RyanBarnes!

Yeah, the main concern is not the league overall popularity, it's the popularity among the dedicated fans. The problem is, the dedicated fan seem less interested now due to all the changes and screw ups. If only Bettman and company could get over their dream of competing with the other pro leagues and get some hockey basics back, the game would be much better off.

I don't mind the rental system. At least the teams trading their top player get a good return nowadays, as opposed to before the lockout when teams had to sell out for pure financial reasons. I like the fact that these rentals create buzz and speculation around the league.

I can understand Anaheim not parting with Perry, but Hudler? Do it already!

For Chelios to be able to play with any young defensemen, there needs to be a spot open for them. That's usually the 5th or 6th spot, currently held by Lebda and Chelios. Will they ever be ready if they don't get the chance?

Still, Forsberg chose his destination, he likes the makup of the team and he believes they can win. He's also friends with Kariya. Same should apply for next year. We'll see... Given Forsberg's ability to produce in the playoffs, at least it would make sense for the Red Wings.

I guess I'm one of those people. Sooner or later, Chelios is going to end up a huge liability. Look at what happened to Fetisov. However, that's not my main issue. My main issue is this; when is Detroit going to develop youth? Schneider is standing in the way of Kronwall right now and numerous of veterans have done the same before him (not Kronwall specifically). Chelios will keep players like Quincey, Kindl and Ericsson out of the lineup.

I read that the Canucks were asked to part with either Luc Bourdon, Cory Schneider or Alexander Edler in addition to Morrison. I still can't believe the Preds traded Parent. They must plan to re-sign Forsberg.

Is any year a good indication? Seems like the Datsyuk apologist's always have a reason or excuse for Datsyuk never showing up. It's not Stanley Cup or bust! It's about not dominating in the regular season only to lose out to the underdog. It's about improving, advancing if you will. It's about giving it your everything. For Datsyuk it's about delivering when it counts and proving why he should be the best paid forward on the team. High salary demands comes with high expectations. No question, the players get paid for the regular season and not the playoffs, but why should Detroit hang on to Datsyuk if he's incapable of elevating his game and help them win in the post season? Especially when he wants to get paid like the best in the league? Afterall, winning is what it's all about for the Red Wings as an organization. They have the choice of spending that money on any other free agent and they will if Datsyuk doesn't improve.

Zetterberg proved last season that he has the ability to score in the playoffs. He scored 6 goals, which is more than Datsyuk has totaled in his entire career. More importantly, Datsyuk wants to be the best paid forward on the team and should be expected to play accordingly. Zetterberg has made no such demands. Is this really so hard to understand? I suspect it was a poor attempt at being sarcastic, but good luck finding someone trading a Conn Smythe winner for Datsyuk.

What the skeptics are saying is true, he hasn't proved anything thus far this season. Everybody already knows what he is capable of in the regular season. The skeptics have been saying this for years, they didn't just "change their story". There's good reason too, since he pulls the same disappearing act every post season. Datsyuk wants to be paid elite money, his agent has made that pretty clear. So why shouldn't he be expected to deliver when it counts?

By stating that Lapointe would be an interesting addition, I act like he is actually a tough guy still? Come again?! I'd take Fedoruk or Eager over Lapointe too, I never said I wouldn't.

I missed out on Datsyuk playing wing, I admit. However that has absolutely nothing to do with my original point. The 5 arguments listed are not reasons for Datsyuk staying in Detroit. Datsyuk is not irreplaceable, he's not the key to Zetterberg's success, and he's certainly no go-to guy in the playoffs. I'm not sure what the rest of this post is supposed to prove. It adds absolutely nothing new.

That's not the point I'm arguing, but Zetterberg is a more complete player than Datsyuk so it makes sense imo. No, Datsyuk not scoring in the playoffs is a FACT proved by stats.

I believe you are right about Datsyuk assisting Zetterberg on more than one occasion -my bad, but Datsyuk's goalless streak continued nonetheless. The point about Zetterberg > Datsyuk is still valid. That's not saying Zetterberg needs no one. Frankly, I couldn't care less if the goals weren't pretty.

That's just stats though. There could be a million reasons behind Zetterberg's slow start and current success. There's absolutely nothing to suggest Zetterberg's current success is linked specifically to Datsyuk. I've seen him dominate like this before. Just look at the playoffs, where the two were separated. Zetterberg scored 6 goals, while Datsyuk continued his no show tradition. To suggest Zetterberg needs Datsyuk is ridiculous. Nobody's denying that the two play well together, people are reacting to the ridiculous argument made by the threadstarter as to why Datsyuk should be kept in Detroit. Zetterberg could probably carry the line of Cleary and Williams. It couldn't get much worse than now, but good luck having either Datsyuk or Lang play wing. Which is another reason why Zetterberg is superior to Datsyuk, he is flexible.

Datsyuk is not likely to be traded, but I agree with NN, the points listed by the threadstarter couldn't be further from the truth. I think Datsyuk needs Zetterberg more than the other way around. The last argument is downright laughable. Few others have displayed their inability to score in the playoffs like Datsyuk.

They usually are when it comes to this sort of news. I wouldn't be surprised if, eventually, it comes out that Holland talked him out of it.

Wow, I was almost 100 percent sure Holmstrom would leave for Sweden after this season.

Both would be interesting additions. Lapointe makes $2.4 M this season, but that is not an issue at this point of the season.

Maybe he had no choice?

Tkachuk -he's meaner.

Want to know what happened to Adam Hall? The Rangers is what happened. They destroyed him.

No, you are right. Osgood has another year left, hence "the ideal, but not likely" part. Impossible. Buffalo and Miller loves Biron. He is the ultimate team player and a great insurance should anything happen to Miller. If Biron is ready to accept back up duty, it automatically invalidates any other possible complaint a player can make. Osgood won a Cup almost ten years ago, I don't think Buffalo could care less.

The ideal thing would be to sign Biron, call up Howard, dump Osgood (once again the ideal thing, but not likely) and let Hasek retire.

Me neither, but nobody on the Rags interests me except Lundqvist and that's not happening.