HenryMalredo

Rafalski signs with Wings

Yeah, its not like the Red Wings had a defenceman that was considered one of the dirtiest players in the league or a forward who smahed a guys neck................... Honestly, I'm no fan of Pronger and I wish the Wings had won, but there are other teams in the league besides the Wings that are allowed to win the Cup. The Wings got beaten fair and square by the Ducks, and the Ducks will still be one of the top teams in the league next year.

I'm no fan of bettman, but these cup wins by non-traditional markets at least increase the fanbase, if only by a little bit. Had things happened the opposite way and ottawa, edmonton, and calgary won the cup the last three years, it would do nothing for the NHL. I do not quite understand the hostility towards the NHL in non-traditional markets. Its not quite the fault of these markets that they aren't hockey hotbeds, but the fault of bettman who has done little to promote these teams. The NHL has successfully expanded to newer markets before, and so have many other sports organizations. The NHL needs to give these markets some time and promote them better.

I like the way Bertuzzi played in the playoffs, but I don't think he's consistant enough to be the force he briefly was in Vancouver. I do believe he can still add something to the Wings, and it would be worth it to bring him back at a discount.

Fiesty, a good team player, can chip in some goals, a reasonable contract, a hot girlfriend, and perhaps the only player left in the game with some personality. I'd take him back in a second.

Resigning Datsyuk before the playoffs is the best move the Wings could make. If the Wings resign him and he doesn't produce, than the Wings could ship him out if they feel that is the best move to make. If the Wings let him hit free agency, then they'll be forced to get into a bidding war if they want to retain him, even if he does have a poor playoffs.

They do have that. It's called training camp.

Forsberg wasn't brought in to score some goals at the end of the regular season. He's a beast in the playoffs and as long as he's healthy by then, thats all that matters.

I seriously expected 20 posts of that type already.

My roomate is a huge Blues fan. He went nuts after the Wings got Bertuzzi and went on a huge rant about how much he hates the Wings.

Jagr is the Rangers. I doubt they'll move him unless they plan on rebuilding.............again.

Agreed. He's played terrible, but he's certainly not useless. He's young and has shown some flashes of offensive talent. He could probably fetch a draft pick, maybe another roleplayer.

I gotta agree. Honestly, this wasn't that bad of a trade for Nashville. Trading a blue chip defenseman and a first rounder hurts, but Upshall's a bust and a third rounder isn't too bad. Honestly, i thought the Flyers were gonna manage to get more for a player of Forsberg's caliber.

I'd be cool with the Wings picking up Bertuzzi, but not for a first-rounder and a top prospect. Bertuzzi had an amazing season several years ago, but ever since the Moore incident, he's looked like he's on the downswing. I'd take him for a mid-range pick and Williams, perhaps one of our less heralded prospects if necessary.

There's a big difference between being remorseful and reaching a settlement. Bertuzzi showed that he is remorseful for the incident, he doesn't have to reach a settlement to that. Legal matters are very complicated and have very little to do with any moral or immoral behavior by Bertuzzi.

How's Datsyuk playoff cancer? He hasn't put up the numbers in the playoffs, but he's no floater and has always had a good attitude.

I don't see why you seem to believe Latendresse is the secound coming of Cam Neely or somethinh, but believe Abdelkader is a long-shot. I've seen Abdelkader play many times. He always puts in 100% of his effort and he can put the puck in the net. I don't think he'll be an offensive force with the Wings, but he'll be a very solid player for them.

Latendresse will be a solid physical forward who can pop in some goals, but his skating isn't good enough for him to ever become a true power-forward.

1. Doan hasn't played enough in the playoffs to show he can deliver. 2. Agreed 3. Thats laughable. Shane Doan's career high in points is only 68.

I concur. I mean theres just so many excellent players under the age of 30 that can score around 35 goals and play a tough, physical game that are currently free agents or are on the trade block.

Daze is done. he just reinjured his back skating a few weeks ago.

Thank god for MSU hockey. Just bought my tickets today.

There is absolutely no way San Jose is going to trade Marleau.

I never said that we had to trade Lang. We should only trade him if the deal is good. And if Souray is the best player we could get for Lang, we shouldn't trade him then. I know you just care about the toughness facto and don't look at a tough player's weaknesses, but Souray takes bad penalties, is easily beaten by opposing forwards, and is quite injury prone.

I'm no fan of trading away players just for the heck of it so i don't think the Wings should trade Lang unless they get a good return or the team really needs the cap space. An affordable scoring forward is one of the Wings biggest needs, so I'd be cool with trading Lang for a scoring winger. A trade involving a goalie would also be good as long as the Wings don't end up overpaying. If the Wings have Datsyuk resigned by next winter It would be a good idea to dump his salary for picks/prospects if the Wings don't seem to be able to make a good playoff run, or if the Wings are going to be a playoff team, trade him if the deal is really good and adresses a need. On the matter of resigning him, if we have Datsyuk signed, let him go, but if negotiations are going poorly, resign Lang to a lower contract (before free angency starts though).