gcom007

Something else to consider, NHL wants publicity. The more people that listen, the more the advertising price is gonna go up. Hossa's the big name. Maybe this was done 4 hours ago and they're just holding out for the sake of numbers. I would never put it past anyone in the media. Maybe TSN right now is setting up for the Hossa announcement. Again, why not?

"...if it makes sense." No.

Ok, you're back on my cool list for that one. "This is heavy Doc..."

Well, I said it earlier, and I was honest, I pretty much check hockeybuzz at this point just to see what's not going to be happening.

Forget about Staios already.

Why not if we can get him signed. That's what the issue here would be. As in, sure, Flip's untouchable unless you can get Hossa signed.

*****SARCASM ALERT!!!!!!!!!***** Ok, I'm starting to think we're going to land Hossa. Why? Hockeybuzz has suggested everyone but Anaheim and us (I think...) so that must mean that Ottawa, Montreal and Pittsburgh are out and I actually believe that Burke isn't interested in tinkering with something that big right now. So I guess Hossa's a Wing.

TSN seems to talking like this isn't done. I don't think they'd be doing that if they thought it was even a possibility. I'm not thinking Pens. Sure, Habs maybe still but I just don't see the Pens fitting into this. But, as always, I don't know s***.

There's something I'm wondering too...maybe Atlanta decides to keep Hossa? That definitely wouldn't shock me.

Yeah, I'm thinking if the Pitts deal was real, we'd know right now. From what I've read it doesn't seem like Hossa is what Pitts was after.

If Hossa wasn't the only big name available, I wonder how many of y'all would be this hyped up...

Waiting on a call, sure... "No Kenny, we're not giving you Hossa for Hudler and (insert prospect here)." I'm sure Kenny's still in it but I can't see them putting up what it takes to get him. Only way I see it happening is if they can agree to terms or believe it's highly likely. The bigger cap makes that somewhat of a reasonable possibility, but eh...I wouldn't be shocked if this happens but I by no means have my hopes up at all.

Once again, Rafalski is an improvement over Schneider. I don't feel Bert or Lang were difference makers in the playoffs. No, you're confused, I have wet dreams over 1998 Stanley Cup videos and want to sign all those guys again, get it right. Yes, Cleary was great for us last year. He's improved. He will improve more this year. They're going to lean on him more and he's responded well to that. Franzen is Franzen. I don't expect him to be huge, but I think he'll surprise us. Again, remember the Wings before the playoffs and in the playoffs last year. Two different teams. That's their game now. In previous years they didn't develop their team to be peaking/solid in the playoffs. Babcock gets that and is working that out. I mean, for the love, even just looking at the regular season, we've been nearly unbeatable until half our team got injured. Now we've got our 5 and 6 d-men as 1-2 with 4 minor leaguers, one of our goalies injured and Cleary out and you're freaking out. Go sell crazy somewhere else. We're all stocked up here. - AGAG

Lang was a non-factor for us more often than not. He scored some clutch goals for us, but nothing consistent. And for the record, I was never a hater. But you've got guys like Cleary stepping up more now and I'm really thinking Flip is going to shine in the playoffs this year. Rafalski is an improvement over Schneider. The playoffs are a different game and I really think with more experience which we got last year, guys like Franzen and Cleary and Flip are going to be big for us in the playoffs. Experience counts for far more than you are giving it credit. We saw two very different Red Wings teams between the regular season and the playoffs last year and that's Babcock's game. We're going to see that again. I have little doubt of that. Again, not saying depth wouldn't hurt, but we're hardly screwed if we don't get it.

Yeah, and we'll probably add a bit of depth somewhere and it'll be nice to have that cushion but I'm still really not worried about this team in any way, shape or form in all honesty.

We had a solid team last year in the playoffs that's going to be stronger this year with more experience and after this latest stretch, they won't be taking anything for granted. I'm cool with what we've got. I think the Ducks and the Wings are the teams to beat whether they make moves or not. Just give it time...

Once again, when we get healthy and we will get healthy, I'm fine with this team as is against anyone still. Anything extra we do is just that, extra. Sure, it'd be nice, but I don't believe it's at all necessary to ensure anything. Anything he can do sans a Hossa isn't going to make or break this team.

Lang is lazy and he sucks. They just told him to hit the showers early. -e7

No, but it sure makes for good entertainment. And props to him for not playing the media's silly hype game and calling it how it is.

Thank you! For as much as you must care about hockey to be on a board posting about it, I don't see how so many posters here don't see this.

"I find that ludicrous." -Brian Burke quoted out of context to express how I feel about your post.

Do you blame him? These interviews are just silly.

"No." - Brian Burke "No. No chance." -on the big names He's a hoot and I actually like how he just lets assclown know how annoyed he is to have to be doing the interview. It's good stuff.

Definitely what I'm curious to hear as well. If the price was right I would've liked to have him on the Wings, but who knows what the price was. He might be a better free agent pickup anyways which I still think is likely to happen. And no, I don't expect him to score, I expect him to be solid on both ends. Depth. It ain't no flashback, it's just the fact that he's still got something and he still can be solid and the price would probably be right.

I'm going to support Bryan Burke ripping the assclown a new one.