Nightfall

Sure you aren't just sleeping through them? Just based on a lot of the opinions here, I am glad only the opinions of the management of the Wings matter. 4 cups in 15 years means a lot to me and I trust in their assessment. Franzen, IMHO, is a great signing for this team. People may not like him, like Hudler, but they produce. I like how some of the fans here want to dump Hudler and Franzen, which is over 50 goals of production, and with no real plan to replace those goals. This team is better off with Franzen than without him thats for sure. Especially at the bargain price they are paying for him.

All professionals should be busting their ass every second of every shift. That doesn't happen though. Especially in the dog days of the regular season. IMHO, people getting on Franzen for floating could be saying that Z was floating as well in the first part of the regular season. Hrm, you definitely don't watch many Wings games do you?

IMHO, Franzen "floats" a lot less than people here say who "watch the games". He is not paid for speed. He is paid to be a power forward.

Ah ok, my apologies then.

You obviously have a reading comprehension problem....let me break it down for you easily.... Not taking sides initially. Fans should be putting pressure on both sides equally to get a deal done. If by September 15th, there is no deal in place, and the players want to play under the current CBA while they negotiate a deal, but the owners initiate a lockout, I will be on the side of the players since they are willing to work under the current agreement and continue negotiations. The owners will simply be greedy if they lockout at that stage. If the players initiate the lockout, then that will be greed based as well and I will side with the owners at that point. Simple enough?

Careful what you celebrate for. 25 goals from a single player is not easy to find. That is why David Jones is paid $4 million a season.

I agree with this. Franzen is a $4 million dollar guy that leads our team in scoring. If he was a guy who scored 50 goals, he would be making a couple million more. He is getting compensated accordingly and appropriately.

Thats a big IF. I will agree that the league could look like the good guys here if they didn't initiate a lockout and the owners did. I know I would be on the players side if that happened.

NHL Players Association executive director Don Fehr said Wednesday "the players haven't considered what they would do on Sept. 15 or any other date if no agreement is in place." http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=399382 Not really something to get excited about. Apparently Don Fehr isn't saying that they will play for sure, but that the possibility is there for them to play if there isn't a contract. It makes sense to me to play on and settle the contract beyond the 15th if it goes that far, but I am not in charge.

You and I are in total agreement, except on the point of siding with the NHLPA. I won't side with either again this CBA. This is because they both hold the keys for getting a deal done. Its not like the NHLPA has no power in this situation and they are waiting on the league to make it happen. The NHLPA has the talent, and that is just as huge of a bargaining chip as the owners have. If there is a lockout, both sides will be at fault. Plain and simple.

Actually, both sides celebrated because they got what they wanted in the last CBA. The league got "cost certainty" while the players got to keep their guaranteed contracts and early unrestricted free agency. The owners did get a little more, but that was to be expected. Fehr has said that he would continue with the new CBA, and there is no indication that the league will initiate a lockout, which is good news. They can keep negotiating under the current CBA until a new one is hashed out. So to say that its a foregone conclusion that we will have a lockout is flawed thinking at this juncture. One thing is certain, the CBA does need to be fixed a bit. Just like last year when players were making HUGE salaries, the pendulum has swung back the other way slightly. There needs to be realignment of the teams. The salary cap floor and ceiling needs to be adjusted a bit. To say the system is broken would be false, but it can be tweaked. What we need less of are people willing to side with someone and more angry fans who are willing to yell at both sides. This is a two way street, and the players caved in last time, maybe its time for the owners to give up some of their profits to get some of the salary cap issues taken care of. It all depends on how flexible both sides are going to be in this process. To blame one side for a lockout is a stretch. I didn't blame the players for giving up a lot last time, and we lost a whole season. I blame both sides equally.

Wings fans bitched at Holland for the Drake signing, saying he was over the hill and offered nothing. Wings won the cup and everyone praised the signing. Go figure..... As for Doan, I think he would be a great addition to the Wings, but he may go play for Pittsburgh or another contender.

Christ..... What we need are less people to side with one side or the other and more people who want to see BOTH sides work out a deal. Lets make sure as fans of the sport that we want to see an NHL season. To hell with one side over the other. Its a sport with 3.3 billion dollars of revenue. They should be able to work out a deal and not sacrifice part or all of the season. If there are any games lost, or a season lost, I will be blaming both sides equally for being idiots. After all, it was both sides that contributed to the last lockout.

I think its more like the NHL doesn't want to hold up $3.3 billion dollars of revenue. They have grown from $2.1 billion to $3.3 billion since the lockout. Thats incredible growth. Owners and players have to come to a decision on the CBA before the season starts to keep things rolling.

I agree on the lateral move bit. Grand Rapids needed a coach on short notice. Why not give the reigns to someone who has had great success coaching youngsters to get to the NHL? It really is a great fit for Blashill. I like this! I have been a season ticket holder for the Griffins and I love going to the games. I just don't like seeing them play so inconsistant from one night to the next. Fraser is a good coach, but I think it was time for a change. I think that Blashill can really tear it up in the AHL as a coach.

This right here. Its not a make or break for him. He really has had more success than any other GM in the last 15 years.

As if any other players haven't taken a discount to play for the Wings. Point is, we don't know what Hudler will and won't do. There is a chance he signs for a modest 3 million dollar raise, or he may go for 4 million on the open market. To say there is no chance of him doing something that many other Wings players have done in the past is really pulling something out of your ass.

I would rather have that as well.... But consider this.... Hudler at 3 million instead. Would you take him? I don't think Ken Holland would sign Hudler for 4 million, but 3 is a very good possibility. Semin is a top line player, while Hudler is a 3rd line player. I think people should just stop comparing them because they are different. Its not like Semin is going to drop to line 3 while Hudler is playing top line minutes. Who else can we get on the free agent wire that is going to make 3 million but put up those kinds of points?

I just don't understand the attitude of some people here. Hudler had a great season. Are you trying to tell me if he signs for $2.5-$3 million per season, that is a horrible deal? Who else are we going to get that is going to play 3rd line minutes and put up points like that for that salary? I love how people say that they would rather have Semin, but Semin is going to make double what Hudler makes easily. I guess we should see how things work out. Hudler could probably get $4 million on the open market, which means that if he is only out for money, he can find a great contract. If he wants to stick with the wings, he can take less.

I agree. Some media pundits and hockey fans are already sounding off on how the NHL is the one at fault for speaking to the media. No harsh words for the players association? Both sides on this "negotiating process" are equally at fault for the last lockout, and if there is a partial or lost season this time around, both sides will be at fault again.

You do realize that there are 2 sides to the negotiating process? I haven't heard crap from the union. It seems like both sides are posturing and really not doing much. There seems to be no sense of urgency from either side. Personally, I could do without the updates from Bettman, but at least we are getting updates from him. The players union seems content with being in a permanent cone of silence and keeping the public guessing.

A bit much? Hell, 2 million is a heck of a deal for Helm. Great signing.

I would have to agree, if he was paid a little less. At Ericsson's salary, he is paid just right with what he brings to the table. Still, Ericsson takes a lot of abuse on these forums, and I don't think it is deserved. He is going to be a solid defenseman for the wings for many years to come.

From the concept of developing a player, he was average as well. I really can't say he was that good or that bad. All I can say is that the Griffins as a whole have been below average. I would like to see the Griffins field a playoff team for a change. They have the expertise and players to make it happen.

I really believe that the Griffins have been lacking something since Fraser took over. Maybe this is an opportunity for a different coach to come in and lead the Griffins to a playoff berth.