dallas27

Started off the first period in section 22something row 24 seat 3. Second period and third period we were ten rows behind Babcock. I was actually surprised we were able to pull it off because the Joe was nearly full, which was really nice to see for a change. I'm a firm believer that nobody makes more than Lidstrom but Datysuk is doing his best to sway me to nobody makes more than him. You see all the stuff he does from 20 feet away and it's mind-boggling how easy he makes it look. But definitely one of the best games they have put together all season, imo. I also saw Sammy drop his lunch money...

How so? Name me a forward that lays on the body routinely other than Kopecky. Franzen? Nope. Datysuk? Only when it's self-defense. Zetterberg? Nope. Homer? Nope. Flip? Nope. Hudler? Nope. Not that it's their fault, they aren't that type of player. But Cleary would be the only one after Kopecky. And seeing how everyone is always bitching about not having a physical forward it wouldn't make much sense to send down the only semblance of one the Wings have.

Kopecky is the closest thing to a physical forward we have, as bad as that is, I don't think you can send him down. He's at least willing to go into a corner and throw a hit on a regular basis, something that can't be said for any other forward. I honestly have no idea what they pay Maltby for anymore beside killing a penalty here and there. Winning in Chicago at Wrigley field for a hyped-up Winter Classic on national television could jumpstart them.

Not a chance, but my argument isn't quantitative. My argument is although nobody knows whether or not Hossa would take a discount to stay on the team, however possible, that there isn't any evidence proving he wouldn't. There is evidence that he would, albeit (try to read what I'm typing this time Young) they have the same team as last year, in his (hopefully not so short) stint with the Wings in which he turned down huge amounts of money. Do I think it's going to happen? I'm not betting on it, especially since top priority is making Zetterberg a career Red Wing as it should be. But I'm simply not going to just throw it out the window. I still want to know how you can trade free agents.

I understand it perfectly, you decided to ignore it. Learn how to read friend. And how are you going to trade free agents? I'm quite curious to hear that explanation. It's either Hank or Hossa and as I said before Holland is locking up Hank as he should (it's also in the quote above in case you missed it). But if Hossa is willing to take less than Hank I'm going to have to think about that one. But again, if you heard straight from Hossa's mouth that he wouldn't take a discount that's cool. But a big part of me thinks you have never seen Hossa in person, let alone talked to him. So until then try to drop the I know what every player thinks and will do routine eh?

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that the exact reason he took several million less to play with the Wings this year? The Wings retained the same team and blah blah blah and yada yada yada but it doesn't change the fact Hossa took several million less to play with the Wings this year. Unless you heard straight from Hossa's mouth that he would not be willing to take another discount it can happen again. But it really doesn't matter, Holland is going to lock Hank up for a long time, as he should.

Before the season began Vegas gave them 40:1 odds of winning the cup. As each game passes by I wish I would have put some money down on them.

He could be a model for Hasek's Dominator store, freaking pretty boy. But, the prospect of not having to deal with Pronger, s***, sign him up. I don't care how much you hate him, you can't deny his defensive and offensive abilities.

Is it bad that I was happy they were down 2-0 after the first so they could go to the new defensive pairings? Hossa and Hank looked good but the timing was waaaayyyy off on that line but that is sorta expected. It'll be interesting to see what Babs does with the lines next game. I hope he at least sticks with the new defensive pairings, much, much better.

I could have sworn that Kronwall was paired up with Lidstrom for part of the playoffs last year. I can't be too sure though. I was at the game on Thursday and you'll never guess the line that I thought put the most pressure in Vancouver's zone all game. Hossa - Draper - Meech. They were all over the ice, got at least three shots on net. At first I was confused to as why Hossa was out there with them, looked at the clock and saw they had a tv break coming up so he would have plenty of time to catch his breath, made a lot more sense.

Not so much worried about the offensive lines, they are going to score no matter what. But the new defensive pairings look a ton better. Never really understood why Babs had Kronwall and Stuart out there together, both like to pinch in and lay a hit on someone. Now that you split them up and pair them with defenseman that stay home 99% of the time they are going to be way more effective imo. Wednesday should be interesting.

-- 02:00 I immediatley thought it was going to be the same result last night Not to excuse the Wings poor play against almost everyone but Chicago is a tough team, I wasn't expecting a cakewalk last night. Their record is deceiving but I'm still taking the Red Wings in a seven game series. No way does anyone beat Detroit four games out of seven in a playoff setting.

Hossa is much better than Franzen, people (including me) already want to see what Leino can do, and Helm and Abdlekader have already shown a lot of promise in a Wings uniform. I'm not saying or ever said they are going to step in and outscore and perform them both, but they certainly aren't just fish in a bucket. I guess I missed the press conference where young's numbers are the numbers the NHL has just set in stone. The fact of the matter is, we don't know what the cap is going to be and we don't know what everyone is going to ask for. I'll say it again. I'm simply saying if the numbers work out and all I have to do is let Mule walk and trade Flip and Sammy, I do it. Nobody else. Just them. I honestly can not make it any simpler. I even left out that countless times I've mentioned it's a different situation if the cap is lowered to 55 million (it's a rumor, rumors aren't always true, that's why they are rumors) and and you have to give Hank what he wants. Obviously it's too much to ask for both of you to read and understand that.

All I'm saying is if the numbers work out and you can retain Hossa by letting Mule walk and shipping out Flip and Sammy then I am fine with that. I'm not saying it's going to happen. I don't have my heart set on it. And, again, it's all dependent on what everyone wants and what the cap does. And, again, if the cap goes down it's obviously a different story. And, again, you have to give Hank what he wants. I didn't think it was that hard to understand.

Lilja's deke grants him immunity for at least 10 games. I pooped myself, no joke, I had some of my mom's chili the other night. I literally had to go change my underwear. Ok, I didn't, but Lilja's deke was that good.

Clearly the highlight of this game is Lilja turning into a dangler for 5 seconds and doing his best NHL 09 impression to assist Maltby's goal.

I don't know about anyone else but I love listening to the CBC announcers, no bias whatsoever. Not that Mr. Daniels is a homer when he calls games. It's just refreshing to hear someone else call such an unbiased game *cough cough* Versus*cough cough*

That's great. And Leino and Helm wash out Flip and Sammy, obviously Hossa with Franzen. You aren't losing depth. My argument is, if Mr. Holland starts working out numbers with everyone and it's feasible to fit Hossa in and all he has to do is let Mule walk and trade Flip and Sammy when you have Leino and Helm waiting in Grand Rapids, I do it. We don't know what the cap will be and we certainly don't know what the players will ask for, all we can do is throw out armchair scenarios. I know two certain things though. 1) You give Hank what he wants and 2) I hope Flip blossoms into an even better hockey player (the brass regard him highly, they usually have good judgment) but he is expendable right now at 3 million. I know one uncertainty. Everyone says Hossa is going to be going after money after this season. There isn't any evidence that suggests he wouldn't take a discounted long-term contract to stay here. But, seeing as I should baby proof this, that's dependent on the cap, what Mule wants, what Hank wants, what Hossa wants etc. If Hossa wins one here who's to say his mindset will or will not be "hey, winning the Stanley Cup is kiiiiinnnnda cool, and I'm playing with a pretty bad ass team that has a legit shot every year to win, maybe I'll talk with Mr. Holland and see if we can work something out, we did in the summer." Every analyst and their mom chastised Hossa for taking that big of a discount to play with the Wings, all the while as Hossa was saying all the right words to the media. There is a reason why it can happen again and there is a reason why it can't happen again, mainly the cap. The latter is going to most likely play a bigger role.

People just dismiss Leino and Helm -who are are having great seasons so far- when it comes to this topic. Despite the fact that everyone here especially can't wait to see Leino. But he doesn't count for this topic of discussion, for whatever reason. You aren't sacrificing much depth if everything were to somehow magically align and work out and Hossa, Helm and Leino are in a Wings uniform next season.

You didn't say only one player, you said three or four: What three or four players are you referring to? Hossa is just as good as Hank and Datsyuk. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say he isn't. So that's two. Who are these two other mystery players? Flip? I sure hope you don't think Flip is better than Hossa. Hudler? Not even close. *edit* Do you mean 3-4 combined players? Wording is subject... Even if that is the case Hossa + Leino + Helm is arguably a much better option than Mule + Flip + Sammy if money allows it, more on that below. I know exactly what that salary cap is. If you do a little digging you can find me saying it's all dependant on what Hossa wants, how much Mule wants, etc. etc. If he wants close to the same amount and Franzen continues putting goals in the net which will vault what he asks for (remember Flip is making 3 million, Franzen could easily go for 5 million) then letting Mule walk and trading Flip + Sammy seems like it is an option. Granted that's all speculation, and that is with the same cap. If the cap is lowered than obviously it's a different story. You are the only one making yourself look stupid by making these ridiculous accustations. Before you open up your mouth and claim I only have a "casual eye" for hockey I suggest you look at my joined date. I've also been playing hockey for about 18 years now, including Juniors, so I think I have a good grasp of what goes on in a hockey game. Go ahead and name those guys that are getting paid 6 million. Although they may not be as defensivley responsible they are getting paid that much for a reason, mostly because they can put up more than 30 points a season unlike Flip. Flip at 3 million right now is a waste. He still has room for improvement, I can see him as a 50 point guy, which at that point 3 million for him is a steal. But not right now. You don't pay a guy 3 million to just play defense. That's why you have Draper's and Maltby's. Show to me where you saw that Hossa will absoultely not take a discount for a long-term contract to stay here. He's already taken a discount to play here. There is no evidence proving that he wouldn't take a discounted long-term contract to stay here.

I don't even know where to begin... Do you honestly believe what you just said? Hossa has been the best player on the ice all season... So you are perfectly fine with giving a guy 3 million to play a role you can throw the league minimum salary at?

Because Flip is totally justifying the 3 million he is making by coming in with 7 points in 17 games. Nobody has ever said it's either Hossa or Franzen. Everyone knows they are going to have to give up other people in order to retain Hossa. Ultimately it's going to come down to how much Hossa wants. If he wants the same amount or a little bit more I have absolutely no problem letting Franzen walk and trading Flip + Sammy for a draft pick. If this happens Hossa will only cost A LOT in sentimental feelings towards Franzen and Flip because there is no way he costs A LOT in terms of skill because quite frankly, you are getting Hossa. If he wants more than tough s*** for us, at least we got to watch him for one year. People need to keep this in mind. Flip is making 3 million right now, who is on pace for 33 points. What in the sam hell do you think Mule is going to ask for if he stays on pace? Obviously it's all speculation but if Flip is making 3 million, all the while accumulating 33 points, don't you think it's going to run through Mule's mind, hey I scored more goals than Flip has points, I might be worth a lot more than the 4 million everyone is saying I'll get.

Nice. I love how he said just his first name and not his whole name. As someone else stated you earned some respect by not saying "omgz do u kno who u r!!?!!!?!?!? Can i git ur autograf!?!?!?!?" Billups, Guillen, Dino and a few others have rolled through my work and the key is just talking to them. They are more than happy to talk to you if you treat them like a person. Granted they are no Steve Yzerman and Mr. Holland.

I would just like to confirm that did anyone else see the old guy that was bald but still hanging on to that ponytail he calls hair doing the cabbage patch about 15 mintues ago? It was too good that I hope I am not the only person that saw this. I couldn't stop laughing.