LeftWinger

If Helm remains a Red Wing his entire career, he WILL be the next Captain after Zetterberg retires. Z is signed thru 2021, so that will be a long time for Helm to become even a bigger leader on this team. Some say Kronwall is the next C, but his log contract expires before Z's does so that pretty much eliminates him I do believe. I see Helm the next C after 2021. (If Z lasts that long)

^ That exactly. This is a sprint of a season, every game counts. Knuble's defense is valuable as well as everything stevkrause mentioned... I wouldn't be surprised if Mike is on the starting roster in St. Louis for game 1.

typical. Dude, Knuble played last year, Lapointe has played since 2008. This is a sprint to the playoffs and to the Stanley Cup. You are not hindering the developement of Tartar if you keep him in GR for this season. Emmerton has been given tons of opportunity, he is no better than a 13th forward on this team, ESPECIALLY with the talent they have in GR. Knuble is a right handed shot that will give them good and solid veteren play on the 4th line and the powerplay unit. That being said, if he signs a two-way and spends his season mostly in GR, I wouldn't be surprised, he did afterall, grow up in the GR area (East Kentwood High School Grad) and probably would like earning a nice paycheck while playing at home...

I just look at it as Babcock and Co. don't have enough confidence in Emmerton and with this season when every game counts, they want the best chance to win. I happen to think Abby plays better on wing and getting Knuble over Emmerton is an upgrade at center...40 or not, he is more reliable and more solid than Emmerton. I happen to like the line of those three as well.

Helm - 26 points playing a defensive role on the 3rd and 4th line everynight... Franzine - 56 points playing on the top line along side Pavel Datsyuk most of the season... Sorry bub, Helm is better than Franzine PLUS Helm earns his money...

Well, considering this is a shortened season maybe Holland and Babcock want a more steady and solid 4th line and power play specialist than the young guys. If he makes this team, it must mean that Eaves is definitely out for the season and this could be the writing on the wall for Emmy or Mursak. Everyone here (well most everyone) complains that Abby is a winger and plays better there, well now you would have Abby - Knuble - Tootoo as a 4th line. It looks much better than Emmerton at center... Filppula - Datsyuk - Brunner Sammy - Zetterberg - Franzine Cleary - Helm - Bertuzzi Abby - Knuble - Tootoo (Miller/Mursak)

Hmmmm...I am still lost for ideas....

Actually, you would be hard pressed to find someone who thinks Franzen and Fedorov should even be mentioned in the same sentence. Franzen could not and will never be good enough to even sniff Sergei's sock hat...One can argue that if Fedorov is not on our team for those 10 years, we may still be in a Stanley Cup drought, that same can NEVER EVER be said about twinkle toes Franzine... Franzen should be traded. And speaking of comparng him with Hossa, sure Hossa may get pushed around easily, but Franzen is like a bowl a jelly as well and when the going gets tough he turtles. Oh sure, he can pick on a teenager and throw his mouthgaurd out, but when someone challenges him, he is no more tough than Hossa...they are both soft. Hossa is better than Franzen...period. Franzen will never be Fedorov.

Well, I would say they are getting closer...as a matter of fact that is what said. But to say the are not even close is ridiculous...tell that to the Canadians they last 4 years of WJ's...sure they had a great run for 5 years in a row, but I said, training has changed in the US the last decade and the kids that have started receiving that new training as a 5 and 6 year old are now in these tourney's and playing JUST AS GOOD as the Canadian kids, and it seems, for the last 4 years, the USA and others have played BETTER. The tide is changing, another 5 or so years and you will at least see an even ranking of American and Canadian players in your top 10... again, back to topic, there are some hockey fans that make a mockery of their Country, no matter whatr Country they live in and those particular Canadian fans are among the worst... Got to love the Rivalry though!

Amen! Now, when he scores a goal, I would love to hear the Joe blast a freight train! ?But if I know the Joe's dumbass DJ's they'll play The Locomotion or something stupid...

I don't think Dekeyser is Wings property as of yet...I know as of last season he was leaning towards signing with them, but Illitch told him he should go a finish his senior year at Western. Maybe they have a verbal agreement (we all know how far those go though...) for him to sign after his senior year this spring...my buddy who was dating Dan's sister moved to Florida last June and he hasn't mentioned anything about her or him in a long time.... I really hope he does become Wings property though!

Well, that is just not fact. For every one of those Canadian born players, the an every much as good American born player. I am not arguing the quality of Canadian born players, but the American are becoming just as good and are proving it in the ranks year after year. Russian's and Swede's as well. The #1 CSS prospect is Canadian and #2 is American (highest ranking Defenseman) so these programs are on par. I would say the only reason you have more Canadian's today making a big splash is that it's a Nationwide love of hockey and that is what they look forward to playing. In America, it's a regional thing. Again, for every GTA player you listed, there is an equally as good player in the Minnesota/Wisconsin/Michigan/Boston area as well as Russian and Swede.

Wow....Do you think they are jumpin all over the Russian fans like that now too? Fact is, it's not the 80's anymore. No longer do American's need miracle's to compete and beat the best in the world. That is because they are among the best in the world, from top to bottom. I am a USA hockey certified coach and the way we are instructed to train our young kids from an early age in todays world is on par with every other "hockey" country in the world including Canada. No longer is the CHL's the best place to train and develope. The last few season's of the WJ's has proven that our kids are developing just as good, if not some better in the USA Developement program along with the Colleges. Justin Schultz who happened to be to most sought after defenseman over the summer did his training and developement where? The CHL? No, Wisconsin...as in University of...as in NCAA. I am not knocking the Canadien Developement leagues at all, they are just as great, but again, 1980 was a long time ago...World Hockey has caught up to the Canadians and Russians.

So he may as well stay away the entire 48 games. That leaves us with MIller/Emmy/Mursak as the rotating crew with another roster player and I think that is still one man too many...but it is a 24 man roster, so maybe that will work out, even moreso if Nyquist stays in GR.

Well lets look at a few things: #6 on the team in games played with 1026 #3 on the team in Powerplay goals with 122 #5 on the team in GWG with 39 Less than 100 points away from being in the top 10 in all time points for the Wings. There is no questioning his importance to this team over his career. It's not like anyone is ever gonna wear #96 again, but I think the argument holds some water...but then again, I believe Osgood's #30 should go up there too...and a strong argument for Fedorov. But that is it. I am not looking to throw all #'s from the dynasty up there...

Your 4th line has to be Miller - Abby - Tootoo in your scenario...Eaves is still hurt (?) and Emmy/Mursak just aren't gonna crack this lineup. Best to trade one of them and deal with the other when Eaves returns. Which may not be until next season anyhow. I guess I would keep Mursak over Emmy.

Hell, he only has this one season under contract anyhow, just go there, play the 48 games, get paid some extra cash and then go home in April. Hell whats 3 more months?

Too bad he hasn't had that kind of freedom in the NHL with all the opposing players taking liberties on him and preventing him from being the best....too bad we don't have someone who will stand up for the stars on this team and hold the Weber's and Backes' accoutable for their wrong doings......oh wait! Hopefully Tootoo becomes that guy to make these idiots answer for their sins... I am excited to see Datsyuk again an to see Tootoo out there running around like a freight train! Please, NO WHISTLES though!

Yep, over 1000 games in a Detroit uni...has anyone mentioned jersey retirement yet? Danny boy is gonna MC his retirement party! It only makes sense!

It won't matter soon, this summer Kenny will go balls out for either Corey Perry or Ryan Getzlaf. I'd like to see Perry together with Dats...er, playing to together that is. I am only coparing Franzine and Hossa because one was chosen over the other and he has under performed. Hossa hasn't torn up Chicago, but he was a better compliment to Datsyuk. Neither here nor there, we have Franzine and unless Kenny deals him for something that fits better, we are stuck with him. It just gives me someone to blame for shortcomings of the team. I do agree that a perfect top line would be a shooter - PM - power forward. Problem is, if Franzine is the best thing we have to a power forward we are in deep doo-doo. Add to that we don't yet have the shooter and that is why Datsyuk's stats continue to suffer...

Could always swap Vancouver with Colorado in my mock-up. But Vancouver will have to travel to Minnesota still.....

Hossa had 71 points playing with Datsyuk...They complimented each other, Hossa had 40 goals and Datsyuk had 65 assists. Franzine had his best year that season at 59 points. The Red Wings need that 40 goal scorer, Datsyuk needs that 40 goal scorer. If Dats had that 40-50 goal scorer, he'd be back near or over 100 points. Datsyuk's game is waning because he doesn't have that type of player. When given the puck Hossa et al know what to do with it, seems like Franzine doesn't. Dats is declining because he has to play with Franzine and Bertuzzi most nights. If Dats had a Hossa or Malkin or Kovalchuk, things would be MUCH MUCH different...

I seriously hope you know something we don't about Danny because this would be a Heaven sent gift if he signed with Detroit! I would love it! I touched on this in another, there aren't that many high end UFA defenders out there this summer so I am really hoping Holland trades up to a top 15 (if they don't land there all by themselves) and gets a kid that is ready to step in within a year or so. Although Seth Jones is the best defender available, I don't see the Wings getting a sniff at him, even trough a trade up, but he wouyld be the ideal kid to bring in to help redifine this defense. But if Holland manufactures a trade that would get him a #15 or higher into the top 10, he would be able to snag up Ryan Pulock or Robert Hagg which either would be wonderful. I do like our prospects on D, and of those you listed, the most I am excited to see is Oullet, Sproul and McKee. If Dekeyser is added to that list of prospects, I think if Holland can land a Pulock or Hagg, this D's future will be set for a long time! Especially if you have a top 3 in Detroit of Kronwall, Smith and Ericsson come 2-3 years down the road...In two years when E and Quincey's contract are up, it's going to be one or the other, I cannot see them re-signing both and stunting the growth of a few of these kids that will be ready to come up by then. One of them could always be used to trade up in the draft as well...As a whole though, I think our D future is very bright, depsite losing out on Suter and Schultz last summer. That being said, Holland can then concentrate on the O side of the puck this off season, he will have to re-sign Filppula ($4.5M or more) and he may have to reward Brunner with a $3Mish contract as well...not to mention getting Smith under contract long term and Howard. Sheesh, with only $19M available next season there may be no money left to add to the O...

Well, whatever Franzine was signed to be, he has been a disappointment the last few seasons being it... I really don't think 48-50 points in 50 games shoudl be too hard for someone like Z, Dats or even if Franzine gives 110% every game. Which, with every game being very important, unlike an 80 game season, every player should be putting up numbers that far exceed their 80 game average. There are no nights off this short season. If Keith Primeau can put up 42 points in 45 games last time we had a 48 game sprint to the playoffs, then the Omnipotent Franzine sure as hell should be able to get at least 40 in 50 games. He has be compared to Fedorov on these forums how many times? Well Fedorov, even for his lack of giving 100% all the time, netted 50 points in 42 games. The top three players on this team should have no issues netting 40-50 points in this sprint of a season...I betting the likes of Crosby, Malkin and Henrik Sedin will be getting at least 40 points....

True, but Hossa is a sniper and Franzen was chosen over him to be our Sniper, then he signed the contract and has gotten lazy. I guess they were hoping that Franzen would lift his game each year, yet it has stalled and now he cannot even score on a consistant level. Sure he had 29 goals, but he seems to score 20 before December and then falls off, only to not be able to pick it back up in the playoffs. Like I said, I hope this short season he stays motivated and nets 20 goals among 40-50 points to truely take over as the scorer he was signed to be. I cannot take another 8 years of the last 3 from Franzen... Sorry but with the disposal of Hudler, Frazine has slid right into the top spot for hatred from me, with Kindl right behind him. Hopefully they both do something this year to change my mind...