LeftWinger

The point being, there were/are a ton of "what ifs?" The biggest two being what if we have less injuries this season and what if Franzen returns to form. We very well may have a couple less injuries, but Franzen is where he is at. He will not suddenly become 2008 Franzen again, you are going to have to be fine with 15-20 goals from him, if that. Howard is still average. He needs to step it up big time and prove he can win the BIG games. I don't care if he wins 25 or 45 games in the regular season, he needs to win the 16 BIG ones. He is in his prime, he has probably already peaked, so he needs to step it up because he is two years away from losing his starting job outright to Mrazek. Injuries: Like it or not, agree with me or not, Pav, Z, Franzen, Helm, Ericsson are all damaged goods. Yes they can possibly have an injury free season, but history dictates otherwise. I expect all of these guys to out for periods of time this seasons. That is what makes this Holland re-sign sit bad in my stomach. He relies too much on what-ifs. Sure IF all take a 180 and we have a relatively injury free season and Cleary/Q/K get back to a useful asset, etc... Holland will look like a genius and he will say "Told you so." But as these players get older, the odds are it's not going to happen. I just think that the past 4-5 season's of betting on what-ifs has turned Detroit off in the minds of other NHL players around the league. Maybe I am just a bit jaded from all the recent UFA snubs and traded players not wanting Detroit on their "list." We will see. But in 4 years if we are still bumping kids to waivers and back to GR while Holland keeps signing the same crap players over and over again, there may be a serious exodus of ticket holders.

if Callahan is that type of player and turns out to be even better, then he will have a hard time clearing waivers. He will be snatched up, probably by Nill or Yzerman, and we will lose him for the sake of Cleary. This is why I hate Holland and why I commented in the 4 year extension thread my dislike for the extension.

its just my opinion, but this is bad news. I hate it and feel its going to push the Wings even further down the list of desirable places to play. This is not good.

nice honor. I am still mad the relationship with Sergei went south or he would be right there with those two.

where is Ferraro and Callahan at ? Oh ya, gone to GR, or worse, waivers. Both deserve a spot over Cleary. I really hope they clear waivers. I know they only played a couple games, but would hate to lose them for zero.

...so Holland says he is looking to re-sign Alfie and will NOT be signing a depth defenseman or forward. So our worst nightmare has come true. Only $4M left in cap, don't know how he is going to split that up between Danny and Alfie...

...is that Tootoo's wife or twin sister? Anyhow, don't get me started on the fragility of Helm, but if something does happen, oh my God, is this going to fuel the flames. At least he didn't get injured doing this (ala Uwe Krupp dog sledding.) Maybe this is a good sign that his back is healed? But he damn sure better stay healthy this season. At first I thought Herlmer was the reporter who wrote the article...

I think we really lost a great player when it came to Lapointe. I know the Wings weren't matching that Ludacris contract Boston gave him, but he was being groomed to be the next Captain. Pound for Pound (thanks Mick!) he was the toughest little son of a B in the league. He backed down from nobody. He also could shoot the puck. We miss players like Marty. He may not of been my favorite, but he was missed.

it most definitely would have cost us Yzerman, but I would've been ok with that. Fedorov was the key to our Cups. Add to that Greztky? Also remember that in 1989, the Wings wanted to draft Bure but weren't allowed to due to a paperwork messup. By time Bure was eligible to be drafted the next round Vancouver stole him just ahead of us. I love Yzerman, but imagine Gretzky, Fedorov & Bure on that team. Maybe the makeup of the dynasty would have gone a little different (ie you know Gretz would have gotten McSorley here along with Tikkanen and Kurri eventually) which probably would have meant no trade of Coffey for Shanny...the possibilities for changes are endless. Still would've been a super dynamic team. just remember, Gretzky got his way and even Feds could've been dealt for someone Gretzky wanted.

Jersey, I remember that game vividly! I never felt so satisfied for a tie ever in my life! IIRC the tying goal just barely trickled over the goal line and I remember jumping up and saying "IT'S IN!"

taking nothing away from Nick and Homer, which are by far the best Swedes we have had. Z is up there as well, but this team accomplished far more with Russians than the recent influx of Swedes. I am not sure why they started shying away from Russians compared to before...did the talent pool dry up?

Live.....March 26th, 1997. For me that was game, set, match. Of course the night Stevie Lifted the Cup for the first time. I was at work and couldn't tear myself away from the TV to go home. But in person, it hands down is March 26th, 1997.

UNDER 16? Geez! What is going on here!?!? It is sad when you see children act in this, or any violent manner. I have a 16 year son and he is just an angel. I almost tear up when I think of what is going on in some children's lives that make them lose their innocence towards life way, WAY before they should. I know you cannot shelter your children, but this world makes you want to wrap a blanket around them and hold them forever... Sorry, that got a little off subject but its sad to see a 15 (or younger) year old child act like that without remorse.

...he is still better than Q or K. there's no crying in hockey.

point is, he is better than both Q and K. number9, if you are sore that much put some salve on it, the rash will go away.

I understand that this guy is not the splash UFA that Holland was trying to get but this is yet another defender that is better than #kfq AND Kindl. I don't really want to hear "then why did it take so long for him to get a contract?" I am almost certain (not fact, but IMO) that #kfq today would still be unsigned. I tend to believe that Holland is hoping that he turns his game back in to his Kings/Avs game and that Cleary somehow returns to his 2008 days and then Holland can stand up in front of everyone and say "See, I am still a genius..." MDZ may not have been our need for a top defender, but he addressed certain needs, as did a few other guys, along with a couple guys still unsigned. But we are now down to enough money for Danny D and then scraps for Alfie if he wants to play.

What about Dougie Brownov?

ya, but Osgood won 2 of the 4 and was 1 game away from a 3rd, plus a near MVP.

Dekeyser was never really going anywhere else but Detroit. I guess there was an outside chance, but he said himself that there never really was any other contenders. regarding Welsh, yes I do like all the other signings and I said Welsh could maybe be one if those signings next season when even more kids get promoted. He may only have 25 NHL games, but he us a solid AHL'r would could do spot injury time in the NHL. He would be very valuable within the organization as will be all of the signings this summer who may or may not see a Detroit uniform this season as well. Depth is a good thing.

I find it funny that after all the hoopla Justin Shultz is still unsigned in Edmonton. Has anyone heard any rumblings going on with him? Not that we could afford to add him to our roster, but I just thought it very funny that Edmonton "won" the sweepstakes and haven't yet tied him down for another 3 contract. I would, of course, rather have him than either Q or K... Also, I see that Jeremy Welsh signed a minor league two-way contract with St. Louis for $550,000. Damn, I sure would've liked to have him the organization. Its only a one year though, maybe he could be one of those depth signings next season that Holland likes to do. He would have been a nice invite to training camp as well if he hadn't signed in St. Louis. They got them a nice solid depth player.

Imagine is Tatar AND Nyquist BOTH get 25-30 goals this season! That would make Franzen VERY tradeable! Not that we'd get much in return, but if we got 50-60 goals from the two kids, Franzen could be dealt for a draft pick... I would definitely explore trades involving Franzen before the two kids... I still like him in Vancouver with the twins... Not that this is a Franzen thread, but I'd just like to see the future if they are outperforming him. IF by the trade deadline both Nyquist and Tatar are on a pace for 25-30 goals and Jurco is also on a pace for 20+ that would be enough for me to trade Franzen. Especially if he is still floating around most games. He can still get 20 goals floating, I know, and that would still make him a fairly attractive piece to a club that may be able to re-ignite his career. Not that we need to trade him, but maybe if he was a piece of a deal that involved a defenseman... Anyhow, I am excited to see Tatar and Nyquist here from day 1. I would even experiment with Tatar on the 1st line with Pav and Z. Z - Pav - Tatar Nyquist - Weiss - Franzen Jurco (or Abby/Alfie) - Sheahan - Glendening Miller- Helm - Abby (or Cleary) Cleary/Andersson I realize Jurco has exemptions left and will more than likely start the year in GR, so that means Abby could jump up or if Alfie returns and Cleary could be on the 4th slowing down Helm and Miller...but that is what we will have to deal with for at least 10 games...

The more I look at the NHL and think about this deal, I like it more and more. A lot of us ***** about not getting the UFA or being on someone's trade list and in the same sentence we ***** about not having our kids on the roster. I am VERY guilty of this! But, this guy qualifies as a kid last time I checked, if we would've gotten Kesler or Iginla, etc... there would've been no room for this guy. I like our direction more and more each day as well. I am also glad we didn't trade him for a defenseman. I think the focus now should be the kids and building a new core. Unfortunately for Alfie there is only $5M+ left in cap space, if Danny D gets $4M of it (which I believe he will) there won't be any cash left for him. Unless he signs a $1M deal. I am not beating a dead horse here, but I would rather have Alfie here than Franzen. I sure wish there was a way to trade Franzen and just sign Alfie to a 1 year deal. That would not only rid us of that contract, but open the door even more next season to add the other kids that will be out of exemptions and deserve to be here. I also believe that Tatar at $2.75M is going to be far better than Franzen at $3.9M this season and beyond. As of right now, without Danny D signed, the Wings have $15M in cap space next year, with Nyquist, Smith, Jurco and Pulkkinen to re-sign, along with whoever else will be brought up to the big club. This season the guys out of exemptions are marginal players (I would still hate to lose them) but next season, the likes of Jurco, Pulkkinen are guys that we CANNOT afford to lose for nothing. I still question a lot of things Holland has going on, and I still have very low opinions of Franzen, Kindl and Howard going forward with this team, but good thing is, better players are on the way! Again, I like this signing more and more everyday, he is part of our future core (for now, Holland could still do something crazy! ) and I believe he will prove this to be a bargain deal once its all said and done.

Z - I agree with you, and I hope the cap hit stays somewhere around Tatar's, that way there is money left over for a trade deadline acquisition... Did I just say that? Anyhow, I do hope it is close to Tatar, but I got a feeling its going to be more towards Gardiner... I guess if he signs for 4-5 years @ $4.2Mish I could be ok with that, considering the money Holland has given Quincey. I know Q has more seniority in the league, but Danny is better already. I hope that Danny signs one of those homer discounts to remain here forever and be part of (hopefully) a core that is going to grow into the next Dynasty.

not sure if anyone posted that Gardiner re-signed with Toronto for $4.05M...he was a RFA defenseman. So, this will probably be the starting point for DeKeyser. He will more than likely get a similar contract.

I would invite Penner and Morris for sure...if we are inviting FA's to camp.