LeftWinger

1. Hudler plays better with a setup man. So will Nyquist, they are best apart, not on the same line. 2. Ya, he will be called up if he continues to play well, for injury call ups. As long as he has waiver exemptions, he will be sent down when all are healthy, not Emmerton/Miller/Mursak because Holland or Babcock will not risk losing a player of their caliber for nothing. Now if a trade gets worked out and that opens a roster spot for Nyquist, it's a different story. 3. You keep saying it, but every line combo you have has Smith on there on Commodore missing, so again, Holland will not send Commodore to GR because someone will ****** him off the waiver wire. Smith will see his NHL time this year, more than last, BUT he will always be the one sent down when all are healthy for the same reason as #2. ...I am not saying your lines are stupid, or not even a possibility if we get injury riddled, but just saying from a business standpoint, they wont stay up if everyone is healthy. ...no, it wont.

Welcome.....To......Frrrright Night......For Real.

I am beginning to conclude that Filppula will not be a 50+ point scorer, but his defense is invaluable, and he is always a threat out there, so other teams have to keep a close watch on him. I liked him on Datyuk's line in the playoff, he seemed to pick it up a little more offensively. So far he is pretty solid with Zetterberg and Franzen, but I think Bertuzzi is better off on that line and Helm-Eaves-Cleary together as the third line checkers. I would like to see Filppula and Datsyuk on the first line instead of Cherry (I mean Cleary) up there. That would leave Miller/Abdelkader/Holmstrom/Brunnstrom/Emmerton for the 4th line. I know Homer isn't much of a 4th liner, but he is pretty much just a powerplay specialist anymore and has already been a healthy scratch this year. This is probably his final year. Filppula-Datsyuk- Bertuzzi-Zetterberg-Franzen Eaves-Helm-Cleary Miller-Abdelkader-Holmstrom(Emmerton/Brunnstrom) ...I know, I know, where is Hudler, he is in the blank spot, but I cannot bring myself to type it without my fingers burning...

I am normally one for making changes because of certain players I do not like, but I am beside myself when I say (am I alone on this?) lets stand pat on our roster and not get into acquiring anyone unless/until we need them. This is a pretty good lineup and we haven't even seen Brunnstrom play yet (pre season looked good.) So far, even my most hated player has 2 points in 2 games. We haven't seen what kind of sandpaper Commodore brings to this team. If you think Stortini would be nice on next years roster, odds are he may be available in the off season (since he was waived already this season) so lets stand pat and let teams come to us, unless we really are in need of someone around the first of the year...

Yes to the Southeast if it gets our "foot in the door" of the eastern conference... BUT I still say the best would be Detroit and Columbus move East and have a 14 and 16 team conference. Seems to work fine for MLB. Just like MLB the East could have three divisions with 5, 6, 5 teams and the West would have 5, 5, 4. Wales Conference: Atlantic Patrick: PIT - PHL - Rags - NJD - Iles Northeast Howe: Detroit - TOR - MTL - BUF - OTT - BOS Southeast Adams: CBJ - WAS - TPA - CAR - FLA Campbell Conference: Central Norris: NAS - CHI - STL - MIN - DAL Northwest Smythe: VAN - CGY - EDM - WIN Pacific Hull: ANA - LAK - SAN - COL - PHX ...I also like renaming the conferences back to the Wales/Campbell, it just sounds better... this would put 4 of the original six in one division and move Columbus (which is in the Eastern time zone and more southeast than Detroit) into the Southeast division. Ideally they rename the division to honor NHL history as well, bring back the Norris, Adams, Smythe, Patrick then have two more, maybe Howe and Hull? Edit: To change the names of the Division's

I understand what this thread was supposed to be about and commend you for it. The speds who neg you and never give a reason why, because they hide behind their monitors, are running rampant. These types usually grow up to become internet child predators but the research doesn't it prove it quite yet. Anyhow, I like this thread because it keeps people (like me) from posting "trade Hudler" in the GDT's and every other line combo or call up, send down thread. It gives the people who like to talk about Hudler (good and bad) a central meeting place instead of sifting through different threads to see who responded to you or posted something about him. You have to realize, some people are so much of a Hudler slappie that if they see the words Trade/Hudler/Sucks or any other negative remark about him they take it as a personal attack, and they neg you. I, for one, am giving him a chance to prove his "potential." But that is not to be mistaken for me liking him. He still is a hunk of garbage, hold out taint on our wonderful organization. I hope he either does great and gets traded or does s***ty and Holland lets him walk July 1st. But don't let that get in the way of him helping this team win, and if he does, super, but I still hope come October 2012, Hudler is not on this team, or at least making what he is worth, and that is no more than $1.2M-ish. That being said, good luck Jiri, 2 points in 2 games, your value is going up whether its trade or team value remains to be seen.

Ya, but Crosby isn't American, so ESPN reporting on him so much doesn't relate....anyway though, enough Crosby talk, let the guy be alone, heal and announce when he may or may not return. My guess is he returns a few weeks before the playoffs to get in game shape and then plays the playoffs. (if the pens make the playoffs)

You just made it clear that you don't know what a playmaker is. Let me put it to you in layman's terms, Hudler needs someone to PASS HIM THE PUCK. Nyquist is a GOAL SCORER not A PASSER, aka a PLAYMAKER! He is a PlayFINISHER. When you have more goals than assists, that usually makes you a goal scorer. Here's an example, When Brett Hull was scoring all those goals in St. Louis, his PLAYMAKER was Adam Oates. In 1990-91 Hull had 86G and 45A, Oates had 25G 90A...Hudler needs to play with an Adam Oates, not a Brett Hull. How much longer? As long as Nyquist still has waiver exemptions, that is how long. The NHL is a business. You don't "give away" players for nothing. Until Nyquist has no more waiver exemptions, he will always be the one sent down before the three above mentioned players. PLUS every line you put has Smith in the #5 or #6 spot and Commodore not even there. Again, Commodore was signed to play in Detroit, not get waived. AND AGAIN, as long as Smith has waiver exemptions left, he will be the one sent back and forth, business is business. Maybe you should remove the foot out of your mouth, because you have no clue how the business of the NHL works...

Honestly, I think those folks live in a perfect world where if Emmerton/Mursak or Miller gets sent down, nobody would touch them and they would remain in the organization. None of those players would make it through waivers. Some folks just don't get the concept that in this organization, as long as a player is waiver exempt, they are the one going to be sent down... ...he probably also thinks that since Smith was recalled from GRR, that it means he is here for the rest of the season because in all his line combos Commodore is missing... He has to get it through his head that Smith/Nyquist/Tatar etc... would only be temporary fill-ins for injuries and will be the ones sent to Rapids when the team is healthy. The more pressing matter will be when Mursak gets back, who goes? I know that is a little while from now, but if Emmerton keeps it up and Brunnstrom plays like he did in the pre-season, it's going to be a tough, tough decision to be made... I am all for the kids revolution, but I also like Miller...

So Helm is lower on the totem pole than Nyquist? Hudler has already proven to us he needs a playmaker to set him up, Nyquist is a scorer and Eaves is a checker, Hudler would be useless on that line. Plus you're still of opinion that Commodore won't be with the Wings anymore? Smith will ONLY be here for injury call ups, he will not have a permanent position on this team until at least next season. (barring major injury.) I know you said these are lines you would like to see, but can you keep it within reality? I'd like to see Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Ovechkin but it ain't gonna happen. I'd like to see Filppula on Datsyuk's line again, they seemed to work wonderfully in the playoffs together. I also liked the Cleary - Helm - Eaves combo. Bert - Zetterberg and Franzen are great too. That would leave Abby, Holmstrom and Miller (rotating with Brunner and Emmerton.) No I didn't forget about Hudler, of course he will go where he can score, but I just cannot bring myself to list him on the first line with Datsyuk without my fingers burning...

Don't be bitter. You said they wouldn't trade their franchise player, yet Boston did so he could win a Cup. You said Doan doesn't like Detroit so he'd never agree to come here, yet we all know the Chelios video and well, where he ended up coming to and winning 2 Cups...Doan would come here in a minute to win a Cup and Phoenix would trade him for younger players, especially since Doan would probably be a rental and end up back in Phoenix before he retires. I never said trade Hudler for Doan. I simply said, when Mursak comes back, someone has got to go and I don't think Holland wants to lose anyone for nothing via the waiver. Hudler won't get Detroit Doan, not by himself, if at all... Cheers!

Nothing personal, just business.... Ray Bourque? Uh, ya, should I find the Chelios video?

It ain't no Hudler thread without me chiming in! Seriously, so far, he is doing what he needs to do, score points. We know he isn't a grinder or a great defender. He isn't gonna win you battles in the corners and he isn't gonna stand in front of the net with the results Holmstrom brings you. That being said, he is here to score goals. Whether he becomes the scoring some folks believe he can be, we don't know. Personally, if Detroit is going to keep him (Lord knows from the off season, nobody was interested in him) then I hope he has another subpar season, so when it comes time to become a UFA, he will not command an increase in pay. But if he does have a career year, I hope he doesn't expect too much more in pay, because there are more important poeple out there Holland needs to spend the Cap on and not be handcuffed by him again. Has he done enough to get traded? When it comes to trades, almost everyone is fair game. If Hudler keeps up a nice pace to have a career year, of course he becomes more attractive to the rest of the league, at least more than he was over the summer. When Mursak comes back, someone has to go, I don't think Holland would want to lose Emmerton/Brunstrom (unless he is playing bad) or Miller for nothing on Waiver's, so yes, someone will probably be traded. BUT, Holland isn't gonna trade Hudler/Filppula or anyone if it's not for the right price and the right player. What would it take to get Doan in Detroit? Definitely not a sub-par Hudler alone, if at all. As much as I would love to be rid of Hudler, he isn't going to bring much back to Detroit unless he is putting up Franzen type numbers, then would Holland even trade him at all? Maybe if he feels he is not going to be able to re-sign him...

Popular demand? just kidding... Anyhow, I like line combo talk, but in reference to your lines that you want to see this year. Neither Commodore or Emmerton will be in GRR anytime soon, if at all, especially while Smith and Nyquist are waiver exempt, so just keep the dream. I do like Filppula with Datsyuk.

actually when Ken Daniels made reference to it in game 1, he said that they are wearing them throughout the season. Either way, very cool to do!

5-2 Wings.... Hudler Hattie...Helm...Brunnstrom (is he playing?) if not,then Bert. Cabrera with 4 RBI. Avs....doesn't matter edit: Avs go up 2-0 in the first and Wings score 5 unanswered...

Red Wings game 1.....Tigers ALCS....Lions 4-0.....What a time to be a Detroit Fan! Go Wings!

In all honesty, and I know EVERYONE knows how I have been towards him, but really, if he can find consistency on Datsyuk's wing and become the player is he supposed to be, I will be very happy. So raise your glass to him being on Datsyuk's wing and scoring 30+ goals! (that just means Holland will have to pay him more as a UFA...) but if he is worth it, he is worth it. Good Luck Jiri! Hudler - Datsyuk - Franzen ...I am on board for him to excel! (I am saying this now, so when and if he does start scoring, it doesn't look like I am jumping on a bandwagon.)

Nah, I am giving him his fair chance. Maybe he turns it around. Good Luck to you he that shall not be named!

Kindl would never clear waiver's. The pic above must be an old pic, or they just gave whoever that is a jersey to throw on for the pic, because looking over the 11-12 roster, not only is Kindl NOT on it, there isn't even a #5 on it.

It's funny how folks are talking about Nashville moving east, yet it was a few years ago when Bettman was saying that Detroit is fine where it's at (despite the old rivalries) because they have developed a huge rivalry with Nashville which continues to grow.. ..well, so much for that one! I still say the best would be Detroit and Columbus move East and have a 14 and 16 team conference. Seems to work fine for MLB. Just like MLB the East could have three divisions with 5, 6, 5 teams and the West would have 5, 5, 4. Wales Conference: Atlantic: Pit - Phl - Rags - NJD - Iles Norhteast: Det - Tor - Mtl - Buf - Ott - Bos SouthEast: CBJ - WAS - TPA - CAR - FLA Campbell Conference: Central: NAS - CHI - STL - MIN - DAL Northwest: VAN - CAL - EDM - WIN Pacific: ANA - LAK - SAN - COL - PHX ...works for me, but of course this is the NHL, so none of that will happen.

Oh, I thought he was only 35....oh well, he'll be gone next year too! Who?

I could be wrong, but this team is the youngest it has been in about 20 years. Have no worries about the grind. This could very well be the last Cup chance for Holmstrom and Lidstrom (the last remaining players from the "Golden Years" ) They are the oldest guys on the team as well (41 & 38) Everyone else is 35 and under. No longer can ANYONE say that the Wings are too old to compete. (not that that stopped them any other time when they were the oldest team in the league! Everyone is just jealous!) Interesting that someone brought up Shane Doan. I think he could be an X-Factor in securing the Wings their 12Th Stanley Cup. I say why wait until the trade deadline? Make the deal somewhere around December or beginning of the New Year. I am fairly sure he would waive his NMC to come here and possibly have his only shot at winning a Cup. He sure as hell ain't gonna win one in Phoenix. He has given so much of himself to the Coyotes organization, it's time they gave back and traded him to a contender. I prefer that be Detroit and as soon as possible so he can "gel" with the team before the playoffs. I don't know who would be dealt, but Doan would be wondrous here. I do like the idea of Alfredsson too, but he is not much of a rental with another whole year left on his contract, plus he is 38 compared to Doan being 34. Doan could actually be re-signed for a few years if they wanted. They'd have to unload some big salary to acquire both.

What did he expect? Even after they re-signed him, all Holland talked about was getting a back up. Maybe he expected to be claimed?

- Bring on July 1st and Ryan Suter! (or Weber, but I think Suter is the better player)