LeftWinger

...then after that, we'll trade Malone, Malkin and lose out on re-siging Hossa. Man our one trip to the finals was nice! LOL! That's if like, we did what Pit is doing....

...if Nashville signs Weber for $4.5 million, say goodbye to Stuart...

...ok, show me a Crosby goal that wasn't pretty much a slam dunk or a redirect. If you show me one that involves superstar creativy, then I'll show you oceanfront porperty in Nebraska! ...Fillpula's game 2 goal was better than ANY of Crosby's goals the ENTIRE PLAYOFF! ...the redirect goal against Philly was about the best he had all playoff, and that doesn't compare to the indiviual efforts by Franzen, Filpulla and Zetterberg on more than one occasion...

...I am not a proponent of bringing Naslund here, but put him on a line with Datsyuk or Zetterberg and he'll get over 60 points... ...How many people wanted Dan Cleary? Exactly! Put him on a line with D or Z and oilla, career highs in goals and points and new million dollar contract! ...You could put shleprock on a line with D or Z and he'll get 50-60 easily! Hell Homer got 40 points in only 59 games! Franzen got 38 points, most of which came when Homer was injured and he was playing with Z or D... ...if Sundin and Rolston want mad cash, and Naslund will sign for 1 year cheap, why not? The pros outweigh the cons... ...it's not like we're talking about signing Eric Lindros here... ...then there's always Malone, but he may score a bigger payday than Holland would want to offer...

...what are you reading? I didn't say Rolston a 1 year deal. I said Stuart and Sundin... ...if Stuart is worried about family and doesn't want a long term contract here, then sign for 1 year at 4.5 milllion and then take two (possibly) Stanley Cups home with you to LA in 2009! If not, then walk. But he is not gonna win anything else in LA or Anaheim, so why not take a one year deal, for tons of cash, then go home to a 3-4 year retirement deal? If he wins another Cup here, it's that much more cash he'll get from LA... ...Sundin, 1 year deal period... ...Rolston a 3-4 year deal (hopefully at a hometown discount) worth about 3.5 million. Rafi was a teammate in Jersey and he should be ble to coax Brian to come home to win another Cup or two or three! ...that'll leave you plenty of money to re-sign Zetterberg forever and Franzen to a 5 year deal in 2009! ...and if noone wants a one year deal, oh well! Go elsewhere and win nothing, ala Schneider and Bertuzzi! Stuart was good, but he is replaceable. So we struggle a little at the #4 spot, but eventually things will gell. We were #1 before Stuart and it's not like he had Conn Smythe numbers in the playoffs. If he wants 3-4 years, then bye bye! Unless it's for LESS than he made last year...

...Crosby is not the best period. No longer are we in 1980's when you had 2 or 3 superstars and the rest of the league. The league is too good to judge the best, anyone choosing Crosby over Zetterberg or Lidstrom for that matter is watching Vs./NBC/CBC/TSN too much! They are hyping him up because he is North American and very marketable in Canada and The States. But lets look at his goals in the finals, how many of them were superstar creative goals? Most of them were stnading next to the net, depositing a rebound in to the open cage, ala Dino. Zetterberg is more creative, more defensive minded and the more complete player. If he were North American, he'd be on top of all those lists... ...in the very near future, especially with Malkin going to a stinkhole in LA, Zetterberg will be up for a Hart and a Selke at the same time, no doubt eventually winning both! When Crosby is up for a Selke, I'll eat dirty shorts on a hot summer day! ...Pit is trading away their best player, and his name is Evgeni Malkin...

I'm telling you we can have both Rolston and Sundin, plus retain Stuart! 1 year deals for Stuart and Sundin, 3 year deal for Rolston (if he takes a hometown discount, I think Rafi may be able to convince him!)

...STUPID! We don't need another superstar, and whos to say he would fit in here? Sometimes TOO many superstars aren't very good, ask the Rangers. I know it worked out in 2002, but even without Hull and Robitaille, the Wings were good enough to win the Cup, in my opinion... ...Why get rid of Filpulla when he has been nothing but unexpected surprise after unexpected surprise? Plus he'll cost tons less in salary, even AFTER he is re-signed this season. These guys played so good together, why destroy the chemistry? What are we the Penguins? They didn't do it in 1997-98 and they repeated, so why would they do it now? I even think Hudler should stay around a while. And that is pretty big coming from me! The future is now and the future is bright, not only do we have a chance to repeat, but with the crop of kids coming up, we have a chance to compete for at least the next 5-8 years! No Trades! If you have to dump Kopecky, do it for a draft pick, same with Meech or Quincey...

WOW! ...it's obvious who the Pens are blaming for their Finals demise. Malone and Malkin. Problem is, they were very instrumental in getting them to the finals, I guess the managment doesn't believe in team chemistry. Couldn't it be that Detroit was just that much better than you? Of course not, you are the Penguins! Why not fire Therrian? ...Sorry pens fans, hope you enjoyed your one trip to the Finals. Sounds like Philly all over to me! Sorry Cindy, no championship for you!

...listen, I've been one of the biggest Holland bashers on here, and if I can turn the coin over, then anyone can. IF Stuart walks, if he stays, doesn't matter, Holland will find the right people to do the job. About half of us were upset when Scneider walked and even when Holland signed Rafalski some of us were saying how he wasn't as good. How did that work out? Heck, for most for most of the year Lids and Rafi were #1 and 2 in defensive scoring. If Rafi has another season like the last, he just may challenge Lidstrom for a Norris. How good does Holland look. It's not the star you sign, it's the type of player (at least in Detroit.) We have our stars, we have a great goaltender (we'll see if he can keep that up next year) what do we need? We need someone who will compliment our team. Rolston or Sundin, which one would. Well Rolston has won a Cup, he has the experience and veteren leadership and is still pretty young. Sundin is Swedish, he knows these guys preety good. There's no doubt that he would fit in the system with the rest of his National Team. ...the following sounds like a good plan to me. Probably won't happen but unlike past years, I will not bash Holland: ...you want to save as much money as possible for Zetterberg/Franzen, but, you also would like to ice a similar team to the one that played so well together as a unit and increase your chances of repeating. Here are some options. #1 Brad Stuart wants to stay, but not sure about a long term contract because of his family, that's fine, even for me Family comes first, so offer him a 1 year deal worth $4 to $4.5 million to stay on a try to repeat. If it works, then Stuart can go home with two Stanley Cups under his belt and play out his carrer in LA. If it doesn't work, then at least you don't have Stuart long term and you still have all your cap money for Zetterberg in '09. #2. Mats Sundin wants a Cup, badly! He wants to go somewhere he has the best chance, not many better chances than here, plus he would get 2nd line icetime, plus powerplay and maybe even 1st line with Zetterberg and Holmstrom. Offer him a 1 year deal at 6-7 million to come in and get his Cup, if it does't work out than he returns to Toronto or stays on here (for a lot less money) to try again. If it does work out (ala Dallas Drake) then he can retire and go back to Toronto to live out his days. Still plenty of money for Zetterberg. #3 Sign Rolston to a 3 year deal worth about 3-3.5 million. Why 3 years? He's a hometown guy, may take discount to come here for longer years and what's better than winning a championship while playing for your childhood team? Plus he is still young enough to keep around for a few years and he'll probably stay on after the 3 year contract to finish his career. Much like Rafalski will more than likely do. (both at a discount) ...sure this would happen in a perfect world, but hey I did say it was a plan, not an action set in stone... ...Drake, Lilja and McCarty would have to go. Kopecky and Downey would split the 13th role and Chelios/Quincy/Meech can split the 7th defensman role. Maybe Chelios just steps in as Asst. Coach... 1. Sundin Zetterberg Holmstrom 2. Rolston Datsyuk Franzen 3. Cleary Filpulla Hudler 4. Sammy Draper Helm 13. Kopecky/Downey/Maltby 1. Lidstrom Rafalski 2. Kronwall Stuart 3. Ericsson Lebda 7. Chelios/Quincey/Meech ...or if you wanted to keep Lilja, you could trade Quincey or Meech for some draft picks. Same with Kopecky if you wanted to give Abdelkader a spot, but I think he will tear up GRR this season, so let him get the playing time down there instead of riding the pine here... ...now if the Wings go out and sign a goaler, like Kolzig, then you would have Osgood and Kolzig wth Howard seeing some games here and there. He needs to play though, so either keep him in GRR again to keep getting experience of leave Kolzig alone and let Howard and Osgood play half and half.... ...ok, sorry for the long post, but salary cap wise, that scenario should work and we gain BOTH Rolston and Sundin. As well as retaining Stuart... ...interesting times for the Wings, either way, they get better! ...and if you cannot retain Stuart or sign Sundin or Rolston. You always have Quincey/Abdelkader/Meech etc... oh, and yo can just bring Fedorov back home for a year to finish his career... Pretty good back-up plans if you ask me...

...this is all stupid. The best! What makes you the best? Your regular season play or the amount of Championships you've won? Before Yzerman won in 1997, he was considered outside of Detroit and also ran. He could never get over that hump, he was always talked about as good, but never in the same sentences with Gretzky or Lemeiux. He was almost traded one year (1994.) The NHL put out a list of the top 50 players back in 1994 and Yzerman was NOT on that list. Once sports writer even said if the list were a top 51, Yzerman would be there. Now, he's a three time champion, he is gonna be a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee, he now considered (in many markets outside of Detroit) as in the top 10 of all time players. All because he won 3 Championships... ....Eric Lndros (Hart Trophy winner) lead the league in goals and point on more than one occassion. During the mid 90's he was considerated 'The Next One" the best in the league. How many Championships? 5-10 years from now, if there is a top 50 list put out, highly doubtful Lindros woudl included on that list. Now, if he would have lived up to his potential (and stayed away from teammates wives) and won a Championship or two BEFORE he started his concussion circus, he would still be considered one of the best... ...Cindy Crosby, all I have to say is he better win a Championship berore too long, because just like Yzerman, he's gonna start hearing the talk about how he cannot win the big prize! Then it'll get in his head and then what? I wish him luck, he, just like Yzerman early on, is at the top of the NHL points nearly every year, but until he makes himself a more complete player, will not win a Championship... ...if you're looking at current players regular season and playoffs combined. For my money Lidstrom, Zetterberg and Datryuk are ALL ranked above Crosby. If you ask him personally, he would probably answer he rather have won the Cup than to be near the top of the scoring list... (at I least I hope he would)

uh.... I cannot figure out if you are trying to be as sarcastic as Crymson was... I hope so...

uh...did I say anything about Games Played? or Tie Break? So, what you're saying is, Zetterberg lead the playoffs in scoring? Right? I thought so. Which was my point, the user said Crosby lead the playoffs, I simply pointed out that the NHL thinks differently. Crosby..............OUT!

...Jimmy Howard very well could have the Best Player Available at that point and beyond in 2003. Look through the draft at all the players drafted AFTER Howard. The only one that has a name I know of is Lee Stepniak and that is because he plays for the Blues, if he played of New Jersery or Carolina, I probably would've never heard of him! Although you have a good arguement, the Best Player Available is still the most viaable option, especially since the Wings future is so bright, they really have no HUGE holes to fill! If they snag a Brian Rolston or a Ryan Malone come July 1, they will not need any significant upgrades in a long time! ...the players waiting to come up are tremendous! All positions are taken care of! So best player available seems like the most viable option...

...or he could be the next Eric Lindros, too much weight on his shoulders. As long as he stays away from Rod Brind'Amour's wife! LOL! (inside joke)

Fixed it for you! ...he was tied with Zetterberg, who, by the way, NHL.COM lists AHEAD of Crosby in the stats section... ...I guess you win the Cup, you win the Conn Smythe you get the tied break! LOL! ...so, officially, per the NHL, Crosby was #2 BEHIND Zetterberg...

...even though I don't agree with this statement as much as I used to, I can relate with where you're coming from... ...wouldn't it be nice to score (no pun intended) a player like a Dustin Penner or a Ryan Getzlaf. Somebody with a huge body and a scoring touch. One day we might be able to, but that'll probably mean we didn't make the playoffs the year before and that is not something I want to think about!!!!!! ...speaking of Penner, I cannot seem to find a draft spot for him, was he drafted or signed as a by Anaheim? ...another side not, Nashville drafted both Ryan Suter and Shea Weber in the same draft year! Great scouting there! (of course both went BEFORE the Wings first pick that year, which was near the end of the 2nd round, they took Howard.) ...ok, back to the original topic! ...Unless it's somebody talented and huge enough to make the team this season and have an impact, I think it'll be more of the same for Holland. Hey, can't question him right about now can ya?

...ya, I'm pretty much done slamming Holland and his Scouts. Hard to believe, eh? I will still cringe everytime he says we need to get bigger and grittier, but something tells me he won't say that this year! LOL! ...whomever gets draft by the Wings, we all know it's gonna be a 3-5 year process before the weed out the busts and bring up the best! Of course, if they happen to find another Datryuk or Zetterberg, I wouldn't mind seeing a Calder Trophy in Detroit next year! Even though the NHL writers will probably slight us again! (READ: Yzerman, Fedorov, Zetterberg) Yeah, I'm bitter about all three! Oh, well, I think we all know who had the more stellar careers (even though Barasso and Belfour won cups, just not as many!)

...just a question. If somehow the Wings ended up with the first overall pick (via whatever, this is just a what if?) do you think they would draft Stamkos, do they actually need a superstar (projected) like that considering they have 3 or 4 already? What kind of paydirt (offers) would come via a trade for Stamkos? Wow! ...seen a mock draft today showing the Wings taking a kid named Erik Karlsson, a 5'11" 165 lb. (kind scrawny) Defensman from Sweden, what are your thougts on that pick?

...tell your friend that Golf is a HOBBY and a ****** hobby at that! The ONLY reason Tiger Woods' wife has anything to do with golf, is just that, she's his wife! And just because he has a SEMI-hot (porn *****) wife doesn't mean golf has better female fans! s***, the only reason she's his wife is because he's loaded, guarantee he's broke, she's gone... ....suck it Tiger... ...oh when will justice prevail?

...congrats to Igor! Now, can someone offer him the Associate Coaching job here in Detroit already?

...0, Nill, Nada, ZERO, ZILCH, NOT ONE Stanley Cup Championship, and not ONE Finals appearance AFTER the learning experience he was given in 1997... ...he got better alright, better aquainted with NOT winning. All I am saying is just because Crsoby and Malkin pretty much led the league during the regular season, doesn't mean tey are gonna improve leaps and ounds more than Hudler and Filpulla. Biggest differnce is Hudler and Filpulla don't really need to improve, they already have what Crosby or Malkin may NEVER get, and Stanley Cup. And both Hudler and Filpulla were huge parts of the Championship, they weren't along for the ride... ...the guys post that stated that Crosby and Malkin were going to improve more than Hudler and Filpulla is an argument that holds no water. There is no guarantee that Crosby and Malkin will improve more than our guys, based on what? The fact that they lost? That's no guarntee that they will learn anything, JUST LIKE Eric Lindros learned nothing from his embarrassing no-show in the finals... ...57 points in 53 games, whoop-dee-doo! Where was he in 1997 when his players needed him? He was being man-handled by Lidstrom/Murphy and Konstantinov... ...where was Malkin in 2008 when his team needed him? 1 goal, 2 assts.

...here is what the Pens fans are ALL missing. In order to learn from losing and grow as a unit, you are not suppossed to get rid of important cogs in the machinery. Sure, Crosby will mature more, Malkin will too. Fluery looked average at times and NEEDS to improve, he priobably will as well. Throw all the money you want at Hossa, he's gonna put in his points again as well (maybe, he's usually a playoff no-show, but as most players are in contracts years, as was he.) Here lies the problem, Ryan Malone. The Pens are taking away 9 goals and 7 assists along with probably being the closet thing to a power forward you had. Whether or not he showed up in the finals (heck, most of your team not named Hossa or Crosby, didn't show up) He was still a very important part to your regular season success and your playoff success. You learn to lose as a group. You gain the experience together, you grow together. By just keeping your team the same and GIVING AWAY players, you are headed for a letdown. When the Wings lost in 95 and 96, they traded away two players who really didn't do too much in the playoffs (Primeau especially) in order to BETTER their team. They didn't trade away one of their leading scorers in the playoffs. Maybe I am wrong, but I think Pitt is gonna miss Ryan Malone more than they think. Just ask Burke about NOT re-signing Penner... ...and oh, about the YOUNG Pens get leaps and bounds better than our YOUNG Wings. Next year, Datsyuk and Zetterberg will be much better as well. Our defense gets younger and bigger with Ericcson comng in, and if they lose McCarty or Downey or Kopecky and gain Rolston? How much better did the Wings get? You arguement holds no water when you say the likes Crosby and Malkin will improve more than Hudler and Filpulla. Crosby and Malkin already lead theleague in scoring, how much improvement do they need? Hudler and Filpulla have no where to go but up! Face it, some players just weren't cut out to be playoff players, just ask Eric Lindros...

...and I suppose the 3 that McCarty is holding up means that he will: 1. be bought out of his contract 2. go on a drunkin drug binge and 3. be bankrupt by 2006... ...please, you'll have a better time figuring out who was really behind 9/11...

I'll give you 41 plus 1 reasons why Detroit will not sign Cujo and why he won't come back for his last shot at the Cup. ...he''ll have to play at least 41 games in the regular season (which he won't if Howard is play 20, whats that leave our REAL #1, 21 games to play, no... ...or he'd have to play at least 1 game in the finals or the above to get his name on the Cup, and unless there is a total FUBAR SNAFU by Osgood this coming season, Cujo wouldn't see either of those, so it would be pointless for him to sign here for one last try at the Cup, because he wouldn't be the starter...