PRStoetzer

hahahahahahaha....oh man my head hurts. Please Penner - LW Shane O'Brien - D Salei - D for Kopocky - RW/C Williams - C Giguere is not coming here. His contract is wayyyy to big and he is no upgrade over Legace. Have you looked at Legace stats for this year? Why on earth would Holland dump Manny's season and go for Iggy? I'm not saying it should happen, but there are reports that Lang is available (TSN today) and there have been numerous reports since before this season that Detroit wants to upgrade their goaltending.

Lang will be involved in any deal in which Detroit obtains a highly-paid player. He's the only one that makes enough money and isn't a critical part of the team. Lang, Osgood, and a pick for Salei and Giguere

TURCO TO SIGN WITH DETROIT THIS SUMMER? THE SAULT STAR: Peter Ruicci reported yesterday Dallas Stars netminder Marty Turco loves the state of Michigan, having played at the University of Michigan where he became the NCAA leader in career victories. Ruicci suggests Turco, an unrestricted free agent this summer, could sign with the Red Wings, as both their current goalies, Chris Osgood and Manny Legace, are also unrestricted free agents this summer. Turco and his family are natives of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, meaning a move to Detroit would put them closer to "The Soo". Spector's Note: My thanks to Chris Dawson. The Stars will likely do whatever they can to retain Turco, who's improved play since early October is a big reason why the Stars have played so well by mid-season. Still, one shouldn't rule out a big bid from a rival club like the Red Wings, especially with the salary cap due to rise next season. http://www.saultstar.com/webapp/sitepages/...rts%20-%20Local

These goalie trade rumors have been going on since late in the summer. Obviously the Wings do not trust Legace and Osgood to get the job done. Are the goalies aware of these rumors? If so, is it helping or hurting their play?

Abdelkader had a goal last night for MSU and has one tonight. The game is on Comcast Local right now.

Thank the CBA giving everyone credit for 82 GP last year for contract purposes, thereby activating a player option on Mowers' contract.

He is leading MSU today with 7 shots.

He sounds like he's doing a good job, winning faceoffs, moving the puck, getting shots off.

Just scored his first collegiate goal against Wayne State!

NHL Spot Who would you take from them? I'd take Adam Hall and David Legwand from Nashville. Edmonton: Ryan Smyth and someone else.

I doubt we could get Hall and Legwand for Datsyuk, but if we could (possibly adding a pick), we'd be all set. A Zetterberg-Legwand-Hall line would be great in my opinion. Although our last Michigan native acquisition didn't quite work out...

Also, we've had plenty of players never play in the minors here. Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Franzen probably won't. I think we're too obsessed with making sure a player develops in the AHL. If Filppula or any other prospect has NHL-caliber speed and strength, then to me, its not going to hurt him to play up here. I wouldn't bring him up to play on the fourth line though, that would be a waste of talent.

WOW, Placing him on the second line Center! Are we jumping the gun a bit here? Remember that this isn't just some kid who's been playing against other kids his age. He's been in the top Finnish league for 3 years. He's played against veterans and some NHLers last year. He only had 10 goals and 20 assists in 55 games last year, but stepped it up in the playoffs and scored 5 goals and 6 assists in 12 playoff games. The Finnish league might not be anywhere close to the NHL, but I think it's a better indication than juniors or college where all the players are roughly the same age. Really, why not try and use a line of Zetterberg-Filppula-Williams? If he sucks, no big deal, just send him back to Grand Rapids. If he's awesome, then it works out and the Red Wings are a better team.

Just forget about Datsyuk and put Filppula in his place. The new Eurotwins: Zetterberg and Filppula. Although maybe that Swedish/Finnish rivalry would be too much to overcome. Try this: Shanahan-Lang-Yzerman Zetterberg-Filppula-Williams Maltby-Draper-Holmstrom Mowers-Franzen-????????

Well...we lack quality wingers at the moment. Thomas would be good to add some scoring punch to the fourth line. Something like Williams-Franzen-Thomas. As long as he doesn't play many minutes, he could be alright. I'd prefer to see a young winger in our system though instead of him.

This doesn't seem to be a bad deal. We get a defensive prospect that could be just as good as Kronwall. Coliacavo is two years younger and two inches taller. Tomas Kaberle is an established, good defensemen who will immediately soldify our already strong defense. Nik Antropov is a tall (6'6"), strong forward who is only six months older than Zetterberg and probably has just as much upside (with more NHL experience). The salaries also work out well. We get rid of Kronwall's $1.0 million salary for Antropov's $1.007 million salary and Kaberle's $2.28 million salary. This is a net addition to our salaries of $2.287 million (Coliacavo would be in the minors), putting the Wings at $33.799 million. This leaves $5.201 million in space. If no further signings are planned, this allows Holland to sign Datsyuk for up to $4.2 million and keep the $1.0 million in wiggle room. On the Leafs side, they give up a good defensive prospect to get a good young defensmen ready for the NHL and replace the salary of a veteran defensemen (Kronwall replaces Kaberle). They save money, bringing their salaries down to $31.2636 million, plenty to sign Zetterberg and a couple of other free agents or make another move. This trade seems to work for both teams and make sense. Perhaps the trade has been completed pending Zetterberg reaching a deal and since Zetterberg hasn't agreed to a deal, it was taken off Sportsnet.ca. I like Zetterberg alot and don't want to see him go, but I trust Ken Holland to make the best deals possible. EDIT: It also explains the lack of an announcement by the Red Wings of Kronwall's signing.

If Florida's GM is a moron, then this trade could happen. The best goalie in the game and a great young defensemen for a choke artist, a proven 29-year old defensemen, and a player that may turn out to be a good offensively or may be a third-liner. Florida doesn't need to replace Bowmeester with Jovanovski, that gets them nowhere. They need more defensemen, not a change in defensemen. Stupid for Florida, great for Vancouver.

Lindros Correction. Bondra, Hamrlik, and Chat My apologies...I screwed up folks. Lindros is a few games short of the same clause that enabled Allison to get his deal, as pointed out by Paul Hunter in today's story in the Toronto Star. I was misinforned, and dead wrong. This being said, the Lindros war is still waging. Columbus is a factor. On to Bondra. He is coming over next week and will likely visit some cities to see if he likes the areas. There is alot of interest according top a source. Teams currently involved Detroit, LA, Atlanta, and the NY Rangers. And the other top free agent defensman left is Roman Hamrlik...He is reportedly closer to a deal, that could be rather substantial. Toronto, Detroit, Vancouver, Calgary and Carolina are currently in discussions for Roman. Anson Carter is doing a physical with the Leafs today and could sign by Friday. I will be holding an Insider Chat at 3pm ET today, and a chat Q & A in the main room at 4pm...go to www.hockeychatter.com to register for chats. Insiders, check your email for password. # posted by Eklund @ 11:54 AM

Also, Eklund said Boston is interested. Why the hell is Boston interested in Belfour? Andrew Raycroft is going to be a star for many, many years to come and no team needs a $4.56 million backup. Heck, the $1.14 million for Legace to backup here is too much.

Hahahaha. No way the Wings can afford $4.56 million. I'd much rather have Osgood for $1.5 million and not have to give up anything.