HenryMalredo

I laugh whenever Balsillie is portrayed as an incredible Canadian patriot who wants more teams in Canada. He's just exploited this patriotic fervor about hockey to get his team in Hamilton. I doubt he cares if Winnipeg or Quebec ever get another team.

Some people are getting a bit to defensive about this. I don't see why its fine to criticize some players, yet everybody seems to freak out if someone even levels a minor criticism at Osgood or suggests that he is not perfect. I don't remember anybody who was critical of Ozzie in this game saying the he was to blame for this loss, that he hasn't played well this series or that he should be pulled for Hasek. Lets just be honest, Ozzie wasn't bad, and he is not to blame for the lose anymore than anyone else, but this was not his best game. He was solid, but he probably should've had that third goal, and he was looking a bit shaky in OT. That doesn't mean he's bad. A player of his caliber isn't going to have an amazing game every night.

Whoever the Wings sign this summer won't be a big name player. But hopefully the success this season will keep people from screaming their heads off when Holland misses out on giving mammoth contracts to second line players.

Crosby is certainly not yet a great captain (maybe he will be, maybe he won't, who knows), but I don't think it could be said that he's a bad captain. I know theres a Crosby backlash since he is overexposed in the hockey media, and that we love to villianize players from opposing teams, but that shouldn't effect an objective view of Crosby as a leader.

He'd be nice for the Wings to have, but he's not really necessary.

Roberts is one of the most agressive and hardest working forwards of all time, but he's been completely overrated the last couple of years.

Eva, remember that those involved in the NHL aren't the most stat-friendly people around. Ozzie has put up great numbers, but he hasn't played lights out great, which is usually what it takes for a goalie to win the Smythe. I'll almost guarantee Zetterberg gets it.

The league has no incentive to listen to fans. Unless a large majority of the fans can unify and put themselves in a position to monetarily hurt the NHL unless they listen to their demands (which will never happen), than there is nothing the fans can do.

I hate to say this, but the honest answer is nothing.

This is 2008 not 1997.

1. Contraction will never happen. Despite what some say, there is no diluted talent pool in the NHL. The talent is the best its ever been. There is no need to get rid of markets, especially since, I assume, the NHL would need to buy out the contracted teams, which would be incredibly costly. 2. Winnipeg is not going to get another NHL team. Just not enough corporate support. (I also don't understand the nostalgia for the Jets, who were a consistently mediocre team). 3. Gary Bettman is not a good commissioner, but he is also, thankfully, not a backwards reactionary. For people who hope for an NHL that accepts itself as a minor niche sport with no interest in actual progress, stop fooling yourselves, its not gonna happen. An NHL that just sticks with Canada and the Northeast US is a pipe dream.

Correct me If I'm wrong, but If I remember correctly, hasn't kolzig rejected moves from D.C. before because he doesn't want to uproot his family, especially his autistic son? If so, I'm guessing that he just retires.

I don't think it's quite selfish for a player to want to go to a team where they have more of an opportunity to succeed. Toronto may be known as a poorly-ran team, but Brunnstrom would get a chance to see some solid minutes, while in Detroit, he would be seeing fourth line minutes or playing with Grand Rapids.

So is every player selfish who chooses one of the 29 other teams over the Red Wings, since they clearly do not want to win the Cup?

Illitch is a succesful businessman. He's not gonna let a top-notch guy go just to improve Yzerman's chances of getting the job.

Its hilarious that when it seemed Brunnstrom was gonna sign with the Wings he was considered a stud player, but now that it looks like he'll sign with the Canucks he's considered a prima donna with a bad attitude who would be a bust anyways.

Thats not hard to do. The Wings have had a long history of crappy goaltenders.

Why would he not get more than that? Have NHL GMs suddenly started being financially prudent? Rolston puts up a good amount of points on a defensive team. He could easily get a hefty pacycheck from another team.

There seems to be a common misconception that every player wants to take a paycut to play for the Wings.

McCarty hasn't been a consistent point-producer for years. I'd be very suprised to see much offense out of McCarty.

Thats a pretty good reason. And honestly, he is old, washed up, and doesn't put up points. I think that is pretty obvious since he is 38 and he hasn't put up that many points. Its not something that can really be argued. Maybe he could've of put it back toghether on the Wings, maybe not, but any objective observer would say that he's close to done unless he can start putting up some points.

I'm no Bettman fan, but this reactionary philosophy would result in the league being more backwards than it already is.

Easy, the situation changed. Management felt that they did not need another defenseman over the offseason, but after looking at how the Red Wings have performed this season, they felt it was important to add a defenseman.

I wouldn't of minded the Wings getting a guy like Gratton, but it would've been more important for them to get a second liner, then another 4th liner, no matter how gritty they are. Lapointe has almost nothing left in the tank, and Simon should join McCarty in the AHL. A small increase toughness along with a decrease in skill and responsible defensive play is not worth it.

The Wings have enough 4th liners as it is.