RyanBarnes!

You know the post season is totally different from the regular season. It's not like they haven't been shut down before. I maintain that spreading the wealth is the way to go right from the start, because that's the only way to win in the long run.

It would not be exciting to keep the level from the regular season and that's fine. Frankly I think the game is better off called playoff style, especially now with the "new" rules. It eliminates the most ridiculous calls from the regular season and allows the players to battle for the puck and so forth.

I think it could be the right thing to do. Gives the Red Wings more depth and makes it very difficult for the Flames to shut us down. For the Red Wings to go deep this season they need to rely on team effort, not a single line or two. There's always the possibility to switch back from time to time.

It will be a benchmark, because all Zetterberg's agent need to do is point in Datsyuk's direction. The numbers might need some adjustment up or down depending on the cap situation, but the main terms are now set in stone.

By similar contract I didn't mean the exact same contract, but rather one that pays him a lot of $$$ and for a very long period of time.

Do you have a crystal ball?

I'm sorry, I meant the whole age/groin thingy. Hasek might be considered a gamble because of his groin, but then again, it doesn't take a whole lot for a goalie (any goalie) to go down. If that happens, any team would be in trouble. That's my point. Given that Datsyuk is actually wanted on the team in 2010-2011, and that he performs according to a $8.3 M player at the time, which is far from a fact. In addition, your scenario doesn't consider other possible UFA targets available.

Are you trying to confuse me?

Not sure I agree. It would be a tough loss for any team to lose their starting goaltender in the playoffs. It seems you consider Hasek's age to be the greatest risk factor in this case and I'm not so sure about that. I admit he's got a history though. Of course, I'm just pointing out a general observation here. Some people can do nothing wrong, while some can do nothing right. Now, some poster's would probably say that goes for the critics as well, but I try to be fair.

This is the secret behind Holland's status. People congratulate him on a job well done, even when he makes a mistake. But bringing back same goaltender instead of pursuing new options can also be considered rather conservative, don't you think?

Except, there are no similarities between Brodeur and Datsyuk.

I could be in favor of a system that allows more movement in the draft lottery, similar to the way it works for the top picks now. No team should be able to move up or down more than 5 spots though. It would work as a small compensation for the revenue sharing installed by the new CBA.

If I'm not mistaken Zetterberg has two more years left on his contract after this season. After that he will indeed be looking for a similar contract as Datsyuk, no reason he shouldn't. That's another reason this contract is completely off the charts. Before I was certain that Zetterberg could be had for slightly less, but now the Red Wings basically have no choice but to offer him the same contract as Datsyuk. This contract is extremely expensive from this perspective. It's expensive from the very beginning...

And I'm just responding to that response... Even with a rising cap, there can be no question Greenstin owns Holland after this one. It's too much, for too long. I concur. Hardly, it makes perfect sense. That's how most players function, even though I'm not sure Datsyuk is one of them. Players tend to have huge seasons in contract years, and then they're production slips the next after the contract is signed. See Draper, but I'm sure there are much better examples out there.

I wouldn't call Holland a gambler simply because he finally woke up and took a chance on Bertuzzi. When it comes to contracts and re-signing his players, sadly this is exactly what I'd expect from Holland. Even if the cap is rising, Datsyuk still isn't a $7 M player. No, stupid is what it is.

No s***. The pressure is on... both Datsyuk and Holland.

I second that, and at $6.7 M Holland didn't even manage to get a discount out of all those years!

Seven years?! That's insanely stupid, Holland!

I doubt it. Holland isn't going to dish out more than $6 M for a playoff no-show like Datsyuk without some serious discussions.

I sure hope he stays. Nobody else does what he does on the team.

As indicated by my original post, half a mill isn't the entire world, but I don't think Datsyuk has done anything to warrant $6 M a year. I don't think he is significantly better than Tanguay or Savard. I'm not interested in the division title. What interests me is that a top player that produces in the playoffs.

I'm not too happy about signing Datsyuk prior to the playoffs, but most of all I hope Holland didn't go overboard here. Datsyuk hasn't shown that he's anything else than a $5 M/year player. Even if Datsyuk decides to show up in this years playoffs, his market value would not increase dramatically (relatively speaking). I expect that Holland managed to get a discount for signing him prior to the playoffs. No more than $22 M/4 years. More than that would look quite ridiculous in my opinion.

Hardly. Jagr is the greatest locker room cancer in the entire NHL.

The Rangers have ZERO chance of winning a Cup with Jagr in the lineup. Zero.

I still think Babcock is the main reason why this team has done so well thus far, but I admit Holland came up huge at the deadline trading for Calder and Bertuzzi.