norrisnick

Could it be that Marleau is the only top player that is consistently matched up against the top line of the opposition? How is it that Maltby managed to be -9 when he's clearly one of the Wings' strongest defensive forwards? +/- never answers a question, it never points at a reason, it only ever creates more questions. I guess I just don't follow this line of reasoning. Why does it matter if Datsyuk has more skill if he seems to be unable to do anything with them when it matters? Athletic competition, more than anything, ought to be results/performance driven, no? This isn't ice dancing. There are no points awarded for artistic presentation...

Not that much. Brind'Amour was tied for 67th in +/- for forwards at +8. nhl.com is handy (it's under RTSS stats) Pavel won 53.1% of 1059 draws. Patrick only 46.8% of 1216 draws.

+/- in and of itself is meaningless as a measure of defensive ability. Shanahan +29, Draper +3, Maltby -9, etc... Why would I want to reference a reputable publication? http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=285507 Datsyuk plays prettily. Marleau plays effectively.

He's bigger, faster, stronger, better defensively (a + is far easier to attain on the Wings than it is in San Jose), a better goalscorer (which is what we need most up front), healthier, younger, and a FAR better playoff performer. Datsyuk's style of play is prettier but in no meaningful way is he a better or more elite player. Oh and as an aside, given a choice of San Jose's centers I'd take Marleau without hesitation.

Time for some of these young bucks to step up and challenge him. From the sounds of his post match talks it seems like Roger is determined to put an end to Nadal's reign over Roland Garos and on making a run at winning the entire Slam next year. I have no reason to doubt him which would be rather daunting for the other ATP members. And yes he is human. Evidence to that would be his 1st service game of the 2nd set yesterday. Other than that, not so much.

I'm sorry you resent it. It was meant tongue in cheak, but with a hint of truth mixed in. If Kronwall were a Canadian there's no way you'd so easily toss him in. You have a mental block/fear about the number of Swedes on the Wings. Doesn't matter that for the most part they're quality players. And I'll remind you that we're not working with the standard "LGW" package here. Datsyuk + has considerably more value than the trio you named, and Kronwall far more beyond Pavel. So Carle can jump in at the #5 spot. Great. I fully expect Kronwall to take hold of the #2 spot. We're taking steps backwards at a more important position (defense) to further enhance what already is a strength (center). By the time Carle gets to where Kronwall is now Marleau is due a raise and a huge part of his value will go down. Gambling on Kronwall's injury is the same gamble we're taking with every single other player on the team. He caught a bad rut in '03-'04 at Staples and had his knee smashed against the boards in the waning seconds of a period of an exhibition game last fall. He let up on the play and Hinote (battling for a roster spot) didn't. Anyone could have fallen to those injuries. It's not like his style of play is constantly getting him knocked out of the lineup with various injuries.

And tossing in Kronwall makes no sense for the Wings. I know he's Swedish and thus drops a couple notches in your view of him , but he's good and all we have for under 30 year old defensemen.

I don't think the Sharks have any intentions whatsoever to trade their captain and best playoff performer. He'd be great to have but the Wings cannot afford to trade Kronwall for him (and Carle is taking a couple steps backwards in having to repeat a couple years of development). If a sweetener along the lines of Grigorenko/McGrath/2nd rd pick/etc... isn't enough to bump up from Datsyuk, then I don't think there's a trade there to be had.

Take out Carle as well. Balance the inequity between Marleau and Datsyuk without creating another inequity by tossing in Kronwall that then needs to be balanced by Carle.

The problem with that is that Kronwall could very well become the best player involved in the trade. He already has higher trade value than Datsyuk, IMO. Nik isn't a balancer. He's a centerpiece.

Marleau is locked up at $4M for this year and the next. Datsyuk's 1st UFA year (next season) will give him a headstart that Marleau likely will never catch up to, financially. Marleau doesn't have Pavel's 'natural creative gifts' but he has more than enough to be an effective and productive player. Marleau and Datsyuk are about even as far as regular season offensive production. From there things just get silly skewed in Patrick's favor. Pavel's playoff stats 42 gms 3 G 12 A 15 Pts Marleau's during the same time span 40 gms 23 G 14A 37 Pts Marleau is the better player. Easily. Tossing in a decent prospect or high pick (1st is a bit high) is what it would take for Wilson to even consider it.

Calgary gets too much. San Jose gets too much junk for Marleau. We get Kobasew and give up too much. WAY too much.

They both score, but that's about it (I guess they were both #2 overall draft picks too). Marleau is much faster and better defensively. Shanahan was a TON more physical (still is). Shanny tangled with guys like Probert and racked up 200+ PIMs in his heyday. Patrick is a perennial Byng candidate. About as similar as Lidstrom and Chara...

He's nothing like a young Shanny...

B52, Next time you ought to © your threads...

Well this is what I got as an answer over at HFBoards.

It may also be something closer to say Roo-noh. The Y can have a touch of 'u' in it over there. Like Lydman (Lidman) turned into Lewdman when he went to Buffalo. Though he is Finnish, but sometimes the names get crossed over like the Salo's.

Poster from another forum. http://rwctalk.proboards98.com/index.cgi?b...read=1154555349 Gotta love Wings fans from all corners of the world.

Ohhh upside down. Tricky and it'll work once he hits the Wings too. Thanks for the updates!

source? nvm it's on mlive/detnews Carry on...

Whether they bring him over or not they still have to sign him next summer or he re-enters the draft.

Thanks.

http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=654097 via Swedish poster at another forum. A little help, RB!?

He wants a one-way deal. @ $750K. http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/06/Lightnin...tyukhin_s.shtml Feaster is in a bind financially and is trying to use Craig as a brake on his other young players' contracts.

Awesome! I'll look forward to the updates.