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The Tigers still have plenty of chance to make the playoffs. Thay are 4.5 games out, with 61 games to play. The team has played well for the most part all month, and is two games over .500 for July. They play a 3-gamer vs Oakland to end the month. Next month they have 3 vs Seattle, 6 vs Cleveland, 6 vs Boston, 7 vs Toronto, 3 vs Oakland, and 3 vs KC. They should be able to win: 1 from Boston, 3 from Cleveland, 5 from Toronto, 2 from Seattle, 1 vs Oakland, and 2 vs KC. That's 14 wins in 28 games. If they do anything exceptional (like sweep Boston) they could definitely get to the 20-win mark.

Last season MacIntyre and Koopmans both spent time in GR and Toledo. If Liv and Howard both get signed, DreMac/Koop will probably share in Toledo or one will go elsewhere. I am utterly unhappy with MacIntyre's injury and what it's done to his development. He was almost as good a prospect as Liv or Howard. I personally like to compare him (favorably) to Pascal Leclaire, as they were drafted in the same year and played in the same league. Speaking of Toledo, you guys know if Fankhouser is returning there?

It was Liv's choice to play in Sweden last season. Holland wanted to sign him to play in GR. The window may be closed now, with Howard being essentially a lock to get a contract next season if not sooner. Joseph, Hasek, Osgood and Legace have nothing to do with Liv. Goalies almost never go directly into the NHL without playing in the AHL. Liv would not have started his North American career in the NHL. No way. Not even Kari Lehtonen did. Liv has not played in North America. He has to adjust to the different style. I definitely think Holland would be displeased if Liv were playing in Detroit next season. Here's what assistant GM Jim Nill said about Stefan Liv. “He’s got to really step up and take control,� said Nill. “He’s at the age where he’s got to take over.� To me it sounds like Detroit is somewhat soured on Liv. HV-71 won the SEL championship in 7 games. He had four shutouts in the final series, but it was not a sweep. Liv has been much more inconsistent than Howard, who, IMO could be an All-Star goalie some day. You're right. I suppose what I meant was that he didn't allow a goal in any of four wins...lol. It's still pretty impressive. When's the last time you heard of a goalie getting four shutouts in a playoff round in any league? I can think of Terry Sawchuk getting four on an eight-game playoff year, but not all in the same round. NHL record is 3 if I recall right. Granted, the Elitserien finals are not the Stanley Cup playoffs. But if Sidney Crosby's regular season stats get him labeled 'the next one' then I can talk about how impressive Liv's finals shutouts are.

No it won't. They easily have the option to put many other good packages together to send to Boston for Joe. Bouwmeester will not be traded by the Panthers. What I MEANT is that I doubt Boston would go for a Thornton-to-Florida deal that did NOT include Bouwmeester.

Rolston. For one, he's from Ann Arbor and went to my high school. For another, he's a solid offensive player who can play all three forward positions well and is easily the best defensive forward of the bunch. Good skater, can handle himself in a physical game (though he's not overly physical himself) and has no real 'weaknesses' as a player.

No comparison. Gwinnett gets points for historic accuracy....but with the stylization through Detroit's, they clearly are not aiming for any one type of Gladiator but more the 'suggestion' of 'Gladiator'

I know he only chose Clement. But Bonderman was more deserving, honestly. I actually agreed with the reserves for the most part..I think the only difference I would have made was drop Hillenbrand for Inge. The pitching I would have made significantly different choices.

Follow You Down-Gin Blossoms

Next year AL Central champs... and potential All-Stars Inge, Shelton, Guillen, Rodriguez, Polanco, Ordonez, White, Young, Bonderman, Farnsworth, Percival, Monroe. Some of those guys could have made the team (Inge, Bondo, Farnsworth) this year but didn't because Francona needed the entire Boston roster....some of them are star players and just had injury trouble (Ordonez, Guillen, Percival) some have played like all-stars but did not appear in a significant amount of games (Shelton, Polanco) or had some consistency issues in the first half (Young, White, Monroe), and then there's Pudge. Get the injuries and consistency straightened out...and they could do more than just win the Central.

Legace can't take a cut, there's no renegotiating. And Macdonald probably can't stay in GR-he's too old, he'd have to clear waivers. And if Legace is kept as backup they likely won't even bother signing RFA Macdonald.

It would probably take Jokinen or Kozlov in addition to Bouwmeester. Would be awesome for Florida though, regardless of the cost. Speaking of Florida...don't be shocked if Whitney ends up back there. Especially if they pick up Thornton.

You're exaggerating. For one thing, Liv did have disappointing stats last season. But you have to remember that his team refused to sign NHLers for half the season, and only signed a couple NHLers at all. It was basically HV-71 plus Anders Eriksson, half a season from Malhotra, half a season from Cheechoo, and 10 games from McCabe, vs the rest of the Swedish League with 5-6 NHLers all year. Guys like Morrison, Forsberg, Zetterberg, Knuble, Weinhandl, Huselius, etc. In fact, Phoenix starter Brian Boucher played 11 games for HV-71 and performed far worse than Liv did in all aspects. The SEL playoffs before the NHL lockout, Liv led his team to the championship and did not allow a single goal in the final round. in fact, 03-04 was his best regular season too. Liv is an exceptional prospect who has not been brought over because Detroit had Legace as the backup and was not confident going with him as the starter, using pricier guys like Osgood, and then Hasek, and then Joseph. Holland would have liked to have seen Liv in Detroit for 04-05 (had there been a season) Liv will likely be in Grand Rapids this year due to the waiver issue with Joey Macdonald. Assuming Macdonald resigns with Detroit-like Cujo, his contract expired with the lockout. Holland would like to see Macdonald take over the backup duties, but I doubt he'd be too displeased if it had to be Liv instead.

Potential Bertuzzi deal: Bertuzzi and Cloutier for Fedorov and Giguere Burke is so stupid he would value Todd and Dan above JS and Feds. He'd think he was getting a STEAL. EDIT: Imagine if the Nucks pulled that off, then were able to sign Kariya, Lapointe, and Selanne? Kariya/Fedorov/Selanne Naslund/Morrison/Lapointe That would rock the known world. Heck of a lot scarier than anything they had before.

Thinkin Macdonald is the preferred backup...he's got 15 of 17 votes.

Trammell can't be doing that bad since the team is not that different from last year yet they are just out of the playoffs as it stands. If the Tigers take a few from the Twins, and do well in the other upcoming series, they probably move into the wild card. Should they make the playoffs, I think they have a decent chance at winning the first round.

If the rule stayed the same, Dandenault has to declare to be a Group VI UFA. Until then, he's still an RFA.

USC/Irish? Funny, the Irish are more concerned about UM.

Campbell is supposed to be retiring. Ham and Jenkins likely will not be resigned. Dupree has the option and should exercise. Delfino supposedly doesn't want to play for Brown. Acker and Johnson will take two of the remaining spots vacated by Campbell, Ham, Jenkins (and Delfino?) The remaining one will go to signing the best available free agent we could get with our available cap space. Funny comment from http://www.hoopshype.com/free_agent_rankings.htm on Latrell Sprewell's FA status: Although well past his prime, he should still command enough money to feed his family Hi-larious. C Milicic F McDyess F Johnson G Hunter G Arroyo That's a pretty good bench unit. Some teams would like those guys to START. Heck, three of them have been starters within the past couple of seasons, and the other two are kids.

Kopecky actually was pretty dominant in the WHL. Which is generally a tougher and more physical league than the OHL.

If he coaches next year it will be Detroit. He's under contract, and I can't imagine a bunch of rumors would outweight a championship and a near-championship (tied at the end of the 3rd in game 7...pretty close.) Maybe you'd can him, but Joe D hired him knowing his nomadic tendency and the rumors that swirl around him. If he's healthy then they'll pass, and he'll stay.

I would have liked to see Darko get some time in the playoffs, especially with Wallace/Wallace/McDyess in foul trouble in game 7. Who did we have in ? Campbell at center. Prince was our excuse for a PF and Hamilton was up playing SF. The Spurs killed during that period because Prince and Hamilton were being outmuscled. Tell me that a 7 foot white guy isn't gonna help there? Especially considering he does have some pretty good offensive skills.

The Spurs shot 45.5% from the field comparted to Detroits 37.5%. 45.5% from the field is not shooting poorly...37.5% is however poor.... You're right. I read that stat box wrong. They separated the 3s from field goals. 37% is crap the 31-74 includes 3 pointers 31-74 shots made=62 points 2-14 3 pointers=2 additional points 10-14 FT shooting=10 points total 74.

I thnk the main issue is that the Pistons just ran out of gas in the fourth quarter...25 games and all. Sheed kicked ass in the fourth though... I would have rather seen Darko play than freakin Dupree or Ham though. Plus, Darko might have been a good choice when Sheed and McDyess were both out with foulr trouble and Rip was playing forward. Prince wasn't able to guard Duncan because of size and Duncan posted a bunch. A 7 foot white guy might have helped a little.

Great song. Good-Better than Ezra

See ya Thursday in San Antonio!