LeftWinger

I agree, but I was reffering to the current d-corps. If it stays the same, I don't see Commie being #7 and Kindl #6. But, by all means, if there is a trade in the works for a defender that will be #3-#4, then sure I can see Commie being #7. But as it stands, Commie is #6 over Kindl... however....Draper is done, that is why he rode the press box a lot last year and he was signed a few years ago, you know my opinion on Hudler and Ericsson was atrocious last season. Commie will be better than Ericsson this year, bet on it. Commie was signed this year to play a specific role, and I don't see that being the #7 or he would've been offered a lot less than $1M. Janik could come in a be #7 for less money. If Commie was signed to be #7, then it makes no sense what-so-ever when Holland already had a few #7 defensemen already signed.

I cannot disagree, I had posted earlier (could've been another thread) that I tend to believe this team is set (minus a #2 goalie) for the start of the season (including Hudler.) Not unless Holland is REALLY looking hard for a top 6 forward (or even a top 3 forward) in a trade. I know he has $7M burning a hole in OUR pockets, but there just isn't anyone out there UFA...

if ANYTHING happens it will be up front, Holland did not give Commie a million dollars to sit up in the press box! Holland could've just given Kindl the 6th spot and let Janik sit up in the press box for a smaller cap hit. Commie is your #6, get used to it. Everyone in the organization says Smith is ready, doesn't mean he is gonna be here, but that makes Kindl and Janik the expendable ones on D in a trade scenario along with Hudler and unfortunately Filppula and/or Emmerton/Mursak up front in a trade scenario. The D is set even if Kindl and/or Janik get traded. Say what you will, but any combination of the six mentioned players would bring us a very good top 6 forward in return and that would make this team even better... ...concerning next year, I am pretty sure whomever Holland acquires, this will be the last year of his contract, for I do believe Holland wants to have as much cap as possible to acquire Lidstrom's eventual replacement.

Just because someone doesn't like the fact that his opinion is Osgood is done. Instead of replying to his post and debating that they think Osgood isn't done, some narrow minded user just hits neg because they love Osgood and want him here even when he is 60. The neg button should come with an explanation requirement. You should be required to explain why you disagree with someone so much that you give them a neg... I like Osgood too, but I also believe he is done. Does that mean I think he sucks? No. He is just too injured to be the best option at back up goalie...it's just reality. Hudler for Nabokov....boom...make it happen Kenny!

I am going with Manny... ...for personal reasons...BUT I still would love to obtain Nabokov somehow... Speaking of which, how come he doesn't show on the Isle's roster on capgeek? Hmmmmm.....

ya...all this, I believe the D is set, Commodore makes up for Salei and White will be a fine replacement for Rafalksi, and he is even meaner than Brian. Given the fact that Kindl is pegged to be #7 rotating most likely with Commodore, I don't see a top 4 coming here. But you just never know whats going on in Hollands head and if a legit TOP 4 d-man becomes available for the right price in return, Holland will make the deal if it betters his team. I have resigned myself to accepting that this team is set minus a #2 goalie, yes even keeping Hudler, so I can see this being the team starting the season, again, unless an opportunity comes up to get a sniper or a REAL TOP 4 defender. Of course, I am done dropping names, since it never happens anyhow...

It would definitely be a trade, you are right about not much being out there UFA. As to whom, your guess is as good as mine! There are tons of quality top 4 d-men out there, but at what cost via trade, that is the important part... It would more than likely include Kindl leaving but that would make either Commodore or Ericsson the 7th guy... I was really satisfied with the D lineup as it stood with Kindl being #7. As for a top 6 forward, that is also up in the air, that would almost guarantee Hudler and or Filppula being traded...

I don't disagree that they are but huge pussys, but at least Semin's ***** squirts and I can enjoy it more! Hudler is just a useless dried up ***** that not only doesn't hit or battle for the puck, but cannot score for crap. So they are both pussys, but Semin at least scores...and unlike Hudler, if you put Semin on Datsyuk's line, he will flourish...

Hudler on all your top lines... I prefer Emmerton AND Conner in the lineup instead of Hudler... Holmstrom/Datsyuk/Filppula Franzen/Zetterberg/Bertuzzi Cleary/Helm/Eaves Miller/Abdelkader/Mursak Emmerton/Conner ...but seriously, if we are stuck with Hudler, I'd say unless there is a trade in the works, let them battle it out in camp. I am leaning toward Emmerton because he put his "time" in, but if COnner is as fast as they say, he could compliment Helm and Eaves wonderfully... It's fun to be a Wings fan thus far this year!

Nashville has 13 forwards and 5 defensemen already signed along with 2 goalies. They have $23M available in Cap space, so unless the arbitrator awards Weber a 1 yr $24M contract, they shouldn't have to trade anyone.... The Devils, only have $7.3M available Cap, with 11 fwds, 7 D and 2 goalies. I guess $7.5M is feasible for Parise, but not sure he will get awarded that much. Even if he was awarded $7M that would give the 12 fwds with no room for injury call ups, in that scenario they would have to trade someone for sure. But I think he may get awarded somewhere around $5.5M to $6M... I'd take Rolston as a rental off their hands for the year...

Well since the post above is the first time EVER I have mentioned Semin, I don't think that I am SO concerned with getting him....BUT I would for sure take Semin and Emmerton over Hudler and Filppula! It would give us a legit top 6 sniper, it would give Helm the 3rd line center position (which should be his anyhow) and give Abdelkader the 4th line center spot, plus give Emmerton and Mursak more playig time with only 13 fwds instead of 14. The loss of Filppula and Hudler's combined salary would nearly wash out Semin's so Holland would still have a ton of money for a deadline acquisition...(if needed) Of course I'd take a broken Koho for Hudler...

The Preds moving Suter before the deadline is NOT out of the question. We are waiting to see what Weber will be awarded. That being said, some people will argue that the Preds wouldn't trade Suter to the Wings, but if it's true that the Wings are moving east after this season, then the Preds wouldn't need to worry about that... But at what cost to get Suter here?

Speaking of Washington, yesterday they were $1.8M over the cap, today they are a couple hundred grand under? What happened?

Hudler and the word physically together.... Hudler provides more offense than Semin? You slay me! Thanks for making my day funny!

...AND regardless of Crosby being healthy or injured. Best COMPLETE hockey player. Period. (cue a carmen "Crosby Rules" reply)

Semin would be an awesome one year rental... What would it take to get him here? Hudler plus......???????

I like Doan on the Wings, but I look at that list and see three names Sharp, Suter and Penner... If we could land ONE of these guys it would be awesome... I am sure a lot of those guys on that list will sign extensions before they become UFA's and I am sure there are a lot of good-great players available (a ton more than this year) but if the Wings could land Suter on D and Penner up front? Yikes! I still wish they had kept Hossa...too bad we didn't have this much Cap-space that year...oh well...

I don't agree with the notion that Detroit doesn't pay players what they're valued, I think it's that players who WANT to come here don't mind taking pay-cuts because they know there are very few places that have a legit chance every year to not only make the playoffs, but make it far and challenge for a Cup...Detroit being one of them. Sure I wanted and wanted Wiz to be a Red Wing, but I didn't know his attitude towards being a Red Wing, like someone said it's his loss and he burned any bridge or chance of EVER becoming a Red Wing, so he is gonna have to just bounce around year after year making his $5.5M, guarantee he WILL NOT complete his contract in Columbus, if he makes two whole seasons I will be surprised. He could have come here for the same 6 years at a $4.5M to $5M per and knowing what we know about how Detroit treats their players, he would've not only finished that contract here, but finished his career here as well. Oh well...and concerning his comments and negativity about playing in Detroit, where is Patrick Roy when you need him?

Cool! Too bad I couldn't hear a word Piet was saying with that stupid music playing...oh well...

Fighting aside, it's the sticking up for your teammates is what I hope he does and then it rubs off on Abdelkader and Ericsson. It drove me nuts when Stuart was targeted and got his jaw busted and Ericsson and Abdelkader did nothing what-so-ever. They just stood there and looked stupid. Stuart, at the time, was Detroit's best defenseman and he was railroaded and knocked out of the season by a career minor leaguer trying to making a name for himself and nobody stood up for Stuart. Commodore will do that when necessary, and if it leads to a fight or 4 or 10, then bonus for us! But Ericsson was signed and paid accordingly, not because of his offensive abilities, but his size and strength, this is the year he needs to display that and use it to his advantage. He needs to get mean, nasty and stick up for teammates. He needs to hang out with countryman Doug Murray and learn how to throw his body around. E will never be a Lidstrom or even Kronwall in the scoring department, but he can before a fierce hitter and a physical body in front of the net, with the right influence and guidance. I believe the likes of Abby, Eaves and Miller can benefit as well, being physical, just go out there and without getting out of position, punish the other team physically! That is what made Aaron Downey so valuable to this team when he was here and especially in 07-08, he just ran everyone down and got the crowd and team into the game, it's too bad he got out of position alot though...

I laugh at the people who think that Commodore will be the 7th defenseman and not get consistant playing time. He will be on your bottom pairing, and definitely be the one to sit the rare game when Kindl plays, but there is no way that Kindl gets the #6 spot over Commodore...you guys can put that notion to rest. Commodore would more than likely climb the ladder than to go any further down it. But I do agree Exelby will spend his entire year in GR, barring an injury riddled season like 2009-2010. You have Smith/Janik ahead of him for sure...

not too much, but as much as I do not like him, I really dont like saying we should just keep him....but you probably gathered that! But even I can't help the fact that nobody wants our fodder, so I guess let him play out his contract and if he does end up playing well, then his trade value will be higher at the deadline for when we acquire the "PLAYER" that will help us win another Cup...Holland has $7M available to him and has nobody to sign, if someone of the $5M-$7M type player becomes available at the deadline, expect him to use it (unless they ask for an unreasonable return of assets.) I still like the trade Hudler for Nabokov idea...

I am looking over the available free agents and I am not seeing too much that I like... I still don't see Drury listed, but he is indeed a UFA. There isn't much left out there that I think that would be worth picking up. And why is Maxime Talbot listed as a UFA? Did the NHL void his contract? If Detroit could get Drury for a million, that would be ok, but it is looking like :puke: the best option would be to :puke: keep Hudler :puke: here....:puke: :puke: Gosh it pained me to say that, but he would be ok to rotate in and out at the 12th position with Emmerton and Miller... I still would love to see Hudler gone, even if Holland doesn't replace him and just keep 13 forwards, but if nobody wants him, then keep him around until his contract expires... I think I'd rather have Drury, Morrison or even Talbot (if he is indeed available) though...or just skip the UFA route and let another prospect win the position...

When are the arbitration hearings? I am really interested in seeing what Weber gets awarded... Could REALLY factor in the chances or lack of chances that Suter actually makes it to July 1st next season...

Ya! You didn't know that he needed the whole last season to re-acclimate himself to the NHL? This year he will get a personal best 40 goals and 100 points playing with Datsyuk and or Zetterberg.