call. Listen, don't make the first two faux penalties, you won't have to f*** the other team

I LOVE when refs control the outcome of games. Both penalties were garbage.

even more garbage

garbage

Stop shooting the puck...

ok, how does Stamkos NOT get jumped there? Erection just looked at it...

Helm, just stopped shooting please...

gee, Osgood is sitting close to Daren. The other night he was a country mile away from Manny...lol! lol, Ozzie just called Smith "Smithers"

Helm misses the net... I will miss how close the camera is to the ice at the Joe. If the new place is anything like the others it will be faaaar away comparatively. Smith sucks, way to waste 10 seconds...

Who the hell made the schedule this season? Aren't there 29 other teams in the league? Here we are a month into the season and we're on our 12th game and we've played the 'Canes 3 times, Sens 2 and now Tampa 2. I just don't know what they were smoking...

Larkin and Mrazek....that's it.

Damn I miss redwingscentral.com....another ode to the late Matt Wuest, truley a master of his craft! I really hope that McKee becomes the player Holland hoped he would become when he drafted him, could use that type of player here...but sadly, you would think that if he were making the correct strides, he probably would've already signed a pro contract and been in GR. Still crossing my fingers for him though!