Nightfall

Until the NHL changes the reffing style, there will always be missed calls. I love this idea. http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=74683 The NHL seems unwilling to change it up though, and that is sad.

No 6, 7, or 8 seeded team has ever won the Stanley Cup. If the Devils make the finals, that streak will be over. Seriously, I love the way the Kings are playing. They haven't lost a game on the road. They have put together a strong gameplan, had no injury issues, and get the bounces they need to win games. That is all you need when the playoffs come around. I am also hoping for a Rangers/Kings SCF series. It has the potential to be one of the most watched series in a long time.

If you look at the farm systems of every NHL team, there are bright spots. Only a few will make the NHL on a regular basis, and even fewer of those will excel in the league. Now, it all depends on how you look at it. If you ask someone who has faith in the farm team players and has seen them play in the minors with success, they are happy. If you ask a negative nancy, who believes that the Wings are going to suck in a few years, then those people are unhappy. You are a glass half empty kind of guy, and there is nothing wrong with that. Which leads me into the next statement. So far, just reading through your numerous posts, you are taking the negative side to just about everything. Which factors into your negative rating with such a low post count. The issue here isn't that you are "telling it like it is". The real issue is that everyone who responds to you is totally, irrefutably, incorrect and obviously deluded. Just looking through this thread, there are a couple people who back your statement, but for the most part, everyone here has refuted it and even pointed out statistics that reinforce their points. Yet, you just shrug it off and say that they are biased. Just a small piece of advice here..... If you are going to take a stance on an issue, and some people disagree with you, at least acknowledge that you can agree to disagree with them. Not everyone with an alternate point of view is obviously deluded.

No love for us goalies? Thats sad. The goalie equipment really has been slimmed down already. If they want to increase goal scoring, it will take a major change in the league to make it happen. Removing the crease won't solve much.

I have to agree with this. Along with the fact that the Red Wings are going to spend to the cap like they have for the last 15+ years. This year's $4.5 million dollars was the most cap space that I have seen the Wings have in a season, and I also agreed with the Wings by not overspending to get someone at the trade deadline. You know that the Wings are going to go into the free agent market with $15 million or so to spend, and they will spend it to get the best free agents that will make the biggest impact for their team. The Wings are going to make the playoffs again next season. Then, the Wings are in position to compete for the cup once again. With the potential of a #8 seeded Kings and #6 seeded Devils teams in the SCF, parity really is the key word.

Lets put things in perspective shall we? Look at the Wings in the last 21 years. They have made the playoffs, and while they haven't been cup favorites every year, I believe the new NHL is ushering in a new era. You have a number 8 seeded LA Kings team that has lost just 2 games in the playoffs this season. It doesn't matter what seed you are. There is a new form of parity in the NHL. The Red Wings have won 4 cups in the last 15 years. That alone is a huge accomplishment. To expect that kind of success in the next 15 years is really not aligned with reality. The Red Wings are showing no sign of decline. They hit 100 points last season. They have some strong kids in the AHL. Most importantly though, the ownership has spent a lot of money to bring in free agents, make some trades, and worked to keep this team strong. To be honest, I really don't understand how you think that the Wings are "declining". People probably thought that when Shanny and Fedorov left. Same when Yzerman retired. Yet, this team has continued to win and make the playoffs as a result. Now, to expect the Wings to win the cup every year is ludicrous. There can only be one cup winner, and even in 2007 when we signed Dallas Drake, not many thought we were a lock to win the cup. Many people here s*** on the Dallas Drake signing at the time, and yet the Wings were the best team in the NHL and won the cup that year. Then, the next year they were one win away from the cup when everyone thought they were a lock. The Wings management have put the team in a position to win in the regular season, and then when the playoffs roll around, if they are healthy and get some puck luck they will have a shot at that as well. Yet, this year we got hit with some key injuries and the puck luck was not on our side. To be honest, the people who are proclaiming the Wings are on the decline have not looked at the bigger picture here. If the Wings were not spending money, then I would agree. If the Wings were depleting their kids in the minors, then I would agree. If the Wings were not willing to bid for free agents, then I would agree. Every sign points to a great season next season. The Wings are going to do what it takes to hit that 100 point mark once again next season, and then when the playoffs hit, all bets are off. Your team has a 1 in 16 shot to win the cup at that point. I would say if you think the Wings are on the decline now, just wait until the team is sold or handed over to a group of people who only care about making a profit. I mean, why spend $65 million when a new group will only spend $45-$50. Wings fans will continue to buy tickets, and maybe they will make the playoffs. The decline of this team will hit when management decides not to spend money on prominent free agents and just approaches this team from a pure "making money" perspective. Until then, as a fan, I say hang on and enjoy the ride. No other team in the history of the league has had this level of success that the Wings have had. The fans have become spoiled, and that doesn't surprise me. The "cup or bust" attitude is something I believe in as well. Why put a team out there that isn't going to compete for the cup? The thing is that there are 20 other teams doing the same thing, and there can only be one cup winner with all the parity in the league. Keep your expectations realistic.

We are in for a long wait for free agent signings anyway. They have to hash out a new CBA first before we see any news. Going to be a long summer from the way it looks. I just hope they can work out a deal before September.

And Vancouver..... I should stop listening to the pundits.

I do agree with you. The kind of work ethic you describe, about going into the corners, is possessed by Parise. I believe he has that kind of hard nosed work ethic that I saw through the season, playoffs, and even the olympics. At the same time though, for every great thing I think about Parise, I also think about his injury that he sustained that knocked him out for a balance of the season last year. I also look at the identical numbers and think that Semin could be a better bargain for the Wings at $5 million a season than Parise at $6 million (if the numbers worked out like that). Here is how I think about it. Semin pluses: Has raw skill, stays healthy Semin minues: Work ethic issues Parise pluses: Works hard in the corners, has skill Parise minues: Is his knee healthy? At one point in time, I was thinking "no way" on Semin. Now, just looking at the numbers, and the possible upswing, I like the possibilities of having him. Parise would be my first choice, but Semin would be a worthy addition at $5 million a season.

Clutch postseason performance? Parise playoffs: 50GP, 17G, 19A, 36P, 0 +/-, 5 PPG, 3 GWG Semin playoffs: 51GP, 15G, 19A, 34P, -1 +/-, 5 PPG, 4 GWG Their playoff numbers are almost identical. I will say that I think that Parise is the better all around player, but when you look at the stats heads up, they are both about equal. Semin's work ethic has been questioned in the past at times, but doesn't that mean he has more upside if he was in a crappy system? If Parise is worth $6 million a season to the Wings, and that would be a discount, maybe Semin would be worth $5 million a season.

I love how the commentators are discussing how no 6th, 7th, or 8th seeded team has won the Stanley cup. So that would leave the Devils and the Kings out of it. They are also discussing how no team that has been pushed to two game 7s have never went on to win the Stanley cup. So that would put the Rangers out of it. I guess they should just bring out the Stanley Cup for Phoenix this year. In all seriousness, the Kings are playing on a whole other level right now. Phoenix isn't providing them with much of a challenge. The Cup final is going to be great!

One of my favorite Wings players. He helped bring 3 Cups to Detroit and was the last Red Wing to win the Hart Trophy. I wish him the best!

I have to agree on Semin. It just seems to me that he plays with no sense of urgency or passion. He still has 408 points in 469 games played, which is at the upper part of the league in terms of production. I just wonder how good he would be if he played with an sense of urgency or passion. I bet he could top 100 points in a season if he cared every game. I think he could make a positive contribution in Detroit, but I wouldn't sign him to some crazy contract. I may go as high as $4 million per season, but nothing more than that.

If I had 2,000 acres, I would adopt you just to mow the lawn.

I believe a lot of the issue was the travel. His family lives up near the Knights. I don't think he wants to be away from them.

Dale Hunter steps down I really didn't expect this, but probably being too far from home was a major concern for him. The Capitals finally found a coach that was able to push them deep into the playoffs with a defensive style, and they couldn't retain him. I don't think the Capitals are going to regress, but its still something to think about.

Rangers in 6. Mostly because I am not a Devils fan or a Brodeur fan.

PHX/LAK: 4-2 NYR/NJD: 4-2

I think that is really awesome. Fedorov was a great player and now he is taking the next step in his career. I really would like to see him back in Detroit working for the Wings in some capacity.

That is why Parise has a $6 million dollar cap while Franzen as a $3.9 million dollar cap. Some people love to crap all over Franzen, when in all actuality, he is getting paid right about the right amount for what he brings to the team.

So, whats the number you have in mind? IMHO, Lidstrom should ask for a salary that is based on his performance from last season. He made 6.2 million last season. I would be ok with paying him $5-$5.5. He has earned that just based on his performance and dedication to the Wings for so many years. As for Parise and Suter, the Wings will get them both if they are concerned about winning. If they are concerned with their paychecks, then the Wings won't sign them. I would rather have people here who take a discount (like everyone on the team does) rather than those who are just looking for the most money.

When I read posts like this, I am glad Ken Holland is in charge.

IMHO, Dats and Z > Radulov Kostitsyn > Hudler Its a push...but still its something worth talking about. If you were Barry Trotz, would you bench these players for game 3? I don't think I would.

Actually, Radulov leads the team in playoff points. Its like sitting Dats or Zetterberg and Hudler.

+1 Best comment I have read today.