HenryMalredo

Who dealt at the deadline would've made the Wings significantly better and able to "win it now" as you say? Jeff Carter was the ONLY top six forward dealt leading up to the trade deadline. Yeah, it might of been nice if the Wings could've added some more forward depth, but there the Wings would've had to overpay for marginal players. Did you really want to see the Wings trade an elite prospect so the Wings would've beat Nashville to have Paul Gausted playing in the bottom six for a few months? The Wings improved their defense with Quincey and other teams made depth improvements too, but not a single contender made deal thats could make them significantly better, that would counteract running into a hot team, a lucky team, or a team that is just plain playing better.

Or he could have signed with a team in the offseason or not signed in the KHL and been able to completely control his destination.

The NMC doesn't take effect until after he clears waivers. You can't use an NMC to circumvent league rules.

If the problem is with the rule, there's no point in everybody villifying the Islanders for daring to legally pick up a player the Red Wings wanted on waivers. The rule could possibly use some adjustments, but it is the rule and it is there for a good reason.

Wow, there a lot of people who do not understand that is is perfectly within the rules to pick up a player on waivers.

At this point in his career, he really can't afford to not report. If he was in his prime or a hot-shot up-and-comer, he could. He already priced himself out of the market last summer and he's going to have to take even less this summer if all he has on his resume in the past season is a short, iffy stint in the KHL. He can get some good playing time with the Islanders and get himself moved near the deadline or get a decent contract as a FA

That would be almost worse for his career then taking a suspension. A 35 year old goalie who has already sat out for a bit after a short time in the KHL, he gets in the NHL and then plays like crap. He might as well put the nail in the coffin.

It's not significant. The rules don't change because of the career status of the player and they don't change because people are choosing to look at this through red and white colored glasses. The Islanders have the leverage, Nabokov is, by rules, a New York Islander. He plays or he is suspended and at this stage of his career, a suspension would be a career killer. He would be an idiot not to report.

Agreed. Nabokov will only be there for a few months, less if something can be worked out at the tradeline. And he should be able to get a lot of starts from the Islanders and get a better contract next year. Honestly, I think Meehan and Nabokov are just bluffing to see if Snow is willing to work something out with Detroit or another team. Nabokov will report in the end if nothing changes

It's not gonna happen if the Islanders aren't going to trade/waive him, he's going to play instead of risking suspension or having this "tolling" thing done.

Why does that matter, the rules are the rules, whether the team is good or bad.

It's in the rules that it was very likely that Nabokov could be claimed by a team and he was. The New York Islanders did not dick around the Wings or Nabokov. They followed the rules. And let's be honest, if a player pulled this on the Wings, this board would be raking him over the coals.

Ilari Filppula been playing well in GR, but if the Wings want to give somebody on farm some useful time on the big club, they'll call up on of their better prospects. Ilari Filppula not exactly a spring chicken in his first year in the AHL....I really don't see him as someone with a future in Detroit.

I'm guessing Lemaire has replaced Larry Robinson as the guy who hangs around, waiting for Lou to replace a coach.

I've got to agree. Zetterberg has had better goal scoring seasons than Datsyuk and has a Conn Smythe, but Datsyuk has been a better point producer and has three Selkes. Both Datsyuk and Zetterberg will most likely have less total points then their contemporaries when it comes down to the HHOF, but Datsyuk's Selke's will help close the gap.

If you're looking at numbers, comparing Abel to other players with retired numbers is like comparing apples to oranges. Abel played in an earlier time, before big time scorers. He's famous for centering the production line, but he was an old vet centering youngsters like Lindsay and Howe. For his day and age, he was a top player.

Red Kelly's number has never been retired, despite the fact that he was the best defenseman in Red Wings history until Nick Lidstrom came along.

I'm not going to blame Lilja or call him greedy. He and his agent misjudged the market and how his injuries would effect his worth. As far as I know, Lilja's been cleared to play so he sees himself as healthy. He knows he's a decent physical defenseman who could probably play in the top four on another team, but his injury has hurt his value.

Wasn't a huge fan of this deal, but It bothers me that the league is invalidating this deal by a subjective standard and has not made clear what they see this standard as. Of course the deal violates the so-called "spirit" of the cap, but I don't see how you could say it does so anymore than any of the other deals. If the NHL has a problem with these deals, it should wait for the next cba.

Maybe this thread should be moved to rumors. Everybody's freaking out due to news from a source that is not really reputable.

Agreed. Having your jersey retired is a completely seperate honor from being inducted into the HHOF, it's more about the importance of the player to the franchise, the their stats. Some teams with long histories such as the Wings and Canadians have can afford to be picky, but for many teams, players like Trevor Linden, Ken Daneyko and Glen Wesley meant as much to their respective teams as the Wings HHOFers have meant to Detroit.

Sorry for the typo.

While I've always been a fan of Mike Modano, he doesn't add anything to the team that they need. His leadership and intangibles are great, but on a team like the Wings, it's not something worth paying for. The Wings are set with offense with Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Hudler, Bertuzzi, Holmstrom, Hudler, and Fillipula, with Cleary also hopefully being able to chip in, so no need for Modano there. Modano's a decent defensive player, but the Wings have an aging vet in Draper, two kids who need playing time in Helm and Abdelkader, along with young vets Eaves and Miller, with Ritola seeing some time too. Sure Ritola and/or Miller could get dropped to make room for Modano, but Ritola's still young and Miller, while he doesn't have too much potential, is young enough to be an affordable checker for a few years. Also note that Modano has had a lesser role in Dallas the last few years and would have to take an even less significant role in Detroit, something that would probably make him unhappy with the Wings.

Pass on Moreau. Edmonton fans are popping champagne now that he's gone due to all his injuries and poor play.