LeftWinger

Great News! As long as it doesn't chew up too much of the Cap. I knew of the 4 guys in question, Holmstrom would be the most likely to re-sign. I wonder if Yzerman was eyeballing him up at all?

and how long did you watch Chelios before he became a Wing. How many folks hated Vladdy around the league, but would've loved him on their team at one point in his career he was considered the dirtiest player in the league. Maybe you personally wouldn't want him (just like I try to defend myself for not liking Hudler just because he is a Red Wing) but the majority of fans would like him here. Just like they all cheered for Chelios and even when we signed Hatcher and traded for Clark.

He sucked here because he injured himself a few games into the season, then wasn't 100% percent when he came back, then because of Buttman he had to get bought out of his contract, so could never return to form in Detroit. He did have decent seasons in Philly before he retired...

Its time to get on your horse and Gallant off in to the sunset. No matter what happens, we will all be Wings fans and root for them until we're in our Graves These puns are getting a little KOURN-ey-KOVA... We all better get a Hanlon on our emotions, because it's gonna be a rough year!

All this Pronger hate, but if he someday became a Detroit Red Wing he would be loved. Remember he hate for Bertuzzi, Chelios, Reindeau, Clark, Ulf Samuelsson? These guys were all hated, yet when they put on the Winged Wheel you all cheered for them. That is why, as much as I love LGW, most of you guys are full of the Red Kool Aid. I particulary would like to see Pronger become a Red Wing, much like Hatcher did. I like players for players, not who they play for, hence the reason I still cannot stand Hudler, McCarty or LaPointe. Not that they weren't good at what they do or did, just don't like them and on LGW if you don't like a Red Wing, you aren't a true fan according to most, and you can go root for another team if you don't like any particular Wings player. God forbid someone say something negative about Yzerman, like in person he is a stuck up prick, I know, I have met him plenty of times, he ranks right up there with Gretzky. I have nothing against his importance to the Wings and now to the Lightning, just in person, he isn't what most of you think. And I am not talking about the Yzerman who is paid to be pleasant when it comes to autograph sessions and the like. God forbid, someone doesn't like Lidstrom either... EDIT: See, some ****** gives me a negative just because I say something that doesn't place anyone who plays for the Wings on a pedestal next to God... Hey ****** bag, you're funny, you think Yzerman cares for you? Now you're really delusional!

I hope Chicago loses because I cannot stand their coach! Have disliked him since he was whining and crying while coach St. Louis... It's just too bad Detroit couldn't have made it to the WCF so we could knock him out of the playoffs yet again!

I say get rid of the Shootout AND the 1 point for losing! It really inflated the point totals this season and takes away from the "team" sport that this game is supposed to be. You want more one on the goalie, call more penalty shots...

Hence the reason we trade up to guarantee our pick. If Holland really wants him that is. I just hope that whoever he picks, it's someone 6' or higher and 215lbs or more. I personally am tired of the small skilled players, or the 6 footers that weigh 180lbs and cannot throw the body... but, eh, that's just me! http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/kirill_kabanov 6'3" 176lbs? Plus the injuries? No Thank You.....

Of course I pick McIlrath, but our luck he"ll get picked right ahead of our pick!

Kind of a misleading title to the topic, it actually sounds like there is a trade in the works. Honestly though, I dont think there is anything Holland would be willing to give up that Yzerman would want or that would bring us something in return. Especially a "Blockbuster" trade. I think all this "Steve YZerman is so loyal to the Wings he will do anything to help them" crap needs to stop. Steve is now "Grateful" to the Wings for all the support and loyalty, but now and until he is no longer with Tampa, he is 100% dedicated to the Lightning and bettering their team. That being said, as long as we're on the fantasy kick, I would love to somehow pry Hedman out there! Convince Rafalski to waive his no trade (yah right) to get Hedman, then trade up to guarnatee us drafting McIlrath and our defense will be set for when Nick retires and beyond! If we could also somehow get Johnson out of LA! Ok, ok, fantasy over, back to reality.... I do agree with an earlier poster though, trade Hudler to them for whatever...

Are we talking money no object or under the cap? No Object : Kovalchuk Under the Cap : Willie Mitchell

sorry, while I understand the point you are trying to make, I had to correct last years #2 overall. I still wish the Wings would've made a deal for that #2 pick...

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^ Trade prospect and our #1 pick!

So you think Helm has earned almost double his salary from last season? And the limited time Abs played with them, he deserves to be in the million dollar club? Not so sure....

Well, it's not as big as I was hoping, but $6M is only $1.5 away from what I was asking for, and if the Cap does go up by $2M it'll wash that $1.5M out plus add $500,000, so if we go back to the origianl $12M plus we had available, it's like he signed for $4M really. So if we still have $8M available, I hope Holland doesn't overspend on Holmstrom and Bertuzzi. I know they deserve their market value, but for the money left, we need to make sure the likes of Helm, Abdelkader and Miller are taken care of. Those three prolly wont get HUGE raises, but I can see maybe $2M spent all together between the three of them, which leaves $6M to (PLEASE) add someone on July 1st. So, lets look at the breakdown: Franzen Datryuk (UFA) (UFA) Zetterberg Filppula Hudler Helm Cleary Draper Adbelkader Miller Ritola (possibly Eaves) Lidstrom Rafalski Stuart Kronnwall Ericsson (UFA) Kindl ...I didnt put Holmstrom or Bertuzzi or Lilja in there because we aren't sure yet. OF the three, Holmstrom is prolly the most likely to re-sign with us. I chose Miller before Eaves because it seemed like he got more important icetime in the playoffs, but maybe signing both is in the mix. There is just such a logjam at forward, especially if Bert and Holmer come back. Is Ritola & Kindl the only Griffins out of options or will there be more tough decisions to make? I personally hope they spend some of that $6M on a nice solid defensman. I just dont think putting the same exact top 6 defensive lineup out there (sans Lebda & Meech) and just adding Kindl (who I still dont think is an NHL caliber defender) is gonna help this team any.

funny how most of us agree, but I am still getting negatives on my original post. Oh well, must have been the Hurdler comments. Listen, just cause he wears the winged wheel doesn't mean I have to like him, you will all need a scapegoat next year and Happy is gonna be the guy, just watch. he'll make his awesome defensive plays every game next season and you will all wonder no longer why he couldn't even make the National Team...

Nice to see all the same sentiments here. Lidstrom know this team needs major improvement in order to compete for the Cup. He needs to step up, tell Holland he'll take the $3M paycut in order to get the right players here to compete for one more Cup before he retires. If He asks for $7M, I personally think that eats up WAY too much salary cap and would rather see him go and throw $4M a piece at Mitchell and Derek Morris. Listen, life will go on with Lidstrom. He is old and showing his human side. Sure he is still may be a top 10 defensman in the league, but I would rather better this teams chances winning again, than just being able to watch Nick play again and lose in the first round or maybe not make the playoffs...

if it's more than $4.5 million this team is fudged. If I know how Holland works (and we've already established that ) He will give Lidstrom $7M, both Bertuzzi and Holmstrom $3M erasing our entire cap space... Lids $4.5 Bertuzzi & Holmstrom $1.5 each... Nothing more, this team needs to get better via Free Agency, NOT waste all the cap space on the same team that sucked last season. Oh wait, we got Hudler back :puke: What a waste of $2.8M that is! Little focker couldn't even make his National team for his homeland in the Olympics, WTF is he gonna do here? NOTHING! TRADE HIM!

Ya, Mitchell would a *** bit expensive considering he made $3.5 last season. Derek Morris is another option, but he made $3.3. I agree that they will prolly (if not re-sign Lilja) go for a $1M to $1.5M defender to play on the third pairing, not unless they are going to give the jobs to Kindl and Smith...

I wish the best of luck to the prick, I mean Yzerman (yes in person he is a snooty prick.) but no way Bettman influenced his decision unless there was some money under the table for Steve. Hell he has $21M (even before the cap goes up) and some of the best players in the league Stamkos/St. Louis/Hedman. Give Yzerman $23M and he could build a nice team. He is prolly gonna offer Maltby a contract, like him or not, he has playoff veteran experience and 4 Stanley Cup rings. But with still over $22M available he could draw in some nice players. He needs a backup goalie (Legace) and he has lots of $1m-$3M talent available to choose from. Would it be possible to ****** Lidstrom? :yikes:

simple, just tell Lids, here's 5 years at $4.5M per. That way he can still be our #1 defenseman and then maybe wind up #4 by time the contract is up. By then Dylan McIlrath will be up here and Rafaski will be gone. Stuart Kronwall Ericsson Lidstrom McIlrath Smith (notice I left out Kindl, I have a feeling he is gonna be middle of the road and not be around to long.)

Marleau makes 6.3 Million now... keep dreaming... I say steal Andrew Ladd out of Chicago and/or Hjalmarsson. Sign Willie Mitchell,maybe throw some cash at Owen Nolan to try to bring in that "win it for the veteren" attitude. Lombardi, Torres, maybe Craig Conroy he's another one of the veteran players who are yearning for the Cup. One of my favs from last off season Malhotra could be a cheap veteran signing. I believe any of these guys could change the makeup a little of this team and maybe give them a little bit of an edge in the playoffs... Of course you'd have to be careful how much cash you throw at the RFA's. Let's say they sign one forward and one defenseman, definately go for Mitchell and then any of the UFA's I listed would be super on a third or fourth line. Cheap too!

uh, keep dreaming on this too

They also took Kindl before that. The "experts" were talking about Latendresse even before Kindl was drafted.

Well, if Holland gets a shot at McIlrath and actually drafts him, then order your Lions Super Bowl tickets, because that will be a miracle. I said noting negative towards European players, show me something that cuts them down in my statement. Look over the past, that is what happens with the players he chooses to draft (and mostly the first rounders or first pick he has.) They spend years in the minors, only to be given a shot when they have no eligibility left OR they go home because they are tired of waiting OR they never develop into NHL caliber players. I can give you examples of all three, Kindl, Liv & Butsayev. Thank you, good night. If this makes you feel better, tons of North AMerican players fall into those spots as well, I supposed its merely ironic that they are all 6' or less and weigh less than 200lbs. as well. Small, skilled players is what he drafts, in the mold of European players. Last season is showing you that drafting small skilled players is catching up to him and biting him in the ass. Plus I said we'd all be wishing Holland had retired, I never said we'd be wishing Yzerman was our GM. edit: Just to prove to you, here are the players that you said destroyed me: Landon Ferraro 6'0" 171lbs. McCollum doesn't count, he's a goaltender Brenden Smith 6'2" 174lbs. Corey Emmerton 6'0" 190lbs. Small, skilled players.... Emmerton aint gonna make it. Smith will be there until he has no options left, so will McCollum and Ferraro. But hey, I bet Tartar makes it up here sooner than any of them...