LeftWinger

There goes Malkin again, instigating a fight...do you think he will be called for it? Even though he started the tussle then dropped his gloves and was throwing punches...both players throwing punches equals a fight...but even if he initially got the instigator, it wouldn't stay...right Uncle Gary? Nice cheap shot by Iginla to start this whole thing...loser.

6-4!

Yes! Frk those Penguins! 5-4 Isles!

and just like that....4 to 4.....can we expect the refs to step in again? Sindey Louganis is approaching the platform...

Whatever on Earth will the NHL do if the Isles upset the Pengwhines? Holey Moley what will they talk about?

Yes it is. Buyouts: Sammy/Bert....bury Colo in the minors.

Considering the offer sheet. There aren't that many RFA's that would be worth losing multiple drafts picks over. The top two are Pietrangelo and Bogosian, are they legit #1 guys? I am not so sure. Now maybe a trade involving Flip and/or Franzen plus prospects for a REAL #1 guy, but who and who would want to get rid of them? I do like the changes though, its painfully obvious we need to change to compete in the East, lets just hope Holland isn't oblivious to that fact and keeps the same team.... Ya, not too much available UFA, plus like I mentioned they will be WAY too expensive. It's best to change this team makeup by trades and the two viable and tradable guys are Franzen and Filppula (before he becomes UFA) any other players would be throw ins with these guys...

I would like to see the following changes (without naming any UFA names to acquire, we all know we need some more scoring and a possibly via trade a #1 Defender.) I know I will get flamed for mentioning Franzen, but I think Holland should try to find a team that would take on that long contract. I still think Vancouver is the logical place and considering there horrific dump thus far in the playoffs, they will be looking for some changes as well. So after the season, possibly at the draft I trade Franzen. For this scenario, I am trading Franzen for Burrows. (just hypothetical) If Filppula also will not come down from his $5M demand, I also trade his rights at the draft or at least before he becomes a UFA. Not sure what he would bring being a pending UFA, but the prices have been pretty high around the league for pending UFA's, so he may bring more than expected... for this scenario I am trading him to Dallas for Erik Cole. (hypothetical) Ok, flame on with those two, but I think the rest of what I think we need to do will garner more support from you guys. Ian White - leaves as a UFA. Obviuosly there is no room for him and Babcock has no intention of playing him anyhow... Drew Miller - leaves as a UFA. He would be missed, but roster spots are scarce and Patrick Eaves is already signed for another year, so unless there is a trade that involves Eaves, I think Miller will not be here next season... Daniel Cleary - leaves as a UFA. Thank you Dan for the years and heart, but again, roster spots are scarce and its time to move on to youth. Todd Bertuzzi - Either an amnesty buyout or LTIR. Either way, his roster spot and cap hit is needed. Again, it's obviously Babcock has no interest in playing him, or he just isn't healthy enough. Mikael Samuelsson - Amnesty Buyout. Period. He has no place on this team, no matter what he does in the remaining playoff games, his spot is needed and so is his cap hit. Carlo Coliaicovo - Either amnesty buyout or sent to the minors (if buyouts are used on Bert and Sammy) and if he happens to clear waivers his "buried" cap hit will only be $1.575M instead of his full $2.5M. Sure its valuable cap space, but with the emergence of Jakub Kindl and the sign of Danny Dekeyser, there just is no room for him, unless the Wings want to carry 8 defensemen, but that $925K in cap relief could come in handy. If we are lucky someone claims him and we lose the entire $2.5M. We obviously re-sign Damien Brunner, Joakim Andersson, Gustav Nyquist, Brenden Smith & Jakub Kindl. Then all season long you work on getting Danny D re-signed long term and try to convince Datsyuk to re-sign for a couple more seasons... So that leaves me with a roster like this: Burrows - Datsyuk - Tatar Cole - Zetterberg - Brunner Andersson - Helm - Nyquist Tootoo - Emmerton - Abdelkader Eaves Kronwall - Ericsson Dekeyser - Kindl Quincey - Smith Lashoff Howard Monster ...this is just me, I really don't see Holland trading Franzen, but if any team calls about him, it'll be Vancouver and it's my opinion that Burrows is a much more consistent player, and a completely different type of player than Franzen. It is likely that Filppula is not a Red Wing next year if he doesn't come down from $5M, to more like $4M. But still, its time to change and Val just doesn't add up to what we need in the East. Like I said, I don't even want to drop any UFA names because I too think the UFA crop this year will get WAY overpaid... I do like the idea of Clowe and/or Penner on this team for size. The possibilities are endless. I just hope Holland doesn't "like this team" and keep it the same for his virgin voyage in to the Eastern Conference...changes are needed. $4.5M too much for Val...and no way Frk, Sheahan or Nestrosil are ready for the NHL, especially the East. They may get some time, but they need to get gradual time...Tootoo also needs to stay for our journey East.

Really don't want to bring up this tragic event, but I found this episode of Air Crash Investigations that covers the Lokomotiv tragedy...thought maybe some of you would like to watch the episode...again, RIP Lokomotiv... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAuSaOZjSfk

...as of today, 5-1-13 there are three pretty important prospects that are without a contract and have a deadline set of June 1st, 2013 to sign a pro contract. Tomas Jurco Alan Quine Philippe Hudon ....Does anyone know what happens to these guys if they do not sign? Do they become UFA's like Justin Schultz did? I would hate to lose any of those three...

Watching this video leads me to believe that the Sharks will be hoisting the Cup this year....to quote a famous Canadian "That's F'ing Brutal, eh?"

Z is better, but the Matthias goal was the better of the two....sorry Z.

He had no future in the NHL....now Grand Rapids has a roster spot to sign Quine or Hudon....

That's nuts, was there even a penalty? That is shades of Marty McSorley years ago...but what is that Uncle Gary? We need our stars playing the games...not in the press box? Sedin should get a life ban for this, just like McSorley did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvDk7jtNNhc The end result was different but the intent was the same....

You may just want to watch that DVD one more time...I don't remember the last time there was that much blood at a boy scout campout...even comparing it with that MTL-OTT game, 3/26 has it beat hands and turtles down... I do understand the point you are trying to make though, but actually fighting is part of the game and really has no stipulations that you will be suspended for doing it. It was a 5 on 5 brawl. If someone had left the penalty box or the bench or even a bench clearing brawl, then there would have been suspensions, but fights in a single game are not subject for suspension. edit: of course I am a little bias towards 3/26 because I was there in person...

So to remain opposite, the Wings will win game's 5 and 6...lets hope the 2007 opposite similarities continue with a Stanley Cup victory! (ok, maybe I am asking too much, but I am with them til the end!) Go Wings!

15 out of 22 players below the age of 30....8 of them 25 and under....do you think we will hear about how old the Wings are for the next few years?

Brunner...quietly our teams Conn Smythe so far.... It would be Howard if he weren't such an average goalie.... (sorry, that'll will never get old!)

Ya! Keep it up guys, because Lord knows I cannot afford to go a see a game live!

Ugh....please. I appreciate the connection you are making but please, PLEASE do not associate anything Detroit with Oprah 'I am the Queen of the World" Winfrey....thank you. edit: I'd like to see this ***** get Kronwalled...as a matter a fact I'd love to see her get Abdelkader'd...

You Got Kronwalled! You Got Kronwalled! Very awesome Joe Louis Fans, that is an instant classic!

I love Kenny at the 0:07 mark of that video.... "OH!" Then Mick "Oh, it's in!"

Wow, just realized, there were 5 playoff rookies on the ice for that goal...4 outright rookies... Brunner - Andersson - Nyquist Kindl - Lashoff ....where are my shades?

For a minute there, I thought I was taking pills.....

He is still not worth $5M a season. I seriously hope he settles for around $4M. We need our cap to re-sign our rookies. Nyquist, Brunner, Smith, Andersson are all FA's that NEED to be re-signed. Brunner being the only UFA, but they are ALL very important to the future of this team (as they have proven tonight) and we cannot afford to blow half our Cap space on Filppula. If he won't come down from his $5M demands, he needs to be traded at the draft. But that is for another conversation! Lets enjoy this win and bring it home in game 6!