eva unit zero

I thnik yuor ginog to relaize taht the fact is tihs: wehn you wirte a senetce, as lnog as you put all the ltetres of a wrod in odrer wtih the croecrt bginienng and einndg lretets, polepe can sitll raed the snetcene. Wreid, huh?

Tatar would have to start dominating the AHL first. He's doing well there but he's not one of the top players. And the league's top scorer last year (Corey Locke) was just four points shy of doubling his total. The league goals leader (Colin McDonald) was only three goals shy of having more goals than Tatar did points. So domination? No. What's noticeable is that Locke, Jason Krog, Darren Haydar, and Keith Aucoin HAVE been dominating the league and nobody even gives them a chance at the NHL level. I'm assuming it's because they are all smaller than average, but I'd take a team of Brian Gionta at forward and Francois Boullion on defense if they won every game. People who say size matters are wrong. Size CAN matter. Skill also outweighs size.

But it they sign Richards, it would mean they could trade Kane... maybe Buffalo would bite on a deal involving Myers?

They certainly have the cap space for it; although it would affect their chances at replacing Campbell. Gives them a pretty solid top-nine with Sharp/Toews/Kane, Frolik/Richards/Hossa, Bickell/Bolland/Olesz. I figure if they sign Richards, and they're lucky and get him for around $7m, they can get a guy like Greene to take Campbell's spot. If he costs more than that, they have to either go cheap and pray or trade someone they weren't planning on trading.

Kopecky's numbers last year would have placed him fourth in goals, second in assists, and second in points on the Panthers. Tallon is likely interested in taking advantage of his size and skills to provide a strong presence up front, given that Florida didn't really have that last year.

The thing is, that's not necessarily true. Redden was sent down because Sather wanted his cap space; the Rangers still spent to the cap without Redden's $6m. He trades his best defenseman, Rosival, for a mediocre winger in Wolski. Then near the end of the year, Sather decides to add a defenseman because he realizes trading Rosival was dumb. Uh oh, he can't call up Redden because he'd be snapped up on waivers instantly. So he trades for McCabe, who's not even as good as Redden. The biggest problem with the expensive players not counting against the cap is the waiver system and players like Redden, where you get players stuck in the minors. The cap applies to the NHL roster, and the team still has to pay all of the salaries. You might argue that a small market team couldn't keep a guy like Redden down and ignore it. The purpose of the cap, and the "Players' Share" as it's called, is to determine how much NHL teams can spend on their active roster, and how much revenue the players are entitled to. The only change that could be argue for is instead of determining the Players' Share by active roster, determine it by contracts signed to players of a certain experience level, similar to how waivers work. That way the contracts still count, but the cap isn't affected.

*applause*

Seguin could have used a year or two in the A. But at the same time, he was ready to play in the NHL right away, which most picks, even first rounders, aren't. His biggest problem was that his coach didn't like his game so he had limited opportunity and often wasn't trusted in situations when he would normally be playing. He'll likely add some size and power over the next few years, and with his playoff performance it's hard to justify keeping him down so much. With the Wings you have to watch that process with guys like Emmerton, who probably would have been up by 2008-09 in most systems but wasn't really ready until last year, and there was no way he was making that team. Hudler is probably the closest example the Wings have to Seguin; he made the Wings right out of juniors, but even though he played well they only kept him up for 12 games that year, he played a full year in the A during the lockout, and 4 games in Detroit the next season. Seguin would have done well to have spent this year in the A, but if I'm him I'll take a Stanley Cup win as a spare part and fewer individual accomplishments over my career instead of a long career of greatness without a Cup win. Would you rather have the career of Tomas Kopecky or Marcel Dionne? One of them won two Cups in three years and just recently developed into a top-six forward, the other is one of the greatest players ever, but never won a Cup. Maybe that's WHY... There is no "catch-all" system that works for every prospect. Some guys develop better in the AHL and some in the NHL, even if they have the same skills and game and everything. For one, I think Hudler would be much further along if he had been kept on the big club right away because it's pretty clear from last season that his development and improvement is much greater in the NHL than in lower leagues. He regressed in the KHL, and by the end of the season he was playing better than he was when he left. Jimmy Howard is another guy like that. He didn't seem to be improving much, and was brought on as Ozzie's backup because the Wings had invested so much time in him and he couldn't be sent down. He was expected to be a decent backup, and he instead took the reins when Osgood when out and was one of the league's better goalies. The Wings were lucky Ericsson ever made it to the AHL given his draft rank. He's got all of this hype around him, but realistically he's probably like Lebda - as good as he's going to get.

Franzen, Kindl, and a 1st might have done it. Franzen's deal isn't any more burdensome than Seto's, and in three years Seto is UFA and will be either a failure, retired, or making much more than Franzen (who may also be retired by then) so that aspect isn't a huge difference. Neither is the playoff performance factor. Franzen's ability to play all forward positions is an advantage, as he could serve as a second line matchup center against guys like Thornton, Getzlaf, Staal, etc. So their trade values are probably fairly close generally, depending on your goals; a team dumping and rebuilding for five years from now won't care that much about Franzen other than his should-be-a-bargain contract, but Seto would be gold if they can hold on to him when he turns UFA in a few years. Babs being pissed suggests a few things, one being obvious: Our chief competition the past couple of years improved for next year. Other reasons might be: The Wings were close to picking him up, Hudler was part of one potential Wings deal, or someone burned his toast and you KNOW how he holds grudges. He used to play with Jarnkrok in juniors.

Babcock vs. Jagr would be epic. Babcock doesn't appear to like Hudler too much, but at least Hudler works hard. When he doesn't, you get his performance the first couple months of last season. Jagr is the epitome of a floater who has always gotten by on natural talent. Which has worked fine, given his sick combination of strength, speed, and skill. But now he's 40. And still a floater. Doesn't have the same speed, skill is down... and he doesn't have that overpowering strength he once had. Although why not sign Jagr and Vrbata, and we could have the best Czeching line in the league!

Dur. I was thinking of the Shawn Matthias/Todd Bertuzzi trade.

If they were over-ripe, it would mean they were getting worse. That happened to Stefan Liv. He was the best goalie not in the NHL; had he been brought over sooner he might be the Wings' starter right now, now Howard. The Wings keep their prospects in the minors until they're able to take an NHL job, or until they can't keep them any longer. Mattias Ritola is an excellent example. He wasn't going to make the team, and would have been lost on waivers. So instead, Holland traded him.

Tallon effectively traded Olesz and McCabe for Campbell, Tim Kennedy and a pick. If that were presented to you as one deal, would you take it?

Hudler has been in Babcock's doghouse his entire career. That's the primary reason he went to the KHL; because he wasn't being given a fair shot. Hudler was outplaying Kopecky and Filppula, yet both were given top six chances Hudler was not. Now, obviously, Hudler was in the doghouse early last season because he earned it. And he managed to play himself out of it. And in the playoffs, he was one of the team's best three or four forwards against Phoenix. When a handful of guys didn't produce against San Jose and Babcock wanted to shake it up, Hudler was the scratch, even though he was still creating scoring chances that simply weren't going in. I think you mean that Stuart played one fewer game and scored seven fewer points. Your statement is correct if you replace "brad stuart" with "valtteri filppula" because that's how it was.

You missed the point about Liles. Liles is not as good as Wisniewski, is SIGNED, and was acquired for a second rounder. So we're looking at the top free agent goaltender's rights traded for a third, and a defenseman who is not as good as Wiz acquired for a second. Does that add up to sending Montreal a second? Methinks it points to a third as proper value for his rights, if not lower.

You fail.

Potential prospect appearances: Forwards: Tomas Tatar Gustav Nyqvist Francis Pare Defensemen: Brendan Smith Logan Pyett Sergei Kolosov Goaltenders: Thomas McCollum Jordan Pearce Daniel Larsson

It's karmic punishment for the award having been renamed.

He wasn't even the most valuable player on his line.

The Leino trade?

Draper's pretty much been told "no" by Holland as he's likely not top-12 next year, while the big thing Holland said about Osgood was is with regard to his injuries, not his age or performance. Jagr is similar age, but a much better player than either and Holland wouldn't likely spend more than $2m on him. Hudler for Nabokov would be a bad deal for the Wings unless they get a pick back and/or need to clear the space to bring in an expensive UFA forward like Richards, or perhaps someone where space would have to be cleared via trade such as Parise - Flip or Franzen probably goes in the theoretical Parise deal, although NJ is more likely to trade someone else so they can keep him. As for Jurcina, I don't see why a 1-for-1 would be a bad deal. NYI gets a skilled forward capable of putting up big numbers given the opportunity. Jurcina was the #6 defenseman on the team last year, is 28, and most if not all of the defensemen from last year's Isles are returning, assuming they don't improve via UFA.

Holmgren just killed the Flyers because he "had" to have Bryzgalov. They are now a non-playoff team.

Finally, after 20 years of training... No, not seriously.

From the 1997-98 season to today, the Norris has been awarded 13 times. I can only think of one time I can say for certain Lidstrom did not deserve it. That would be last season, when I feel he was still top-three. Only one, perhaps two other times do I feel that Lidstrom could be argued as not the best, being the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons when Al MacInnis and Chris Pronger won, and Pronger also took home the Hart. So ultimately, IMHO, Lidstrom should have somewhere between 10-12 Norris wins. He has been outright cheated out of three victories (2009 Chara, 2004 Niedermayer, and 1998 Blake) and had that not occurred, he would likely be generally considered the greatest and most dominant defenseman of all-time. Even before 98, when he was the outright best, he was challenging for Norrises for six years. Lidstrom came into the league as one of the top 15-20 defensemen, as did Konstantinov. That event immediately changed the Wings from a mediocre team to a top team, in the same fashion as Yzerman's entrance allowed the Wings to emerge from the dungeon or Fedorov's entrance gave the Wings a second star player. The early 90s; with the emergence of Lidstrom, Konstantinov, Kozlov, and Osgood; as well as the acquisitions of Mike Vernon, Kris Draper, Brendan Shanahan, Igor Larionov, Slava Fetisov, and Larry Murphy; these are the things that are what defined the Wings' run in the 90s and allowed them to continue being successful. Through having a strong front office with Bowman, Holland, and Devellano, as well as strong scouting, they were able to select skilled players with low picks such as Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and others, as well as to make the "smart" move instead of the "big" move - and knowing when to make those moves. Players like Hasek, Schneider, Hull, Robitaille, Chelios, Whitney, Rafalski, Hossa, Conklin, Cleary, Eaves and more were strong acquisitions made via free agency or trade that helped and in some cases are still helping the Wings beyond their role. The effect of Lidstrom leaving is unknown. He's a great defenseman, so that will hurt, but we'll get a skilled guy to help there. We have a leader in the locker room who can take on the mantle when Nick bows out. Is Z ready for full time? I think so. But I want to see Nick keep on as long as he's willing to play.

This x 1,000. It sickens me to think that Corey Perry is now a Hart Trophy winner when Steve Yzerman (who deserved it probably two, maybe three times) never won. I would place Perry as the third, possibly fourth most important player on the Ducks. It's a real life "what would it be like if Kevin Stevens won the Hart in 1992?" I honestly can't think of many worse recent award winners. Rob Blake for the Norris is a bad one, but everyone else (I can think of offhand) had a very strong argument for their wins. Draper sneaking in for the Selke might rank up there as I didn't feel he was the best defensive forward even on the team The same goes for Toews being named a finalist over Bolland. I mean WTF? There have definitely been finalists worse than Perry - Mike Green, Dion Phaneuf, and Steve Mason (Vezina AND Hart) are the ones that come to mind for recent years.