LeftWinger

isnt there a separate thread for this already? How did game day turn into Franzen and Hossa AGAIN!?!!?! Quickly, I like Franzen but if he wanted to have to best available chance(s) to win Cups within those 11 years, he should've have signed a contract that had a cap hit more like $2.9M. This pretty much screws us for Hossa, unless he takes a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE discount to stay here OR he signs somewhere for 1 year OR takes another 1 year deal at that same discount, then comes back when Lidstroms contract is off the books. Of course if Lids wants to stay he MUST take a HUGE discont as well. Franzen just tied the hands if Holland and Holland allowed it to happen. ANYWAY, but to the ORIGINAL TOPIC. I know the game doesn't mean a damn thing in the grand scheme of things, but in thie case of an OBVIOUS, BLATENT and totally manufactered penalty, the referee should have some kind of ramafication to suffer. There ought to be fines and suspensions handed down by the league for obvious f**ck ups like yesterdays. Not that it would change the outcome of the game the day after, but it would make the refs be more accountable and, like Mickey said, make the mistake of missing a close call instead of calling a penalty that was never even there. That ref totally spit in the face of the NHL and gave it a black eye. Even Byfleuen(sp) said, it may have not been a penalty, which pretty much means, if that were called on his team, they would be screaming as well! ALthough I really wanted to hear Babcocks thoughts on the "penalty" I give him credit for avoiding sure fines from the NHL if he did answer questions about it. Sure would've like to be a fly on the wall in his office though! I wonder if there is some kind of procedure to file a grievance or something against an obvious screw job like that. Not that it would change the call or give us the 1 point we were most certainly going get (at least) yesterday. Maybe do not allow him to ref any playoff games. Also, with all the veteran refs retiring this and next season, I certainly hope this is not the amateur garbage we are going to have to deal with from these new refs!

Just as a few of us said a long time ago! Bye Bye Filppulla, Hudler & Sammy for sure! Hello HOSSA long term! Hudler with get at least the same somewhere so HELLO 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick! Trade Flip for a 2nd and 3rd and lets go!

Tell us something we don't know!

Here we go! Lets start the debate! Nah! Just kidding! Bottom Line, Sign Hossa, Franzen & Leino. Bye Bye Filppula, Hudler & Sammy!

Very nice! But, do you see him playing 6 more season here AND winning 27 games per? That would be great! But honestly, I think 5th or 6th is not out of the question within his current contract, and if he is anywhere near sniffing Sawchuk, he will re-sign to get there. Either way, he desereves his number retired and consideration for the Hall.

Well, considering that the three years he was gone he won, 32, 21 & 31 games respectively each season, probably right about where is at right now.

All he needs is 3 more season with 21 or so wins to catch Cujo (as long as Cujo retires after this season) but he will definately get to Sawchuk for 5th all time! Gee, soon to be 9th ALL TIME! ALL TIME! ALL TIME! Gonna get at least 25 more wins the next two years, that is good for 6th for sure and that is if he doesn't win anymore this season. No, he doesn't deserve seriou Hall consideration and he DEFINATELY doesn't deserve his number retired! speaking of which, I didn't know that only 4 players have played 1000 games in a WIngs uniform! Three of them are alrady in the rafters, so I do believe that gives serious consideration to Draper's number going up! #30 & #33 will go! #91 is losing steam...

How rude! Of you that is! How do you frealing ask him for his autograph when he is on a personal phone call? That is wha is wrong with sports fans now-a-days. There is a time and place to ask for autographs, when they are on personal phone calls, out to dinner with family or obviously doing something that cannot be interrupted, you should NEVER ask for their autograph! Use you head, there is an ediquitte. Anyhow, I have had WAY too many interactions to list, but I will list a couple. I worked as a skycap for "THE" airline here in Detroit from 1991 to 1995, met MANY, MANY players, NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA, College, you name it. If they had a game in the area, more than likely they flew us. Talked to Marc Potvin when he was a Wing (Adirondack) and he was so taken aback that I even recognized him that he bought me lunch. That was cool! I had a long conversation with John Brophy, when he was a scout for the Wings. We had just traded for Coffey and he was telling me that I would enjoy watching him play (with the puck) but watch him without it, he is (and turned out to be) a huge defensive liabilty. He said he just floats around when he doesn't have the puck. Had lunch with Joe Murphy and Jeremy Roenick at Little Caesars the day after the Blackhawks played us one time. Same with Kirk Muller when he was with Montreal. Had a nice conversation with Brett Hull and Adam Oates when they both played for the Blues. Rich Sutter (Head Coach) was with them, but didnt say too much. Back when Probie couldn't travel to Canada, I was driving one of those annoying electric carts and noticed him and his (then) girlfriend looking at the departure monitor. I knew he was flying to meet the team in San Jose and pulled up and offered him ride from the security chek point to the old "C" gates ( a very long walk.) His girlfriend said no thanks, but PRobie hopped on and said "Go ahead, walk! I'm riding!" I also drove Mike Sillinger one time as he was being sent back down to Adirondack (it was the trade deadline) and we talked about the different deals that went on that day. I have had many quick encounters with many players and coaches, but my all time favorite was this one time, when Bryan Murray was both head coach/GM. The Wings were on a 10 or so game winning streak, and as he was walking through security people were saying hi to him from all angles. I said to him, it sure is hard to remain anonymous now-a-days isn't it? He kinda laughed and said yes! As we both walked away from the check point, he asked me what I did for the airline and after I explained that, he told me that he was going to the GM's meetings and was going to miss tonights game. He was going to leave it to the assisstants tonight. I told him I was going to the game (back then it was still affordable to go! LOL!) he told me to make sure they did a good job! Jokingly I said OK! Well, they lost. So, life goes on! Here I am three days later sitting in the area right before the old revolving doors that used to lead to baggage claim and guess who walks around the corner? You guessed it! Well, not expecting anything, he walks over to me and says, "Hey! I thought you were going to make sure they did a good job!" I couldn't do anything but laugh and told him that I threw some line combos at them, but the refused to listen to me! He laughed an said he was going to have a talk with them that night about it! Then he went on his way! I was so surprised that he approached me that day, and that he remembered our conversation. That was cool! That was way better than just asking for an autograph and moving on! These are public people that also have private lives. Since that day, I always tried to have some sort of friendly exchange with someone famous that I may meet, not just ask for an autograph and thats it. They appreciate it, trust me. One time Isiah Thomas was at the airport I was talking to him for about 30 minute and he actually asked me why haven't I asked for his autograph yet, and I said that I figured he was here on private matters and I shouldn't be asking during those matters. He looked at me and said "Wow! I like that!" Shook my hand and boarded his plane. Very Cool! The whole time I was a skycap I only ever asked for 2 autographs, Bob Probert and Rowdy Roddy Piper! But I have had probably hundreds of conversations and friendly exchanges with many! I kinda miss that job, but had to move on!

no, really? Of course they'd have to trade him, but I was generalizing when I said lose those players. In my opinion they wouldn't "lose" at all by losing those players, they would gain. Franzen, Hossa, Helm, Leino are better than Franzen, Hudler, Filppula, Sammy. Sorry. Everyone has an opinion and sometime they stink, but this is mine. You have yours. Maybe both of ours stink.

you know what is more annoying than Avery and his instigating antics? Ovechkin and his childish goal celebrations!!

Read the article bub. It is not just US saying lids for $4M and sign both Hossa and Franzen. If there are agens talking about it, then odds are there are rumblings going around the "agent pool." Lidstrom is the ultimate team player, sure he could demand his current salary, but he could also demand top league pay somewhere else. Lids knows his play has declined, he knows he will need the supporting cast to win again (if he re-signs) and he will take a paycut. It may not be as deep as $4M, but he probably won't make more than $6M. And, yes, losing Filpulla, Hudler and Sammy is WELL worth keeping Hossa and Franzen.

awesome! I was hoping it would be a little closer to $3M cap hit, maybe when its said and done, it will. Say goodbye to Hudler, Filppula and Sammy for sure. But I still think its worth it. Helm and Leino need to be in Detroit next season! This current team just may win the Cup this year, but next season willbe awesome! We'll have probably no less than 4 Griffins up here permanently ALL hungry to prove something! Gonna be a whole new attitude next season!

Booo to the officials for using the replay to give him a penalty! What now? Are we going be using the scoreboard and replays for ALL non-calls!?!?! Hey lets give the coachs a red towel and they can throw it on the ice when they want a review! The reviews are for the league! I am sure Avery would've gotten a fine or something after THE NHL reviewed the play, NOT while the refs are watching the scoreboard!!! Those penalty minutes should be subtracted from his total!!! Hey, we ALL loved Bob Probert and his not-so-innoent hits and runs at goalies (Reindeau and Bester come to mind) and this is no different, except that he played it way too innocent while skating up behind him, looking around the rink in the air like, "Wow, I've never seen something this big before!" Other than that, good on him!!

that is great, and maybe he will sign for a cap hit of $5M, that would be even better! I guess we will see what he thinks is "a fair contract." I don't think Holland will try and undercut him, but maybe see what he is looking for as "less to stay." It could very well be $5M instead of $6M. If he doesn't sign soon, then it ain't happening until after the playoffs, so, he'll either wanna to stay and try for a 2nd Cup (three for us) OR not win the Cup and decide that what Holland is offering isn't fair enough. This is a card game, neither guy wants to show his poker face. Holland wants Hossa long term, Hossa wants to be here until he retires. Holland is hoping to win the Cup and have Hossa be a intrical part of it, but still want to be here for less. Hossa wants to win the Cup, and just like last season, be a big scoring factor, perhaps even the Conn Smythe winner and hope that the "far less" to stay is a little more than what it would be if he pooted out in the playoffs, which would benefit Holland. Game on, lets git er dun! Go Wings! In the end, nobody knows what either Hossa or Franzen are thinking, so it's easy for us to say if they want to win, take less! I think Franzen should take $2.5 and Hossa $5, but that probably won't happen! also, when talking about having Osgood and Howard with no cap space, you have to remember how many contracts are expirig AFTER next season. If Lids decides to stay it will be for much less, he will probably be in the $4M range. Holmstrom and Maltby also will be expired, I can imagine if they don't retire they will also be taking paycuts. So we win this year, hold on tight with Ozzie/Howard next year. Then score a netminder the next, if Howard isn't the one. You have to look long term, not next week.

they'll coast the rest of the way. SJC is up 6 points, Bruins up 3 points. The Wings are perfectly happy with the 2nd seed, so, ya, they'll coast the rest of the way, falter a bit in the first round, then come back strong and hopefully go all the way! (just like every season!)

This is entirely possible! First thing, why would they trade Stuart, when he already took a huge discount to stay here? He could have gotten $5M EASILY from somehwere else. He is making very little money and is worth every penny of it! End of Story. We've talked about this plenty before, you have to trade Filppula for sure, that frees up $3M, that gives the Wings a little over $12M in cap space. Hossa cap hit is $6M, Franzen's is $3M. You lose Chelio's salary, trade Lebda for a pick (lose his salary,) lose Sammy's salary, lose Hudler's salary (plus get a 1st 2nd and 3rd after he signs for $4M somewhere.) That will give you plenty of money to bring up Ericsson, re-sign Leino, bring up Helm & Abdelkader and Howard 's salary is a wash of Conklin's. If you don't think a player exchange of Flip, Huds, Sammy, Chelios, Lebda & Conklin for (re-siging long term) Hossa & Franzen and Leino, Helm, Abdelkader, Ericsson & Howard, you are crazy! In this cap world, the kids are going to have to be here soon (or risk losing them like Quincey) so if you do or dont win all the marbles this season, you may as well do it next year. Bring the kids up with a core of Dats, Zetts, Homer, Cleary, Hossa & Franzen up front? Oh MY! Even without Flip and Huds, those are still two VERY lethal lines! Follow those up with Abdelkader/Helm/Leino and then Maltby/Draper/Kopecky? You pretty much don't lose a step! Zetts/Dats/Homer Hossa/Franz/Cleary Leino/Helm/Abdelkader Kopecky/Draper/Maltby Downey (or some other surprise in training camp) Lids/Rafi Kron/Stu Ericsson/Meech Lilja (if healthy!) Osgood/Howard It all fits, its all fine. Lest you forget the 1st, 2nd & 3rd pick for Hudler, the 3rd for Filppula and the late rounder for Lebda! Then make Chelios your NEW defensive coach and call it a day! heck, if you don''t quite fell Abdelkader is ready (he still has GRR options) sign Weight for $500,000 or so (although he'd probably want $1M) and those two salaries would wash (although Abby makes more than $500,000 so that would even provide you with a few extra dollars.)

it is supposed to be about DEFENSE but it has never been. If it was ALWAYS about defense then Orr wouldn't have never won it, ever and Vladdy would have won it in 1997, instead of Brian Screetch.

Didnt Cofffey win a Norris with Detroit also? Cant remember...

yeah, but he is also +24. I agree, but the writers (NHL actually) will be so happy to be able to award it to someone OTHER than Lidstrom, that he will probably get over 90% of the first place votes! I tell you what though, after accepting his award the first words out of his mouth should be something like, "Thank you, first I'd like to thank Nick Lidstrom for actaully being "HUMAN" this year!"

Cool! $4M for Franzen! That means we'll be getting a 1st, 2nd and a 3rd when Hudler signs elsewhere for his $4M!!! YEAH!!!!! Hossa & Franzen at any expense! Bye bye Huds, Flip & Sammy!

wrong they do have a lot to say, but its more like, "our company is close to bankruptcy, we need to lay off, we need to destroy the unions, we need HUGE concessions, oh yeah, we promised executives bonuses so we are obligated to pay them, even though our comapny is in bankruptcy and cant afford to pay our retirees what we promised them. If we dont get concesssion, we will ave to liquidate, oh,but I still get my $10 MILLION bonus as well." CEOS have plenty to say,too bad it's just blowing smoke up the publics ass and not facts. F**k Gary Bettman, F**k Doug Steenland, F**K Richard Anderson, F**k Rick Wagoner, F**k Robert Nardelli, F**k Bill Ford, and F**K Obama for his bait and switch with the unions and blue collar workers in this great country! Vote for me, I support the Union! Hey, thanks for electing me president, now, YOU MUST GIVE UP YOUR RETIREMENT AND WAGES AND BENEFITS AND QUALITY OF LIFE! Gee, thanks Obama! Democrat, Republican, it doesn't matter, we're all a bunch of sheeple/debt slaves to these people! Obama is just another puppet! Just like Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, etc, etc... Oh, sorry, got carried away! Hey, maybe Bettman will raise the Cap enough for us to keep Franzen under contract so he can be part of the Swedish opening!

I can see it now, 500 threads named Franzen-Hossa or Weight! Actually If he came in for lets say McCartys salary, I wouldn't mind seeing him play his last seaon in a Wings uniform. Also my dad is friend of Doug Weight, Sr. (from their time at Chrysler together)and I know he has said before that he would love to see his son play for the home-town team. Of course he is proud enough to have had a superstar son play ANYWHERE in the NHL, but to play for the team that they both watched a routed for as his was growing up would be even a bigger dream come true! Of course, I hope he doesn't want to come here to win a Cup, its gonna be hard enough to repeat let alone threepeat!

Well, you may have your wish next season, Lebda could very well be traded for a low pick (or the ever popular $1.00.) I am not of authority of course, but I fully believe along with Ericsson, Kindl will be on the roster next season. Especially if Lilja can't get his act together.

players that will be in Detroit for the playoffs (to cover injuries, crappy play) 1. Ericsson (of course, will start if Lilja is scrambled eggs) 2. Helm (earned it last season) 3. Abdelkader 4. Leino 5. Downey MaCarty is D.O.N.E. in Detroit. If he weren't then he would have been up for the two games that Downey played just recently.

I know it's the last ten games, I know they are solidly in the playoffs, I know over the last few years, the last 10 games really haven't had an effect on their results in the playoffs, but Gosh Damn it, I am sick and tired of watching th Wings go into cruise control EVERY SEASON for the last 10 games! Sure, it doesn't really matter whether they win the Presidents Trophy, sure they already won their division and pretty much sewn up the 2nd seed in the West. No I am NOT panicking, and no this is not a anti-Wings, anti-Holland or "First Round & Out" thread. But as a fan, I am tired of paying good money to go down to the Joe and watch a minor league club play. Their lack of effort in the Islander game (which I attended) deserves nothing less than a full refund for the price I paid for tickets, parking, and beverages! Sure, they need rest for the playoffs, sure they don't want anyone injured, and sure I'd rather see them win a Cup, than beat the lowly Islanders (or Predators) but, c'mon! It was so obvious that the "efffort" wasn't there, so obvious that there should be reprecussions from the NHL. An NHL team should give it's 100% EVERYTIME they step on the ice, the fans are paying 100% of the tickets and concessions, they aren't paying 50% of, lets say, a game that may have some kind of playoff ramification to it. If the team isn't going to give 100% there should be some kind of reprecussion. It was like in 2002 when Scotty Bowman was accused by playoffs teetering teams of not playing Hasek on purpose and it was hurting their chances at making the playoffs! Same thing, when I left the Joe that night, I was not entertained, I was not happy that I was finally able to scrape enough money together to go see my home team play, I was not happy period. I wanted my money back, I wanted the wasted three hours of my life back. I think I would have had a better time watching paint dry that night! I know any team can beat any other team on any night. I understand, but the effort was not there. ok, rant over, not panicking, not jumping off the bandwagon. You don't have to respond, just needed to vent. Some of you may wish you had the last minute of your life back after reading this, that is fine, if I could refund it I would. That is more than Ilitch would do. Sorry to waste your time. Lets just end the season now,so we can watch REAL hockey, I am tired of this end of season CRAP every year! We are so spoiled here, that we have forgotten what it is like to battle for a playoff spot, forgotten what it's like for the Wings to give 100% for 82 games, and yes I am guilty of that spoiledness, and I understand totally the reasons for not giving 100% against the Islanders, but if that is gonna happen, make it worth while for the fan too! I guess if they win the Stanley Cup this year, everything will be worth while, but we took someone who has never been to a Hockey game ever, and she was very, VERY bored and said she'd never waste her money again! She was so excited before we got there too!! Sad that the Wings failed to attract a new fan, but hey, they got her money, right? 100% of it.