eva unit zero

I'd rather Cleary on the third because Filppula/Hudler provides the same kind of dynamic as Zetterberg/Datsyuk...which is a dynamic we know works well with Homer. Cleary with Kopecky and Samuelsson provides more of a defensive third line that can still score, which balances out the offense a bit.

Yeah, everybody loved watching clutch and grab hockey back then too. /sarcasm

Fedorov wasn't lowballed. That's not what he was angry about. But you have to consider this...Fedorov was originally offered a 5-year deal worth 10m annually. He was interested in this deal, but asked for a little time to sort out his personal life. That is a perfectly reasonable request. By the time Fedorov was ready to sign a deal, the offer had dwindled to a 4-year, $40m and then $32m contract. Realistically, Fedorov probably would have signed for $32m had it been a 5-year deal. None of the offers to Fedorov were rejected based on the dollar figure; two were pulled by Holland and one was rejected for length. Had Holland turned around and said 'OK, instead of $32m for four years, here's $32m for five years' Fedorov likely would have signed it. After rollback, that would have been about 4.9m...which would have easily fit in what the actual roster looked like, as we wouldn't have seen a trade for Lang (3.8m) and Pavel Datsyuk wouldn't have been the No.1 center, and would have seen a salary closer to $3m than $4m. Anyone who claims Fedorov left for money, or because of Yzerman's shadow, or for any reason other than the length of the deal...is pretty much making up what they think happened rather than stating what ACTUALLY happened.

Coming into March..Franzen looked to be a lock for about 15 goals total at the end of the season. Now...he's pushing 30. Sick month for the Franz.

He is going to be a rookie on his first contract. He is 23, so as quoted above he will be required to sign a two-year, entry level contract with a maximum base salary of 850k when he signs.

The time of the goal is expressed in minutes and seconds, rounded to the nearest second. If the goal is scored with less than half a second left, the time of the goal is 20:00. That, however, does not explain why they wouldn't have dropped the puck. If there was enough time for the goal to count, they should have dropped the puck. The horn would have gone instantly, but they still technically should have had a faceoff.

That's not true. The goal judge's only purpose is to determine whether or not the puck is in the net. The goal light has absolutely no bearing on whether the goal counts; if the referee determines the puck crossed the line legally before time was up, even if the goal light didn't come on, it's a goal. If they implemented what I have been calling for for years, the goal light would be used for exactly this purpose, among others. I have been asking for YEARS for the NHL to implement a system based on FoxTrax puck technology that uses a system of sensors in the goal frame to determine if the puck enters the net, and when. This system would completely eliminate 'manual' goal judges, and would automatically stop the clock if the puck completely entered the net. Obviously, it wouldn't necessarily signal a valid goal had been scored...but the play would still be over.

Currently signed for 2008-09: Datsyuk 6.7m Cleary 2.8m Zetterberg 2.65m Holmstrom 2.25m Draper 1.583m Samuelsson 1.2m Hudler 1.015m Franzen 942k Maltby 883k Kopecky 500k Lidstrom 7.45m Rafalski 6m Kronwall 3m Lebda 650k Meech 483k Osgood 1.417m This totals up to 39.523m in cap hit for 10 forwards, 5 defensemen, and 1 goaltender. Looking beyond this, we see the following players signed for 2009-10: Datsyuk 6.7m Cleary 2.8m Holmstrom 2.25m Draper 1.583m Maltby 883k Lidstrom 7.45m Rafalski 6m Kronwall 3m Lebda 650k Meech 483k Osgood 1.417m Here we see 5 forwards, 5 defensemen, and 1 goaltender signed for a total of 33.216m. This is the year where cap space will determine what we can do next season. We'll assume that the projected 56.3m mentioned in this thread is what we see for 2009-10. Based on that, we will have to fit eleven of Zetterberg, Samuelsson, Hudler, Franzen, Filppula, Kopecky, Hartigan, Drake, Downey, McCarty, Stuart, Lilja, Quincey, and Howard, or any FA replacements for those players into about $22m worth of cap space, allowing for some wiggle room. So let's try that, bringing back eight forwards and three defensemen. Zetterberg $7m Samuelsson $1.5m Hudler $1.5m Franzen $2m Filppula $1.75m Kopecky $750k Downey $600k McCarty $550k Stuart $3.75m Quincey $650k Howard $900k This totals up to $20.7m, leaving approximately $3m to fill out the roster under the wiggle room. This would put them at 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and two goaltenders. So they could conceivably at this point simply call it done. This totals up to $53.916m, and that might look something like: Hudler/Zetterberg/Franzen Filppula/Datsyuk/Holmstrom Cleary/Kopecky/Samuelsson Maltby/Draper/McCarty Lidstrom/Rafalski Kronwall/Stuart Meech/Chelios Osgood Howard Obviously, this is a roster that could be assembled next season, which would leave an additional $6.443m in cap space available for next season but earmarked for deals already. So we likely will be spending around $50m next season, unless the Wings can sign an impact player for one season, or don't expect to keep one or more of Samuelsson/Hudler/Filppula/Franzen, this is the roster we will likely see. With the possible addition of Fabian Bruunstrom, who would make the rookie max of $850k, but could potentially have a cap hit of $3.7m due to bonuses. Having Bruunstrom on the roster would likely push Kopecky to the fourth line and McCarty out of the regular lineup.

Fixed.

Keep the Franz with Dats and Z...put Homer with Flip and Hudler. Same dynamic, though not as much talent overall. Samuelsson, Kopecky, and Cleary would make a fine multipurpose third line capable of two-way play, and Maltby/Draper/Drake would be as strong a fourth line as you'll find in the NHL. You could even swap Dats and Hudler to balance out the scoring across the top two lines a little bit.

I thought you said you were limiting it to forwards? Stevens was a defenseman! Unless you really meant Kevin Stevens, who was also a fierce hitter.

A hooker costs less?

Forwards Skating: Darryl Laplante Wrist Shot: Gordie Howe Slap Shot: Brendan Shanahan Puckhandling: Pavel Datsyuk Passing: Adam Oates Defense: Sergei Fedorov Hitting: Dallas Drake Leadership: Steve Yzerman Faceoffs: Kris Draper Vision: Alex Delvecchio Fighting: Bob Probert Strength: Ted Lindsay Defense Skating: Paul Coffey Wrist Shot: Mark Howe Slap Shot: Mathieu Schneider Puckhandling: Slava Fetisov Passing: Brian Rafalski Defense: Jack Stewart Hitting: Vladimir Konstantinov Leadership: Red Kelly Vision: Nicklas Lidstrom Fighting: Dennis Vial Strength: Jiri Fischer

What's with the deflections tonight?

McCarty looks slow. Like...slower than me. Drake, OTOH, is playing the kind of defense that had me complaining he wasn't a Selke nominee in years past. At this rate, Mac will be watching the playoffs.

If Hartigan smartens up, he might see time in the playoffs. I don't think anyone here wants that. Mark, go Simon on someone. You're too weak to hurt them, but that way you won't be on the ice for the Wings in the playoffs. C'mon man, do it for THE TEAM.

Why the hell was Manny so low on that? Is it just me or was he much lower than he should have been? Not saying he could have stopped it either way...just looked odd.

He's not faster than Stevie was before he went knee-first into the goal post. That's the truly sad part about Stevie's career...how much greater he could have been without suffering a severe knee injury early in his career that hindered him for another seventeen seasons.

2.5 would be drag to the forehand, drag to the backhand, drag towards the forehand and sort of flip the puck on the deke. Unless you mean a 'double-deke' where you drag to the fore, then the back, and then shoot.

I think it needs to happen. That way, Ozzie can win two tournaments this spring.

A neck injury would have been no more likely than without the cage. As someone who plays with a cage, I can vouch for many times when it has been necessary for me as far as facial protection. I've even had to replace it because of a dent from a redirected slap shot. You know...the usual. And the point has already been made that players entering the NHL have, for the majority, been playing with a visor or cage all their life...so it's not like it's a new thing.

All 66 NHL goalies are in the bracket.

I vote for the last one...

Shields, as of his graduation, was the best goalie the CCHA had ever had. If his backup was better, that's amazing.

I think we're talking skaters. Everyone knows Jesus was a goalie. That said... The ideal forward, based only on forwards I have seen play live, without using anyone twice. Skating: Pavel Bure Wrist Shot: Joe Sakic Slap Shot: Sergei Fedorov Puckhandling: Alexei Kovalev Passing: Adam Oates Defense: Guy Carbonneau Hitting: Gary Roberts Leadership: Steve Yzerman Faceoffs: Ron Francis Vision: Wayne Gretzky Fighting: Bob Probert Strength: Jaromir Jagr The ideal defenseman, made only from defensemen I have seen live, without using anyone twice. Skating: Paul Coffey Wrist Shot: Ray Bourque Slap Shot: Al MacInnis Puckhandling: Sergei Zubov Passing: Brian Leetch Defense: Brad McCrimmon Hitting: Vladimir Konstantinov Leadership: Scott Stevens Vision: Nicklas Lidstrom Fighting: Marty McSorley Strength: Jiri Fischer