LeftWinger

...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.

fact is Yzerman did not buy into Scotty's system early on, so much that Scotty had him traded to the Senators for Alexi Yashin after the 1994 San Jose Sharks debacle after they were swept in 1995. Mrs I stepped in and nixed the trade...Then Yzerman started buying into the system and the rest is history. NO, I do not have any links to when and at what moment Yzerman bought in to his system, or if he and Scotty hated each other, but the trade was a fact, Steve Yzerman for Alexi Yashin (those were the main guys) and it's not like Scotty hasn't had a history of dealing away STAR players when he thought that they weren't right for "HIS" team. Dino Ciccarelli, Keith Primeau, Paul Coffey (on more than one occasion.) As a matter of fact I found this little bit of info... On February 26, 1996 the following trade was sent to the league offices (and to all teams) Steve Yzerman and Chris Osgood to Ottawa Alexei Yashin, Damian Rhodes, Ottawa's first round pick in 1996 and 1997. edit: I correct my error on when he was "traded." I also read that prior to Yzerman "changing" his game, Scotty used to call him a GD Prima donna...

Hudler > Haken Bag O'Pucks...Arnott < Haken Bag O'Pucks...Arnott < Hudler.... So in place of Hudler? Yes... I'd even take the Haken Bag O'Pucks

I think the Wings are set on D now, with 7 under contract. Anyone think reuniting Morrison with Bertuzzi could spark something? He did have 43 points in 66 games last season...he would be on the cheap too...

Does anyone know if Drury got bought out yet? If so, what do you guys think about giving him a couple million to play here? EDIT:I see that he was indeed bought out and the Rags will pay him $3.7M this season.

Maybe Yzerman is seeing if someone else will offer him a sheet, then match it. They have plenty of money left to sign him, but maybe Yzerman is taking the Holland stance and telling him that noone makes more than their Captain... dunno...

EXACTLY the line pairings I want to see! Bravo! +1 for you! For those of you who think it, it won't happen, Commodore WILL NOT be the 7th defenseman... He may sit once in awhile to allow Kindl some playing time, but Kindl (if he reamins a Red Wing) will be the 7th defenseman.

So IF Holland dumps Hudler, of the remaining RFA/UFA's, who would YOU want to take his place? (I know Holland is not usually the kind to offer RFA's a sheet, but there are a couple nice one's left out there (not named Stamkos (since the odds of that happening are laughable!)) i wouldn't mind seeing Holland offer some sheets ( That sounds ***...) to Ladd, Cogliano or Brouwer...

G.D. it Holland! A NTC!?!?! Does anyone know what the "Modified NTC" consists of?

Hudler for Nabokov.....Get R Done!

Thank You Holland, Thank You! I like this signing...not as much snarl as Wiz, but since when does Holland sign snarl? We all had our hopes, but once again Holland stayed true to his form and signed players that he thinks fit best with this team. Instead of Wiz and Montador, I got Commodore and White, both right handed shots, both good shots from the point, if Commodore can find his meaness back, we'll be sitting pretty. Here is how I hope the lines are: Kronwall - Stuart Lidstrom - White Ericsson - Commodore Kindl Holland continues to say he doesn't want to box Smith out of a spot in the lineup, so I believe he and Kindl and to some extent Janik will be battling for that 7th position. I wouldn't be against trading Hudler/Kindl for Nabakov and giving Janik that #7 spot and letting Smith do some split time in GR and Detroit. Replacing Hudler with a UFA still available....I hear that Owen Nolan wants to come back to the NHL!

We could have paid him this, but Hudler at nearly $3m is so much better! Should've signed Richards and just cut Hudler....

The ONLY way we get a forward is if someone is traded...we already have 14 forwards. 6 defensmen and 1 goalie. Holland has $9.9M to spend on one more D and one G. So not unless he has a trade in the works, this will be our lineup basically and Holland will have $8M-ish of wasted Cap space. Holland shot the pooch today... And guys, ***** about Wiz's comments all you want, but blame Lidstrom and the like for taking contracts that are considered "Home Town Discounts" because now Holland has the mindset that NOONE can play for the Wings and make more than the Big three. So don't expect Suter next off season...

Right about now, yes on gagne....oh how I wish the hudler\ericsson to atl....er, wpg rumors would start back up!

Hudler for nabokov