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It's mostly mocking the "but the Canadian teams have to stay together!" arguments that always pop up. The best I can think of is having uneven divisions which are set up to minimize travel. Something like this: Pacific: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver Central: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg Atlantic: New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh Northeast: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto Southeast: Carolina, Columbus, Florida, Tampa Bay, Washington Obviously the Central division is kind of sprawling and would still see a lot of travel. But a setup like this makes divisions much more travel-friendly overall. Minnesota and Dallas in the Central see improvements in travel, as do most other teams around the league. Perhaps Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis see worse travel; but that is the limit of it. You also have of course noticed that there are five divisions. Two "western" divisions with 7 teams, and then three "eastern" divisions, two with 5 and one with 6. I didn't work out any specific schedule algorithm, but I think a setup like this would work. Seeding within conferences would work, and prevents any arguments regarding advantages of playing in a larger (or smaller) division.

Lombardi is at fault. The only reason injury matters is for buyout. Now he's just pissed that he can't get the deal vetoed because he doesn't have the cap space. Fraser was injured last season, a smart GM isn't going to accept a trade for him without checking him out first.

None of the players you listed were as good as Nick. It's like saying Fedorov's number shouldn't be retired because Jimmy Carson's isn't. Except you'd be slightly wrong if you said the second, because Jimmy's number was retired by the Wings. Twice. To my knowledge he is the only player to have been the last to have worn two different retired numbers for one team, neither being retired in his name. Kind of makes me want to start up a "retire Norm Ullman's number!" petition and get another "7" banner hanging up there. I mean why not, right?

For all of those who want to get all of the Canadian teams together, I have your solution. Western: Anaheim, Colorado, Dallas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Phoenix, St. Louis, San Jose Central: Buffalo, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Florida, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay Eastern: Boston, Carolina, New Jersey, NY Islanders, NY Rangers, Philadelphia, Washington Canadian: Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg Top four teams in a division make playoffs. Divisional playoffs, division champs are then seeded by regular season record. That way, those of you who don't like watching American teams play don't have to.

Emmerton is signed through 2013-14. My comment was more that it would be scary if he were an RFA next summer, because it means he could suddenly explode and cost them team a lot of money it didn't have. He's signed for three more seasons at $533,333. Then he is an RFA. He's got top-six potential. As a waiver pickup, that's GOLD.

Kane is an overrated *******. Toews, Sharp, Hossa, and Bolland are all better forwards on the Hawks alone. If he were a Red Wing, Kane would be competing for the #5 spot with Cleary, Hudler, Bertuzzi, and Holmstrom.

His nearly league-minimum contract, which he's signed to for three more years? The one which is still two-way for this season? If I'm a GM, that isn't scaring me off. A solid young player developed in a good system. What would be scary is if he were RFA after this season. That puts the potential for him to explode out of nowhere and score 50 points (or more) and suddenly need a new deal on a team that clearly would have been relying on him and wants to keep him. If he goes to waivers, he's gone.

If the Wings can get away with trading one of Flip or Hudler for Semin, and not give up any top prospects or first round picks, then that's something to be considered. The Wings have several forwards who are as good or better defensively than Flip, and he is not among the team's best PKers. Flip for Semin as the only roster players doesn't harm Detroit's PK, but improves the PP. Maybe the lines could work out like this: Semin/Datsyuk/Bertuzzi Hudler/Zetterberg/Franzen Cleary/Helm/Eaves Mursak/Abdelkader/Holmstrom If it's Hudler instead of Filppula, maybe it works out like this: Semin/Datsyuk/Cleary Franzen/Zetterberg/Holmstrom Abdelkader/Filppula/Bertuzzi Mursak/Helm/Eaves

I wasn't speaking to how much the government should pay; but the government has paid in the past and likely would be receiving back well beyond what they spend in taxes. Losing the Oilers would cost Edmonton, and Alberta, more in tax revenue long-term than paying for 100% of the project. It's like the reason that some tax incentives for businesses are good things; by creating more business, they actually increase the total tax revenue from that business.

I might consider one of Samsonov, Kovalev, or Comrie via UFA for a third-line signing if Holland wants another forward, but not for more than $2m. But that signing would probably cost us Emmerton. All three have good offensive skills and good speed. Samsonov would be the best option IMHO. Hudler/Zetterberg/Bertuzzi Franzen/Datsyuk/Holmstrom Samsonov/Filppula/Cleary Mursak/Helm/Eaves Abdelkader/Miller Brings two pretty quick lines there, with two very solid bottom-sixers in reserve.

Makes sense. Vancouver just got a bunch of government-paid upgrades to their arena. I realize those had to do with Olympic games, but at the same time the arena is privately owned. It's not the same situation as the Saddledome, which is publicly owned. An even better example? The government is refusing to pay a dime to provide a new arena which may determine the fate of the Oilers (whether or not they are able stay in town) yet both the Canadian government and provincial government of Manitoba contributed funds to build the MTS Centre. So that is three teams in Western Canada with arenas built in the past 30 years. All have had government help in either building or renovating the arena. Edmonton has the oldest arena in the league, and the government refuses to help. Sounds like there's not too much care about the fate of small-market Canadian teams until after they leave town.

Signing Conklin would be better than trading for Nabokov. Trade Hudler and what, give his spot to Draper? Conner? Emmerton? I don't see how Nabokov over Conklin justifies downgrading from Hudler to one of those three.

They're not going to trade a 1st for a forward. They'll sign a decent guy to fill a spot. Sergei Samsonov, Alexei Kovalev, and Mike Comrie are all available and would replace Huselius' scoring. They need to sign at least one more defenseman and three more forwards, and also a spare skater at either position. Huselius is likely to miss half the season, which would provide about $2.4 in cap relief as he is quite overpaid. None of the three I mentioned above should cost much beyond that, if at all. Realistically, that shouldn't matter as Columbus is unlikely to spend to the cap. Mason is one of the better backups in the league. *hears mumbling* What, he's their starter? Poor guys.

You do realize that plus-minus has no real meaning? And beyond that, that giveaway and takeaway stats are not representative of defense? Or shooting percentage of a player's shooting ability. For example, Z took tons of shots last year, often putting the puck on net in low quality chances. There would also have been many shots of his that were simply blocked or missed the net, and counted as giveaways. Ovechkin faces the same kind of situation. Take a lot of shots, you'll probably see a lot of giveaways to your credit. Takeaways are more accurately defensive, but are we playing defense with the stick or the body? What happens if we force a turnover instead of stripping the puck? Stats can be misleading if you believe them to mean something they don't. Especially if used by someone to display a particular belief.

Looking at your lineup, there's a few things. Switch Abs and Hudler, first thing. Abdelkader is not a playmaker, and Hudler would benefit from big-bodied wingers. Your lineup is also severely lacking in playmakers, in general. Filppula, Hudler, and who else? Bertuzzi can be a decent passer. Emmerton in there makes a lot more sense than a quick, small grinder in Conner. Especially when all of the grinders are still in the lineup. Conner only makes sense if the injuries are to Mursak and Eaves, taking most of the speed out of the checking line.

Hasek missed most of 03-04. Then he played well during the lockout, no groin problems. Then in 05-06, with the Senators, he was again playing well up until the Olympics. At the Olympics, due to being unable to practice because his equipment had been left behind and therefore delayed, Hasek injured his right adductor muscle before the first game with Germany, and missed the rest of the year. He didn't have any significant groin issues after that, and his play didn't suffer due to his groin. The only "failed" season was the year in Ottawa and that was a result of playing Olympic level hockey after not having practiced in any capacity. Osgood won't be dealing with that issue.

Boston isn't going to offer up some insane contract to Stamkos because that will cost them Lucic and/or Krejci sooner rather than later. And a trade for Stamkos would involve one of them, plus picks and prospects, and possibly another roster player. This isn't a Phil Kessel "we're trading him because he's a pain in the ass, and we're getting a buttload of top picks from a dumbass" deal. Stamkos is younger than Kessel, and a top tier talent. If Kessel's deal was fair value, then add Lucic to it to make it fair value for Stamkos.

Which 3 seasons? Hasek's groin injury was in 1999-00. He only played two seasons before "retiring", winning the Vezina in Buffalo in 2000-01, and then being traded to Detroit and winning the Cup in 2001-02. What failed seasons did he have due to his groin injury having not yet healed? And beyond that, Osgood has more time than Hasek to heal, and will not be putting as much strain on his groin during play as Hasek did.

Fixed.

Add Columbus to the "East" division. Move Philadelphia to the "South" division; it should be "Atlantic" or something. Move Colorado to the "Midwest" division. That puts 7 in each Western division and 8 in each Eastern, but it keeps rivals such as Philly/NYR together.

Two forwards get injured and your 14th forward goes in, right? Given the "real" centers you've provided, it seems Emmerton is the choice, as two injured centers make an extra center necessary. If Conner is the 14th, and two of those five centers are injured, that means Franzen moves to center and the only other player with experience playing center is Hudler, who you already said isn't an NHL center. It also means that there is a likelihood that multiple skilled playmakers are injured, so Emmerton would be a better choice than Conner.

Technically, the Wings have eight centers (if you include Emmerton), not five. Emmerton is a better playmaker than any of the guys you listed, and he has a decent shot. He's also a good skater. Abs vs Miller is a matter of aggressive vs. defensive. Abs has the physical advantage, and Miller is more of a defensive player. Emmerton isn't a top-6 player right now, but the Wings run three scoring lines. If he makes the top twelve he can play on the third scoring line and not look out of place. It's because I kept Homer with Dats, and put either Franzen or Flip with Dats. And I had Z centering line 1. Hudler would be most effective with either Dats or Z, so that's where he goes. Put Z's line as line 2 if it bothers you. As for your lines, you keep Emmerton over Hudler? Seriously? I could understand a logical argument for Conner, Miller, etc. But Emmerton's best skills don't match Hudler's, except for skating. And that gap doesn't come close to making up for it. Perhaps even http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AlzsP4jN1E&feature=related

Who here has noticed the fact that despite Joey's play last year, he didn't get the backup job he was looking for? This means he came back to Detroit willing to accept the same role if necessary, hoping for more if possible. Likely also means Ozzie is the choice, because it means he'll be in Grand Rapids and one of Pearce of McCollum (probably McCollum) will be in Toledo.

Who here has noticed the fact that despite Joey's play last year, he didn't get the backup job he was looking for? This means he came back to Detroit willing to accept the same role if necessary, hoping for more if possible. Likely also means Ozzie is the choice, because it means he'll be in Grand Rapids and one of Pearce of McCollum (probably McCollum) will be in Toledo.

Stuart or Kronwall would be required as part of the deal, not just Ericsson. Probably Stuart, Ericsson, two firsts, and possibly one of Hudler or Filppula as well.