LeftWinger

I am glad you like my idea for the ICE Arena. I like it too! If you guys want to go with the kicking tires theme, it would be hilarious if Goodyear or Uniroyal got the bid for the name. Uniroyal Centre, we've been kicking tires for 20 years! (and kicking ass)

There are three D-men out there that for the life of me, I cannot figure out why they aren't signed somewhere yet... Derek Morris, Michael Del Zotto and Ryan Whitney... These guys are very solid guys who could help any of the 30 teams out there... #KFQ

Ogre....good! I did not know the date had past! I am happy to hear that! Forgive me guys for the "Diesel" nickname. I started calling him that back when he was still in WMU. Everyone was calling him Danny D and the only other Danny (its actually an I) D I knew of is Danielle Colby from The American Pickers...her Burlesque stage name is Danni Diesel and the guys on the show call her Danni D all the time...so I started calling our Danny D, Diesel. I think its a good nick name for him. Not that I am comparing our Danny D to their Danni D, although I can imagine their Danni D is as tough as they come...

If it got named the GoDaddy.com arena at least we'd see a ton of Danica Patrick there! Grrrrr!

My fear is they will build the arena, then the rest of the area will continue the same with nothing else to attract the fans or visitors. I FULLY hope the entire project happens and the downtown area, from Greektown to Foxtown to the New Arenatown are all connected and to walk to and from and or ride the train. I think they should SEROUSLY think about connecting Metro Airport with the downtown district via an elvated train. Can you imagine the flux of fans coming in from other cities to watch their teams play either the Wings, Lions and Tigers if they could just get off the plane and board a train that takes them right to the arena or the casino?!? Of course the casino idea would help if they went along with the ORIGINAL plan of having all three casinos near each other within walking distance...but we see how that worked out, so now you are forced to go to one at a time unless you want to drive to the others. But that would make too much sense, what am I talking about?

Kip, that is why I am a little worried about the entire project being done. We all know the Arena is going to be the jewel of the project and will be done first. Then slowly a few bars and restaurants will show up, but I think it will be way off base to think that this entire project will be done at the same time and ALL be ready for opening day in the year it is set to be opened. I can see owners and proprietors backing out due to financial problems, I can see some areas of the project taking a few more years to complete, and I can see some things not even happening. I certainly hope the entire project gets done, I just hope just the arena doesn't get built and then for whatever reason the rest doesn't happen at all, or the ones that open on time don't go out of business because of the entirety of the project fails to happen. I can definitely see both things happening, and unfortunately, with the history of the way Detroit does things, I am leaning towards more of the negative. I've seen it TOO many times...The New Metro Airport back in 2002 and again the aforementioned Ford Field, Commerica Park center area project just to name a couple. Not to mention the Hard Rock Café backing out years ago as well.

...after the #KFQ signing I doubt the Wings would want to afford another $4M+ a year defenseman. I think Diesel can be had for $2.5M to $3.5M on a two to three year bridge contract. He will still be an RFA after that and can then get a nice fat contract that will bring him into UFA territory. His next contract, if all progresses then way we all hope it does, will be in the $5M to more range. I just don't think he should get a $4M+ contract right now. I don't know why #KFQ got that much, but he is most definitely NOT worth that even on the open market and at this moment Diesel is not quite to Kronwall status on this team. I say two years $2.75 per and then the next RFA signing will be his big one...then I dread the UFA days to come. I don't think Tatar should get more the $1.5M. IF he turns that down and opts for arbitration and handcuffs Holland, I will be putting him the Hudler category.

Lets hope the entire plan comes to fruition. I seem to remember renderings of Ford Field and Commerica Park area that were to include outdoor shopping and restaurants that were also to be open all the time similar to this plan. All we got was Ford Field with an empty street in between the two parks. That being said, it is an awesome plan, I love the Winged Wheel from the sky idea! I am sticking with Cadillac Centre and I will also put my nod in for anther one I came up with The Illitch Centre for Entertainment Arena...affectionately to be known as The I.C.E. Arena.

I am still lobbying for "The Cadillac Centre" if it gets named that, I will s***! I am leaving emails...

...after a few weeks of thinking about it, and after hearing some interviews, if the UFA's don't want to come here, f*** em! If they don't want to be coached (like Babs said) and want to go somewhere where the team bows down to them, f*** em! (I still hate the #KFQ signing, but can kinda, sorta understand the Cleary....kinda.) I say, this team will conquer, this team will rise, and if they don't then they will again! Get Babs signed, get these kids bridged in, lets remake this Dynasty core, Lets Go Wings!

does anyone NOT remember last season? We played up to and beat a LOT of the harder teams in the league. It was the Panthers and Islanders and Jets of the league that we could never play down to and they beat us all year long...

well, I guess I could be wrong...jeez! If he is another guy boxed out by useless UFA signings, why even have a 7 round draft?

Nestrasil does NOT have to clear. The only guys that are out of exemptions are Callahan, Ferraro, Almqvist. Of course Almqvist went to Europe, so that helps out, but the other two just may be lost to waivers, especially Callahan at league minimum...we'll see what Ferraro re-ups for.

Problem is, I have a better chance of winning the Lottery than us having a full season with a healthy Pav, Z, Weiss and Alfie....and Helm, Ericsson, Kronwall, Franzen, Howard, Cleary....everyone of them will be hurt at some point of the season...I just beg that its not all at the same time.

so, bottom line, to everyone involved in the NHL around the league, from other GM's to players to media, the Red Wings are pricks who you don't deserve to approach... Pretty much sums up why other GM's want to rape us, UFA's now avoid us and we can't get any love in other media markets. All while the Detroit Lemmings paint a beautiful sunny day, everyone else knows better. I guess if we are "real fans" of the Red Wings, we are not allowed to ask the tough questions or criticize the team operations or just plain old not like something about them... Well hell, I guess I aint a real fan then, because I NEVER get in line and accept, I question everything and even ***** enough about some stuff to piss a lot of you guys off! I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks for the post! It opened my eyes even more... Changes are needed...NOW.

Where is Alfie going to play? Top line? Z - Pav - Alfie Nyquist - Weiss - Franzen Jurco - Sheahan - Tatar Helm - Glendening - Abby Cleary/Andersson That doesn't look bad bad, but our D is atrocious...and our goaltending is average at best.

Darcy Martini...

I would definitely sign Alfie over keeping Franzen if that were an option. I know its not, but I think Alfie would do better if utilized on the 2nd line moreso than Franzen. Plus he is right handed. Right now though, signing Alfie would create just more of a log jam and force more kids out.

old news or not, who wouldn't want to play when Holland is throwing around overpayment for his own UFA'S even though they suck or will only play a third if the year...may as well take the $5M and sit around and get paid to do nothing. Its like the guys in my company with 40+ years seniority, they have the weekends off, easiest jobs and best shift. Pension fund was raped, social security is useless, may as well keep working and get paid full wages to do nothing all week long. Cleary and #kfq both know they suck, but if Holland is going to throw them $3m-$5m for no return of service needed, its a no brainer...of course Alfie will "want" to play. Even if he sits 50 games because if his back, he still gets his money. I have no doubt he will be signed.

The hit on Pheunuf would be a penalty and suspension today...I appreciate all of CLeary's plays he has given us, and I am glad they found him as a UFA that year, but I also appreciate all of Maltby's plays, doesn't mean I want him playing when his days are obviously over. So, I chose "other" because my favorite Cleary play will be when he no longer is a Detroit Red Wing and retires...hopefully this season when he fails to make the roster...

Don't you mean k00l-aid? BTW, for some reason the philosophy changed after 2009. They totally misused Downey that year and it ended up being the last he played...and barely played at that...then the choice...then, well I cannot explain what happened the next 5 years, but it isn't good. I do think Granato will bring a different philosophy to the bench, but I hope Babs lets him try a bit. Of course I really don't know how successful he has been as an asst. I know that year on the video, he couldn't help the Avs too much in the sweep we handed them.

at that video...Chelios and Meech on D...to this day, both better than #KFQ and Kindl.

With our current roster and hoping Jurco bumps Cleary, I'd like to see this: Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Mantha Nyquist - Weiss - Franzen (by default..damn it!) Jurco - Sheahan - Tatar Helm - Glendening - Abdelkader Miller/Andersson Kronwall - Smith Dekeyser - Ericsson Kindl - #KFQ (just because I don't want either of them bringing down the top 4 guys) Lashoff I am still worried about the fates of Ferraro and Callahan. Last year is the year they should have been seeing the injury time (because the kids should've started in Detroit in place of Cleary, Bert and Sammy.) Even now, with too many forwards they probably won't get a shot here and will be lost to waivers. Either way, it really insults them and will weigh heavy on whether or not the re-sign now or when they are FA's again, if they make it through waivers this season. They will probably re-sign two year deals and they will still be RFA's when they are up. I just hope we can find someway of using them or getting value for them. I hate losing players for nothing...its like paying overdraft fees at the bank, just give it away!

Welcome aboard Tony...I am sorry you will given a horde of average players to deal with. Just Kidding mostly, but I am sure I he isn't looking forward to having Cleary play his top line. Maybe he has a good relationship with some players around the NHL and can help bring in some guys next UFA season. You know, make his place a bit more attractive to play. Bylsma would be very interesting now, but I still would love Larionov if he could be convinced to do so. Babcock - Granato - Bylsma wouldn't be a bad trio I think...too bad Babcock is such a cock.

Kozlov and a 1st round pick...in which they traded to Atlanta who used it to pick Jim Slater. Between the #30 pick and our next one at #58 a few good players went that is for sure: Jared Stoll, Trevor Daley, Matt Greene, Matt Stajan and Duncan Keith would is the best of that group, but you know as well as I do, even if Holland had that #30 overall he more than likely still would have taken Hudler with it. (He was the #58 pick.) Drafts are always hindsight, no gurantee they would've have selected Keith or Stoll, but the price of Kozlov and a 1st, was a great price to pay for Dom Hasek. My point being, instead of protecting the like of Helm or Smith or Franzen, toss one of those guys in the mix (they are ALL replaceable) and take the Mantha's, Jurco's, Tatar's out of the equation. They are your future, and if Green comes here and loves the youth direction, he may re-sign. If he comes here and the team piddles around with them same old roster and barely makes the playoffs and peter's out with their tale between their legs, he is as sure as gone as a UFA. I'd honestly rather trade Franzen and re-sign Alfie for Franzen's cap hit....Green would replace Smith and Sheahan has an upside that would replace Helm. I am not saying trade all these guys for Green, but if Helm and a 4th gets it done and we retain our future, do it. If Franzen and a 2nd or Smith and Helm...I don't know. I just think that throwing Tatar or Jurco in the mix, when more replaceable, better assets are available, is the wrong move. But Holland from then, is not Holland today, he is a ***** and is really dimwitted. He has lost touch of reality. The signing of Cleary and Quincey over just letting the kids play is just lunacy. I understand players didn't want to come here for this or that reason, but there would have been nothing wrong with giving Ehrhoff 5 years at $4M or Stralman 5 years $4.5M. Stralman at 5 years would not have hindered the development of Ouellet or Sproul or Marchenko. Quincey would've been gone and he could've dumped Kindl. Holland is not fit to be a GM anymore...at least not for my favorite team. I say there should be a changing of the guard, let Holland move on to the Toronto's and Carolina's of the NHL world. Let him take his "genius" elsewhere. Its time. let it be noted and reminded that 5 years is what both Ehrhoff's and Stralman's camp asked for from Holland. It wasn't even a money issue, it was length. Now, Ehrhoof is going to shine in Pit and wind up with a $6M+ deal next season from someone when we could've had him for 5 years at $4M. That's Holland for you. Instead we have #KFQ for two years at $4.5M...