Barrie

Ah the Leafs won't trade Sundin. There's to many people that have a say in Toronto's Ownership. Probably what will happen is half of the ownership will want to keep him, and the other half will want to trade him, so they'll keep him to try and make a run at the 8th spot. I wouldn't be surprised if the Leafs try adding talent that can help them finish 8th instead of trading away and building for the future. It happens every year in Toronto, because their season ticket holders are happy with trying to slip in the playoffs and so does half the ownership, so I don't think anything will change.

Oh man, more Bowman to Toronto rumors. I wish when the Toronto media talks about rebuilding and making changes with the Leafs, they would leave Red Wings employees out of it. Develano even commented about this and said. "the Leafs are dreaming in technicolor" if they think they're getting guys from the Red Wings to rebuild their club. If the Leafs want Bowman, I don't understand why. Sure it's Scotty Bowman, but he's in his 70's. When talking about a 10 year rebuilding program, hiring a guy who's in his 70's is to old. Bring in someone in their 50's who can see this thing from start to finish. Let Scotty be a Red Wings consultant and spend time with his wife an kids, enough already! Leave him out of it!

I'm starting to wonder, in the NHL and NBA (16 teams make the playoffs), if overall it's hurts attendance/interest in markets were the teams are consistantly good. When more than half the teams make the playoffs, it makes the regular season pointless. I don't think you can blame fans for being bored in the regular season, especially in a city like Detroit where the Wings and Pistons have their playoff spot wrapped up in November. Sure we're smoking in January, but it's April-June that means something. I'm still a big fan of how the MLB and NFL set up their playoffs. It's more of a struggle, and creates for a more interesting Regular Season when only 8 or 12 teams make the playoffs. The Regular Season actually means something in MLB and NFL. I know more teams lose out on playoff revenue that way, but with Salary Caps in NHL and NBA, teams are still really close and only points apart. There still will be a lot of teams battling for playoff spots late in the season if they cut back a few playoff teams. It's the mid-level teams that seems to create the most drama in the NHL and NBA due to 16 teams making it in the playoffs. To me sometimes it seems the Leagues caiter to them rather than the consistantly good teams. In MLB and NFL, the good teams are the focal point, and the League caiters to them. Maybe that's one of the reasons why NHL and NBA national tv numbers are bad, and MLB and NFL are good?

Well there's nothing wrong seeing if Mac can't still get 'er done. It won't be any financial risk at all to the team if he can make it back. We'd probably only have to pay him the League Minimum for a month, and some bonuses in the playoffs. Holland, Jimmy D, Bowman, Stevie, and Mr. Illitch know what they are doing. If McCarty can help the team, he'll be here, if not, he won't.

I was at last night's game vs. Dallas, the place was jammed. And as mentioned, the Box Score on NHL.com said attendance was 20,066 (a sell out).

I was at the the game. Out of the 8 times I've been to The Joe, it was probably the best time I had. The 3rd period was a lot of fun. The crowd was really into it. We were all singing, doing the "TUR-CO.... TUR-CO.... TUR-CO" chant, along with "Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie", and fans in the Upper Bowl got the waive going. They also did this thing on the JumboTron where they showed two Stars fans in their jerseys. Obviously we all started boooing, then quickly they switched to some Wings fans in their gear and we all cheered. It went back and forth about 5 times. It almost felt like a Tiger Stadium crowd. I wonder if the loss of some of the long time season ticket holders has brought out more of the hard core roudy fans. I've enjoyed everytime I've been to a Wings game, but last night had a different feel to it.

All I gotta say is, Stupid Discussion!

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20..._wednesday.html Zetterberg says he ready to go Wednesday. Holmstrom and Maltby practiced but still aren't ready yet.

Yea I've heard this argument too, and I've never bought into it. Detroit is a very easy city to get around in. The Freeways from downtown to the burbs and back is outstanding and quick. Also downtown Detroit is very easy to get to and from when coming from Canada. Having Sports Arenas/Stadiums downtown Detroit doesn't have a negative effect on attendance. That's why the Tigers, Lions, and Wings are all downtown, and as you mentioned, there's rumors the Pistons may go back downtown as well.

I think ben means 2008. I'm sooo looking forward to Boston and Detroit going after the AL Championship this year!

Yup, that's the biggest reason, fans need a connection with the players. For the time being, some of the connection has been lost with the Wings and their fans. It'll comeback, but it'll take some time, everything works in cycles. Currently Detroit fans have a better connection with guys like Billups, Hamilton, Wallace, Prince, Ordonez, Verlander, Granderson, Bonderman, etc., then most of the current Red Wings. I too am one of those guys, when I go to a game, I still wear a Yzerman/Shanahan/McCarty jersey. Out of the current players, the only ones I would get on a jersey would be Chelios, Maltby, Draper, or Holmstrom (the guys who won Cups). The only non-Cup winner I would consider is Cleary, but he's behind the other four I mentioned. I don't think that's a bad thing, it's mostly just the sign of the times. Due to the Salary Cap, our favorite players retiring, and time moving on, it's reality.

It's never a bad thing to be thinking ahead.

What about Yzerman? Look at all the injuries he had and the games he missed. I gotta argee with almost everyone else here, Zetterberg's the future captain.

I still think the biggest reason for the lack of sell outs is no Yzerman, Shanahan, and McCarty.

What about Brad Marsh?

As long as he can keep up with the young guys, I'd love to have Cheli around.

Zetterberg should and will be the highest paid player on the team when he re-signs. Asking him to take a big home team discount would be insulting. I'm all for locking up Filppula, Huds, Cleary, etc. long term, but it's probably not a must to do it ASAP.

Yea Cox is a Leafs fan. He writes for one of the Toronto papers and makes apprearances on the FAN590.

I have a NHL Preview for the 2000-01 season. They pretty much were writting off the Wings after their second straight loss to Colorado in the 2nd round of the playoffs, saying the dynasty is over, they're getting to old, they're going down hill, etc., typical stuff we've heard every year. 7 years later, we're still overall one of, if not, the best team in the League.

Ouch, how many people did Rhode Island lose? They don't have many to begin with.

I've noticed that too. Attendance is down around the League. I've read articles about Dallas, Columbus, and Colorado (as you mentioned) having a drop off of ticket sales. Along with Detroit, those are some important Markets in the USA. With what's going on: Salary cap, bad rule changes, a lot of top guys in bad markets, etc. I don't blame fans for staying away.

Why don't you just buy a blank Wings jersey, and just get Markov done? That's what I did with my Yzerman, Shanahan, and McCarty ones.

That's what the deadline is for.

I stopped running because it was hurting my knees and back.

I second that!