LeftWinger

...trade Filpulla, that opens up $12.4 million dollars for next years Cap. Sign Hossa to a long term deal with an average cap hit of $6Million. Give Franzen a long term that averages $2.5Million against the Cap. That leaves you $3.9 million for one year deals to re-sign Sammy at 875,000, re-sign Leino at the same $875,000, re-sign Kopecky at the same $500,000, then bring up Ericsson, Helm & Howard (or re-sign Conklin at the same price.) In the end all these salaries equal about $13MM, but Holland The Magician can get the numbers crunch to where it's closer to $12 million. ...you's have to say goodbye to Filppula for a 2nd rounder and say goodbye to Hudler to RFA, getting a 1st and 3rd in return when he signs somewhere for $3MM... (of course McCarty & Chelios say goodbye.)

...look for Manny to go play in Russia... You heard it here first...

...not going to be able to sign all three, but I maintain that the best business move is to Sign Hossa and Franzen and let Huds sign somewhere else. Then Trade Flip... ...Huds will get every bit of the $2.6 million needed to score a #1 AND a #3 in return as compensation. That is better than siging Huds and letting Franz or Hossa walk for nothing in return, plus the fact that Huds trade value is fairly high right now... ...you won't be able to get a player in return for Flip (not that he is not worth a player) you'll have to settle for a draft pick because of the Cap... ...to sum it up: Trade Flip for a 2nd rounder. Allow someone to sign Huds and claim your 1st rounder and 3rd rounerfrom them. Sign Hossa to a Zetterberg type deal and Franzen to a Filpulla type deal, all, of course, in that special way that Holland can in order to fit it under the Cap... ...let Sammy walk (or sign a sub-million dollar contract) and bring up Leino in Huds spot, Helm in Flips spot and Abdelkader in Sammy's. (or if you want to keep Lebda on, bring Meech up to the wing and let Lebda be the 7th defensman because Ericsson will be here next season and he'll be takig Chelios' roster spot.) That leaves Kopecky as a 13th forward splitting time with Meech or Abdelkader... ...it all makes sense!

...Hossa AND Franzen! Dump Filppula AND Hudler...

...why is it Franzen or Hossa? At the current rate of point production, Hudler is going to cost more than Franzen so it should be a question of Hossa or Hudler not Franzen. The answer should and WILL be Hossa. Letting Hudler sign elsewhere makes the best business sense for the team, since losing Hossa or Franzen to UFA will get the Wings NOTHING in return, but Hudler will get them drafts picks as comepensation. It is not outrageous to believe that considering Filpulla's $3.5 million contract, Hudler can and will get AT LEAST the $2.6 million somewhere else getting the Wings a 1st and a 3rd round draft pick from the team that signs him... ...If you are looking at losing one of either Franzen or Hudler, even with Hudler producing more than Franzen, it makes better business sense to lose Hudler for picks rather than Franzen for nothing. Just an FYI, Franzen is not playing his best in this contract year (playoffs yet to be seen, and also he took off in March last year so we'll see them as well.) but, right now he is probably looking at a salary of around Filpulla's, which if that is the case then Hudler will probably get that as well, which will not allow us to even think about Hossa. Now if we let Hudler walk, resign Frnzen to $3MM and trade Filpulla for a draft pick or two, that SHOULD (without crunching actual numbers) allow the Wings to sign Franzen AND Hossa(with a contract similar to Zett's in order to have minmal effect on the cap,) then bring up Helm to replace Filpulla then Abdelkader/Leino to replace Hudler's roster spot. (this is betting that Sammy re-signs for MUCH less than he is making right now. Which is quite possible.) That's makes the lines: Hossa Dats Homer Leino Zetts Franzen Cleary Draper Sammy Maltby Helm Abdelkader(Meech) Kopecky (re-sign at a modest rate) Lids Rafi Stuart Kronner Lilja Ericsson Lebda (Meech) * Team can always keep Abdelkader in GRR and place Meech up front if they decide they want to keep Lebda around... Osgood Howard (unless Conklin re-signs, then Howard will be lost to waivers) ...now I know there is only $9.4 million dollars availble for salary cap next season, but with the right number crunching and terms they can fit this scenario under. Of course with Hossa taking up about $6 million on the cap hit. It can be done, it must be done, but they must waive goodbye to Filpulla, Hudler and of course Chelios, McCarty. ...so my choice is Hossa over Hudler and Franzen stays no matter what...

...yep, I am skipping it! What do you bet Dan O'halloren will be reffing that day too? ...wonder if there is a website that posts their schedule?

...or how about the Datsyuk call against Anaheim the year prior that lead to the Neidermeyer goal that killed us?!?!?

...he did the same thing his entire playing career! Cindy is well on his way as well! I don't think I've seen anyone cry as much as Gretzky until now with Kathy Lee Crosby... ...But yeah, someone should photoshop a couple of his looks tonight, I kept waiting to hear the Joe play a crying baby sound while showing Gretzky on the big screen. That would have been sweet, but we all know that the guy who picks the music at the Joe just isn't that clever or cool...

...I am willing to bet Hossa will sign for a long term deal where he makes less next year and then more when Lidstrom either retires or re-signs for MUCH less. Franzen will also be re-signed, but in order for all that to happen, they need to trade Flip for a 2nd and 3rd draft pick and allow Huds to sign somewhere else for 2.6 million and get us a 1st and 3rd round pick as compensation. If those picks are all in the same year then that will be two 1st round picks, two 2nd round picks and three 3rd round picks! Sorry Huds and Flip, but signing Hossa and Franzen and letting you guys go just makes more business sense than re-signing Huds and keeping Flips $3 million on the books... ...nothing personal, just business...

...Good! He'll get us a 2nd roud pick in the off season! Maybe a third too! Let Huds walk and trade Flip. Sign Hossa.

...I bet Gretzky wishes that Dan O'Halloren was reffing this game and that was Holmstrom that drug his foot into Bryz's stick on that winning goal! Look at it again, Cleary doesn't enter the crease, but interfere's with Bryz's stick on the winning goal... ...O'Halloren, NO GOAL!

...quote of the night! Reporter to Babcock: 'Ozzie has said he like the guys to play a little looser how do you respond to that?' Babcock: 'Well there's an easy way to do that......................................................................." Long pause. "SLAP! Ozzie you are sucking this year!" That's how I read it! on a side note, Marion Hossa MUST be re-signed. He is TOO good to let go! He makes the game look effortless! Sorry Huds and Flip, but I'm signing Hossa...

...at this point Hudler will probably cost more or just as much as Franzen! So, get Franzen signed long term and let Hudler sign somewhere else. If he signs somewhere else for anywhere between 2.6 and 3.9 million, we WILL get a 1st and a 3rd round pick from that team. That there is more valuable than signing Hudler and letting Franzen walk. Hudler will more than likely get that 2.6 million. Get Franzen signed the front loaded way Zetterberg was, let Huds, McCarty, Chelios, Sammy walk and get Hossa signed to a similar Zetterberg contract. Must trade Filpulla in ANY scanario so we can get that $3 million off the books. Filpulla should get us a 2nd round pick. At the very least a 3rd. ...To me Hossa is just too dominant to let get away! The efforless way he scored his goals against St. Louis, especially the shootout goal, you cannot develop that kind of skill. Of course Hudler is also awesome at the shootout, but as I stated above, not signing Fanzen gets us nothing, not signing Hudler gets us (possibly) a 1st and a 3rd round pick in exchange. Nothing personal, just business...

...early to mid 90's. Was traded for one Igor Larionov...

...all good lists! ...without looking up rosters, here are some I DO remember, see if you do too! ...Alain Chevrier ...Miroslav Frycer ...Terry Carkner ...Rick Zombo (you all remeber him!) ...Kevin McLelland (spelling) ...Chris Kostopolis ...Basil & Chris McRae ...Randy McKay ...Dave Barr ...Murray Craven ...I can picture a few more faces, but cannot put the name with it! There was on guy from Dearborn, a tough guy who played a year or so with Probert and Kocur, for the life of me I cannot remember his name! It's easy but it slips me! I come back when I remember it ot just get flustered and look it up, hopefully someone can remeber him before I come back! -edit - Ok, so I had to go and look him up. Jim Cummins! Man, looking over those old 1985-1991 rostors I cannot believe the people that played for us and I forgot about! Torrie Robertson for one! Some guy named Tim Friday, I never even heard of! Classic! The list can go on and on!

...so you want to be considered one of the best d-men in the NHL? Something tells me, Nick Lidstrom wouldn't have this picture on his facebook, or even have a facebook for that matter. I don't even think Sean Avery would do something like this! ...he makes how much per year? His bedroom looks like somethig out of an Ecorse house or River Rouge! Seriously, someone should go back to that Lidstrom thread from last summer (the one with the pics of his house) and find the picture of LIds bedroom and put it up next to this one and come up with funny quips on how NOT to be a Norris contender!

...he also has slammed Bryan Murray recently. I guess if you don't suck his d**k and tell him he is the best defensman in the league, better then that overrated Lidstrom and was the ONLY reason Carolina won the Cup that year, he calls you a bunch of names and pretty much thinks you don't know crap about hockey... ...hey Commodore, you were dead weight in Anaheim, Calgary AND Carolina, Bryan Murray didn't want you back. And my 10 year old could be the #1 defensman in Columbus so don't get too high on yourself. You couldn't be our 6th defensman in Detroit...

...not sure if this matters, but Abdelkader isn't quite a push over. Don't get me wrong, I also believe Downey belongs here, but not only does Abdelkader have more skills than Downey, he also is second in PIMs to Downey this year in GRR. So, Abby probably is gonna bring energy and some big hits, he just lacks the NHL experience of Downey. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing him play (always root for a Michigan kid) along with Lieno. They're some of our future, and with Stuarts injury it allows us to rest some nagging injuries and bring up some kids to test them out. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ericsson sometime this month as well as maybe Ritola or Kindl...

...no big deal Dallas. Law of avrages says Turdco was gonna win at the Joe eventually! The no-goal rally sucked, it took the momentum away from as again (much like last year against Anaheim.) Dallas wins series 3-1, bit they are still fighting for their playoff lives. Detroit is going to the playoffs no matter what. Maybe since they aren't really feeling the heat from Dallas and don't really care where they end up 1st or 2nd seed, take it easy, don't risk injury. Let Dallas think they got our number, much like last season when the play VERY well against us in the regular season then show them who the real ***** is IF they make it to us in the playoffs AGAIN! ...time to cruise into the playoffs... Enjoy this regular season win Dallas, just remember how many times you've beaten us in the playoffs.... Uh..... ZERO? ...on a small sidenote concerning the physical play, I would much rather see Downey, Abdelkader and Helm out there than Kopecky and Maltby TRYING to be physical... ...He Babcock, maybe Kronner is injured (hint hint) put HIM on the LTIR as well and bring up Ericsson...

...I keep waiting to see Bettman giggling behind the grassy knole on that goal (call-off.)

absolute dispickable (sp) call! Especially sice Turdco was hacking Homer the whole time, and definately FLOPPED like Laimbeer!

well, its obvious who the refs have been told to gve the advantage to. Tuern your head when it comes to the Stars infraction unless blantent, do not give Detroit the unfair advantage of being on the power play. Also, throw the first centerman out every chance you get... ...So far, chalk the first period up for the refs and linesmen...

...woa! Honestly I didn't even read your post and came up with that lineup! Our only difference is Conklin and Howard and Hudler being let go! ..I agree with the unproven talent issue, Helm is definately proven. And How proven was Kronwall until last season? Bring up Ericcson, Leino, Helm and Abdelkader. They say Ericcson is ready, Leino has world class experience so Abdelkader will be really the only kid with very little experience. Helm speaks for himself. ...like I said, if trading Filpulla, letting Huds go (and receiving multiple pics in exchange for both) not signing Kopecky, Sammy and Chelios & McCarty means we can keep both Hossa AND Franzen! This is a no brainer... Wow, alredy excited for next season! LOL!