LeftWinger

At first I thought "Throwing Out First Pitch" was a metaphor for him putting his demands out there for Holland to respond!

League sucks... Plenty of NON-Calls against Penguish's then no call on the dive with the push from behind... Once they pulled Fluery, Bettman made the call to the refs.

this just means when Chicago buys out Hossa and we sign him for $2M he can have his #18 back. Good luck Kirk! You should just retire, but hey, if someone wants to throw a million at him, why not go be a 4th liner somewhere else for a season or two. Maybe he'll sign with a contender and win another before he retires. I could see someone like San Jose picking him up for depth...

That would be a nice problem to have eh? I was just giving Mitchell some senority rights and not splitting up Kronner/Stuart. Babs can put them however he wants, but that lineup looks much better defensively than Kindl/Rafalski & Smith being here...

So you're actually saying that Hudler, a player who couldn't even make his national team for the Olympics, should be on our number 1 line? I cannot wait for the season to start so I can get back on bashing Hudler night in and night out. I can only hope Holland trades him at the draft. Back to the OP, this, if true, is seriously BAD and disheartening news. This team as it is, even with adding Hudler, still will falter defensively. If Lidstrom comes back and sucks up most of our cap, and then we lose Meech, Lebda, Lilja and gain Kindl? Our defense gets worse. Lidstrom HAS to come back for no more than $4.5M in order for us to be able to better our team. You gotta convince Rafalski to waive his no trade in order to free up space if Lids is gonna get $6M or more. Trade him to LA for Johnson, sign Lids for $4.5M offer Willie Mitchell a contract, then bring up Kindl. Lids - Mitchell Kronwall - Stuart Johnson - Ericsson Kindl But sadly our defense in gonna be worse than last season, with Kindl up in Lilja's spot and yet an even less experienced player for our seventh. But hey, instead of getting a ligit top 6 forward, we're getting Hudler back!

Good for MacLean! Wonder why nobody wants to interview McCrimmon for a job? Because he SUCKS! I say if MacLean leaves, even if he doesn't, fire McCrimmon and get Larionov in here, if he'll come. He would be groomed to be the next Head Coach after Babcock is gone. If both McCrimmon and MacLean are gone, I dunno who we could get, Chelios maybe? But Larionov would be rock solid on the bench, one of the best hockey minds ever...

While it's true Abdelkader was drafted ahead of Lattendresse, Kindl was taken in the first round that year, which is why I said we should've drafted him instead of Kindl. With Abby making the team before Kindl, it's obvious which player was the better pick. GL taken at #19 (or #18 whichever pick we had that year) would have still left Abby available in the 2nd round since that round went reverse order. Kindl was a waste of a pick, especially now if the Wings are all of a sudden interested in GL, should've just picked him 1st to begin with...

if it weren't for No Trade CLause's, I'd trade Rafalski straight up for Johnson. Rafalski may be a missing piece for LA to get over the hump and Johnson would be a huge building block (along with drafting McIlrath.) GL should've been drafted by the Wings instead of Kindl, but again, he didn't fit in the Wings plans, so what makes us think he does now? I would be very happy if somehow we got him, but, I doubt it. Heck I'd put Rafalski & kindl in a package to get Johnson. I believe his potential is way more of that of Kindl and like I said Rafalski just needs to go and his experience would attract Los Angeles, well should at least. Plus then that would free up more money for UFA's... Trade Rafalski, aquire Johnson, draft McIlrath, sign Mitchell, re-sign Lids for $4.5M... Lidstrom - Mitchell Kronwall - Stuart Ericsson - Johnson Brendan Smith (with McIlrath taking over GRR for a couple of seasons coming up before he's 21) ya ya, pipedream, now I wake up....

if this case, if Holland gives Lids $10M, then Maltby, Hudler & Lids will be the off season. Yay! Seriously, dump Williams, Lebda, Meech, Lilja & Maltby. Re-sign Miller, Helm, Abby, Eaves, Holmstrom & Bertuzzi (cheap) and if Lids wants more than $4.5M then dump him. I like some of the names I am seeing, would LOVE to steal Ladd out of Chicago, but if they can dump Huet then they'll resign all of their FA's. If Lids leaves then Mitchell can be signed... Bottom line is, here we go again! We all have our hopes but reality says Holland is gonna wait until Chritmas if he has to for Lids so whenever Lids decides, all of the quality UFA's will be gone, quite possibly some of our own and we'll be stuck with "We retained the services or Lidstrom and re-aquired Hudler, that is our UFA season, besides, nobody out there fit the plans of the Detroit Red Wings"(which is why Holland won't draft McIlrath even if he is there at #21.) Hey Holland remember when Malhotra's agent contacted you last July about him wanting to play here? I am sure glad we signed Williams for $1.5 instead... On the other hand, Malhotra is glad he signed with San Jose right about now anyway... Oh I also see Travis Moen is still playing in these playoffs too, guess he chose the wiser as well! Oh, wait those two big men didn't fit in the Wings plans last July did they? Every year Holland says he wants to get bigger and stronger thru the draft and UFA's. We'll see what happens this year. Hudler? Trade him at the draft along with our pick in order to move up to guarantee McIlrath... will it happen?

Hey an actual life long Wings fan! Been there done that eh? I fear you are far too correct! Unfortunately the return of Hudler is gonna affect Holland's decision. Not unless he answers our prayers and trades him at the draft. We have what, $16 million available in salary? Take away the $2.8 Hudler is gonna get, we're looking at $13 million, actually capgeek.com has us at just over $14M WITH Hudler's salary for next season, so give us another million to use. If Holland doesn't offer Lidstrom the world and Lids takes like $4-$5 million, that leaves us $8-$9million to re-sign our guys and add some depth. Now, who do we re-sign and or add to our roster? Holmstrom - re-sign for around $1.5M - $2M Abdelkader - No-Brainer, $950-$1M Helm - $650-$750 Miller - $550-$650 Eaves - $550-$650 I am unsure on the RFA's or UFA's in GRR that have no options left in the minors, so the likes of Ritola and Ryno are up in the air. I feel Kindl is gonna get his shot (if not traded) so we'll have to subtract his $833k from the cap. The one guy I am up in the air about is Bertuzzi. He says he wants to stay (so did Hossa) we have plenty of money to keep him, but for what price? Also, I believe Babcock doesnt have much faith in him, example being it is of my opinion that he should've been the guy to take the penalty shot the other night, not Zetterberg, I think Bertuzzi is better ate the penalty shot/shootout. But lets say he stays for $2M and if Lidstrom re-signs for $5M, for the rest of the guys I am gonna use the lower amount. We're looking at only $3M left to add depth, minus Kindl's $833k it's even less. Thats not gonna land us a Mitchell or Ladd. Byfuglien is signed thru next year, so forget him. We might be able to steal Hjalmarsson out of Chicago, but if they are able to dump Campbell and or Huet, they will retain any and all of their FA's that they want along with adding more! This is truly scary... So I would say, without a shadow of a doubt, you sir are 100% spot on with your take on the off-season. (unless we can somehow dump Rafalski's salary.)

I posted this is a different thread, but elt it was more appropriate here, sorry to double post:

Wow, from the sound of most people here, I am glad I didn't watch the game. Blew a 3-1 lead, bad goal to tie, too may penalties, 3rdperiod let down. Face it guys, all year long they've had these 3rd period let downs. I remember a user on here posting the Price is right horn to indicate another third period by the Wings. I did see the OT goal on the highlights, WTF was Rafalski doing? Isn't he supposed to take the pass away? HE never went down to try to deflet the pass, his stick was behind his back, the only thing he did was wave his hand at the puck (in Scott Mitchell tackle attempt fashion) as it effortlesly made it's way to Marleau, who slam dunked an open net goal. And watch J. Willy, he just stops skating for some reason as he is getting near Marleau right before the re-direct... PATHETIC! The Jason Williams experiment is OVER, tell Rafalski, either accept a trade or be cut. The both of them are directly at fault for this OT goal. No guarantee Rafalski would've blocked it but DO YOUR JOB, bend over, block the pass, deflect it with your stick, TRY!!! Don't just wave at it with your hand! And Williams, geesh! Sure, no guarntee he would've caught Marleau in time, but Jeezus H, huslte to the very end! SHOW SOME F'ING DESIRE TO STOP A GOAL, TO WIN! Willaims should be back out of the lineup for game 4, crap, put ANYONE in there, someone needs to win a job next year and will at least show more desire and hustle than Williams, My grandmother has more hustle than Williams!

It's official, Gary Bettman just lost a fan! After 31 years of watching the NHL, I am officially done with it. I amn sure I am not the only one that feels this way, everyone should bombard his office with emails. Not often do I get this disgusted with the NHL, but the camels back is broken, the fat lady is singing. I don't even care about anything NHL anymore. Nice chatting with you guys/gals, sorry I rubbed some people the wrong way, but hey, it was entertaining. f*** GARY BETTMAN...

I said trade him, then I puked, but thinking it over he can move into Maltby's place, Abby can take Williams spot, re-sign Eaves/Miller then maybe try to land someone worth about $4 million.... of course this hangs on Lidstrom, whether he retires or decides to come back at a significant discount... Of course if Homer wants to play, sign him up as well... You gotta ley LIlja, Lebda & Meech walk. Not unless Lilja wants to come back at a cheaper rate and then bring Kindl up for the 7th. I am unsure who doesn't have any GRR time left, and who can be sent back down without clearing waivers. If Hudler comes back and contribute 25 or more goals that would help a lot! Unsure on Bertuzzi though, he may ask for about $3 million...

:puke:

http://www.fearthefin.com/2010/4/28/1449325/2010-nhl-playoff-preview-san-jose All in all a very good read, he's very knowledgeable and very unbias when it comes to his views. Of course he picks the Sharks in seven and I disagree with that (he is gonna pick his team of course, like we pick ours.) One thing thing he says at the end that rubbed me the wrong way though. He says Todd Bertuzzi should be in jail, without ONCE even mentioning Dany Heatly's criminal past, who should be in jail for life after killing his teammate. Anyway, if you want a good read, check it out...

Maybe one of the positives we'll get out of this is the refs will be watching for the dives the sharks do all over the ice ad calling them. Nah, who am I kidding....

:puke: Trade him on draft day to get another pick..... Oh, did I say :puke:?

Murder someone, make millions.... go figure!

Well, no make up calls, refs gave this game to Sharks with the PATHETIC dives by Japagapagoochi. A goal and 2 asst by a murderer who should be in jail, or dead. Lets see, get drunk, kill my buddy, make millions of dollars and play for the Holy Grail. Wings owned this game until refs fell for the two DIVES. Can the Wings EVER get a fair game called for them? f*** refs, f*** SHarks, f*** Heatly the murderer...

Dude don't come tour forum and post crap that just aint true. Ya, Sharks winning, but the a diving all over the place, look at the crap just before the Bertuzzi penalty. You are welcome here if you plan to bring some good things, not troll crap.... We're winning, so shut up, poopy face! You didn't accidentally leave your webcam on last year after you lost to the Ducks did you? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jakiqCPKyFU

Setajapagoochi figured the dive on Franzen worked so he should try it again. I can't believe the refs fell for it twice... Oh great a tv interview with a murderer....

I can make the vids ok, but I cannot find the music track to put with the reverse video... I've made a Crysby dive and the octopi throwing... just need the music track to complete them 100%