LeftWinger

uh Datsyuk doesn't hit? Who led the team in hits in the playoffs last year? He may be younger, and sure he is a great offensive talent, but unitl he is at the top of the scoring list AND gets serious consideration for the Selke every year, then in no way is he BETTER than Datsyuk OR Zetterberg. Oh, he also needs to lead his team to a Championship (not necessary, but would help if you want me to consider him a BETTER player.) BTW, Datsyuk isn't afraid to stand up to anyone (ie. Gary Roberts) so, come back when you have a better argument

Turco was quoted later saying that he had a new pairof skates on that day, if he had worn his old ones, the blades would have been shorter from all the sharpening! ok, I made that up, but that would have been cool if that was the difference, the length of the blade!

Not.....Very......Amazing.... He just shoveled the puck past the goalie while on his ass. Pav's Breakaway against Chicago was better than that. The move he made to break free was more amazing than the goal itself.

you forgot the Fedorov trades and the umpteen dozen responses stating this is not "NHL 09" (or insert your favorite NHL video game.) responding to someone who said Franzen was looking for $4M? Bye Bye! He can be dealt at the deadline for sure! What would Frazen and Filppula bring us? Besides opening up Cap space next year for Hossa and Hudler, what kind of rental player could we get for Franzen and Filppula, seriously?

I liked when Homer said of one of O'Halleren "no-goal" calls it was an embarrassing call for the NHL. Classic!

edit: oops!

just a little sidenote on Holmstrom. I got a buddy who's kid plays hockey with one of the trainers (cannot tell his name) kid, well their wives were talking one day, and you know those ladies who gossip, gossip, gossip, well, and this may not be a secret, but I guess Holmstrom is worse than is letting be known. The Wings are hoping for him to be ready for the last 10 game's IF THEY'RE LUCKY. If not, then could be a long playoff run without Homer! Take that for what it is worth since I didn't here it personally, but from someone who did.

How dare you!?!? Nick and I will only be 39 next "season" and won't be 40 until the END of next "season" thank you very much! March and April respectively!

hell, sign them all to 9 year contracts just don't include any of the nutty no trade clauses!!!

don't forget the Bring Fedorov Back ones too! (who me?) oh and the "Here are my line combos" ones!

so this means we should expect a goaler at the deadline then, eh?

wow! All I have to say is what the hell is Mike Green thinking with that hair?

Well, either you are not only new to this forum, but new to the Red Wings nation and fandom as well! Unless you've been under a rock in recent weeks then you should know that Hossa already said "I Will" to the notion that he'd take less to stay here. Rumor has him siginging for around the same Cap average as Zetterberg, and yes it would be a HUGE discount considering he wold make top dollar anywhere else! so, he would sign for $6M-ish.

those players are both under contract this season already, just how does signing a player for next year affect this years cap? I do believe though I heard mentioned that Holland could only sign one before the trade deadline, so maybe that has something to do with it too. If that is the case sign one of them and come to a verbal agreement with the other. But yeah, one of either Franzen, Hudler or Fippula are gone no matter what. Probably Sammy too!

how about this food for thought? Hossa could get top dollar as a UFA, right? As could Z, Dats, Lids. So all Holland does is look at his FA's (Huds, Franz, Sammy and Leino) and say, look. I understand you can get more somewhere else, but so could've these 4 superstars. You make the choice. Now, these guys, Huds and Franz especially, should take a que from the stars and sign for LESS as well! If Hossa is worth $8.5M and he signs for $6M, then Huds and Franz, who could fetch $4M should maybe not get more than $2.8M. Sure that still is more than the Cap, but that should be the max they should be looking for to stay here. Realistically they should accept whatever would keep the Wings under the Cap after signing Hossa, bringing up Ericsson and Howard. But, we are probably gonna lose two of them (Franzen, Hudler, Leino or Filppula(trade))

all the screaming about who is better, Huds, Flip, Franzen. Lets just sign Hossa long term, finish the season and see where we get in the playoffs! We do not need to make a decision on Flip, Huds or Franz until July 1. Most important, if Hossa is willing to sign here for a avergage of $6M then get him under contract, see where you stand AFTER the playoffs and make decisions then. This is a lot of distractions, even if we signed Hossa to a $10M contract today, Franzen to $6M and Huds to $7M, it wouldn't effect the Cap until next season! Most Important, GET HOSSA SIGNED! Let the rest fall where they may! Who knows, maybe Holland trades Kronwall to free up some cap space? Similar contract to Flip's, free's up $3M. If Ericsson is the ready for the NHL, then bring him on! Give him 2nd line minutes! Now you can bring up Kindl as well if you trade Kronner.

Hossa made the right choice. Even if he signs long term, of course that doesn't guarantee a Cup. How about this perspective, years of losing in Ottawa (a couple almost seasons) and years of losing in Atlanta. Got whipped in the finals by Detroit. He hopes to win a Cup (or two if he re-signs long term) but if he never does, at least every year he will be here, he will be at or near the top of the league in wins, almost always be a favorite to win the Cup, and more times than not, make it at least to the conference finals if SCF's. Bottom line, he made the right choice because from now until the end of his career (if he stays) he won't have to worry about a re-build process every other year and he will have fun playing year after year. Not saying he hasn't enjoyed his career up until now, but I am sure having the best or second best record most of the time makes it a lot more enjoyable coming to the rink everyday! Best Franxhise in the NHL, best franchise in Sports, best franchise in the World. Noone can argue ANY team against that statement. I dare you too...

would that statue include Joey Kocur and Martin LaPointe? They were both on Drapes and malts line BEFORE McWaste-of-capspace was.

you are right, but these players came back and became HUGE parts of the franchise even after they retired. Of course things were different back then too. I guess maybe 33 has a slim (albeit slimmer than 96) chance to get there, but where would it stop? you put 33 up, then 91 has to go.

Babcock is trying to get Osgood ready for the playoffs. Of course letting in questionable goals isn't helping and Babcock is noticing. He said after the game that he wasn't dissappointed with the teams play and energy, but they just have to keep the puck out of the net. Shot at Ozzie (again.) He is giving him his chances to return to 2008 form. He will probably start Osgood game 1, but you better believe, another 0-2 start and Conklin is in! Or if you read in another thread, Broduer would be in!

AMEN! To go along with the OP's suggestion, of ALL those numbers, may, MAYBE the only that has a VERY slim chance is #96. But I very much doubt it. If, as the OP stated, they win another Cup in the next 2 years, or even three-peat, #30 could and should be up there after #5 goes up. I still hold a thread (although him not coming here at the deadline or singing as a F/A hurt him) I hold a thread out there for Sergei. He has the stats, he will go in the Hall, but yeah, the Wings are a franchise that honors the players that start and stay with them. As much as I think #91 deserves to be up there, it probably won't. So, #18, NO. #33, NO. #25 HEEEEELLLLLLLLL NOOOOOOOOO! #96 slim possiblity, #30 has a better chance than that (another Cup should guarantee it (along with 400 wins.)) #5, no brainer.

I am in no wat discounting the Wings trading for a goalie, you never know what Holland has up his sleeve, BUT, with Jersey in 1st place in their division and more than a good chance that COULD be a finals match up, I highly doubt either team is going to trade someone to the other that gives the other team the edge. That is almost like trading inter-divisionly. Broduer would look great in a Wheel, but Jersey would be dumb to give us the player that would almost guarantee us a Cup especially if meant that we would eliminate them in that process. Broduer wouldn't come cheap, probably Kronwall or Filppula and Hudler. As much as I do not like Huds, that trade would go down as a worse one than the Federko trade, especially if they beat us in the Finals. Not saying it won't happen, but I would be astounded if it did! Then we'd also have to hear the Devils fans saying how they are the dynasty and the are the team of the decade all because they beat us again!!!

are we talking about Gordie Howe or Mark? Asking Gordie to rank a player is like asking Muhammed Ali to tell you what year it is! Gordie can tell you all about Dennis Hextal or Bobby Hull. How about we ask Steve Yzerman about Fedorov and maybe Babcock about Datsyuk? Both in their prime Fedorov wins just because of the "NHL" that he played in. Put a 24 year old Sergei Fedorov in the New NHL and look out! Dats has slick moves, but I think he wouldn't be as effective in the clutch and grab era where Fedorov dominated. Two different players two different eras. Hey I got it, lets compare Howe and Gretzky...

this is all crazy, Holland is going to re-sign the one that allows him to keep Hossa. So, whether they keep Hudler or Franzen or Filppula. Two out of the three, or one, it'll be whoever accepts the least amount of money, because Hossa is priority #1. Like it or not, one or two of these guys are gone before next season. everyone has their argument and minutes to points ratios and blah blah blah. It all comes down to icing the best possible team under the salary cap. Hossa is staying. Someone (or a couple of guys) is going. I think its safe to say, this team will be intact throughout the playoffs so lets sit back and enjoy the best team in the world and start another 4000 threads about who is staying and going after July 1st.

Hudler at $3M, means either Franzen walks for free or Val gets traded. Cannot pay Hossa $6M (if that is what it turns out to be) Val $3M and Huds $3M. Then you can forget about re-siging Leino, and bringing up Helm/Ericsson/Howard because there is only $9.4M available. So Hudler signs for $3M and you lose Leino to F/A and Ericsson/Howard to waiver. Yeah, Hudler is WELL worth keeping for that price. I have said all along that Val has to be traded in order to re-sign Hossa and either Huds or Franzen, but neither of which would sign for $3M. If Huds wants more than $2M (which he is worth considering Filpulla's contract) he walks. Now if you let Franzen walk and trade Val, then you could give Hudler $3M, that would wash with Val's contract. But you need that extra $3.4M to resign Leino and bring upi Helm/Ericsson and Howard (or re-sign Conklin.) Icing the best team means re-signing Hossa. Franzen and/or Hudler should see this and sign for a discount. Either way, Val just may be gone as well.