p_diddy_datsyuk_13

and they think they are "HOCKEYTOWN"... we had a few hundred thousand... probably half a million... HOCKEYTOWN IS MORE THAN JUST ONE TEAM!! we are called HOCKEYTOWN because this city is nothing but hockey... it is the hockey capital of the USA its not just cause of the red wings

makes sense... that could be why pronger was only suspended for one game the second time around, when repeat offenders are *supposed* to be penalized more severely.

gratton is awful... period

if he can get back to what he used to be, he can be effective... i like the way he throws his weight around... but that may be linked to his durability as well... but we have the cap space, so i say, why not!!

he would be a good fit, as long as we got a scorer too... unless he plays with hank and pav, but i think that will still be homer's line

talk, talk, talk, talk, talk... there is NO WAY that the NHL would let him move the team to a small town... even gary bettman isn't that stupid... what little money is in a canadian city would be in a big one, and the NHL would be digging it's own grave if it allowed this... BTW... there's already a team in ontario that can't pay it's bills... they're called the ottawa senators

i dont want to see anyone pull a stevie and try to stay around to win one more... cause in a lot of cases, it just wont happen... don't overstay your welcome

we finally get a defenseman to pan out and already we want to trade him... bad idea... if they trade him away theyre making a big mistake... lang + draft pick for biron

granted, we will miss him, but hes not worth 5 million a year to score 1 goal in the playoffs after a year of 40...

i think howard can do the job.... but holland has made it clear he is going to get an aging veteran... belfour has a physical this week (anybody but him) and theyve even talked about hasek, who i would prefer over belfour... but kenny will probably take the oldest guy he can find like he has in the past

ovechkin is a better leader, sure crosby is a vocal leader, but ovechkin leads by example, and right now he is a better player... i think theyll both become better , but that is yet to be seen

maclean may be one of those guys that COULD have been helped out by the rules... obviously he has never been an NHL regular, but judging by his play in GR this year, he may be capable of 15-20 goals a year in the NHL... just a thought, but he is certainly looking solid in GR this year

the only thing to think about is the game they play... the OHL rules were changed to shadow those of the NHL, which blew totals way out of proportion and some players are having great years that many people never would have thought they were capable of...sure Kindl is having a great year, but there is no way hell make the wings next year... probably another year in Kitchener or if he really impresses then he may be in GR, but i dont see the wings wasting his junior eligability...

despite a great year in the ohl, i dont believe there is any way he makes the team next year. look at his numbers in the ohl... this is by far his best season, and unless he impresses in camp, he will be in GR next year

right now, after a recent trip to russia by jim nill, the word is they like how he's playing. the only thing missing from his game is the skating ability that made him so dominant... right now theres a 90% chance he'll be in North America next year, and whether his skating ability is back would be the setermining factor in whether he makes the big club...

if nothing else... it's an upgrade from Rivers... so if injuries take their toll down the stretch and into the playoffs we have a more worthy relacement... 8 d-men tho??

I was thinking about what the Wings' have lacked this year and the only thing, other than subpar goaltending at times, has been toughness and grit. No doubt that the absense of Fischer, Hatcher, and McCarty has been felt from a physical standpoint. Teams, like Nashville in particular, seem to be having their way with us and are pushing us around an awful lot more than they should be able to. I couldn't imagine that Dallas Drake would be all that expensive, in terms of salary, and also considering St. Louis is in the middle of their fire sale, they are just looking to unload everything they can and build for the future. My guess, is that Cleary would be the odd-man out, but on the brighter side, Drake would provide us with much needed experience and leadership, which will be vital to this young team. Drake brings toughness, depth, leadership, and experience, which could help get us over the hump in the playoffs... what do all of you think??

the wings need experience and leadership... we have proved over the past two playoff runs that we are depending too much upon our inexperienced youth and just arent making it the most the wings might have to give up for Drake is a mid-level prospect like Kopecky and a mid round, say fourth round pick... the blues are trying to dump whoever they can and i feel we wouldnt have to trade anybody from our roster and still get him

i dont think many of you guys realize how much they have missed his playmaking ability lately!!

id hate to see him retire, but if that is the alternative to another problem then it would be for the best

hopefully he can be successful in the NHL at his size... hes proving he can play at all levels... hopefully he can take his game to the top... his size would be what stops him

if it werent for mark mowers and his one way deal... hudler may be on the wings right now with the way hes scoring... hell probably be called up if there are any injuries

i think hes back to where he was... if not better... hopefully, for his sake, the wings decide to make room for him in the offseason... i think at the rate hes going in russia, he can step in and net 20-25 goals right off the bat

datsyuk would play in russia before the wings would give up his future rights... if he plays in russia this year, he'll get a longterm deal from the wings once lidstom's contract is off the books after this season

nabokov is more complete and more experienced