LeftWinger

no offense, but if the suspension would've happened (like it was suposed to until Bettman stepped in) then you're right, there would be no bearing on games 6 & 7, because in all likelyhood games 6 & 7 would've never been played. Without Malkin in game 3, Wings win, go up 3-0 and wrap it up in 5. But, alas, nobody wants to admit that with that ruling Gary Bettman helped Pitts win the Cup. Plain and simple... Doesn't have to be a conspiracy, doesn't have to be fixed, doesn't have to be Al Qaida. Bettman gave Pitt their best chance by recinding the instigator penalty, not suspending him, and allowing him to have assists on three goals in game 3, in turn "helping" Pits win the Cup...

If not, we could always ask Forsberg or Lindros to come here for a million. I think Holland should pass, besides I don't think Mats is that much of a team player to accept a million dollars to play anywhere....

I cannot recall how many games were actually televised (since I was only 10 in 1980) I do remember before PASS sports we only had Channel 50 for the games. I do remember when watching one of my first ever Wings game, I kept looking for this guy named Kowalski on the Wings, because the annoucer mentioned his name a few times, I actually rememerb saying out loud, "Get it Kowalski!" not even knowin which guy it was, only to find out it was Kowalski Sausage (one of the sponsors.) Must have been a powerplay or penalty kill sponsered by Kowalski or someothing like that...

just talking about leading by example. Lidstrom or Yzerman (or Sakic or Messier would NEVER embelish or dive. We're talking about leaders. Scuderi or Orpik should be the captain of that team (well if scuderi hangs around.) But the NHL and Bettman were in so much of a hurry to "take away" Yzerman's distinguished "youngest Captain in the NHL" record, that their chosen son has been nothing but a pathetic excuse for a Captain. May be a good hockey player, but he's an aweful captain. No Captain in their right mind, "ACTS" like Cindy. I wonder if his dad taught him to do that kind of stuff? I can see him now in Pee Wee, diving all over the place and his dad cheering for him. Next logical progression is homosexuality... I don't and never will respect anyone who acts like that. Not, Cindy, not Forsberg, not Karyia, Not Maltby (for his little head jerks (not as bad as the others, but still looks pathetic.))

That's wat Sean Connery said too!

I'd take a 2nd and 3rd for him as well. That'll be (if Detroit still has their own picks) two 2nds and two 3rds, and with Detroit's drafting history, that would be like gold.... Especially if it's a Colorado or Islander draft pick next year, VERY early 2nd and 3rd!

No Penguins, must their awesome leadership!

Guarantee, the 1995-96 Red Wings could beat any of those Pitts teams... BY A LANDSLIDE

Who exemplifies leadership better? THIS? THIS? OR THIS?

COFFEY TOCCHET ...are you sure you even know what you're talking about? and Tocchet could not kick Bob Probert's or Joe Kocur's ass, not in 1988 and not in 1992, not even today... this is all Tocchet could do with Probert:

Which team is better? Penguins Penguins Penguins Penguins Penguins or Penguins that's really what he wants this thread to be named...

Detroit HAS to get that #1 pick! As long as we are talking about these guys favorite players and teams, Hedmans favorite are Detroit and Lidstrom. Surely if could land that #1 overall from the Isle, he wouldbe happier than pigs in slop to play with Nick. Oh, oh what would it take? our 1st and 2nd, rights to Hudler, Kronwall, and what else? Kindl? Howard? Smith, Emmerton, Andersson? Shoot, like I said, we have to offer any and all (short of Z, Dats, Ab's & Helm) that could land us Hedman! PLease oh please hockey gods! Let this little light shine on us! Maybe, Vic could pull an Eric Lindros and say I will not play on the Isle, trade me to Detroit! Seriously though, we have to get this guy! I almost (ALMOST) wish we had blown the season just to get the #1 overall pick! I wonder in Kenny has inquired, or even if New York or Tampa is willing to part with their pick?

Just a little change up from the bickering back and forth with the pens, the UFA/Hossa/What I would do threads. (They are all fun and I am not complaining.) I was looking around the internet to expand my useles knowledge base, and started looking at All of Detroit's drafts. Then I focused on the European, most specifically Detroit's love affair with Sweden... To start, Detroit's first ever European draft pick was Ladislav Svozil, he was drafted in the 12th round, 194th ovral in 1978 out of the Czecheslovokia Elite League. He played exactly 0 games in the NHL. Bjorn Skaare was a Norweigen born player who played 1 game for Detroit in 1978-79. Did you know that Petr Klima was only the third European ever drafted by Detroit? In between Svozil & Klima came the 1981 draft and in the 10th round Detroit selected their first EVER Swedish born draft pick out of Lulea, Sweden, Robert Nordmark. He also played 0 games for the Wings and re-entered the draft in 1987, where he was re-selected by the St. Louis Blues. He played 236 games in the NHL collecting 13 goals, 70 assists for 83 points playing for the Blues and Canucks. This was not the first Swede that Detroit had though, Thommie "Lars" Bergman played for Detroit from 1972-1975, then again from 1977-1980 and Tord Lundstrom played for Detroit in 1973-74. For a couple of seasons after Nordmark, the Wings stayed out of Europe (besides Klima) but in 1984, 4 out of 12 of their picks were from Sweden: *Mats Lundstrom - Vastra Frolunda - 0 NHL games *Stefan Karlsson - Vastra Frolunda - 0 NHL games *Lars Kalrsson - Farjestads - 0 NHL games *Urban Nordin - Modo - 0 NHL games Despite the failure of these 4 to break the NHL, they went to the Swedish hole again in 1985, drafting three Swede's, with unfortunately the same result, 0 NHL games: *Thomas Bjur, Bo Svanberg & Mikael Lindman. (on a side note the Wings drafted their first ever Finnish player, Erik Hamalainen, in the 10th round this year, with the same result as the Swede's. But he played in Europe up until last season, just nevr had what it takes to crack the NHL.) The first Swede's that Detroit drafted to make it into the NHL came just a year later in 1986: *Johan Garpenlov played 10 seasons in the NHL with Detroit, San Jose, FLorida & Atlanta. He was taken 85th overall in the 5th round. *Per Djoos also played in the NHL, only 3 season though, with Detroit and the Rangers. He was selected 127th overall, in the 7th round. *They also drafted Peter Ekroth, that year out of Sodertalje, he actually played early in his career in Canada and made an appearance in Adirondack for 12 games, but failed to crack the NHL. The Wings tried again in 1987 when they used their last pick to draft Tomas Jansson, but again, he stuggled in North America and only got as far as one season in the WHL with the Portland Winter Hawks. 1988 was Swedish free for the Wings, the did draft Czech Petr Hrbek in the 3rd round, but that was the only European taken that season. It seemed maybe the Wings had given up on the Swede's and Euros all together, then 1989 came. You'd have to have been born under a rock to not know the Swedish player selected in 1989, along with a couple of very famous Russian players. (Also Borje Salming played his last season in the NHL for the WIngs in 1989-1990.) The crazy thing is, Lidstrom didn't get selected until the 3rd round, and by the way he turned out, thus started Detroit's ability to uncover diamonds in the ruff. Fedorov was selected in the 4th round and Konstantinov the 11th round. Of course, what Wings fan doesn't know this? It seemed that with the success of Fedorov and Konstantinov, and the Wings ability to steal these players from Red Army, this is what they focued on for a few years, Russian players. It wasn't until the 1993 draft when Detroit decided to roll the dice on a Swedish born player again. This time using their first round pick to select Anders Eriksson #22 overall. Even though he wasn't the player he was projected to be, he was a part of the 1998 Stanley Cup team and has played a total of 552 games in the NHL thus far with Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, Florida, Columbus and most recently Calgary. In 1994, the used their 10th round pick to draft Tomas Holmstrom, again finding one of those diamonds that so many other teams passed on, round after round. As a matter of fact, Detroit's 6 picks in between Mathieu Dandenault in the 2nd round and Holmstrom in the 10th, have a grand total of 0 NHL games under their belts. Sticking with Russians in the higher rounds, Detroit didn't draft their first Swede in 1995 until round 7, when they selected Per Eklund and in the 9th round they selected David Engblom, both of whom have played 0 NHL games... 1996 didn't show anything different from the Wings Swedish parade drafting Johan Forsander in the 4th round and Magnus Nilsson in the 6th round. Again, these two combined have zero NHL experience. Although the success of Lidstrom and Holmstrom had yet to repeat itself, the Wings kept holding on to their belief in Haken Andersson and the Swedish players. 1997 - John Wikstrom - 0 NHL Games; Also aquired at the trade deadline, born in Finland, but is Swedish, Tomas Sandstrom. 1998 - Calle Steen - 0 NHL games 1998 - David Petrasek - 0 NHL games In 1999, everything seemed the same for the Wings, with their first pick (4th round) the chose Jari Tosla from Goteberg, Sweden, this was supposed to be the best available Swedish player at this point in the draft, but once again he has 0 NHL games played. Then along came the 7th round and a young man name Henrik Zetterberg. No explantaion needed, excpet why this guy lasted this long in the draft... They also aquired at the trade deadline this season (along with trading away Anders Eriksson for Chris Chelios) Ulf Samuelsson from the New York Rangers. In the 2000 draft, the Wings went full throttle drafting 4 Swedes, Niklas Kronwall, Stefan Liv, Per Backer & Jimmie Svensson. Of which Kronwall has been the only one to see NHL action, although Liv, at one time, was touted as being the next superstar goaltender in Detroit. He has 0 games played. 2001 only saw one Swedish born player drafted, Andreas Jamtin, but he never seen any type of North American hockey. Although the Red Wings did sign Swedish free agent defensman, Frederick Olausson, who was a big part of their 2002 Stanley Cup Championship. 2002 was business as usual for the Wings, drafting 6 Europeans out of 10 total picks, 3 of which were Swedish born players: Johan Berggren, Christian Soderstrom & Jonathon Ericsson, who was selected with the very last draft pick of that year, and just happends to be their #1 prospect and is expected to see full duty in Detroit in 2009-2010. Now thats finding a diamond! 2003 brought four more Swedes to the system, none of which made it and none of which are still considered Wings prospects: Andreas Sundin, Stefan Blom, Tomas Kollar & Mikael Johansson. 2004 brought us Johan Franzen in the 3rd round, followed by Anton Axelsson & Nils Backstrom. Franzen of course needs no explanation, the other two are still in the Detroit prospect system, with Backstrom playing NCAA hockey at Alaska-Anchorage. 2005: Christofer Lofberg, Mattias Ritola & Johan Ryno. Lofberg fell off the map, Ryno went back to Sweden and Ritola played for Grand Rapids last season and is currently sitting in the #9 sot on the prospects list. Detroit also signed free agent defensman Andreas Lilja and free agent forward Mikail Samuelsson this off season. 2006: Dick Axelsson & Daniel Larsson, both of whom are in the system and are rank in the top 12 of prospects. Larsson in pegged to be a NHL goaltender in a few years, if not sooner. He spent all of last season in Grand Rapids. 2007: Joakim Andersson, who currently sits #8 in the prospects rankings. Which brings us to 2008, and not disappointing, the Wings used two selections this season to draft Gustav Nyquist in the 4th round and Jesper Smuelsson in the 7th round. In a week or so the Wings are going to go to the 2009 draft with no doubt a couple of Swedish prospects on their minds. They'd love to be able to get a hold of Victor Hedman, but unless they pull off a blockbuster trade to secure the #1 or #2 pick, they will have to rely on their European scouting to find the next diamond from Sweden, and given their history I think we have plenty to look forward to! Sorry this was so long, but I hope it kept your mind off the trolls for a while and the Salary Cap too!

Meh, let if we cannot sign and trae Hudler, let him go... ...anyway, instead of offering Hudler $1 million to stay, any interest in coaxing Jagr back from the KHL? He did have 51 points in 55 games and 9 points in 9 playoff games. That'd be almost 77 points here in 82 games...

Let him test the market, he'll find that he will only end up in a basement dwelling team or in the KHL or back in Sweden, as long as he is not taking up too much of the Cap here, I'll will take him back, but definately for Chelios type money, no more...

...just curious, but who do you think is the best forward in the NHL? Anyway, back to reality,of course you'd take Malkin over Ovechkin, he's on your team! And that is what seperates us Wings fans from the pens bandwagoneers. I'd Take Ovechken with Datsyuk over Zetterberg with Datsyuk if I had to choose, and I would 1,000,000 times take Datsyuk with Ovechkin over Malkin/Ovechkin or Crysby/Ovechkin or Malkin/Crysby... Oh, and as we have said, and as it was proven, Crysby will NEVER LEAD his team to a Cup either. Malkin, Talbot, Scuderi, Orpik & Bettman LEAD that team to a Cup, Crysby just happened to have the C on his shoulder, so they won in spite of him, not because of him. 3 points is leading crap, for pete's sake Hossa outscored Crysby! So, your statement about being skeptical about Ovechkin leading his team to a Cup holds no water, unitl he actually wins one and whether or not he LEAD his team there, or was just a passenger, much like Cindy.

I'll give you 50:1 Pitt is NOT....

First of all, welcome! You will quickley find this IS the standard for sports forums on the WWW! Much like the Detroit Red Wings are THE model franchise in ANY sport! Second, Cinci, eh? I dated a girl that lived in Erlanger for a long time! Spent a few long nights at Big Bone Lick State Park with her! (To anyone who doesn't know, that is the REAL name of the park.) Now, on to topic, pens fans are mad at us because we aren't as upset as they were last year about losing the Cup finals. Although we regard the Stanley Cup as the highest and hardest Chalice to acheive and hold on to, we really don't care that they won, aren't that upset anymore that we lost and are already talking about 2009-2010. Oh, and unlike the 40 of the 50 states, we aren't on our knees bowing down to Cindy and his girls. We know him for who he really is and they cannot defend it, they just want us to say he is God and the Pens will have the best dynasty ever seen in the history of the NHL. And we won't say it, because we know its not going to happen and can give them reason why, ligit reasons why and all they can say is, "pens rule!" "Crysby is God!," "We ***** slapped you!" "Injuries had no bearing on the result!" "No way Bettman helped us!" Yadda, yadda, yadda, etc, etc... They cannot stand the fact that we are over it, because we know we'll be there more in the next 5 years than they will. When all they did was cry, cry, cry (much like the San Jose Kid did on his broadcast) last season and are mad that we are not doing the same. They cannot understand why we don't think the same of Cindy as they do, they don't understand why we can't say they beat us fair and square, we can't say that Malkin is better than Zetterberg and Datsyuk, because even though they know these statements are false, they believe their own rhetoric and the crap the NHL/Bettman puts out there and actually believe they are going to win every Cup until the end of times, and cannot believe that we don't agree with them. That should help you out a little, too bad most of them are gone now, they went back to the pens forum with the ego's bruised, back to where everyone agrees with everyone and they have noone to tell them otherwise and they can walk down their narrow hallway never seeing the truth right in front of their eyes. (sorta like when the President spews his garbage to his sheeple.) Bottom line, they are mad because we aren't, and they cannot understand why. They are just Gary Bettman's sheeple, and like the lambs to the slaughter, they will feel doublecrossed next year when one of Gary "Next Ones" get their Cup and they are left wondering, what happened t our Dyansty?. My guess is it'll either be Chicago or Washington (or both in the finals.)

doesn't matter, he makes it, and the market dictates that Hudler, having similar numbers, that he is worth that as well, AT LEAST, on the market. Unless Hudler tells Holland he'll stay for his current salary or less, the $3 million Filppula makes will be a starting point for his agent.

I am telling you, the Wings have to make a serious offer to get up to #1 or 2 to get Hedman. Our 1st and 2nd, rights to Hudler, include Kronwall and maybe another prospect... Anything short of Z, Dats, Abdelkader and Helm...

I was looking over the top 60 according to McKenzie, and at #60 is Ryan Bourque.OMG, can anyone look any more exactly like thier father!?!?! Ray could not deny him if he wanted to!

Hmmmmm, sign Bouw and then trade him to Tampa for Hedman..... NIce!

how come I have a feeling this is gonna turn into a Pens dyansty thread?

agreed, but the market dictates and his agent doesn't have to look far to use a contact and stats to compare to. And near the end of the season, Filppula was gettting more icetime than Hudler so he could even use that to say, his client gets more points with less ice... ...I say no thanks to another contract like Filppula's. Flip is already signed and if Hossa returns, he has shown that they can flow pretty good together. Let Hudler go, or sign and trade him at the draft (include out 1st and 2nd AND Kronwall) to get the #2 pick and get Hedman... (if Tampa would do it...)

our 1st& 2nd picks, sign and trade Jiri Hudler, include Niklas Kronwall to Tampa for their #2 and select Victor Hedman. (that is IF the Isles are set on Tavares, which it looks like they are.) Hedman would step in right away into Kronwalls spot and if Lilja is back, all of a sudden we have quite possibly the biggst D in the West, if not the NHL! (definately the most Swedish in the NHL!) Lids - Rafi Ericsson - Stuart Lilja - Hedman Lebda I would do what it takes to get that pick (short of trading Dats, Z, Abdelkader or Helm.)Of course, since they have NTC's I won't mention getting rid of Rafi or Stuart, besides I think they are too important to this team.