akustyk

not necessarily. recent expansion took place at the moment when the NHL started to look for more and more Euro players. in early 90's when the Eastern Europe escaped from communism the door was open even further, and a number of Czech, Slovak and Russian (+few Latvian and Polish) has found their way to the NHL. which basicaly invalidates the "talent watering" argument. the talent has been found behind the Atlantic. where before there were few Euro players now there are many and the very Red Wings are prime example of an NHL team built with Euro born guys the valid question is whether there is any room for 2 more teams. in a couple of years, with NHL scouts getting more and more involved into European leagues I could say: yes, there is. do we need 2 more? hell no. we've got some 6 too many

are you serious? I mean... I'm not a Predators basher (in opposite) unless Tootoo plays against Wings, but c'mon... we're talking about non-traditional market team which never ripped the headlines in local newspapers and is not exactly amont state's top sport franchises. we're also talking about a mess created by Buttman and about the GM who seems to make firesale. if you call this a good sign and the way to bring people to the games... if the Nashville based group is about to buy the franchise and your GM is gonna shop for some names and the team finds enough chemistry to fare well rather than float around the bottom of Central Division (there's always Blackhawks and BJ's so Preds nevertheless stand a chance to be 3rd after all) and Tennesse media picks up some hockey coverage (and I mean: ice hockey, not floorball etc.) then I can see the attendance not falling hard and maybe even some growth. other than that, I'd never make a statement like above. that's very risky and without much to cover having said that - I wish your team stayed put as it was last season, maybe with some adjustments towards more skilled players and fewer s***dicks like Tootoo and Hartnell. Predators have been the single team worth those 8 meetings in the season and being a real competitor made Wings sweat to win those points. I really can't see it happening, but I'd like to see Preds fighting for top spot again. Wigns may as well decrease their level this season (compared to other Western teams) but for now it's the Preds who have teh biggest chance to regress a big lot. hope I'm wrong

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he's not the same guy anymore. but you know... when you get your Elisha some day you might as well be tempted to have this kind of attitude

Flyers and the cup? that must be an EA Sports game BTW: what's with this logo changing fever? I know there's those new *** jerseys and there need to be logo adjustments for them, but does it has to be every single team to change logo to fit those new uniforms? will we see some lame silver lining in Winged Wheel soon? jeeeeez... no...

Avery would not get along with Babcock and I'd rather keep the later than get Avery. on the paper I'd like Avery because he's shown some maturity and willingness to apply his skills in good way. he also seems to be more of a team guy now. still, I'd grade him as A- level risk of locker room cancer. would rather like safer options

OT: duplicating porn tapes? Wikipedia says he's now off from Wings organization. he was the video guy during (late) Scotty and Dave Lewis era http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Kocur

jesus, could some mod clean this thread from this awful goonish crap of DetroitIan. I mean, like many previous posters, I'm disgusted with such childish behavior which brings this forum to the poor level of something we don't want to be. apologizes to all non-Wings fans who had to read this thread. this is not what majority of Wings fans feel and how most of us want LGW.com to be. this is a place we appreciate other fans and enjoy sharing different thought even if those discussions get fierce at times (during playoffs or Preds games, mostly ). we don't appreciate that low standards, either

I don't feel like there's a void in Wings lineup after ditching Lang. I've seen enough underperforming primadonnas over the years. let'em go to Chicago or Toranto

good riddance! don't let the door slam you!

some ppl consider him a crap and hate just for the fact that Wings pay him $550k and not receive those $550k from Drake. other bemoan he's not the second coming of Jesus Chist or at least Wayne Gretzky (still, these $550k would be too much). I guess you just need to learn to live with this

on the sidenote: LGW seems to be very good at cursing $550k player for not having skills etc. to be second coming of Jesus Christ. I mean... honestly... that's $550k addition. he's not supposed to put Gretzky's numbers or do things like Probbie once. right?

throwing prospects and draft picks is the last what Wings can currently afford. we are pretty thin in both departments and while this is changing we still need to be carefull about that.

but wasn't that you who called ppl here playing to much NHL 07? how is Yashin the next better option to Shanahan if he hasn't put a consistent, convincing season since he left Sens because of failed contract negotiations, god only know how many years ago? a guy who consistently fails to find enough inspiration to work hard and put the effort and heart into the game. we don't need another Lang on this team. say big NO to guys with skills and no desire to win anything in their hearts. most certainly not for 3.5M. I'd rather see Wings picking another Dan Cleary for half of this price tag, than go for a has-been who only looks good on paper but won't bring enough hard work to the WIngs. and with Wings being a teamwork team where primaballerinas don't get their chances, I see no real justification of going for Yashin

he might be a difference between Wings rebuilding fine and Wings having problems with rebuilding. we're not exactly a team with deep prospect pool now. we don't have the flexibility to just say a guy can get lost. even more with Round 2 draft picks, which is rather high for Wings current standards that being said, I'd definitely prefer Babcock to have the flexibility to handle Grigorenko the way he wants rather than ponder if the guy can be lost. that's pretty devastating for team morale

Jesus Christ! why should we follow expensive no-phukin-cares or injury-all-season-longs?

for sure Holland is not done. we need a legit second line center, preferably with some physicallity package. and/or a real scoring threat to handle some serious minutes. the problem is such guys just don't grow on trees and Kenny might not be able to shop one for a reasonable price. with no high draft picks and crucial prospects being involved in such discussions

the Gordie Howe statue at JLA is an improvement over Lang in terms of mobility and effort it doesn't have his numbers but I don't think we actually need a guy of Lang's skills to fill the void. that'd just have to be someone putting an effort into game to not neutralize entire 2nd line. that would do it

QFT. and a big amen to that! he's cheap, nasty ass to make other team keep their heads up. gotta love this addition. now keep some cap space to shop for physical right winger and we're gonna be fine!

Bertuzzi didn't cost us whole lot (except for those conditional draft picks) and was taken as an immediate help for playoffs. signing a guy for whole season is a bit different story. of cheap Lindros could be the third line center but I don't see him coming that cheap with current price tags

why does these board continue to look for players who have/had skill package, but are old, or either way past their prime, or lazy, or on the downfall of their career or simply have reputation of giving no sh* about the game. and that knowing Holland will rather shop for ppl known for fewer skills but a good attitude I mean... OK, Lindros has good frame and abilities. cool. but he's nowhere close to what he's once been or what he's touted to be. just as Yashin, Berard, O'Neil, McCarty, and a zillion other names that appear here every single NHL trade period. yes, I know NHL is no "free pick", but why are Wings supposed to follow expensive has-beens if they have own pool of prospects to develop and give NHL minutes or might actually try shopping some young, decent players who might not have skills, but actually care about the game and put some effort into it? I mean: if you want to have it cheap go with safer players for fewer bucks (I mean Cleary's, Sammuelsons, etc.). and if you want quality minutes shop for the best available (read: Rafalski).

just when exactly Forsberg has last been healthy? 1997?

Holy Christ! I'm gonna puke. kicking Lang only to get Yashin and even pay him more. please no!

nice try but those soft Wings did beat gooning Flames and much more physical Sharks, didn't they? and if not for lack of Schneider and fatigue caused by that they could as well beat the Ducks but sure... who cares. let the bodies fly, let there be bloody pulps every single game

I think that sums it all. though, I'm not in the "we must win the cup next season camp". playing Howard is risky and going with him and Oz into playoffs even more. but with some experience Jimmy could be our starter soon. whether capable of carrying the team in playoffs has yet to be seen, but for this he needs to give him a chance first. sometimes it is worth to gamble and give a chance to developing players, than to go safe with veterans and sacrifice the future. and in fact with Grigorenko coming and Lebda/Quincey getting regular ice time the following season could be a cornerstone of future winning team. why not try Howard now, then?