Barrie

I agree, we have more than enough forwards. Also I think people need to stop worrying and being upset all the big named Free Agents signed with small market teams, it's 2 months until opening night! Watch the Tigers while you're waiting for the Wings to start up, they had a 5 run bottom of the 10th today to win 10-8, after being down 8-5.

No surprise, but the Leafs Alumni doesn't compare to the Wings. They should forget the Leafs and just split the Wings into 2 teams and play the game that way

I think for his cap hit Franzen's fine. Looking at his numbers, last year he played the most games in a season in his career, scored the 2nd most amount of goals, tied his career high in assists, and had his highest +/-. Like people have already mentioned, wingers are streaky. When Franzen started in 2005-06, the Wings weren't expecting him to be much more than a bottom 6 player. I think he's exceeded expectations. Also, I don't see to many people complaining about the drop in goal production by Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Franzen's stayed consistant, while Z and Dats have gone down point wise.

I can honestly say, I really don't care if there's another work stoppage. Bettman's got me so pissed off, whatever gets him fired, if it means missing another complete season, I'm fine with it. Agreed, this guy has way to much control, it's time to get someone in there who doesn't lie to us 95% of the time. The guy's a complete dictator, and he does business in North America, how is that ok?!

Funny how people look at things, I think the depth of our forwards is strong, and it's the defense that's weak. However I think that means more ice time for Smith, which could be a good thing. I wouldn't be surprised if Kronwall-Smith end up as our top 2 on the blueline. Edit: Back to the forwards, I think we have the potential of 10-12 of our forwards getting at least 10 goals this year. People are talking about the Cup teams, one thing I think people forget is in this socialist Cap area, with the talent spread out, every team has the same depth problems. Last year a 6th seed played an 8th seed in the final, so the regular season means nothing.

I don't want to trade Filp. In this day in age of socialism, where all the talent is spread around the league, Centers are tough to find. I know we need a defenseman, but don't give up a Center for one. Wow according to this guy, the rumored deal was Filp, Nyquist, and a 1st rounder for Yandle?

Every contract signing discussion needs one of these replies: Fire Holland!

If you look around the League, except for NYRangers, all the big markets missed out on the big named FA's, plus teams like us and Pittsburgh lost key players. If Bettman wanted the small markets to get better, he got his wish. NBC Sports TV numbers should suffer. Yup, nice business plan you got goin' on there Gary. You FINALLY got a National Network on board, and you have a LA-NJ Final, an 8th seed wins the Championship, and, besides Nash, all the biggest names available went to Carolina and Minnesota, and back to Nashville.

Interesting, and the Kings won the Cup too . I've been wondering since post lockout if the league is fixed so the CBA looks good. There always seems to be some strange things going on in our playoff series (no diving penalties against The Sharks, no suspensions to Malkin and Weber, refs that can't count past 5, etc..)

As I've mentioned in other discusssions, I like our forwards. I think the bottom 6 with a combination of Helm, Abby, Miller, Eaves, Tootoo, Sammy, Nyquist, Brunner, Emmerton, Mursak, Cleary, Bertuzzi etc. is going to be a big strength of our team this year. Also there will be a competition for two of those players to play in the top 6, so everyone will be at their best for more ice time. Everyone of our forwards has 10+ goal potential, there will be no let up in our attack. We still need another D, but I think a lot of people here are going to be surprised with the team in 2012-13. We're not the team everyone is gunning for now, so the pressure's off a bit. I think we'll be fun to watch. I'm looking forward to it. Right. When you look at where Franzen was drafted, and what the team's expectations of him were when he made the team in 2005-06 (4th liner), he's more than exceeded expectations! The 25-30 goals he gets every year and the $3.9 Million he's paid in this CBA, he's a bargin.

Nothing against Sergei, but I vote no, just because how exclusive a club the retired numbers have become. Again, nothing against #91, but Ozzie probably deserves the honor more due to him being 2nd in most Red Wings regular season goalie categories, and 1st in the playoffs. However, Ozzie won't be up there either. Lidstrom is next, then probably Dats and Z. Thinking back to the Fedorov years, there was always so much drama with the guy, then his Dad would get involved.

Gotta love the comments so far, Enstrom wanted to stay in Winnipeg, but people are blaming Holland for not signing this guy.

I'll get in on this: Datsyuk 22-50-72 Zetterberg 25-45-70 Filpulla 19-39-58 Franzen 26-25-51 Nyquist 13-23-36 Helm 14-20-34 Samuelsson 15-17-32 Cleary 14-18-32 Bertuzzi 13-18-31 Abdelkader 9-15-23 Miller 12-10-22 Tootoo 9-13-22 Eaves 10-10-20 Brunner 8-12-20 Emmerton 7-7-14 Mursak 3-5-8 Kronwall 13-32-45 Quincey 8-29-37 White 8-22-30 Smith 7-21-28 Kindl 4-16-20 Ericsson 2-14-16 Howard 0.918 Gustavsson 0.902

With the state the FA market is now, that's probably not a bad thing. We'll just develop our own stars. Obviously it's because Holland has lost his moxie, and Detroit is slipping as a UFA destination.

I don't understand why people want Doan. He's already 36, and we'd have to over pay and sign him for 3 years, no thanks. We already have a player like Doan in Bertuzzi, and a lot of people don't like Bert. Let the kids play! Yea our forwards are fine. I think people should go over to a website that shows the depth chart. Our forwards have a good mix of experience and styles of play. We can play 12 forwards with 10+ goal potential, there will be no let up! What we need is another defenceman, that is all.

I bet NBC Sports can't wait for the season to start and try and sell commercial advertising space! All the big named free agents signed with small market teams. So $7 Million for one season? If Semin has a big year, what will he ask for next off season?

I'm in too, and so is my cousin. Ok be honest, if you win, are you going to go, or are you going to sell the tickets on ebay or stubhub? My cousin and I have considered both options The more they get to sign up, the more people they can add to their email list.

Did anyone hear the Preds Press Conference? One of the two guys who spoke (not sure names, don't really care), made a comment about how matching the Weber offer sheet shows that they won't let the big markets push them around. Ummm, if it wasn't for the big markets and their willingness to agree to a Salary Cap, your team would be in Hamilton right now. Who do you think is paying your bills? I wonder if that comment will get them in trouble? If the big markets wanted to stop the Salary Cap, teams like Nashville are screwed!

Ah man you beat me to it, I was going to say Justin Verlander Edit: I agree that is a tough question, because I like all the major American sports, I really don't watch games that don't involve my favorite teams. Outside of the Detroit teams, MSU, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, my favorite players are Derek Jeter and Kobe Bryant

(In my best Gary Bettman voice) No no, things are fine, the League is making the most money it's ever have. The interest in the NHL is at an all time high. None of our franchises are facing financial problems, because our CBA has been a huge success!

I've heard the same thing, Doan doesn't want to be to far away from his family. However, some people here, if Doan doesn't sign with the Wings, will think Holland has lost it, and Detroit isn't a place where people want to play Personally I'm not interested in Doan at all. He's only got a few years left and only had 50 pts last year. He hasn't had a season over 60 pts since 2008-09, and he's played on a good team. We already have a player with a few years left in Bertuzzi, why would we want another one?

This is why I think not signing players this off season is a good idea. Next year Getzlaf is available, and we'll need a C to replace Datsyuk. Right, we have more than enough forwards.

That's what I'm thinking too, sure we lost some key players, but other teams in the division lost even more.

That's it? Boy good thing Columbus didn't want to trade with us! Another reason why Columbus sucks and always will!

Ok, so what would you have done? Keep in mind, Suter and Parise wanted to play together, and Parise is from Minnesota, and Columbus and Nashville don't want to trade with us. Would you really overpay for Doan or Semin when we have some young forwards ready to step in and play? Why not just see what we have this season, then add to it. I agree we need to add someone on the blueline, but if Suter would rather join Parise in Minnesota and Nashille didn't want to trade us Weber, you would you add? And how would you add? I think it's clear that drafting and developing players is the way to go now. The way the FA market is under the current CBA, it's really not worth getting locked into 13 year deals, and making players that may not even be the best guys on your team your highest paid.