Yzermania19

You know, we just don't know what other teams were asking the Wings for in exchange for some of the "sexy" names that were available today, like Hossa, Foote and yes even Sergei and Marty. Just because Sergei went to the Caps for a no-name prospect and Marty went to Ottawa for a fourth-round draft pick doesn't mean the Wings could have had them for the same. Teams are out to make the best deal possible - they may have been asking for roster players from the Wings, because they know we have a lot of injuries right now and while I wouldn't exactly say we are "desperate" (it's not like any of our injured guys are done for the season), the perception is still, the Wings need some NHL-experienced bodies, especially defencemen. Holland is not going to let the team get raped for anything. Besides, once everyone comes back from their injuries, this is pretty much the same team that went all the way to the Western Conference finals and lost to the eventual Cup winners. There is no reason to think they can't at least get that far again this year. As for all the Holland bashing, well I just simply don't get that. Holland is widely regarded as one of the best GM's in all of sports, not just hockey. Because he didn't make the blockbuster deal he's getting skewered, just as he would if we gave up Flip, Hudler and/or Kronwall for Hossa. With some people there's just no satisfying them. The last time the Wings did a blockbuster trade deadline deal it didn't turn out so well, anyway - 1999, when we got Cheli, Ulf Samuelsson and Wendell Clark. Cheli's still here and has turned out to be a good acquisition, but the other two are long gone and didn't help us do anything in the playoffs that year. And then there's last year when we got Bertuzzi (not quite a blockbuster, but a big-name player). We gave up Shawn Matthias, whom many thought was a middling prospect, at best. Well, Bert bolted during the summer when he became UFA and Matthias is proving to be better than anticipated. And we got...nothing. No Matthias, no Bert. So it's only natural to be a little cautious when dealing your prospects. Will the Wings win the Cup this year with the current roster? Who knows. So much can still happen between now and then. But when they get their injured guys back and start playing like they did before all the injuries, they are like a force of nature that cannot be stopped and are the best team in the league, bar none. If they can stay healthy, they are pretty much unbeatable. There isn't one team that scares me. I'll be more than happy to cook up a big pot of crow for all the naysayers and bandwagon jumpers and deliver it personally to the rocks these people have crawled back under when the Wings at least make it to the WCF. If they can win the WCF, they'll win the Cup. There is no team in the East that can beat the Wings.

I am glad today turned out the way it did. Ken Holland was not about to make a trade just to make a trade. The only way he was going to trade with any team for anyone is if 1. the player could help the team and 2. the price is right. Apparently Brad Stuart satisfied both of those criteria. We don't yet know how deep the Wings were in to any of the other deals that went down today. Who knows? Maybe other teams wanted too much in terms of players, picks and prospects for the players they were willing to deal. I mean, yeah, it would be cool to land the big trade deadline deal (Marian Hossa), but sometimes it's the little ones that work out the best. And let's face it - the Wings were playing pretty damn good before all these injuries. We are going to get a lot of our hurt guys back in the next few weeks. There really wasn't much we needed before, except maybe a solid, stay-at-home defenceman, and Kenny got that today in Stuart. Ken Holland knows what he's doing...so we all just need to take a breath and relax. *breathes in deeply and exhales* There, now doesn't that feel better?

My thoughts exactly.

I'd love to see Foote in Detroit...could we afford him in terms of players/prospects/picks?

From Mlive's Red Wings Snapshots - More (with link to article on The Hockey News' web site) - The Hockey News's Costello is outraged...that anyone could call Laperriere's hit on Lidstrom 'dirty' *note* - sorry about the misspelling of Lidstrom's name in the title of the thread - I didn't notice it until I posted the article...

:lol: :lol: Very true. But it was still an inter-division trade. Isn't that kind of like marrying your cousin?

Jason Williams for Kyle Calder...of course that was a 3-way deal that involved Philadelphia, IIRC.

Unless one of the offers is from the Wings...

Supposedly he did, even though he never came right out and said it. There were times you could clearly tell they were frustrated with each other and Shanny seemed to be in Scotty's doghouse quite frequently with no apparent reason.

Most of the time it seems the trades come fast and furious on the actual deadline day. There might be a few that happen tonight, but the majority of them will be tomorrow. I'm working from home tomorrow so I will be listening to the radio and keeping a couple of the online trade trackers open all day.

Total speculation on my part, but what is the biggest difference between the 2003-04 Wings and the 2005-06 Wings? Mike Babcock. Methinks Shanny had some issues with Babs. Freddy Olausson had a liver transplant not long ago so he might not be available... I agree with you, KPwings - I think - besides my feelings that Shanny didn't like being coached by Babs for some reason - that he just felt it was time to move on. I can't fault him for that. Many of us, regardless what we do for a living, reach a point in our careers where we feel it's just time to move on, whether it's because we get a better job offer from another company or just feel we've gone as far as we could in our current positions. Just like in real life, there's no such thing as spending your entire career with one company/team. The days of guys like Yzerman, Sakic and the like are basically over.

I know I did and I apologized...read the whole post.

Ummm, Sundin said he won't waive his no-trade clause because he wants to stay in Toronto. Of course, we should expect no less than crap from Eklund.

Well, we can look at it this way - ALL of our top defencemen (and forwards...let's not forget the forwards, too) will be back in plenty of time and well-rested for the playoffs, after sitting out for at least a few games with their various injuries. Cracks me up, though, that Lilja is the most experienced d-man in the lineup right now. If it wasn't for him, it'd be Lebda. Yikes.

The flexible fabric band-aids are the best...they're stretchy, so they stick better.

Exactly...the Wings want to win the Cup, not do some PR stunt. IF Feds and Mac can play and IF there are spots for them on the roster, then they will be looked at as trade deadline acquisitions. Otherwise, Holland won't sign them. I mean, I would love to see both of them wearing the winged wheel again, but if it's because the Wings want to sell more tickets and if it means better, more productive players will be forced to sit, forget it.

For those who would like to see Stevie inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame but couldn't go, the DRW web site is simulcasting the ceremonies online. Here's the link - MSHOF Induction Ceremony They haven't started yet - an announcer came on a few minutes ago and said they would be starting in about 10 minutes, so you've got a few minutes left. I don't know when Stevie's part will start, or how long it is. *edit* - Just now they said five minutes before they start.

TSN is reporting Cleary needs to have surgery - Article - Wings' Cleary out six to eight weeks

Ken Campbell had me until he started talking about Holland leaving to become GM of the Leafs. You know, the hockey world does not begin and end with Toronto, as much as Leaf Nation would like to think it does. Anyway, I think your scenario is a plausible one. In fact, I mentioned it on some RW message board before - either here or another one. I can easily see that happening. As good as Nill is, with Yzerman waiting in the wings, he probably won't get the GM job here. So of the trifecta that includes Holland, Nill and Yzerman, the most likely one to leave would be Nill. Then, as you said, when Jimmy D retires, everyone moves up a spot and Holland becomes senior VP (Devellano's current title) and Stevie becomes executive VP/GM. Eventually down the road Stevie will be the Wings' head honcho (Christopher Ilitch's position) once Mike and Marian decide to retire and hand the reigns of Olympia Entertainment over to Chris. But for now Stevie seems content in his VP role, learning the business side of hockey from some of the best in sports while having the flexibility to take on outside projects like the Team Canada gigs, and being able to spend time with his family. *edited for clairty

Good for Stevie!!! Here's hoping for a repeat of last years' success! *raises glass*

I am going to cast my vote with the Lindros trade - all those established NHL players for a conceited prima donna who hadn't even played an NHL game yet. I remember this one - I was on my way back to my office, heard it on the radio and my jaw dropped!

All the warnings have been cancelled in southeastern Michigan, and the snow totals have been revised. In the Detroit area they are saying 3-6 inches and west of here, like Lansing, Jackson and points west, 4-8 inches. We already have about 4 inches of snow in my neighborhood, and I doubt we will get much more. There is actually a light, misty rain now. The weather people are saying the reason is the air was so dry around here (I can attest to that - my skin couldn't get enough moisturizer!!) that it was never saturated enough to get to those snow totals. We probably won't get much more snow today, so by game time the roads should be just fine - probably slushy, but fine. Just exercise caution when driving, because especially after the game some of the slush could freeze.

I think you are absolutely spot-on correct here, both in your interpretation of Ilitch's feelings toward Stevie and Stevie's toward the organization. I'm not sure if I would use the word "own" in describing Ilitch's relationship with Stevie, although it is definitely more like a father/son than an owner/player. The Ilitch family really took Stevie under their wing (no pun intended) when Stevie first came to Detroit as a quiet, shy, somewhat naive 18-year-old and in a lot of ways, he is like an unofficial Ilitch. There would have to be a falling out of monumental proportions for Stevie to leave the Wings, at least permanently. I can see him doing his annual Team Canada stints but as for anything else, if he becomes GM of an NHL team it almost certainly will be the Wings. Besides, I have heard interviews recently where Stevie says he is enjoying what he's doing now for the team - he is still learning the ropes of the business side of hockey and he's starting to take a more active role, especially in marketing. But his schedule is flexible enough that it allows him to spend a lot of time with his family. He has the best of both worlds right now. Why would he trade that in to take such a thankless job as GM of the Leafs? However, I am available for thankless jobs - income, I have discovered, is a good thing. Anyone have an email address for Richard Peddie? Heck, I couldn't do any worse than John Ferguson...

^ ^ ^ IF (and that's a big IF) the Wings ever got a third sweater, THAT is the one I'd like to see them go with, not some stylized, over-striped, over-colorblocked, over-trimmed version like every other team seems to have these days. As for which version of the Leafs sweater I prefer, I know the poll's not "official" yet, but I'd pick the top one. I like the leaf much better.

His official title, as listed on the DRW web site is, Vice President/Alternate Governor. And from all indications, he had adjusted to the executive life quite well and seems to be enjoying his current position. I have seen several interviews over the past months where he says he doesn't regret his decision to retire at all and doesn't miss playing hockey. Here's a pic from the Ottawa Sun over the weekend - And here's a link to the accompanying article - Stevie Y: The Steps to Stardom